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Grass (Hay and Silage)
Mr. Macdonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total area of grass for hay and silage recorded in the June agricultural census within the boundary of the Machair of the Uists, Barra and Vatersay environmentally sensitive area. [39837]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: In 1994, the total area of grass for moving for hay and silage production was 654.2 hectares. This figures includes an estimate for minor holdings.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many NHS trusts in Scotland have their board meetings (a) fully open to the public, (b) partially open to the public and (c) closed to the public. [39398]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 26 October 1995]: The information is as follows:
(a) Open to the public: 6
(b) Partially open to the public: 16
(c) Closed to the public: 25
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much (a) NHS trusts and (b) health boards spent on public relations in the previous financial year. [39404]
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 26 October 1995]: This information is not held centrally.
Special Educational Needs
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what resources he has made available to promote the encouragement of liaison between parents and voluntary organisations and named persons' involvement as in accordance with the university of Edinburgh report to the Scottish Education Department on children with special educational needs. [40171]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The Scottish Office has committed considerable resources to the production of guidance for all those involved in the processes connected with records of needs to encourage the full involvement of parents and where appropriate voluntary organisations.
The Scottish Office publication, "A Parent's Guide to Special Educational Needs", provides relevant information and guidance for parents, including an extensive list of appropriate contacts in the voluntary sector. Further, more detailed, guidance will be published shortly.
The Scottish Office has also helped the national voluntary organisation, Children in Scotland, to establish the special needs forum, which provides information and training about special educational needs for parents and voluntary organisations. In 1994, with financial assistance from the Scottish Office, Children In Scotland published "A Special Partnership", a guidebook for named persons and parents to help them to participate more effectively in the recording processes.
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish children with specific speech or language disorders are having their special educational needs met in residential establishments in England as a result of the lack of appropriate provision in Scotland. [40172]
Mr. Robertson: The information requested is not held centrally.
Private Patients
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by trust in each region, details of income from private patients for 1993 94 and 1994 95 (a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of total trust income. [39949]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information, grouped by health board area, is set out in the table. The figures have been taken from NHS trust annual accounts. The figures for 1994 95 are provisional. Figures for Central Scotland Healthcare NHS trust include those for Royal Scottish National Hospital NHS trust, which dissolved on formation of the new trust on 1 October 1994. Figures for West Lothian NHS trust include charges to overseas visitors.
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1993-94 1994-95
|Private patient |Percentage of |Private patient |Percentage of
Health Board |income £000 |total income |income £000 |total income
Area/NHS Trust Name
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde
Inverclyde Royal |n/a |n/a |27 |0.07
Renfrewshire Healthcare |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Royal Alexandra Hospital |2 |0.00 |0 |0.00
Ayrshire and Arran
Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare |0 |0.00 |0 |0.00
North Ayrshire and Arran |46 |0.07 |46 |0.07
South Ayrshire Hospitals |69 |0.15 |123 |0.28
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals |n/a |n/a |35 |0.09
Fife
Fife Healthcare |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Queen Margaret Hospital |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Forth Valley
Central Scotland Healthcare |0 |0.00 |16 |0.03
Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary |n/a |n/a |29 |0.08
Stirling Royal Infirmary |33 |0.09 |24 |0.07
Grampian
Aberdeen Royal Hospitals |504 |0.44 |672 |0.70
Grampian Healthcare |37 |0.03 |11 |0.01
Moray Health Services |26 |0.11 |27 |0.11
Greater Glasgow
Glasgow Royal Infirmary University |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Southern General Hospital |417 |0.53 |103 |0.14
Stobhill |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Victoria Infirmary |17 |0.03 |0 |0.00
West Glasgow Hospitals |n/a |n/a |30 |0.03
Yorkhill |49 |0.09 |93 |0.20
Highland
Caithness and Sutherland |1 |0.01 |19 |0.13
Highland Communities |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Raigmore Hospital |114 |0.24 |157 |0.31
Lanarkshire
Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Law Hospital |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals |0 |0.00 |0 |0.00
Lothian
East and Midlothian |n/a |n/a |4 |0.01
Edinburgh Healthcare |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Edinburgh Sick Children's |n/a |n/a |19 |0.09
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh |n/a |n/a |822 |0.67
Western General Hospitals |n/a |n/a |337 |0.56
West Lothian |29 |0.05 |69 |0.11
Tayside
Angus |n/a |n/a |38 |0.10
Dundee Healthcare |n/a |n/a |0 |0.00
Dundee Teaching Hospitals |45 |0.04 |40 |0.05
Perth and Kinross Healthcare |n/a |n/a |154 |0.28
Totals |1,389 |0.14 |2,895 |0.11
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Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 18 July, Official Report , columns 1119 20 , if he will now confirm and update the figures on private patient income. [39954]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The figures on private patient income for the period up to 1993 94 were provided in the previous answer of 24 November 1994, Official Report , columns 333 34 . These figures were confirmed as final in the answer of 18 July, Official Report , columns 1119 20 . Income figures for private patients for 1994 95 are provisional, and are set out in the
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table. The figure for Lothian in 1994 95 includes overseas patients, and can therefore not be compared directly with those for earlier years.
Health Boards |1994-95
|£000
--------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde |27
Ayrshire and Arran |169
Borders |52
Dumfries and Galloway |35
Fife |0
Forth Valley |69
Grampian |710
Greater Glasgow |226
Highland |176
Lanarkshire |0
Lothian |1,251
Orkney |0
Shetland |0
Tayside |232
Western Isles |0
Total |2,947
Health Boards (Audited Accounts)
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list (a) the underspend for the year 1994 95, (b) the initial reallocation for the year 1995 96 and (c) the revised reallocation for 1995 96 for each health board. [40313]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The audited accounts for health boards for 1994 95 have recently been received and are currently being analysed. Provisional figures for the underspend for each health board based on these accounts are set out in the table. There is only one reallocation which derives from these underspends, subject to parliamentary approval. For the year 1995 96 the reallocation is likely to be the major part of the underspend for 1994 95, but the precise figures have yet to be finalised.
|Underspend/
|(Overspend)
Health Board |£000
------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde |85
Ayrshire and Arran |828
Borders |816
Dumfries and Galloway |1,453
Fife |1,197
Forth Valley |1,313
Grampian |1,373
Greater Glasgow |9,880
Highland |971
Lanarkshire |1,272
Lothian |3,057
Orkney |(2)
Shetland |106
Tayside |845
Western Isles |201
Total |23,395
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) surpluses and (b) deficits were recorded by each district health authority in 1994 95. [40661]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The audited accounts for health boards for 1994 95 have recently been received and are currently being analysed. Provisional figures for the surplus or deficit for each health board are set out in the table.
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|Underspend/
|(Overspend)
Health Board |£000
------------------------------------------------
Argyll and Clyde |85
Ayrshire and Arran |828
Borders |816
Dumfries and Galloway |1,453
Fife |1,197
Forth Valley |1,313
Grampian |1,373
Greater Glasgow |9,880
Highland |971
Lanarkshire |1,272
Lothian |3,057
Orkney |(2)
Shetland |106
Tayside |845
Western Isles |201
Total |23,395
Barlinnie Prison
Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress of the procurator fiscal's investigation into the report on prisoners who were allegedly beaten by prison officers in Her Majesty's prison, Barlinnie. [40314]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The procurators fiscal at Glasgow and Hamilton were responsible for the investigation of complaints by prisoners of assaults at, and on the way to, Barlinnie prison, Glasgow, which were the subject of a BBC Scotland television programme "Frontline Scotland" on 12 October 1995. The programme looked at the complaints of three prisoners. The evidence in each of these cases has been considered by Crown counsel in the normal way. In the case of William McKay, who alleged that he had been assaulted in January 1994, there was insufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings against any person, and in October 1994 Crown counsel instructed that no criminal proceedings should be taken. The governor and Mr. McKay were told of that decision.
In the case of James McGhee, who complained of assault, it has not as yet been possible to establish who was responsible for his injuries and Crown counsel has given the procurator fiscal instructions to pursue further lines of inquiry. Crown counsel has also given the procurator fiscal instructions concerning the complaint of Thomas Monaghan. It would not be appropriate for any further details to be given at this time in relation to the complaints of Mr. McGhee and Mr. Monaghan.
HEALTH
National Blood Service
15. Mr. John Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce his final decision on the reorganisation of the National Blood Service; and if he will make a statement. [38226]
Mr. Sackville: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce the decision as soon as possible. We need to be fully satisfied that any proposals that are
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adopted set the right direction for the future development of the National Blood Service.London Initiative Zone
17. Mr. Robert Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on implementing London initiative zone projects in the north Thames region. [38228]
Mr. Malone: Since the London initiative zone was set up in 1993, an additional £124 million has been invested in developing primary care services through LIZ projects in north London. A substantial six-year programme is now under way to improve general practitioner surgeries and health centres, to increase the number of staff, and to provide better services for local people.
Trust Chief Executives (Income)
18. Mr. Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average income of the top 10 highest paid chief executives. [38229]
Mr. Malone: Information on national health service chief executives' remuneration is published locally in all NHS employing authorities' annual accounts, but is not collated centrally.
Total Purchasing Initiative
19. Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what interest GPs have shown in the Government's total purchasing initiative. [38230]
Mr. Malone: Health authorities and fundholding general practitioners have shown considerable interest in this initiative. That is why we announced that we would extend the number of pilot projects in England from 51 to around 70 in total. We have also decided to extend the formal evaluation programme from two years to three.
Doctors and Dentists
20. Sir David Knox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors and dentists undertook national health service work at the most recent count; and what was the comparable figure in 1979. [38231]
Mr. Malone: The number of doctors and dentists undertaking national health service work has risen by 31 per cent., from 72,270 in 1979 to 94,730 in 1994, the most recent year for which figures are available.
Tameside Hospital (Secure Accommodation)
21. Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about provision of secure accommodation for disturbed patients in Tameside hospital. [38232]
Mr. Bowis: The Tameside development is one of seven high dependency units in the north-west region which, with medium secure units, will provide levels of care according to the security needs of the individual patient.
Frozen Human Embryos
22. Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to safeguard surplus frozen human embryos from destruction. [38233]
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Mr. Sackville: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 February 1995 Official Report , column 325 . A report by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority about the statutory storage period for embryos is under consideration by Ministers.
Nursing Profession
23. Mr. Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he proposes to improve morale within the nursing profession. [38234]
Mr. Sackville: Well managed trusts and other national health service employers in the United Kingdom are fully aware of the importance of nurse morale in the delivery of high-quality patient care. NHS trusts now have greater freedoms than ever before to develop local pay and working arrangements which reflect more properly the valuable contribution of highly motivated and skilled nurses.
Evidence of the present high nursing morale is reflected in the host of nursing-led initiatives currently in progress. These range from nurse-led clinics and nurse-led out-patient services, nursing beds for the chronically ill, pre-admission clinics, eight nurse prescribing schemes and the expanding range of nurse specialist posts including those of nurse practitioners.
GP Fundholding
24. Mr. Hoon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about GP fundholding. [38235]
Mr. Malone: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health gave earlier.
Breast Cancer Services
25. Mr. Chisholm: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's response to the third report of the Health Select Committee on breast cancer services (HC324). [38236]
Mr. Sackville: The Government's response to the Health Select Committee's third report on breast cancer services was laid before Parliament on 18 October 1995, Cm 3007. Copies of the response are also available in the Library.
Berkshire Health Commission
26. Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the decision of Berkshire health commission to deny treatments previously made available on the national health service. [38237]
Mr. Malone: Berkshire health commission has issued a public discussion document setting out its proposed health care purchasing priorities for 1996 97. There are no blanket bans on treatments; each case will be considered on the basis of clinical need. Any significant changes in local services arising from the proposals will be the subject of further public consultation.
NHS (Research and Development)
27. Mr. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is now being spent annually on research
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and development in the NHS; and what were the comparable figures for the years 1975 to 1979. [38238]Mr. Malone: In 1994 95, national health service research and research related expenditure, including that of the Department of Health, was estimated to be £385 million.
No comparable figures are available for the years 1975 79.
Waiting Times (City of Leicester)
28. Mr. Janner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current waiting time in the city of Leicester for minor surgery. [38239]
Mr. Malone: Information in the form requested is not available centrally. Available data about waiting times for hospitals in Leicester can be found in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", copies of which are available in the Library. The latest published figures are for March 1995.
Private Finance Initiative
29. Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the boards of hospital trusts about the costs incurred preparing and presenting bids under the private finance initiative. [38240]
Mr. Sackville: None. It is for the private sector bidders to prepare and present their bids, and they bear their own costs in doing so. The national health service benefits from more cost-effective projects.
Glaucoma
Mr. Loyden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are currently receiving treatment for glaucoma. [38157]
Mr. Sackville: More than 25,500 glaucoma patients received hospital in-patient or day care treatment last year, an increase of 48 per cent. since 1989 90. The number of out-patients or patients being treated for glaucoma by their general practitioners is not available centrally.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ill-health retirement pensions were awarded to NHS staff incapacitated by chronic fatigue syndrome in each of the last five years; and how many of these awards were made within two years of the disease being diagnosed for each of the last five years. [38575]
Mr. Sackville: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the NHS Pensions Agency under its chief executive Mr. A. F. Cowan. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.
Letter from A. F. Cowan to Mr. Jon Owen Jones, dated 31 October 1995:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions it falls within my area of responsibility. The information is not available in the format requested, because the Agency did not maintain separate records about CFS applications before 15 August 1994. Since then the Agency has
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approved 19 cases as meeting our criteria for permanent incapacity. Of these, 11 awards were made within 2 years of the first diagnosis of CFS.Departmental Staff Travel
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many return trips during the last 12 months have been taken by his Department's staff between London and Leeds (a) per week, (b) per month and (c) annually; and at what cost. [39004]
Mr. Sackville: The total number of return trips by Department of Health staff between London and Leeds in the 12 months to September 1995 is estimated to be 4,730. The estimated travel costs of these journeys is £665,000. Relocation is expected to produce net savings of around £10 million per year after taking account of travel and other additional expenses.
Angioplasty
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by regional health authority for the latest available year the number of patients who received balloon angioplasty, the initial success rate percentage and the percentage of patients returned to their doctors during the following six months with angina. [39489]
Mr. Sackville: The available information is shown in the table.
The estimated number of finished consultant episodes for
transluminal balloon angioplasty of the coronary artery in
National Health Service hospitals in England for 1993-94:
Region of treatment |1993-94
------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |372
Yorkshire |1,059
Trent |570
East Anglian |333
North West Thames |943
North East Thames |658
South East Thames |1,364
South West Thames |381
Wessex |632
Oxford |250
South Western |268
West Midlands |769
Mersey |445
North Western |439
SHA's |503
England |8,986
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics.
National Blood Authority
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the National Blood Authority will be expected to demonstrate a 6 per cent. return on capital under the same arrangements as NHS trusts. [39792]
Mr. Sackville: The National Blood Authority is expected to achieve a 6 per cent. return on capital on the same basis as other health authorities.
Dental Services
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide the figures for the number of patients who
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are registered with dental practices in the Doncaster family health services area on (a) 30 June 1992, (b) 30 June 1993, (c) 30 June 1994 and (d) 30 June 1995. [39446]Mr. Malone: The information is shown in the table.
' General Dental Services: Number of patients registered in Doncaster Family Health Services Authority Year |All patients --------------------------------------- 30 June 1992 |173,328 30 June 1993 |191,241 30 June 1994 |193,062 30 June 1995 |187,940
Private Patients
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 July, Official Report , columns 1119 20 , if he will now confirm and update the figures on private patient income. [39953]
Mr. Sackville: Figures for 1994 95 are not yet available.
Osteopaths Act 1993
Sir Ivan Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to give effect to the provisions of the Osteopaths Act 1993. [39908]
Mr. Sackville: Work on establishing the General Osteopathic Council is proceeding well and we expect to be able to announce its membership shortly.
Information Technology Systems
Mr. Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many different information technology systems are currently in use within the NHS for data storage and retrieval; if standardised software and hardware exist for such information storage and retrieval; and what guidance his Department has issued in relation to common information technology systems. [40696]
Mr. Sackville: Information on the number of information technology systems in use in the national health service is not available centrally. The NHS Executive has developed a standards enforcement in procurement, STEP, process to ensure that information technology systems within the NHS in England conform to agreed IT standards. "NHS IT Standards in Procurement", issued on 1 April 1995 to all chief executives of NHS trusts in England contains statements of policy on standards in different areas of IT. This is the definitive statement of the nationally agreed standards and recommendations relevant to all aspects of IT in the NHS. Within these guidelines, NHS trusts are free to implement systems which best meet their individual needs.
Departmental Cash Limits
Mr. Mark Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes will be made to the cash limits of his Department in 1995 96. [41092]
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Mr. Dorrell: The cash limit for class XII vote 1--hospital, community health, family health services and related services, England-- will be increased by £3,129,000 from £26,536,835,000 to £26, 539,964,000. This allows for an increase of £4,465,000 in respect of a transfer from class XII, vote 2--Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England-- for work on publicity campaigns, £2,986,000; for work of the Public Health Laboratory Service relating to immunoglobulin products, £810,000; and for the work of the Medical Devices Agency, £669,000. The overall increase is partially offset by £1,336,000 made up of transfers to class XIV, vote 12--hospital, community health, family health, part, and other health services, Scotland--for the work of the Prescription Pricing Authority, £840, 000; and the London post-graduate teaching hospitals services, £246, 000; and to class VII, vote 2--regeneration and countryside, England--for the urban programme, £250,000.
The cash limit for class XII, vote 2--Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England--will be reduced by £4,570,000, from £1,283,948,000 to £1,279,378,000. This reduction allows for transfer of £4,465,000 to class XII, vote 1 as mentioned above and £105,000, running costs to class XIX, vote 3--Privy Council Office--for the central drug co-ordinating unit.
The non-voted cash limit for supplementary credit approvals for personal social services--DoH/LACAP--in England is to be increased by £1,305,000 from £26,700,000 to £28,005,000 in respect of the take-up of entitlement to carry forward of underspends from 1994 95 financial year under the end-year flexibility arrangements as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 13 July 1995, Official Report , columns 776 82 .
The Department's gross running cost limit will be reduced by £105, 000 from £239,455,000 to £239,350,000 as mentioned above. All increases will either be offset by savings, increased receipts or transfers to or from other votes or charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
GP Fundholding
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs currently operate a fundholding budget; how many patients and how much money is involved; and if he will make a
statement. [38646]
Mr. Malone: More than 10,400 general practitioners in England are currently fundholders. They serve more than 20 million patients--41 per cent. of the population--and control £3.4 billion of national health service resources.
National Breast Cancer Campaign
Mr. Bill Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet a delegation from the National Breast Cancer Campaign to discuss increasing funding for research into the disease. [38592]
Mr. Sackville: If the hon. Member writes setting out his proposals, we would be happy to consider such a request.
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Dietary Supplements
Mr. Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the policy of the Medicines Control Agency in respect of consultation with consumers of dietary supplements prior to the finalisation and publication of the proposed Medicines Act leaflet, MAL 8; and what consultation has so far been undertaken with such consumers and practitioners organisations, with particular reference to the Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy; [40105]
(2) if he will make it his policy to protect the diversity and availability of vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements currently available to consumers by ensuring that the proposed Medicines Act leaflet, MAL 8, does not impose new regulatory burdens or systems of compulsory pharmaceutical licensing on manufacturers of such products; and what is the extent to which the provisions of MAL 8 will be consistent with the Government's policy of
deregulation; [40106]
(3) if he will make a statement indicating the extent to which the provisions of the proposed Medicines Act leaflet, MAL 8, will limit or otherwise affect the sale of dietary supplements currently sold legally; [40107]
(4) if he will make it his policy that in interpreting article 1 of directive 65/65/EEC (a) foods, (b) vitamins, (c) minerals and (d) other products currently lawfully sold as a foodstuff or dietary supplement will not be reclassified as medicinal product by virtue solely of their capacity to restore normality to physiological functions; [40108]
(5) in what circumstances vitamin, mineral and other dietary supplements currently lawfully sold as foodstuffs or dietary supplements will be reclassified as medicinal products requiring pharmaceutical product licences under the provisions of article 1 of directive 65/65/EEC. [40109]
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