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Cannabis
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the anticipated length is of the clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of using cannabis for medicinal purposes. [137894]
Mr. Hutton: The duration of a programme of clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a new medicine is determined by the company developing it.
Doubly Incontinent Patients
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that the NHS should provide free care for doubly incontinent patients on a drip and confined to bed 24 hours a day. [138070]
Mr. Hutton: All residents of nursing homes will have their nursing care needs assessed by the National Health Service. Subject to parliamentary approval, the NHS will be responsible for providing registered nursing care free. When people have health needs at such a level that they need continuing health care in a nursing home, the NHS will be, as now, responsible for meeting the full costs.
Hospital Building
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the new hospital bids expected to be submitted for selection to the Capital Project Advisory Committee this year. [138455]
Mr. Hutton: A decision will be made by the end of November on the hospital development schemes which will go forward for consideration at the next prioritisation round.
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to announce the next round of hospital building schemes. [138456]
Mr. Hutton: The start of a process to identify the next round of major hospital building schemes was announced on 14 November.
Cannabis Psychosis
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cannabis psychosis cases there were in each of the last 10 years. [138451]
Ms Stuart: The table shows data from the hospital episodes statistics system (HES) and relates to in-patients with a primary diagnosis of psychotic disorder due to cannabinoids who have finished their hospital episodes under the care of a consultant. There are no comparable data prior to 1995-96.
We know that cannabis can have a range of adverse health effects in addition to those risks associated with smoking tobacco. The Department is currently funding research into patterns of use and the health effects of long-term heavy use of cannabis.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 670W
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 360 |
| 1996-97 | 280 |
| 1997-98 | 310 |
| 1998-99 | 300 |
Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest ten.
2. Figures for 1998-99 are provisional as no adjustments have been made for shortfalls in data.
Source:
HES
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Energy Market
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on further measures to liberalise the energy market. [138612]
Mr. Byers: I am satisfied that the programme of reforms of the electricity market set out in the Government's 1998 White Paper is now substantially complete. I am therefore lifting the stricter consents policy on gas powered stations with immediate effect.
We considered the stricter gas consents policy necessary as it provided a breathing space for existing coal fired power stations until distortions in the electricity market were ironed out.
I recognise that the ending of the stricter gas consents policy will create a new market and new challenges for coal which is why we are putting in place an aid scheme for the industry which this morning has been approved by the European Commission.
I am aware that the end of the stricter gas consents policy is eagerly awaited by industry. New power stations are important drivers of economic growth both nationally and regionally:
- They bring more competition to the power generation market and so put downward pressure on electricity prices for everyone's benefit;
- They can provide cheap power and heat to nearby industry;
- They make businesses more competitive and create new investment and job opportunities around the country; and
- They also contribute to secure electricity supplies.
It is important developers considering new power station proposals explore the opportunities to use combined heat and power (CHP). CHP can make a major contribution to reducing emissions as well as bringing other benefits such as increased efficiency. We will be publishing guidance to developers on this matter soon.
I have also given careful consideration to the impact of lifting the stricter consents policy on the coal industry.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 671W
The Government's policy remains that it is for the coal industry to find its own place in a competitive energy market. However it is the task of Government to help industry through a period of change. That is why we are introducing a coal subsidy scheme. This will provide the industry with transitional funding so that it is able to respond to the challenges of the new market conditions that arise from the lifting of the stricter gas consents policy.
Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the (a) role and (b) mandate of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, with particular reference to the nature of the harmonization concerned. [138080]
Dr. Howells: The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market deals with Community-wide intellectual property rights. It is responsible for the registration and subsequent administration of Community trade marks. This role is likely to expand following adoption of a Community Regulation which will create Community- wide rights for industrial designs. It is self-financing from fees paid by businesses who use the system, and expects to receive some 60,000 applications for Community trade marks this year. The Office began its work on 1 September 1994 in Alicante, Spain.
Haulage Companies
Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many haulage companies were declared bankrupt each year since 1995. [138279]
Dr. Howells: The following table shows company compulsory liquidations and individual bankruptcies for the road transport industry in England and Wales, 1995-2000. The road transport industry includes road haulage, car hire, taxis, bus services, and other road passenger transport--detailed figures solely for road haulage are not available.
| Year | Company compulsory liquidations | Individual bankruptcy orders |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 204 | 824 |
| 1996 | 197 | 1,008 |
| 1997 | 174 | 971 |
| 1998 | 174 | 829 |
| 1999 | 152 | 979 |
| 2000 (to quarter 2) | 94 | 495 |
Source:
DTI
Late Payment
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many invoices his Department paid in 1999-2000; and how many of these were paid within 30 days of receipt or from the date a supplier dispute was resolved. [138401]
Ms Hewitt: In 1999-2000, DTI paid 46,500 invoices, of which 93 per cent. were paid within 30 days of receipt or from the date a supplier dispute was resolved.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 672W
Cluster Munitions (Exports)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences were granted for the export of cluster munitions in each of the last five years. [137690]
Dr. Howells: The export of cluster munitions is controlled under entries ML3 and ML4 in the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. Other munitions are also controlled under these entries. It would entail disproportionate cost to examine the records to establish which, if any, of the licences issued in the last five years covered the export of cluster munitions.
Details of SIELs and OIELs issued between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1999 have been set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House. The Reports list by country of destination the numbers of export licences issued and refused in each equipment category and give details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted.
For the periods not covered by the Annual Reports, the Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated, and the results are set out in the table.
| Issued from | SIELs | OIELs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January to 31 December 1996 | 937 | 33 |
| 1 January to 1 May 1997 | 306 | 9 |
| 1 January to 2 November 2000 | 754 | 27 |
This information should be considered in light of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 307-08W.
In addition, goods on the Military List may have been exported to certain destinations under certain Open General Licences; copies of all Open General Export Licences are placed in the Library of the House.
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