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NHS Dentistry
Mr. Ashdown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to announce the Government's plans to improve the availability of NHS dentistry in (a) Somerset and (b) England as a whole; [104720]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS dentistry in the Yeovil constituency; [104721]
(3) what assessment he has made of the areas of England where it is most difficult to register as an adult with an NHS dentist; and if he will make a statement. [104718]
Mr. Hutton: The Government are aware of the current problems experienced in accessing dental services, which we inherited from the previous Government. Access problems for adults are most acute in the south and west of the country, including the Yeovil constituency. We have taken positive steps to address these problems. The Investing in Dentistry initiative saw a £10 million investment in dentistry, including eight approved bids in Somerset, one of which was in Yeovil, while the personal dental services pilots have allowed for local flexibility in service provision. £203,000 has been awarded in grants in Somerset which will allow for 18,750 additional registrations.
We are also piloting dental access centres, providing fast and convenient access to dentistry in areas with acute access problems. Two dental access centres opened last year, and a further six will come on line this winter. On 5 January my noble Friend Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, the Under-Secretary of State, announced 34 successful expressions of interest for a third wave of dental access centre pilots. A proposal from Somerset has been successful at this stage. These potential centres must now submit a full business case, and if successful, will be operational by the end of the year.
More will be done to address problems of access in the NHS dental strategy. The strategy, to be published shortly, will set the future pace and direction of development of dentistry in England.
Mr. Ashdown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of (a) adults and (b) children were registered with an NHS dentist in each English county in (i) 1985-86, (ii) 1990-91, (iii) 1995-96, (iv) 1996-97, (v) 1997-98, (vi) 1998-99 and (vii) 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement; [104716]
Mr. Hutton:
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospital trusts levy charges for visitor car parking; what is the annual income raised by such
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charges; and if he has circulated advice to trusts on the waiving of charges, including penalties, in cases of emergency or on compassionate grounds. [106015]
Ms Stuart:
The number of National Health Service trusts charging for visitor car parking is not collected centrally. The amount raised from car park charges is not separately identified within trust financial returns. Advice issued to trusts in 1996 on car parking charges suggested that special consideration needed to be given to the needs of some categories of visitors and staff.
Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with other Departments concerning the award of EU Objective 2 status to the constituency of Alyn and Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [105553]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
My Department worked closely with other Government Departments and with the National Assembly for Wales on the UK's proposed Objective 2 map for the period 2000-06. This was approved last month by the European Commission. The Welsh map was unchanged from the UK Government's proposals of 8 October, a copy of which I sent to all Welsh MPs and MEPs.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the (a) European Commission and (b) UK representative office in Brussels on spending on the Objective 1 programme in 2000 and the criteria for Wales taking up its full entitlement of such funding; and if he will make a statement. [106062]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I visited Brussels last month and met officials from the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union and from the European Commission to discuss a range of issues. However, the negotiations with the European Commission on the content of the Objective 1 plan, including the spending profile, are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if funding for expenditure on Objective 1 in Wales in the financial year 2000-01 is additional to the budget provided for the National Assembly for Wales. [106082]
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Mr. Paul Murphy:
Funding for the European Union grant element of Objective 1 expenditure in Wales will be from within the National Assembly's budget. For the financial year 2000-01 the Assembly estimates Objective 1 expenditure of around £25 million, which I am assured can be met from within the Welsh Block.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list (a) the number of staff and (b) their grades in the Wales Office in London. [106068]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
The Wales Office in London currently has the following staff:
(2) what was the total number of (a) adults and (b) children registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1985 in (i) Somerset and (ii) Yeovil constitutency; and if he will make a statement. [104717]
| Grade | Number |
|---|---|
| Senior Civil Service | 2 |
| Band F | 4 |
| Band E | 1 |
| Band D | 5 |
| Band C | 7 |
| Band B | 7 |
| Band A | 6 |
| Drivers | 2 |
| Special Adviser | 1 |
The Wales Office also employs the following staff who are based in Cardiff:
| Grade | Number |
|---|---|
| Special Adviser | 1 |
| Band G | 1 |
Engagements
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the official engagements of the Under- Secretary of State in the Wales Office for the period 10 to 23 January. [106067]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
During this period, my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State attended four Cabinet Committee meetings; various meetings with officials in Cardiff and officials in London and attended to other ministerial business. On 18 January he wound up the opposition debate on the Health Service, on 19 January he answered questions on the Floor of the House; and on 21 January he will meet with local councils to discuss the Local Government Bill and will meet with National Power at Deeside.
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