| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Bowis: This is a report commissioned by Gloucestershire social services. I understand that it is not a public document, but my hon. Friend may wish to approach the director of social services for Gloucestershire.
Private Health Care Facilities
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to monitor further expenditure on private health care facilities by NHS hospital trusts. [31841]
Mr. Sackville: Expenditure on health care purchased by national health service trusts from non-NHS providers is already monitored through financial returns.
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines have been issued on the use of private health care and facilities by NHS hospital trusts. [31840]
Column 106
Mr. Sackville: National health service trusts are free to buy in services from other providers, whether in the public or private sector, where they can benefit their patients by doing so.
Residential Homes
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the costs incurred by local authorities in referring people to local authority-owned homes. [31675]
Mr. Bowis: The available information is of gross expenditure by local authorities on residential accommodation for elderly or mentally ill people in local authority run establishments, which in 1993 94 is provisionally estimated to have amounted to £894 million.
Medicines Control Agency
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the annual report and accounts of the Medicines Control Agency. [32851]
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: I have received the report and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.
National Blood Service
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the total number of (a) scientific and (b) administrative staff employed by the National Blood Service for each month during the last year. [32025]
(2) what was the total number of (a) scientific and (b) administrative staff employed at (i) Plymouth blood transfusion centre, (ii) Lancaster blood transfusion centre, (iii) Liverpool blood transfusion centre, (iv) Brentwood blood transfusion centre and (v) Oxford blood transfusion centre for each month during the last year. [32026]
Mr. Sackville: These are matters for the National Blood Authority.
Cancer Screening
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she offers to purchasers on breast and cervical screening services for women over 45 years. [32024]
Mr. Sackville: The breast screening programme invites all women aged between 50 and 64 for three-yearly screening. Women aged 65 and over can ask to be screened every three years. Women aged under 50 who do not have breast symptoms cannot at present have routine breast screening by mammography.
The cervical screening programme invites all women between the ages of 20 to 64 for cervical cancer screening at least every five years. Women aged 65 and over who have not had clear smears within the previous 10 years should be invited for cervical cancer screening. A substantial amount of quality guidance is issued by the Department and the NHS national screening co-ordinating team on a number of issues. These include the age range of women to be included in each screening
Column 107
programme, management of the process and quality standards to be achieved. These are reviewed constantly.Travel Claims
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in her Department in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95 broken down by (i) public transport (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32181]
Mr. Sackville: Information is not available in the form requested. The amount of claims for travel within the United Kingdom in the Department is shown in the table at constant prices. The Department does not provide bicycle allowances.
|1993-94 |1994-95
|£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------
Rail and air travel |1,925,861|1,596,171
Other public transport |1,581,820|1,572,110
(including car mileage)
Notes:
1. All costs are shown at 1994-95 prices.
2. Costs are for departmental administration only. The
Department's agencies do not break down data for
travel claims.
Consultants (Suspension)
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between her Department and the Southampton University Hospitals Trust regarding the suspension of consultants on full pay. [32336]
Mr. Malone: None. Suspension is a matter between employer and employee.
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance she has given to hospital trusts on the procedures and time to be taken for the reinstatement of consultants suspended on full pay following the completion of successful appeals against suspension for alleged medical malpractice or misconduct; [32339]
(2) what guidance she has given to hospital trusts on the minimum time which should be taken to complete inquiries in cases where consultants are suspended for alleged medical malpractice or misconduct. [32337]
Mr. Malone: Guidance on suspension procedures was issued in circular HSG(94)49 to national health service trusts on 31 October 1994, copies of which are available in the Library.
The guidance stipulates no minimum period during which inquiries are to be completed. While decisions on the procedures to be followed for reinstatement rest with the employing authority, the guidance contains an indicative timetable which is strongly recommended to NHS employers for incorporation into any local procedures that they may draw up in consultation with their staff. The guidelines state that every attempt should be made to conclude the investigation and, where appropriate, the subsequent disciplinary process as speedily as possible.
Column 108
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the total cost of salaries paid to consultants suspended on full pay in each of the past five years. [32338]
Asthma
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost in real terms to the NHS of the prescriptions for drugs to alleviate the symptoms of asthma in the year since 1990 91. [32216]
Mr. Malone: The available information is shown in the table.
The net ingredient cost in actual and real terms of
drugs used in
the treatment of asthma, 1991-92, 1992-93 and
1993-94
|deflator
Period |(£ millions)|(£ millions)
----------------------------------------------------
1991-92 |270.6 |270.6
1992-93 |312.5 |300.5
1993-94 |357.6 |333.7
1. Drugs as defined by the British National
Formulary section 3.1 (bronchodilators), 3.2 (
corticosteroids) and 3.3 (cromoglycate and related
therapy). Some of these drugs may have been
prescribed for conditions other than asthma.
2. The information was obtained from the
prescription cost analysis system which is based on
a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in
England by community pharmacists and appliance
contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions
submitted by prescribing doctors for items
personally administered. It excludes items
dispensed by hospital pharmacies.
3. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of
the drug before discounts and does not include any
dispensing costs or fees.
4. The Treasury GDP deflator has been used.
5. Statistically comparative data for 1990-91 are
not held. Data for 1994-95 are not yet available.
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Travel Claims
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance.
Mr. Newton: The amounts claimed in the Privy Council Office, at current prices, were as follows:
|(a) |(b)
|1993-94 |1994-95
|£ |£
------------------------------------------------
(i) Public transport |824 |1,156
(ii) Car mileage |nil |<1>1,104
(iii) Bicycle |nil |nil
<1>Reflects claims arising from staff using
cars during industrial action on the railways.
These figures include claims by the staff of the central drugs co- ordination unit, created within the Privy Council Office in January 1994.
Column 109
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Albania
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the help given from the United Kingdom know-how fund to Albania: in each of the last three years. [31368]
Mr. Baldry: The know-how fund has financed projects in the following sectors in Albania; agriculture, finance, health, local government, education and the fire service. New activities this year include assistance to the mass privatisation programme and to small and medium-sized enterprises. Expenditure has been:
1992 93: £38,000
1993 94: £360,000
1994 95: £720,000
Voluntary Organisations
Miss Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many voluntary sector organisations his Department has (a) paid grants to or (b) entered into contracts with in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and what was the total value of these grants and contracts. [31310]
Mr. Baldry: The ODA allocated £158,449,755 to 220 UK non- governmental organisations in 1993 94. The figures for 1994 95 are not yet available.
Development Co-operation Policy
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the existing disparities between the European Community's development co-operation policy (a) in general and (b) in respect of evaluation of projects and programmes and those of the United Kingdom; and whether the working group has published comparisons between policies and priorities of all member states and those of the community. [31596]
Mr. Baldry: The aims for Community development cooperation set out in the Maastricht treaty are consistent with those of the UK. Since Maastricht, further measures have been taken to enhance policy and operational coordination between the EC and member states. Joint guidelines have been agreed for a number of sectors--family planning, health, AIDS, education, food security--and a pilot exercise launched in selected countries to enhance operational coordination The evaluation methodology employed by the European Commission addresses the same issues as the UK's. The main difference is the greater emphasis in UK evaluation studies on examining the cost-effectiveness and on rating the success of projects and the programmes. For further details on this issue I refer the hon. Member to the Foreign Affairs Committee's First Report Session 1994 95 on Monitoring of the European Community Aid Programme and the Government's response to this, Cm2870.
Column 110
No comprehensive comparison of Community and all member state development cooperation policies has been published. However the policies of all member states who are members of the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD are regularly reviewed by that committee.China
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department intends to contribute to the fund established by the makers of the film "The Dying Rooms" for the support of children abandoned in Chinese state orphanages. [32017]
Mr. Baldry: We have made no contribution to this fund.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on implications of the recent information obtained on the treatment of abandoned children in China for his Department's funding of the IPPF and UNIFA. [32080]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 3 July 1995]: The United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation will be asked about the implications of recent information obtained on the treatment of abandoned children in China.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will undertake research into the links between Chinese population control policy and the situation of abandoned children in China; [32081]
(2) if he will make an assessment of the links between the Chinese population control policy and the imbalance of the sexes in China. [32082]
Mr. Baldry [holding answers 3 July 1995]: We shall continue to seek information on China's population policies and the consequences of their implementation.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the use of repeated visits by population control officials and volunteers to Chinese women with illegal pregnancies or separation of them from their families to exert psychological pressure on them to accept abortion. [32083]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 3 July 1995]: We continue to receive reports alleging abuses of reproductive rights in China.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has regarding the Chinese Family Planning Association and IPPF involvement in house visits and family planning courses in China; [32084]
(2) what information he has regarding UNFPA involvement in funding, training for or participation in house visits and family planning courses in China. [32085]
Mr. Baldry [holding answers 3 July 1995]: We understand from the International Planned Parenthood Federation that members of the China Family Planning Association do make home visits. These visits are designed to inform people of the choices of family planning methods available and provide information on how they can better access reproductive health care services. The CFPA also undertakes training courses to
Column 111
enable people to make informed choices about childbearing. The IPPF has provided vehicles and audio-visual equipment to the CFPA. The United Nations Population Fund does not fund or provide training for home visits. Its training programmes focus on contraceptive choice, interpersonal counselling and informed consent.Zimbabwe
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have occurred in (a) domestic investments, (b) foreign investments, (c) exports, (d) imports, (e) child mortality, (f) participation in education, (g) interest rates and (h) wage
Column 112
levels since the introduction of the Zimbabwe structural adjustment programme; and if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's policy towards the next structural adjustment programme. [31846]Mr. Baldry: We shall continue to support Zimbabwe's economic reform programme as an essential means to economic recovery, providing good progress is maintained. In concert with the World bank and International Monetary Fund we recognise the importance of helping to protect vulnerable groups during this transition; we therefore give priority to protecting the social sectors in our aid programme.
The latest available figures from World Bank/IMF sources are as follows:
Column 111
|Year |Year |Year
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|1991 |1994 (estimate)
|US$ million |US$ million
Exports |1,786 |1,870
Imports |1,700 |1,630
|1991 |1994
|Percentage GDP |Percentage GDP
Gross domestic investment |25 |23
of which private sector |20 |18
|1991 |1994
|US$ million |US$ million
Foreign investment (approvals by Zimbabwe investment centre) |250 |660
|1990 |1991 |1995
Interest rate (90-day money market rate) |15 per cent. |35 per cent. |32 per cent.
|1989 |1992
|Z$ |Z$
Wages (average annual earnings)
average excluding agriculture |6,700 |11,107
agriculture |1,809 |2,063
<> |1980-85 |1989-92
Education-gross enrolment ration<1> (Percentage of school age population)
Primary |135 |117
Secondary |42 |48
|1980-85 |1987-92
Child mortality (per 1,000 live births) |80 |47
<1>Includes those attending above the relevant school age.
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much in £ sterling terms Britain will contribute to the eighth European development fund; over which financial years those contributions will be made; and what will be Britain's percentage share of the total contributions made to the European development fund. [32612]
Mr. Baldry: Our commitment to the eighth European development fund will be for 1.63 becu, equivalent to approximately £1.36 billion at current exchange rates. Funds will be drawn down over the period 1999 2000 to 2003 4. We shall be the third largest contributor to EDF VIII, providing 12.7 per cent. of member state contributions.
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much in £ sterling terms Britain will contribute to the seventh
Column 112
European development fund; over which financial years those contributions will be made; and what Britain's percentage share will be of the total contributions made to the European development fund. [32611]Mr. Baldry: Our commitment to the seventh European development fund is for 1.79 becu. The cost in sterling terms will depend on the timing of draw down. At the present exchange rate it is equivalent to approximately £1.5 billion. Funds will be drawn down over the period 1994 95 to 1998 99. We are the third largest contributor to EDF VII, providing 16.37 per cent. of member state contributions.
Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 June, Official Report , column 16 , regarding the national overview of land resources in Indonesia, if any
Column 113
of the project staff trained under the project were (a) stationed in East Timor or (b) responsible for reviewing the land resources and land use of East Timor. [31876]Mr. Baldry [holding answer 30 June 1995]: The Indonesian project staff were attached to the department of transmigration in Jakarta. None were stationed in East Timor. Project staff, working with the UK consultants, reviewed the land resources and land use of the whole archipelago, including East Timor.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 June, Official Report , columns 16 17 , regarding the regional physical planning, map improvement and training project in Indonesia, if the project covered East Timor; and if officials who attended the training (a) in Indonesia and (b) in the United Kingdom included officials employed by the authorities in East Timor. [31877]
Column 114
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 30 June 1995]: The project included East Timor and local training courses were carried out for officials from Government Departments there. Officials employed by Government Departments in East Timor were not among the people trained in the UK.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Travel Claims
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Attorney-General if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32169]
The Attorney-General: The amount of travel claims made by staff in my Departments in 1994 95 prices is given in the table.
Column 113
Public Car mileage Bicycle
transport<1> allowance<2> allowance<3>
|1993-94 £|1994-95 £|1993-94 £|1994-95 £|1993-94 £|1994-95 £
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crown Prosecution Service |930,295 |1,031,401|2,033,162|2,090,518|- |-
Treasury Solicitor's Department |23,177 |22,719 |- |5,441 |0 |0
Government Property Lawyers |37,075 |41,138 |6,742 |3,033 |0 |0
Serious Fraud Office<4> |216,356 |259,150 |- |- |0 |0
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers |39,434 |19,576 |- |540 |0 |0
<1>All qualifying forms of transport other than private vehicles.
<2>Payment for 1993-94 in TSD and LSLO, and for 1993-94 and 1994-95 in SFO, included in "public transport"
figures.
<3>Any payments in the CPS included in "public transport" figures.
<4>1994-95 amount provisional.
Travel Claims
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will detail the amount of travel claims at constant prices in his Department in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95 broken down by (i) public transport, (ii) car mileage allowance and (iii) bicycle allowance. [32178]
Mr. Nelson: The information requested at constant 1993 94 prices is as follows:
|1993-94|1994-95
|£ |£
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Public transport |868,988|723,320
Car mileage allowance and bicycle allowance<1> |69,161 |56,662
Total |938,149|788,982
<1>Records of bicycle allowance payments are not maintained
separately.
Central Gilts Office
Mr. French: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 April, Official Report, column 37, if he will review the custody controls in relation to the Central Gilts Office accounts in order to reduce the risk of misappropriation or misdescription of gilt edge securities registered at the Bank of England. [31524]
Column 114
Mr. Nelson: HM Government have no plans to ask the Bank of England to review its controls in relation to Central Gilts Office accounts. Placing the Bank under the duty of inquiring about the propriety of stock transactions would reduce the speed and efficiency of the settlement service and would therefore add to the costs of government funding. I remain of the view that the measures taken in the Pensions Bill provide effective safeguards for the security of scheme assets.
Inland Revenue (Software)
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the Inland Revenue of paying for software on which licensing agreements cannot be traced; and if he will make a statement. [31647]
Sir George Young: The Inland Revenue identified a small number of cases of equipment, due to be transferred to EDS, where there was insufficient documentary evidence to confirm that copies of software held have been fully licensed. The Department has agreed with the supplier a fee of less than £150,000, including VAT, to cover licenses for this software.
To prevent recurrence improved procedures have been implemented in line with the requirement of the Inland Revenue IT security standards.
Barlow Clowes
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 20 June, Official Report,
Column 115
column 147 48 , if the liability of the companies named in the answer has now ceased; how much money has been recovered to offset the total cost to the Treasury; and what companies remain to pursue; and if he will make a statement. [31728]Mr. Nelson: A substantial sum, including interest and costs was recovered in settlement of these proceedings to help offset the total cost of the ex gratia payment scheme, and consequently these actions have now been discontinued.
A number of other companies and individuals remain parties to other proceedings commenced by the Government. It is not the Government's policy to comment on the detail of legal proceedings or settlements relating to the Barlow Clowes litigation, so as not to prejudice the outcome of continuing actions.
Personal Pensions
Mr. Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he now expects to publish the SIB/DSS report on the sale of appropriate personal pensions to those on low incomes; [32049]
(2) if he will publish the terms of reference of the SIB/DSS inquiry into the sale of appropriate personal pensions to those on low incomes. [32050]
Mr. Nelson: The publication of this report is a matter for the Securities and Investments Board.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Members' Staff
Mr. Allen: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons why hon. Members are currently restricted to three employee passes;
(2) if he will issue a questionnaire to hon. Members to ascertain their views on the adequacy of three passes to allow employees access to their offices in order to carry out their duties;
Column 116
(3) if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that passes are issued only to legitimate employees of hon. Members;(4) what proposals he has to ensure that hon. Members who wish to employ more than three people to assist them to fulfil all their parliamentary duties may do so and not be prevented by current restrictions on the number of passes;
(5) if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that hon. Members can employ the numbers of properly employed staff that they consider appropriate.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: On 30 January 1989 the House approved the Second Report of Session 1987 88 from the then Select Committee on House of Commons (Services), "Access to the Precincts of the House", which recommended that the number of Members' staff who may hold photo-passes be limited to three. It was not proposed that there should be a limit on the number of staff employed by an hon. Member. The decision to limit to three the number of photo-passes available to Members' staff was made in the light of pressure on all the House facilities; at that time, the figures showed that only 66 out of 650 Members held passes for more than the proposed limit.
As the pressure on House facilities has not decreased in subsequent years, I do not propose to recommend any changes to the existing regulations.
Combined Heat and Power
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is his policy on the use of combined heat and power in the House of Commons.
Mr. Ray Powell: Wherever appropriate, the opportunity is always taken to incorporate energy efficiency measures into new works and maintenance projects on the parliamentary estate. A combined heat and power plant will be installed in the Norman Shaw buildings later this year at a cost of some £90,000. Projected annual savings worth £18, 500 will give a payback period of less than five years. Studies are under way with a view to undertaking a similar scheme in the Palace of Westminster in 1997 98.
| Next Section
| Home Page |