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London Strategic Review
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the report by the Independent Advisory Panel on the London Strategic Review; and what is the length of the public consultation period between the publication of the report and the Government's response. [16546]
Mr. Milburn: We will be publishing the Independent Advisory Panel's advice and the Government's response in due course.
Community Hospitals
Mr. Prior: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy on the future of community hospitals (a) nationally and (b) in North Norfolk. [16544]
Mr. Boateng: Health authorities are responsible for determining the most appropriate balance of health services for their populations. However, we are currently examining national policy on effective service configurations, including the balance between acute hospital care and more community based services. The role of community hospitals is one element of a review of intermediate services currently being carried out by East Norfolk Health Authority. No short-term measures will be taken in respect of community hospitals in North Norfolk, which would prejudice debate on their longer-term future.
Young People (Assistance)
Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will seek to amend section 24 of the Children Act 1989 to impose an enforceable duty on local authorities to assist young people who have left care with cash or material assistance until their 21st birthday. [16648]
18 Nov 1997 : Column: 175
Mr. Boateng:
In addition to carrying out their duties to advise and befriend care leavers, local authorities make use of their powers under the Children Act 1989 to provide individual care leavers with assistance in kind or in cash to supplement any income that the young person receives whilst in training, education, employment or from state benefits. The Government are aware, however, of the social exclusion experienced by many care leavers and consider that the question of providing cash or material assistance cannot be separated from issues of housing, education, training and employment and Income Support. These are all matters which the Government intend to address as part of preventing social exclusion and we have no plans at present to amend.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments to (a) trust and (b) health authority boards were due to be made in each month since 1 May; and how many appointments (i) have been made and (ii) are outstanding. [16545]
Mr. Milburn:
A total of 570 trust board posts fell vacant on 1 November, of which 391 have now been filled. A further 502 trust board posts fall vacant on 1 December, 23 of which have already been filled.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the total expenditure on all forms of publicity and advertising by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for (i) 1993-94, (ii) 1994-95, (iii) 1995-96, (iv) 1996-97, (v) the 1997-98, year to date (vi) the 1997-98, full year estimate and (vii) the 1998-99 planned expenditure. [15221]
18 Nov 1997 : Column: 176
Ms Jowell
[holding answer 11 November 1997]: Annual spending on publicity and advertising for the financial years 1993-94 to 1997-98 is shown in the attached table. Information for the year 1998-99 is not yet available.
| £ million | ||
|---|---|---|
| Financial year | Total publicity expenditure (including advertising) | Advertising expenditure |
| 1993-94 | ||
| Department of Health | 19.20 | 6.10 |
| Agencies | -- | -- |
| Non-departmental public bodies | 0.15 | -- |
| 1994-95 | ||
| Department of Health | 18.20 | 4.30 |
| Agencies | 0.19 | -- |
| Non-departmental public bodies | 0.24 | -- |
| 1995-96 | ||
| Department of Health | 15.56 | 2.08 |
| Agencies | 0.18 | -- |
| Non-departmental public bodies | 0.32 | -- |
| 1996-97 | ||
| Department of Health | 15.73 | 2.50 |
| Agencies | 0.20 | -- |
| Non-departmental public bodies | 0.28 | -- |
| 1997-98 (to date) | ||
| Department of Health | 3.29 | 0.27 |
| Agencies | 0.12 | -- |
| Non-departmental public bodies | 0.08 | -- |
| 1997-98 (full year estimate) | ||
| Department of Health | 15.13 | 1.83 |
| Agencies | 0.26 | -- |
| Non-departmental public bodies | 0.22 | -- |