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Health Authority Chief Executives

(Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth)

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost in the most recent year for which figures are available to the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority of the employment of its chief executives. [118490]

Mr. Denham: The information requested is provided in the table:

Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority
Authority members remuneration--chief executive 1998-99

£
Basic salary76,000
Performance related bonuses5,000
Pension contributions6,000
Total remuneration87,000

Source:

Health authority accounts 1998-99


Mental Health

Mr. Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the report entitled, "Improving Care for Detained Patients from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities", by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and University of Central Lancashire. [118416]

Mr. Hutton: We welcome this report, which provides detailed information about the care of black and ethnic minority detained patients and which will help to inform the implementation of the National Service Framework for Mental Health. The report will be given careful consideration.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on the recommendation of the expert committee set up to review the Mental Health Act 1983 that a statutory right to advocacy be created; [117864]

10 Apr 2000 : Column: 12W

Mr. Hutton: The consultation period on the Green Paper "Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983" ended on 31 March 2000. We have received a large number of responses on a wide range of issues in the Green Paper, including advocacy, which we are currently analysing. We will be undertaking work to determine models of good practice for advocacy in due course and will consider questions of practicality and cost in the light of this work and the responses to the Green Paper consultation.

Food-related Illnesses

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the NHS of treating food-related illnesses for each of the last five years for which figures are available. [118296]

Yvette Cooper [holding answer 7 April 2000]: No specific figures are available on the cost to the National Health Service of treating food-related illnesses. As a result of a study in 1994-95, we have a good estimate of the total number of cases of infectious intestinal disease, but it is not possible to say what proportion of this is foodborne. The figures below, based on the study, suggest that the costs to the NHS in England and Wales of treating illness due to the major food poisoning bacteria Salmonella and Campylobacter alone was:

£ million
199522.9
199622.6
199726.1
199829.6
199927.8

It needs to be stressed, however, that as these figures are not routinely collected, the information is an estimate based on the most recently available figures, and solely on a study undertaken several years ago.

Bed Availability

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2000, Official Report, column 351W, concerning bed availability, if the 1998-99 figures are the starting point against which any targets he sets for bed numbers will be measured. [118090]

Mr. Denham: The National Beds Inquiry used 1998-99 data as the basis for projections. No targets have been set. The report of the National Beds Inquiry is out for consultation until 15 May 2000.

Nursing

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to ensure nurses are represented on the five project areas to modernise the NHS. [117349]

Mr. Denham: I announced membership of the modernisation action teams on Tuesday 4 April. Nurses are well represented on all six groups.

10 Apr 2000 : Column: 13W

Overseas Ministerial Visits

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the overseas ministerial visits that have taken place since May 1997, indicating the purpose of each visit. [112770]

Ms Stuart [pursuant to her reply, 13 March 2000, c. 62W]: I regret that there was an error in my previous reply.

Between May 1997 and March 2000 Department of Health Ministers have made 44 overseas visits in an official capacity as listed. All travel complied with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

MinisterCountryDatePurpose
Minister for Public HealthNetherlands/ Luxembourg3-6 June 1997Visit to European Union Health Council
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Belgium4-6 June 1997European Social Services Conference
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Austria16-18 June 1997Attendance at Council of Europe XVth Conference of Family Ministers and other engagements
Minister for Public HealthBelgium9 July 1997To discuss tobacco advertising
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Italy26-28 September 1997Pontignano conference and relations in Europe, welfare reform and single currency
Minister for Public HealthItaly26-28 September 1997Pontignano conference and relations in Europe, welfare reform and single currency
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Belgium23-25 October 1997Attendance at Young People's Conference on Sexual Health
Minister for Public HealthBelgium30 October 1997To meet members of the European Union Parliament
Minister for Public HealthFrance24 November 1997Meeting with French Health Minister
Minister for Public HealthBelgium3-4 December 1997European Union Health Council Meeting
Secretary of StateDenmark26 February- 1 March 1998Visit to World Health Organisation and other engagements
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Lords)USA4-7 March 1998Attendance at External Advisory Panel for Health, Nutrition and Population
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Belgium8-10 March 1998European Union Health Council meeting
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Belgium24-26 March 1998European Union Health Council meeting
Secretary of StateBelgium22 April 1998Visit to European Parliament to address Health Committee
Minister for Public HealthBelgium22 April 1998Visit to European Parliament to address Health Committee
Minister for Public HealthLuxembourg29-30 April 1998Meeting of the European Union Health Council
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Lords)France11 May 1998Meeting of the Club of Three sub group
Minister for Public HealthSwitzerland12-13 May 1998Attendance at World Health Assembly
Secretary of StateGermany3-4 June 1998Attendance at Social Services Conference
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Sweden16-17 June 1998Attendance at presentation of the FINSAM Project and other engagements
Secretary of StateFrance22-23 June 1998Representing Her Majesty's Government at England v Romania World Cup match
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Australia9-20 July 1998Fact finding mission on mental health issues
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Sweden23-25 September 1998Keynote speech at 50th anniversary Swedish social services conference
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Germany3-5 October 1998British Council Seminar
Secretary of State South Africa3-18 October 1998Combined official visit to South Africa to support Department For International Development projects and pursue bilateral health relations
Secretary of StateUSA21-23 October 1998Attendance at International Symposium on Healthcare and other engagements
Minister for Public HealthBelgium12 November 1998Meeting of European Union Health Council
Secretary of State Barbados15-18 November 1998Attendance at Commonwealth Health Ministers Conference
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)Japan25-29 November 1998British Healthcare industry export promotion
Minister for Public HealthFrance14-16 January 1999Meeting with French Ministers for Health and Women and attendance at Franco-British Colloque events
Minister for Public HealthUSA15-19 March 1999Attendance at International conference on Children and Tobacco
Secretary of State Denmark9-11 April 1999Meeting with senior officials from the European Office of the World Health Organisation
Minister for Public HealthItaly15 April 1999Meeting on Working Times Directive and junior doctors hours
Minister for Public HealthGreece22-23 April 1999Conference of European Health ministers
Secretary of StateSwitzerland15-18 May 1999Commonwealth Health ministers meeting and World Health Assembly
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Lords)Italy26-27 May 1999Conference on emergency services and reanimation
Minister for Public HealthLuxembourg7-8 June 1999European Union Health Council Meeting
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)France17 June 1999European Social Services Conference
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Lords)Malaysia5-9 October 1999British Healthcare industry export promotion
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for HealthTurkey10-11 October 1999Conference on Diabetes Care and Research in Europe
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State (Commons)USA10-12 October 1999International Initiative Seminar on Building Strong Communications to Support Families
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for HealthFinland12-13 October 1999Representing United Kingdom at European Union Presidency meeting
Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for HealthBelgium17-18 November 1999European Union Health Council Meeting

10 Apr 2000 : Column: 16W


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