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Pensions and Overseas Benefits Directorate
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long it takes the pensions and overseas branch to process claims for (a) retirement pensions from those claiming in (i) India, (ii) Pakistan, (iii) Bangladesh, (iv) Australia, (v) South Africa and (vi) Jamaica. [10293]
Mr. Denham: One of our key aims is to improve the service provided to claimants and other customers. Queries on Benefits Agency operational matters are the responsibility of Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
| Year ending 31 March 1997 | Target | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement pension | 65 per cent. in 95 days | 76 per cent. |
| 95 per cent. in 300 days | 97 per cent. | |
| Widows benefit | 65 per cent. in 185 days | 83 per cent. |
| 95 per cent. in 640 days | 98 per cent. |
The Pensions and Overseas Benefits Directorate handles claims from customers living in over 230 countries around the world. These claims can take longer to clear than their Great Britain counterparts because confirming life event details, such as births, marriages and deaths, is often not straightforward and documentation which is readily available in the UK can take longer to obtain from other countries.
Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what recent representations she has received regarding the all-work test; [9776]
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Mr. Denham:
A number of representations have been received regarding the incapacity benefit all-work test from groups representing disabled people, other interested organisations and individuals affected. I have also seen the recent report by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. Some important issues have been raised which will be considered in the context of the general review of social security. Our aim is to provide a system that helps those who can to become financially independent, and focus support on those who cannot.
It is important that the test for incapacity benefit commands confidence as a fair system that appropriately assesses whether an individual is capable of work for benefit purposes.
(2) what response the Government have made to the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux report published in March entitled, "An Unfit Test". [9775]
Private Sector NHS Expenditure
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish a breakdown of the £500 million spent by health authorities and trusts with the private sector; [6833]
- (2) if he will give a breakdown of expenditure by health authorities and trusts in the private sector in the last year for which figures are available. [11028]
Mr. Milburn: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Insulin Pen Needles
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's current policy concerning charges for the provision of diabetic needles by (a) general practitioners and (b) health authorities and trusts; what guidance it provides about such charges; and if that policy and guidance are under review. [9559]
Mr. Milburn [holding answer 22 July 1997]: If a general practitioner prescribes, as part of general medical services, a diabetic needle that is listed for the purposes of section 41 of the National Health Service Act 1977, it will be dispensed as part of pharmaceutical services and will attract a prescription charge. The same is true for needles issued to hospital out-patients on prescription by hospital doctors. Under the National Health Services (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 1989, as amended, people with diabetes mellitus--except where treatment is by diet alone--are exempt from all prescription charges, including any which would relate to the prescribing of needles.
If a general practitioner himself provides diabetic needles to a patient as part of general medical services, he can make no charge. Likewise, under section 1 of the 1977 Act, health authorities and trusts must not charge for services and equipment, except where the legislation expressly indicates that a charge should be made. In all other cases, including diabetic needles, where a health authority or trust--taking account of resources, needs and clinical priorities locally--decides that a piece of equipment should be provided as part of national health
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service treatment, it should be provided free of charge. The Department of Health reminded health authorities and trusts of this in executive letter EL(92)20, issued in March 1992. The policy on provision of equipment by the national health service has not changed since then and is still under consideration.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 21 July, Official Report, column 414, on GP prescribing of insulin pen needles, what matters (a) have so far been considered and (b) remain to be considered in his review of insulin pen prescription; and if he will make a statement. [10473]
Mr. Milburn:
All relevant aspects of this issue are being considered.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the amounts of bad debt and claims abandoned for each health authority in each region broken down by category for the last five years. [10423]
Mr. Milburn:
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of trusts in each region which (a) have and (b) have not subscribed to the clinical negligence scheme for trusts, indicating the cost of each annual premium. [10410]
Mr. Milburn:
The latest information will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the incidence of NHS trusts and health authorities rearranging their provisions for medical negligence in seeking to meet the costs of closing deficits by the end of the current financial year; and what restrictions he intends to introduce. [11136]
Mr. Milburn:
No such estimate has been made.
National health service trusts and health authorities are expected to make provision in their annual accounts for clinical negligence claims in accordance with directions issued by the Secretary of State. NHS trusts and health authorities in managing their finances should plan for future settlement of claims and ensure that funds are in place for this purpose.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS surplus properties are currently occupied and utilised by NHS trusts; and what is their value. [10419]
Mr. Milburn:
About 240 properties which are expected to become surplus over the next 10 years, and which have been retained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, are currently occupied by national health service trusts. These properties, managed by the NHS executive's regional offices, form part of the future land sales programme, and have an approximate open market value of £450 million.
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Mr. Davidson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representation he has received about the extension of direct employment by GPs of health visitors and district nurses; and what plans he has to consult the relevant professional organisations in respect of this trend. [10484]
Mr. Milburn:
The personal medical services pilot scheme enables different models of contracting to be developed and tested by nurses, health visitors and general practitioners. At present, those members of the national health service family who wish to enter into a personal medical services pilot from 1 April 1998 are invited to submit an application to their health authority by 1 November. We have discussed the implementation of the personal medical services pilots with all the relevant professional organisations and have asked officials to continue working closely with them.
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the successful completion of a private finance initiative project to replace Loughborough's general hospital; and if he will make a statement. [10555]
Mr. Milburn:
The National Health Service Executive is expecting to receive a revised full business case from Fosse Health NHS trust for the scheme to replace Loughborough's general hospital under the private finance initiative in autumn 1997. The FBC will then be considered for approval.
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