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Portsmouth Hospitals (NHS) Trust

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the purpose of his visit to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth; who invited him; and when the visit was set up; [2398]

Mr. Milburn: Following an approach by my hon. Friend the member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Rapson) in whose constituency Queen Alexandra Hospital is situated, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expressed an interest in visiting the hospital and was warmly welcomed by the Chairman and the Chief Executive of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust on 2 June. The purpose of the visit was to tour the hospital, inspect its facilities and meet staff and patients. The arrangements were made during the week preceding the visit.

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust had a very small deficit at the end of the last financial year, but is not currently in deficit. No monies are owed to the trust by other NHS trusts. Discussions during the visit centred around the contracting process, the level of costs incurred by NHS trusts and the internal market.

Methadone

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue new guidance for the prescribing of methadone. [2453]

Ms Jowell: Guidelines on clinical management of drug misuse and dependence were last revised by the Department of Health in 1991, and included information on the appropriate prescription and dispensing of methadone to drug misusers. These guidelines are currently being revised by an expert working group chaired by Professor John Strang, the Chief Medical Officer's consultant adviser on drug misuse. The new guidelines, which will include updated advice on the prescribing of methadone based on the latest research evidence, are expected to be issued to all doctors at the end of 1997.

Children in Care (Homelessness)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each local authority area are currently in care because of family homelessness. [2397]

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Mr. Boateng: The latest figures for the numbers of children looked after because of homelessness, by individual social services department responsible for care, were published in "Children Looked After by Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 1995, England" (Table 5). The figures in this publication relate to cases where a child's family was either homeless or evicted or where a child was over sixteen and was homeless or evicted. Copies of the publication are available in the Library.

Weighted Capitation Funding

Mr. Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the weighted elements of his Department's national weighted capitation formula for health funding; if evidence of population sparsity will be included in that review; and if he will make a statement. [2485]

Mr. Milburn: 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.

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 sparsely populated rural areas. A report is expected in the autumn and the results will be carefully considered.

Ambulance Service (Paramedics)

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy that there should be a trained paramedic on all accident and emergency ambulances; what targets have been set relating to the provision of paramedics in the ambulance service; and what surveys have been carried out by his Department into the extent of such provision. [2429]

Mr. Boateng: It is the Department's policy that there should be a trained paramedic on every front line ambulance. There are some 6,500 paramedics working for National Health Service ambulance services in England and 32 of the 37 services are able to place a paramedic on every front line ambulance.

Hospital Services (London)

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of the team that will carry out his review of London's hospital services. [2563]

Mr. Milburn: We will be announcing details of the review and its method of operation in due course.

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will direct the Royal Hospitals NHS Trust to halt its plans to close St. Bartholomew's Hospital pending the outcome of his review into London hospitals; [2564]

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Mr. Milburn: We will be announcing details of the review of London's health services in due course. Its effect on individual hospitals will be made clear at that time.

PRIME MINISTER

Windfall Tax (Pharmaceutical Industry)

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister if he will impose a windfall tax on the pharmaceutical industry. [1957]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 5 June 1997]: It would not be appropriate to comment on any possible tax changes during the run up to the Budget.

Cabinet Committees

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a list of the Ministerial Committees of the Cabinet. [2975]

The Prime Minister: The names and membership of the Ministerial committees which I have established to date are as follows. In addition to the members listed, other Ministers are invited to attend meetings as and when the business requires.


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