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HEALTH
Mead Webber Plant
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason a Regulation 10 (Prohibition) Notice was served ordering Mead Webber immediately to cease slaughter operations. [122065]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 15 May 2000]: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 (as amended) oblige the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) to appoint one or more official veterinary surgeons (OVSs) at every licensed fresh meat slaughterhouse in Great Britain to be responsible for the ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection and other health inspection duties.
Following an alleged assault on an OVS by a member of Mead Webber plant management and ejection of the OVS from the premises on 21 April 2000, a notice was served on the plant occupier under regulation 10 of the regulations at 7.44pm the same day. Regulation 10(1)(b) of the regulations empowers the OVS to serve a notice on the occupier when it appears to the OVS that adequate health inspection in accordance with the regulations is being hampered. The notice was served to prevent operation of the plant in the absence of the OVS until such time as unobstructed access to the plant by the OVS was permitted by the occupier.
Council Grants
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the specific grants made by his Department, and the amounts allocated through each grant to (a) Westminster and (b) Kensington and Chelsea boroughs for each year since 1997-98. [125422]
Mr. Hutton: The table lists the specific and special grants available to councils since 1997-98 and the amount of grant paid to the London Borough of Westminster.
21 Jun 2000 : Column: 223W
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIDS Support Grant | 800,000 | 770,000 | 810,000 |
| Drugs and Alcohol Specific Grant | 61,744 | 27,421 | 0 |
| Drugs and Alcohol Special Grant(20) | -- | -- | 0 |
| Guardians Ad Litem and Reporting Officer Services (21) | 28,784 | -- | -- |
| Mental Health Grant | 942,203 | 927,401 | 1,159,163 |
| Training Support Programme | 215,091 | 198,259 | 196,791 |
| Secure Accommodation (Capital) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Community Care Special Transitional Grant(22) | 2,304,652 | 2,170,586 | -- |
| Asylum-Seekers' Accommodation Grant(23) | 3,846,920 | (26)5,306,235 | -- |
| Persons from Abroad Children's Grant(23) | 2,835,433 | 3,753,040 | -- |
| Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children's Grant | 41,163 | 879,200 | 2,769,000 |
| Promoting Independence: Partnership Grant(24) | -- | -- | 1,754,966 |
| Promoting Independence: Prevention Grant(24) | -- | -- | 146,487 |
| Promoting Independence: Carers' Grant(24) | -- | -- | 137,108 |
| Children's Social Services Grant(25) | -- | 32,500 | 755,373 |
(20) This grant was available in 1999-2000 only
(21) This grant ended in March 1998
(22) This grant ended in March 1999
(23) These grants were transferred to the Home Office from 1999-2000
(24) These grants began in 1999-2000
(25) This grant began in 1998-99
(26) This is the total actually paid. However, auditors have certified that £5,074,621 was the correct amount due. The Department is recovering £231,614.
The table lists the specific and special grants available to Councils since 1997-98 and the amount of grant paid to the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
21 Jun 2000 : Column: 225W
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIDS Support Grant | 890,000 | 760,000 | 780,000 |
| Drugs and Alcohol Specific Grant | 68,378 | 53,222 | 690,000(33) |
| Drugs and Alcohol Special Grant(27) | -- | -- | 60,000(33) |
| Guardians Ad Litem and Reporting Officer Services(28) | 20,520 | -- | -- |
| Mental Health Grant | 730,177 | 813,609 | 937,814 |
| Training Support Programme | 162,939 | 160,877 | 171,851 |
| Secure Accommodation (Capital) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Community Care Special Transitional Grant(29) | 1,509,005 | 1,413,818 | -- |
| Asylum-Seekers' Accommodation Grant(30) | 2,326,374 | 4,603,767 | -- |
| Persons from Abroad Children's Grant(30) | 1,276,670 | 1,549,540 | -- |
| Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children's Grant | 151,731 | 646,924 | 1,496,800 |
| Promoting Independence: Partnership Grant(31) | -- | -- | 1,161,961 |
| Promoting Independence: Prevention Grant(31) | -- | -- | 103,047 |
| Promoting Independence: Carers Grant(31) | -- | -- | 95,156 |
| Children's Social Services Grant(32) | -- | 32,500 | 560,122 |
(27) This grant was available in 1999-2000 only
(28) This grant ended in March 1998
(29) This grant ended in March 1999
(30) These grants were transferred to the Home Office from 1999-2000
(31) These grants began in 1999-2000
(32) This grant began in 1998-99
(33) This grant was paid to Kensington and Chelsea to spend on the provision of Pan London services
21 Jun 2000 : Column: 225W
Meat Inspection
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which EU countries charge for meat inspection on a headage basis. [R] [126197]
Ms Stuart: According to information collected by British Embassies in other member states at the end of 1998, and by the Meat and Livestock Commission in May 1999, it is understood that the following countries charge for meat inspections either partly or wholly on a headage basis:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Portugal
- Republic or Ireland
- Spain
- Sweden.
Patient Rights
Mr. Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what work his Department is undertaking to examine the role of patient advocates, with particular regard to supporting complainants through the NHS complaints procedure; and what plans he has to consult community health councils about their role in assisting complainants; [126244]
- (2) when he will respond to the report, "A New Life for Health", prepared by the Commission on Representing the Public Interest in the Health Service; [126245]
(3) what plans he has to consult on a new NHS Charter. [126246]
21 Jun 2000 : Column: 226W
Ms Stuart: The Patient Care (Empowerment) Modernisation Action Team is considering the future roles for patient advocates and community health councils in assisting complainants, together with the format and content of a new National Health Service Charter.
Following publication of the national plan in July, the Department will begin work on implementing the recommendations of the modernisation action teams.
NHS Patients
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 June 2000, Official Report, column 586W, on NHS patients, if he will list by clinical specialism the number of patients treated and the amounts spent by the NHS on health care in the independent sector in each of the last three years. [126994]
Ms Stuart [holding answer 20 June 2000]: A breakdown by clinical specialty is not collected centrally. A breakdown of expenditure and activity by type has been placed in the Library in response to the hon. Member's question of 13 June 2000, Official Report, column 586W.
Dentists (Reciprocal Arrangements)
Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reciprocal arrangements exist to enable dentists trained in the UK to practise in India and dentists trained in India to practise in the UK. [126912]
Mr. Hutton: There are no reciprocal arrangements. Dentists registered in the United Kingdom who wish to practise in India have to satisfy the statutory authority that their qualifications, training and experience meet its requirements. Like other dentists from abroad, Indian dentists wishing to practise here may apply to the General Dental Council (GDC) to take its statutory examination. Those dentists who wish to undertake postgraduate training in the United Kingdom in a hospital post may
21 Jun 2000 : Column: 227W
apply to the GDC for temporary registration on the basis of evidence of acceptance for employment in that post. Temporary registration is granted for periods not exceeding 12 months up to an aggregate of four years.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 have not received substantive answers on the grounds of (a) commercial and (b) other confidentiality. [127100]
Ms Stuart: There have been two Parliamentary Questions that have not been fully answered on the grounds of commercial confidentiality within the dates specified.
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