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HEALTH
Finished Consultant Episodes
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many elective finished consultant episodes took place in the NHS in 1996-97; [15672]
- (2) how many emergency patients the NHS received in 1996-97. [15670]
Mr. Boateng:
The number of general and acute elective finished consultant episodes commissioned by health authorities in England in 1996-97 was 5.0 million. The number of non-elective finished consultant episodes was 4.3 million. These data are drawn from the quarterly monitoring of health authorities.
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Rural Employment
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the Government have to sustain rural employment and local communities which depend upon such employment; and if he will make a statement. [16496]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The proportion of people in employment in rural areas is generally much higher than in urban areas. However, the figures can mask pockets of deprivation in the most remote areas.
The Government are taking forward a number of initiatives to sustain rural employment. The New Deal will help all young people, including those living in rural areas, to make the transition from welfare to work. In order to ensure diversity of opportunity in all parts of the country, we have invited local organisations and providers to participate in consortia to deliver the programme. I am delighted that Eastbourne has been selected as one of the New Deal "Pathfinder" areas in which the programme will start to operate from 5 January.
The Government's Local Competitiveness Challenge Fund can be particularly helpful for rural firms. The hon. Member may be familiar with the "Wired County" project in Sussex, which is developing local multimedia and on-line service industries. In addition, Single Regeneration Budget money is being used by the Salsey Regeneration Group to develop integrated public access systems for local businesses and individuals seeking training and employment.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure that higher education establishments review their arrangements for handling complaints from students. [16554]
Dr. Howells:
Universities and colleges of higher education are independent, autonomous bodies responsible for their own academic and administrative affairs, including arrangements for handling complaints from students. The Government have no powers to intervene directly. However, the Department is discussing with higher education representative bodies the recommendation from the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (the Dearing Committee) that institutions should, over the next two years, review and, if necessary, amend their arrangements. I understand also that the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals have been reviewing appeal arrangements for students and they expect to publish their final report and recommendations shortly.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he intends to take to ensure that confidentiality clauses in the contracts of staff working in higher education institutions are restricted to cases of clear commercial confidentiality; and if he will make a statement. [16555]
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Dr. Howells:
Higher education institutions are autonomous, private corporations and as such are responsible for the terms and conditions of contracts of employment of their staff. Ministers have no powers to intervene.
Mr. Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Youth Council on 28 October. [17246]
Dr. Howells:
I attended a useful Council discussion about the prospects for Community action on youth beyond 1999. Debate focused on a Commission non-paper suggesting that there should be a single programme integrating the best elements of Youth for Europe III and the European Voluntary Service for Young People. The latter has yet to be adopted but is being "trialled" in what the Commission have described as a pilot programme in 1996 and 1997. Member States confirmed their attachment to an active youth policy at Community level.
The Commission's proposal to establish a European Voluntary Service for Young People from 1998 was also discussed. The UK maintained a Parliamentary scrutiny reserve but there was broad concensus on the text of the proposal. The budget had been a particular area of difficulty for the UK. Although we firmly support the concept of a voluntary service for young people, we considered that expenditure at the level that had been proposed (60 million ecu over two years) would be excessive in the early stages of an activity that is relatively undeveloped in some Member States. After discussion agreement to a figure of 35 million ecu over two years was secured. Subject to the UK scrutiny reserve being lifted, the common position reached at Council will be formally adopted and conveyed to the European Parliament as part of the co-decision process.
The Council also adopted a statement in the context of the European Year Against Racism, stressing the importance of informal education to promote the principles of tolerance and respect for other people; and welcoming initiatives by the member states and the Commission to enable young people and those working with them to counter racism.
Finally, the Council adopted a statement expressing concern about the difficult situation of many young Europeans in the context of high unemployment; welcoming the emphasis on the fight against youth unemployment; and calling for the adoption of concrete and effective measures in favour of young Europeans at the European Council on 21 November.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he proposes to issue to the Civil Service relating to the European Court of Justice's ruling on positive discrimination in favour of women. [16419]
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Dr. David Clark
[holding answer 17 November 1997]: I have been asked to reply.
The issues raised by the European Court of Justice's judgment in the case of Marschall v Land NordRhein Westfalen are still being considered.
I have no current plans to issue guidance.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the policy areas which will be the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [15746]
Mr. Ron Davies:
A list is in paragraph 1.7 of the White Paper 'A Voice for Wales' (Cm 3718). The details of the functions to be exercised by the Assembly will be set out in the Bill that establishes the Assembly and the transfer order which will be made under it in due course.
19 Nov 1997 : Column: 188
Mr. Alan Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money each training and enterprise council in Wales has accumulated as reserves. [16138]
Mr. Hain:
The information requested is contained in the following table. The figures show that the reserves consist of funds which have already been used to acquire assets, or funds required to meet day-to-day needs, or funds which were committed to be spent over a reasonable period. The balance available for discretionary spending at 31 March 1997 (£8.9 million) represents funds which have been earmarked by the TECs for planned expenditure during 1997-98 and for longer term projects.
Reserve levels in Wales are projected to fall to £18.217 million by March 1998. Officials in the Welsh Office continue to monitor closely the level of TEC reserves in order to ensure that they are clearly related to demonstrable working capital needs or reinvestment plans. Further discussions are to be held with the TECs shortly to asses the extent to which TECs might be able to re-direct their reserves towards other objectives within the Government's strategic agenda and to provide an indication of when this could be done.
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Source:
TEC Statutory Accounts.
Notes:
(1) CELTEC came into being on 1 April 1997--the figures represent the combined reserve levels of its two predecessor TECs in North Wales.
(2) N.B. estimated at six weeks turnover.
19 Nov 1997 : Column: 187
Source:
TEC Statutory Accounts.
Note:
(3) Less than six weeks turnover.
19 Nov 1997 : Column: 187
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