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Ottawa Convention
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the use of (a) airfield runway denial weapons incorporating anti-personnel devices and (b) anti-tank land mines incorporating anti-personnel devices, with special reference to the Ottawa Convention on anti- personnel mines. [118759]
Mr. Hoon: In accordance with our obligations under the Ottawa Convention and the Landmines Act 1998, the Government's policy is not to use any weapon incorporating anti-personnel mines as defined in the Ottawa Convention. This obligation extends to airfield runway denial weapons and anti-tank land mines, and the UK does not retain stocks of any such weapons which contravene the Ottawa Convention.
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HEALTH
Social Services (Lancashire)
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates during the next 12 months the Social Services Inspectorate, Northern Region, expects to receive reports from Lancashire County Council about progress on the implementation of its Action Plan to improve the operations of its social services. [118918]
Ms Stuart: It is expected that reports will be received at least quarterly and discussions are taking place between Social Services Inspectorate and Northern Social Care Region and Lancashire Social Services about precise dates. I anticipate the first report will be received early in June.
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the action plan he has received from Lancashire County Council about its proposals to respond to the findings of the Social Services Inspectorate's report on its running of the county's social services. [118919]
Ms Stuart: It is not for the Department to publish the action plan. It is the responsibility of Lancashire County Council and the right hon. Member may wish to make his request to the Director of Social Services.
NHS Specialised Services
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) medical and (b) other organisations have been consulted about the commissioning of specialised services in the NHS. [119115]
Ms Stuart: Widespread consultation took place prior to the introduction of the new commissioning arrangements for specialised services in April 1999, with views being sought from the medical bodies, the Patients Forum, community health councils, voluntary sector organisations and local authorities. Subsequently consultation takes place through the Regional Specialised Commissioning Groups.
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about the funding of specialised services in the NHS. [119114]
Ms Stuart: With regard to representations received on the subject of funding of specialised services, in the last three months my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has dealt with 21 letters, of which 18 letters were from Members of Parliament, and has met representatives from the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.
Primary Health Care Groups (Resources)
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the allocation of additional resources to each primary health care group as a result of the recent budget announcements by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [119197]
Ms Stuart: On 28 March my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced details of extra allocations to health authorities for 2000-01. This additional £660 million has brought health authority average increases to 8.9 per cent. in cash terms (6.2 per cent. in real terms).
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Health authorities have been directed to increase the budgets/allocations of their primary care groups/trusts by a pro rata share of the entire sum allocated.
A breakdown of the additional allocation to each primary care group/trust is not yet available centrally.
Cannabis
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the clinical trials are to begin on cannabis in medicinal form; and if he will make a statement. [118533]
Ms Stuart: The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has approved an application to conduct a clinical trial with a cannabis-based medicine. The timing of the trial is a matter for the applicant. The purpose of the trial that has been approved is to demonstrate safety and efficacy in a limited number of subjects, and to establish the necessary dosage regimen and delivery mechanisms to provide the most effective relief to sufferers of multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders. Evidence from clinical trials of safety, quality and efficacy of a medicine is part of the information that is assessed by the MCA in coming to a decision about whether a product should be licensed for marketing in the United Kingdom. If a marketing authorisation were to be issued by the MCA, we would seek to modify the current Misuse of Drugs Act controls on the use of cannabis.
TREASURY
Windfall Tax
Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of money raised through the Windfall Tax which has been raised from companies in Wales; and how much of the money raised from the Windfall Tax has been spent in Wales. [118057]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The liability of individual companies under the Windfall Tax is a confidential matter between them and the tax authorities.
Information on the allocation of the Windfall Tax receipts between the different programmes, as currently estimated, is set out in Table 4.1 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report, 2000. Many Windfall Tax funded programmes are demand-led, with expenditure allocated by participant and not by country, region or any other geographical area. For this reason it is not possible to provide a reliable and robust estimate of the amount which has been spent in Wales, so to the extent that relevant programmes are demand led it will tend to reflect the proportion of clients participating.
Budget Calculations
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were (a) the September forecast inflation figure and (b) the September actual inflation figure in each of the past five years. [118749]
Mr. Timms: The following table sets out the RPI inflation rate in September in each of the previous five years and the forecast of RPI inflation for that month in the previous Budget.
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| Forecast | Outturn | |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 | 3.9 |
| 1996 | 2.25 | 2.1 |
| 1997 | 3.0 | 3.6 |
| 1998 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| 1999 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Homophobia
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools which have received the document entitled, "Beyond a Phase: A Practical Guide to Challenging Homophobia in Schools", from Avon Health Authority. [117717]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 5 April 2000]: Under the 1994 Act, this is a matter for individual governing bodies. However, the new sex and relationship guidance on which consultation is taking place makes clear to schools the use of appropriate materials in the classroom. It says:
- Materials used in schools must be in accordance with the PSHE framework and the law. Inappropriate images should not be used nor should explicit material not directly related to explanation. Governors and headteachers should discuss with parents and take on board concerns raised both on materials which are offered to schools and sensitive material to be used in the classroom.
School Attendance (Dartford)
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact the Government's social exclusion policies are having on school attendance in Dartford. [118822]
Jacqui Smith: Our Social Inclusion: Pupil Support grant is providing nearly £500 million over three years to support Local Education Authorities and schools to introduce measures for tackling truancy and school exclusion. For 2000-01, Kent Local Education Authority, which has responsibility for schools in Dartford, will receive just over £3 million out of the grant to support projects.
During 1998-99 attendance levels in Kent Local Education Authority have risen both at primary and secondary school level by 0.4 per cent. and 0.1 per cent. respectively.
Separate figures for schools in Dartford can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Ministerial Meetings (Requests)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many requests for meetings with deputations of hon. Members and groups from their constituencies his Department has received in each year since 1997, on issues relating to school
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admissions policy and organisation; how many have (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department (i) seen and (ii) refused to see; and if he will make a statement. [118925]
Ms Estelle Morris: This information is not available in the form requested. Each year the Department receives many requests for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and other Ministers to meet delegations of hon. Members about many different issues. No comprehensive record of such requests by subject/category is maintained.
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