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Dual X-ray Absorptiometry

Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which health authorities and primary care groups are purchasing bone density measurements by means of dual X-ray absorptiometry for particular clinical indications, as advised in NHS EL (96) 110; [107440]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 28 January 2000]: Information on the number of health authorities and primary care groups purchasing bone density measurements by means of dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for particular clinical indications is not held centrally.

No central assessment has been made of the number of operating hours for DXA equipment per week or the hours they are used for research and National Health Service purposes. Neither has there been any assessment of the efficiency and availability of DXA provision or the availability of full diagnostic osteoporosis services in each health authority.

31 Jan 2000 : Column: 454W

However the Department asked the National Osteoporosis Society to conduct a survey of all units with access to DXA equipment. The results of which were published in an article in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Vol.93 January 2000, copies of which are available in the Library.

The launch of the Osteoporosis Strategy in June 1998 at the Sixth Bath Conference has provided evidence-based clinical guidelines for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. These should provide the basis for health authorities wishing to develop local strategies. It is however for local health authorities to decide what services to provide taking into account resources available and the needs of the local population.

Pay Rises

Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff will benefit from the 26 per cent. pay rise awarded to scientific staff. [107667]

Mr. Denham: There are an estimated 750 trainee Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers who will benefit from the 26 per cent. pay offer for 1999-2000.

Wheelchairs

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the powered wheel chairs voucher scheme and the level of take-up in each year of its operation since 1996; [107516]

Mr. Hutton: The York Health Economics Consortium prepared an evaluation study of the implementation and operation of the National Health Service powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair scheme and the wheelchair voucher scheme. When I have completed my consideration of the recommendations contained in their report I shall announce my conclusions about the future of the two schemes.

1,158 powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs were issued in 1996-97, 4,581 in 1997-98 and 4,033 in 1998-99. Data for the wheelchair voucher scheme are only held from 1997-98. 660 vouchers were issued in 1997-98 and 5,010 were issued in 1998-99.

Mersey Region Health Trusts

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health trusts in the Mersey Region were in deficit in the last financial year. [107453]

Mr. Denham: No National Health Service trusts in the Merseyside and Cheshire area were in deficit in the last financial year, 1998-99.

NHS Drugs Procurement

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to secure better value in NHS drugs procurement. [106190]

31 Jan 2000 : Column: 455W

Ms Stuart: Branded medicines supplied to the National Health Service throughout the United Kingdom are covered by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS). The PPRS includes a 4.5 per cent. reduction in the price of branded medicines from October 1999. Thereafter, the only changes permitted until 1 January 2001 are cost-neutral modulations, with strict controls on price increases after that date. The Health Act 1999 includes reserve powers to deal with companies which elect not to be scheme members or cease to be scheme members. Regulations have just been laid to ensure that the prices of medicines supplied by companies outside the voluntary scheme may be controlled, and the price reduction implemented where appropriate. At the same time the PPRS contains incentives to companies to develop new medicines, and allowances for the cost of research and development.

Generic medicines are not covered by the PPRS. We have commissioned a fundamental review of arrangements for the supply of generic medicines to the NHS in England to examine whether existing arrangements best serve the health service and to identify possible alternatives. The conclusions of the programme of work are expected in the summer.

The NHS Supplies Authority plays a part in the procurement of medicines for hospitals. The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency will be set up from 1 April to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of purchasing in the NHS in England.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that the NHS drugs bill will not be increased as a result of the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. [106188]

Ms Stuart: The Director General of Fair Trading will consult interested parties about the proposed merger and will advise the Department of Trade in due course. His advice will take account of any comments from this Department on issues such as any effect of the proposed merger on price and availability of medicines and competition among health service suppliers.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS expenditure in each of the past 10 years was on drugs. [106191]

Ms Stuart: The information requested is provided in the table.

Total NHS drugs bill as a percentage of total NHS expenditure

YearPercentage
1988-8910.8
1989-9011.1
1990-9110.7
1991-9210.9
1992-9311.2
1993-9411.8
1994-9512.1
1995-9612.7
1996-9713.3
1997-9813.7
1998-9913.9

Note:

The 1998-99 data are provisional, but unlikely to change to any significant extent.


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NHS Staff

Mr. Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors were employed by the National Health Service (i) in May 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available. [107856]

Mr. Denham: Information about numbers of nurses and doctors employed by the National Health Service is collected as at 30 September each year. Latest figures are as at 30 September 1998. The information is shown in the tables.

NHS hospital and community health services: nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff. England as at 30 September

19971998
Numbers (headcount)417,570421,750
Whole-time equivalents330,620332,200

Notes:

Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

Figures exclude agency staff and learners


Medical staff (doctors) employed by the NHS. England as at 30 September

19971998
Hospital doctors(28) 59,86061,650
Public health medicine and community health medicine3,4103,210
All doctors63,27064,860

(28) Hospital medical staff.

Notes:

Figures rounded to the nearest 10

Totals may not equal sum of components due to rounding

Source:

Department of Health medical and dental workforce census


FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Honorary Consuls

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the former honorary consuls who have served since 1990 who were British citizens, giving (a) the posts in which they served, (b) the length of time they served and (c) the honours that have been awarded to them for such service. [105894]

Mr. Hain [holding answer 20 January 2000]: Information distinguishing length of time served and whether individuals are current or former Honorary British Consuls could be provided only at disproportionate cost. British nationals who have served since at least 1990 who have received honours, and with details of their awards, are as follows:













31 Jan 2000 : Column: 457W


    NY92


    MBE--Alexander Leonard Frank Bessey


    Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso


    MBE--Roger Arthur Gough


    Belo Horizonte, Brazil


    MBE--Chasser Robertson Jessop


    Bamako, Mali


    MBE--Major Norman John Lister


    Trieste, Italy


    BD92


    MBE--George John Anthony Akras


    Aleppo, Syria


    MBE--Richard Francis Blandy


    Madeira, Portugal


    MBE--Frederick William Matheson


    Punta Arenas, Chile


    NY93


    MBE--Mrs. Glenys Helen Hulse


    Arica, Chile


    BD93


    MBE--Geoffrey Parker Knowles


    Port Elizabeth, South Africa


    MBE--John Anthony Perry


    Pointe Noire, Congo


    NY94


    MBE--Roger Harry Virnuls


    Toulouse, France


    BD 1994


    (None)


    NY95


    MBE--Kenneth Ronald Dagnall


    Le Havre, France


    MBE--Mrs. Fay Miriam Morris


    Eilat, Israel


    BD95


    OBE--Dr. Ian Court


    Puerto Rico, United States


    MBE--Frank Molesworth Hope


    Biarritz, France


    NY96


    OBE--Leslie Straughan


    Halifax, Canada


    OBE--Mrs. Maureen Tejeda, MBE


    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic


    MBE--John Christopher Shaw


    Chiangmai, Thailand


    BD96


    MBE--Simon Cohen


    Guadalajara, Mexico


    MBE--Ian Bennett Gibson


    Kiel, Germany


    MBE--Zbigniew George Podolecki


    Maracaibo, Venezuela


    MBE--Graeme Neville Robinson


    Christchurch, New Zealand


    NY97


    MBE--Christopher Rodney Baker


    Dunkirk, France


    MBE--Mrs. Valerie Treitlein


    Conakry, Guinea


    BD97


    MBE--Mrs. Sandra Lynn Darra


    Montreux, Switzerland

31 Jan 2000 : Column: 458W


    NY98


    MBE--David Elliot Balfour


    Galapagos, Ecuador


    MBE--Frederick Gentle


    Brindisi, Italy


    MBE--David Harwood


    Libreville, Gabon


    MBE--John Mitchell Inglis


    Calais, France


    BD98


    MBE--Peter Gwylym, LEE


    Pointe Noire, Congo


    MBE--Joseph Reginald Willilam Roberts


    Arequipa, Peru


    NY99


    MBE--Mrs. Nancy Abeiderrahmane


    Nouakchott, Mauritania


    MBE--Stephen Burges


    Asmara, Eritrea


    MBE--Richard Trevor Robinson


    Tamale, Ghana


    BD99


    OBE--Frank Parton Barber, MBE


    San Pedro Sula, Honduras


    MBE--Gerard Barron


    Boulogne-sur-Mer, France


    MBE--Andrew Martin Graham


    Cagliari, Italy


    MBE--Christopher Avison Milne


    Surabaya, Indonesia


    Key:


    BD = [Queen's] Birthday Honours List (with last two figures of the year)


    NY = New Year Honours List (with the last two figures of the year)


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