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Doctors' Performance Monitoring (Racial Bias)
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received regarding allegations of racial bias in the investigation of performance of doctors; and if he will make a statement. [155922]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 March 2001]: I am only aware of the independent report by the Policy Studies Institute, commissioned by the General Medical Council (GMC) and published in July 2000. This concluded that there was no evidence of overt or covert racial discrimination or bias in the actions of individual members of staff. However there were some criticisms on some aspects of GMC processes, particularly on consistency and transparency.
The GMC are currently considering this, as part of their proposals to reform its procedures.
Mobility Products
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a statutory code of practice governing the sale of mobility products for elderly people; and if he will make a statement. [155880]
Mr. Hutton: We have no plans to introduce a statutory code of practice. However, the British Healthcare Trades Association, which represents most organisations involved in manufacturing or selling disability equipment,
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recently launched a voluntary registration scheme for those working in this field. We have given our strong endorsement to this scheme.
Health Services (Romsey)
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing homes there were in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001. [155859]
Mr. Hutton: The table shows the number of private nursing homes for the Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority at 31 March in each of the years 1992, 1997 and 2000.
Information is not available for the Romsey constituency and is not yet available for 2001.
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 40 |
| 1997 | 50 |
| 2000 | 47 |
Source:
RH(N) Form A 2000, K036 form 1992 and 1997
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there were in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001. [155853]
Ms Stuart: Information on the number of dentists is available by health authority rather than by constituency.
Romsey constituency was located in Hampshire Family Health Service Authority (FHSA) at September 1992. From April 1996 Hampshire FHSA split into three health authorities, and Romsey is now included in Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority.
The number of dentists in the General Dental Services and Personal Dental Services at 30 September is shown in the table for Hampshire FHSA for 1992 and for the three successor HAs for 1997 and 2000.
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| Health authority | General Dental Service(32) | Personal Dental Service(33) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | |||
| Hampshire FHSA | 512 | -- | 512 |
| 1997 | |||
| North and Mid Hampshire HA | 181 | -- | 181 |
| Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA | 166 | -- | 166 |
| Southampton and South West Hampshire HA | 185 | -- | 185 |
| Total | 532 | -- | 532 |
| 2000 | |||
| North and Mid Hampshire HA | 201 | -- | 201 |
| Portsmouth and South East Hampshire HA | 187 | -- | 187 |
| Southampton and South West Hampshire HA | 202 | 20 | 222 |
| Total | 590 | 20 | 610 |
(32) The General Dental Service (GDS) includes principals on a HA list, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
(33) The Personal Dental Service (PDS) covers dentists working in the PDS who are not working in the GDS.
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Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients there were per GP in the Romsey constituency in (a) 1987, (b) 1992, (c) 1997 and (d) 2001. [155854]
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Ms Stuart: Data at a constituency level are not available. Data have been provided for Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority.
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| UPEs | Patients | Average list size | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 293 | 563,799 | 1,924 |
| 1992 | 309 | 557,011 | 1,803 |
| 1997 | 316 | 563,446 | 1,783 |
| 2000(36) | 329 | 571,286 | 1,736 |
(34) UPEs includes unrestricted principals, personal medical service contracted general practitioners and PMS salaried GPs.
(35) Data relate to Hampshire FPC for 1987, Hampshire FHSA for 1992 and Southampton and South West Hampshire HA for 1997 and 2000. The HA boundaries between 1987 and 1992 may not be coterminous.
(36) Latest available data. Data for 2000 relate to 30 September; earlier years relate to 1 October.
Social Services (Hampshire)
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the standard spending assessment allocation for social services and the expenditure per head of population in Hampshire was for each year from 1996-97 to date. [155857]
Mr. Hutton: Hampshire's social services standard spending assessment allocations for 1996-97 to 2001-02 are:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 189.430 |
| 1997-98 | 137.052 |
| 1998-99 | 140.713 |
| 1999-2000 | 145.063 |
| 2000-01 | 153.051 |
| 2001-02 | 160.724 |
The gross expenditure on social services by Hampshire per head of population from 1996-97 to 1999-2000 is:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 145.61 |
| 1997-98 | 138.87 |
| 1998-99 | 147.47 |
| 1999-2000(37) | 160.25 |
(37) Provisional
Portsmouth and Southampton became unitary authorities in April 1997 and while the 1996-97 figures in the tables include their allocations and expenditure the figures for subsequent years exclude them.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Foot and Mouth
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that sheep within the exclusion zones can be moved for lambing purposes. [153187]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 12 March 2001]: Sheep in infected areas can be moved under the various schemes we have introduced over the last two weeks, provided that such moves are justified on welfare grounds and not
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assessed to be a disease risk. If moves are not possible, then farmers can make use of the Animal Welfare Disposal Scheme.
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the tourist industry on the losses due to the restrictions imposed as a result of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and if he will make a statement. [154181]
Mr. Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
Members of the tourist industry have made representations about the severe losses their industry is facing as a result of foot and mouth disease. We estimate that the current loss of revenue to the tourist industry in England is of the order of £100 million a week but it could rise to as much as £250 million a week.
Sand Eels
Dr. Godman: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2001, Official Report, column 259W, concerning industrial fishing for sand eels, how many industrial fishing vessels are allowed to fish for sand eels in the spawning cod closed areas; how frequently such vessels are inspected while fishing these grounds; and if he will make a statement. [155881]
Mr. Morley: As with pelagic fishing in the closed areas, there is no limit on the number of vessels which may fish for sand eels. However, observers must be on board for at least 50 vessel trips per member state. Their responsibilities are set out in Article 3 of Commission Regulation 259/2001.
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