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Health Services (Private Contractors)

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which services previously provided by regional health authorities have been won by private contractors; and if he will list the contractors. [30430]

Mr. Horam: There is no information available centrally on all services previously provided by regional health authorities. The table lists the former regional health authority trading agencies which are known to have been transferred to the private sector since 1989.

RHA Service	Company
South and West
Swift IT services	EDS
IT services (Wessex)	AT and T Istel/Hoskyns
Estates department	MRM
West Midlands
Computer services	AT and T Istel
Legal Services	Lewington Partnership
Payroll services	Hartshead Solway
Parkfields Sterile Supply	CCL Industries
Northern and Yorkshire
Legal Services	Hampsons
Financial Services	Hartshead Solway
Architects' department	Fletcher Joseph Partnership
Computer services (Northern)	AT and T Istel
Quantity surveying	Beard Dove
IT services (Yorkshire)	Anderson
Architects' services	Fletcher Joseph Partnership
Engineering services	DSSR
Quantity surveying	Edmund Shipway and Partners
Anglia and Oxford
IT services	SEMA
Legal services	Mills and Reeve
Design services	Roughtons
Mandeville Medicines	Chapter Ltd.
Oxford Consortium	CSC
Architects' department	Bickerdyke Allen and Partners
Engineering services	Couch, Perry and Wilkes
Surveying services	Davies, Langden Everest
North West
Legal services	Hampsons
Professional Data Care	SMS (UK) Ltd.
Estate services	EML
South Thames
Estates Design and Management (EDAM)	Capita
Project management services (capital)	AYH
Architects' department	MRM
Engineers' department	Gregory
HCR and SE Computing	Hoskyns
North Thames
Signet Computer Centre (NE Thames)	Data Med/HBO
IT Services (NW Thames)	SEMA
Trent
Computer services	AT and T Istel
Engineering Department	Mala and Pearce Design Group
Quantity Surveying	Beard Dove

21 May 1996 : Column: 94

Patients (Discharge from NHS Care)

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collates on patients who refuse discharge from NHS care. [30428]

Mr. Bowis: None.

Health Authorities and Trusts

Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS trusts have (a) a chairman, (b) a chief executive and (c) a board of directors; [30250]

(2) how many NHS health authorities have (a) a chairman, (b) a chief executive and (c) a board of directors. [30251]

Mr. Malone: All 429 national health service trusts and 100 NHS health authorities have chairmen and chief executive posts, and they all have a board of executive and non-executive directors.

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collates on management and administrative spending by individual trusts and health authorities. [30429]

Mr. Malone: For national health service trusts, information is collated on management and management consultancy spending and non-clinical administration spending as defined by the Audit Commission and circulated to trusts under circular FDL(95)32. For health authorities, information is collated on health authority costs as defined in circular FDL(96)20. Copies of FDL(95)32 and FDL(96)20 will be placed in the Library.

21 May 1996 : Column: 95

Consultants

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 14 May, Official Report, column 419, what information his Department collates about consultants. [30438]

Mr. Malone: The annual medical work force census gathers data, as at 30 September each year, on consultant vacancies by specialty. These refer to posts which were vacant for whatever reason on the actual day of collection, including, for example, vacant posts in the process of being filled.

Beta Interferon

Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which health authorities trials were conducted on the effectiveness of the drug beta interferon for sufferers of multiple sclerosis; on how many patients; and over what period. [30313]

Mr. Malone: Such information is confidential. Section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968 precludes the disclosure of confidential information received in pursuance of the Act.

Mrs. Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list those authorities which have (a) agreed and (b) refused to prescribe beta interferon to MS sufferers who are suitably fit to receive it; [30314]

(2) what guidelines have been issued to health authorities regarding the prescription of the drug beta interferon to MS sufferers. [30315]

Mr. Malone: Executive letter (95)/97 issued to health authorities in November 1995 suggested that, where it is clinically appropriate to prescribe beta-interferon to treat multiple sclerosis, it should be prescribed by hospital neurologists. The guidance was accompanied by clinical advice from the Standing Medical Advisory Committee. Decisions about prescribing in individual cases are a matter for clinical judgment.

Health Authorities (Efficiency Targets)

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health authorities have failed to meet their efficiency index targets in each of the last two years. [29669]

Mr. Horam [holding answer 16 May 1996]: 1993-94 and 1994-95 are the last two years for which final figures are available. The national efficiency index targets were applied at regional health authority level for these years and they all achieved them.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Legal Aid

Mr. Steen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what account was taken of the place of residence of the individual granted legal aid in January 1996 (reference 06936J). [30039]

Mr. Jonathan Evans: None. Legal aid is available for most matters justiciable in the courts of England and Wales, subject to the statutory tests of eligibility.

21 May 1996 : Column: 96

PRIME MINISTER

Engagements

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 21 May. [29028]

Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 21 May. [29029]

The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

Hawk Aircraft

Mr. Madden: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will arrange the withdrawal of (a) export licences and (b) export guarantees issued by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in relation to the supply to India by British Aerospace of Hawk aircraft and the transfer of technology enabling the production of Hawk aircraft in India; and if he will make a statement; [30145]

(2) if he will make representations to British Aerospace urging to cancel any agreement with the Government of India concerning the supply of Hawk aircraft and the transfer of technology enabling India to manufacture Hawk aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [30144]

The Prime Minister: No. I have nothing further to add to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on 15 May, Official Report columns 942-43.

WPC Yvonne Fletcher

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what action Her Majesty's Government have taken in the case of WPC Yvonne Fletcher, in relation to the statement of Colonel George Styles, Professor Hugh Thomas, and Home Office pathologist, Professor Bernard Knight, since the Adjournment debate on 8 May. [29290]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 20 May 1996]: The investigation of crime is a matter for the police. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Home Department made clear to the House on 8 May, the Metropolitan police are aware of the television programme to which the hon. Member refers, and are reviewing its contents as part of their continuing investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.

Abortion

Mr. Alton: To ask the Prime Minister if he will extend the conscience clause of the Abortion Act 1967 to non-NHS employees affected by abortion procedures. [30236]

The Prime Minister: The Government always encourage employers to give due consideration to their employees' beliefs and feelings, and to operate fair and objective disciplinary procedures. It has been a longstanding convention that the Government do not initiate change in legislation relating to abortion. It is open to Members of both Houses to introduce proposals for parliamentary consideration.

21 May 1996 : Column: 97

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