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Dental Nurses
Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the benefits of introducing statutory registration of dental nurses. [83397]
Mr. Denham:
In May 1998 the General Dental Council published a consultation document in which they suggested that, if statutory registration was introduced, dental nurses could extend the support they provide to dentists, provided the nurses had satisfactorily completed a period of approved, structured training. We await the outcome of these consultations with interest.
17 May 1999 : Column: 269
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to place all National Health Service scientific and technical staff, together with support grades, within a pay review body; and if he will make a statement. [83727]
Mr. Denham:
On 15 February 1999, the Health Departments published proposals for modernising the National Health Service Pay System in "Agenda for Change". This included the possibility of moving some highly qualified health professionals into the remit of the Nurses, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine Review Body.
Discussions have recently opened between representatives of NHS trade unions and management representatives from NHS employers and the four Health Departments on the basis of our proposals for modernising the NHS pay system. We will develop the proposed changes in a spirit of partnership.
It is too early to comment on proposals for specific staff groups.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 May 1999, Official Report, columns 357-58, when doctors will be able to prescribe and dispense Buprenorphine to patients using the FP10 prescribing form. [83786]
Mr. Denham:
General practitioners are able to prescribe buprenorphine using the FP10 prescription form, against which pharmacists are able to dispense the drug.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of hospital consultancy posts; and if he will make a statement. [83785]
Mr. Denham:
It is for National Health Service trusts, who are accountable for the quality of services they provide, to determine how many consultants they need.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways information on drugs dispensed in hospitals and their cost is published. [83895]
Mr. Denham:
Information on medicines dispensed in hospitals is not collected centrally. Total expenditure on medicines purchased by National Health Service trusts is shown in the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme Report to Parliament. The total expenditure on medicines purchased by individual NHS trusts is available from a number of commercial organisations of which The Health Service Database, published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, is an example.
17 May 1999 : Column: 270
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the arrangements whereby doctors in rural areas may dispense medicines; and if he will make a statement. [84074]
Mr. Denham:
At their request, I am planning to meet the Chairmen of the General Practitioners' Committee of the British Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee to discuss their proposals for changes to the rules governing National Health Service dispensing in rural areas by both doctors and pharmacists.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health action zones for the Greater London area. [84401]
Mr. Denham:
There are four Health Action Zones in London: Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham; City and East London; Camden and Islington; and Brent (part of Brent and Harrow Health Authority).
47. Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the President of the Council what progress has been made in reforming parliamentary procedures relating to the legislative process. [83456]
Mrs. Beckett:
The House approved the Modernisation Committee's first report on the legislative process in November 1997. Since then we have published five Bills in draft form for pre-legislative scrutiny by a variety of Committees. Fuller explanatory notes have been published with Government Bills. A Special Standing Committee has been used for the first time on a major bill. Experiments have been conducted with programming Bills during their passage through the House. I am firmly committed to improving the quality of legislation and am looking at further ways of doing so.
48. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to improve contacts between European Commissioners and hon. Members. [83458]
Mr. Tipping:
The House will know that Commissioners visit Westminster and sometimes give evidence to Select Committees here. Equally, when our Select Committees visit Brussels they frequently meet one or more Commissioners. While I have put forward proposals to give Members greater opportunities for informing themselves on EU matters generally, I have no specific plans confined to Commissioners.
17 May 1999 : Column: 271
49. Mr. Dismore:
To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the introduction of sittings in Westminster Hall. [83459]
Mrs. Beckett:
I will put before the House next Monday proposals for an experiment for sittings in Westminster Hall on uncontentious business up to three days a week, starting in the autumn.
50. Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has to ensure that the Office Costs Allowance reflects actual office costs. [83460]
Mrs. Beckett:
The level of the Office Costs Allowance is reviewed regularly by the independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB). The current maximum reflects the recommendations in its 1996 Report, as uprated by the RPI index. The SSRB will be assessing Office Costs Allowance again in its review of Parliamentary pay and allowances next year.
51. Mr. Bradshaw:
To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to make hon. Members' spouses travel concessions available to the partners of unmarried hon. Members. [83461]
Mr. Tipping:
We are considering such a proposition and hope to announce the conclusions shortly.
Mr. Mullin:
To ask the President of the Council what proposals she has for timetabling all Bills; and if she will make a statement. [83453]
Mr. Tipping:
The Modernisation Committee recommended programming of Bills in its report on the legislative process in July 1997. Since then programme motions have been agreed by the House in relation to 12 Bills. I have no immediate plans for time-tabling all Bills.
Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what recent representations she has received concerning the circumstances under which British citizens could be required to pay for access to visit the Palace of Westminster. [83457]
Mrs. Roe:
Since the publication of the Committee's Report "Proposal to re-open the Line of Route during the Summer Adjournment" on 26 April, I have received no representations from hon. Members.
17 May 1999 : Column: 272
41. Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the President of the Council what progress is being made on the state of readiness of the national infrastructure in preparation for the millennium date change. [83450]
42. Mr. Borrow:
To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the progress made by key sectors of UK infrastructure in their preparations for the millennium bug. [83451]
Mrs. Beckett:
Reports at the National Infrastructure Forum on 21 April showed that significant progress has been made by the major sectors of the infrastructure in working towards the goal of 'no material disruption' to public services since the last meeting in January. Full details are available on the Action 2000 website with summaries appearing in advertisements in Sunday newspapers from 9 May. All key sectors of the infrastructure have independent assessment programmes in place which are due for completion by July when they will be made public, and will give the UK one of the most objective and comprehensive pictures of readiness in the world.
45. Mr. Wyatt:
To ask the President of the Council how many Government departments have had external auditors to test their millennium compliance systems; and if she will make a statement. [83454]
Mr. Tipping:
Of the 90 departmental and agency returns in March, 84--or 93 per cent.--have been, or currently are being independently assessed. A further six have plans for independent assessment. Of those that have been or are being assessed, 63 per cent. were assessed by bodies outside of their department.
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