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SHA (York)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations were undertaken with local authorities before the decision was made for the strategic health authority for North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to be established in York.[38332]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 28 February 2002]: A project team, made up of representatives of the local health economy, set up to establish the strategic health authority for North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, commissioned an independent appraisal into the location of the headquarters of the new health authority. No consultations were undertaken with local authorities during the option appraisal process. However, local authorities were informed that the option appraisal recommended that York Science Park was the preferred location. This recommendation is to be discussed at the next meting of the shadow board of the North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire strategic health authority on 20 March 2002. here representations from local authorities will be considered.
Parliamentary Questions
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to answer Question 15320, tabled on 15 November 2001; [39775]
- (2) when he expects to answer Question 15321, tabled on 15 November 2001; [39777]
(3) when he expects to answer Question 12771, tabled on 6 November 2001; [39784]
(4) when he expects to answer Question 12718, tabled on 6 November 2001; [39785]
(5) when he expects to answer Question 15051, tabled on 15 November 2001; [39773]
(6) when he expects to answer Question 12715, tabled on 6 November 2001; [39783]
(7) when he expects to answer Question 16852, tabled on 21 November 2001; [39772]
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(8) when he expects to answer Question 12711, tabled on 6 November 2001; [39778]
(9) when he expects to answer Question 12778, tabled on 6 November 2001; [39790]
(10) when he expects to answer Question 15323, tabled on 15 November 2001; [39774]
Ms Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him on Monday 25 February 2002, Official Report, columns 935W–36W (Question 15051), columns 965-66W (Question 15321), column 966W (Question 12778), and columns 966–67W (Question 15320). I will let the hon. Member have a reply to Questions 12711, 12715, 12718, 12771, 15323 and 16852 as soon as possible.
NHS Charges
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase (a) charges in the NHS and (b) the value of optical vouchers; and if he will make a statement. [40499]
Ms Blears: We shall lay before the House regulations to increase National Health Services charges in England from 1 April 2002. There will be a cash increase in the charge of 10p, (1.64 per cent.) from ÿ6.10 to ÿ6.20 for each quantity of a drug or appliance dispensed.
The cost of prescription prepayment certificates will rise to ÿ32.40 for a 4 month certificate and ÿ89.00 for an annual certificate. These offer savings for those needing more than 5 items in four months or 14 in one year.
Prescription charges are expected to raise some ÿ434 million for the NHS in 2002-2003.
Charges for elastic stockings and tights, wigs and most fabric supports supplied through the Hospital Service will be increased similarly.
The maximum patient charge for a single course of dental treatment begun on or after 1 April 2002 will increase from ÿ360 to ÿ366.
We have restricted the prescription charge increase to the same cash amount as the previous three years and the other increases are in line with this percentage increase.
Optical voucher values will increase overall by 1.95 per cent. to help children, people on low income and certain people with complex sight problems with the cost of spectacles or contact lenses.
NHS Charges and optical voucher values in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the Devolved Administrations.
Details of the revised charges and optical voucher values have been placed in the Library.
Drug Misuse
Mr. Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths are attributable to drug misuse in each of the last five years. [38651]
Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
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The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgel to Mr. Kelvin Hopkins, dated 28 February 2002:
- The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning how many deaths were attributable to drug misuse in each of the last five years. I am replying in his absence.(38651)
- The figures requested are given in the table below:
| Calendar year | Number of deaths |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,247 |
| 1997 | 1,302 |
| 1998 | 1,459 |
| 1999 | 1,568 |
| 2000 | 1,662 |
Source:
Office for National Statistics, Report. Deaths related to drug poisoning: results for England and Wales, 1993 to 2000. Health Statistics Quarterly 13 (2002), 76–82.
Notes:
1 Defined as deaths where the underlying cause is poisoning, drug abuse or drug dependence and where any of the substances controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) are involved.
2 Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.
Job No: 713438 Folios: 2060
Life Expectancy, St Helens
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most recent figures are for life expectancy at birth for (a) males and (b) females in St Helens South. [38267]
Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward dated 1 March 2002:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking what are the most recent figures for life expectancy at birth or (a) males and (b) females in St Helens South. (38267)
Figures for life expectancy at birth in parliamentary constituencies are not routinely produced and data are not available to readily allow their calculation.
Figures for life expectancy at birth in the local authority of St Helens, which comprises the parliamentary constituencies of St Helens North and St Helens, South, are as follows:
1998 to 2000 - aggregated years
Benefit Reviews
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Department has made an assessment of the suitability of EMPS carrying out examinations in respect of benefit reviews. [36131]
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Mr. Nicholas Brown: I have been asked to reply.
All doctors carrying out examinations in respect of benefit claims or reviews must be approved by the Department's Chief Medical Adviser. There are stringent recruitment criteria and in order to gain approval doctors must complete prescribed training and demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence in carrying out assessments. The quality standards of all doctors are regularly monitored by SchlumbergerSema Medical Services. Ongoing approval is subject to satisfactory performance.
Overseas Military Personnel
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which overseas countries military personnel were trained in the United Kingdom in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and if he will indicate in each case how many personnel were trained. [39517]
Mr. Ingram: During 2000, a total of 3,504 overseas military personnel from 106 countries were trained at UK military establishments. In 2001, 3,731 military personnel were trained from 101 countries. A full breakdown of the numbers trained, by country, is as follows:
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