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Scottish Grand Committee
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost to public funds of the attendance of (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department at meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee in Scotland since December 1994; and if he will list the meetings of the Committee which (a) Ministers and (b) officials have attended indicating the cost of attendance and the names of those who attended. [16575]
Mr. Horam: No Ministers or officials from the Department of Health have attended a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee.
National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisations have proposed amendments to the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill [Lords] to his Department. [15814]
Mr. Malone: The Department has held discussions with a number of organisations, including representatives of primary care professionals, about the provisions of the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill, including discussions about how the Bill might be amended in ways to meet their particular concerns. However, amendments may be proposed only through hon. Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with (a) unions representing medical workers, (b) NHS trusts, (c) medical insurance companies and (d) the British Medical Association regarding the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill [Lords]. [15815]
Mr. Malone: The Bill follows wide consultations with all those with an interest in primary care, including national health service trusts, general practitioners, dentists, nurses and other health professionals and their representatives. The range and variety of consultation is outlined in the annex to "Primary Care: The Future", published on 10 June 1996, copies of which are available in the Library.
Discussions about the Bill and its proposals between officials and representatives of the professions are continuing. Officials have had a preliminary meeting with a representative of the Medical Defence Union, at its request, to discuss the arrangements for indemnity under the proposals.
19 Feb 1997 : Column: 622
Mr. Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the status of the family doctor service within the NHS; [15828]
Mr. Malone:
I refer the hon. Member to the opening statement on Second Reading of the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill on 11 February, Official Report, at columns 146-158.
Mr. Alfred Morris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of research funded by the Government into multiple sclerosis and on his plans for extending it. [15865]
Mr. Malone:
The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. In addition to work specifically on multiple sclerosis, the MRC also undertakes work under the broader headings of auto-immune disorders, diseases of the central nervous system, and neurodegenerative diseases, all of which underpin research into MS. Results of Government-funded research are made freely and widely available.
Mr. Alfred Morris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of cancer research funded by the Government and on his plans for extending it. [15866]
Mr. Malone:
The Government's commitment to prevention of ill health caused by cancer is set out in "The Health of the Nation". The national health service research and development programme's research and development priorities in cancer is an example of the Government's commitment to encourage research into the causes, prevention, early detection and treatment of all cancers. In 1995-96, the Government spent some £25 million on research into cancer. Results of Government-funded research are made freely and widely available.
Mr. Martlew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many CJD cases designated (a) definite and (b) probable by his Department in the years 1988 to 1995 fell in the age range of (i) 0 to 20, (ii) 21 to 30, (iii) 31 to 40, (iv) 41 to 50, (v) 51 to 60, (vi) 61 to 70 and (vii) over 70 years at the time of death. [16128]
Mr. Horam:
The information requested is given in the table.
19 Feb 1997 : Column: 621
(2) what plans he has to propose amendments to the National Health Service (Primary Care) Bill [Lords]. [15816]
(45) Including one case age unknown.
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| Age range | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definite | Probable | Definite | Probable | Definite | Probable | Definite | Probable | |
| 0 to 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (46)1 | 0 |
| 21 to 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (46)2 | 0 |
| 31 to 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 to 50 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 to 60 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 61 to 70 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 1 |
| 70+ | 12 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 9 | 3 |
| Total | 37 | 7 | 31 | 7 | 46 | 7 | 33 | 4 |
(46) New variant CJD cases.
19 Feb 1997 : Column: 623
Diprosone
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the reasons for the proposed inclusion of Diprosone on the list of drugs to be excluded from prescription. [16132]
Mr. Malone: A decision on whether to include Diprosone on the list of drugs to be excluded from prescription by general practitioners has been deferred pending the receipt of further advice from the advisory committee on national health service drugs.
Travel Vaccines
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reviews the Government are currently conducting in relation to travel vaccines; when the results of this review are expected to be published; what body is carrying out the review; and what representations have been received about the review. [16331]
Mr. Horam: The Department of Health, as part of a continuing internal review of the current arrangements for travel vaccines, is seeking to resolve the anomalies which exist at present. We shall consult interested bodies once we have proposals to present.
General Practitioners (Computers)
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide figures comparable to those in his answer of 2 April 1996, Official Report, columns 175-76, for the reimbursement of the costs of the computerisation in general practice and the numbers of fundholding and non-fundholding practices and general practitioners in 1995-96; if the figures given for the reimbursement of the costs of computerisation include the expenditure on computers to support general practitioner fundholding reported in table 13 of his Departmental report published in March 1996; and if he will make a statement. [16628]
Mr. Malone:
The total amount directly reimbursed to general practitioners from public funds towards the costs of computerisation in the financial year 1995-96 was
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£64 million 1 . Information on the apportionment of these costs between fundholders and other GPs is not available centrally.
| Total | Fundholding | Non- fundholding | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted principals | 26,647 | 10,456 | 16,191 |
| Practices | 9,063 | 2,613 | 6,450 |
Source:
(47) The annual financial returns of the family health services authority (provisional data).
(48) Enhanced GP census.
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