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Hospital Waiting Lists (Essex)
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area have been treated privately but paid for by the NHS to help reduce waiting lists in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how much this has cost the NHS; how much it would have cost the NHS if an NHS hospital had carried out the treatment; and what were the transport costs for the patients. [109971]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is not available centrally.
Dental Laboratories
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria dental laboratories have to fulfil before being allowed to be used for NHS dental work. [110392]
Mr. Hutton:
Dental laboratories, as manufacturers of custom made appliances, must meet the requirements of the Medical Devices Regulations (SI 1994 No 3017) which include registering with the Medical Devices Agency.
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Nancekuke
Ms Atherton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the documents relating to Nancekuke which have been made public that had previously been restricted under the 30 year rule. [109946]
Dr. Moonie: I have been asked to reply.
Following a request from a journalist in July 1999, the Office for National Statistics authorised the early release of a file containing details of a study they had undertaken for the Ministry of Defence, looking at the incidence of industrially related illnesses at the Nancekuke establishment. A number of other papers, unrelated to Nancekuke, were authorised for release at the same time. The file containing the Nancekuke study, with the exception of one document containing individuals' names and medical records, was transferred to the Public Record Office in December 1999 and should now be available for public inspection under their reference RG 26.449.
Registration
Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Registrar General has reported his findings of the outcome of consultation following the publication of "Registration: Modernising a Vital Service", on 8 September 1999; and if he will make a statement. [110893]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The consultation period for "Registration: Modernising a Vital Service" ended on 6 December 1999. Over 3,500 copies of the consultation paper and 25,000 summary leaflets were distributed. The consultation paper was also available on the Office for National Statistics web-site.
There were around 1,000 responses to the consultation paper from a wide variety of organisations, local authorities, members of the public and registration officers. There was widespread support for providing registration services in new ways, for better integration with other public services, for improving the use of technology to capture, store and share registration information and for determining national standards. These findings support the Government's commitment to the modernisation of public services in extending the scope of services and information available from civil registration and invoking better use of technology to share information in order, for example, to counter fraud.
I have asked the Registrar General to open discussions to take forward the modernisation of civil registration. Plans for such reforms will be published by the Government in a policy document.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of allowing for third party monitoring where individuals enter into agreements for the issuing of bonds. [110295]
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Miss Melanie Johnson:
There has been no specific consideration of third party monitoring. However, issues of bonds and other debt securities in the UK, whether by individuals or corporate entities already need to conform with various requirements. In the case of bonds to be admitted to the Official List, issues need to comply with the Listing Rules. In the case of unlisted bonds, the relevant legislation is the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that individuals who invest in bonds receive proper advice and guidance. [110294]
Mr. Timms:
The UK has a very robust investor protection system. The Financial Services and Markets Bill will enhance and streamline this further, with the introduction of a single regulator supervising a more integrated and efficient approach.
Investors can choose to make decisions on their own, without taking professional advice, but they have a right to receive accurate information that they need to decide whether the investment is right for them, in their circumstances.
Investors who do receive advice must be told about the status of the person they deal with; be asked about their circumstances; be told why an investment is suitable for them in those circumstances; and must be given clear information about commission and charges, the risk, and the aims and benefits of the investment, confirmed in writing.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from what date the Inland Revenue will be in a position to inform an independent contractor whether his tax position for 2000-01 will be changed under the IR35 proposals. [110184]
Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 15 February 2000]: Detailed guidance on the application of the law on employment status to workers using service companies was published on 7 February and is available in the House of Commons Library. The Inland Revenue will give advice on whether the proposed legislation will apply to current contracts which extend beyond 6 April. The guidance, and information on how to get advice from the Inland Revenue, is available on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ir35.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the expected balance in the National Insurance Fund at the end of the years 2000-01 and 2000-02, after taking into account proposed changes in contribution rates and the effects of the provisions of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 and the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill; and by how much the balance is expected to exceed the minimum level recommended by the Government Actuary. [108315]
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Dawn Primarolo
[holding answer 3 February 2000]: Estimates for Great Britain are shown in the table:
| £ million | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fund balance (6) | Minimum level | Excess | |
| 2000-01(7) | 16,660 | 7,870 | 8,790 |
| 2001-02(7) | 18,820 | 8,280 | 10,540 |
(6) At the end of the year
(7) The estimates for these years are based on the difference between forecasts or receipts and expenditure. Changes in these forecasts could have a substantial impact on the balance
Unemployment Statistics
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will provide a breakdown of the average monthly flow from the unemployment count for claimants aged 18 to 24 and unemployed for over six months for (a) each year from 1990 to 1999, (b) April 1993 to May 1997, (c) October 1997 to March 1998 and (d) April 1998 to the latest available month; [109273]
- (2) if he will provide a breakdown of the average monthly flow from the unemployment count for claimants aged over 25 and unemployed for over two years for the periods (a) April 1993 to May 1997, (b) May 1997 to June 1998 and (c) June 1998 to the latest available month. [109274]
Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
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