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Nurses
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses in England were aged (a) between 20 and 30, (b) between 31 and 40, (c) between 41 and 50, and (d) over 50 years in each year from 1987-88 to 1995-96. [12690]
Mr. Horam [pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1997, c. 543-46]: I regret that one of the figures provided in my previous reply was incorrect.
The figure for unqualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff with ages not known in 1989 should have read 1,140, not 8,950.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Punishment Attacks
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been (a) prosecuted and (b) sentenced for paramilitary punishment attacks in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [8335]
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Sir John Wheeler:
These crimes are brutal, unjust and have no place in a civilised society. It is not possible to provide figures in precisely the form requested as there is no specific offence of carrying out a "punishment attack". However, the RUC statistics indicate that between 1994 and 1996, 62 people were charged with what appears to be punishment beating-related offences, as follows:
| Republican | Loyalist | |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 2 | 6 |
| 1995 | 25 | 9 |
| 1996 | 8 | 12 |
To date, five convictions have been served as follows:
| Republican | Loyalist | |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 | 4 |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 |
However, cases against a further 26 persons are pending.
| Republican | Loyalist | |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 8 | 7 |
| 1996 | 0 | 10 |
Despite all the RUC's efforts, groups of terrorist thugs continue to attack those within their own communities whom they wish to intimidate, including those accused of alleged anti-social behaviour and assisting the security forces. In recent months, these attacks have increased in ferocity and many young men and women have been left with horrific injuries and will bear the scars for the rest of their lives.
Such attacks are against all concepts of justice and human rights. They are carried out by those who are most keen on their own rights, but are happy to deny similar rights and to play the part of judge, jury and executioner when it comes to dealing with others. The RUC is the only legitimate law enforcement agency in Northern Ireland, and the Government urge anyone who knows anything about these brutal attacks to tell the police. They also incur substantial costs to the community in NHS, compensation claims and other costs.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in west Belfast are currently registered with A1 status on the Housing Executive waiting list. [16454]
Mr. Moss:
This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, whose chief executive has advised me that there are 401 people in west Belfast with A1 status on the waiting list.
25 Feb 1997 : Column: 185
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16968]
Sir John Wheeler:
The information requested is not available as the establishment of next steps agencies follows from an administrative process involving wide consideration of various aspects of proposals for agencification. There is therefore no unique cost attributable to agencification.
Mr. Illsley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for the contracting out of the management and maintenance of (a) national nature reserves, (b) historic buildings and (c) country parks in Northern Ireland; and whom he has consulted on these proposals. [17388]
Mr. Moss:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its chief executive, Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Robert C. Martin to Mr. Eric Illsley, dated 24 February 1997:
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used in the choice of the senior researcher appointed by his Department to investigate the psychological aspects of Gulf war syndrome; and if he will list the other short listed candidates indicating their qualifications. [16993]
Mr. Soames:
Professor Simon Wessely and Professor Anthony David of Kings' college school of medicine and dentistry, London, are conducting a controlled epidemiological and clinical study into the effect of Gulf war service on service men and women of the UK armed forces. This study is being fully funded by the US
25 Feb 1997 : Column: 186
Department of Defence; it was one of 12 studies announced by the US Government in June 1996 following an exhaustive, independent peer review. The main objective of the study is to determine whether service in the Gulf war, and factors specific to the Gulf deployment, are associated with an increase in physical or psychological morbidity. This study will be closely co-ordinated with those announced last December, being undertaken Dr. Doyle and Professor Cherry, which are being funded by my Department.
Mr. Patrick Thompson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the restructuring of the Defence Medical Services Organisation. [17904]
Mr. Soames:
The Defence Medical Services Organisation is established primarily to provide care for service personnel deployed on operations. This is a vital task. To provide this capability, the DMSO must comprise peacetime structures and a recognised training base which can produce uniformed medical personnel with the right skills and in sufficient numbers to meet forecast operational demands. That peacetime structure can also make a significant contribution to the provision of secondary medical care for all service personnel and, in certain circumstances, for their dependants, to facilitate effective training, it works closely with the NHS.
Since 1984, there has been a series of separate studies into the Defence Medical Services Organisation, aimed at rationalising an area which was consuming over 2 per cent. of the defence budget and adapting them to the changing strategic environment. This work culminated in the defence costs study in 1994, which recommended major restructuring of the DMSO to enable it to provide sufficient rapidly deployable units, primarily manned by regular personnel, to support forces deployed on operations, and a more efficient and cost-effective support structure, including establishing a number of agencies to provide secondary medical care and recognised training for medical personnel.
These necessary changes have meant major upheavals for the DMSO which, naturally, not all those involved have welcomed. The DMSO was suffering from some shortages of personnel--particularly anaesthetists, orthopaedic surgeons and intensive care nurses, mirroring shortages in the NHS--and we are striving to improve this situation. We have established all the key elements of the new organisations and we are now focusing on achieving the right balance in their relationships with the NHS and their function as military units in the light of experience with the operation of the new structure.
Three regular field hospitals of 200 beds have now been established with permanent command and administrative staff. The clinical staff to support the field hospitals will be drawn from the Defence Secondary Care Agency. There are currently gaps in some specialities which we look to fill, as we did in the Gulf and in Bosnia in other specialisations, by volunteer reservists under the provisions of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. We have provided the proper level of medical support to British troops on operational deployment in the Gulf, Bosnia and elsewhere.
25 Feb 1997 : Column: 187
Defence planning to reflect the changing strategic circumstances has already evolved further since 1994. We have therefore set up a study team to examine whether these new circumstances, together with recent changes in medical practice, require further changes to our detailed assumptions for the provision of medical support to the front line. This should report by the middle of the year.
We continue to improve our holdings of medical equipment and supplies. Two sets of containerised modular operating theatres are now in use in Bosnia. We intend to purchase more of those in the future; the next will be delivered later this year. We also plan to improve medical facilities in RFA Argus for its role as a hospital ship.
At the time of the restructuring of the DMSO--which involved the closure of three service hospitals and the concentration of medical facilities at the Royal hospital, Haslar and in three Ministry of Defence hospital units at Derriford, Frimley Park and Peterborough--waiting lists increased. They have now been substantially reduced through robust management action by the new Defence Secondary Care Agency. There is also a programme of improvements at the Royal hospital, Haslar. Most of the enhancements to the clinical facilities should be completed by June 1997, with the remaining programme of capital works--for health and safety--completed over the next two years.
Work to align terms of service for medical personnel in each of the three services and so produce a more cohesive DMSO is well in hand. The first measures will be implemented in April. Naval and Army medical and dental officers will be allowed to extend their
25 Feb 1997 : Column: 188
short-service commissions in line with current RAF policy to enable them to complete their clinical training in uniform, and there will be a common return of service for that training.
and Country Parks
As Chief Executive of the Environment and Heritage Service, I am responsible for operational aspects of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's work heritage properties.
I am therefore responding to the Parliamentary Question which you put down in the House of Commons:
"to ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proposals he has for the contracting out of the management and maintenance of:-
(a) National Nature Reserves,
(b) Historic Buildings, and
(c) Country Parks in Northern Ireland,
and with whom he has consulted on these proposals."
The Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland has begun a 3-year programme to assess the opportunities to disengage from direct management of its nature reserves, historic properties and country parks. Each property will be assessed individually and its management will be contracted out if a competent body is able to undertake the necessary work efficiently, effectively and economically. All 26 district councils and relevant voluntary conservation bodies have been approached.
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