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Non-clinical Services
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact the Government's proposed changes in employment law will have on NHS employees providing non-clinical services; and if he will make a statement.[1293]
Mr. Milburn: The independent Low Pay Commission will recommend to the Government the initial level at which the National Minimum Wage might be set. It is too soon to say what the impact might be on National Health Service employees.
Care Beds
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many continuing or long-stay care beds were commissioned by each health authority in each year since 1993. [1333]
Mr. Boateng:
Data are collected by broad ward classification rather than by clinical specialty in returns by individual National Health Service providers rather than by health authority. The complete set of data is available from the Library in the publication "Bed Availability for England" but there is no separate classification of continuing care or long stay care beds. One of the actions we have already taken is to ask officials to review the collection of continuing care commissioning data by health and local authorities.
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 38
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that his Department's computer systems are millennium compliant; and if he will make a statement. [1247]
Mr. Milburn:
The Department has carried out an inventory of all its computer systems and has produced an initial high level plan to address the problem. Testing for Year 2000 compliance will start in June. A fully costed, timed and prioritised programme of remedial work will be prepared in the Autumn.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce the (a) bureaucracy, (b) time and (c) cost involved in adoptions procedure.[1346]
Mr. Boateng:
The Government intend to introduce new adoption legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease as a result of the cadaveric human growth hormone programme in Britain. [1810]
Ms Jowell:
Twenty-one patients who were treated with human growth hormone in the United Kingdom have died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. A further four are currently exhibiting symptoms consistent with the disease.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider no-fault compensation for those suffering illness as a result of the cadaveric human growth hormone programme. [1812]
Ms Jowell:
I will write to my hon. Friend about this shortly.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what compensation has so far been awarded to those suffering illness as a result of the cadaveric human growth hormone programme. [1811]
Ms Jowell:
We are still awaiting documentation from the legal representatives of those entitled to compensation to enable us to agree appropriate amounts.
Mr. Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the letter from Dr. Geoffrey Myddleton in the Lancet of 21/28 December 1996, vol. 348, No. 9043, page 1744. [1806]
Ms Jowell:
Dr. Myddleton's letter contains outdated information on concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds in London air. Current concentrations are less than 1 ng/m 3 (annual average) compared with 26-39 ng/m 3 (annual average concentration) in 1962. The risk to health posed by carcinogens in urban air is very much smaller than that posed by cigarette smoking.
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 39
Mr. Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the carcinogenic effect of benzo(a)pyrene; and what are the major sources. [1804]
Ms Jowell:
The carcinogenic effects of benzo(a)pyrene were examined by the Department of Health Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC) in 1994. The Committee's conclusions were published in the COC Annual Report, copies of which have been placed in the Library. An updated assessment will be published in the 1996 Annual Report. The major sources of benzo(a)pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds in the air are the various forms of combustion of fossil fuels including, in urban areas, motor vehicles.
Mr. Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the atmospheric presence of 3,4-benzpyrene in London and its implications for health. [1805]
Ms Jowell:
The concentration of 3,4-benzpyrene is measured for the Department of the Environment at a site in Marsham Street, SW1. Data are currently being considered by the Department of the Environment/ Department of Health Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards with a view to recommending an air quality standard. A report is expected in 1998.
Dr. Brand:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will amend the formula for funding district health authorities to include status as an off-shore community as a factor. [1771]
Mr. Milburn:
We will continue with the research which has already been commissioned to investigate the possible extra costs associated with the provision of accident and emergency and ambulance services in rural areas; this includes looking at the effects of island status. A report is expected in the autumn and the results will be carefully considered.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold a full inquiry into the stewardship of the North-East Essex Mental Health Services NHS Trust, with particular reference to (a) the dispersal of patients from Severalls Hospital, Colchester and (b) the future of the (i) complex and (ii) site. [1553]
Mr. Boateng:
North-East Essex Mental Health Services National Health Service Trust is responsible to those who commission services, principally North Essex Health Authority, for the patient care it provides. The NHS Executive and the Trust are in the process of determining the future of the site.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to adopt a social model of disability in framing all future and amending previous relevant legislation and guidance; and if he will make a statement. [1672]
2 Jun 1997 : Column: 40
Mr. Boateng:
Our manifesto commits us to establishing
Dr. Brand:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has had regarding the need for structural repairs at St. Mary's Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight. [1772]
Mr. Milburn:
Three letters have been received from members of the public regarding the need for structural repairs at St. Mary's Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reform the structures relating to the management of NHS trusts in order to increase their accountability. [1551]
Mr. Milburn:
The Government is working with the National Health Service to develop an action plan to end the internal market. As part of this we will consider whether any changes to the management of NHS trusts are required.
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what written guidance has been issued by his Department on the proper completion of a cervical smear report record; whether the report card requires the reporting of the visual appearance of the cervix; and if it is his policy that reporting of the visual appearance of the cervix should take place. [1656]
Ms Jowell:
The cervical cytology request form does not require smear takers to describe the visual appearance of the cervix in all cases. It is recommended that visibility of the cervix and a description be recorded in the woman's medical notes. The condition of the cervix should, however, be included on a request form where there is a suspected abnormality.
The Government will be consulting widely and developing our proposals in partnership with disability organisations, trade union and others. An essential issue will be the definition of disability. It is not appropriate for us to pre-empt the outcome of that consultation.
"comprehensive, enforceable civil rights for disabled people against discrimination in society or at work, developed in partnership with all interested parties".
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