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Capital Spending
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994 95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30878]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 28 June 1995]: The information requested is as follows:
£ million
Department of |1994-95 |1995-96
National Heritage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Government's own expenditure |167 |188
Public Corporations' expenditure |155 |130
Local authority expenditure |261 |-
Total |583 |318
There are no figures currently available giving the departmental breakdown of planned local authority capital expenditure in 1995 96. The total capital expenditure 1995 96 will not therefore be comparable with the figure for 1994 95.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Sheep Scab
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received, since 1 January, asserting that the incidence of sheep scab has increased since compulsory dipping was discontinued, and if he will make a statement on his policy towards (a) making sheep scab a notifiable disease, (b) making dipping compulsory on farms where scab has been found and (c) making testing for scab compulsory on neighbouring farms. [30271]
Mrs. Browning: The Department has received a number of representations on the subject of sheep scab since 1 January. In response to claims early last year that the incidence of sheep scab had increased, we carried out our own investigations in March 1994 into the level of scab at markets and in flocks treated by private veterinary surgeons. Although the results were not conclusive, they indicated that the number of infested sheep had increased. In co-operation with the industry, we conducted a publicity campaign to encourage farmers to treat their sheep for scab. In addition, the official veterinary presence at markets was significantly increased; infested animals are being withdrawn from sale and treated and the owners risk prosecution under animal welfare legislation. A second state veterinary service survey has indicated that the numbers of sheep affected by scab sent to markets and sales has declined. This is an encouraging sign and should help to reduce the spread of scab.
However, reports from practising veterinary surgeons suggest that the number of infected farms is increasing. The veterinary surgeons also suggest that some farmers are not treating their sheep strictly in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. This can lead to the temporary suppression of the disease which then re-establishes itself later.
The full results of this years survey and those from last year are as follows:
|1994|1995
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Market visits
Number |869 |867
Batches with suspected scab |177 |47
Per cent. visits where scab found |20 |5
Serious welfare cases |13 |6
Other outbreaks of scab found by SVS
Number |53 |34
Outbreaks of scab known to private veterinary surgeons
Number |254 |595
The Government are concerned at the increasing spread of sheep scab and accordingly propose to carry out a publicity campaign to encourage good management practices, including the proper use of the available treatments. The newly established Meat Hygiene Service will be watching out for signs of scab infestation in sheep arriving at slaughterhouses and will report any welfare cases to the state veterinary service for follow-up action
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on the farms concerned. Where necessary, appropriate action will be taken under farm animal welfare legislation. We will also be continuing our increased surveillance of sheep sales and taking follow-up action in connection with any welfare problems associated with scab infestation.In addition to the initiatives above, I have asked officials to consider what other options may be available for dealing with the disease.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reason the policy of compulsory sheep dipping was changed, and if he will make a statement. [31246]
Mrs. Browning: The decision to remove statutory controls for sheep scab, which included compulsory dipping, was mainly based on the failure of these arrangements to eradicate the disease and the view that they were unlikely to do so in the future. Given also the substantial demands placed on the state veterinary service and local authorities, the lack of EC interest in the disease--which would make it difficult to prevent scab being reintroduced again on imported animals--and the lack of commitment shown by a substantial minority of farmers, it was decided that Government involvement in the control of sheep scab could no longer be justified.
This does not mean that the Government are no longer concerned about the threat posed by scab and I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson).
Mr. Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the recorded levels of sheep scab in each of the last five years. [31244]
Mrs. Browning: The numbers of confirmed cases of sheep scab in Great Britain in 1991 and 1992 were as follows:
1991: 116
1992 (to 30 June): 94
The collation of official records on the number of outbreaks of sheep scab was discontinued after deregulation in 1992.
The official veterinary presence at sheep markets was increased between 1 September 1994 and 3 March 1995, during which time suspected sheep scab was detected in 49 out of 2,878 market visits. In total, 364 animals had to be withdrawn from sale and treated under the Welfare of Animals at Markets Order 1990 and a further 210 animals with suspected sheep scab were sent direct to slaughter. For further information on the amount of scab discovered during surveys conducted by the state veterinary service in March 1994 and March 1995, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson).
Voluntary Oranisations
Miss Hoey: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many voluntary sector organisations his Department has (a) paid grants to or (b) entered into contracts in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994--95; and what was the total value of these grants and contracts. [31314]
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Mr. Baldry: The information required to answer is not held centrally and can be collected only at disproportionate cost.
Milk Testing
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider establishing a national body to check standards of milk testing for British farmers. [31670]
Mr. Baldry: The Intervention Board executive agency, which is responsible for administering milk quotas throughout the United Kingdom, has already commissioned the Central Science Laboratory to check standards at laboratories which are approved to carry out butterfat tests on milk.
Mr. Sykes: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider establishing national calibration standards in respect of testing for butter fat, protein and total bacteria content in milk. [31668]
Mr. Baldry: The suggestion that a simple source for calibration standards be specified, whilst acceptable in principle to the Intervention Board executive agency and to those laboratories participating in milk testing, may be difficult to prescribe. It would, effectively, prevent those organisations currently supplying such standards from continuing to do so. In the current climate of deregulation within the United Kingdom dairy industry such action would need to be considered carefully and justified in terms of a clearly identified need.
Tuberculosis (Cattle)
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received on the reason for the change in the number of positive tuberculosis tests for cattle in the last five years. [31736]
Mrs. Browning: There has been an increased incidence of disease and approximately 90 per cent. of the cattle tuberculosis herd breakdowns in the south-west of England are attributed to infection by badgers after detailed epidemiological investigations. The Department is already carrying out research into ways of avoiding transmission of disease from badgers to cattle and is co-operating with university departments on studies on the effects of badger removal operations on the badger population and their impact on the subsequent spread of disease within the badger population.
Integrated Administration and Control System
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the proposals to amend the system of field numbering on maps which are to accompany forms associated with the integrated administration and control system. [32362]
Mr. Baldry: A range of farming industry organisations has been consulted on proposals which, if adopted, would involve changing the system of issuing field numbers, for the purpose of applications under the integrated administration and control system. Officials are considering comments from those who have responded and meeting with organisations where appropriate.
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Mr. Jones: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department has completed the exercise of standardising maps which are to accompany forms associated with the integrated administration and control system. [32361]
Mr. Baldry: My Department is not carrying out an exercise of standardising maps. However, a wide range of checks is carried out on applications under the integrated administration and control system. These include detailed checks of field data and maps submitted in support of area aid applications.
Bull Calves
Mr. Keen: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to stimulate the domestic market for bull calves; if he is actively considering encouraging the establishment of alternative rearing systems or introducing tighter animal welfare systems; what help is being offered to United Kingdom farmers to assist in establishing a realistic animal friendly alternative that would help to end the continental trade in live animals for veal production; and if he will make a statement. [32425]
Mrs. Browning: The United Kingdom has since 1990 banned close confinement systems of veal rearing, and we are now working hard to achieve agreement to raise the less exacting minimum standards which apply at European Union level.
Only a minority of bull calves born in the UK are exported live. None-the- less a move from live exports to the value added business of producing meat in the UK makes sense in the long run. The Ministry is encouraging this through research into improving the quality of dairy bread beef, and work with the Meat and Livestock Commission to promote beef exports.
We are also funding a demonstration unit on welfare friendly veal at the ADAS research centre at Rosemaund, near Hereford. The aim of this unit, which opens later this month, is to show how to produce veal under systems which conform to the UK's high welfare standards.
Fishing Incidents
Mr. Cox: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents have taken place between British fishing vessels and fishing vessels of other European Union countries in each of the last three years. [32672]
Mr. Baldry: Incidents between fishing vessels can take place in varying circumstances and are not necessarily reported to fishery protection vessels or to the fishery inspectorates. Comprehensive records of such incidents are not kept.
Fishing (Discussions)
Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss access to the Irish box and western waters. [31160]
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Mr. Baldry [holding answer 6 July 1995]: My predecessor met representatives of the fishing industry on a number of occasions recently at which this issue was discussed, and I propose to do so again as the need arises.
Meat Levies
Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 26 June, Official Report , column 528 , on meat levies, what were the total levies for (a) sheep and (b) calves in each year since 1990; and what would be the total revenue raised for the Meat and Livestock Commission for (a) sheep, and (b) calves and (c) other in each year since 1992 if animal exporters had paid the levies on each animal exported in each year since 1992. [32388]
Mr. Baldry [holding reply sent on 6 July 1995]: The information requested is as follows.
(1) Total levy receipts
£ million
|(a) sheep |(b) calves
--------------------------------------------
1989-90 |8.6 |0.02
1990-91 |9.8 |0.02
1991-92 |10.1 |0.02
1992-93 |10.0 |0.03
1993-94 |9.8 |0.03
(2) Total levy due
£ million
|(a) Sheep |(b) Calves|(c) Others
-------------------------------------------------------
1991-92 |10.2 |0.02 |19.0
1992-93 |10.3 |0.03 |18.7
1993-94 |10.1 |0.03 |19.8
HEALTH
NHS Loto
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of state for Health (1) what rules govern the use of the letters NHS in publicity for private companies' projects; [31353]
(2) what discussions have taken place between his Department and the organisers of NHS Loto to discuss (a) the distribution of any funds generated, (b) advising on the re-launch of the NHS Loto and (c) departmental approval of the project; and if he will make a statement; [31354]
(3) what permission was sought from his Department to use the letters NHS to promote the NHS Loto. [31352]
Mr. Sackville: The use of the letters NHS is not the subject of any express provisions in legislations.
NHS Loto is run by the registered charity National Hospital Trust and operated on its behalf by Pascal and Co. The trustees of the National Hospital Trust sought the endorsement of Department of Health Ministers prior to the relaunch of NHS Loto on 1 June 1995. This was not forthcoming.
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Centre for Epilepsy
Sir Donald Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the Centre for Epilepsy. [31862]
Mr. Bowis: I have the personal written assurance of the chairman of the King's Healthcare national health service trust, Mr. Stanley Kalms, that the trust will encourage the development of specialised multidisciplinary treatment and care for people with epilepsy and will help the centre to establish itself as the focus for this. At present, the Centre for Epilepsy is established at the Maudsley hospital site. Owing to the current reorganisation of neurosciences services at the Maudsley, the centre has recently moved into temporary accommodation. The chief executive of the trust, has assured me at a meeting on 26 June, that the centre will return to permanent accommodation within the Maudsley hospital during November this year.
Research Grants
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which members of (a) the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, (b) the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food and (c) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food receive research grants from his Department. [32419]
Mr. Sackville: Only Dr. S. Bingham and Professor M. Marmont of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy have research contracts funded through the Department's policy research programme or the nutrition research programme.
Sensible Drinking
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the findings of the review of the "Sensible Drinking" message; and if he will make a statement. [32815]
Mr. Bowis: I expect the interdepartmental group on sensible drinking to complete its work around the end of the year.
Nutrition Task Force
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the estimated budget for 1995 96 and 1996 97 for the nutrition task force; [32720]
(2) what future changes are planned for the nutrition task force and if he will make a statement. [32719]
Mr. Sackville: The nutrition task force, which was set up in November 1992 to bring together relevant interests and prepare a programme of action to achieve the diet and nutrition targets in "The Health of the Nation" White Paper, published its programme in March 1994. The remit of the task force was extended by a further year to set in train the implementation of the programme. It will make a final report to Ministers by the end of the year. The task force's remit to develop the programme will then have been fulfilled. Action set in hand as a result of the task force's work will be completed by the relevant sectors within the wider community.
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The nutrition task force does not have a specific budget. Expenses are paid to members under normal rules. A total of £250,000 has been allocated for expenditure in 1995 96 on publicity arising from the nutrition task force programme. A similar bid has been made for 1996 97.Child Abuse
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the local authority children's homes in England and Wales where child sex abuse is known to have taken place in each of the last three years. [32859]
Mr. Bowis: This information is not available centrally.
Treatments
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to ensure that additional costs of metered water for essential water intensive health treatments, including hydro-therapy and renal dialysis, do not fall on (a) the health service and (b) patients. [32711]
Mr. Sackville: Since April 1994, local health authorities have been responsible for meeting the costs of water used in the course of home haemodialysis by patients whose water supply is metered by their local water company. I am not aware of other conditions which require equivalent volumes of water for treatment provided at home. These arrangements have been introduced relatively recently; there are no plans to review them at this stage.
Nutrition Monitoring
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies on monitoring nutrition his Department plans to commission over the next two years. [32721]
Mr. Sackville: My Department plans to commission this year, jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the national diet and nutrition survey of children aged four to 18 years.
Elderly Patients, Wandsworth
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service beds in hospitals in the London borough of Wandsworth are available for the nursing of elderly patients. [33107]
Mr. Bowis: Information is not available centrally in the form requested.
Performance Tables
Sir James Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of (a) the Dorset Healthcare national health service trust and (b) the national health service as a whole; and if he will make a statement. [33699]
Mr. Malone: I would like to congratulate the Dorset Healthcare trust on its excellent performance in the national health service performance tables for the second year running. Not only has the trust improved its performance against the existing performance tables indicators but the new indicators introduced this year show that 100 per cent. of patients are seen in out-patient
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clinics within 13 weeks of referral by their general practitioner. Copies of the NHS performance tables are available in the Library. The tables show yet another year of achievement for the NHS as a whole. Performance has improved so that:93 per cent. of patients are now assessed within five minutes in accident and emergency departments;
88 per cent. of patients are now seen within 30 minutes of their appointment times;
over half of hospitals admitted 95 per cent. or more of patients in the eight main surgical specialties within 12 months of going on a waiting list;
The figures for day surgery also show substantial improvement. Over 60 per cent. of arthroscopies and laparoscopies, more than a quarter of inguinal hernia repairs and a third of cataracts are now done on a day surgery basis. This is a better option for many patients who prefer not to have to stay in hospital overnight. Information is included in the tables for the first time on the waiting time to see a consultant following referral by a GP: 82 per cent. of patients are seen within 13 weeks of referral; and
95 per cent. within 26 weeks of referral.
These figures suggest that the NHS is well on course to meet the new patients charter standard, introduced on 1 April this year, of nine out of 10 patients being seen within 13 weeks and all patients being seen within 26 weeks.
The tables also show that 64 per cent. of GP practices have produced charters for their patients.
This is an impressive record of achievement. Trusts have earned more than 3,000 five-star ratings this year. But not every trust has performed well on every indicator and action is already under way to secure even better performance next year.
Community Psychiatric Nurses
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole- time equivalent community psychiatric nurses were working in the NHS in each year since 1992; and how many of these CPNs have received training to implement the proposed power of supervised discharge. [32243]
Mr. Sackville: The number of whole-time equivalent qualified, unqualified and "other" nursing staff--excluding agency--working in the community psychiatric nursing area of work in the national health service hospital and community health services in each year since 1992 is as follows:
1992: 4,210
1993: 4,320
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.
2. Agency staff are excluded.
3. Figures are for England as at 30 September each year. 4. 1993 is the latest year for which figures are available. Source:
PD(STATS)B Non-Medical Workforce Census.
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Information on nursing staff in the community psychiatric area of work who have undertaken training to implement the proposed power of supervised discharge is not available centrally.Contracts (EDS)
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the contracts his Department has with the computer company EDS. [33175]
Mr. Sackville: The Department has no contracts with EDS.
Committee Membership
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who are the present members of (a) the Committee on the Safety of Medicines, (b) the Medicines Commission and (c) the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; by whom they are employed; what consultancies or directorships each holds with chemical or pharmaceutical companies; and which are engaged in research on behalf of chemical or pharmaceutical companies. [32899]
Mr. Sackville: The information will be placed in the Library.
Junior Doctors
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's change of policy regarding the place of registrars' and senior registrars' contracts following the abolition of regional health authorities. [33227]
Mr. Malone: Subject to formal negotiation with the medical profession and following the abolition of regional health authorities, contracts for registrars and senior registrars will be held by national health service trusts with deans of postgraduate medicine overseeing their educational needs. The detail of the new arrangements has yet to be agreed but it will need to ensure that continuity and quality of training programmes are protected under the new arrangements.
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures will be introduced to aid junior doctors within training rotations to negotiate new contracts every six months with NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement. [33231]
Mr. Malone: Detailed arrangements for the transfer of junior doctors' contracts to national health service trusts are being discussed with the medical profession. These discussions include a package of safeguards. The six elements of this are:
national terms and conditions of service with a degree of local flexibility;
a "lead trusts" scheme to ensure that doctors on rotations are not required to strike new employment contracts with each new posting;
continuity of service via the Health Authorities Bill, now secured;
a network of employment, educational and service-level contracts tying the deans, trusts and junior doctors into a relationship designed to safeguard educational standards and appropriate levels of training;
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