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Criminal Justice (Keighley)
42. Mrs Ann Cryer:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for improvements in the administration of criminal justice in Keighley. [18024]
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 453
Mr. Hoon:
My statement of 29 October 1997, Official Report, columns 901-05 set out the Government's view of the future structure of the magistrates courts service. I believe there should be fewer and larger MCC areas, more closely aligned to the areas served by other justice agencies. My first priority is to consider the position of metropolitan areas. I have recently written to the Chairman of the West Riding MCC on this subject and have indicated that, in the absence of any proposals from the committees themselves concerning the organisation of MCCs in West Yorkshire, it is likely that I will wish to consider, in the autumn of 1998, whether amalgamation is appropriate in the area.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the guidance and training available to judges, magistrates and other court officials in dealing with witnesses with learning or communication difficulties.[18986]
Mr. Hoon:
Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB), which is a non-departmental governmental body. The JSB has held a number of sessions in both induction and continuation training on equal treatment, including dealing with people with learning or communication difficulties, and is considering how training in this area might be developed.
Lay Magistrate training is organised and delivered by Magistrates Courts Committees based on syllabuses, advice and guidance from the JSB. Lay magistrates already address the issue of equality of treatment for all in the light of their judicial oath and the JSB has recently begun a project to develop and pilot training materials to ensure equality of treatment issues are incorporated into all aspects of magistrates training.
Staff in the Court Service receive training on customer service skills as part of an induction programme. This programme includes training on communication skills and dealing with customers including those with special needs. Further training in this area is also available to all staff whose work brings them into contact with members of the public. The Court Service makes no distinction in the training of court officials dealing with witnesses--all customers should be treated appropriately and with courtesy.
A review of the induction programme for court staff is planned as part of the work towards achieving recognition as an "Investor in People" in 1999.
Mr. Flight:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the operation of community health councils; if he will list the areas which are under review; what representations he has received about their (a) role, (b) independence and (c) duties; and if he will make a statement. [17210]
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 454
Mr. Milburn:
No immediate changes to Community Health Councils are planned. We have received a small number of letters mainly about the role of CHCs in relation to primary care and membership matters. In addition the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales has sent to Ministers a copy of its report "Making a Difference".
Dr. Ladyman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine refused training recognition to the Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust Pathology Service; and what progress has been made by the Kent and Canterbury Hospitals NHS Trust to address the concerns of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine expressed at the time they refused the Pathology Service training recognition. [17789]
Mr. Milburn:
The Boards of the Council are the statutory bodies responsible for training recognition. The Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) Board withheld training recognition for the Histopathology/Cytology Department on 15 September 1992. This decision did not affect the clinical chemistry, haematology and hospital transfusion science or microbiology, which all received approval.
Subsequent inspection has shown that some improvements have been made; however, the MLT Board decided on 14 January 1997 to withhold approval for training in cellular pathology (histopathology) until the Board's requirements have been met.
Mr. Randall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the recent Audit Commission report. "The Coming of Age: Improving Services For Older People". [18137]
Mr. Boateng:
We welcome the publication of the Audit Commission's report "The Coming of Age: Improving Care Services for Older People". The Department has already looked in detail at the recommendations made in the report and these will contribute to work we already have in hand, which is actively addressing issues of particular concern to elderly people. This area includes the Long-Term Care Charter and the Royal Commission on long-term care for the elderly, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 4 December. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already issued instructions to health authorities, the National Health Service and local authorities on services for the elderly setting out priority areas to meet their medium and long-term needs.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what audit procedures exist to deal with the disposal of returned prescription drugs by health authorities; [18815]
(3) what audit procedures exist to deal with the return of prescription drugs to community pharmacists. [18816]
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 455
Mr. Milburn:
We encourage the public to take unused medicines to a community pharmacy for safe destruction. This reduces the risk of accidental ingestion, especially by children, and allows the medicines to be destroyed in line with environmental law. Prescription-only medicines have to be disposed of as clinical waste. Funding has been made available to the National Health Service since 1993 to run schemes through community pharmacies for the safe disposal of waste medicines. As at 31 March 1997 schemes were running in every health authority area in England and Wales, and 98 per cent. of community pharmacies in these areas were taking part in these schemes. No national estimate has been made of the value of returned medicines.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for further regulation of the dental profession. [18861]
Mr. Milburn:
The General Dental Council has made proposals for changes in the Dentists Act 1984, which would give it more appropriate powers for professional regulation and protection of the public. We intend to address these issues when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1997, Official Report, column 427, on savings in NHS bureaucracy, if he will list by health trust the trust management costs for the last two years. [18624]
Mr. Milburn:
National Health Service trust management costs are available for 1994-95 and 1995-96 listed by trust in Trust Management Costs 1994-95 (published December 1995) and Health Authority Costs and Management Costs in NHS Trusts Financial Year 1995-96 and planned costs for 1996-97 (published March 1997). Copies are available in the Library. Figures for 1996-97 together with 1997-98 plans will be published shortly.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1997, Official Report, column 427, on savings in NHS bureaucracy, if he will list by health authority the quarterly management costs for the last six quarters.[18623]
Mr. Milburn:
Health authority costs are published annually. 1995-96 figures are listed by health authority in Health Authority Costs and Management Costs in NHS Trusts Financial Year 1995-96 and Planned costs for 1996-97 (published March 1997). Copies are available in the Library. Figures for 1996-97 together with 1997-98 plans will be published shortly.
The quarterly monitoring of health authority costs, referred to in my reply to the hon. Member on 24 November at column 427, provides regional offices of the National Health Service Executive with information on the likely year-end position of health authorities to assist with in-year performance management.
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 456
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make available additional resources to the NHS Hospital in Northallerton through the North Yorkshire Health Authority to compensate for the scaling down of the military hospital in Catterick. [18802]
Mr. Milburn:
We understand the Defence Secondary Care Agency is currently considering various options for the future of the Duchess of Kent Military Hospital at Catterick and is assisting with a consultation exercise led by North Yorkshire Health Authority.
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the National Health Service of items prescribed but returned to community pharmacists or GPs unused; [18814]
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