| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
China
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received concerning conditions in state orphanages in China; and if she will make a statement. [112831]
Mr. Foulkes: We have received no recent representations concerning conditions in state orphanages in China. Our Department support efforts to reform and improve the conditions for children in care. We are currently supporting a British NGO to work with the Chinese authorities to improve the conditions of children who are institutionalised, many of whom are orphans.
Romania
Mr. Gale:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the results of the review, conducted by her Department in 1998-99, of the activities of the European Children's Trust in
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 625W
Romania supported by the Know-how Fund; what action was taken by her Department as a result of that review; and if she will make a statement. [113127]
Mr. Foulkes:
I assume the review to which the hon. Member refers concerns a report that DFID commissioned by the National Institute of Social Work in 1998. This report evaluated a programme of child welfare activities in Romania that we supported between 1995 and 1998, undertaken by the European Children's Trust. I will place a copy of the report, which was passed to the Romanian authorities, in the Library of the House. No specific action was necessary as a result of the report, but relevant lessons identified by the report's authors have been taken into account in discussions on further assistance in this field, currently under way with the Romanian Government.
Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome
Ms Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of people in the UK suffering from (a) retinitis pigmentosa and (b) Usher syndrome. [111994]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society estimates that there are 25,000 people with the condition in the United Kingdom; figures for the incidence of Usher syndrome in Britain are incomplete.
Indemnity Cover (GPs)
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how he will assess whether a provider of approved indemnity cover for GPs has sufficient reserves to meet its liabilities; [112413]
- (2) what criteria will be used to approve providers of indemnity cover for GPs under the Health Act 1999; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the approval procedure does not discriminate between classes of indemnifier; [112412]
(3) if the procedure for approving provision of indemnity cover for GPs will ensure that indemnifiers comply with requirements on insolvency margins equivalent to those made under the Insurance Companies Act 1982; and if he will make a statement. [112414]
Mr. Denham: Section 9 of the Health Act 1999 gives the Secretary of State power to require Part II practitioners to hold approved indemnity cover with an approved body. The Secretary of State has power in Regulations to prescribe the circumstances in which such cover shall be required, and the terms for the cover.
This enables the Secretary of State to ensure that cover will be approved only if it is adequate to meet the anticipated level of claims. This will apply both to cover provided by the medical protection organisations and commercial insurers. It is intended that the regulations will ensure through the approval mechanism that cover will still meet claims that arise from events when the clinician was covered but only come to light later, even if
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 626W
this is after the period of cover has ceased. Other criteria are currently the subject of consultation with interested organisations.
The purpose of section 9 is to provide greater protection to patients awarded damages following negligence claims. The approval process will be open and transparent, the intention will be to ensure the highest level of protection reasonably achievable in the current climate.
Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which regional development agencies have to date submitted representations to his Department regarding the level of NHS funding. [112359]
Mr. Denham:
I am not aware of any representations from regional development agencies to the Department regarding the level of National Health Service funding.
Mrs. Anne Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the budget per head of population for each health authority area in England for 1999-2000. [112747]
Mr. Denham:
The table shows the health authority allocations per weighted head of population for 1999-2000.
(9) Includes targeted funding for health authorities with HAZs
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 627W
London Hospital Trusts
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the actions being taken by the Government with the London health authorities to reduce the deficits of the London hospital health trusts. [112684]
7 Mar 2000 : Column: 628W
Mr. Denham:
The London Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive is working closely with health authorities and HNS trusts managing difficult financial positions. Health authorities and NHS trusts are expected to agree plans to achieve financial balance over the shortest possible period.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |