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Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the review of sections 17(2) and 18 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [100923]
Mr. Hutton: These provisions require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament each year on the number of disabled people aged under 65 who received long-term care in a hospital (or a part of a hospital) vested in the Secretary of State and used wholly or mainly for the care of elderly people (section 17(2)); and were supported by their local authority in residential care used by people of 65 or over (section 18(3)).
(By virtue of section 45 of the Government of Wales Act 1999, reports on the position in Wales are now for the National Assembly of Wales to publish, rather than for the Secretary of State to make to Parliament. In Scotland, this is a matter for the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament).
Reports to Parliament under section 17(2) ceased after 1995 because the establishment of National Health Service trusts meant that there were no longer any hospitals "vested in the Secretary of State". Reports to Parliament under section 18 continue but show a considerable drop in the number of under-65s accommodated with over-65s. The figures they report are no longer, if they ever were, an unambiguous indicator of "inappropriate placements". (For example, if the caring decision is taken to allow a person who has reached his 65 birthday to stay in a home where he may have lived for several years, all the residents in the home who are aged under 65 will be included in the figures).
The Government therefore made clear, when making their report under section 18 last year, that they were minded to repeal these two provisions and would welcome any views on this proposal. Copies of the responses received have been placed in the Library. The majority support the proposal for repeal, some also noting that the system for registering care homes is a much more effective way of ensuring appropriate placements than statistical reports. Having considered all the responses, the Government have decided that repeal is the right option, and will pursue this when parliamentary time allows.
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the health problems caused by malnourishment. [100711]
Ms Stuart:
Malnourishment includes undernourishment and obesity. Both of these are associated with ill health and mortality. Undernourishment can delay recovery from
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illness and increases susceptibility to osteoporosis and infection, whilst obesity is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, gall bladder disease, some cancers and arthritis.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what motor mileage allowance rates her Department offers to (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants using their own vehicles for official business; and what has been the cost of each in each of the last five years. [98724]
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Mr. Stringer:
The current motor mileage allowance rates offered by the Cabinet Office, its agencies and the Central Office of Information to Ministers and civil servants using their own vehicles for official business are as follows. Cabinet Office Ministers, when travelling on official business, may use a private car instead of an official car, and claim mileage allowance in the same circumstances and on the same terms as civil servants in the central department.
There were no payments to Ministers in 1997-98 and 1998-99. Payments to civil servants in 1997-98 and 1998-99 totalled £368,000 and £412,000 respectively. The information for the previous three years is not available in the form requested and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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| Cabinet Office Ministers and civil servants (excluding civil servants in the Agencies) (27) | Up to 4,000 miles | Over 4,000 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Motor car up to 1500cc | 34 | 19 |
| Motor car over 1500cc | 43 | 23 |
| Motor cycles and motor cycle combinations up to 125cc Third Party insurance | 14.6 | 6.1 |
| Motor cycles and motor cycle combinations over 125cc Third Party insurance | 22.1 | 9.0 |
| Motor cycles and motor cycle combinations up to 125cc Comprehensive insurance | 16.2 | 6.1 |
| Motor cycles and motor cycle combinations over 125cc Comprehensive insurance | 25.3 | 9.0 |
| Passenger supplement--first passenger | 2p per mile (flat rate) | |
| Passenger supplement--each additional passenger | 1p per mile (flat rate) | |
| Equipment supplement | 2p per mile (flat rate) | |
| Public transport rate(28) | -- | -- |
(27) The above rates do not apply to Security Facilities Division. The motor mileage rates for Security Facilities Division are 36p per mile up to 10,000 miles and 28p per mile thereafter with a passenger allowance of 2p per mile (no equipment supplement).
(28) There is no public transport rate. The maximum payable would be the equivalent public transport costs.
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Civil Servants in the Buying Agency
The Buying Agency pay a flat 30p per mile to all civil servants using their own vehicle for official business with a passenger supplement of 2p per passenger (no equipment supplement).
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how much her Department has spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years; [98718]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to my hon. Friend.
The cost of private car services for Cabinet Office Ministers in 1997-98 was £3,050.77. The cost of private car services for Cabinet Office Ministers in 1998-99 was £1,694.56.
The Cabinet Office (excluding Security Facilities Division) spent £3,786,000 on civil servants' transport in 1997-98 and £4,001,000 in 1998-99. This is mainly based
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on actual expenditure, but includes a small number of estimates where exact figures are not available. The figures for Security Facilities Division and Central Office of Information are not readily available, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All travel undertaken by civil servants complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
Letter from Nick Matheson to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated November 1999:
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(2) on civil servants' transport in each of the last two years. [98719]
The Minister of State has asked me in my capacity as Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to reply to your Parliamentary Question about how much has been spent on ministerial transport in each of the last two years.
The total cost of providing the Government Car Service was £7.79 million in 1997/98 and £8.06 million in 1998/99. The total costs for allocated services to all ministers were £4.30 million in 1997/98 and £4.32 million in 1998/99. These costs also include non-ministerial use such as the movement of documents and for use by officials as directed by the ministerial private office. The total costs for allocated services to senior officials were £740,000 in 1997/98 and £950,000 in 1998/99. The remaining costs in both years covered other services provided by the Government Car Service.
The Government Car and Despatch Agency charges customer departments for the services provided on a basis that recovers all costs.
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