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HEALTH
Mental Illness
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population aged between 16 and 65 years have (a) suffered from mental illness, (b) been under the care of a psychiatrist and (c) attempted suicide. [60993]
Mr. Hutton: A survey conducted in Great Britain in 1993 established that about one in six adults between the ages of 16 and 64 suffered from a neurotic disorder in the week before interview and about four per thousand had suffered from a psychotic disorder in the previous twelve months. There was no significant difference in the rates for England. Not all of those with neurotic symptoms would need medical care and in most cases this could be provided by the patient's general practitioner.
Only a small proportion of mentally ill people will need in-patient care. Those patients with finished consultant episodes following admissions to hospitals are shown in the table.
| End age 16-65 | FCEs | Percentage based on 1995 population estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Mental illness | 154,560 | 0.5 |
| Self-inflicted injury | 56,200 | 0.2 |
Notes:
FCE are Finished Consultant Episodes
Figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number
Source:
HES : ONS
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Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the accuracy of British abortion statistics; and if he will make a statement on how they are compiled. [61673]
Ms Jowell: Abortion statistics are compiled from the information provided on the notification form which medical practitioners are obliged by the Abortion Act 1967 to submit to the Chief Medical Officer within 7 days of each abortion. Incomplete or unclear forms are returned to practitioners for clarification and resubmission. Any evidence of non-reporting is investigated and would be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service if appropriate.
The Department's Chief Medical Officer recently wrote to all obstetricians and gynaecologists in England and Wales to remind them of their legal obligations with regard to completion of notification forms.
Cervical Cancer
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the use of hydrolysed DNA assay testing for the early detection of cervical cancer in tandem with the present smear test. [61530]
Mr. Hutton: The Department is aware of a number of new technologies being developed which might be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Health Service cervical screening programme. Any changes to the programme will be introduced only after assessments have proven they are both clinically and cost-effective. The Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening is currently considering the potential role of new technologies in the cervical screening programme.
Child Labour
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to be able to announce proposals to alter child labour legislation in the United Kingdom; [60950]
- (2) if he will publish the representations received on the future of child labour legislation in the United Kingdom. [60951]
Mr. Milburn: We expect the report of the group currently reviewing child employment legislation to be available in the early part of next year. The timing of any alterations to child employment law will depend on the findings of that review. We expect the review's report to contain details of any representations they received.
Dyslexia
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what departmental funding is made available for research programmes into the causes of dyslexia; and what expenditure is planned for 1999-2000; [60966]
- (2) what research information is held by his Department on the causes of childhood dyslexia; and if he will make a statement. [60960]
Mr. Hutton:
The Department does not hold, nor does it plan to commission, any research into the possible causes of dyslexia.
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We are collaborating with the Department for Education and Employment on a small project to investigate whether the use of coloured overlays in schools could help the development of children's reading skills. The cost of this research has not yet been fully estimated.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the relationship between income during pregnancy and a child's (a) health in early years and (b) long-term health prospects. [61735]
Ms Jowell:
The recent independent inquiry into inequalities in health, chaired by Sir Donald Acheson, examined, among other things, inequalities in women of childbearing age, expectant mothers and young children. More generally, the inquiry report drew attention to improvements in health and life expectancy associated with income and living standards.
We are firmly committed to improving the living standards of the poorest households and are already taking a number of measures that will help to achieve this. We shall be considering Sir Donald's recommendations as a whole in the development of our new health strategy, about which we shall publish a White Paper early next year.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the local authorities in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland showing the number of councillors on each who are (i) men and (ii) women. [61729]
Ms Jowell:
The information requested has been the subject of a survey of local authorities conducted by the Women's Unit. It is in the process of being analysed. Not all the responses have been received as yet. The results are being examined and an analysis will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standard spending assessment has been allocated to Gloucester County Council for the provision of care services in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000. [61506]
Mr. Hutton:
Details of the standard spending assessments allocated to Gloucestershire County Council for the provision of social services up to 1998-99 are shown in the table. Indicative standard spending assessment figures for 1999-2000 by local authority will be announced shortly.
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 61.579 |
| 1997-98 | 66.678 |
| 1998-99 | 70.932 |
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what care services local authorities are required to provide; what assessment he has made of the
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level of care services provided by Gloucestershire County Council; what steps he is taking to improve care facilities; and if he will make a statement. [61507]
Mr. Hutton:
Social services authorities' powers and duties to provide care services for adults are set out in various pieces of legislation, including the National Assistance Act 1948, the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995, and the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996.
Local authorities' responsibilities for providing care services for children are set out in the Children Act 1989, part III of which deals with support to children in need and their families including the provision of accommodation for children; part IV, with ensuring care and supervision through the courts; part V, with the protection of children from abuse and neglect; and part X concerns child minding and day care for young children.
In recent years Gloucestershire has been inspected by the Social Services Inspectorate as follows:
| Year | Report |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Care management/care programme approach (mental health) |
| 1997 | Hospital discharge (care management) |
| 1996 | Children leaving care |
| 1995 | Information Strategies and systems in community care |
| 1995 | Foster care |
| 1995 | Inspection units |
| 1994 | Complaints procedures |
Copies of all these reports are available in the Library.
We are today publishing our White Paper, Modernising Social Services. This sets out a wide range of proposals to improve standards in all social services.
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