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Wheelchair Voucher Scheme
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the York Economic Consortium Review of the wheelchair voucher scheme will be published. [92307]
23 Jul 1999 : Column: 726
Mr. Hutton
[holding answer 22 July 1999]: The York Health Economics Consortium has concluded its evaluation of the powered wheelchair and voucher scheme initiatives. The Consortium's report has now been received by the Department. It will be made available after it has been considered by Ministers.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Government policy towards the use of genetically engineered pigs as sources of organs for transplant into humans. [92666]
Mr. Hutton:
The use of genetically modified animals, as with all aspects of xenotransplantation, needs to be monitored closely. The United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA) acts as the focal point for consideration of all xenotransplantation issues as well as advising the Government on the acceptability of specific applications to undertake xenotransplantation procedures.
The transplantation of animal tissue into humans, offers a potential solution to the current shortage of human organs and tissue for transplantation. It also offers the possibility of new treatments for conditions such as Parkinson's disease. Clearly, there are many difficulties yet to be overcome with this new technology, not least the problem of rejection of tissue transplanted between different species. The genetic modification of animals, most notably pigs, may provide a solution to this problem.
The view of the UKXIRA and of the Government is that, while recognising that the problems in this field are not to be underestimated, the potential of xenotransplantation should continue to be explored.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to make an announcement on (a) the future arrangements for community hospitals in Oxfordshire and (b) the future of Bicester Community hospital. [92646]
Mr. Denham:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State fully recognises the concerns of the local community on this issue.
He has instructed officials at the National Health Service Executive South East Regional Office to explore further the feasibility of variations put forward by Oxfordshire Health Authority and Oxfordshire Community Health NHS Trust.
The matter has now been referred to my right hon. Friend who will be carefully considering all options before reaching a final decision on the future arrangements for community hospitals in Oxfordshire and the future of Bicester Community Hospital.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it his policy to encourage general practitioners to offer regular medical checks of their patients who are over the age of 75 years; and if he will make a statement. [92908]
Mr. Hutton:
Under their terms of service, general practitioners are required to invite all patients who have reached the age of 75 for an annual health check in the
23 Jul 1999 : Column: 727
patient's home, or in the surgery if the patient prefers. General practitioners make arrangements with health authorities to provide services and regional offices of the National Health Service Executive hold health authorities to account for the services provided in their area.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reciprocal arrangements are in place for dialysis between the NHS and the island of Jersey. [92670]
Mr. Denham:
There are no reciprocal arrangements for dialysis as part of regular, planned treatment though emergency care is available for conditions arising unexpectedly during a temporary visit.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budgeted expenditure has been for the promotion of the donor card scheme over the last three years. [92673]
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 1,225,231 |
| 1997-98 | 457,960 |
| 1998-99 | 1,527,692 |
Referral
Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the specific circumstances are where a general practitioner must obtain prior approval for an out-of-area treatment referral; [92671]
- (2) what the specific circumstances are where a general practitioner must obtain prior approval for referral (a) to a specialised service, (b) to a specialist mental health service for deaf people and (c) for a cochlear implant. [92672]
Mr. Denham: The out of area treatment arrangements are used where pre-arranged service agreements are impractical, primarily for emergency situations. As made clear in Health Service Circular 1999-117 "The New NHS: Guidance on Out of Area Treatment", there is no formal prior approval mechanism for referrals under the out of area treatment arrangements.
In some cases, there may be local accountability arrangements in place setting out clinical protocols for making referrals for highly specialised services.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Falkland Islands
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Lan Chile flights to the Falklands to re-commence. [92504]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I understand that Lan Chile are in touch with the Falkland Islands Development Corporation with a view to resuming flights to the Falklands during August if not sooner.
23 Jul 1999 : Column: 728
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation he has made of the effect on the economy of the Falkland Islands of the Chilean legislation passed on 9 July banning all flights to the Falklands before January 2000. [92503]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The Government of Chile have informed our Embassy at Santiago of their decision, in response to the joint statement issued by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and the Foreign Minister of the Argentine Republic on 14 July, to reverse their decree banning flights to the Falklands. We have made no formal assessment of the economic impact of the 9 July extension of the decree banning flights. The resumption of flights will bring social and economic benefits to the Falkland Islands and to southern Chile.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the documentation provided by the Chilean Government concerning the restoration of flights to the Falkland Islands contingent upon allowing Argentinian citizens to visit the islands. [92505]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The Chilean Government have not provided us with any documentation concerning the restoration of flights to the Falkland Islands.
Mrs. Mahon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) Kosovar Serbs and (b) members of other ethnic groups have left Kosovo since the KFOR Occupation. [92721]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
UNHCR estimate that about 170,000 Kosovar Serbs have left Kosovo. An unspecified number of Roma gypsies have also left Kosovo. There is no further breakdown of figures available. KFOR are committed to the protection of everyone in Kosovo whatever their ethnicity.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's Operation Horseshoe in Kosovo. [91762]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
In summer 1998, Belgrade's security forces drove at least 250,000 Kosovar Albanians from their homes and destroyed villages and crops. During the winter of 1998-99, we had information that the Serbs planned to destroy all those who they regarded as the KLA. The Racak massacre of 15 January (over 40 killed) was a reminder of Serb brutality.
Before NATO started bombing on 24 March, the Serbs had already destroyed villages and expelled the inhabitants. There were strong grounds for expecting that Milosevic was embarking on a renewed campaign of civilian casualties, with the destruction of villages and displacement of inhabitants on a scale at least as great as in 1998.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the criteria used by his Department for issuing public interest immunity certificates; and what plans he has to amend these criteria. [92731]
23 Jul 1999 : Column: 729
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Government policy on the use of public interest immunity certificates was set out in a statement by my right hon. and Learned Friend the Attorney-General on 11 July 1997, Official Report, columns 616-17. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 28 June 1999, Official Report, columns 18-19. All certificates signed by FCO Ministers since 1 May 1997 have been issued in full accordance with the policy set out in those statements. I have no plans to seek amendment to it.
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