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World Bank Loans
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what negotiations her Department has had with the World Bank about protecting the poor from the effects of financial crises; and if she will press for an external evaluation of the effectiveness of the protection measures which are supported with World Bank loans to be conducted and to be published. [86941]
Clare Short: We are working closely with the World bank to ensure its programmes pay particular attention to protecting poor and vulnerable groups from the effects of financial crises. We have been working to try to ensure that the bank and the IMF work more closely together on emergency adjustment programmes to ensure that the needs of the poor are taken fully into account. At the 1998 Annual Meetings of the Bank and Fund, the Chancellor of the Exchequer also called for a development of a Code of Good Practice on Social Policy to help guide countries in dealing with the social consequences of global economic problems. Work on this is underway, and the Bank will report on progress at the 1999 Annual Meetings in late September.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Occupational Therapists
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the number of occupational therapists required in Northern Ireland to reduce the waiting time for assessment of need to (a) six months and (b) three months. [85874]
Mr. McFall: No estimate has been made of the number of occupational therapists required to reduce the waiting times for housing adaptation assessments.
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time occupational therapists are employed in Northern Ireland. [85875]
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Mr. McFall:
At 31 December 1998 the number of qualified occupational therapists employed in the Northern Ireland Health and Personal Social Services, across the full range of hospital and community services, was as follows:
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she is taking to recruit and train extra occupational therapists in Northern Ireland. [85887]
Mr. McFall:
Training of occupational therapists in Northern Ireland is carried out in the University of Ulster. At the request of the Department of Health and Social Services the University has since 1992 increased the annual student intake level from 36 to the current level of 50. Recruitment of occupational therapists is a matter for individual Health and Social Services Trusts.
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average waiting time for a home visit and assessment by an occupational therapist in Northern Ireland. [85873]
Mr. McFall:
Information is not available in the form asked. The table shows the number of assessments commenced during the quarter ended 31 March 1999 and in each case the time waiting from referral.
(a) Full-time--339
(b) Part-time--127.
| Priority cases | Number |
|---|---|
| Less than 2 weeks | 2,833 |
| 2 weeks to under one month | 698 |
| One month and over | 645 |
| Total assessments commenced | 4,176 |
| Other cases | Number |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 months | 2,735 |
| 3 to 6 months | 1,424 |
| 6 months and over | 1,407 |
| Total assessments commenced | 5,566 |
Note:
Figures do not include Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust due to a computer problem
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will estimate the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if hospitals and other NHS facilities in Northern Ireland used not-in-kind refrigerants. [86170]
Mr. McFall: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Health Estates Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Ronnie Browne. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from R. H. Browne to Mrs. Helen Brinton, dated 11 June 1999:
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I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question regarding the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if hospitals and other NHS facilities in Northern Ireland used not-in-kind refrigerants.
Data is not readily available on the use of refrigerants in hospitals and other Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) facilities in Northern Ireland, and information in the form requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) is fully supportive of the Government's commitment to running and operating its estate in accordance with best environmental practice as an integral part of its contribution to the UK sustainable development strategy. All HSS Trusts are in the process of implementing GREENCODE, an environmental management system designed specifically for the Health Service.
The HPSS has made significant progress in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and up to March 1998 achieved a reduction in CO 2 emissions of 22.21 per cent. against the base year of 1990/91. This exceeds the Government's target of 20 per cent. reduction by year 2010 against the same base year.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Fort Whiterock
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations are represented on the Whiterock Steering Group to examine development proposals for the former Fort Whiterock army base on Springfield Road, Belfast. [86152]
Mr. Ingram: The members of the Whiterock Steering Group represent the Industrial Development Board (IDB), Making Belfast Work (MBW), the Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU), the West Belfast Partnership Board, the Upper Springfield Development Trust and the local MP.
Glencree Reconciliation Centre
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what authority the Government fund the Glencree Reconciliation Centre in Co. Wicklow, Republic of Ireland. [86150]
Mr. McFall: The Glencree Reconciliation Centre receives project funding from a global grant body in the Republic, under the Cross-Border Community Reconciliation Measure of the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. The project involves school children in the Border Counties and in Northern Ireland. The measure is jointly administered by the global grant body and the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust. The latter contributes to the funding of this project, given its cross-border nature, and the EU funding element attracts a matching contribution from Government.
SCOTLAND
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if hospitals and other NHS facilities in Scotland used not-in-kind refrigerants. [86169]
Mr. Macdonald: The specific information required to estimate the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if NHS in Scotland (NHSiS) bodies used not-in-kind refrigerants is not collected centrally.
The NHSiS already has operational mechanisms in place to ensure that no ozone depleting substances are vented into the atmosphere by refrigeration appliances and plant. This is achieved via the specification of suitable alternatives to products which contain such substances, by
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regular servicing and ensuring that they are recovered for recycling or destruction in accordance with all current statutes and codes of practice.
Additionally, against the wider Government obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 and their domestic target of a 20 per cent. carbon dioxide reduction by 2010, the NHSiS has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 30 per cent. in the eight years from 1989-90 to 1997-98. Carbon dioxide is recognised as the principal contributor towards the "greenhouse effect".
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Davidson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total rateable value of the new Buchanan Centre in Glasgow; how much would have been paid in rates by the centre during the current financial year had all units been open and occupied at the start of the financial year and occupied throughout the year; and how much and what percentage of the total raised would be made available to Glasgow City Council. [86396]
Mr. Macdonald:
This information is not available. The local Assessor is responsible for determining rateable values and no entries have as yet been made in the valuation roll for this new property.
Mr. Tredinnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps are being taken to recognise at consultant level those practitioners with extensive experience in homeopathic medicine gained before 1 January 1997; [86325]
Mr. Macdonald
[holding answer 11 June 1999]: There is currently no statutory training path for doctors in homeopathy in the UK, although consultants in homeopathy have been appointed in the NHS. Since 1 January 1997 it has been a requirement to be on the GMC's Specialist Register in order to be eligible for appointment as a substantive or honorary NHS consultant. Doctors holding substantive NHS consultant appointments in homeopathy before 31 December 1998 were able to apply for inclusion in the Register under transitional provisions in the European Specialist Medical Qualifications Order 1995 (as amended). New consultants in homeopathy would ordinarily expect to be trained in another medical specialty recognised for the purposes of specialist registration, as well as in the non-statutory requirements for homeopathy.
The requirements for specialist medical education are governed by European Directive 93/16/EEC. The practice of homeopathy varies greatly across the EEA, and there is no provision within the Directive to recognise homeopathy for the purposes of medical training. The Faculty of Homeopathy has previously indicated its intention to develop a nationally recognised training programme in homeopathy. In order to do so, the Faculty
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would need to satisfy the Specialist Training Authority of the Medical Royal Colleges (STA) that the training programme met the requirements of Directive 93/16/EEC. It would then be for the STA to apply to the Secretary of State for Health for inclusion of the specialty in the European Specialist Medical Qualifications Order 1995 (as amended).
In Scotland trainees are able to undertake sessions in homeopathy at the Homeopathic Hospital in Glasgow during their training in General Medicine, provided that they fully comply with the Joint Committee on Higher Medical Training curriculum in General Medicine. At present the North Glasgow Acute Trust, of which the Homeopathic Hospital forms part, has two consultant physicians with an interest in homeopathy. It also has one higher medical trainee who is undertaking sessions in homeopathy. Two general professional trainees (Senior House Officers) are also based at the Homeopathic Hospital. In the west of Scotland registrars in general practice are funded to attend courses in homeopathy if they wish, but numbers who request it at that stage are small. Once they are in independent practice, however, demand increases and homeopathy courses are accredited for reimbursement by the NHS through the Postgraduate Education Allowance for GPs.
Mr. Tredinnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients are currently on the waiting list of the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital. [86324]
Mr. Macdonald
[holding answer 11 June 1999]: On 31 March 1999 the number of patients waiting for inpatient/day treatment at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital was 37.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
(2) what provision there is for the training of orthodox physicians in their conventional path of accreditation in homeopathy and complementary medicine. [86328]
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