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HEALTH
Mental Health
Mr. Cann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to review the Mental Health Act 1983, with particular reference to the mental health review tribunal system. [34598]
Mr. Bowis: None where the Act is concerned.
Mr. Cann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken since March to inform mental health review tribunal members of the clinical outcomes for patients following discharge decisions. [34625]
Mr. Bowis: Mental health review tribunal regional chairmen monitor decisions made by tribunals in their regions and always review those where a serious offence has taken place shortly after discharge by a tribunal. In-depth research is shortly to commence into decision making and outcomes of tribunals.
Alternative Therapies
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into alternative therapies as a means of reducing the cost of the NHS. [35061]
Mr. Horam: We are aware of one such study, on manipulation for back pain.
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Hospital Building (Buckinghamshire)
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update the list of hospital building
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schemes in Buckinghamshire contained in his answer of 6 June 1995, Official Report, column 33-34; and if he will make a statement. [34944]
Mr. Horam: The information is shown in the tables.
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| Project/scheme | Completed date | Cost(1) (£) | Updated cost (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amersham--Dermatology unit | 21 January 1994 | 2,581,694 | 3,207,215 |
| Amersham operating theatres | 21 June 1983 | 1,333,653 | 1,880,451 |
| Amersham phase 1 | 22 July 1991 | 6,193,487 | 7,338,501 |
| Buckingham phase 1 | 16 February 1990 | 1,263,502 | 1,583,589 |
| Milton Keynes DGH--end unit | 24 September 1992 | 1,202,638 | 1,437,050 |
| Milton Keynes DGH-OPD | 13 November 1989 | 3,578,463 | 4,294,156 |
| Milton Keynes DGH--phase 1 | 12 September 1983 | 15,638,544 | 20,045,770 |
| Milton Keynes DGH--phase 2 | 21 August 1991 | 17,810,043 | 21,372,052 |
| St. Johns EMI | 11 March 1991 | 1,816,779 | 1,849,573 |
| Stoke Mandeville--maternity | 5 May 1991 | 6,030,648 | 6,139,504 |
| Stoke Mandeville-OPD/hospice | 18 July 1989 | 1,598,049 | 1,959,347 |
| Stoke Mandeville--pathology | 5 May 1989 | 1,545,574 | 1,937,119 |
| Stoke Mandeville--X-ray | 10 July 1987 | 1,287,006 | 1,695,961 |
| Tindal MIO Development | 7 May 1991 | 3,831,237 | 3,485,190 |
| Tweed Drive-nursing home | 2 August 1988 | 1,224,958 | 1,216,332 |
| Wycombe pathology | 5 July 1985 | 1,314,300 | 1,807,964 |
| Wycombe X-ray extensions and alterations | 16 September 1994 | 2,074,436 | 2,554,546 |
| Milton Keynes--security unit phase 2 | 14 February 1995 | 1,918,847 | 2,236,012 |
| Aylesbury Manor house rehabilitation unit | 30 June 1995 | 1,520,819 | 1,695,142 |
| Totals | 76,259,941 | 90,933,949 |
(1) Includes construction costs, fees and equipment, information is not available centrally on total for schemes, for example VAT and land purchase costs are excluded.
DGH=district general hospital.
EMI=elderly mentally infirm.
OPD=out-patients department.
MI=mental illness.
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| Project/Scheme | Forecast completion date | Estimated cost (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Mandeville hospital redevelopment | Being readvertised | 32,000,000 |
| Aylesbury Vale mental health intensive care unit | April 1998 | 1,800,000 |
| Amersham and High Wycombe redevelopment (South Bucks) | April 1998 | 38,000,000 |
| Total | 71,800,000 |
| Project/Scheme | Forecast completion date | Estimated cost (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Mandeville hospital enabling works | 5 July 1996 | 1,097,337 |
Employment of Children
Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the results of his consultation on laws governing the employment of children will be published; and if he will ensure that all submissions by those organisations consulted will be placed in the Library. [35252]
Mr. Bowis: We will announce our decisions in due course.
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Consultant Posts (Advertising)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 86, if he will collect statistics on the number of NHS trusts which (a) have advertised and (b) plan to advertise outside the United Kingdom to recruit consultants in each specialty. [35317]
Mr. Malone: I have no such plans.
Child Abuse Inquiries
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to public funds of (a) the inquiry into child abuse in Cleveland in 1987 and (b) the report by Lord Justice Butler-Sloss. [35129]
Mr. Bowis [holding answer 1 July 1996]: The total expenditure incurred by the Department of Health in respect of the Cleveland inquiry, including the report by Lord Justice Butler-Sloss, was about £1.25 million.
ENVIRONMENT
Local Government (Building Control)
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the levels of competition in building control practices in local government; and if he will make a statement. [35074]
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Mr. Clappison: My right hon. Friend's views are reflected in the Department of the Environment circular 1/96, which was issued on 25 March 1996. As is made clear in the circular, it is recognised that it is just a small minority of local authorities whose practices warranted the issue of what is essentially a guide to good practice.
Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has received to his circular on local authority building control and related services, approved inspectors and uncompetitive practices; and if he intends to publish a report on the response. [35075]
Mr. Clappison: Since the circular was issued, a small number of letters has been received from local authorities. It is not intended to publish a report on the response.
Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effects of ceasing to charge VAT on building regulations on the work of local authority planning departments. [35076]
Mr. Clappison: It is not the case that local authorities no longer charge VAT on building regulation applications. They continue to charge VAT on the basis of whether or not the type of building work which is to be controlled under the Building Regulations 1991 is subject to competition by private approved inspectors. NHBC Building Control Services Ltd. is currently the only approved inspector. Following recent changes, it may now control developments containing dwellings of any height as well as those containing mixed uses, as prescribed in its approval. Local authorities therefore need to identify building control work which is subject to competition and to charge VAT on it if the applicant chooses to use the local authority's service. Work which is not the subject of competition by approved inspectors will continue not to be subject to VAT.
Waste Management Planning Scheme
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the waste management planning scheme and how it affects the recycling of non-ferrous metals. [34681]
Mr. Clappison: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him yesterday, 2 July, Official Report, columns 398-99.
Hospital Development, South Norfolk
Mr. Garrett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his oral statement of 20 June, Official Report, columns 1011-13, on city centre development, if he will call in the proposed hospital development at Colney in the South Norfolk district. [34964]
Sir Paul Beresford: No. The adopted local plan makes specific provision for a new hospital at Colney. We consider that the local planning authority is best placed to decide the planning application and to impose any conditions it thinks necessary in the light of local concerns about accessibility.
Marine Environment
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what monitoring is undertaken by his
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Department of the effects of cumulative discharges to the marine environment from offshore oil and gas installations on marine wildlife and habitats; [35463]
- (2) what action is undertaken by his Department to ensure that cumulative discharges to the marine environment from offshore oil and gas installations do not damage marine wildlife and habitats. [35464]
Mr. Clappison: Most offshore oil installations are in Scottish waters. The Scottish Office marine laboratory carries out monitoring to assess the impact on the marine environment of discharges of oily water, oil contaminated drill cuttings and process chemicals. More generally, marine laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food maintain an extensive monitoring programme to identify any harmful effects of human activities on the marine environment. Information from both programmes is utilised by the Department of the Environment to assess the need for, and formulation of, national and international guidelines. Overall regulation of the offshore industry is by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish guidance on the implementation of the global programme of action on the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities. [35465]
Mr. Clappison: The global programme of action for the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities reflects the approach already being adopted on this important issue throughout the United Kingdom, and by other estates in north-west Europe, in line with both North sea conference commitments and the requirements of the 1992 Paris convention--OSPAR. This provides a comprehensive framework for protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic from both sea-based and land-based activities. The UK guidance note on the fourth North sea conference was published yesterday; I believe that the publication of further guidance is unnecessary at this stage.
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the last 12 months in respect of the commitments given in the fourth North sea declaration agreed in Esbjerg, Denmark; and if he will make a statement. [35467]
Mr. Clappison: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Minister for Construction, Planning and Energy Efficiency to my hon. Friend the Member for Westbury (Mr. Faber) Official Report, column 400.
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