House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 Apr 2003 (pt 9)

10 Apr 2003 : Column 372W—continued

World Trade

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the French Government concerning their stance on agricultural subsidies, with reference to the Doha round of world trade negotiations; [108122]

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(3) what the Government's stance is on agricultural subsidies, with reference to the Doha round of world trade negotiations; and if he will make a statement. [108124]

Mr. MacShane: The Government remain committed to the declaration on agriculture made at the WTO Ministerial Conference meeting in Doha in November 2001. We want comprehensive negotiations aimed at substantial improvements in market access; reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies; and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support. The Government were disappointed that the WTO's 31 March deadline to establish modalities for a new agreement on agriculture was not met. Agricultural trade reform remains critical for developing countries and is central to the Doha Development Agenda as a whole. WTO members must now redouble their efforts to reach consensus on agriculture by the 5th meeting of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun this September. We are working with all our EU partners, including the European Commission and France, to ensure that the EU plays its full part in bringing this about.

HEALTH

Community Health Councils

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community health council staff he expects will transfer to patient forums; and who will pay their salaries between the closure of Community Health Councils and the establishment of the patient forums. [107750]

Mr. Lammy: Community Health Councils (CHCs) will be abolished from 1 September 2003. There will be no transfer of CHC staff to patients' forums. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Clive Efford) on 19 March 2003, Official Report, column 850W.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total redundancy bill for closing down Community Health Councils. [107754]

Mr. Lammy: It is too early to estimate the cost of redundancy as a result of the Community Health Councils (CHCs) abolition. To help avoid redundancies, a human resources framework for CHC staff has been agreed with trade unions and employing authorities. This framework provides for the establishment of clearing houses to pool local employment opportunities, training and other support to enable this group of staff actively to seek and obtain suitable alternative employment in the national health service.

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Congestion Charge

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has made to the Mayor of London regarding exemption from the congestion charge for patients required to attend London hospitals for treatment but who are unable to use public transport because of their illness. [105123]

Mr. Hutton: The National Health Service London regional office, in consultation with and on behalf of the NHS in London, was involved in negotiations with Transport for London to identify ways to minimise potentially negative impacts of congestion charging on NHS patients.

For patients, reimbursement of the congestion charge can be claimed for a vehicle used to transport an eligible NHS patient to attend NHS appointments in the congestion charging zone.

Eligible patients are those where:

the relevant NHS body has provided assistance to enable the patient to attend appointments using private transport whether by reimbursement of travel costs or parking charges, or by the provision of free parking;

the patient has a compromised immune system, requires regular therapy or assessment, or requires recurrent surgical intervention;

the patient has been clinically assessed as too ill, weak or disabled to travel to an appointment by public transport.

The NHS and the Directorate of Health and Social Care—London will be closely monitoring the scheme to see what potential impact it may have.

Contingent Liabilities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which contingent liabilities for which his Department has responsibility have matured in each of the last five financial years; and if he will make a statement. [105178]

Mr. Hutton: The following sums have been paid against contingent liabilities in the five years to 31 March 2002.

Contingent liability Year inwhich paid Amountpaid

An indemnity to water undertakings in respect of costs, damages and expenses not otherwise covered by insurance claims arising from claims and/or proceedings on the grounds of alleged harm to health arising solely from fluoridation. 1997–98 £4,000

The Government originally paid £42 million to a trust from which payments are made to haemophiliacs infected with HIV virus, following treatment by the NHS with infected blood products. The Department has agreed to pay to the trust any sums required to make payments if the funds already provided prove insufficient. 1997–98 £3,000

1999–2000 £1.99 million

2000–01 £2.52 million

The Department was found negligent in failing to stop treating patients with Human Growth Hormone by 1 July 1977—at a time when possible consequences should have been apparent. Compensation will need to be paid to patients treated after this date who subsequently die from CJD. 1998–99 £1.678 million

1999–2000 £3.278 million

2000–01 £68,000

Contingent liability	Year inwhich paid	Amountpaid
An indemnity to water undertakings in respect of costs, damages and expenses not otherwise covered by insurance claims arising from claims and/or proceedings on the grounds of alleged harm to health arising solely from fluoridation.	1997–98	£4,000

The Government originally paid £42 million to a trust from which payments are made to haemophiliacs infected with HIV virus, following treatment by the NHS with infected blood products. The Department has agreed to pay to the trust any sums required to make payments if the funds already provided prove insufficient.	1997–98	£3,000
	1999–2000	£1.99 million
	2000–01	£2.52 million

The Department was found negligent in failing to stop treating patients with Human Growth Hormone by 1 July 1977—at a time when possible consequences should have been apparent. Compensation will need to be paid to patients treated after this date who subsequently die from CJD.	1998–99	£1.678 million

	1999–2000	£3.278 million
	2000–01	£68,000

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Departmental Fees

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which fees his Department, its agencies and associated bodies collect; how much (a) has been raised and (b) will be raised from each of these fees in each year from 1989–90 to 2004–05; and which of these fees count as negative expenditure. [105187]

Mr. Hutton: The Department, its agencies and associated bodies collect fees or charges on a statutory basis and make charges where legislation allows on commercial services. Information where a fee or charge can be separately identified in accounts or departmental returns has been placed in the Library. Where fees or charges are not separately identified, income has been attributed to the receiving body.

Foundation Hospitals

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement regarding the powers that would be available to a board of governors of a foundation hospital. [106810]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 8 April]: The powers available to a Board of Governors of a National Health Service foundation trust are set out in Schedule 1 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Board of Governors will be responsible for appointing and removing the chair and non-executive directors, and deciding their terms and conditions, approving appointment and removal of the chief executive and executive directors, appointing the auditor, advising the Board of Directors on development of forward plans and for approving the annual report and accounts.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are planned enable local people to elect the hospital governors of foundation hospitals. [106811]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 8 April 2003]: Procedures are set out in Schedule 1 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill. Subject to parliamentary approval, local people, patients and staff who become members of a National Health Service foundation trust will elect representatives onto a Board of Governors.

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Hillcroft Site (Lymington)

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2003, Official Report, column 663W, on the Hillcroft site in Lymington, who negotiated on behalf of New Forest Primary Care Trust; whether the site was offered by tender; and whether the property was disposed of to the party which offered the highest sum. [107887]

Ms Blears: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority have advised that the District Valuer and an independent valuer advised the primary care trust and carried out negotiations on its behalf.

NHS Estates, the Directorate of Health and Social Care, the strategic health authority and New Forest PCT all considered this professional advice and concluded that the offer provided best value.

NHS Estates Property and the Directorate of Health and Social Care approved a negotiated sale to a single bidder who was in a position to pay the best price for the property.

Market Research

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure has been incurred by his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if he will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each. [106270]

Mr. Lammy: Copies of research reports are not routinely placed in the Library, although a list giving details of market and opinion research undertaken by the Department is made available. A list of research projects carried out by the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies for the financial year 2001–02 is available in the Library, and 2002–03 is being compiled and will be placed in the Library. These lists may not include all research projects, as some information is not centrally available.

A list of expenditure incurred on opinion polling, focus groups and other forms of market research could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

We are committed to consulting and involving the public to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality public service. Responsive public services are an important part of Modernising Government initiative.

We only conduct or commission market or opinion research when it is justified by the needs of the policy programme and is the most economical, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose.

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