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Clinical Negligence
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 1999, Official Report, columns 399-400, on clinical negligence, what was the nature of the comparison made by the NHS Executive between the costs of commercial versus public sector insurance for clinical negligence risks; when it was carried out; what was the indicative margin between NHS-provided clinical negligence insurance premiums and comparable commercial cover; and if he will list the features of NHS-provided clinical negligence cover that cannot be provided by commercial insurers. [92108]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 20 July 1999]: The decision to establish the clinical negligence scheme for NHS trusts as a voluntary risk pooling scheme took account of the fact that no established commercial insurance arrangements were available for clinical negligence. As I said in my answer of 2 July 1999, Official Report, columns 399-400, the NHS Executive has consistently discouraged trusts from using commercial insurance for clinical negligence risks on value for money grounds.
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the NHS of clinical negligence claims, indicating separately the cost of legal fees, for 1997-98; and what is the estimated cost for 1998-99. [92112]
Mr. Denham: Clinical negligence costs charged to expenditure in the 1997-98 summarised accounts for the National Health Service in England amounted to £144 million. Information on the cost of legal fees is not available. Accounts for 1998-99 are not yet available.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by NHS trusts in premiums for clinical negligence cover through the clinical negligence scheme for trusts for the latest year for which data is available. [92305]
Mr. Denham: The amount charged to National Health Service trusts in 1998-99 was approximately £15.2 million.
Official Documents
Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a list of all those official documents of the last Administration which have been seen by (a) him, (b) other Ministers in his Department, (c) special advisers in his Department and (d) non-career civil servants appointed since May 1997 in his Department. [92176]
Mr. Denham
[holding answer 20 July 1999]: A large number of official documents were generated during the period of the previous Administration, many of which were published or put in the public domain. Since May 1997, the Department has continued to be guided by the
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convention governing access to the papers of the previous Administration, as set out in the then Prime Minister's reply to a written question on 24 January 1980, Official Report, columns 305-07.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a statutory scheme for registration of operating department practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [92440]
Mr. Denham:
We expect the employment of operating department practitioners to be confined to qualified and competent practitioners and propose to consult on guidance to health authorities and National Health Service trusts about the practical steps required to implement this effectively. We will keep the matter of statutory regulation under review for the longer term.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the 1998-99 Annual Report and Accounts of the Medical Devices Agency. [92873]
Ms Jowell:
We have received the Report and Accounts of the Medical Devices Agency and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Annual report and Accounts 1998-99 for the NHS Estates Executive Agency. [92874]
Mr. Denham:
We have received the report and copies have today been laid in accordance with the requirements of Section 5 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Corporate Plan 1999-2000 to 2001-02, Key Tasks and Targets for 1999-2000 and Business Plan 1999-2000 for the NHS Estates Executive Agency. [92876]
Mr. Denham:
We have agreed the Agency's Corporate Plan 1999-2000 to 2001-02, Key Tasks and Targets for 1999-2000 and Business Plan 1999-2000 and have placed copies in the Library.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Annual Report and Accounts of the NHS Pensions Agency. [92875]
Mr. Denham:
We have approved the Report and Accounts which has today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.
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Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many investigations into adverse incidents have been carried out by each NHS regional office in each of the last 10 years. [92111]
Mr. Denham:
Inquiries into adverse incidents are usually carried out by or on behalf of National Health Service trusts and health authorities rather than by NHS Executive regional offices. Regional offices may be involved in making sure such inquiries take place where there are statutory or other requirements for them to do so.
Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the adequacy of the current emergency and accident services for North West Leicestershire; and what changes are planned thereto. [92079]
Mr. Denham:
The provision of accident and emergency services for Leicestershire is an integral part of Leicestershire Health Authority Health Improvement Programme which is reviewed annually by the National Health Service Executive and agreed with local primary care groups.
As part of the national accident and emergency modernisation programme Leicester Royal Infirmary has been made an award of £3.7 million to modernise accident and emergency services to meet likely future demand.
Mr. Alan Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average time for a substantive reply to be sent to hon. Members' correspondence; what proportion takes more than (a) four weeks, (b) six weeks and (c) eight weeks; and what is his estimate of the number of letters received in a year from hon. Members. [92451]
Ms Jowell:
I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 403-06 which sets out performance against departmental targets for answering correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members, in the 1998 calender year. More detailed information about the percentage of correspondence replied to within the time scales specified could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what new data series separated by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by his Department since June 1997. [90537]
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day
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between May 1997 and 14 April 1999; and what percentage of them received a substantive response on that named day. [91058]
Dr. Reid:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor my right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (Mr. Dewar) on 15 April 1999, Official Report, column 309, which covered the period May 1997 to 31 March 1999. Ten parliamentary questions were tabled to my Department for written answer on a named day in the remaining period 31 March 1999 to 14 April 1999. Of these, 70 per cent. received a substantive reply on the named day.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many individuals his Department has recruited under the New Deal for Young People. [91883]
Dr. Reid:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 116.
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