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Hospital Waiting Times
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department has collated in respect of individual trusts' plans for hospital waiting times. [10421]
Mr. Milburn: Information is not collated by the Department on individual trusts' plans for hospital waiting times. The Government have inherited a situation where 39 of 100 health authorities have contracted for longer maximum waiting times in 1997-98 than in 1996-97, whereas only three have contracted for shorter maximum waiting times. The Government have made clear the priority they attach to waiting lists, and to safeguarding emergency admissions.
Medical Negligence
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what date the national health litigation authority has compiled on medical negligence cases and claims. [10411]
Mr. Milburn: The National Health Service Litigation Authority holds data on all cases reported to it in respect of the clinical negligence scheme for trusts and on cases falling within the existing liabilities scheme where approval has been sought from the authority to settle claims. The information is principally concerned with the handling of claims, but the authority has commissioned work to provide a comprehensive database system which will contain individual claims by type, size and level of legal costs.
NHS Employees (Contracts)
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide a breakdown by NHS trust of the number of NHS employees who have employment contracts with waiver clauses. [10591]
Mr. Milburn: The information requested is not collected. The specific terms and conditions of individual employment contracts of staff working in national health service trusts are negotiated by the employer and the employee. NHS trusts have the power to offer local terms and conditions to new staff and to existing staff employed under General Whitley Council national terms and conditions. General and senior managers with short-term rolling contracts are excluded from the redundancy and premature retirement provisions in General Whitley Council agreements.
Clinical Services
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on which services are to be defined as clinical services in respect of proposed private finance initiative schemes. [10482]
Mr. Milburn:
As part of the review of the private finance initiative, we will be considering what services may be included in PFI projects and are aiming to produce a list of these by the end of the year.
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Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the community unit for the elderly in Knaresborough is built without further delay; and on what date it will be completed. [10472]
Mr. Boateng:
The national health service executive is maintaining close contact with Harrogate Health Care national health service trust about the Knaresborough community unit for the elderly. Work on site is expected to begin in August, with completion in June 1998. It is expected that the unit will open in summer 1998.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of children identified as suffering from hyperkinetic disorder; and what percentage this is of his estimate of the total number of persons suffering from this disorder. [10549]
Mr. Boateng:
Information on the number of children identified as suffering from hyperkinetic disorder is not collected centrally.
Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the 10th annual report of the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship. [11517]
Ms Jowell:
Shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's latest assessment of the effectiveness of dopamine-releasing agents with special reference to Ritalin, in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; if he will assess the use currently made of such treatment in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement. [10550]
Mr. Boateng:
We recognise that the more severe forms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be treated with Ritalin or other appropriate medication. Such medication should be part of a comprehensive treatment programme which may also include psychological, educational and social measures designed to stabilise children with the condition. There is a widespread view among clinicians in this country that a higher percentage of such children are treated with medication in the United States than is desirable or necessary.
Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards (a) the establishment of a national skin bank and (b) the inclusion of skin on donor cards. [10765]
Mr. Boateng:
Recent research has shown that most people do not like the idea of putting "skin", "bone" or other specified tissues--as distinct from internal organs--on the donor card or national health service organ donor register form because of fears about disfigurement of the body. However, we are very much aware that in the
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 126
sensitive area of transplantation approaches to donation must command public confidence. We shall continue to review all aspects of organ and tissue donation to see how improvements in supply may be achieved.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of total departmental expenditure on computer-related current and capital work for (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98, (d) 1998-99 and (e) 1999-00; and if he will make a statement. [11380]
Ms Jowell:
The estimated total expenditure on computer-related current and capital work in the Department of Health headquarters and its agencies for the years requested is as follows:
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to health authorities on the use of beta interferon for multiple sclerosis sufferers. [11113]
Mr. Milburn:
Management guidance--executive letter EL(95)97--on the introduction of beta interferon into the national health service was issued in November 1995, together with clinical guidance approved by the standing medical advisory committee. Copies are available in the Library.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to health authorities on the screening programmes for detecting hearing impairments among babies; and what information his Department collates by (a) health authorities and (b) hospitals in respect of such programmes. [11125]
Mr. Boateng:
The Department of Health does not currently give guidance to health authorities on neonatal screening for hearing impairment, nor does it collect information centrally. We are aware that there is scope for considerable improvement in neonatal screening procedures for hearing impairment and will be examining the latest research evidence on this subject.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the present cumulative deficit of all hospital trusts, health authorities and other NHS bodies for 1997-98; and if he will make a statement. [11394]
Mr. Milburn:
Information on the 1997-98 income and expenditure positions of trusts and health authorities will be provided in due course.
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 127
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio (1) if (a) lead, (b) cadmium and (c) organo-tins will be used as heat stabilisers for the construction of the millennium dome; [10688]
(3) if phthalate softeners will be used in the construction of the millennium dome. [10687]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 25 July 1997]: PVC-coated polyester is the safest and most environmentally sound fabric available for the dome covering. The covering will use phthalate plasticisers and the heat stabilisers will primarily be zinc and barium salts. The New Millennium Experience Company is still negotiating with PVC suppliers but has confirmed that an order will be placed only when it is satisfied that all European and UK environmental and safety standards will be met or exceeded.
(a) £39,044,000
(b) £29,559,000
(c) £29,606,000
(d) £29,449,000
(e) £30,355,000
(2) what stabilisers will be used in the PVC used on the millennium dome; [10690]
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