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DERA
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many graduate job applications were made and how many jobs were available at DERA in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999; and how many he expects for 2000. [127605]
Dr. Moonie: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Robert Key, dated 27 June 2000:
- I am replying to your parliamentary question about graduate recruitment within DERA since such matters relate to the operation of the Agency.
- DERA runs a corporate graduate recruitment programme for newly or recently qualified graduates. The figures below apply to this mainly "new" graduate intake.
| Year | Number of applications received | Number of vacancies | Appointed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 3,533 | Up to 300 | 242 |
| 1998-99 | 4,245 | Up to 300 | 242 |
| 1999-2000 | 4,721 | Up to 500 | 457 |
For the year 2000 we are currently assuming vacancies again of up to 500 but, in view of the current deliberations on the future of the Agency, it is too soon to speculate the precise numbers of graduates eventually to be appointed.
The above figures do not take into account local recruitment of staff for specific appointments, many of whom may well be educated to university standard.
I hope the above is helpful.
Major Andrew Harrison
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department has been in contact with Major Andrew Harrison; [127988]
- (2) what measures he has taken to monitor the welfare of Major Andrew Harrison. [127989]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) on 22 June 2000, Official Report, column 243W. The Foreign Secretary and I are monitoring the situation very closely. We are satisfied that everything possible is being done to ensure Major Harrison's safety and welfare.
US Airborne Laser
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) information exchange and (b) co-operation there has been between his Department and the US (i) Department of Defense and (ii) State Department concerning the US Airborne Laser. [126944]
Mr. Hoon: The Ministry of Defence has received limited information from the Department of Defense on the US Airborne Laser programme. There has been no discussion or co-operation on this matter between the MOD and the Department of State.
Staff Secondments
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the senior members of his Department's staff who have been seconded to (a) UK and (b) non-UK companies in (i) 1995-96 and (ii) 1996-97; what posts they held in his Department; what was the cost to his Department of the secondments; and if he will make a statement. [127231]
Dr. Moonie: Details of Ministry of Defence senior civil servants seconded to companies in 1995-96 and 1996-97 and the costs to the Ministry of Defence are given as follows.
(1) These secondments continued into 1996-97
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HEALTH
Cancer Treatment
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of urgent referrals by general practitioners of patients with suspected cancer he estimates were seen by cancer specialists in the most recent period for which figures are available. [125256]
Yvette Cooper: Since April 1999, we have set the standard that patients with suspected breast cancer will be offered an appointment with a specialist within two weeks of their general practitioner making an urgent referral. Table 1 shows that in the most recent period (January to March 2000) 96 per cent. of patients referred urgently received an appointment with a specialist within 14 days where the hospital received the referral within 24 hours of the GP deciding to refer. Table 2 shows that nearly 80 per cent. of patients were seen within two weeks where the referral was received outside 24 hours of the GP deciding to refer.
By December 2000 this high quality service will be extended to thousands of other worried patients as the standard is introduced for all cases of suspected cancer requiring urgent investigation.
- Outpatient waiting times for suspected breast cancer patients by region--quarter ended March 2000; England (hospital based)
| Waiting time from urgent referral by their GP to first outpatient appointment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | 0-14 days | More than 14 days | Percentage seen within 14 days | |
| Northern and Yorkshire | 1,916 | 87 | 95.7 | (2)(96.6) |
| Trent | 1,728 | 40 | 97.7 | (2)(98.2) |
| West Midlands | 3,253 | 59 | 98.2 | (2)(95.3) |
| North West | 1,841 | 106 | 94.6 | (2)(92.2) |
| Eastern | 1,246 | 32 | 97.5 | (2)(98.9) |
| London | 1,887 | 89 | 95.5 | (2)(97.1) |
| South East | 2,472 | 223 | 91.7 | (2)(95.2) |
| South West | 1,953 | 22 | 98.9 | (2)(99.7) |
| England | 16,296 | 658 | 96.1 | (2)(96.4) |
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| Waiting time from urgent referral by their GP to first outpatient appointment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | 0-14 days | More than 14 days | Percentage seen within 14 days | |
| Northern and Yorkshire | 332 | 122 | 73.1 | (2)(77.9) |
| Trent | 526 | 166 | 76.0 | (2)(65.6) |
| West Midlands | 418 | 68 | 86.0 | (2)(87.6) |
| North West | 776 | 231 | 77.1 | (2)(69.1) |
| Eastern | 263 | 33 | 88.9 | (2)(86.1) |
| London | 757 | 194 | 79.6 | (2)(73.1) |
| South East | 402 | 117 | 77.5 | (2)(84.0) |
| South West | 239 | 34 | 87.5 | (2)(95.8) |
| England | 3,713 | 965 | 79.4 | (2)(76.7) |
(2) Previous quarter
GP Practices (Patient Proximity)
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition he uses of a reasonable distance when determining access to a GP practice. [124642]
Mr. Denham: Subject to local planning decisions, it is for health authorities to determine, on a case-by- case basis, whether a surgery meets the reasonable expectations of its users and carers. Travelling distances are an important consideration, but we would expect travelling times, the availability and proximity of public transport and other services (such as National Health Service dispensing) to be taken into account.
East Midlands Ambulance Service
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to his answer of 28 February 2000, Official Report, column 76W, on the East Midlands Ambulance Service, when improved control technology for the East Midlands Ambulance Service Trust will be implemented; and how long the process of approval for the project has taken since first submission by the trust. [127011]
Ms Stuart: The National Health Service Executive has been working with the East Midlands Ambulance Service Trust since March 1999 on the process to approve the business case for the procurement of improved control technology. In order that the approval process can move forward as quickly as possible, the trust is currently working to address the concerns which have been highlighted in their latest business case submission. Approval will be granted only if these concerns are met.
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If the scheme is commissioned, the trust's project plan suggests that the phased integrated implementation of the new technology will be achieved in around seven months for Leicestershire and eight and a half months for Derbyshire.
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