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Tobacco-related Jobs
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change there has been in the number of tobacco-related jobs in the United Kingdom since 1 January 1993. [36558]
Mrs. Angela Knight: The latest information specific to tobacco-related jobs relates to September 1993. This is shown in the following table. Annual estimates, beginning in September 1995, will be available from September 1996.
| Standard industrial classification 1992 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacture of tobacco products | 8.0 |
| Wholesale of tobacco products | 2.1 |
| Retail sale of tobacco products | 5.2 |
| Total | 15.3 |
Source:ONS.
Car Boot Sales
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy for the collection of revenues from commercial trading at car boot sales. [35527]
Mr. Jack [holding answer 8 July 1996]: Those who trade commercially at car boot sales are expected to meet their tax obligations in the same way as any other trader. Equally, those who fail to meet these obligations are liable to investigation by the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise. The tax authorities are continually on the look-out for any areas where there might be tax evasion.
Control Totals
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in percentage terms the annual alteration in control totals of each Department for (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99. [36254]
10 Jul 1996 : Column: 231
Mr. Waldegrave [holding answer 9 July 1996]: These figures can be calculated from table 2.2 of the public expenditure statistical analyses 1996-97, Cm 3201. The latest estimates for 1995-96 were published in the public expenditure outturn White Paper, Cm 3318, on 9 July.
Pensioners (Taxation)
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in receipt of a state pension pay (a) higher rate income tax, (b) basic and lower rate income tax only and (c) the lower rate of tax only.[36358]
Mr. Jack: The esitmated numbers of taxpayers by marginal rate in receipt of state retirement pension--men aged 65 or over and women aged 60 or over--at 1996-97 income levels are given in the table.
| Number of taxpayers (millions) | |
|---|---|
| Lower rate | 1.50 |
| Basic and lower rate | 1.65 |
| Higher rate | 0.15 |
| Total | 3.30 |
HEALTH
GP Fundholding (Wakefield)
Mr. Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the savings held by general practitioner fundholder practices in the Wakefield district has been used under provision 25(2)(c)(i) and (ii) of statutory instrument No. 706 (1996); what measures were used by the local health authority to satisfy itself that such expenditure complied with paragraph 25(3)(b); and what expenditure was devoted to activities which duplicate medical provision at Pontefract general infirmary. [33854]
Mr. Malone: In the first four years of the scheme 1 , 15 per cent. of fundholder savings in Wakefield health authority were used on improving practice premises for the benefit of patients.
Regional health authorities were responsible for managing the scheme during this period, including ensuring that savings expenditure was in accordance with regulations. More detailed information is not available centrally.
1 The latest period for which audited information is available.
Mr. Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list for each general practitioner fundholder practice in the Wakefield district the amount (a) of savings by financial year, (b) spent to date and (c) retained in balances; [33855]
Mr. Malone:
This information is not available centrally.
10 Jul 1996 : Column: 232
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 368, if he will make it his policy to collect data on the incidence of multiple sclerosis by health authority region. [35964]
Mr. Horam:
It is for health authorities to decide how best to determine the local needs of their population and then purchase services accordingly to meet those needs within their available resources.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department is giving to a European randomised double blind trial of BMS-180048 compared with oral sumatriptan and to a placebo in the treatment of acute migraine attacks; and if he will make a statement. [35836]
Mr. Malone:
The Department is not contributing funds to this trial, which is industry sponsored.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned relating to (a) attentional bias in schizophrenia and (b) severe mood disorder and mood changes over time; and if he will make a statement. [35825]
Mr. Bowis:
Information on research commissioned by the Department of Health is contained in "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme" and "The Centrally Commissioned Research Programme: Commissions in 1994-95", copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into the provision and effectiveness of services for cancer in the Trent NHS region; if he will make an assessment of progress towards "The Health of the Nation" targets; and if he will make a statement. [35837]
Mr. Horam:
The national health service executive has funded the Trent institute of health services research to look at the provision and effectiveness of services for cancer in Trent, and the assessment of progress against "The Health of the Nation" targets. This work commenced in October 1993 and is scheduled for completion around September 1997.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to make GPs directly accountable to local health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [36178]
Mr. Malone:
We are currently undertaking a major consultative exercise on the future development of primary health care services.
"Primary Care: The Future", the report on the first stage, was published on 10 June 1996.
We will decide on further action after the second stage of consultation is completed in the autumn.
10 Jul 1996 : Column: 233
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that community health councils are given the right formally to inspect those services provided on general practitioner premises which were formerly provided by NHS trusts or health authorities; and if he will make a statement; [36190]
Mr. Malone:
We have no plans to change the statutory rights or duties of community health councils.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if community health council members, and co-opted members are covered by NHS insurance while on CHC business; and if he will make a statement. [36118]
Mr. Horam:
Community health council members and co-opted members are not covered by national health service insurance. The NHS executive would consider any cost or damages arising from claims against CHCs on a case-by-case basis.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that when the commercial price of medicines is less than the standard NHS prescription charge, the commercial price is charged to patients; and if he will make a statement. [36115]
Mr. Malone:
No. The prescription charge has never been related either to the cost of medicines or to the cost to the national health service of dispensing them. It is an amount which successive Governments have seen as reasonable for those who can afford to do so to pay towards the costs of their medicines.
(2) what contracts for medical services have been let by general practitioner fundholding practices in the Wakefield district to acute or community NHS trusts lying outside the Wakefield district. [33857]
(2) if he will confer upon community health councils the statutory duty to assist complainants through NHS complaints procedures; if he will make it a right of all patients to receive support, advice and advocacy from their local community health council with any complaint that they have about the NHS and its services; if he will ensure that all community health councils are adequately resourced and staffed specifically to undertake this statutory duty and if he will make a statement. [36158]
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