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Dental Services
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to make a statement on the progress of his talks with representatives of the dental profession to discuss the proposals announced in the Government's statement on NHS dentistry of 5 April, Official Report columns 1214- 15, and when he will implement them; [94]
(2) if he will estimate the cost of relating payments given to dentists to disease levels in children most in need as announced in the Government's statement on NHS
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- dentistry on 5 April; and how he is planning to meet this expected expenditure; [95]
(3) if he expects to maintain the current levels of gross payment to dentists working in the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [96]
(4) if he will estimate the selected costs and potential savings from the introduction of more rigorous prior approval procedures as announced in the Government's statement of NHS dentistry of 5 April; [97]
(5) if he will estimate the number of patients who will be deregistered as a result of the proposals announced in the Government's statement of NHS dentistry of 5 April; [98]
(6) if he plans to produce criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of any proposals announced in the Government's statement of NHS dentistry of 5 April that are implemented. [100]
Mr. Malone: The reform proposals I announced to the House on 5 April 1995 fall into two parts. For the longer term, the Government intend to introduce a system of local contracts between health authorities and dental practices. This requires primary legislation and would need to be carefully piloted and evaluated.
For the medium term, the Government put forward measures to reform the current system. Discussions with the General Dental Services Committee on the detailed development of these proposals are making progress. We hope to move to implementation of the measures from 1 April 1996.
The issue of relating payments to disease levels is one of those currently under discussion with the profession, as are the proposals for more rigorous prior approval. We would seek to minimise any additional administration costs arising from greater rigour. There is no reason why patients should be deregistered as a consequence of the reforms which are intended to create a secure and stable future for NHS dentistry. The proposals should lead to an increase in the number of children registered.
The level of gross payments to dentists working in the NHS is determined by a number of factors, including the annual recommendation of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body.
The measures we hope to introduce in April are developments of the existing remuneration system for dentists rather than a new untried system. Nevertheless, we intend to keep their impact under close review.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with members of the dental profession concerning the development of the Community Dental Service as announced in the Government's statement on NHS dentistry of 5 April. [99]
Mr. Malone:
We are currently discussing this issue with, among others, the joint negotiating forum for community dentistry at the British Dental Association.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plan he has to hold an investigation into the incidence of leukaemia amongst children in the Pembroke
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road area of Northampton; and if he has consulted the Northamptonshire health authority about this; [101]
(2) what representations he has received from medical professionals and members of the public with regard to the incidence of leukaemia amongst children in the Pembroke road area of Northampton; [102]
(3) what estimate he can give of the comparative incidence of leukaemia amongst children nationally and in the Pembroke road area of Northampton. [103]
Mr. Sackville:
I understand that Northamptonshire health authority has been investigating the situation and expects to publish a progress report shortly. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Simon Schanschieff, chairman of the authority, for details.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (i) 1985, (ii) 1986, (iii) 1987 and (iv) 1988 expenditure on administration by health authorities. [104]
Mr. Malone:
The expenditure on headquarters administration by health authorities in England for 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88 is shown in the table.
| £ thousands | |
|---|---|
| Expenditure | |
| 1984-85 | 416,173 |
| 1985-86 | 402,126 |
| 1986-87 | 434,739 |
| 1987-88 | 492,776 |
Note: The figures represent the total revenue expenditure on pay and accommodation cost of staff of all disciplines and their support staff employed at headquarters levels. These figures are not comparable with those for later years as there have been changes in the roles and responsibilities of health authorities, together with changes in accounting policies. Source: The annual accounts of district and regional health authorities and the special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each year since 1985 Department's expenditure on administration costs. [105]
Mr. Sackville: Details of the Department's administration costs are provided in the Department's annual reports for 1992-93 to 1994-95, Cm 1913, 1993- 94 to 1995-96, Cm 2212, and 1995-96 to 1997-98, Cm 2812 copies of which are available in the Library. Figures for the years 1986-87 to 1988-89 are an estimated apportionment to the Department of Health prior to the split of the DHSS in 1990-91. Department of Health administration costs are not available prior to 1986-87.
Employment of Children
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the protection of child workers. [608]
Mr. Bowis: We have a comprehensive legal system in place to protect the health, welfare and education of children who work. I refer the hon. Member to the reply
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I gave my hon. Friend the Member of Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) on 30 October, Official Report, columns 42-43 detailing my recently announced proposals for some minor improvements to that system.
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of children working over 10 hours per week; and if he will make a statement. [609]
Mr. Bowis: Such information as is available centrally was published in the April 1995 edition of the Employment Gazette, copies of which are available in the Library.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Liable Relatives
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of claims for income support by liable relatives that ceased within four weeks of Department of Social Security action; and what were the annual benefit savings produced in (a) historic and (b) current prices as a result of these actions in each year since 1989. [624]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information is not available in the format requested.
Income Support
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list (a) the number of income support claimants with deductions from benefit and (b) the average amount of deduction for each category of deduction for (i) 1988 and (ii) the latest date available adopting the figures contained in his Department's annual statistical inquiry. [622]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is set out in the tables.
| Deduction(2) | Number of claimants(3) | Average amount £ |
|---|---|---|
| Deductions from income support: 1988(1) | ||
| Electricity | 152,000 | 9.22 |
| Gas | 152,000 | 8.59 |
| Mortgage Interest | 7,000 | 24.20 |
| Service charges for fuel and water included in rent | 18,000 | 4.65 |
| Rent arrears and other housing costs | 94,000 | 2.39 |
| Board and lodging direct | 10,000 | 61.18 |
| Recovery of overpayment | 66,000 | 3.40 |
| Social fund loan recovery | 31,000 | 5.24 |
| Other deductions | 6,000 | 4.56 |
| Deductions from income support: 1994 | ||
| Electricity: | ||
| Current charges only | 27,000 | 8.62 |
| Including arrears(4) | 44,000 | 11.99 |
| Gas: | ||
| Current charges only | 36,000 | 7.62 |
| Including arrears(4) | 185,000 | 10.49 |
| Mortgage Interest: | ||
| Current costs only(5) | 294,000 | 32.23 |
| Arrears cases(4) | 137,000 | 52.70 |
| Water and Sewerage: | ||
| Current charges only | 22,000 | 3.41 |
| Including arrears(4) | 217,000 | 5.83 |
| Rent arrears and other housing costs: | ||
| Current charges only | 14,000 | 58.82 |
| Including arrears(4) | 151,000 | 4.90 |
| Community charge higher arrears only | 27,000 | 3.59 |
| Community charge lower arrears only | 432,000 | 2.29 |
| Council tax arrears only | 33,000 | 2.30 |
| Fines recovery | 8,000 | 2.30 |
| Child support | 34,000 | 2.33 |
| Recovery of overpayment | 115,000 | 4.09 |
| Social fund loan recovery | 663,000 | 6.37 |
Notes:
(1) Figures for 1988 include cases with deductions for current charges
plus those with deductions for arrears.
(2) Claimants can have more than one type of deduction.
(3) Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
(4) This category includes cases with current cost deductions.
(5) Debt in mortgage interest cases not a prerequisite for deductions
to occur. Source: "Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry 1988" and "Quarterly Enquiry November 1994"
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