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Young People in Care
Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards the establishment of a new national organisation for young people in care; and if he will make a statement. [14070]
Mr. Boateng: A feasibility study commissioned by the Department of Health on the setting up of a new national organisation for young people in care and care leavers has recently been completed. The report of the study has been submitted to the Department and is under consideration.
Computers (Century Date Change)
Mr. Rhodri Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will set up working parties with (a) surgical and other hospital equipment manufacturers, (b) trusts, (c) royal colleges and (d) other bodies to devise appropriate solutions to the millennium compliance problem; [13939]
- (2) what representations he has had from trusts, royal colleges and other bodies about the impact of the millennium compliance problems relating to hospital equipment. [13938]
Ms Jowell: The National Health Service Executive set up a Year 2000 "helpline" in July 1996. Since that time, the helpline has received over four hundred calls and in response has provided information, advice and guidance to those working in the NHS. The current rate of calls is in excess of ninety per month.
The NHS Executive has made arrangements to meet with staff representing all NHS organisations, their suppliers and professional groups. The clinical professions will need to be involved particularly in making and carrying out contingency plans where critical services are affected.
The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) has received a number of requests from Trusts for advice on the Year 2000 issue as it may apply to medical equipment. MDA will shortly be issuing guidance on the appropriate action by device users and manufacturers.
MDA's guidance will ask medical equipment manufacturers to identify any of their products which are affected by Year 2000 problems and to make this information available to users and other interested parties, with an indication of the appropriate remedial action.
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We are satisfied that, at this stage, there is no need to set up working parties in relation to the Year 2000 issue as it may apply to medical equipment in particular.
We will require that any trust or health authority which has not got its systems ready and fully tested should notify the department by 31 December 1998.
The primary responsibility of the NHS always has been and will be patient safety.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he has not replied to the letter from the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon on the administration of the National Blood Transfusion Service; and when he plans to do so. [13773]
Mr. Milburn:
My noble Friend the Minister of State has written to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon today. The hon. Member will appreciate that the considerable interest in all areas of the country which the review of the Liverpool Blood Service has provoked has led to a marked increase in the amount of representations which we have received on this and related issues, all of which require appropriate consideration.
12. Mr. Fallon:
To ask the Secretary of State if he will make a statement on the current levels of recruitment to the armed forces. [11745]
Dr. Reid:
The Government is committed to addressing the very serious legacy of undermanning which it inherited on 1 May. Recruitment to the Armed Forces is one of our top priorities and whilst I would not wish to give a false sense of security, I am glad to report encouraging signs of improvement, particularly in respect of recruitment in the Army.
13. Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State when he expects the Royal Air Force to commence taking delivery of operational Eurofighter aircraft. [11746]
Mr. Spellar:
The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Air Force at the end of 2001.
18. Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State if he will make a statement on the future of the Eurofighter programme. [11752]
22. Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State when he expects to announce an order for production of Eurofighter. [11756]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Olner) earlier today.
15. Mr. Garnier:
To ask the Secretary of State if he will make a statement about the future of the defence medical services. [11748]
3 Nov 1997 : Column: 79
Dr. Reid:
The Government is committed to providing effective and efficient medical support to the Armed Forces in peace and war. We are well aware of the serious problems being experienced by the Defence Medical Services and have ordered an urgent reappraisal of current arrangements with a view to tackling the deplorable legacy we have inherited.
16. Mr. Eric Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to establish an arms diversification agency. [11749]
32. Mrs. Mahon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to publish his plans for a defence diversification agency. [11767]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Rapson).
17. Mr. Wells:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's contribution to Her Majesty's Treasury's comprehensive spending review with particular reference to its impact on the United Kingdom's strategic response. [11751]
Mr. George Robertson:
The Strategic Defence Review is my Department's contribution to the Comprehensive Spending Review. At the strategic level, we are committed to strong defence through NATO and the maintenance of our nuclear deterrent. This forms part of the framework of the Strategic Defence Review.
19. Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies are being undertaken to examine the benefits of low flying to RAF active service operations. [11753]
Mr. Spellar:
Experience of recent conflicts confirmed that low flying continues to be a vital tactic in the penetration of hostile air defences. There are currently no specific studies into the benefits of low flying, but the need is kept under continuous review.
20. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new proposals he has to reduce alcohol misuse in the armed forces. [11754]
Dr. Reid:
Drunkenness is an offence under the Service Discipline Acts and is taken very seriously by the Armed Forces. All three Services already have comprehensive packages, available to all personnel, to combat alcohol misuse in addition to measures taken to limit drinking in Service establishments. These measures are kept under review and amended and re-focused as necessary.
21. Mr. Bennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about purchase by his Department of electrical batteries. [11755]
3 Nov 1997 : Column: 80
Mr. Spellar:
Batteries are purchased by many budget holders in the Ministry of Defence, either directly or as part of other projects, to meet the needs of all three Services. In all cases, a range of factors is taken into account including safety, storage and maintenance, disposal, and integration into other defence equipment. There are stringent tri-service procedures to ensure that any new battery or modification to existing batteries is an acceptable addition to the Department's range of codified batteries. Wherever possible, value for money is sought through competition against performance specifications, taking account of both initial purchase and through life costs.
23. Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the conclusions of his strategic defence review in respect of the Army. [11757]
Dr. Reid:
We have received many written submissions to the Strategic Defence Review addressing the Army. We have placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of those submissions whose authors have agreed that we should do so. No conclusions have yet been reached.
24. Mr. Beard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Government's strategic defence review in defining the circumstances in which British forces are likely to be called into action. [11758]
Dr. Reid:
The Strategic Defence Review is considering generic missions which the Armed Forces should be able to undertake to meet our foreign and security policy objectives. It is not defining particular circumstances in which they might be called into action. Decisions on the commitment of forces would take into account a range of factors, including of course our national and international obligations.
25. Mr. Skinner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the results of the defence review. [11759]
Dr. Reid:
Work on the Strategic Defence Review is expected to be completed around the turn of the year. It will then be considered by Ministers and the results published in a White Paper as quickly as possible thereafter.
26. Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met industry representatives to discuss the progress of the strategic defence review in respect of the Army. [11760]
Dr. Reid:
The Secretary of State has not met industry representatives to discuss aspects of the Strategic Defence Review relating to the Army. My right hon. Friend has, however, met industry representatives to discuss broad procurement matters in the context of the Review. The last occasion was on 29 October when he chaired the National Defence Industries Council, whose agenda was dedicated to Review issues.
29. Mr. Martin Bell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the strategic defence review, with particular reference to the problems of overstretch. [11763]
3 Nov 1997 : Column: 81
Dr. Reid:
The Government is fully committed to alleviating the question of overstretch, one of the main problems facing our Armed Forces, and we have already introduced a number of initiatives to address the related issue of undermanning. By matching capabilities to commitments, the Strategic Defence Review is aimed at further addressing this problem.
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