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Waiting Times
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times are for orthopaedic (i) initial consultation and (ii) operations in (a) Dorset, (b) Somerset and (c) Bristol; and if he will make a statement on the procedures for the referral of a patient for an operation to a hospital outside his health authority area. [88020]
Mr. Denham: The latest information available on inpatient and outpatient orthopaedic waiting times in Avon, Dorset and Somerset Health Authorities is shown in the tables:
| Avon | Dorset | Somerset | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waiting time for trauma and orthopaedic inpatients--Quarter 4 1998-99 | ||||
| 0-5 months | 57 | 100 | 70 | |
| 6-11 months | 34 | 0 | 25 | |
| 12-17 months | 9 | 0 | 5 | |
| 18 months plus | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Waiting time for trauma and orthopaedic outpatients--Quarter 4 1998-99 | ||||
| 0-3 weeks | 25 | 20 | 20 | |
| 4-12 weeks | 30 | 46 | 29 | |
| 13-25 weeks | 19 | 32 | 29 | |
| 26 weeks plus | 26 | 2 | 22 | |
Under the new arrangements for commissioning patient services, general practitioners and consultants will retain the clinical freedom to refer patients for the most appropriate treatment and will base their decision on their professional judgment and assessment of the case.
Where there are consistent patterns of referrals to a service, whether a specialised service or more locally, these are being built into service agreements. Cases that do not fit this will be covered by the new arrangements for out of area treatments. Unlike the extra contractual referral arrangements, there is no formal prior approval mechanism for out of area treatments, so the process for such referrals is simpler.
All out of area treatment referrals will be covered by the standards for quality and effectiveness specified in the main commissioner's service agreement and will be treated under the same agreements and on exactly the same basis.
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Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the number of pages issued as press releases from his Department for 16 and 17 June; and if he will make a statement. [87973]
Mr. Mudie:
The Department issued nine Press Releases consisting of 29 pages.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means he plans to monitor the effectiveness of the recently published code of practice for age diversity in employment. [87855]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
We plan to evaluate fully the effectiveness of the Code of Practice for Age Diversity. The evaluation will look in detail at employer policies and practices in recruitment and employment and the impact this has on age diversity in their workforce. After a competitive tendering exercise, we have commissioned an independent organisation, NOP, to carry out a large scale research project to help evaluate the effectiveness of the Code.
An employer survey will involve telephone interviews with a random sample of companies employing 10 or more people. The sample will provide a good coverage of different industrial sectors, regions and size of employers. There will also be in-depth case studies in order to explore practices and attitudes towards age discrimination in employment in more detail and to discuss the issues with managers and workers at the establishment.
In addition, a random sample of older people will be interviewed on their current situation and their employment experiences and on whether they have experienced any employment discrimination on grounds of age.
In order to provide a baseline against which to measure change, an initial survey or employers and individuals has been carried out prior to the publication of the Code. Two further surveys will be carried out, towards the end of this year and in late Autumn 2000 to measure the impact of the Code. The evaluation will be completed and findings published early in 2001.
We will also be using the range of key labour market indicators that we set out in Annex E of Action on Age to monitor changes and trends in the labour market activity of older workers. These will be published annually in June/July.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many year 11, 10 and 9 pupils were expelled from schools in London and the South East in 1997-98. [87856]
24 Jun 1999 : Column: 439
Ms Estelle Morris:
The information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of permanent exclusions for pupils aged 15, 14 and 13 is shown in the following table:
| 15 | 14 | 13 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner London | 106 | 174 | 147 |
| Outer London | 250 | 349 | 249 |
| London (Total) | 356 | 523 | 396 |
| South East | 355 | 513 | 355 |
| Total (London and South East) | 711 | 1,036 | 751 |
This total represents a significant reduction from the 1996-97 year when 757 pupils aged fifteen, 1,070 pupils aged fourteen and 847 pupils aged thirteen were permanently excluded from schools in London and the South East.
Rainsford School, Chelmsford
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 21 May 1999, Official Report, column 475, when he expects to reach a decision on the appeal made by Rainsford School, Chelmsford, against the direction of Essex County Council to admit a pupil, whose name has been supplied to his Department. [88081]
Ms Estelle Morris: Officials have now received the necessary information from Essex LEA and are drawing up advice for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make his final decision on the case shortly.
EU Education Council
Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the outcome of the Council of EU Education Ministers held on 7 June. [88573]
Mr. Andrew Smith: On 7 June, the Council of EU Education Ministers held an exchange of views on the preparations for the implementation of the new EC education and training programmes Leonardo da Vinci II and Socrates II. Ministers also discussed the contribution of education to the European Employment Pact and Forward Planning in the field of education.
Ministers received information on the Conference of European Education Ministers in Budapest from 24 to 26 June 1991, and on the Conference of EU Higher Education Ministers which will take place in Bologna on 18 and 19 June. No formal decisions were taken.
A copy of the official minutes of the Council will be placed in the Library when they become available.
Mr. Watts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to consult on draft regulations under section 38 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. [88572]
Ms Estelle Morris:
These are significant regulations on which it will be important to have the widest debate. The Education Sub-Committee of the Education and Employment Select Committee is conducting an Inquiry into the Role of Governing Bodies, taking evidence from governing body, head teacher and other interests. As the
24 Jun 1999 : Column: 440
Inquiry is expected to be completed before the summer recess, I have written to the Chairman of the Sub Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, North (Mr. Wicks), to inform him that we plan to consult on the regulations in September 1999 to enable account to be taken of the Inquiry's recommendations. Copies of my letter have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Tyrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the occasions when special advisers in his Department have travelled abroad in an official capacity accompanied by Ministers; and if he will give the total travel cost of each occasion and the place visited. [82431]
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what dates special advisers from his Department have travelled abroad on official business since 2 May 1997; which countries were visited on each occasion; and what were the names of the special advisers who travelled abroad on each occasion. [87410]
Mr. Prescott:
In the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1999, Special Advisers in my Department have accompanied Ministers overseas in an official capacity on 36 occasions to Asia and the Far East, Australasia, the USA, South America and mainland Europe. The total cost of travel and any hotel accommodation is £68,500. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about progress towards construction on the A303 (T) of (a) the Winterbourne Stoke bypass, (b) the cut-and-cover tunnel past Stonehenge and (c) a flyover at Countess Roundabout. [86846]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The responses to the Public Consultation on these proposals are being considered. An announcement will shortly be made.
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