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Health Authority Funding
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proposals he has in respect of the future funding of Nottingham district health authority; and if he will make a statement; [1425]
- (2) if he will list those district health authorities which currently receive more than 100 per cent. funding on the current formula, giving the percentage funding in each case; [1423]
(3) which district health authorities with teaching hospitals in England are receiving less than 100 per cent. funding using the current formula, giving the percentage funding in each case; [1422]
(4) what additional money would be available to Nottingham district health authority if it were funded to 100 per cent. on the current formula (a) in the current year and (b) in 1997. [1424]
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Mr. Horam: If Nottingham health authority were at its weighted capitation target in 1996-97, it would have received an extra £7,029,000.
No decisions have been made regarding 1997-98 allocations or for future years. These decisions are taken annually in the light of the overall level of resources available to the NHS. We are committed to the principle of achieving equity in resource allocation based on weighted capitation as soon as practicable.
Tables showing (i) those health authorities above their weighted capitation target and (ii) those health authorities with a teaching hospital situated within their boundary, which are below their weighted capitation target, will be placed in the Library. However, weighted capitation targets do not reflect any element for the cost of medical education and research. These are funded separately.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to use the test for the molecular marker specific for new variant CJD to screen (a) all cases of spongiform-like disease in humans and (b) all available preserved specimens of brains from cases of degenerative brain disease; and if he will make a statement. [1658]
Mr. Horam:
This technique has yet to be fully evaluated and more work needs to be done, including the replication of the technique in other laboratories, before its usefulness as a practical screening tool for new variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease can be established. This work will be a priority in our centrally directed programme.
Mrs. Wise:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) direct maternal deaths and (b) indirect maternal deaths registered in England and Wales in 1991 and each subsequent year were of women born in (i) the United Kingdom, (ii) the Republic of Ireland, (iii) the new Commonwealth and Pakistan, (iv) other countries and (v) unstated countries. [1838]
Mr. Horam:
The number of direct and indirect maternal deaths in England and Wales for the period 1991 to 1993, the time scale covered by the latest report of the confidential inquiry into maternal deaths was 113 and 85 respectively. Information on country of birth was not available.
Maternal deaths occurring from 1994 onwards are the subject of a continuing inquiry and details will be published in the next report, due in 1998.
Mrs. Ann Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the reason for the withdrawal of the head lice treatment, derbac, from the NHS prescription list. [1943]
Mr. Malone:
Derbac is available on the national health service for the treatment of head lice.
Mrs. Wise:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts in connection with obstetric interventions (a) without the consent of and (b) against the expressed wish of the patient. [1843]
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Mr. Horam:
None. Advice on clinical issues is a matter for the royal colleges and professions involved. It is for clinicians to determine the most appropriate form of treatment, including medical interventions, for individual patients. As far as possible, this should be done with the knowledge and consent of the patient concerned. On the rare occasions when this is not possible, this is ultimately a matter for the courts.
Sir John Gorst:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's current definition of acute care. [1002]
Mr. Horam:
Clinical practice varies throughout the national health service. Different hospitals use the term "acute care" in different ways.
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the projected budget for the keep warm, keep well publicity campaign. [182]
Mr. Horam:
The projected spend for the keep warm, keep well publicity campaign in 1996-97 is £550,000.
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has issued to local authorities regarding the duties of social services departments where the Benefits Agency out-of-hours service is inoperative. [1429]
Mr. Burns:
The impact of the possible withdrawal of the Benefits Agency's out-of-hours service is being assessed.
Mrs. Roche:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the (a) women who are mothers and (b) men who are fathers who are employed by his Department have received assistance from the Department with child care. [1286]
Mr. Horam:
Information of the parental status of staff is not available.
Mrs. Roche:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on (a) advertising, (b) public relations and (c) entertainment in each of the last five financial years. [1269]
Mr. Horam:
Information for the financial years 1991-92 to 1995-96 is shown in the table. Functions which are commonly associated with public relations for the Department of Health are carried out by the Department's press and publicity division. The division now includes the public inquiry office and provides direct marketing, print, storage and distribution services for the whole Department. The running costs figures are therefore
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not comparable over the years. The Department does not have an entertainment budget but official hospitality expenditure has been included which contains both general hospitality and working lunches.
| Financial year | Total advertising expenditure | Press and publicity manpower and running costs | Official hospitality expenditure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 | 8.70 | 1.50 | 0.17 |
| 1992-93 | 5.05 | 1.75 | 0.25 |
| 1993-94 | 6.10 | 1.90 | 0.22 |
| 1994-95 | 4.30 | 2.00 | 0.23 |
| 1995-96 | 2.35 | 3.00 | 0.32 |
Deregulation
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [1392]
Mr. Horam: The Department is currently consulting on the following proposals for use of the deregulation order-making power:
Children and Young Persons Act 1933:
To allow children under 16 to work longer hours on Sunday;
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and the London Local Authorities Act 1991:
To reduce the licensing requirements for skin piercing businesses.
Female Staff
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women are currently employed by his Department; and what proportion this is of the total. [1253]
Mr. Horam: The Department of Health employed 2,697 women on 1 October 1996. This represented 56 per cent. of the total staff employed.
Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount has been given in section 64 grant to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust by his Department in 1996-97 and in each of the last five years; and for what purposes. [2047]
Mr. Horam: In the period in question, the Department gave the Cystic Fibrosis Trust the following three-year section 64 project grants:
Family Support Project:
1990-91: £22,000
1991-92: £20,000
1992-93: £18,000.
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Family and Adult Support Volunteer Network:
1993-94: £16,000
1994-95: £14,000
1995-96: £12,000.
Cystic Fibrosis Advocacy Project:
1996-97: £25,000
(this grant will continue in 1997-98 and 1998-99).
Multiple Pregnancies
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to selective termination of pregnancy when such an operation is solely to terminate one or more of the foetuses that make up a multiple pregnancy; and if he will make a statement. [2139]
Mr. Horam: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 clarified the legal position on selective termination of a pregnancy. Whether or not selective termination should take place rests on the opinion of two doctors, formed in good faith, that it is justified within the terms of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended.
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