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Residential and Nursing Homes
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish his response to the report of the Centre for Policy on Ageing on national required standards for residential and nursing homes for older people. [90070]
Mr. Hutton: We are currently considering the Centre for Policy on Ageing's report setting out their proposals for national regulatory standards for older people in care homes. We will be issuing the CPA's proposed standards to a wide range of organisations and individuals for consultation nationally in the summer.
We will carefully consider all the comments we receive on the CPA's report before finalising and publishing the standards and the arrangements for implementing them.
Skin Disorders
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of skin disorders is (a) overall and (b) in each region. [89570]
Mr. Hutton: The information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of admissions to National Health Service trust hospitals in England from 1995-96 to 1997-98 where a primary diagnosis has been recorded for skin disorder is shown in the tables.
Notes:
1. Figures are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data
2. Ordinary Admissions and Daycases combined. ICD 10 codes used are, L00-L99, Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissues
Source:
Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)
7 Jul 1999 : Column: 570
| Admissions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional offices | 1996-97 | 1997-98 |
| Northern and Yorkshire Regional | 35,385 | 29,706 |
| Trent Regional Office | 20,740 | 23,704 |
| Anglia and Oxford Regional Office | 17,416 | 21,447 |
| North Thames Regional Office | 26,754 | 28,973 |
| South Thames Regional Office | 26,755 | 24,019 |
| South and West Regional Office | 25,245 | 26,237 |
| West Midlands Regional Office | 21,827 | 22,659 |
| North West Regional Office | 35,916 | 38,174 |
| Not known | -- | 129 |
| England | 210,038 | 215,048 |
Notes:
1. Figures are provisional, no adjustments have yet been made for shortfalls in data, (ie the data is ungrossed)
2. Ordinary Admissions and Daycases combined. ICD 10 codes used are, L00-L99, Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissues
Source:
Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)
Smallpox
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on the retention of samples of smallpox-related material. [88274]
Ms Jowell [pursuant to her reply, 6 July 1999, c. 494]: The recently published report by the United States of America Institute of Medicine presents strong arguments for the retention of smallpox stocks, which we accept. Since the eradication of naturally occurring smallpox over 20 years ago, very few people have been immunised against smallpox. It is vital before the virus stocks are destroyed that investigations of the genetic structure and pathogenesis of smallpox are carried out to ensure that we have all the information we need to protect the population should smallpox re-emerge as a threat in the future. We are advised that this work requires the retention of the smallpox vaccine stocks and that their retention will also allow the development of effective anti-viral treatments and new vaccines.
We will be working with the World Health Organisation to develop and take forward research on these issues.
WALES
European Elections
14. Mr. Gerald Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning the arrangements for the European elections in Wales. [88536]
7 Jul 1999 : Column: 571
Mr. Michael:
None. I would not expect to do so as that is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
15. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next intends to meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss match funding for Objective 1 for west Wales and the valleys from January 2000. [88537]
Mr. Michael:
I expect to meet my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury soon to discuss a range of financial issues.
16. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next intends to meet the chairman of the Assembly Economic Committee to discuss the performance of the agricultural sector. [88538]
Mr. Michael:
Responsibility for this matter lies with the Assembly but it may help the right hon. Gentleman to know that this matter lies with the Assembly Committee for Agriculture and the Rural Economy.
17. Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met Assembly Secretaries to discuss moves to increase turnout at elections. [88539]
Mr. Michael:
As Secretary of State I have had no such meetings.
18. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on measures to help the young unemployed in Wales. [88540]
Mr. Michael:
Since the New Deal was launched across Wales in April 1998, there has been a 44 per cent. reduction in the number of 18-24 olds who have been unemployed for six months or more. During its first year the New Deal has helped 5,400 young people in Wales into sustained employment; 1,200 are undertaking full-time education or training and a similar number are gaining valuable work experience on the Environment Task Force and Voluntary Sector options.
From 1 July, these measures will be taken forward by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in partnership with the National Assembly for Wales.
19. Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his plans to encourage structural change in economic activity in Wales. [88541]
Mr. Hain:
As Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales I had responsibility for this matter until 1 July.
We continued to pursue the objectives identified in Pathway to Prosperity--our new economic agenda for Wales. We asked the Welsh Development Agency to develop a Wales Entrepreneurship Action Plan; we strengthened Business Connect; established the Rural
7 Jul 1999 : Column: 572
Partnership; made RSA more accessible, improved the flow of capital and advisory services to companies. Our aim in doing all this was to encourage and support more growth and development in existing companies and create more new enterprises.
Since last Thursday these responsibilities have passed to the National Assembly for Wales.
20. Mr. Win Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services to discuss the funding of the child care strategy for Wales. [88542]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
I have no such plans. This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
23. Mr. Caton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will meet the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services to discuss funding the child care strategy for Wales. [88545]
Mr. Jon Owen Jones:
Neither I nor my right hon. Friend has such plans. This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
21. Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet the Assembly Secretary for post-16 Education and Training to discuss funding to increase access to further education in Wales. [88543]
Mr. Hain:
I have had discussions with the Secretary for Post 16 education and training but this is now a matter for the National Assembly.
27. Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will meet the Assembly Secretary for Post-16 education and training to discuss funding to increase access to further education in Wales. [88549]
Mr. Hain:
I have had discussions with the Secretary for Post-16 education and training but this is now a matter for the National Assembly.
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