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Secondary Care Services
Mr. Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will increase the resources available for locally provided secondary care services to North and East Devon health authority for the 1997-98 financial year. [1313]
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Mr. Milburn:
We shall honour the Health Authority revenue allocations for 1997-98 agreed by the previous Government. Health Authorities are given general allocations for hospital and community health services to commission health care services for their resident population, whether locally or elsewhere. We will look at how resources are distributed across both secondary and primary care, to ensure that these fully reflect local population needs and operate as fairly as possible.
Mr. Ancram:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy toward local community hospitals in rural areas; and what advice or directions he is currently giving to local health authorities in that respect. [1281]
Mr. Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct North and East Devon health authority not to cease to commission health services at Lynton Hospital, North Devon, during the current financial year.[1314]
Mr. Boateng:
We will be giving early consideration to issues relating to the configuration of hospital services, including the role of community hospitals. At the moment, it is for health authorities and trusts, in consultation with local general practitioners, to ensure that NHS services are responsive to public needs and wishes.
Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications of the conviction of owners and staff of Longcare Homes for abuse and ill treatment of residents for the future regulation of such homes; and if he will make a statement.[1728]
Mr. Boateng:
We are committed to securing quality services by creating a more comprehensive, more independent regulatory framework for homes and other social services which has the interests of users at heart. We will bring forward our proposals for achieving this in due course.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which health authorities fund carrier screening for cystic fibrosis; [1757]
(3) how much each health authority spent on genetic services as a percentage of their annual budget in the last year for which figures are available; [1758]
(4) how many health authorities fund pre-natal genetic screening and for which conditions; and if he will name them. [1756]
Ms Jowell:
Information on screening for cystic fibrosis, genetic screening, and genetic services is not collected centrally by the Department of Health. The information is held by individual health authorities and trusts to whom a direct approach would have to be made.
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Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health trusts have reported deficit problems relating to the funding arrangements in (a) the current and (b) the previous year. [1518]
Mr. Milburn:
The number of National Health Service trusts forecasting deficits at Quarter 4 1996-97 will be placed in the Library shortly. These deficits may be caused by factors other than funding arrangements. Plans for 1997-98 are still being agreed.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional measures he plans to help sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome. [1820]
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to increase research into ME. [1821]
Ms Jowell:
Funding research into myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) (otherwise known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)) is considered alongside other priorities. The National Health Service Research and Development programme is funding a research project called "Should GPs manage chronic fatigue syndrome? A controlled trial".
The main agency through which the Government supports biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. It is not currently funding any research into CFS\ME, but it always welcomes high-quality applications and these are judged in open competition with other demands for funding, and awarded according to their scientific quality.
(2) which health authorities fund neo-natal screening for cystic fibrosis; [1759]
We will continue to support the voluntary sector to represent and help sufferers from the condition.
(a) to continue to fund and sponsor research so that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)\mylagic encephalomyelitis (ME) and its causes are better understood;
(b) to help doctors to deal with patients suffering from the condition in a skilful and sympathetic way.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions which will be caused by reducing VAT on domestic fuel.[653]
Angela Eagle:
We have estimated that the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel to 5 per cent. will result in an increase in carbon dioxide emissions of about 0.9 million tonnes per year (equivalent to about a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon) by 2010. This represents about 0.15 per cent. of current carbon dioxide emissions. We shall be developing measures to reduce carbon dioxide
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measures in fields such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, combined heat and power, and our integrated transport strategy so as to deliver our proposed target of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what applications his Department is considering for the building of new clean coal plants in the United Kingdom.[1012]
Mr. Battle:
I have been asked to reply.
No applications have been received under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to create special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats and Species directive for harbour porpoises; and if he will make a statement. [1073]
Angela Eagle:
None. The available scientific evidence is insufficient to identify sites which meet the requirements set out in Article 4(1) of the Directive relating to aquatic species which range over wide areas.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties in (a) Westminster and (b) Pendle are in council tax bands (i) A and (ii) H; and what percentage of the total number of properties in each council area this represents. [1100]
| Band A | Percentage of total | Band H | Percentage of total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster | 1,300 | 1.2 | 12,233 | 11.4 |
| Pendle | 24,336 | 65.4 | 53 | 0.1 |
Merry Hill Inquiry
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he received the inspector's report on the Merry Hill inquiry.[1474]
Mr. Raynsford: The inspector's report on the Merry Hill inquiry was received by the Government Office for the West Midlands on 7 March 1997.
Energy Policy
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans the Government have (a) to change the current policy on energy saving and (b) to reduce emissions; [1349]
- (2) what plans the Government have to encourage more (a) businesses and (b) homeowners to use energy saving technology. [1348]
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Angela Eagle: The Government supports a range of initiatives, schemes and programmes to promote the use of energy saving and energy saving technology by homeowners, businesses, and other energy users, including the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, and a number of programmes run by the Energy Saving Trust.
These and other initiatives will be reviewed in the context of the Government's commitment to lead the fight against global warming at the Kyoto conference in December, through a target of 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. We will be reviewing our energy efficiency programmes, looking for improvements in all areas, including homeowners' and businesses' use of energy saving technology.
House Renovation Grants (Devon)
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will increase the resources available to district councils in Devon for the provision of house renovation grants during the 1997-98 financial year. [1311]
Mr. Raynsford: Resources available to district councils in 1997-98 for house renovation grants were allocated in full as part of the Housing Investment Programme. However, the Government's Capital Receipts initiative will support priority schemes of local authorities which meet key objectives. It will be for local authorities to decide how to use any resources within the general objectives set. A consultation paper on proposals for taking forward the initiative will be issued shortly.
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