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Cold Weather Exercise (Romania)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many personnel were deployed on the mountain and cold weather exercise in Romania carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72849]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the principal benefits of the mountain and cold weather exercise in Romania carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72982]
Mr. Spellar: A company of 100 personnel from 42 Commando conducted late autumn training in Romania during October 1997. I understand that some 60 Romanian personnel also participated in the exercise. This was the third annual deployment by the Royal Marines to Brasov in the Carpathian mountains. This exercise enabled the Royal Marines to continue to develop their mountain and cold weather operational capability, and also gave them an excellent opportunity to conduct environmental training outside the usual NATO training areas. A further significant benefit was to further the United Kingdom's bilateral defence relationship with Romania, which has developed significantly in recent years, through joint training and patrolling exercises with Romanian mountain troops.
Imphal Barracks, York
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on the future of Imphal Barracks, York; and if he will make a statement. [73085]
Mr. Doug Henderson: Since the announcement of the proposed collocation of the divisional headquarters in Craigiehall, Edinburgh, I have answered six Parliamentary Questions and received three letters from hon. Members on this issue, and two further letters from members of the public.
Roll-on Roll-off Ships
Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the procurement of the roll-on roll-off ships indicated in the Strategic Defence Review is progressing under the PFI-PPP; and when he expects the contract to be awarded. [74056]
Mr. Spellar: Four consortiums have been short-listed to meet MOD's Military Sealift requirement through the Private Finance Initiative procurement of roll-on roll-off ships. We intend that Invitations to Negotiate will be issued by the end of March. The preferred bidder will be chosen this Autumn and we plan to place the contract in mid 2000 after detailed negotiations.
Rosyth
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Babcock concerning the proposed removal of the nuclear submarines from the quayside berths at Rosyth to dry land storage; what assessment he has made of (a) the safety issues and (b) the requirement for additional facilities for the dry storage of reactor components at Rosyth; what estimate he has made of the amount of radiation leakage from the existing nuclear hulks at Rosyth; and if he will make a statement. [72892]
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Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 4 March 1998, Official Report, column 626. The MOD is currently in discussion with a number of companies, including Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd., as part of the investigation into options for the storage of decommissioned submarines. The results of the investigation, which are expected to be available by mid-1999, will address all relevant issues, including safety and any requirement for additional facilities for the dry storage of reactor compartments. The decommissioned submarines at Rosyth are regularly and independently monitored. Evidence to date shows that external radiation levels are well within permissible limits.
Nurses' Pay
14. Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses will benefit from an above- inflation pay rise in the current year. [72390]
Mr. Denham: A headcount shows that 418,000 nurses, midwives and health visitors in the Hospital and Community Health Service in England will benefit from a pay rise in April 1999 of at least 4.7 per cent., almost twice the inflation rate of 2.4 per cent. Half of nurses, midwives and health visitors will get 8 per cent. or more this year, including their increment.
Primary Care
15. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the introduction of primary care groups. [72391]
Mr. Denham: We have received many representations about the introduction of Primary Care Groups and I am pleased to note that, from April, we shall have 481 Primary Care Groups covering the whole of the population of England working to tackle health inequalities and deliver improvements in the quality and efficiency of patient services.
19. Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the annual cost of a primary care group. [72395]
Mr. Denham: The annual cost of a Primary Care Group will vary depending upon its population size, level of devolved responsibility and the organisational structure that they adopt.
32. Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the accountability of primary care services to the communities they serve. [72408]
Mr. Denham:
We are committed to making the governing arrangements of National Health Service organisations more representative of local communities. As part of this process, Primary Care Groups will have individuals on the Primary Care Group board who can effectively represent the local community and users' and carers. In addition, we issued guidance on the accountability and the involvement of users and the public
2 Mar 1999 : Column: 667
as part of Health Service Circular 1998/139 "Developing Primary Care Groups", copies of which are available in the Library.
16. Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total cost, since 2 May 1997, of reducing waiting lists to 1.06 million; when this target is likely to be met; and if he will make a statement. [72392]
Mr. Denham:
This year we made an extra £417 million available for the National Health Service to support a range of actions to bring down NHS waiting lists and keep them down. We are making an extra £320 million available next year from the NHS Modernisation Fund, plus an extra £20 million capital specifically to support further sustainable reductions in the number of patients waiting for NHS treatment.
We are committed to reducing NHS waiting lists to 1.06 million within the lifetime of this Parliament, and thereby reducing waiting times. The first step in delivering this target will be a record reduction in waiting lists by April this year to below the 1.16 million we inherited.
21. Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on hospital and consultant waiting lists since 31 March 1997 for the Mid Essex hospital trust area. [72397]
Mr. Denham:
I am taking a close interest in the waiting list position at Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust. I was pleased to note that waiting lists have begun to come down over recent months and the Trust is committed to achieving further reductions in 1999-2000.
29. Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what penalties will be levied against West Sussex health authority hospitals which fail to meet their targets for reduction in waiting lists by 31 March. [72405]
Mr. Denham:
Any penalties levied against West Sussex Health Authority hospital trusts for failing to deliver their waiting list targets by the end of March 1999 would be matter for the health authority to discuss with individual trusts in the light of their overall performance in 1998-99.
31. Mr. Skinner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the latest NHS waiting figures. [72407]
Mr. Denham:
The latest waiting list figures give the position at the end of January 1999 and show 153,250 fewer patients on waiting lists than at the end of April 1998. During December there was a slight increase in the total as the National Health Service quite rightly focused its attention on dealing with the large number of emergency cases but we remain on track to deliver our commitment to reduce the total to below the 1.16 million we inherited by April 1999.
17. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the advantages of men and women being segregated while in-patients in psychiatric units. [72393]
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Mr. Hutton:
No formal assessment has been carried out. However, we are well aware of the risks that can arise when men and women are cared for together and want to minimise these risks. That is why the achievement of safe facilities for the mentally ill which protect their privacy and dignity is one of our main objectives.
18. Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish "National Framework for Older People"; and if he will make a statement. [72394]
Mr. Hutton:
The process for the development of the National Service Framework for the Care of Older People is already under way. It is anticipated that emerging findings will be published in the autumn and that the National Service Framework will be published in April 2000.
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