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Compulsory Competitive Tendering
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons for ending compulsory competitive tendering in the NHS; [6740]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the timetables for ending compulsory competitive tendering to the NHS.[6739]
Mr. Milburn: Apart from the requirement periodically to market test cleaning, catering and laundry services, all market testing in the National Health Service is and has always been conducted on a voluntary basis. A review of the operation of the present policy is currently being undertaken by officials and the requirement to market test the three named services is being considered as part of this review. No decisions have yet been taken.
Nurses and Midwives
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlay the reduction in numbers of nurses and midwives between 1985 and 1995. [6799]
Mr. Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) on 19 June 1997 at columns 290-91.
Service Improvements
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extra resources which he estimates will be required by 2002 to achieve the service improvements listed in his speech in Brighton on 25 June.[6743]
Mr. Milburn:
The speech made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health to the National Health Service Confederation on 25 June set out the Government's long-term vision for the National Health
8 Jul 1997 : Column: 433
Service. My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has made it clear that spending plans for 1999-00 and beyond would be informed by the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review currently under way and would take account of all the Government's priorities and objectives.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the research projects currently paid for by his Department being carried out by (i) private agencies, companies or organisations and (ii) the NHS Executive or other public body reporting directly to his Department and, in each case, the date when this work will be completed. [6789]
Ms Jowell:
The Department, through its Policy Research Programme (PRP), funds a range of research. Listed are the titles and end date of the projects being carried out by private agencies, companies and organisations within the PRP, chiefly as part of the MedLINK and LINK Medical Implants programmes. Most are carried out in partnership with universities:
| Project | End date |
|---|---|
| Vaccination, juvenile onset diabetes and autoimmunity | 31 December 1997 |
| Temperature rise from pulse doppler ultrasound equipment | 31 December 1997 |
| Use of Embroidery Techniques in the Manufacture of Textile Surgical Implants | 30 April 1999 |
| Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgical System | 31 August 1999 |
| Suspended Image Systems for Endoscopic Surgery | 31 August 1999 |
| 3D Vision for Endoscopic Procedures | 30 September 1999 |
| An Integrated Multi-disciplinary Approach to the Development of a New Type of Heart Valve | 31 January 2000 |
| Development of a Rear Support Walking Frame | 31 December 1999 |
| Development of MRI Compatible Endoscopes | 30 April 1999 |
| Electronically Guided Knee Surgery | 28 February 1999 |
| Development of DLC Coated Prostheses | 31 October 1998 |
| Hydraulically Controlled Implantable Devices for Incontinence | 30 April 1998 |
| Tissue Regeneration by TOPOGEN | 30 June 1998 |
| Advanced Glaucoma Filtration Implant Development | 31 August 1999 |
| Medical Implants Exploitation Contract | 28 February 2002 |
A full list of PRP projects is being prepared for publication. This will include all projects funded in the public and private sector and copies will be placed in the Library.
The NHS Executive funds over 39,000 research projects throughout the service. It is estimated that over 3,500 of these projects are carried out in partnership with industry.
The Department also oversees the research programmes of sponsored Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs). This research supports the NDPBs in performing their statutory functions.
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Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency admissions to hospital requiring the use of intensive care facilities there were in each month from January 1995 to date; and if he will make a statement. [6750]
Mr. Boateng:
This information has not been available centrally until now. However, trusts have been asked to collect data on intensive and high dependency care activity from 1 October this year as part of the National Health Service Contract Minimum Data Set.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the remit which he plans to give to the review bodies which will consider the future pay of doctors, dentists, nurses and other health professionals. [6741]
Mr. Milburn:
The remits of the Review Bodies remain unchanged.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his department's estimate of health service inflation for 1997-98; and what was the level of the GDP deflator notified to his Department for 1997-98. [6800]
Mr. Milburn:
The Department of Health does not forecast health service inflation. Her Majesty's Treasury has notified the Department that the Gross Domestic Product deflator is forecast to be 2.75 per cent. in 1997-98.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of carers have been assessed under the provisions for assessment in the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995; and what action is being taken to increase that figure. [6821]
Mr. Boateng:
It is not possible to assess the proportion of carers receiving an assessment under the Act, as the total pool of carers who would qualify for assessment, if they requested it, is not known. A recent survey by the Carers National Association concluded that, to date, a relatively small proportion of carers had been assessed. We intend to monitor the Act closely, both through commissioned research and as part of the Social Services Inspectorate inspection programme, and will need to consider what action to take if this reveals that the Act is not being effectively implemented.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was, in (a) cash terms and (b) percentage terms, the change in NHS funding for the North Essex health authority area in each of the last four financial years and the current financial year. [7078]
8 Jul 1997 : Column: 435
Mr. Milburn:
The cash and percentage increases in general allocations for North Essex Health Authority and the former North Essex District Health Authority are shown as:
| Cash | ||
|---|---|---|
| £ million | Percentage | |
| 1993-94 | 6.7 | 2.7 |
| 1994-95 | 13.2 | 5.2 |
| 1995-96 | 18.0 | 5.7 |
| 1996-97 | 20.0 | 6.4 |
| 1997-98 | 15.2 | 4.5 |
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the formula used for allocating funds for the NHS in the North Essex health authority area in 1998-99 will be the same as that used for 1997-98; [7079]
- (2) what plans he has to change the formula used for allocating funds for the NHS in the North Essex health authority area; and if he will make a statement. [7080]
8 Jul 1997 : Column: 436
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 are investigating the possibility of introducing further refinements to the weighted capitation formula in time for 1998-99 allocations but a longer programme of work will also be required.
Old Documents
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the date and title of the oldest document or archival unit retained by his Department which has not been passed on to the Public Records Office for release for public inspection. [7195]
Ms Jowell:
The oldest document retained by the Department of Health which has not been released for public inspection is thought to date from 1948 and is contained in a file entitled: "Civil Defence--Casualty and Other Ministry of Health Services: Working party on Medical Aspects". The file has been retained in the Department under Section 3 (4) of the Public Record Act 1958.
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8 Jul 1997 : Column: 437
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the cost to the Teachers' Pensions Agency of the abolition of payable tax credits. [7340]
Mr. Byers:
Capita Business Services Ltd. (Teachers' Pensions) were awarded a contract to administer the Teachers Superannuation Scheme with effect from 1 October 1996. The scheme had previously been administered by the Teachers' Pensions Agency. There is no cost to Capita Business Services Ltd. (Teachers' Pensions) in relation to the Teachers Superannuation Scheme arising from the abolition of the advance Corporation Tax credit.
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