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Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) by what means those merchant banks which offered their services to his Department in connection with the private finance initiative between 2 May and 20 May made themselves known: [1132]
- (2) pursuant to his oral answer of 20 May, Official Report, columns 503-04, how many merchant banks contacted his Department to offer their services in connection with the private finance initiative between 2 May and 20 May; [1131]
(3) which merchant banks approached his Department to offer their services in connection with the private finance initiative between 2 May and 20 May. [1133]
Alan Milburn: Since the 2 May the Minister of State and officials at the Department of Health have met all the principal financiers involved in the two most advanced whole-hospital private finance initiative schemes (those at the Dartford and Gravesham National Health Service Trust and the Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS Trust). All these financiers have reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the private finance initiative and the projects at these two trusts. They also fully support the NHS (Private Finance) Bill, which aims to ensure that NHS trusts have the statutory power to enter into PFI contracts, and the urgent review of the PFI process in the health sector we have announced. This review will seek to identify how the current gridlock can be eliminated and to ensure that much needed schemes are completed quickly. During the review Ministers will listen to the views of all those closely involved with the PFI--from both the public and the private sectors.
Breast Screening
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the result of the pilot study on extending the breast screening programme to older women to be completed. [1201]
Paul Boateng: The results of the pilot studies on the feasibility of extending the routine call/recall element of the breast screening programme to women aged 65 to 69 years are expected to be available by the year 2001.
Dentistry (Shrewsbury)
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure the establishment of NHS dentistry provision in the Shrewsbury area; and over what time scale. [1063]
Alan Milburn: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 20 May at columns 501-02.
GP Fundholding
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health over what time scale he plans to introduce changes of policy in respect of GP fundholding. [1066]
Alan Milburn:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for Romsey (Mr. Colvin) on 20 May at column 495.
22 May 1997 : Column: 177
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Helath what estimate he has made of the number of babies born in any given year who are allergic to lactose; and what percentage of the total number of babies born this figure represents. [1108]
Ms Jowell:
We have made no estimate of the number of babies or children who are intolerant to lactose, nor are we aware of any such estimate having been made by any outside organisation.
Dr. Stoate:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into the compliance of the tobacco industry with the voluntary code on advertising and the effectiveness of the code. [1143]
Ms Jowell:
The operation of the voluntary agreement on tobacco advertising and promotion is monitored by the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship, which is composed of equal numbers of representatives of the Government Departments and the tobacco industry under an independent Chairman.
In 1995-96 the Committee commissioned independent consultants to investigate how three aspects of the agreement were being adhered to, namely an analysis of progress towards the industry's undertaking to remove all permanent shopfront advertising material by 31 December 1996, an audit of compliance with the undertaking to place no poster advertising within a 200 metre radius of schools and other places of education for people under 18, and a survey of compliance with the provisions of the Cigarette Sampling Code. In all cases, a high level of compliance was found.
The Committee also arranges for the investigation of complaints submitted by the public. In 1995-96, the Committee received 69 letters of complaint giving details of 119 items thought to be in breach of the voluntary agreement on advertising and promotion. The Committee concluded that 15 items were in breach of the voluntary agreement.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in the general dental service practised in Lancashire in each year since 1992. [1103]
Alan Milburn:
The table shows the number of dentists on the Lancashire Family Health Services Authority/Health Authority list on 30 September for the years 1992 to 1995. Equivalent information is not available for 30 September 1996 because of the reorganisation of health authorities. The table gives the number of dentists in the three health authorities covering Lancashire for 30 September 1996.
22 May 1997 : Column: 178
| Family health services authority | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 421 | 428 | 438 | 442 |
| Health authority | 1996 |
|---|---|
| East Lancashire | 157 |
| North West Lancashire | 159 |
| South Lancashire | 83 |
1. The figures represent the number of dentists (principals) on the Family Health Services Authority/Health Authority list and their assistants and vocational trainees.
2. Some dentists have a contract with more than one FHSA/HA, these dentists are counted only once.
3. The figures exclude salaried, hospital and community dentists.
Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research
Mrs Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an announcement about the future of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research. [1427]
Ms Jowell: It has become clear for a number of reasons that this would be an advantageous time to review the role of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research. Views are being invited from any interested parties by means of an advertisement in Government Opportunities and by a direct approach to key organisations and individuals. The views of the management and staff of the Centre are also being sought.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trusts failed to meet the 14 March 1997 deadline to agree contracts with their purchasers; and how many are now expected to go to arbitration. [790]
Alan Milburn: The information requested is not available centrally.
Waiting Lists
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list by (a) health authority, (b) region and (c) nationally the number of patient waiting to be admitted at NHS hospitals at the end of March 1997, as reported by (i) NHS providers (ii) English health authorities; and how many had waited for (i) 0-11 months, (ii) 12-17 months, and (iii) more than 18 months; [791]
- (2) if he will list (a) by health authority, (b) by region and (c) nationally the total number of patients waiting to be admitted at NHS hospitals at the end of March; and how many had waited for (i) 0 to 11 months, (ii) 12 to 17 months and (iii) more than 18 months. [1025]
Alan Milburn:
Provisional waiting times figures at regional level for the quarter ended 31 March 1997 will be published on a provider and resident basis at 9.30 am on Thursday 22 May. Final figures at National Health Service trust and health authority levels will be published some six to eight weeks later.
22 May 1997 : Column: 179
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the outstanding repair and maintenance backlog at NHS facilities by regional health authority in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [792]
Alan Milburn:
The outstanding repair and maintenance backlog by regional health authority is shown in the attached table. The information is available only from 1989-90.
| Region | 1989-90 | 1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | 98,766 | 97,109 | 138,672 | 142,129 |
| Yorkshire | 122,422 | 98,988 | (15)-- | 125,987 |
| Trent | 119,841 | 102,170 | 120,375 | 119,383 |
| East Anglia | 67,772 | 66,156 | (15)-- | 83,462 |
| Oxford | 122,566 | 81,961 | (15)-- | 89,925 |
| North-west Thames | 75,234 | 70,934 | (15)-- | 84,049 |
| North-east Thames | 257,386 | 300,500 | 329,303 | 331,467 |
| South-east Thames | 141,324 | 108,939 | 240,789 | 264,256 |
| South-west Thames | 196,121 | 150,222 | 178,099 | 176,176 |
| Wessex | (15)62,060 | 107,539 | 86,088 | 111,461 |
| South Western | 121,008 | 112,878 | 153,415 | 123,605 |
| West Midlands | 242,276 | 280,554 | 320,737 | 307,229 |
| Mersey | 80,768 | 50,148 | 46,553 | 64,310 |
| North Western | 95,048 | 104,911 | 126,373 | 144,011 |
(15) Data incomplete.
22 May 1997 : Column: 180
| Region | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern and Yorkshire | 321,103 | 393,068 | 369,388 |
| Trent | 132,983 | 129,252 | 200,193 |
| Anglia and Oxford | 243,135 | 186,912 | 222,923 |
| North Thames | 503,381 | 483,518 | 514,398 |
| South Thames | 378,527 | 334,987 | 327,671 |
| South and West | 230,419 | 263,322 | 243,891 |
| West Midlands | 382,500 | 310,541 | 290,490 |
| North-west | 198,950 | 222,978 | 243,472 |
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