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ACT
Dan Norris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to ensure benefit recipients avoid costs and bank charges arising from planned changes in the way benefits are paid to automated credit transfer. [110237]
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Mr. Rooker:
I have been asked to reply.
We have decided to move to automated credit transfer (ACT) from 2003 as a modern, more secure and efficient method of paying benefits. The Department has already begun discussions with the banking industry on issues surrounding benefit recipients, charges and other matters. These discussions will continue.
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the status of the Charter of Pardon 1508; [110927]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
I have been asked to reply.
I have made no assessment of the status of, or the applicability of the powers contained in the 1508 Charter of Pardon, and have not been previously asked to do so.
(2) what assessment he has made of the applicability of the powers contained within the Charter of Pardon 1508. [110928]
Volunteering
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been made available to the consortium on opportunities for volunteering in the last two years; and if the third year's funding has been approved. [112315]
Mr. Hutton: The consortium on opportunities for volunteering received £2,889,000 in 1998-99 and £2,837,762 in 1999-2000. Decisions on funding for 2000-01 will be announced by Ministers shortly.
Dental Services
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require dentists to notify patients of charges for all items of treatment. [112318]
Mr. Hutton: Dentists are required to display in a prominent position information about National Health Service charges. The information should include details of entitlement to exemption or remission from NHS charges. In addition, dentists who accept a person for continuing care and treatment are required at the time of the first examination, to provide a treatment plan and an estimate of the NHS charge where appropriate.
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to introduce a recognised scale of fees for all dental treatment. [112317]
Mr. Hutton: The Statement of Dental Remuneration contains the scale of fees for all National Health Service dental treatment. Since 1995 a revised scale of fees has been published at least once a year. The latest edition is in the Library.
Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will calculate the rise in the cost of palladium-based precious metals used in dental appliances over the last 10 years; and if he will calculate the
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percentage change in the palladium-based precious metals claimed for by dentists from the NHS over the last 10 years. [109581]
Mr. Hutton:
The cost of palladium-based precious metals used in dental appliances depends on the prices negotiated in contracts between purchasers and suppliers. These will be affected by the price quotations in the metal markets. The average price for palladium in the London market in 1988-89 was about $130 or £75 and in 1998-99 was about $310 or £190. Palladium is only one constituent with fine gold and platinum in precious metal appliances.
| Item number | 1988-89 | 1998-99 |
|---|---|---|
| 1705 | 7,240 | -- |
| 1706 | 154,180 | -- |
| 1711 | 52,670 | 259,359 |
| Total | 214,090 | 259,359 |
The total number of incidences for the treatments shown increased by 21 per cent. between 1988-89 and 1998-99.
Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what system of control is operated by this Department to ensure that dental patients receive the dental appliances consisting of palladium-based precious metals claimed for by dentists from the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [109585]
Mr. Hutton:
All dental materials used to manufacture dental appliances must be safe and fit for their purpose and must meet the requirements of the Medical Devices Regulations. Dental appliances must be manufactured in accordance with a dentist's instructions.
Regulations provide that a dentist shall not claim or accept any fee or other remuneration in respect of any treatment which has not been provided. There is a system by which restorations which are claimed to have been placed can be inspected by a Dental Reference Officer of the Dental Practice Board.
Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of non-precious metals in dental appliances in the NHS; and if he will calculate the percentage change in the non-precious metals claimed for in the last 10 years. [109583]
Mr. Hutton:
Both precious and non-precious metal alloys continue to have their place in restorative dentistry. The Statement of Dental Remuneration (SDR) sets out
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the conditions as to materials which may be used in the fabrication of appliances in the General Dental Services. The wide diversity of both precious and non-precious metal alloys to meet true clinical need is reflected in the SDR.
| 1988-89 | 1998-99 | Percentage increase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of incidences | 5,520 | 28,217 | 411 |
The increase in the number of these incidences is affected by changes in the types of treatment available over the ten year period.
Children (Physical Punishment)
Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the results of the Office for National Statistics Omnibus Survey for April 1998 relating to the physical punishment of children. [111500]
Mr. Hutton: Results from this survey were published in our consultation paper "Protecting Children Supporting Parents: A Consultation Document on the Physical Punishment of Children" on 18 January. A separate statistical publication is not planned but further information about the survey and more detailed tabulations of the data are being placed in the Library.
Lancashire County Council
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) the items on the agenda for discussions when members of the Social Services Inspectorate recently met Councillor Doreen Pollit and other representatives of Lancashire County Council, (b) the main points discussed, and (c) conclusions reached; and if those attending from Lancashire were instructed not to issue public comment on any or all of the items discussed. [111973]
Mr. Hutton: At my request, the Chief Inspector for Social Services met with councillors and chief officers of Lancashire County Council on 15 February. They discussed the key issues for Lancashire Social Services identified in the recently published social services inspectorate/ Audit Commission Joint Review Report and established the council's understanding of those issues and its ability to respond.
It was made clear to those attending the meeting that any decisions as to further action were for Ministers and, in the light of the Chief Inspector's assessment following the meeting, I have now written to Lancashire County Council requesting that they draw up an action plan
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addressing the key issues identified in the joint report. This will be monitored regularly by the social services inspectorate.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what performance indicators and targets he has set for NHS Direct for 1999-2000. [112018]
Ms Stuart:
NHS Direct, as a new service, was not subject to explicit performance indicators and targets during 1999-2000. As the service develops, indicators on service responsiveness will be formalised through service level agreements, and NHS Direct sites will be budgeted to be able to handle a forecast number of calls each year.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget for NHS Direct was originally set by his Department; and what the expected out-turn is for the financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01. [112017]
Ms Stuart:
The 1999-2000 budget for "NHS Direct" was £54 million. The budget for 2000-2001 is not yet known. Final out-turn figures for the current financial year will not be available until the summer.
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