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Blood Donation

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the National Blood Authority has to introduce a system of informed consent for blood donors, with particular reference to use of blood in (a) the private sector and (b) through overseas sales. [15586]

Mr. Boateng: Information for blood donors explains that donations are primarily used for National Health Service patients but that reasonable requests for blood for patients in the private sector are met and that blood products are sold overseas when demand in this country has been satisfied.

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the National Blood Authority is required to hold an open annual general meeting. [15578]

Mr. Boateng: This is not currently required. We are considering the preparation of Regulations to extend the list of bodies to which the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 applies.

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the recommendations made by Professor John Cash on the future of the National Blood Service will be the subject of further consultation; and if he will make a statement. [15575]

Mr. Boateng: Professor Cash is carrying out a clinical review of the blood services for Merseyside and the surrounding area. We will consider next steps when we receive the report.

GP Fundholding

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were referred by fundholding GPs to the private sector for secondary health care in the last year for which figures are available. [14831]

Mr. Milburn: In 1996-97, general practitioner fundholders spent £71.5 million (2.7 per cent. of their total expenditure) outside the National Health Service.

A circular covering the priorities and planning guidance for 1998-99 requires health authorities, general practitioner fundholders and trusts to explore the scope to make maximum cost effective use of local NHS capacity before contemplating recourse to private sector hospital providers and, where care is nonetheless commissioned from private hospitals, to report the reasons to the regional office.

11 Nov 1997 : Column: 543

Health Service Managers

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS manages have had their jobs redesignated onto nursing or medical pay scales since 1 May. [14833]

Mr. Milburn: The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS Spending

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his current estimate of the annual real increase in NHS spending for each year from 1978-79 to 1998-99; and if he will make a statement. [13234]

Mr. Milburn [holding answer 4 November 1997]: The answer is set out in the table.

Real growth in NHS total expenditure (England)

	Gross expenditure		Net expenditure
Year(17)	Real growth(18) £ million (1996-97 prices)	Percentage real(18) growth	Real growth(18) £ million (1996-97 prices)	Percentage real(18) growth
1978-79	615	3.2	299	1.6
1979-80	368	1.8	332	1.7
1980-81	2,065	10.1	1,979	10.1
1981-82	505	2.2	437	2.0
1982-83	412	1.8	364	1.7
1983-84	341	1.5	230	1.0
1984-85	567	2.4	492	2.2
1985-86	59	0.2	56	0.2
1986-87	1,068	4.4	903	3.9
1987-88	1,138	4.5	1,036	4.3
1988-89	1,121	4.2	890	3.5
1989-90	193	0.7	206	0.8
1990-91	1,016	3.6	1,078	4.1
1991-92	1,864	6.4	1,841	6.7
1992-93	1,611	5.2	1,712	5.9
1993-94	181	0.6	170	0.6
1994-95	1,184	3.6	1,259	4.1
1995-96	639	1.9	564	1.7
1996-97	224	0.7	203	0.6
1997-98(19)	584	1.7	615	1.9
1998-99(20)	402	1.1	547	1.6

(17) 1978-79 to 1996-97 are outturn figures, 1997-98 is forecast outturn and 1998-99 is planned expenditure.

(18) Using GDP deflator of 2 July 1997.

(19) Forecast outturn for 1997-98 includes the extra resources announced for this winter on 14 October.

(20) Planned expenditure for 1998-99 includes the extra £1 billion announced at the 2 July Budget.

Private Finance Initiative

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made to increase capital spending in the NHS through the private finance initiative. [14062]

11 Nov 1997 : Column: 544

Mr. Milburn: The prioritisation of major acute hospital Private Finance Initiative projects and the passing of the National Health Service (Private Finance) Act 1997 in July have resulted in the first two major PFI schemes at Dartford and Gravesham (£115 million) and Carlisle (£87 million) reaching financial close. The other 13 prioritised PFI projects are in the process of having timetables agreed to ensure they all reach financial close by the end of 1998.

Overseas Travel

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team since 2 May, specifying in each case (a) the participating Minister or Ministers, (b) the destination of the trip, (c) the purpose of the trip and (d) the cost of the trip; and if he will make a statement. [15220]

Ms Jowell: Information on the dates, destinations, purpose and cost of overseas visits made by my right hon. Friend and ministerial colleagues since 2 May 1997 is shown in the table.

Secretary of State for Health: None

Minister of State for Health--Alan Milburn: None

Minister of State for Lords--Baroness Jay: None.

Minister of State for Public Health--Tessa Jowell

Date	Destination	Purpose	Cost £
3 June 1997	Amsterdam	Travel with EU Ministers	1,217
4 June 1997	Luxembourg	EU Health Council	1,490
9 July 1997	Brussels	To discuss tobacco advertising	494
26-28 September 1997	Italy	Pontignano conference and relations in Europe--welfare reform, single currency and relations in Europe	273
30 October 1997	Brussels	To meet Members of European Parliament	275

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State--Paul Boateng

Date	Destination	Purpose	Cost £
4-6 June 1997	Brussels	European Social Services Conference	950
16-18 June	Brussels/ Vienna	Council of Europe--Family Affairs	1,300
26-28 September	Italy	Pontignano Conference	Full cost not yet known
23-25 September	Brussels	International Young Peoples Conference	Full cost not yet known

11 Nov 1997 : Column: 543

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