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Overseas Nursing Students
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the savings obtained from the abolition of bursaries for overseas nursing students. [15057]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 15 November 2001]: No cost saving is anticipated.
The change introduced earlier this year to the student support arrangements was not introduced as a cost-saving measure but to bring conditions for access to the national health service bursary for overseas applicants to diploma nursing and midwifery courses into line with those for degree nurses, and students in higher education as a whole.
Care Trusts
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which care trusts he expects to be in operation by the end of 2002. [15061]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 November 2001]: The following partners are considering the development of care trusts in 2002:
- 1. Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust, London borough of Islington, and London borough of Camden.
- 2. Somerset health authority (North Somerset Primary Care Group) and north Somerset council.
- 3. Essex county council, Braintree district council, north Essex health authority (Witham, Braintree and Halstead PCG).
- 4. Sandwell council and Black Country Mental Health Trust.
- 5. Manchester social services and Manchester health authority (Manchester Mental Health Partnership).
- 6. Northumberland health authority (Northumberland PCGs) and Northumberland social services.
- 7. Bradford council and Bradford health authority (Airedale National Health Service Trust and Bradford Community NHS Trust).
If these applications are made, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will consider these applications in accordance with section 45 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001.
Suicide
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the main barriers to those contemplating suicide receiving the treatment they need. [13964]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 November 2001]: An assessment of the main barriers to those contemplating suicide receiving the treatment they need helped inform the development of the National Service Framework for Mental Health. Implementation of the NSF and NHS Plan will ensure that people receive services that are more responsive to their needs. In addition, the suicide prevention strategy, to be launched in spring 2002, will
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outline further action to ensure the target in "Saving lives: Our Healthier Nation" to reduce the death rate from suicide by at least one fifth by 2010 is met.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to implement a national suicide prevention strategy. [13965]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 November 2001]: The Department hopes to launch the suicide prevention strategy in spring 2002. We are in the process of considering the timetable for its implementation.
GP Surgeries (Assaults)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults were committed on (a) doctors and (b) other staff in GP's surgeries in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [15467]
Mr. Hutton: Information on assaults against general practitioners or other primary care staff is not collected nationally. However in 2000–01, 988 patients were de-registered from their GPs' lists because of violent behaviour. We deplore violence towards any healthcare worker and in 1999 launched the "NHS zero tolerance zone" campaign to reduce the risks of its occurrence. This campaign continues.
Midwives
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he can take to encourage national health service trusts to fully adopt last year's recommendations of the Pay Review Body in respect of midwives' pay and conditions. [15508]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 16 November 2001]: We accepted in full the recommendations of the review body for nursing staff, midwives and health visitors and professions allied to medicine for 2001–02.
The advance letter promulgating the pay increases for 2001–02 and the new midwifery grading agreement was issued to the national health service on 15 February 2001. The advance letter made it clear that national health service employers have a responsibility to implement these agreements from 1 April 2001.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps can be made to encourage midwives who have left the profession to return. [15507]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 16 November 2001]: The Department is working closely with the Royal College of Midwives to encourage and support returning midwives. The national health service now offers all midwives improved pay, supportive family friendly working practices, improved training conditions, better access to continuing professional development and a better career structure.
All returning midwives will now receive:
- Free refresher training
A minimum of £1,500 financial support while training
Assistance with child care support of up to £135 per week for one child and £200 for two or more children
Assistance with travel and books.
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Mr. Hutton [holding answer 16 November 2001]: The order under section 60 of the Health Act 1999, which will establish the Nursing and Midwifery Council, has today been laid before Parliament. Copies are available in the Vote Office. A similar order which will establish the Health Professions Council has also been laid.
Flooding (Ilford)
Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the impact of flooding of the River Roding on public health in Ilford, North; and what steps he has taken in the last 12 months to minimise the impact. [15529]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 16 November 2001]: I am informed that Redbridge and Waltham Forest health authority have confirmed that the work of the local emergency planning team covers the response to flooding incidents. The team comprises representatives from the emergency services, health and local authorities and the voluntary sector.
From a public health perspective, leaflets were issued to residents in flooding risk areas and actual flooded areas, advising of the risks from flood water.
Regional Health Boundaries
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his proposals to redraw regional health area boundaries so that they are coterminous with regional Government boundaries. [16206]
Mr. Hutton: As part of the programme to shift the balance of power from Whitehall to frontline staff, the Department is proposing to abolish its national health service regional offices by 1 April 2003. We are introducing four directorates of health and social care by April 2003 responsible for strategic oversight of health and social care activity in London, the south of England, the west midlands and eastern England and the north of England respectively. They will cover areas with outer boundaries coterminous with the Government offices for the regions. These arrangements are in line with the Government's policy on coterminosity set out in the Modernising Government White Paper.
TREASURY
Equitable Life
Mr. Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to public funds was of the review by the Financial Services Authority of its role in the regulation of Equitable Life. [12823]
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Ruth Kelly: The cost of the review by the FSA of its role in the regulation of Equitable Life will be met by the insurance industry. Some of the costs have already been recovered by way of fees imposed by the existing regulators (the Personal Investment Authority and the Treasury). Once the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 comes fully into force, the remaining costs will be recovered by the FSA by way of fees.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received about Equitable Life from policy holders resident in the Buckingham constituency. [16163]
Ruth Kelly: We have received many representations from policy holders of Equitable Life. Identifying policy holders resident in Buckingham constituency could not be undertaken except at disproportionate cost.
National Insurance Contributions
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money would be raised for the Exchequer at current prices over one financial year as a result of the removal of the upper earnings limit on national insurance; and what discussions he has had on the impact of this change. [14389]
Dawn Primarolo: The full-year yield from removing the upper earnings limit on national insurance contributions is estimated to be £3¼ billion in 2002–03.
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