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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Kenya
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial aid was given by her Department to Kenya in the last year for which figures are available, indicating the projects for which aid was given. [99585]
Clare Short: UK aid to Kenya in 1998-99 totalled approximately £29 million, including £23.7 million from Technical Co-operation funds, £1.3 million Financial Aid, and £4 million Emergency Aid.
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Financial Aid in 1998-99 consisted of:
| Project | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| Molo-Litein Road Improvement | 589 |
| Pensions(2) | 726 |
(2) Financial aid allocations include expenditure on the pre- independence element of pensions of former colonial public service officers.
British Council
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what amounts were paid by her Department to the British Council in respect of work carried out overseas in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99; and what is the estimated figure for the current financial period. [100054]
Clare Short: The Department for International Development's payments to the British Council in respect of work carried out overseas from 1997 to the current financial period are as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 44.8 |
| 1998-99 | 40.4 |
| 1999-2000 | (3)32.8 |
(3) The figure for the financial year 1999-2000 is the current total to date
Contracts
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance is given by her Department to British companies to win contracts from Governments in receipt of aid from her Department. [100050]
Clare Short: None. The Department for International Development is responsible for promoting development and the reduction of poverty. British companies are assisted by British Trade International to win business overseas.
Complementary Medicine
Mr. Colman:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her support (a) for traditional medicine in treatment and management of HIV/AIDS and malaria in developing
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countries and (b) for the work of the Commonwealth Working Group on traditional and complementary health systems. [100726]
Mr. Foulkes:
We will look with interest at any conclusions which bear upon improving the health of poor people in developing countries. The Working Group promises a comprehensive review of the contribution which traditional and complementary medicine can make towards better health.
Ms McCafferty:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact on the provision of (a) DFID and (b) joint DFID/US funded overseas family planning projects of the US Administration's decision to prohibit funding of foreign non-Governmental organisations which take part in public discussions on abortion in their own countries. [100476]
Mr. Foulkes:
The US Administration's decision makes no difference to the commitment of this Government to helping poor people access good quality family planning and reproductive health services. It will not have a significant impact on jointly funded programmes.
Nursing and Residential Homes
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the financial impact that (a) the national minimum wage, (b) the working time directive and (c) the increase in registration fees will have on nursing and residential homes. [99050]
Mr. Hutton: The Low Pay Commission has been asked to monitor and evaluate the introduction and impact of the national minimum wage. The Commission has undertaken a consultation and fact-finding exercise during which it paid particular attention to the effect on low-paying sectors, including social care. The Government are due to receive the Commission's report in December and will then carefully consider its findings.
A regulatory impact appraisal on the costs and benefits for business generally resulting from the implementation of the Working Times Regulations was made, copies of which are available in the Library.
We will carefully consider the financial impact of increases in regulatory fees on residential and nursing homes before implementing any increase.
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the prevalence of epilepsy is in each health authority area. [99839]
Mr. Hutton:
The information is not available in the format requested.
Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder, affecting between 400,000 and 420,000 people--one in 200 of the United Kingdom population, including 100,000 children.
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Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the basis for his policy for free prescriptions for those, not otherwise exempt, with certain medical conditions. [100014]
Ms Stuart:
Entitlement to free prescription for those not otherwise exempt is based on the principle that those who can afford to contribute should do so, while those who are likely to have difficulty in paying should be protected.
The extensive exemption and charge remission arrangements are intended to ensure that no-one need be deterred from obtaining any necessary medication on financial grounds.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which dental practices in Stoke-on-Trent, North are currently accepting new NHS patients. [100182]
Mr. Hutton:
We understand that two dental practices in Stoke-on-Trent, North are currently accepting new National Health Service patients and another practice in the area will also be accepting new NHS patients from January following the appointment of a vocational trainee.
In addition, a practice in Stoke-on-Trent, North has had Investing In Dentistry moneys approved and it is anticipated that an additional surgery and the acceptance of new NHS patients will commence in the near future.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the waiting time between registration of new NHS patients and earliest appointment in Stoke-on-Trent, North; and if he will make a statement. [100183]
Mr. Denham:
Specific data on waiting times between registration with a National Health Service dentist and earliest appointment in Stoke-on-Trent, North are not collected centrally. However, North Staffordshire Health Authority report that in Stoke-on-Trent, North new patients registering with an NHS dentist requiring urgent treatment will be seen within a week, while new dental patients requiring an extensive examination will be required to wait for a period of four to six weeks on average.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure emergency NHS dental services are available in Stoke-on-Trent, North. [100184]
Mr. Hutton:
Emergency National Health Service dental services are provided as part of the General Dental Service contract to all patients registered with a NHS dental practitioner. North Staffordshire dentists operate an out-of-hours emergency rota which provides advice and care as appropriate to registered and unregistered individuals.
There is a salaried dental service located at Basford House, Stoke-on-Trent which provides access to dental care Monday to Friday for those unable to access general dental services. In addition, an emergency dental clinic also operates at Basford House every Saturday and Sunday, including Bank Holidays.
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