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Dimming Sun Exercise
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the nuclear weapon exercise Dimming Sun has been postponed; when this exercise is now due to be held; and what costs have been incurred by his Department to date in organising this exercise. [86295]
Mr. Doug Henderson: The decision to postpone the joint UK/US Exercise Dimming Sun was taken in the light of present commitments in the Balkans, including the possibility that civil agencies in Norfolk who will participate in the exercise, might receive refugees from Kosovo. This decision will ensure that key exercise objectives can be met at a later date whilst ensuring that the conduct of the exercise does not interfere with our support to NATO operations in the Balkans. As yet, no new date has been set for the exercise.
As for costs relating to Exercise Dimming Sun, I have nothing to add to my letter of 27 November 1998 to the hon. Member, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Official Meetings (US)
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1999, Official Report, column 381, if he will list the meetings which his Special Adviser and the Deputy Chief of Defence Procurement (Support) held with United States Department of Defence officials on 5 March, the location of each meeting, and the names of the US officials at each meeting. [86298]
Mr. George Robertson: The meetings held on 5 March with Department of Defense officials to discuss defence industrial co-operation were both held at The Pentagon in Washington DC. The names of the US officials at each meeting are as follows:
- Meeting 0900 hours--1215 hours
- Mr. Al Volkman, A/DUSD (International and Commercial Programmes).
- Ms Susan Ludlow-MacMurray, D/International Security Programmes.
- Mr. Marvin Winkleman, D/Foreign Transfers.
- Mr. Vic Ciardello, D/Finance and Economic Analysis.
- Cdr Ronald Neubauer, Assoc Deputy Gen Counsel (International Affairs).
- Mr. Dominic Cipicchio, Dep Director Foreign Contracting, (D/Defense Procurement).
- Captain Richard Lewis, International Programmes Office.
- Mr. Bill Leonard, Prin Director Security and Intelligence Office.
- Meeting 1215 hours--1415 hours
- All above plus:
- Dr. Jack Gansler, Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Technology).
- Mr. James Bodner, Under Secretary Defense (Policy).
- Mr. Steven Grundman, Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Industrial Affairs and Installations).
- Mr. Harvey Nathan, Deputy General Council of Acquisition and Logistics.
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Bloody Sunday Inquiry
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent to date by his Department in financing the legal costs of former members of the Parachute Regiment called to give evidence to the Bloody Sunday inquiry; and what forecast he has made of the total cost. [86684]
Mr. George Robertson: The cost to my Department of financing the legal costs of potential military witnesses at the Inquiry as at the end of April 1999 was £1,144,707.61. Due to the way in which legal assistance is being provided, it is not possible to break out the costs relating to former members of the Parachute Regiment. It is also not possible to estimate the likely final cost.
HEALTH
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if hospitals and other NHS facilities used not-in-kind refrigerants. [86168]
Mr. Denham: Information from which to estimate the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if National Health Service bodies used not-in-kind refrigerants is not available centrally.
The Department is fully supportive of the Government's commitment to running its operations and buildings in accordance with best environmental practice as an integral part of its contribution to the United Kingdom's sustainable development strategy.
The NHS is making good progress in achieving the 20 per cent. energy efficiency improvement targets from the 1991-92 base year to March 2000, as set by Green Ministers. Additionally, progress is being achieved against the wider Government objective (agreed as part of the Kyoto Protocol) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-2012, with a domestic target of 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.
Mr. Etherington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional money he plans to make available to health authorities to establish hospital-based dental anaesthesia services for dental general practice. [86160]
Mr. Denham:
A review of general anaesthesia and sedation with dental treatment is currently underway under the leadership of the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Dental Officer. The review is due to report by the end of the summer. When we consider the report we will also consider any funding issues.
Mr. Etherington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the arrangements for dental anaesthesia in dental community services. [86159]
Mr. Denham:
Records show that since the General Dental Council's amendment of their ethical guidance last November the Department has received ten letters from
14 Jun 1999 : Column: 10
hon. Members and seven other letters. There have also been five questions from a Noble Lord about the impact of the General Dental Council's amended guidance.
Mr. Etherington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the NHS has in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to 2003 to (i) reduce the number of hospital beds and (ii) close hospitals in Sunderland; and if he will make a statement. [86279]
Mr. Hutton:
In 2000-01 the Ryhope Hospital will close and all services will move to the Sunderland Royal Hospital site as part of the redevelopment of the site. This will reduce the fragmentation of acute services, improving clinical configuration and access to specialist equipment, in high quality purpose-built accommodation. We are committed to modernising the National Health Service and this redevelopment will offer better quality treatment. There is no planned reduction in numbers of patients being cared for, although it will be possible to achieve this in very slightly fewer beds than at present (931 from 942) because of the improved acute bed facilities.
Mr. Etherington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those health authorities that have implemented career start schemes to attract medical students to general practice indicating the (i) start date, (ii) duration, (iii) number of places available and (iv) annual cost of each scheme. [86161]
Mr. Denham:
There is no national career start scheme. We are encouraging health authorities to develop schemes which address particular problems with recruitment in their locality.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 May 1999, Official Report, column 136, on junior doctors, when he expects the decision to be made on the extension of Council Directive 93/104/EC relating to junior doctors. [86032]
Mr. Denham:
A unanimous decision was made at the European Social Affairs Council on 25 May to propose a thirteen year implementation period for extending the provisions of Council Directive 93/104/EC, the "Working Time Directive", to cover previously excluded groups, including junior hospital doctors. The Council has proposed a transposition period of four years from the date of adoption before new Europe-wide minimum standards apply. These standards will provide a statutory limit to the maximum average working week. There will be a staged period of nine years after transposition, during which interim targets will apply, before the 48 hours limit is reached.
The decision formally to adopt this amendment to the Directive is subject to co-decision between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, which is due to re-assemble this autumn.
The Government remains fully committed to implementation of the New Deal on junior doctors' working hours. We have no intention of raising the 56 hour limit which is part of the current agreement.
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We need to plan and implement the move to 48 hours carefully over a reasonable period of time, and in such a way that does not jeopardise patient care and the training needs of juniors.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the national report on reviewing radiography equipment will be sent to him; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement; [85694]
Mr. Hutton:
The report of the review of radiotherapy provision will be sent to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State shortly for consideration. Information on the number of linear accelerators in cancer centres has not been collected centrally but will be contained in the review of radiotherapy provision.
(2) if he will list those cancer centres in the UK which do not have two linear accelerators; and if he will make a statement. [85693]
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