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Population Statistics
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the population in each English and Welsh county is over pensionable age; and what is the English and Scottish average. [36715]
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Mr. Sackville: The information is shown in the table.
Mid-1994 population estimates
Persons of pensionable age<(1)> as a percentage
of all residents
|Percentage
--------------------------------------------------
Great Britain |18.3
England |18.3
Wales |19.9
Scotland |17.8
Counties:-
Greater London |15.7
Greater Manchester |17.3
Merseyside |18.7
South Yorkshire |18.5
Tyne and Wear |18.9
West Midlands |17.8
West Yorkshire |17.4
Avon |18.7
Bedfordshire |14.8
Berkshire |14.5
Buckinghamshire |14.6
Cambridgeshire |16.4
Cheshire |17.6
Cleveland |16.8
Cornwall and Isle of Scilly |22.8
Cumbria |20.3
Derbyshire |18.7
Devon |22.8
Dorset |25.2
Durham |18.6
East Sussex |24.8
Essex |18.7
Gloucestershire |19.7
Hampshire |17.8
Hereford and Worcester |19.0
Hertfordshire |17.1
Humberside |18.7
Isle of Wight |26.4
Kent |19.0
Lancashire |19.2
Leicestershire |17.0
Lincolnshire |21.3
Norfolk |22.1
Northamptonshire |16.6
Northumberland |19.6
North Yorkshire |20.4
Nottinghamshire |18.0
Oxfordshire |16.1
Shropshire |18.3
Somerset |21.9
Staffordshire |17.3
Suffolk |20.3
Surrey |18.6
Warwickshire |18.1
West Sussex |23.5
Wiltshire |17.7
Clwyd |20.5
Dyfed |22.0
Gwent |18.9
Gwynedd |22.8
Mid-Glamorgan |18.1
Powys |22.0
South Glamorgan |18.1
West Glamorgan |20.6
Source:
Population Estimates Unit, OPCS.
<1> 65 and over for males; 60 and over for
females.
Postgraduate Education (Registrars)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to ensure that high standards of
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postgraduate education and training for registrars are protected. [36743]Mr. Malone: The medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties are responsible for the standards of training and education of registrars. Under the reforms of specialist medical education currently being implemented, the registrar and senior registrar grades will be abolished and replaced by the new specialist registrar grade. We are working with the royal colleges and postgraduate deans to ensure that training in the specialist registrar grade will be of the highest possible standard.
Booth Hall Children's Hospital
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the occupancy rate and number of patients seen in the last three years at Booth Hall hospital. [37355]
Mr. Sackville: This information is not available centrally. The right hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. T. F. Lavin, chairman of Manchester Children's Hospitals national health service trust, for details.
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on the future of Booth Hall; from which organisations; and what has been his response; [37354] (2) what replacement services are proposed in replacement of those provided currently by Booth Hall children's hospital. [37353]
Mr. Sackville: Ministers have replied to eight letters from hon. Members. Officials have replied to 37 letters from members of the public.
Under the health authorities' proposals, all services currently available at Booth Hall children's hospital would be re-provided elsewhere. It is envisaged that routine paediatric services for local children would be provided at North Manchester general hospital. The more specialist, regional services would move to the Royal Manchester children's hospital, Pendlebury.
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the report on paediatric care in Greater Manchester and when he will make an announcement on the future of Booth Hall children's hospital. [37352]
Mr. Sackville: The North West regional health authority commissioned Sir David Hull, professor of child health at Nottingham university, to carry out an independent and thorough review of service and make recommendations for the future. On the basis of Professor Hull's recommendations, Manchester and Salford and Trafford health authorities drew up specific proposals for the development of high quality, city-wide services for children. The proposals are currently set aside pending the outcome of a possible judicial review.
Accident and Emergency Services
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions or advice his Department has issued to regional or district health services concerning criteria for contracts which they make with providers of accident and emergency services on a capitation or other basis and in relation to patterns of access to those services: and where such advice or information is published. [37330]
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Mr. Sackville: Health authorities are expected to enter into contracts with appropriate providers covering all accident and emergency attendances, regardless of the district of residence of the attenders.
This was explained in the document "Contracts for Health Services: Operational Principles" published in September 1989, copies of which are available in the Library.
Fertility Treatment
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many district health authorities place restrictions, other than age-related ones, on the availability of fertility treatment; [37309] (2) if he will list the district health authorities which have an age-related policy regarding the purchase of fertility treatment, together with details of the age at which each of these denies treatment, specifying what kind of fertility treatment is being limited. [37308]
Mr. Sackville: This information is not available centrally.
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to introducing guidelines to ensure consistency of provision of fertility treatment across district health authorities. [37310]
Mr. Sackville: Advice on the services available under the national health service for the treatment of infertility is contained in the effective health care bulletin on "The Management of Subfertility", August 1992, published for the NHS management executive by a consortium of Leeds and York Universities and the research unit of the Royal College of Physicians, copies of which are available in the Library.
Local health authorities are responsible for the provision of local health services, including the provision of infertility services. Decisions about the availability of these services must be left to individual health authorities as they are in the best position to determine priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances.
Residential Care Homes
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate his Department has of the number of complaints made about care in (a) residential and (b) nursing homes during the last year; [37010]
(2) what estimate his Department has of the number of (a) residential and (b) nursing homes that are holders of BS5750, and of investors in people awards; [37012]
(3) what estimate his Department has made of the number of care assistants in residential homes that have nursing
qualifications. [37015]
Mr. Bowis: This information is not available centrally.
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has of the number of registered residential homes and the number of registered nursing homes. [37013]
Mr. Bowis: As at 31 March 1994 in England, there were 17,600 residential care homes for adults registered with local authorities and 5,100 nursing homes registered
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with health authorities. A number of homes may be registered for both residential and nursing care under the terms of the Registered Homes Act 1984.Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the average gross and net profits made by private residential and nursing homes. [37018]
Mr. Bowis: Information is not available centrally on which to base such an estimate.
Blood Stocks
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress on the development of a national computing system to control blood stocks. [37137]
Mr. Sackville: I understand that the National Blood Authority expects to go out to tender shortly for bids to supply a new computer system for the national blood service.
NHS Staff
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps health authorities are taking to safeguard health staff carrying out their duties. [37042]
Mr. Malone: Under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, it is a requirement that employers and staff agree appropriate methods locally for ensuring the safety of their working environment.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has (a) to introduce safety guidelines to all health authorities aimed at minimising risks to staff and (b) to introduce a legal obligation on all health service bodies to ensure that such staff in the course of their duties are protected and in the event of sustaining injuries or contracting diseases have legal safeguards against employer negligence. [37043]
Mr. Malone: The national health service executive has issued guidance to NHS employers on health and safety at work issues, EL(93)66 and occupational health service matters HSG(94)51, which underline NHS employers' statutory duties to promote a safe working environment for staff, and on security "The NHS Security Manual", 1995. Copies of these documents are available in the Library. In the event of staff sustaining an injury or contracting a disease at work, they may be eligible for benefits under the NHS injury benefits scheme.
Complaints Procedures
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for legislation to introduce new national health service complaints and disciplinary procedures for general practitioners; on what date would these procedures take effect; and if he will make a statement. [37046]
Mr. Malone: The Government intend to lay measures before Parliament to introduce new national health service complaints and disciplinary procedures for family health services practitioners from 1 April 1996.
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Excess Winter Death Rates
Mrs. Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 20 January, Official Report , column 763 , what methodology is used to calculate excess winter death rates; and if he will publish the figures for all deaths in the relevant periods in each year since 1989. [37311]
Mr. Sackville: Excess winter deaths are defined as the number of deaths in the four months from December to March less the average of the numbers in the preceding autumn--August to November--and the following summer--April to July.
The excess winter mortality index is the number of excess winter deaths expressed as a percentage of the average of the number of deaths in the autumn and winter periods.
The numbers of deaths in each winter period in England and Wales since 1989 are as follows:
1989 90: 225,790
1990 91: 214,259
1991 92: 209,509
1992 93: 198,092
1993 94: 208,425
Hospitals (Car Parking)
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require all district health authorities, as a condition of any contract entered into with providers of hospital services, to refrain from making any charge for car parking for those visiting patients or receiving out- patient treatment at their establishments. [37371]
Islington Social Services
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority social service departments have made inquiries of his Department in respect of the index he holds of ex-employees of Islington who were referred to in the White report. [37099]
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure local authority social service departments have access to the list he holds of names of former employees of Islington social services department named in the White report. [37098]
Mr. Bowis: The Department has undertaken to check against its consultancy service index any names submitted by a local authority of any employee of theirs in the child care field who is understood to be a former employee of Islington social services department.
Information Disclosure
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the matters which staff of his Department are precluded by employment conditions from discussing with their Member of Parliament. [37102]
Mr. Sackville: There is no list of matters which staff of the Department are precluded by their employment conditions from discussing with their Member of
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Parliament. They may not, however, without prior permission, disclose official information held by the Department or another Government Department unless it has already been made public, nor should they discuss matters in such a way as to bring into question their political impartiality.Private Psychiatric Hospitals
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for health how many extra contractual referrals were made by health authorities to private psychiatric hospitals containing source accommodation in (a) 1994 and (b) the first six months of 1995; and how many were made in each case to hospitals run by Partnership in Care Ltd. [37025]
Mr. Bowis: This information is not available centrally.
Home Visits (Security)
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report from NHS trusts on arrangements in place to improve the security of midwives, district nurses and other carrying drugs to relieve pain to patients in the community. [37100]
Mr. Malone: No. There is a continuing responsibility on national health service trust management to ensure that staff in the community can practice in safety. The NHS executive provides guidance to local managers who must devise local solutions in their own particular circumstances. The NHS security manual includes a suggested "check list" to be used by staff involved in home visiting.
Hospitals, Manchester
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of hospital provision in South Manchester; when he expects to make any further assessment; and if he will make a statement. [37168]
Mr. Sackville: In November 1994, the North West regional health authority considered a report by Professor Herbert Duthie into the future shape of health care in south Manchester. Following amendments to the original proposals and a further period of public consultation, Manchester health authority has now agreed plans to improve health services in south Manchester, including those based in hospitals. In doing so, the health authority has accepted a number of demands put forward by South Manchester community health council and is currently working with South Manchester university hospitals NHS trust and others on the detailed arrangements.
NHS Staff Retirement
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total of NHS staff (a) retiring on pension and (b) taking early retirements on pension for each of the last 10 years; and what was the annual cost of early retirements in each of the last 10 years. [22739]
Mr. Sackville: [pursuant to his reply, 11 May, c. 569 70]: I regret that the information provided in the previous reply was incorrect. I have asked the chief executive of the NHS Pensions Agency, Mr. A. F. Cowan, to send the hon. Member a revised answer.
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Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 13 October 1995:"To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the total of NHS staff (a) retiring on pension and (b) taking early retirements on pension for each of the last 10 years; and what was the annual cost of early retirements in each of the last 10 years."
I regret that the information previously provided was incorrect.
Age retirements over the last 4 years
1991 92: 11,734
1992 93: 12,774
1993 94: 11,666
1994 95: 11,364
Ill-health retirements over the last 4 years
1991 92: 7,323
1992 93: 8,327
1993 94: 9,520
1994 95: 9,030
Early retirements over the last 4 years
1991 92: 2,818
1992 93: 3,313
1993 94: 5,837
1994 95: 5,732
Full cost of early retirements for the Scheme, excluding ill-health retirements in each of the following financial years is: 1992 93: £137.291m
1993 94: £158.827m
1994 95: £211.383m
ENVIRONMENT
Civil Servants (Allowances)
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what rates of travel allowance may be claimed by civil servants in his Department when using their own vehicles for official business. [36367]
Sir Paul Beresford: The mileage allowances payable to civil servants using their own vehicles in my Department are:
Cars-Standard mileage rate
|Up to |1501- |Over
Engine capacity |1500cc |2000cc |2000cc
Pence per mile
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 4000 miles (pa) |34 |43 |47
Over 4000 miles (pa) |19 |23 |30
A special rate of 23.8p per mile is payable where staff choose to use their own car, even when public transport is available.
Motor Cycles and Motor Cycle Combinations Engine capacity |Up to 125cc |Over 125cc ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Up to 4000 miles (pa) (comprehensive insurance) |16.2 |25.3 Up to 4000 miles (pa) (third party insurance) |14.5 |22.8 Over 4000 miles |6.2 |9.0 Pedal cycles 6.2p per mile
Dr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total cost of travel expenses
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claimed by civil servants using their own vehicles for official business in each of the last five years in his Department; and what would have been the saving in the last five years if the maximum rate that could be claimed was set at the lowest rate. [36368]Sir Paul Beresford: The total cost of travel expenses claimed by staff using their own vehicles for official business was some £450, 000 in 1993 94 and £640,000 in 1994 1995. Records are no longer available for earlier years and records showing the actual rate claimed are not kept. It is not possible, therefore to estimate the saving if the lower rate had not been claimed in each case.
Public Interest Immunity Certificates
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many public interest immunity certificates his Department has issued in each year since 1986. [36692]
Sir Paul Beresford: The Secretary of State for the Environment has not produced a public interest immunity certificate in legal proceedings in any year since 1986.
Homelessness
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are estimated to be homeless in each English county. [36730]
Mr. Clappison: Data on households which local authorities accept responsibility to secure accommodation for under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act are reported by local authorities districts on a quarterly basis. Total acceptances by the districts in each county for the quarter ending June 1995, the latest available are set out in the table.
|Number
-------------------------------------
Avon |580
Bedfordshire |187
Berkshire |345
Buckinghamshire |279
Cambridgeshire |243
Cheshire |<1>-
Cleveland |481
Cornwall |210
Cumbria |111
Derbyshire |656
Devon |<1>-
Dorset |345
Durham |162
East Sussex |587
Essex |631
Gloucestershire |216
Greater Manchester |2,469
Hampshire |848
Hereford and Worcester |435
Hertfordshire |<1>-
Humberside |268
Isle of Wight |58
Kent |<1>-
Lancashire |<1>-
Leicestershire |<1>-
Lincolnshire |217
London |6,320
Merseyside |744
Norfolk |<1>-
North Yorkshire |<1>-
Northamptonshire |219
Northumberland |130
Nottinghamshire |<1>-
Oxfordshire |<1>-
Shopshire |231
Somerset |292
South Yorkshire |591
Staffordshire |<1>-
Suffolk |290
Surrey |394
Tyne and Wear |855
Warwickshire |131
West Midlands |<1>-
West Sussex |346
West Yorkshire |1,568
Wiltshire |373
<1> Not available-returns have not
been received from all authorities
in the county. Details of
acceptances in individual
authorities are available in a
supplementary table which is
released alongside the quarterly
information bulletin on homelessness
statistics.
Housing Investment Programme
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much each English county has received via district councils under the housing investment programme. [36731]
Mr. Clappison: English counties do not receive any resources via district councils under the housing investment programme.
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