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VAT (Medicines)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) other effects of the VAT order on the supply of certain renal and cancer drugs and on pharmaceutical products by retail pharmacists to residents of nursing homes. [61939]
Mr. Milburn [holding answer 1 December 1998]: The financial effect of the Value Added Tax Order on the supply of certain renal and cancer drugs was estimated at £3.5 million per annum. The Order is not being implemented for these items until 1 April 1999, when the increased funding available to the NHS will be in place.
The effect of the VAT Order on the supply of prescribed items by retail pharmacists to residents of nursing homes would be to make such items subject to VAT at the standard rate. However, there would be significant problems in altering NHS systems to comply with the Order and, as a result, Her Majesty's Treasury has decided not to implement this aspect of the Order.
There are no other effects of the VAT Order on the supply of certain renal and cancer drugs and on pharmaceutical products by retail pharmacists to residents of nursing homes.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding electro-convulsive therapy; and if he will make a statement. [62012]
Mr. Hutton:
We have received a number of representations about electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and, in conjunction with the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Chief Medical Officer wrote to all National Health Service trusts and consultant psychiatrists in September reminding them of the need to ensure ECT is properly administered in accordance with the College of Psychiatrists' procedures and guidance described in the ECT handbook.
Ms Coffey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital resources he is making available to local authorities for the personal social services in 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02. [62351]
Mr. Dobson:
Capital resources of £61.9 million will be made available to local authorities as follows:
| 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secure accommodation grant | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Basic credit approvals | 37.0 | 37.0 | 37.0 |
| Supplementary credit approvals: | |||
| Mental Health | 15.6 | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| AIDS/HIV | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
Note:
The figures shown for 2000-01 and 2001-02 are provisional amounts at this stage
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Asthma
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the rates of asthma among people living in the health authority areas covering (a) Gatwick and (b) Heathrow airports, relative to the national average. [61894]
Ms Jowell: There are no comprehensive data on the number of people with asthma. Asthma is estimated to affect 4 per cent. of adults and between 4 and 6 per cent. of children sufficiently severely to require medical supervision. Information is not available centrally on the rates of asthma in West Sussex and Hillingdon health authorities, which cover Gatwick and Heathrow airports respectively.
WALES
Police Authority Spending
Ms Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his proposals for police authority revenue spending in 1999-2000. [62482]
Mr. Michael: I propose to make £359.0 million available from total standard spending in Wales to fund police services in 1999-2000. This sum comprises £180.7 million in cash-limited police grant, to be paid by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, and £178.3 million in standard spending assessments (SSA). Excluding capital charges, it represents an increase of £8.8 million. The increase including capital charges is £6.0 million.
The sums for each police authority are set out in the following table.
| Police authority | Police grant | SSA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyfed-Powys | 25.9 | 25.6 | 51.5 |
| Gwent | 34.8 | 34.5 | 69.3 |
| North Wales | 38.0 | 37.2 | 75.1 |
| South Wales | 82.0 | 81.1 | 163.1 |
Note:
Figures may not add due to rounding
My Department is today writing to each police authority in Wales consulting it on its provisional standard spending assessment for 1999-2000. The figures may alter slightly if the balance of funding between police authorities, which is determined by a joint formula for Wales and England, changes as a result of consultation.
Copies of the consultation letter have been placed in the Library of the House.
World Trade Organisation
Mrs. Mahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if reports from representatives of Her Majesty's Government who are members of the United Kingdom delegation to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva are made public. [61167]
Mr. Wilson:
No.
2 Dec 1998 : Column: 213
Mrs. Mahon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to whom the representatives of Her Majesty's Government who are members of the delegation to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva report. [61165]
Mr. Wilson:
They report to the relevant Government Department, depending on the issue in question, with my Department having the overall responsibility for the World Trade Organisation.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to persuade the Lear Corporation to retain its manufacturing facility in Colne. [61643]
Mr. Battle:
DTI officials at the Government Office for the North West have been in close touch with the company. I understand that the proposed closure is part of the company's planned reorganisation of its European operations, and that the company intends to retain the production capacity and jobs in the UK. I further understand that part of the plant will be sold to new owners which may safeguard some of the jobs. Officials from the Government Office, the Employment Service and TEC will maintain close contact with the local management to offer advice and assistance, and to work with the new owners.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to respond to the BATC/GMB/KFAT/TGWU action plan for the textiles industry. [61647]
Mr. Battle:
I met with representatives of the textiles and clothing industries and unions on 24 November to discuss their Action Plan for the industry. It represents a solid basis upon which the Social Partners can develop a more detailed strategy for addressing the competitiveness of the sector. I offered the services of my Department to facilitate the development of that strategy.
Mr. Hood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 27 November; and if he will make a statement. [62034]
Mrs. Roche:
I represented the UK at the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 27 November.
The Council reached unanimous political agreement in respect of common positions on two Decisions establishing a five year programme for the Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDA). No agreement was reached on a draft Directive on a framework for electronic signatures, and it was therefore agreed that this proposal should be referred back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further discussion.
The Commission also made oral presentations on: a Communication on implementation by Member States of Community legislation in the telecommunications sector; a Green Paper on radio spectrum policy; and on a report to the European Council on job opportunities in the
2 Dec 1998 : Column: 214
information society. The Commission also provided an oral update on: the outcome of the OECD Conference on electronic commerce held in Ottawa in October; progress within the "Global Business Dialogue" on electronic commerce; and on internet domain name governance issues. The Presidency made an oral presentation on the outcome of the Conference "Coping with Convergence" held in Vienna on 3 November 1998.
Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to promote global standards on tobacco advertising. [61912]
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