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St. Bartholomew's and Royal London Hospitals
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about his Department's current plans on (a) St. Bartholomew's and (b) the Royal London hospitals. [35207]
Mr. Malone: A statement which, among other issues, referred to St. Bartholomew's hospital and the Royal London hospital, was made to the House on 5 April 1995.
Computer Aided Medical Systems plc
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to amend the financial arrangements between the NHS and its centre for coding and classification in Loughborough and Computer Aided Medical Systems plc. [35067]
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Mr. Horam: A study of the licensing arrangements between Computer Aided Medical Systems plc and the national health service has been commissioned with a view to their simplification and a reduction in their associated costs. the National Audit Office is examining the relationships between the NHS centre for coding and classicisations and Computer Aided Medical Systems plc. The arrangement referred to in the reply I gave the hon. Member on 4 June Official Report, at column 383, by which the same financial consultant oversaw the accounting and book-keeping of both bodies, has been changed. The consultant now deals only with the NHS centre for coding and classification.
Drug Abuse
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent in each of the last five years to discourage the use of (a) nicotine, (b) alcohol, (c) unnecessary medicinal drugs, (d) cannabis, (e) ecstasy and (f) heroin. [34895]
Mr. Bowis: The table shows the amount spent on behalf of the Department of Health on publicity and prevention initiatives for smoking and drug and solvent misuse over the last five years. Initiatives for drug and solvent misuse cover cannabis, ecstasy and heroin. No medicinal product can be licensed if it does not have a medicinal purpose. The figures for alcohol relate to sensible drinking messages and messages to people who may be having alcohol problems.
| Financial year | Smoking £ | Alcohol £ | Unnecessary medicinal drugs | Drug and solvent misuse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 5,438,000 | 1,613,000 | None | 4,965,023 |
| 1993-94 | 8,256,000 | 1,548,000 | None | 5,296,284 |
| 1994-95 | 10,538,000 | 819,000 | None | 4,443,396 |
| 1995-96 | 6,342,000 | 825,000 | None | 5,000,000 |
| 1996-97 | 6,500,000 | 825,000 | None | 5,000,000 |
B-12 Unit, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the B-12 unit located at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS trust has independent provider status; and if he will make a statement. [34952]
Mr. Malone: The vitamin B-12 unit is part of the Charing Cross and Westminster medical school, located on the Chelsea and Westminster hospital site.
Ecstasy
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of deaths involving ecstasy use in the last five years were attributed to (a) overheating, (b) excess water intake and (c) other causes. [34892]
Mr. Bowis: It is not possible to provide percentages in the way requested. The Office for National Statistics attributes these deaths to an underlying cause of abuse of ecstasy, or poisoning with ecstasy, not to any particular complication of the drug which may have been mentioned as having led to death.
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Cannabis
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that cannabis or further derivatives of cannabis are available to those suffering from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, glaucoma and the effects of chemotherapy. [34894]
Mr. Bowis: Nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, is already licensed for use in the treatment of certain conditions. Should any company wish to apply for a licence for medicines derived from cannabis, the Medicines Control Agency would consider this on the basis of the product's quality, safety and efficacy.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many parliamentary questions to his Department have been referred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental agency for which he has responsibility so far in the 1995-96 parliamentary Session. [34953]
Mr. Horam: A search of the parliamentary database on POLIS--parliamentary on-line information system--database has identified a total of 22 such parliamentary questions which were answered up to and including 24 June in the 1995-96 parliamentary Session. This represents less than 1 per cent. of the total.
Health Care Reforms
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which European countries (a) signed and (b) refused to sign the charter on reforming health care produced by the World Health Organisation conference on European health care reforms in Ljubljana on 17 to 20 June; [35141]
- (2) which European countries were represented at the World Health Organisation conference on European health care reforms in Ljubljana on 17 to 20 June by (a) health Ministers and (b) other officials; [35131]
(3) if he will list the recommendations in the charter on reforming health care produced by the World Health Organisation conference on European health care reforms in Ljubljana on 17 to 20 June which the Government do not accept indicating the consideration underlying the Government's policy; and what other factors led the Government not to endorse the charter. [35142]
Mr. Malone: The Department of Health does not have full details of the delegations which attended the Ljubijana conference. The charter on reforming health care was adopted by consensus.
The charter was developed by the World Health Organisation principally for countries from central and eastern European and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union whose health care structures are less well developed than those of western European countries. The reform of the national health service has continued to evolve in line with published targets and standards. The Government will continue to pursue this course for securing the highest possible standard of health care for the people of this country.
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Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to public funds of the Leeways report chaired by Elizabeth Lawson QC. [35127]
Mr. Bowis:
This was an inquiry set up by the London borough of Lewisham. I have no information on costs.
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to public funds of the inquiry (a) into child care in Staffordshire and (b) the report "The Pindown Experience and the Protection of Children". [35126]
Mr. Bowis:
The inquiry and report were funded by Staffordshire county council. I have no information on costs.
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) reports and (b) inquiries have been commissioned into child abuse by his Department since 1979. [35130]
Mr. Bowis:
Two statutory inquiries into child abuse have been commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health since 1979: the Cleveland inquiry 1988 and the Leicestershire inquiry 1992.
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to public funds of the residential staffs inquiry chaired by Lady Howe indicating separately the cost of the report, "The Quality of Care". [35138]
Mr. Bowis:
The inquiry was set up by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services and published by the Local Government Board. I have no information on its costs.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the contract for the private finance initiative--PFI--rebuilding of the Royal London hospital to be signed; if he will publish the terms of the contract; and what PFI funding will be provided. [35208]
Mr. Malone:
The Royal Hospitals NHS trust issued an invitation to negotiate for this work in April, and formal responses to this invitation are due by 2 September. The trust will then choose a preferred bidder and work up a full business case for approval by the NHS executive and Her Majesty's Treasury. It is too early to say what the capital value of the scheme is likely to be, or when the contract is likely to be signed.
The terms of the contract will be commercial in confidence.
Mr. Dykes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will announce the details of the replacement emergency facilities to be established at Edgware general hospital. [35073]
Mr. Dorrell:
A working group was established last December to make recommendations to Barnet health authority about medical input to the casualty service at Edgware hospital. It is meeting on 4 July to finalise its recommendations, which will then be published. Proposals for implementing the working group's
1 Jul 1996 : Column: 339
recommendations will be made public when they are sent to members of the health authority on 24 July. The health authority will reach its decision on these proposals on 31 July.
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