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Employment Records
Mr. Caton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue National Contributions Office began charging a fee for the provision of their own employment details to members of the public. [117776]
Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue National Insurance Contributions office does not normally make a charge to individuals for the provision of information recorded on its National Insurance account. However, an employment history will normally be supplied in the following circumstances:
Where a claim is being made against an employer or former employer for illness injury or disease sustained as a result of the employment.
Medical Negligence claims.
Serious road traffic accidents.
A fee will be charged, and this service commenced 10 years ago.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Milk
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tests are carried out on (a) raw and (b) UHT milk imported into the UK from (i) EU and (ii) non-EU countries. [116561]
Ms Quin: All milk for human consumption produced in the UK and other EU member states is subject to EC legislative production standards. Milk is therefore traded freely in accordance with single market provisions and is not required to be tested on entry into the UK. Raw cow's drinking milk cannot be imported from other member states or third countries and sold for human consumption in the UK.
No testing is required on milk imported from third countries. However, EC rules require that milk imported for human consumption may come only from EU
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approved establishments in approved third countries and is accompanied by public health certification signed by an official inspector stating that it meets EU health standards. EC Regulations require Environmental Health Officers to carry out hygiene and quality tests on milk at the point of sale or manufacture.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a comprehensive record system for dog exports; and if he will make a statement. [117018]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 4 April 2000]: We have no plans to introduce a comprehensive record system for dog exports. This Department currently holds some information which is derived from applications for export health certificates. This information does not, however, cover all exports of dogs since some countries allow dogs to be imported into their territories without an export health certificate.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote scientific debate on the safety of genetically modified foods. [116398]
Ms Stuart:
As responsibility for food safety and standards matters has now passed to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which reports to Parliament through Health Ministers, I have been asked to reply.
The recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development conference in Edinburgh hosted by the United Kingdom brought together scientific experts from around the world to debate the safety assessment of genetically modified foods. We will be considering very carefully with our G8 partners the recommendation of the Chairman, Sir John Krebs, for an intergovernmental panel to be set up to continue this process.
In the meantime, the FSA will promote and develop the ongoing programme of scientific research to consider the safety of genetically modified foods and encourage contractors to publish their findings in scientific journals. Final research reports will also be made publicly available by the agency. In addition, the FSA plans to hold regular workshops for research contractors and other scientists to allow the exchange of new ideas and data in this area. The results of these will also be published and further comments invited.
Finally, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes now makes available, on its website, http//www.foodstandards.gov.uk, details of data submitted in support of applications it receives for approval of novel (including genetically modified) foods so that comments can be made on these before decisions are reached.
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Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what applications have been made to him for clearance of Aventis T25 maize for use as animal feed; and if he will place in the Library the details of all clearances granted. [117276]
Ms Stuart:
As responsibility for food safety and standards matters has now passed to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) which reports to Parliament through Health Ministers, I have been asked to reply.
I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that AgrEvo (now Aventis) submitted an application, to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for voluntary approval of food and feed safety clearance of glufosinate ammonium tolerant maize in 1995. In addition, an application to market AgrEvo's T25 maize for cultivation and importation for processing into food and animal feed was received, via the Department of the Environment, under Council Directive 90/220/EEC from the French competent authority in 1996. Details of the food safety clearance are contained in the annual report for 1996 of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. The marketing consent under Directive 90/220/EEC was issued by France in 1998 following publication of the Commission's Decision in the "Official Journal of the European Communities" (L131, 5.5.98). This consent, which authorises the marketing of T25 maize for use in food and animal feed, was agreed by the Member States taking into account the advice of the EC Scientific Committee for Plants. The committee's remit included the consideration of any adverse effects on human health or the environment arising from the placing on the market of this maize. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 2000, Official Report, column 139W, for each of the weight categories for the year 1997, what percentage of those (a) babies conceived by IVF and (b) other babies were single births. [105430]
Yvette Cooper:
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
I regret that three incorrect figures were given in my previous answer. These were in the figures provided for 1997, in respect of babies born in Scotland and Northern Ireland and babies born by in vitro fertilisation in the United Kingdom. Revised tables with the correct figures have also been placed in the Library.
Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the balance of income and expenditure of health authorities and NHS trusts in England for the financial year ending 31 March 2000. [116380]
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Mr. Denham
[holding answer 27 March 2000]: The audited annual accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2000 for all health authorities and National Health Survice trusts will be available in the autumn.
Laura Moffatt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how information on changes within the NHS is communicated to NHS staff, with particular reference to those working in the blood donor collection service. [116938]
Mr. Denham:
The Department uses a wide range of media to communicate with National Health Service staff, including electronic communications via the internet and NHSnet; paper communications such as newsletters, magazines and circulars; and face to face briefings such as conferences, seminars and roadshows. The National Blood Authority uses a similar range of internal media to keep its staff informed about developments both within the blood service and in the wider NHS. This includes intranet technology, written material and face to face briefings.
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Laura Moffatt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there is standard nationwide process for awarding discretionary points for job evaluation for pay purposes in the NHS. [116949]
Mr. Denham:
National agreements reached in the Nursing and Midwifery Negotiating Council and the Professions Allied to Medicine (PTA) Council set criteria for payment of discretionary points and the process by which they should be implemented at local level. These were issued to National Health Service employers under cover of Advance letters (NM)2/98 and PAM(PTA)2/98 on 11 September 1998, copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatric nurses there are per 1,000 of population in each health authority in England. [116721]
Mr. Denham:
The information requested is shown in the table.
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Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 where appropriate.
2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
3. Figures do not include Special Health Authority and Other Statutory Health Authority staff.
Sources:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
Population figures from Estimates based on 1991 Census.
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