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Benefits Agency (Computers)

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what advice he has received on the capability of the Benefits Agency computer system to achieve the data matching requirements of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Bill. [13025]

Mr. Heald: The technical solution for the generalised matching service enables data that have been extracted from any computer system to be loaded on to the database for matching purposes. In addition to existing resources, extra funding will be made available to the GMS to enable it to carry out the additional data-matching exercises envisaged under the provisions of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Bill.

Child Support Agency

Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the

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difficulties experienced by caring parents refused application for family credit in consequence of a child maintenance assessment having been determined against the absent parent but never collected by the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement. [13027]

Mr. Roger Evans: Applications for family credit are not refused under these circumstances.

Prime Project

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings are projected from the Prime project in the Yorkshire area in the first two years of operation. [13030]

Mr. Roger Evans: It is not possible at this stage to reveal the detail of any potential savings in view of the commercial sensitivity of this information. The contract will not be awarded unless value for money has been demonstrated.

Prime Programme

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultation process is planned to take place on the implementation of the Prime programme. [13034]

Mr. Evans: The Prime--private sector resource initiative for management of the estate--project is undertaking the procurement of a private sector provider of serviced accommodation to the Department of Social Security. The departmental trade union side was consulted on the decision to implement the project and on progress of the project since that date. Tender bids are due on 31 January, followed by a detailed evaluation and further negotiations. Contract awards will be subject to value for money being demonstrated. Consultation following the selection of a preferred supplier will be in line with agreed departmental procedures, as will any subsequent implementation.

Social Security Administration (Fraud) Bill

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received in respect of the consistency of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Bill with United Kingdom obligations under the European convention on human rights; and if he will make a statement. [11192]

Mr. Heald: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received no such representations. However, departmental officials met Liberty on 4 December when these issues were discussed. I am satisfied that the proposals in the Bill comply with European convention on human rights requirements.

Benefits Agency Medical Services

Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 88, what was the outcome of his discussions with the NHS executive concerning the fees for access to medical records which may be charged to contractors who will be running the Benefits Agency medical services. [10972]

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Mr. Burt: Discussion between departmental officials and the NHS executive have concluded that access to hospital records will continue to be provided free of charge to the successful contractor or contractors.

All Work Test

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) medical members of disability appeal tribunals and (b) doctors appointed to sit as medical assessors in appeals involving the all work test are employed by the Benefits Agency; and in what capacity. [11086]

Mr. Burt: No doctor who is currently employed by Benefits Agency medical services, in a full-time or part-time capacity, may be appointed as a medical member of a disability appeal tribunal or as a medical assessor.

Source:
Independent Tribunal Service.

Data Protection

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received from the Data Protection Registrar concerning the protection for

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individuals in the provisions of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Bill; and if he will make a statement. [11347]

Mr. Heald: Department officials met the Data Protection Registrar during the development of the disclosure provisions in the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Bill. The registrar wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 10 January about the scope of the disclosure of information powers contained in the Bill, advocating the introduction of a statutory code of practice for DSS data-matching activities. A reply will be sent shortly.

HEALTH

Mental Illness

Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients with (a) mental illness admitted before 1 June 1971 and (b) learning difficulties admitted before January 1970, were still receiving care in (i) hospital-based accommodation and (ii) community-based accommodation on 1 April 1996 broken down by region. [10734]

Mr. Burns: The number of patients with mental illness admitted before 1 January 1971 and patients with learning difficulties admitted before 1 January 1970, who were still receiving care in hospital or community-based accommodation on 1 April 1996, as reported by health authorities, is shown in the table.

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Region	Patients with mental illness		Patients with learning difficultiesTotal
	Hospital based	Community based	Hospital based	Community based
Northern and Yorkshire	212	343	587	1,314	2,456
Trent	59	136	217	760	1,172
Anglia and Oxford	164	159	395	664	1,382
North Thames	400	619	721	1,072	2,812
South Thames	202	723	958	2,537	4,420
South and West	68	184	375	1,670	2,297
West Midlands	77	97	376	850	1,400
North and West	115	789	383	2,203	3,490
Total	1,297	3,050	4,012	11,070	19.429

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Cannabis

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the legalisation of cannabis and its derivatives for medical use when prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner. [12415]

Mr. Malone: We have received a number of representations on this issue from Members of Parliament, the public and the medical profession.

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E. Coli

Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the incidence of verocytotoxin-producing escherichia coli in each of the last five years by region. [12038]

Mr. Horam: The information for England and Wales is provided in the following table:

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Regional incidence of 0157 VTEC in England and Wales: 1992 to 1996

	1992		1993		1994		1995		1996
Health authority	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
Northern	47	1.52	31	1.00	54	1.74	79	2.55	33	1.06
Yorkshire	30	0.81	31	0.84	21	0.57	47	1.27	76	2.06
Trent	64	1.35	43	0.91	41	0.86	65	1.37	105	2.21
East Anglia	27	1.29	17	0.81	30	1.44	35	1.68	38	1.82
North West Thames	10	0.29	12	0.34	14	0.40	28	0.78	30	0.83
North East Thames	11	0.29	13	0.34	14	0.37	15	0.39	20	0.53
South East Thames	15	0.40	12	0.32	13	0.35	26	0.70	34	0.92
South West Thames	19	0.64	28	0.94	10	0.33	29	0.95	12	0.39
Wessex	20	0.64	16	0.51	32	1.02	76	2.54	27	0.90
Oxford	50	1.94	21	0.81	25	0.97	28	1.08	24	0.93
South Western	29	0.87	29	0.87	35	1.06	89	2.68	83	2.50
West Midlands	44	0.83	56	1.06	46	0.87	106	2.01	57	1.08
Mersey	8	0.33	10	0.41	14	0.58	25	1.04	21	0.87
North Western	64	1.59	35	0.87	36	0.90	63	1.57	64	1.59
Wales	32	1.10	31	1.07	26	0.90	81	2.79	36	1.24
Total	470		385		411		792		660

1. Date from the Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, CPHL

2. Rates expressed per 100,000 using 1992 OPCS figures

3. Since 1995 all diarrhoeal stools are tested for E. coli 0157 by PHLS.

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