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Health Spending
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in rank order the levels of spending on health per head of population in each health authority in England in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99 and the estimated figures for 1999-2000. [111630]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 28 February 2000]: Health authority spending on health per head of population by rank for 1996-97 to 1998-99 will be placed in the Library. Expenditure estimates for 1999-2000 are not available.
Expenditure figures are from health authority audited accounts. For 1997-98 and 1998-99 the Prescription Pricing Authority rather than individual health authorities have accounted for the majority of drugs expenditure. Health authorities do not account for the majority of General Dental Service expenditure.
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Although estimates by health authority are available from the Prescription Pricing Authority for drugs expenditure and from the Dental Practice Board for general dental services gross fees, these are not audited figures and they do not agree with the national audited amounts included within the health authority summarised accounts.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government initiatives there are to assist primary care groups experiencing higher than average rates of limiting long-term illnesses. [110361]
Mr. Denham
[holding answer 22 February 2000]: Primary care groups will develop their services to meet the needs of their community within the framework of their agreed Health Improvement Programme. The Health Improvement Programme will ultimately combine a range of nationally and locally set targets with particular emphasis on addressing areas of major health inequality in local communities.
As their committees, primary care groups will be supported and developed by their health authorities to take forward the responsibilities for delivering on the targets agreed locally. In addition, they can make full use of the primary care flexibilities, ie Section 36, local development schemes and Personal Medical Services pilots that have been developed nationally.
To further support health authorities and primary care groups a wide programme of national initiatives is being developed to support implementation of the National Service Frameworks, waiting lists and other priorities.
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) artificial limbs and (b) wheelchairs were issued by the National Health Service in 1997-98. [102320]
Mr. Hutton
[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1999, c. 221W]: I regret that the information I gave in my previous reply was incorrect. It should read:
33. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate the Commissioners have made of the cost of revising the liturgy consequent upon the expiry of the alternative service book. [110630]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
It is the General Synod that is responsible for the revision and authorisation of the Church's liturgy and the Archbishops' Council that is responsible for publishing the new service books that will replace the ASB.
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34. Mr. Pike:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent steps the Commissioners have taken to review their ethical investment policy; and if he will make a statement. [110631]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
The Church of England's Ethical Investment Advisory Group has responsibility for reviewing the Church's Statement of Ethical Investment Policy which it commends to the central investment institutions of the Church, including the Commissioners.
The policy is kept under rigorous review to ensure it remains relevant and appropriate, and was most recently revised in the spring of 1999.
35. Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what use they have made to date of new deal initiatives in their employment policies. [110632]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
The Joint Staff Council of the national church institutions, of which the Church Commissioners are one, considered an internal paper, "New Deal--An Opportunity for the Church" in December 1998 and gave its support to the national Church institutions becoming involved. Matters have been taken forward subsequently with church representatives at national and diocesan level and with others concerned in this area.
37. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the average weekly value of SERPS payments to eligible retired clergy. [110635]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
Retired clergy are not normally eligible for SERPS payments since the clergy pension scheme is Contracted out of SERPS. (For the purposes of National Insurance contributions the Church Commissioners have, since 1978, been deemed the Employers.) Some clergy may be eligible for some SERPS payments in respect of other work not covered by the clergy pension scheme.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent representations he has received on value added tax on church repairs; and if he will make a statement. [110634]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
The Church remains concerned at the heavy burden borne largely at parish level resulting from the continuing imposition of VAT on repairs and alterations. I am in regular touch with a group of Church staff who are handling the Church's continuing representations in this area. The Church as a whole continues to co-ordinate its efforts with other faiths and charitable organisations who share our view that the current VAT regime creates heavy costs for church
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communities and charities with limited resources and inhibits conservation and regular necessary repairs to church buildings.
Recent media reports indicating that my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, may support an equalisation of VAT rates between new build and repairs are very encouraging. Such change would allow greater activity in the field of conservation repairs while demonstrating a sensible and prudent approach to the management of the public finances.
Sir Sydney Chapman:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are being taken to review clergy stipends; and if he will make a statement. [110633]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
The Commissioners' powers and responsibilities as Central Stipends Authority were transferred to the Ministry Division of the Archbishops' Council with effect from 1 January last year. The Archbishops' Council has commenced a review of clergy stipends. Among other things, the review will:
The working group set up by the Council to carry out the review has met three times to date, and is due to meet a further five times this year.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many (a) full-time clergy, (b) part-time clergy, (c) non-stipendiary clergy and (d) retired clergy are currently on the books of the Church of England; and what audit is carried out of the cost benefit of funding the training and pay of each group. [111115]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
At the end of 1999, there were 9,520 full-time stipendiary parish clergy (8,459 men, 1,061 women), 156 part-time stipendiary parish clergy (66 men, 90 women), 2,031 Non-Stipendiary Ministers (1,335 men, 696 women), 298 Ordained Local Ministers (162 men, 116 women). At the end of 1999 there were 7,486 clergy and licensed lay workers in receipt of retirement pensions.
Clergy are self-employed and do not have formal job descriptions. They are encouraged to exercise their ministry in ways which are suited to their parishes. It would not be appropriate to conduct audits of the kind implied.
14. Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the football task force. [110611]
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Kate Hoey:
The work of the Football Task Force has greatly benefited football in this country since May 1997. Many of the important recommendations of the Task Force's three previous reports on racism, disabled access and community involvement have been implemented. The Government are now discussing the final report, Football: Commercial Issues, with the football authorities and other interested parties.
The National Health Service issued 4,464 powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs in 1997-98. Information on how many artificial limbs were issued is not available centrally.
examine the content of the clergy remuneration package (including stipend, housing and non-contributory pension)
compare the remuneration of clergy with that of other groups;
conduct a large-scale survey into the financial circumstances of clergy
It is hoped that the review will make an initial report of the General Synod in November 2000.
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