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General Practice Nurses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practice nurses worked in general practice surgeries in each of the last five years; and what were their full-time working equivalents. [14346]

Mr. Hutton: Figures showing the number (headcount) and whole-time equivalent for practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents in each of the last five years are shown in the table.

Practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)⁽¹¹⁾ as at 1 October 1996–99 and 30 September 2000—England

	Headcount(12)	Whole-time equivalent
1996	17,900	9,820
1997	18,390	10,080
1998	18,890	10,360
1999	19,500	10,690
2000	19,200	10,710

⁽¹¹⁾ UPEs includes GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

⁽¹²⁾ Headcount data were not collected in 1998 and 1999; data for these years have been estimated from whole-time equivalents (wte) using the 1997 wte to headcount ratio.

Note:

Data are rounded to the nearest ten.

Source:

Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

National Clinical Director for Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the change of name to the National Clinical Director for Children. [14339]

Jacqui Smith: Professor Al Aynsley-Green's appointment was announced in July this year, following the publication of the report from the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry. The term "National Director for Healthcare services" originated in a recommendation in that report.

However, Professor Aynsley-Green's role includes chairing the Children's Taskforce, and leading work to develop the Children's National Service Framework. Both of these roles require an overview across health and social care services.

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The title of "National Clinical Director for Children" recognises Professor Aynsley-Green's particular expertise as a clinician, but does not limit the type of services in which he takes an interest. This formulation matches that used for many other national directors.

New Hospitals

Mr. Andrew Mitchess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals and significant hospital buildings, as defined by his Department, were (a) in progress in May 1997 and (b) opened during 1997. [14538]

Mr. Hutton: The Department's definition of a significant hospital building development is any capital investment scheme with a total cost of over £25 million. No such publicly funded schemes started construction in 1997 until the private finance initiative began to deliver, with the Dartford and Gravesham scheme in August 1997 and the Carlisle scheme in November 1997. Since 1 May 1997, 64 such schemes have been given approval to proceed under the private finance initiative.

In May 1997, 12 significant publicly funded schemes were in progress, having started construction several years previously. Eight such schemes reached completion during 1997.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Jury Service

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the Government's policy on the eligibility for jury service of hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords. [14711]

Mr. Denham: I have been asked to reply.

The right to be excused jury service was considered by Sir Robin Auld as part of his independent review of the criminal courts. He recommended that no-one should be excusable from jury service as of right, only on showing good reason for excusal. His report is the subject of public

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consultation until the end of January 2002, and the Government will give careful consideration to these issues in the light of comments received.

Freedom of Information Act

Tony Wright: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will bring the Freedom of Information Act 2000 into force. [15143]

Mr. Wills: I have today placed in the Library of the House a paper, containing a Schedule of organisations and dates, that sets out the Government's plans for implementing the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Lord Chancellor's Apartments

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much money has been raised for charity by granting permission for outside bodies to use the Lord Chancellor's apartments in each year since 1997. [13634]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Since March 1998 there have been about 150 charitable receptions in the Lord Chancellor's official residence. The following figures are a break down of the amount of money raised for charity between March 1998 and October 2001.

Financial year(13)	£
1997–98	541,650
1998–99	472,279
1999–2000	368,715
2000–01	711,667
2001–02	2,281,000
Total	4,375,311

⁽¹³⁾ 1 April to 31 March

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Law Society

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he next plans to meet the President of the Law Society. [13635]

Mr. Wills: I last met the President of the Law Society on 29 October but neither I nor any of my ministerial colleagues have appointments arranged with him at present. However, meetings with the President take place on a fairly regular basis and it is likely that further appointments will be arranged in the future.

Terence MacSwiney

Harry Cohen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will arrange for the release of all official documents relating to Mr. Terence MacSwiney, former Lord Mayor of Cork; and if she will make a statement. [13539]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Records relating to Terence MacSwiney have been transferred to the Public Record Office by the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police and the Judge Advocate General's Office. Those that were closed under the guidelines that obtained before the 'Open Government' White paper 1993 (Cm 2290) will now be reviewed by the transferring departments under current guidelines. This is in accordance with standard practice, which is to undertake re-review of specific historical records on request.

Researchers who require access to closed records held by the PRO or to historical records still held by departments should write to the Departmental Record Officer of the department that created the records (or its successor) quoting the PRO reference where this is known. Requests for review of access restrictions are handled in the order in which they are received, regardless of the source of the inquiry or its subject matter. The only exception to this is where the information is urgently required for legal purposes.

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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Livestock Movements

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on animal welfare of the implementation of the licensing provisions for the movement of livestock. [10178]

Mr. Morley: The movement licence provisions were drawn up in close co-operation with the farming industry. They permit as much movement of live animals as possible consistent with the overall objective of containing and eradicating foot and mouth disease. The arrangements are kept under review in the light of the developing disease situation.

Cases for exceptional movements on the ground of welfare needs are considered on a case-by-case basis. The Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme is available as a last resort to those farmers who face unavoidable welfare difficulties.

Sheepmeat

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) additional finance and (b) new marketing initiatives her Department is providing to reinforce consumer confidence in the purchase and consumption of lamb, sheepmeat and related products. [11215]

Mr. Morley: Subject to state aids clearance, DEFRA will contribute match-funding of £2.72 million towards the Meat and Livestock Commission's autumn campaign to promote lamb consumption.

Hunting

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the veterinary risk assessment report on the risk of spreading foot and mouth disease via the activities of hunts; and if she will make a statement. [12021]

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the veterinary risk assessment report on the effect of foot and mouth on a recommencement of hunting. [10392]

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish the results of the veterinary risk assessment of hunting with dogs. [10561]

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the veterinary risk assessment on hunting with hounds; and when she will lift the restrictions placed on hunting with hounds as a consequence of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. [14270]

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Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the risk assessment report on the resumption of hunting with dogs will be published; and for what reason she has not published it to date. [13478]

Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the veterinary risk assessment into restarting hunting; and if she will make a statement. [13469]

Alun Michael: This veterinary risk assessment raises a number of complex issues regarding the future of foot and mouth disease related restrictions on hunting and such matters involve a careful balance of risks. It will be published as soon as Ministers and DEFRA officials have completed their consideration of the document. An announcement on the future of foot and mouth disease controls on hunting will be made as soon as possible.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to propose legislation in respect of hunting with dogs. [11806]

Alun Michael [holding answer 6 November 2001:]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 635W.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will lift the restrictions placed on hunting with dogs as a consequence of the outbreak of foot and mouth. [13477]

Alun Michael [holding answer 9 November 2001]: This veterinary risk assessment raises a number of complex issues regarding the future of foot and mouth disease related restrictions on hunting and such matters involve a careful balance of risks. It will be published as soon as Ministers and DEFRA officials have completed their consideration of the document. An announcement on the future of foot and mouth disease controls on hunting will be made as soon as possible.

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