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Teacher Education
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent teacher education falls within the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council; and if he will make a statement. [2497]
Mr. Ancram: Provision for teacher education in Northern Ireland is not included under the remit of the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council.
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Education and Library Boards
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure will be incurred in respect of his proposals for reducing the number of education and library boards (a) before parliamentary approval has been given and (b) before the proposals are carried out. [2498]
Mr. Ancram: Expenditure requirements for the restructuring of the education and library boards in the next financial year have yet to be determined. Expenditure in the current financial year is not expected to be significant.
Orange Parade
Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when he was informed by the Chief Constable of the decisions to (i) prevent and (ii) allow the Orange parade which marched down Garvaghy road on 11 July; [1767]
- (2) what consultations he had with the Chief Constable of the RUC regarding the decision to prevent the passage of an Orange parade along Garvaghy road, and what subsequent consultation he had with the Chief Constable prior to the decision to permit the passage of the parade; [1768]
(3) if he will publish the directions issued by the Chief Constable in relation to the Orange parade at Garvaghy road, Portadown between 6 and 11 July. [1770]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 6 November 1996]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made in the House by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State on 15 July Official Report, columns 787-90, which set out the events surrounding the parade at Drumcree, and to the Chief Constable's BBC interview of the previous day referred to in that statement, a copy of which is in the Library.
Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration he gave to making an order under article 5 of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 in respect of circumstances on the Garvaghy road between 6 and 11 July; what advice he sought on this matter; and on what basis a decision was made not to issue any such order. [1769]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 6 November 1996]: My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State did not make an order under article 5 of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 because the Chief Constable did not advise him to do so.
Mr. Mallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations were made to him during the period 6 to 11 July regarding unwillingness of members of the RUC to enforce the directions of the Chief Constable made on 6 July. [1771]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 6 November 1996]: None.
Beach Safety
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of people on beaches along the North Down littoral from the wash of passenger ferries. [2459]
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Mr. Bowis: I have been asked to reply.
I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 7 November 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about wash from passenger ferries and what is being done to ensure the safety of people on North Down beaches.
Mr. Hain:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were transferred from reduced earnings allowance to retirement allowance between 1 April and 1 October in each Benefits Agency region. [2683]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The administration or reduced earnings allowance, payable under the Industrial Injuries scheme, is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
An Extraordinary Meeting of the Belfast Lough District Safety Committee Working Group will take place on 13 November 1996 to discuss wash from ferries. The meeting is to be chaired by the Marine Safety Agency's Regional Chief Surveyor and will be attended by representatives from all interested parties including the ferry operators. North Down Borough Council and the police.
| Benefits agency area directorate | Number of REA cases transferred to RA |
|---|---|
| East London and Anglia | 857 |
| Chilterns | 402 |
| London South | 2,019 |
| West Country | 878 |
| Mercia | 2,640 |
| West Midlands | 780 |
| Wales | 2,109 |
| North West Coast | 1,767 |
| Greater Manchester | 1,666 |
| Yorkshire | 2,002 |
| Tyne Tees | 4,398 |
| West of Scotland | 507 |
| East of Scotland | 1,172 |
| Overseas | 102 |
| Total | 2,1299 |
Figures are provisional and subject to amendment.
| Area directorates | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Tyne Tees | 48,630 | 50,037 | 82,273 | 87,360 | 74,539 |
| South Yorkshire and Humberside | 42,624 | 20,963 | 69,200 | 73,182 | 72,385 |
| North and West Yorkshire | 40,388 | 76,468 | 95,277 | 104,892 | 77,523 |
| Glasgow and Paisley | 27,088 | 35,871 | 101,271 | 111,251 | 135,276 |
| North Central and West Scotland | 31,860 | 75,859 | 159,744 | 174,392 | 184,286 |
| East of Scotland | 29,081 | 83,305 | 179,008 | 164,201 | 183,169 |
| East Midlands | 30,534 | 45,016 | 68,024 | 71,202 | 73,350 |
| Midlands South West | 30,710 | 30,633 | 52,066 | 46,796 | 48,491 |
| West Mercia | 35,514 | 32,202 | 52,074 | 45,627 | 33,265 |
| Wales | 35,180 | 37,505 | 57,600 | 57,419 | 61,434 |
| Merseyside | 28,247 | 74,988 | 108,472 | 105,936 | 119,108 |
| Greater Manchester | 28,046 | 64,894 | 96,729 | 75,716 | 85,402 |
| Lancashire and Cumbria | 31,060 | 55,801 | 95,039 | 76,555 | 83,673 |
| Anglia | 18,431 | 30,463 | 64,344 | 56,395 | 70,705 |
| Chilterns | 11,341 | 24,002 | 55,407 | 62,047 | 64,644 |
| South London and West Sussex | 15,122 | 9,008 | 14,122 | 30,396 | 33,524 |
| West Country | 22,132 | 146,208 | 205,600 | 233,070 | 263,211 |
| East London and Essex | 21,866 | 33,018 | 42,821 | 60,332 | 57,462 |
| South East | 13,644 | 17,281 | 37,870 | 40,453 | 35,838 |
| Wessex | 19,857 | 43,634 | 82,655 | 76,413 | 76,389 |
| Totals | 561,353 | 987,156 | 1,719,596 | 1,753,635 | 1,833,674 |
Figures are provisional and subject to change.
7 Nov 1996 : Column: 687
7 Nov 1996 : Column: 687
Benefits Agency Medical Services
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make it his policy that the practice whereby hospital case notes are currently supplied free of
7 Nov 1996 : Column: 688
charge by the NHS to the Benefits Agency medical services will continue, should private companies win the contracts currently on offer under the contracting out of the operations of the Benefits Agency medical services; and if he will make a statement; [754]
7 Nov 1996 : Column: 689
- (2) if he will make it his policy that the practice whereby external medical opinions are currently obtained free of charge under NHS authorisation to the Benefits Agency medical services will continue, should private companies win the contracts currently on offer under the contracting out of the operations of the Benefits Agency medical services. [755]
Mr. Burt: We are currently discussing this issue with officials from the NHS executive. These discussions should be concluded within the next few weeks. Whatever the outcome of these, it is imperative that the provision of these services will not lead to any increase in the expenditure of public funds.
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that, where private contractors be charged for the service whereby external medical opinions are currently obtained free of charge under NHS authorisation to the Benefits Agency medical services, his Department will guarantee that the private companies will not reduce the number of cases for which external medical help is sought; and if he will make a statement. [753]
Mr. Burt: In any case referred to an external medical supplier, the contractor's doctors must be able to supply adequate reasons for the advice being given. If it is not possible for them to advise on the evidence already available then they must seek information from other sources. The Department will not be satisfied with advice which is not fully supported by documentary evidence. This will be stated in the terms of the contracts with any private contractors and will be rigorously monitored by the contract management team. It is not anticipated that the number of requests for further medical evidence will be reduced.
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will stipulate in the contracts awarded to companies bidding to undertake the assessment of claims for incapacity benefit currently performed by the Benefits Agency medical services the target number of clients for this benefit to be seen per session by doctors employed by these companies to evaluate the eligibility of claimants; [751]
- (2) if he will stipulate in the contracts awarded to companies bidding to undertake the assessment of claims for incapacity benefit currently performed by the Benefits Agency medical services, (a) the annual number of cases to be reviewed, (b) the annual maximum number of clients that will be deemed eligible for incapacity benefit and (c) the total amount of benefit to be authorised. [737]
Mr. Burt: The Benefits Agency has never set targets covering the number of people who should be allowed or disallowed benefit.
Performance indicators and targets for the potential service provider of the medical service have not yet been set: they will be matters for discussion and negotiation prior to contract(s) being awarded.
The set targets will relate to how the service is delivered rather than decisions on entitlement to benefit.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) which were the companies involved in (a) the partnering exercise and (b) the collaborative study into the Benefits Agency medical services before the decision to
7 Nov 1996 : Column: 690
contract out the Benefits Agency medical services; which were the companies that were later involved in tendering for the subsequent contracts; and if he will make a statement; [746]
Mr. Burt:
A partnering project team was established in September 1994 to look for ways in which the private sector could be involved in the future delivery of a medical service. Advertisements were placed in the national press seeking expressions of interest from suitable companies to undertake a collaborative study with the project team. The companies chosen to take part in the study were BMI, Capita and Serco.
The three companies undertook independent studies of the Benefits Agency medical services, BAMS, organisation. Assessment of their reports concluded that the work of BAMS could be contracted to the private sector.
In June 1996 an advertisement was placed inviting expressions of interest: five companies were subsequently chosen to enter into negotiations with the Department for the provision of a medical service. Those companies are Andersens, BMI, Capita, EDS and Sema.
Some of the information that was made available during the collaborative study is now out of date. Shortlisted contractors who have been invited to enter into negotiations will receive all relevant information to ensure they fully understand the requirements, and to ensure that they are able to develop proposals based on the same information. No advantage will accrue to the companies who participated in the collaborative study.
A final decision and subsequent announcement is anticipated by April 1997.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that any private company bidding to undertake the medical assessment of claims for incapacity benefit from the Benefits Agency medical services and acquiring confidential data in the course of their assessments will be legally prohibited from (i) using and (ii) disclosing that information for their other commercial interests in (a) private health care and (b) all other commercial applications; and what measures his Department intends to use to investigate such eventualities. [759]
Mr. Burt:
The Department places strong emphasis on customer confidentiality and would demand the same standards from the successful contractor or contractors. The contractor(s) will have a mandatory contractual requirement to conform to the security policy of the Department which is based on Government security policy.
The successful bidder or bidders will be required to ensure that any data or information passed to them by the Department or a third party, or revealed during the course of the contract, is used only for the purpose directly relating to the Departments business and only by the appropriate staff.
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Rigorous monitoring systems will be put in place to ensure on-going compliance with the requirements.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, following his Department's decision to contract out the functions of the Benefits Agency Medical Services, he will give the rationale for his Department's decision to use the negotiated procedure in respect of contracting out the functions of the Benefits Agency medical services, rather than the restrictive procedure for the shortlisted firms. [748]
Mr. Burt:
The use of the negotiated procedure is considered to be less adversarial than the restrictive procedure. It provides an opportunity for meaningful two-way dialogue, allowing the necessary flexibility for discussions and negotiations, thus ensuring better informed and higher quality bids.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that, following his Department's decision to contract out the functions of the Benefits Agency medical services, commercial considerations will not affect the decisions to obtain the consultants' reports that enable doctors to make full and professional assessments of claimants for incapacity benefit. [752]
Mr. Burt:
In the majority of cases, a consultant's report is obtained at the request of the customer. On occasions the contractor or contractors will need to obtain a report from a consultant as this will represent the most satisfactory way of establishing the evidence necessary to advise the adjudication officer.
Post contract management arrangements will ensure that the contractor(s) achieve the correct balance between customer care and profits.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will revise (a) the target number of clients for incapacity benefit seen per session by doctors of (i) the Benefits Agency medical services and (ii) any private contractors successful in their bid to take over the functions of the Benefits Agency medical services and (b) any other aspect of the service; and if he will make a statement. [750]
Mr. Burt:
One of the primary objectives in contracting out Benefits Agency medical services is to improve the provision of a medical service to the Department.
The Department will be specifying the outputs in terms of service delivery in a way that is measurable.
Whilst the output will be specified, how the contractor achieves the specification will not, thereby providing the contractor with the maximum flexibility for delivery of the service.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if individual members of the assessment panel responsible for the recommendation for full contracting out of the functions of the Benefits Agency medical services were allowed to put in a bid for the resulting contracts; and if he will make a statement. [749]
Mr. Burt:
The medical service to be contracted out to the private sector was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Community and Government Opportunities.
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Following the response to a questionnaire completed by the private sector and individuals working in the Benefits Agency medical services, a full and auditable evaluation of responses was undertaken resulting in five private sector companies being invited to go forward to the next stage of the procurement process.
No individuals included in the assessment panel are involved in the bidding process for this service.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what efficiency savings his Department estimates will accrue from the decision to contract out the functions of the Benefits Agency medical services. [767]
Mr. Burt:
It is not possible at this stage to estimate the precise level of savings. However, experience of similar exercises within the Department has identified that efficiencies will be gained in all cost areas of the contract or contracts.
(2) which were the firms that were involved in the feasibility study to determine contracting out of the Benefits Agency medical services and which have been shortlisted for the three geographical areas; when he expects the final decision to be (a) made and (b) announced; and if he will make a statement. [747]
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