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Industrial Injuries Benefit
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the costs and benefits to business and the wider economic implications of privatising industrial injuries benefit. [149600]
Mr. Rooker: I have been asked to reply.
As part of our wider programme of Welfare Reform, we have examined the costs and benefits of an option for the modernisation of the industrial injuries scheme by replacing it with a no-fault compensation scheme fully funded by employers through the use of compulsory private insurance.
We continue to keep the industrial injuries scheme under review. Under the Employer's Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, all employers (with specific exceptions) carrying out business in Great Britain are required to take out cover against liability for work-related bodily injury and disease. The cost of such insurance is a matter for employers and the insurance industry.
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HEALTH
Nurses' Allowances
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his policy for awarding extra allowances to nurses in (a) West Sussex and (b) East Sussex. [143433]
Mr. Denham: The introduction of cost of living supplements for qualified nurses and professions allied to medicine is one of a targeted range of initiatives designed to tackle the most serious recruitment and retention problems linked to low participation rates. Health authorities have been included where they have a staff market forces factor (MFF) of 117 or higher.
Further details of the staff MFF are included in the National Health Service Executive document "Resource Allocation: Weighted Capitation Formulas", which is available in the Library.
Hospital Building Programme
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the applications he has received in respect of the hospital building programme. [145770]
Mr. Denham: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 15 February 2001, Official Report, columns 467-82.
Departmental Surveys
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94, (c) 1994-95, (d) 1995-96, (e) 1996-97, (f) 1997-98, (g) 1998-99, (h) 1999-2000 and (i) 2000-01, (I) his Department's total spending on quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues by focus groups, opinion polling, task forces or other means and (II) the cost of each individual project. [146590]
Ms Stuart: Copies of research reports are not routinely placed in the Library although a list giving details of market and opinion research undertaken by my Department is made available. A list of research projects carried out by the Department in the financial year 1999-2000 was placed in the Library in May 2000. A list of research projects in 2000-01 will be placed in the Library. These lists may not include all research projects, as some information is not centrally available.
A list of the Department's total spending for quantitative and qualitative surveys of policy issues by focus groups, opinion polling, task forces or other means and the cost of each individual project for the years 1992-2001 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
We are committed to consulting and involving the public to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality public service. Responsive public services are an important part of the Modernising Government initiative.
We only conduct or commission market or opinion research when it is justified by the needs of the policy or programme and is the most economical, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose.
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Administrative Costs
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the budget for hospital and community health services of (a) health authorities and (b) PCGs/ PCTs was spent on administrative costs in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [147263]
Mr. Denham: Figures for management costs are published annually in the individual accounts of health authorities and primary care groups. The national management cost expenditure for England as a percentage of the expenditure on hospital and community health services in health authorities and primary care groups are given in the table.
| Management costs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Expenditure (£000) | (£000) | Percentage |
| Health authorities | |||
| 1996-97 | 18,947,018 | 604,429 | 3.2 |
| 1997-98 | 19,725,339 | 571,257 | 2.9 |
| 1997-98(45) | 19,725,339 | 542,289 | 2.7 |
| 1998-99 | 21,426,832 | 541,621 | 2.5 |
| 1999-2000 | 24,644,333 | 511,811 | (46)2.1 |
| Primary care groups | |||
| 1999-2000 | 14,645,108 | 121,322 | (46)0.83 |
(45) 1997-98 out-turn was re-based to reflect a change in the HA management costs definition in 1998-99 and thus ensure a consistent time series for measuring management costs savings.
(46) For 1999-2000 the primary care group expenditure and HA management costs are included within the health authority totals. Final adjustments are being made to these figures but these will not materially affect the percentage given. The figures prior to 1999-2000 include the general practitioner fundholding practice management allowance.
Source:
Health authority annual accounts 1996-97 to 1999-99
Health authority summarisation forms 1999-2000
Cervical Screening
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has received from the Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening; and what proposals he has with respect to the hydrolysised DNA test. [147248]
Yvette Cooper: The Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening (ACCS) discussed the hydrolysised DNA assay (HDA) test developed by Dr. Andrew Sincock of King's College, and funded by Quest Cancer Research, at its meeting on 24 January 2001. Dr. Sincock provided a further paper on the test for the meeting. The ACCS advised that there are a large number of emerging technologies in the cervical screening field, and there was not enough evidence for the HDA test to warrant further consideration at this time.
Chiropody and Podiatry
Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to issue guidance from the NHS Executive on NHS chiropody and podiatry services; and if he will make a statement. [147266]
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Mr. Hutton: We have no immediate plans to issue guidance. The NHS Plan sets out our commitment to over 6,500 more therapists and other health professionals working in the National Health Service by 2004 and this includes chiropodists and podiatrists.
Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the locations where podiatric surgery is available to NHS patients; and if he will make a statement on availability. [147267]
Mr. Hutton: We will shortly be publishing the names of trusts offering podiatric surgery.
Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many podiatric surgeons work in the NHS; and if he will make a statement on their contribution to best practice in foot healthcare. [147264]
Mr. Hutton: We do not collect this information routinely at national level as these are rewarded under the speciality of "general surgery". We recognise the excellent contribution of podiatric surgeons to foot health.
Wheelchairs
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria govern the granting of wheelchairs for (a) indoor use and (b) outdoor use only. [147834]
Mr. Hutton: Health authorities and trusts set local criteria for the provision of wheelchairs. For indoor/ outdoor powered wheelchairs, the local criteria are determined within the broad national framework set out in Health Service Guidance (HSG (96)34), copies of which are available in the Library.
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what Civil Service grade level decisions are taken to determine the criteria for supplying wheelchairs. [147849]
Mr. Hutton: Criteria are determined by health authorities and trusts at local level according to local circumstances.
Abattoirs
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered working abattoirs there were in England and Wales on 1 January. [148050]
Ms Stuart: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that in England and Wales on 1 January there were 351 licensed red meat abattoirs and 121 licensed white meat abattoirs. It is understood that of these, 315 red meat abattoirs and 118 white meat abattoirs were operating during the first week of January 2001.
A number of licensed abattoirs may not be operating at any one time for a variety of reasons, such as seasonal operation, refurbishment or if their licence is in the process of being revoked.
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