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Biological Hazards
Mr. Chisholm: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) who authorised the closure of the category 4 containment laboratory at Ruchill hospital, Glasgow; when the closure took place; what were the criteria for closing the laboratory; what public consultation took place; and if he will make a statement; [10693]
- (2) what arrangements apply in Scotland for dealing with category 4 laboratory specimens; and what assessment he has made of the safety of (a) patients and (b) specimens. [10696]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Hazard group 4 covers the most pathogenic of the biological hazards which have required to be investigated in category 4 containment laboratories. The only organisms in the group that have been the subject of any laboratory investigations within the United Kingdom are those which cause viral haemorrhagic fever. During the time the category 4 containment laboratory at Ruchill hospital was open it was used very infrequently for the investigation of suspected category 4 organisms. Across the United Kingdom the vast majority of cases of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever have proved to be malaria. No case of viral haemorrhagic fever has ever been recorded in Scotland.
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In 1992, and acting on advice received from the Health and Safety Executive, it was agreed that a number of specific improvements required to be made if the facilities were to continue to operate at Ruchill. A sub-committee of the advisory group on infection was tasked to consider whether the required improvements should be made and, if not, what alternative arrangements needed to be put in place. The sub-committee recommended the closure of the high security clinical facility. The subsequent retirement of two of the staff who were skilled in the use of the category 4 laboratory precipitated the closure of the laboratory, which ceased to be operational early in 1995.
Interim guidance on the management of suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever was issued in May 1995 from medical advisers within the Scottish Office Department of Health to all consultants involved in communicable diseases in Scotland. The guidance covered the arrangements for initiating laboratory investigations, for obtaining clinical advice or care and for the transportation of patients. Also included were details about the new locus to be approached following the withdrawal of the service from Ruchill. The principles outlined in the guidance have been incorporated into an updated guide on the control of viral haemorrhagic fever which the United Kingdom Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens has recently finalised. The new document entitled "Management Control of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers" is scheduled for publication later this month. I shall arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Chisholm:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the amounts retained by general practitioner fundholding practices at the end of each financial year since the introduction of general practitioner fundholding for each health board area in Scotland. [10698]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
The information in the table sets out GP fundholder savings which are retained by the health board on the fundholder's behalf to be used for the benefit of patients.
| £000 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Board | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 |
| Argyll and Clyde | 56 | nil | 55 | 214 | 446 |
| Ayrshire and Arran | -- | -- | 330 | 214 | 253 |
| Borders | -- | -- | 65 | 291 | 144 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | -- | -- | -- | 76 | 278 |
| Fife | -- | -- | 96 | 150 | 242 |
| Forth Valley | -- | -- | 23 | 101 | 154 |
| Grampian | 103 | 95 | 551 | 1,207 | 739 |
| Greater Glasgow | -- | 13 | 185 | 888 | 1,459 |
| Highland | -- | -- | 87 | -- | 87 |
| Lanarkshire | -- | -- | 458 | 1,360 | 1,607 |
| Lothian | 29 | 39 | 354 | 868 | 1,207 |
| Orkney | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Shetland | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Tayside | -- | 12 | 278 | 363 | 428 |
| Western Isles | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Scotland | 188 | 159 | 2,482 | 5,732 | 7,044 |
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Maternity Unit (Glasgow)
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 25 November, Official Report, column 43, what is the proposed building start date for the new maternity unit at Glasgow royal infirmary. [10530]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The trust's current timetable provides for the building work to commence in summer 1998.
Highlands and Islands Convention
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) by what means of transport and at what cost to public funds he returned to the House following the meeting of the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on 16 December; [10293]
- (2) if the transport facilities used by him to return to the House from the meeting of the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on 16 December were offered to other hon. Members attending the convention; and if he will make a statement; [10294]
(3) when a request was made to the RAF to provide him and the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Kincardine and Deeside (Mr. Kynoch), with transport facilities to return to the House from Inverness following the Highland and Islands convention on 16 December.[10509]
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total cost to the Scottish Office of the RAF flight which took him to and from the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on Monday 16 December;[10690]
- (2) where he boarded the RAF flight which took him to the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on 16 December; [10692]
(3) if he will specify the type of aeroplane and the seating capacity of the aircraft which transported the Secretary of State for Scotland and his Minister of State to and from the Highlands and Islands convention in Inverness on 16 December; and what were the names and designations of all the passengers on the flights. [10684]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: A request for transport was made by my office and approved by the RAF on Tuesday 10 December in order to enable me to carry out all my engagements on 16 December. Going north, I boarded the flight at RAF Northolt. The aircraft was a HS125 which seated seven people. On the return flight from Inverness I was accompanied by my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardine and Deeside--the Parliamentary Under-
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Secretary of State for Scotland--and three Scottish Office staff. A number of matters of ministerial business were dealt with during the flight.
The cost of the flight was £682 per flying hour, plus £62 per hour of waiting time after the first three hours, which are not charged. The cost of a single ticket on a scheduled British Airways flight from Inverness to London would have been £145 per person.
As the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) knows from his own experience, I am always willing to offer transport to hon. Members where possible.
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total costs, including travel costs, of the Highlands and Islands convention on 16 December.[10691]
Mr. Forsyth:
Costs incurred to date for the meeting of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands on 16 December amount to £1,058.
This amount excludes travel and subsistence costs for which claims are still being received from convention members.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many responses he has received to the consultation paper on the future of the home energy efficiency scheme; how many of the responses supported additional measures within the scheme; and how many indicated that additional measures should be dependent on an increase in the scheme's financial resources; [10232]
(3) what changes will be made to the standard draught-proofing job available under the home energy efficiency scheme, once the revised scheme comes into effect; and from what date these changes will apply.[10244]
Mr. Robert B. Jones:
We received 59 responses, many of which were from bodies representing a number of organisations and companies. Sixty one per cent. of respondents supported the introduction of additional measures to the scheme, and 24 per cent. suggested that additional measures should be accompanied by the allocation of more money.
Following the consultation exercise I have announced revisions to the scheme, increasing the range and choice of energy efficiency measures available, and I hope they will come into effect in April this year. I intend that the maximum grant will remain unchanged at £315. The measures to be included, and their specifications, have yet to be determined.
These changes, together with the increase in the allocation for 1997-98 for this popular programme of 3 per cent. to £75 million, demonstrate our commitment to helping the most vulnerable people keep warmer and use energy more efficiently.
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Mr. Gunnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what were the total sums paid to over 60-year-olds under the HEES in the financial years (a) 1994-95 and (b) 1995-96; and what is his estimate of the amount to be paid in (c) 1996-97 and (d) 1997-98;[10223]
(3) how many (a) applicants for and (b) recipients of full assistance under the HEES there were in the current year and the year preceding the changes announced on 28 November 1995. [10222]
Mr. Jones:
A total of 624,000 grants were paid under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1995-96 and 470,221 in 1994-95. There is no distinction between applicants and recipients, since grant is applied for after the work has been done by a network installer. There is no central record of inquiries to installers which do not result in work being done under the scheme.
(2) what will be the maximum grant under the home energy efficiency scheme once the revised scheme comes into effect; and from what date this will apply; [10231]
(2) how those householders not on low-income benefit but who are entitled to assistance under the HEES have their contributions calculated; [10221]
| Year | Total amount of grant £ million |
|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 40.4 |
| 1995-96 | 65.9 |
| 1996-97 | 34 (estimate) |
It is not possible to estimate the number of grants to over-60s in 1997-98, since I have announced that the scheme will be extended to include a wider range of measures during 1997, and this may affect current patterns of demand.
Householders aged 60 and over applying since April 1996 receive grant of 25 per cent. of the cost of the work, provided that the cost does not exceed the maximum grant level. Their contribution is therefore 75 per cent. of the cost. If the work costs more than the maximum grant, which happens in the case of a minority of houses which are either very large or of unusual design, the work may still go ahead with grant aid if the client wishes. The client is then required to pay the amount of the excess in the same way as all claimants.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much money from the 1996-97 home energy efficiency scheme budget has been used to fund work where the application was made on or before 31 March 1996; and how many grants have been made in relation to such applications to the latest available date;[10236]
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(3) what was the average grant made under the home energy efficiency scheme in each of the last three years; and what is the estimated amount for the average grant for 1997-98. [10238]
Mr. Jones:
A total of 159,318 grants were paid to householders who had registered an interest before 31 March 1996, at a cost of around £27 million, between 1 April and 30 November 1996. This represents about half of the 319,747 grants paid in the period. Of these, 79,773 were for the maximum amount permitted, and 53,737 applications indicated that the cost of work exceeded this maximum. The number of cases where the applicant paid the excess is now known.
(2) how many grants have been made under the home energy efficiency scheme from 1 April 1996 to the latest available date; in how many cases these were maximum grants; and in how many cases the applicants were required to meet a proportion of the costs; [10237]
| Year | Mean grant value |
|---|---|
| 1996-97(25) | 167 |
| 1995-96 | 165 |
| 1994-95 | 170 |
| 1993-94 | 171 |
(25) To end of November.
I cannot yet estimate the mean grant value for 1997-98, when the revised, more flexible scheme offering a wider range of energy efficiency measures will start operating, because the pricing bases have not yet been decided.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in respect of how many cases where application for home energy efficiency scheme grants have been approved the work has not yet been carried out at the latest available date; [10240]
(3) what was the average waiting time in each region of England and in Scotland and Wales for processing applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants and carrying out work under the home energy efficiency scheme once an application was approved in each month of 1996 to the latest available date; [10230]
(4) what is the waiting list of applicants for home energy efficiency scheme grants which have been received but have yet to be processed at the latest available date. [10239]
Mr. Jones:
During the first three months of 1996, installers nationally had order books of between 14 and 18 weeks' work. Between April and November, the latest date for which information is available, the average installer had over 30 weeks' work. Information is not available by region. Latest indications are that this period is decreasing, while customer satisfaction research indicates that actual waiting times tend to be significantly shorter than installers' order books suggest.
The increase was caused by the pre-registration of better-off householders aged 60 and over before the end of March in order to qualify for grants under the old rules. The scheme managers and installers have dealt with the demand efficiently and have ensured that the proportion
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of the scheme budget going to benefit the least well-off has not diminished by comparison with previous years. The scheme managers will shortly be writing to about 210,000 people who registered an interest last year but have not yet claimed grant to remind them to contact an installer. I estimate that another 40,000 householders have more recently applied to installers for grants and are waiting for work to be done.
Mr. Gunnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many representations he has received which criticised his decision to restrict assistance under the home energy efficiency scheme to low-income households in the three months following the announcement of his decision; [10253]
Mr. Jones:
In April 1994 the scheme was expanded to allow full grants to people aged 60 and over regardless of income. This drew comment from both energy action organisations and the press. For example, the report "HEES: The Impact of Change", published by National Energy Action in September 1995, concluded that other sectors of the HEES clientele were becoming marginalised, and that more affluent over-60s clients, particularly those in larger owner-occupied dwellings, were over-represented in numerical terms, and were claiming a disproportionate amount of HEES funding. Since April 1996 householders aged 60 and over who do not receive income-related benefits or disability allowances have been required to make a contribution to the cost of measures provided under the scheme. Around 200 representations were received following the announcement of the change, though most of these were primarily about the scheme's level of funding.
Ms Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what revision he has made to his estimate of the total number of jobs to be carried out under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1996-97 since his answer of 7 March 1996, Official Report, columns 303-304; and what assessment he has made of the reasons for the changes in the anticipated number of home energy efficiency scheme jobs to be carried out in 1996-97; [10233]
Mr. Jones:
I have not changed my expectation that more than 400,000 grants will be paid under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1996-97, and present indications are that this will be the outcome. Already more than 2 million grants have been paid under this scheme, improving almost 10 per cent. of the entire housing stock and helping people in the greatest need to keep warmer and use energy more efficiently. This is a substantial achievement. One of the criteria for choosing installers within the scheme is their portfolio of work, to ensue that
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they should not rely on the scheme as their only source of income. There are many opportunities at present for the domestic energy efficiency supply and installation industries. As well as the home energy efficiency scheme there are the regional electricity companies' standards of performance schemes and the Energy Saving Trust's cavity wall insulation scheme. The latter is supported by the Department and I expect at least 40,000 homes to be insulated by the end of the present financial year. In total, these energy efficiency grant, subsidy and cashback schemes should benefit about 500,000 homes, mostly occupied by the more vulnerable households, in the current financial year.
(2) what was the national average waiting time for (a) processing applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants and (b) carrying out the work under the home energy efficiency scheme once an application was approved in each month of 1996 to the latest available date; [10229]
(2) how many representations he has received which criticised the universal entitlement of householders aged 60 years or more for assistance under the home energy efficiency scheme from its inception until the announcement on 28 November 1995 of its restriction to low-income households. [10252]
(2) what estimate he has made of the impact on job numbers in (a) energy efficiency services and (b) suppliers of energy saving materials and related services of the reduction in the home energy efficiency scheme budget from 1 April 1996 to the latest available date. [10235]
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