| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Special Advisers
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the special advisers in his Department, the minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in his Department in the year up to 1 May. [5351]
Mr. Dobson:
The Department has currently appointed one paid special adviser, Mr. Joseph McCrea, who is responsible to me.
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 621
He is employed under terms and conditions based on the model contract for special advisers, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Mr. McCrea is advising me on all Departmental subjects in accordance with Schedule 1 (Part 1) of the model contract.
There were two special advisers employed during the year up to 1 May 1997.
Mr. Truswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will examine the time so far taken to draw up plans for the redevelopment of Wharfedale General Hospital; and if he will ensure that the process is completed within a reasonable time scale. [5279]
Mr. Milburn:
This is a matter for Leeds Health Authority and the United Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust in consultation with the National Health Service Executive which has asked the trust to submit a revised outline business case for consideration. This will give the opportunity for a fresh assessment of the choices for the proposed development.
Ms Keeble:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department is funding into the causes of and treatment for infertility; and if he will make a statement; [5387]
Ms Jowell:
The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant-in-aid from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. In 1995-96, the latest year for which figures are available, the Council spent some £2.4 million on research related to infertility and fertility in general in both males and females. Much of the research is carried out at the Council's Reproductive Biology Unit in Edinburgh.
In addition, there is also research within the National Health Service Executive. The Trent Research Scheme, run by Trent Regional Office of the NHS Executive, is funding two relevant studies. These are:
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to achieve "The Health of the Nation" targets to reduce the percentage of men aged 16 to 64 years who are obese. [5319]
Ms Jowell:
The Health Survey for England 1995 shows that the prevalence of obesity increased from 13 per cent. for men and 16 per cent. for women in 1993 to 15 per cent. and 18 per cent. respectively in 1995. Obesity is more common with increasing age up to 64 years in men
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 622
and 74 years in women, and is more common in manual than non-manual social classes. Men in Social Class III (manual) and women in Social Class IV have the highest rates (17.6 per cent. and 24.1 per cent. respectively). Obesity is a long-term problem and needs a long-term strategy. We will continue to support the action on obesity and obesity-related illness which addresses:
The role of physical activity in helping to maintain a healthy weight is well recognised. The "Active for Life" campaign, which is funded by the Department and run by the Health Education Authority, promotes the value of increased physical activity. The campaign targeted people aged 16 to 74 in its first year and will continue to run to 1999. As part of this campaign we are also looking at physical activity and young people. To this end, an expert conference was convened last week to establish a consensus on the optimum levels of physical activity for school aged children and young people.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total financial surpluses currently held by GP fundholders. [5174]
Mr. Milburn:
The total accumulated level of savings available to general practitioner fundholders as of April 1996 was £188 million.
Mr. Truswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if GP fundholding receives the same degree of audit scrutiny as other elements of the NHS and public sector services. [5281]
Mr. Milburn:
Like all other National Health Service bodies, general practitioner fundholders are under a statutory requirement to have their accounts audited annually by the Audit Commission. In addition, their accounts (as part of those of the local health authority) are open for scrutiny by the National Audit Office and by internal auditors of the local health authority. These are similar to the arrangements that apply elsewhere in the public sector.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to review the current arrangements for strategic planning within the NHS. [5175]
Mr. Milburn:
The arrangements for strategic planning in the National Health Service will be reviewed in the context of work on replacing the internal market.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to review the possibilities of mergers between adjacent NHS trusts. [5176]
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 623
Mr. Milburn:
Any proposals to merge National Health Service trusts will be considered on their merits. Mergers must lead to improved services for patients.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of repetitive strain injury were identified in England in (i) 1995 and (ii) 1996. [5303]
Ms Jowell:
The Department of Health does not collect data on repetitive strain injuries (some of which are known as upper limb disorders). However, evidence from a survey on occupational ill health, carried out for the Health and Safety Executive as a supplement to the 1990 Labour Force Survey, suggests that in the year around 110,000 people in England and Wales believed that they had upper limb disorders caused by work. A new survey of work related illness was made in 1995-96 and the full results will be available early in 1998. Data are also available on some conditions which are prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Scheme. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.
Mr. Charles Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department currently offers NHS trusts and health authorities to ensure that they take into full account the environmental impact of new building projects. [4517]
Mr. Milburn
[holding answer 19 June 1997]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply the Minister for London and Construction, my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford), gave him today.
Policy on environmental issues is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which produces guidance for local authorities to use when considering planning applications by NHS Trusts for new building projects. The Department of Health fully supports the Government's commitment to promoting policies to sustain the environment.
NHS Estates, an Executive Agency of the Department of Health, has issued "A strategic guide to environmental policy for General Managers and Chief Executives" and Health Facilities Note 11 "Environmental management in healthcare", with the aim of advising NHS trusts how to produce sound policies to reduce environmental damage. The Agency has also published reports on energy saving measures in hospitals.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Roman Catholics and (b) Protestants are employed by (i) the Southern area health and social services board and (ii) the Armagh and Dungannon Health and Social Services Trust. [4268]
Mr. Worthington:
The latest available information on numbers and religious composition of staff employed by the Southern Area Health and Social Services Board is contained in the Fair Employment Commission's Seventh
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 624
Monitoring Report which was published in March 1997 and contains a summary of 1996 Monitoring Returns. That report indicated the position to be as follows:
(2) what research his Department is funding into the causes of treatment for infertility; and if she will make a statement. [5387]
Psychological outcome and adjustment to parenthood in couples conceiving through IVF treatment (1 February 1997 to 31 January 1999; £23,690);
The incidence of sex chromosome aneuploidy in spermatozoa from men with semen parameters necessitating intracytoplasmic sperm injection (1 March 1997 to 28 February 1998; £26,000).
(a) prevention of increasing fatness in the whole population
Work initiated by the Nutrition Task Force and the Physical Activity Task Force is directed towards helping people to reduce the fat content of their diets and encourage physical activity.
(b) the particular problems of high risk groups e.g. those already overweight
(c) treatment of those who are already obese.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Protestant | 925 |
| Roman Catholic | 1,103 |
| Non-determined | 189 |
| Total | 2,217 |
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |