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Health Survey Data
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reliability tests were applied to the data collected in the Welsh health survey questionnaires conducted in 1995. [6067]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: The Welsh health survey questionnaire was for the most part made up of well-tested questions of proven reliability. A pilot survey was carried out in December 1994 using a random sample of 1,000 adults living in Wales to test all the questions and survey methods used.
A random sample of the completed questionnaires was validated by hand, comparing the respondents' answers with the corresponding keyed-in data.
Details of other steps taken are given in appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the survey report--Welsh health survey 1995. A copy is in the Library of the House.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in infant mortality in the first year of life in Wales in 1994. [6062]
Mr. Gwilym Jones:
There was a small increase in the infant mortality rate for Wales in 1994. Much of the increase was concentrated in East Dyfed. A very detailed inquiry has been made of all still births and infant deaths in East Dyfed between 1993 to 1994 but no common factor was found.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect the reduction of day nursery places in Wales has had on the ability of single mothers to secure (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment since 1979. [6071]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
Local authority day nursery and full day care places in Wales have increased since 1979. The figures in the following table are taken from appendix I to the activities of social services departments statistical series.
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| Year ending | Full day care places offered by registered providers | Places in local authority day nurseries |
|---|---|---|
| 31 March 1979 | 901 | 99 |
| 31 March 1980 | 817 | 109 |
| 31 March 1981 | 746 | 158 |
| 31 March 1982 | 743 | 191 |
| 31 March 1983 | 834 | 191 |
| 31 March 1984 | 1,006 | 220 |
| 31 March 1985 | 1,013 | 230 |
| 31 March 1986 | 1,049 | 237 |
| 31 March 1987 | 1,233 | 238 |
| 31 March 1988 | 1,313 | 243 |
| 31 March 1989 | 1,912 | 264 |
| 31 March 1990 | 2,693 | 241 |
| 31 March 1991 | 3,519 | 203 |
| 31 March 1992 | 4,599 | 194 |
| 31 March 1993 | 5,213 | 235 |
| 31 March 1994 | 5,274 | 235 |
To help maximise parental participation in the work force, between 1993 and March 1996 the out-of-school child care initiative supported the development of over 3,500 new child care places for school age children. A further 300 places will be created in 1996-97.
The Department's child care demonstration projects for the under-fives in Wales will support the development of 600 new child care places for pre-school age children between 1995 and 1998.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many families have insufficient individual beds to meet the normal needs of their household. [6056]
Mr. Jonathan Evans:
The bedroom standard--defined in the following table--is recognised as a measure of overcrowding. The results from the Welsh social survey 1992 indicated that 2,100 households had two or more bedrooms fewer than the standard requires and that 18,300 households had one bedroom less.
Bedroom standard definition
(extract taken from 1993 Welsh House Condition Survey, Chapter (11)
The standard number of bedrooms is:
(a) one for each cohabiting couple
(b) one for each other man or woman aged 21 or over
(c) one for each two persons of the same sex aged 10-20
(d) one for any person aged 10-20 and a child under 10 of the same sex
(e) one for any person aged 10-20 not paired as in (c) or (d)
(f) one for each two of any remaining children under 10
(g) one for any child remaining
Child Care (Single Parents)
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effects of insufficient child care provision on the health of single parents in Wales. [5916]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Health authorities are responsible for assessing and setting priorities for the health care needs of the population of their areas, within the resources available to them. The maternal and early child health protocol published by the Welsh Office in 1991
2 Dec 1996 : Column: 540
encourages health authorities, working with others, to provide a fully co-ordinated approach to support the health of mothers and children in the early years.
Frail Elderly (Hospital Beds)
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of frail elderly people who will need a hospital bed in 2000; and if he will make a statement. [6288]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Data on frail and elderly people are not collected centrally. Numbers of hospital beds needed in the future for the frail and elderly is planned for locally.
Maternity Care
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on maternity care. [6284]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Policy in Wales for maternity care is set out in "Investment in Health Gain: Maternal and Early Child Health" which was published in 1991. A copy is available in the Library of the House.
Nursery Vouchers
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much cash has so far been expended on the nursery voucher scheme in Wales; what is his estimate of the amount of moneys he will release to the scheme for the first full year of operation; and if he will make a statement. [6290]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 16 October, column 984. The Welsh Office has to date spent some £78,000 in respect of the implementation of the scheme in Wales.
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated number of nursery vouchers for the first year of its operation; and if he will make a statement. [6291]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 16 October, column 984 and 4 November, column 349. The nursery voucher scheme contractor has sent a preliminary letter to parents of eligible children identified from the child benefit database. Application forms for vouchers will be sent to parents in January.
GCSE Candidates
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the percentage of 15-year-old pupils of the maintained sector of each local education authority entered for GCSE in (a) English language, (b) mathematics, (c) science, (d) English language and mathematics together and (e) English language and mathematics and science, in total and by gender in (i) 1992 and (ii) 1995; and what were the percentage point changes between 1992 and 1995; [6303]
- (2) if he will list for (a) 1992 and (b) 1995 the percentage of 15-year-old pupils in total and by gender of the maintained sector of each local education authority (1) entered for GCSE in (i) science and (ii) English language and mathematics and science together, and
2 Dec 1996 : Column: 541
- (2) achieving (A) at least grade G in each and (B) at least grade C in each, indicating in each case their average points score; [6302]
(3) if he will list for 1996 the percentage of 15-year-old pupils in total and by gender of the maintained sector of each local education authority (1) entered for GCSE in (a) English language, (b) mathematics, (c) science, (d) English language and mathematics together and (e) English language and mathematics and science together and (2) achieving (i) at least grade G in each and (ii) at least grade C in each, indicating in each case their average points score. [6304]
Mr. Jonathan Evans: The available information has been placed in the Library of the House.
Some of the information requested on combinations of subjects could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Mixed-sex Wards
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received concerning mixed-sex wards; and from what sources. [6642]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Information relating to the number of representations received concerning mixed-sex wards is not held centrally.
Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many mixed-sex wards there are in Wales; and what is his estimate of the number of beds concerned.[6641]
Mr. Jones: Data on mixed sex wards are not collected centrally. Numbers of beds in mixed-sex wards are determined locally.
Grammar Schools
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many grammar schools there are in Wales. [6643]
Immediate Care Beds
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many immediate care beds are available (a) in the North Wales health authority and (b) in each of the district hospital trusts. [6597]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: Information concerning the number of beds by speciality is collected on the basis of specialities recognised by the royal colleges. Immediate care is not one of these recognised specialties.
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