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NHS Trusts (London)

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list his Department's latest estimates of the financial position of each London NHS trust, indicating what additional sums will be made available during the current financial year. [5167]

Mr. Malone: The latest estimates of the financial positions for London trusts have been placed in the Library.

London Ambulance Service

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will state the average emergency call journey time for the London ambulance service in (a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996 to date; [5168]

(2) what is his estimate of ambulance response times to emergency calls in London in 1994, 1995 and the current year to date; and if he will make a statement. [5269]

Mr. Horam: Performance information for national health service ambulance services is contained within the Department of Health's Statistical Bulletin 1995-96, copies of which are available in the Library. The performance of the London Ambulance Service NHS trust continues to improve.

Health Authority Funding (London)

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the level of grant agreed by his Department in April 1996 in respect of each London health authority; and if he will indicate subsequent payments agreed since April 1996. [5190]

Mr. Horam: Health authorities do not receive grants as such. Information on initial cash limits for 1996-97 and additions made to date for health authorities in London are shown in the table:

Health authority	Initial cash limit revenue and capital	Net additions to cash limit revenue and capital	Total cash limit
	£000	£000	1996-97
Barnet	156,623	12,406	169,029
Hillingdon	115,857	8,666	124,523
Brent and Harrow	240,586	27,771	268,357
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	355,157	38,433	393,590
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	255,999	39,934	295,933
Barking and Havering	177,906	20,543	198,449
Camden and Islington	267,278	16,798	284,076
East London and City	371,766	32,463	404,229
Enfield and Haringay	246,963	12,560	259,523
Redbridge and Waltham Forest	226,571	26,997	253,568
Bexley and Greenwich	218,312	25,584	243,896
Bromley	139,917	8,967	148,884
Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham	429,643	41,939	471,582
Croydon	151,990	15,861	167,851
Kingston and Richmond	154,132	30,200	184,332
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	325,412	37,933	363,345

25 Nov 1996 : Column: 128

Departmental Decisions (Appeals)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those administrative decisions of his Department affecting (a) United Kingdom citizens and (b) non-citizens where there is no right of appeal. [6027]

Mr. Horam: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Community Health Councils

Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to reduce the role of community health councils in monitoring local health services; and if he will make a statement; [5978]

(2) if he will make it his policy that major changes in the role and function of community health councils will not be made without the full support of community health councils; [5982]

(3) what assessment he has made of the advantages of community health councils being located in accessible shop-front high street premises; and what plans he has to change the present arrangements; [5980]

(4) what plans he has to remove the accommodation standard for community health councils; and if he will make a statement; [5979]

(5) what plans he has to reduce the role of community health councils in supporting complainants; and if he will make a statement. [5981]

Mr. Horam: There are no plans to alter the role of community health councils. They will, of course, be consulted about any suggestions made.

As independent, statutory bodies it is for individual CHCs to decide, on the basis of local circumstances, how they exercise their statutory functions in representing the interests, in the health service, of their local population.

CHCs need to have a visible public profile and we have no plans to change the current accommodation standards guidance, including the desirability of progress towards locating them in shop-front premises.

25 Nov 1996 : Column: 129

NHS Pension Scheme

Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the issues regarding access to the NHS pension scheme for workers in primary care referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Mr. Pickthall) 4 June, Official Report, column 384; [6042]

(2) when he will be in a position to make an announcement about bringing general practitioners' practice staff into the NHS pension scheme; [6040]

(3) what is his policy on access to a good occupational pension scheme for (a) nurses, (b) receptionists, (c) practice managers and (d) others employed in primary care. [6041]

25 Nov 1996 : Column: 130

Mr. Malone: We are considering opening up the national health service pension scheme to general practitioner practice staff. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

North West Regional Health Authority

Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the North West regional health authority with regard to levels of funding to maintain standards of patient care. [5835]

Mr. Horam: This year, I have had one meeting with representatives of health authorities in the North West and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had two. Since the abolition of regional health authorities on 31 March, NHS funding is allocated directly to health authorities.

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