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Community Pharmacies
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's targets relating to payments to community pharmacy contractors; and if he will make a statement. [10235]
Mr. Milburn: A payment representing approximately 80 per cent. of the amount due is paid on the first day of the month following that in which the prescription is submitted for pricing. The remainder is paid on the first day of the following month.
Infant and Nursery Education
Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the different levels of resources available to (a) his Department and (b) the Department for Education and Employment in respect of the achievement of targets relating to (i) infant school class size and (ii) nursery places for four-year-olds. [9905]
Mr. Byers:
I have been asked to reply.
24 Jul 1997 : Column: 728
The Department for Education and Employment will use the savings from the phasing out of the assisted places scheme, amounting to over £100 million by 2000, and £100 million or more each year thereafter, to secure reductions in infant class sizes; and some £672 million per annum, together with elements of revenue support grant, will be used to secure a nursery education place for all four-year-olds whose parents want one. The Department of Health is not expected to make resources available for these purposes.
Mr. Eric Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the quinquennial review of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work; and if he will make a statement. [10587]
Mr. Boateng
[pursuant to his reply, 23 July, c. 599]: Three contextual matters for the review of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work should be included. A full text of my announcement including these three matters is as follows:
The Department, in collaboration with the Scottish Office, Welsh Office and Department of Health and Social Services Northern Ireland, will conduct a thorough review of the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. The review, which is now due as part of the regular five-yearly examination of non-departmental public bodies, will take the form of a prior options study. It will assess the extent to which the functions of the council are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies and consider, with particular regard to the importance of securing the best value for money, the scope for rationalisation, privatisation, contracting out, market testing or transferring all, or part, of its functions to another body. We will consult widely with all parties who have an interest in the work of the council.
The review will have regard to and take account of:
To minimise uncertainty, we expect this fundamental review to be completed by the end of October. Throughout, the Government's objective remains to ensure that quality services are delivered through a workforce trained and qualified to appropriate levels of competence. Nothing must get in the way of achieving that objective.
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Mr. Fabian Hamilton:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans the Government have to reduce the bureaucracy connected with the regulation of small businesses. [9982]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
I have been asked to reply. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 2 July, Official Report, column 279.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions her Department has had with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service concerning the disputes at British Airways. [8598]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
My Department speaks regularly to ACAS about issues of common interest. My officials are aware that ACAS has been pursuing its independent role in seeking to assist the parties in the British Airways disputes and have kept in touch with progress.
Mr. Edward Davey:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had in respect of the multilateral agreement on investment; and if she will make a statement. [9901]
Mrs. Roche:
This Government are working hard for a successful conclusion to the negotiations on a multilateral agreement on investment. In addition to regular contact with other Government Departments, there has been contact with representatives of business, labour, environment and other non governmental organisations. As part of the MAI outreach programme the UK has taken an active part in discussions with developing countries with an interst in the agreement.
Mr. Hammond:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many overseas visits to promote British exports she and her departmental Ministers have made since 2 May; how many such visits are planned for the remainder of 1997; and how many visits were undertaken by her Department during the year ending 1 May. [10132]
Mrs. Beckett:
Since 2 May, my colleagues and I have made five overseas visits promoting British exports. At this stage, a further seven visits are planned for the remainder of 1997. During the year ending 1 May 1997, Ministers in the Department undertook 28 trade promotion-related visits. In addition to this, officials in my Department undertake regular overseas visits to promote UK trade and investment overseas. Information on these visits could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Page:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what instructions she has issued to Ministers in her Department relating to restriction on their overseas travel.[9763]
Mrs. Beckett:
My colleagues and I are fully committed to our responsibility to promote trade and investment and appreciate the importance of overseas visits as one
24 Jul 1997 : Column: 730
method of fulfilling this responsibility. However, I have agreed with my colleagues that ministerial visits will be undertaken only if and when fully justified.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the evidence she has received on the use of Hawk aircraft in East Timor since 1983. [10341]
Mrs. Roche:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her today by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett).
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 11 July, Official Report, column 649, if she will list each consumer education and information scheme funded by the Government and the amount of funding in the current year. [9475]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths
[holding answer 18 July 1997]: I have inherited no budget specifically for schemes as such.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what payment the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs or his staff have received for his articles in Travel Weekly. [9879]
Mr. Nigel Griffiths
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: None. Prior to 1 May, payments were made to my researcher and these were declared in the Register of Members' Interests.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what occasions the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs met (a) Stelios Hasi-Ioannou and (b) other members of Easyjet management; what was the purpose of each meeting; and where they took place.[9818]
Mr. Griffiths
[holding answer 21 July 1997]: I am not aware of Stelios Hasi-Ioannou.
However, I have met Mr Haji-Iannou on four occasions. In 1996, when he spoke at the Association of British Travel Agents convention; and in 1997 on three occasions--at the British travel industry hall of fame dinner, at lunch with the president of ABTA and others, and socially with one of his management colleagues when I attended the Institute of Travel and Tourism conference in Athens.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the companies licensed to produce (a) thionyl chloride, (b) ethyl succinyl chloride and (c) propane phosphoric dichloride. [8973]
Mrs. Beckett
[holding answer 17 July 1997]: Propane phosphoric dichloride is not know to my Department, although propane phosphonic dichloride is known. The production of this chemical, as well as of thionyl chloride and ethyl succinyl chloride, does not require a licence.
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the implications of the Government's National Training Organisation initiative for the personal social services sector;
the recommendations of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education--the Dearing Report;
the Government's plans for the training of probation officers;
the Government's proposals for devolution in Scotland and Wales, and
the Government's intention to establish a General Social Services Council.
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