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Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1082W, regarding the square footage of the property that has been empty since July 2000, if the Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre in Birmingham is occupied and functioning. [50332]
Jacqui Smith: The Glenthorne Youth Treatment Centre closed in July 2000, and has been unoccupied since its pending proposed re-use by an NHS trust.
Senior House Officers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he received Professor Temple's report on the modernisation of the Senior House Officer grade; and when he will publish it. [49788]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 15 April 2002]: The Chief Medical Officer chaired a working group last year to advise UK Health Ministers on a modern structure for basic specialist medical training throughout the UK and on the resulting consequences for work force planning and service delivery. The working group comprised a wide range of interests including those from the profession, the national health service and education. Health Ministers expect to receive the Chief Medical Officer's report shortly when we will consider carefully a suitable publication date.
Digital Hearing Aids
Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NHS trusts in Lancashire to provide digital hearing aids; and if he will make a statement. [50541]
Jacqui Smith: Digital hearing aids are provided in Lancashire by the Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust, a first wave site. An announcement about which second wave NHS trusts will be providing digital hearing aids this year was made in my reply to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreman (Mr. Loughton) and the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 465W. Fairfield hospital, Bury and Southport and Ormskirk hospital did express an interest but were unable to gain the support of the respective primary care trusts. No other sites in Lancashire expressed interest in this round. In addition to the second wave sites, we hope to be able to provide at least a further 15 sites with the training and equipment they need to start fitting digital hearing aids from April 2003. Trusts in Lancashire, together with others in England, have an opportunity to participate in this next phase.
Warrington Primary Care Trust
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names and areas of residence of those people who formed the interviewing panel for the appointment of non-executive directors of the Warrington PCT. [48962]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 April 2002]: The interview panel was chaired by Miss Rosemary Cooper, who is chair of Liverpool Women's Hospital Trust and lives in Liverpool. The other panel members were
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Mr. Robin Brown, recently appointed chair of Warring Primary Care Trust, who live in the Warrington, South constituency, and Mrs. Marlene Armitage, who was the independent panel member and lives in Oldham.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with (a) local and (b) national bodies on the failure of the Warrington PCT to appoint a chief executive; and if he will make a statement. [48957]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 April 2002]: The appointment of primary care trust chief executives is a matter for each individual PCT. However, I am aware that the Department's north west regional office placed advertisements in early December for the appointment of chief executives to seven prospective PCTs, including Warrington. It is disappointing that this has not resulted in an appointment in Warrington. However, I understand the PCT chair is actively seeking to appoint the high calibre person needed to take on the full range of responsibilities required for this large PCT and is currently re-advertising the post.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 January, (1) if he will make a statement on whether the board membership of the Warrington PCT is considered to reflect the geographical area it serves; [48963]
- (2) how many people from the (a) Warrington, North and (b) Warrington, South constituencies applied for positions as non-executive directors of the Warrington PCT; and what percentage of applicants from each constituency were (i) interviewed and (ii) appointed. [48960]
Jacqui Smith [holding answers 15 April 2002]: Appointments to the boards of national health service trusts, strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and care trusts are now a matter for the NHS Appointments Commission. While the commission does not take into account or have information on constituency boundaries, it always aims to ensure as far as possible that board membership reflects the geographical area served by the NHS body. However, board members do not serve in any representative capacity and all appointments are made on the merits of the candidates involved, in accordance with the criteria determined by the Secretary of State and the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Of the 51 applications received for non-executive appointments to the board of Warrington Primary Care Trust, 28 candidates (54.9 per cent.) live in the Warrington, North constituency and 23 in Warrington, South (45.1 per cent.). Of the 13 candidates subsequently interviewed, six (46.2 per cent.) live in Warrington, North and seven (53.8 per cent.) in Warrington, South. All of the three non-executives appointed to date live in Warrington, South. A further two appointments will be made shortly.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of applications for posts as non-executive directors of the Warrington PCT which were not acknowledged. [48961]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 April 2002]: All applications for appointment to the board of Warrington Primary Care Trust were acknowledged by the National Health Service Appointments Commission on 12 October 2001. Those applicants who were not called for interview
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will receive a further letter from the Appointments Commission very shortly explaining that they have been unsuccessful.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Warrington PCT is taking to tackle health inequalities in Warrington; and if he will make a statement. [48959]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 April 2002]: Warrington identified health inequalities as one of its four key priorities in its Primary Care Trust application. Prior to its establishment, the PCT raised the profile of health inequality in Warrington with the Local Strategic Partnership and particularly through the Health and Wellbeing Partnership. A health inequality sub-group has been established as part of the Health and Wellbeing Partnership to bring a multi-agency focus and resource to tackle poor health in central Warrington. The PCT is working with partners to identify a Warrington Health Improvement Zone, which will form the focus for targeting resources in the future.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with board members of the Warrington PCT on their priorities for action; and if he will make a statement. [48958]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 April 2002]: Throughout the consultation and preparatory period applicant primary care trusts have been able to contact officials at the former NHS Executive regional office to discuss any aspects of their proposal.
All PCTs need to deliver against key national priorities such as those identified in the NHS Plan and National Service Frameworks. However PCT's, as the most local NHS organisation, are best place to understand the needs of their local population. As part of their role to improve the health of their populations, secure the provision of services and integrate health and social care, PCTs will identify priorities for action locally, in addition to national priorities that meet the specific needs of their population.
Correspondence
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to correspondence dated 26 November 2001, from the hon. Member for Leominster on behalf of a constituent, Mr. Andrew P. Shaw, transferred from the Home Office in January. [48964]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 15 April 2002]: A reply was sent on 16 April.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2002, Official Report, column 1415W, on asylum seekers, what evaluation he has made of the protocols put in place by West Sussex Social Services Department and Sussex police for tackling unaccompanied asylum seeking children in danger of being victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation; and what recommendations he has made for other local authorities to adopt these protocols. [48646]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 15 April 2002]: We have been pleased to learn that the number of children going missing from West Sussex has substantially reduced as a
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consequence of the collaborative multi-agency approach that the Social Services Department, the police and others have taken. The Department is closely involved in supporting and leading developmental and collaborative work among all local authorities which have significant numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
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