| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
GP Surgeries
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what incentive schemes (a) currently exist and (b) are being examined by his Department, to encourage general practitioners to set up surgeries in the valleys of South Wales. [860]
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 31
Mr. Win Griffiths:
I hope to make an announcement within a few weeks.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the availability of community doctors in Wales. [861]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
None. The responsibility for the establishment of posts in community medicine is a matter for health authorities or trusts to consider having regard to locally assessed needs and circumstances.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to deal with problems relating to long-term care. [1113]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. and learned Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 20 May 1997, Official Report, column 58.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to take to reduce waiting lists; and if he will make a statement. [1112]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
Alongside the top priority of managing medical admissions, and ensuring that adequate intensive care facilities are available, I intend that cutting waiting lists and reducing waiting times will continue to be a key priority for the NHS in Wales.
I expect the resources released through efficiency gains and the majority of the £1.9 million released by the suspension of 8th wave fundholding to be invested in these areas and in the improvement of local services for cancer patients.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of general practitioners are fundholders; and how many applications are outstanding.[1111]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
There are 923 GPs (54 per cent.), in 233 GP Fundholding practices in Wales. A further 11 practices have expressed interest in the 8th Wave, but have not yet made formal application. I have decided to defer any approval of the 8th Wave until July 1998.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide assistance to allow the North Wales health authority and North Wales hospital trusts to introduce more nurses. [1114]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
No. Financial allocations for 1997-98 have already been made to the North Wales Health Authority.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to reduce river pollution in Wales. [1303]
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 32
Mr. Win Griffiths:
The latest information published by the Environment Agency shows that 91.4 per cent. of Welsh rivers are classified as good quality; 6.9 per cent. as fair; with only 1.7 per cent. classed as poor or bad quality. This compares with similar percentages of 59.5, 31.5 and 9.0 for the whole of England and Wales. The Government is committed to protecting the environment, including our rivers, and will put concern for the environment at the heart of future policy making.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for support for the beef market; and if he will make a statement. [1206]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
The Government wishes to ensure the long term viability of the beef market. Any changes to support arrangements will be made as part of a strategy to ensure a sustainable beef industry in Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Tipping:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the (a) maximum, (b) minimum and (c) average payment made under the arable area payments scheme in 1996-97. [1725]
Mr. Win Griffiths:
The maximum payment made for a claim under the 1996 Arable Area Payment Scheme in Wales was for £142,497. The minimum payment was £148, and the average payment £5,025.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for the future of compulsory competitive tendering in Wales in advance of the introduction of a duty on local authorities to achieve best value. [1906]
Mr. Ron Davies:
I have considered representations about the continuing difficulties that local authorities in Wales are facing in preparing for the reintroduction of Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) given the pressures of reorganisation. I am of the view that I should take action to relieve these difficulties.
I intend to consult widely on a range of measures which I have in mind to achieve this objective while maintaining the pressure on local authorities to secure efficiencies in the delivery of services.
I propose to extend the moratorium on CCT until 1 October 1998.
Under the terms of the current moratorium, CCT has been generally suspended for work subject to the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (the 1980 Act) and for activities covered by the Local Government Act 1988 (the 1988 Act). Throughout the moratorium period, CCT has continued to apply to works of construction under the 1980 Act where the value of the work exceeds £500,000. Under my proposals this requirement will continue to apply during the extended moratorium.
I will also continue to require local authorities to produce annual reports and to meet the financial objective specified under current CCT legislation (the 1980 and 1988 Acts) where work is carried out in-house during the
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 33
extended moratorium. My Department will continue to monitor authorities' performance throughout the extended moratorium and will take appropriate action if authorities fail to submit reports or achieve the financial objective.
Under my proposals, on which I shall be consulting, CCT would be reintroduced from October 1998 for further elements of work covered by the 1980 Act. The purpose would be to extend the range of work beyond those large construction contracts which were subject to CCT under the terms of the moratorium. CCT for the remainder of work subject to the 1980 Act, and all activities subject to the 1988 Act, would be implemented on a phased and manageable basis during 1999.
With colleagues, I will be reviewing the existing CCT framework and will reassess the arrangements proposed for Wales in the light of the outcome of that review.
Our Manifesto gave a commitment to replace CCT with a duty on local authorities to achieve best value. While work on this is taken forward, I will encourage local authorities to take a positive view on the value of competitive tendering and to conclude properly those tendering exercises which are nearing completion.
I will also ask the Welsh Local Government Association to work with my Department, the Audit Commission and other Government Departments to develop a framework for piloting important features of a best value regime in advance of its formal introduction on a statutory basis.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will remove the right of NHS trusts to refuse to provide information as to their activities on the basis of such information being commercial in confidence. [26]
Mr. Milburn:
The National Health Service is expected to respond positively to all requests for information. However, there may be circumstances where negotiations could be prejudiced by premature disclosure or where there is a duty to respect information given in confidence.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a requirement on NHS trusts and health authorities to publish their business plans and planning documents relating to the services they provide or plan to provide. [28]
Mr. Milburn:
National Health Service trusts and health authorities are expected to be open about their plans. They are required to make publicly available details about important proposals or health policies or changes in the way in which services are delivered. This information should be made available when proposals are announced, and before decisions are made. In addition, trusts are required to publish an annual business plan, describing their planned activity for the coming year. Both trusts and health authorities are also required to publish a summary strategic direction document (every three years for trusts and five years for health authorities) setting out their longer term plans for the delivery of health care services.
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 34
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants at each grade within his Department were of Asian origin on 5 May. [233]
| Payband | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| IP1 | 62 | 5 |
| IP2 and Fast Stream | 42 | 4 |
| IP3 | 20 | 2 |
| IP4 and above including Senior Civil Service | 14 | 1 |
| Total | 138 | 3 |
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |