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Locum Doctors
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many locum doctors worked in NHS trusts on average per day in the last 12 months. [59443]
Mr. Hutton: Data on locums is not collected centrally.
Recruitment and Retention
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Workington (Tony Cunningham) on 26 April, Official Report, column 520W, on recruitment and retention, how many NHS consultants there were in the NHS in each year since 1995. [59560]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table. There has been an increase of over 32 per cent in the number of consultants working in the National Health Service between 1995 and 2001.
| England at 30 September | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 25,690 |
| 2000 | 24,310 |
| 1999 | 23,220 |
| 1998 | 22,220 |
| 1997 | 21,370 |
| 1996 | 20,300 |
| 1995 | 19,420 |
Source:
Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
Asthma
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent research his Department has conducted into the causes and significance of asthma; [59562] (2) how much funding his Department has allocated to charities and industry for research into the causes and curing of asthma. [59563]
Jacqui Smith: The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC spent an estimated £12.2 million in 1999–2000 on research into asthma and respiratory disorders.
The Department is funding a programme of research on the public health aspects of asthma, aimed at providing a clearer scientific understanding of the causes of asthma and hence how it might be prevented. The Department is also funding a programme of research on asthma management and a range of other research in relation to the treatment of, and services for, people with asthma.
Details of projects referred to above and other projects supported through the National Health Service research and development levy can be found on the national research register (NRR) at: www.doh.gov.uk/
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research.nrr/htm. The NRR contains many details of projects/trials funded by the research councils and other funders.
The Department does not allocate funds directly to charities and industry for research. The Department funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the National Health Service. Research funds are provided to research contractor on the basis of individual proposals. The Department also provides support to NHS trusts to allow work funded by others such as the research councils, charities and other funders to be conducted within the NHS.
Agency Nurses
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hospital nursing staff have been provided by private agencies in each of the last five years. [59414]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Mortuary Services
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what financial arrangements exist between NHS trusts and coroners for provision of mortuary services; [59430] (2) which NHS mortuaries levy charges for their services; [59427] (3) if he will list those NHS trusts which operate public mortuaries; [59425] (4) what the level of investment is for NHS mortuaries; [59428] (5) when the responsibility of NHS hospital trusts to provide accommodation for people who die in hospital will end and that of the coroner or undertaker begin; [59431] (6) what his policy is on NHS mortuaries levying charges to the public. [59426]
Mr. Hutton: When a patient dies in a National Health Service (NHS) hospital, the hospital is responsible for the care of the body until that responsibility can be transferred, either to the executors or administrators or other persons with the duty of disposing of the body, or to the coroner. The NHS does not charge the public for this care.
We do not hold separate information on the level of investment in NHS mortuaries, which are funded through the general allocation to the NHS. Public mortuaries are run and financed by local authorities. Such mortuaries, therefore, are not operated by the NHS.
The Coroner Service is funded through local authorities. Local authorities pay NHS trusts for the use of mortuaries to store bodies until coronial enquiries are complete, although in some cases local coroners manage these financial arrangements directly.
Parliamentary Questions
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for East Worthing and
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Shoreham will receive answers to his Questions, Refs 42261, 42328, 42312, 42313 tabled for answer on 11 March. [59555]
Ms Blears: The hon. Member's Parliamentary Questions were replied to as follows:
Neurology and Limb Centres
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what extra funding is being given to neurology and limb centres to offer increased physiotherapy and occupational therapy to treat patients with brachial plexus nerve injury; [59564] (2) how many neurology and limb centres offer physiotherapy and occupational therapy to patients with brachial plexus neuropathy. [59565]
Jacqui Smith: Substantial extra funding is being made available to the National Health Service. Ministers, however, do not decide on the configuration of local services and whether money should be allocated to particular diagnoses. That is a matter for local primary care trusts and other commissioners as they are best placed to know the health needs of their local populations.
Information on the specific conditions/diagnosis within local services is not held centrally.
Midwives
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives have left the NHS in each of the last five years on account of (a) normal retirement age, (b) early retirement, (c) ill health, (d) transfer to other NHS posts and (e) other causes. [59411]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
The Department's non-medical workforce census records the net change in the number of midwives employed in the National Health Service. There were 700 more midwives working in the NHS at September 2001 than there were in September 1997.
Matrons
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the new NHS matrons announced previously worked in the NHS; and at what grades. [59577]
Mr. Hutton: Guidance issued to the National Health Service in April 2001 (HSC 2000–10) indicated that modern matron posts should be graded using the existing clinical grading structure. The great majority of appointments will have been made from within trusts. However, information on individual posts is not available.
Committee Mandates
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Committee overseeing the
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conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [56723]
Yvette Cooper: The mandate of this comitology committee is to advise the European Commission on measures needed to control agricultural products originating in third countries affected by fallout from the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. Full details are set out in Article 7 of Council Regulation (EEC). No 737/90 of 22 March 1990. The committee has not met in the last 12 months and it is not currently considering any issues. United Kingdom representation on the committee is usually by an official from the Food Standards Agency. The outcome of meetings is usually disseminated within the UK by means of a letter to "interested parties". The cost of the committee to public funds is limited to direct costs incurred in attending meetings and any necessary preparation time.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Defence Scientific Advisory Council
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to inform the Defence Scientific Advisory Council of the (a) training objectives developed by all users of plastic baton rounds to achieve ACPO/MOD policy on the use of the L21A1 baton round and (b) changes made in the operational use of the L104 riot gun and sight and in the construction of the baton (i) cartridge and (ii) gun. [17762]
Mr. Denham: I have been asked to reply.
The Defence Scientific Advisory Council has been informed of the training arrangements adopted by all users to ensure compliance with The Association of Chief Police Officers/Ministry of Defence (ACPO/MOD) policy on the use of the L21A1 baton round and of changes made in the ACPO guidance covering the operational use of the L21A1 round. There have been no changes made in the construction of the baton round cartridge or gun.
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