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HEALTH
Elderly Citizens (Rehabilitation)
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the rehabilitation of elderly citizens; and if he will make a statement. [142]
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Mr. Boateng:
We have received some representations from medical and social care professionals and members of the public concerning the provision of national health service rehabilitation services, and expect to receive more in the near future.
Effective recovery and rehabilitation of patients is particularly important for older people, who may need a longer period to recover, especially after a spell in hospital. It is increasingly recognised that access to hospital and community-based rehabilitation and recovery services for patients who need them in one way to ensure older people retain optimal independence and to avoid unnecessary admissions into long-term care.
This Government are committed to the provision of an NHS recuperation service which will combine nursing and rehabilitation therapy services to those patients who have been assessed by a medical professional or multi-disciplinary team as being able to benefit from a rehabilitative programme of care.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he undertook with Opposition parties before proposing the abolition of Prime Minister's Questions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. [304]
Mr. Hogg:
To ask the Prime Minister what discussions were held with representatives of the Opposition parties and with the House authorities before the announcement of the decision to change the arrangements for Prime Minister's Questions. [123]
The Prime Minister:
I discussed the Government's intention to change the timing of Prime Minister's Questions with the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats shortly before the change was made public. The change is the first step to meeting our clear manifesto commitment to make Prime Minister's Questions more effective.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Prime Minister what action he proposes in respect of (a) fishermen, (b) beef farmers and (c) taxpayers in his first month of negotiations in Brussels. [301]
The Prime Minister:
My right hon. Friends, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have already visited Brussels to pursue the United Kingdom's interests. We are working within the intergovernmental conference negotiations for a solution to the problem of quota hopping; pursuing a progressive relaxation of the ban on exports of British beef; and seeking to ensure that the money British taxpayers contribute to the Community budget is used efficiently and effectively towards goals which the British people support. In the IGC we have already announced our intention to table new proposals to tackle fraud against the Community budget.
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Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will ban (a) import and (b) use of asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [51]
The Prime Minister:
The Government are determined to deal effectively with the problems of asbestos, in line with advice from the Health and Safety Commission. Negotiations are being renewed at EU level which are likely to lead to further widespread prohibitions on the supply of asbestos. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will be advised by the Health and Safety Commission on developments and on the balance to be struck between EU and domestic arrangements.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce freedom of information legislation. [84]
The Prime Minister:
As announced in the Gracious Speech, we shall shortly be setting out in a White Paper our proposals for a freedom of information Bill.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements he intends to make for parliamentary scrutiny of the security services; and if he will make a statement. [79]
The Prime Minister:
Under the terms of the Intelligence Services Act 1994, an Intelligence and Security Committee of nine Members from the House of Commons and the House of Lords is established to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Secret Intelligence Service, Security Service and GCHQ. It reports to me and I am required to lay a copy of the Committee's annual report before each House of Parliament. Following consultation with the Leader of the Opposition I will be appointing members to the Committee.
Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the outcome of the competition for a weapon to meet the RAF's requirement for a beyond visual range air-to-air missile for Eurofighter. [709]
Mr. Spellar:
After careful consideration of the responses we have received to the invitation to tender for missiles to meet Staff Requirement (Air) 1239 for a beyond visual range missile for Eurofighter, we have concluded that there is a need for further work to reduce risk in performance and time scale before we let a development and production contract. We therefore intend, subject to satisfactory negotiations, to place contracts with Matra British Aerospace (UK) Ltd. and Hughes (UK) Ltd. for project definition and risk reduction work on their respective solutions to the staff requirement. We expect to let these contracts in July and their duration will be about 12 months. We plan to make a contribution of £5 million to the costs of each contractor for this phase of the project.
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Our intention is to ensure that Eurofighter enters operational service with the most cost effective equipment available.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the future of the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation and the continuing use of Boscombe Down airfield will be included in his proposed defence review. [75]
Mr. John Reid:
Our country's security needs and foreign policy objectives must be fully reflected in the roles, missions and tasks of our armed forces. The Government have decided therefore to hold a strategic defence and security review. All aspects of defence will be considered in this process.
Mr Tipping:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments were made and what was the total amount paid under the arable area payments scheme in 1996-97. [127]
Mr. Rooker:
During 1996-97, the Ministry dealt with 46,844 claims under the arable area payments scheme and the total amount paid is estimated at £1,101 million.
Legal Aid
32. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to require a universal £20 application fee for legal aid. [398]
Mr. Hoon: The idea of universal contribution for legal aid came from the hon. Member's party. We propose to take forward our manifesto commitment to review civil justice and legal aid. In any event, the guiding principle in relation to such matters will be access to justice.
34. Mr. Yeo: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to ensure that legal aid is available only to those in genuine need. [400]
Mr. Hoon: We shall be carrying forward our manifesto commitment to a review of civil justice and legal aid, but we shall in any event seek to ensure that legal aid is appropriately targeted.
35. Mr. Burns: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans Her Majesty's Government have to expand eligibility for legal aid. [401]
Mr. Hoon: There are no plans at present to expand eligibility for legal aid.
Magistrates
33. Mr. Skinner:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to alter the current political balance among magistrates. [399]
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Mr. Hoon:
While politics play no part in the work of the bench, the Lord Chancellor considers that there should not be an undue number of supporters of any political party on any bench. He requires his Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace to strive to ensure that those recommended for appointment are drawn from a broad cross section of the community, taking into account, amongst other matters, their political affiliations and the voting figures for the area. Anyone may apply to become a magistrate. I would, of course, welcome any assistance that hon. Members can give in encouraging those they regard as personally suitable to apply for appointment.
36. Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects the review of limitation legislation to be completed. [402]
Mr. Hoon:
The Law Commission is undertaking a comprehensive review of the law of limitation and expects to publish a consultation paper on the subject later this year. A period of consultation will follow before the Law Commission begins work on the final report.
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