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11 Jul 2003 : Column 1047W—continued
National Care Standards Commission
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what powers of enforcement the National Care Standards Commission has in respect of its reports on boarding schools; [125165]
- (2) what powers (a) the Government, (b) school staff, (c) governors and (d) parents have to refuse to accept the recommendations of the National Care Standards Commission in respect of independent boarding schools. [125173]
Dr. Ladyman: The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) has no such powers of enforcement.
The objective of the national minimum standards is to ensure that young people who board at any school receive a good basic level of care and that their welfare needs are met. Inspections against the standards are carried out by the NCSC, working in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and local education authorities.
The power to take action in an independent boarding school failing to ensure adequate care provision falls to DfES as the regulating authority. Where DfES considers that a report shows children's welfare as not sufficiently safeguarded and promoted, it will take action, and require the school to make the necessary improvements.
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what qualifications are required for inspectors of boarding schools from the National Care Standards Commission. [125175]
Dr. Ladyman: Those employed as inspectors of children's services by the National Care Standards Commission need—in addition to other requirements concerning relevant experience, skills and specialist knowledge—a qualification from the following list:
- Certificate of Qualification in Social Work
Diploma in Social Work
Qualified Teacher Status
Diploma in Higher Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Certificate in Social Services
Registered General Nurse
State Registered Nurse
Certificate in Residential Care of Children and Young People
National Vocational Qualification—Level 4 in a field working with children or managing children's services.
11 Jul 2003 : Column 1048W
National Health Service Act
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to amend the National Health Service Act 1977; and if he will make a statement. [123455]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 3 July 2003]: The NHS Act of 1977 has been amended on a number of occasions. The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, currently before the House, proposes to make further amendments. Power was taken under the NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 to consolidate national health service legislation since 1977, and it is my intention that we will proceed with consolidation as soon as is feasible.
NHS Doctors (Retention)
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors left the NHS last year. [123602]
Mr. Hutton: Work force data are collected through the annual Department of Health medical and general practitioner work force census. The census is a snapshot of data as of 30 September in the appropriate year. The information presented in the table shows the net difference in the number of doctors between September 2001 and September 2002. Data on numbers of leavers and joiners in the national health service is not available.
| 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|
| All doctors | 100,319 | 104,460 |
| of which: | ||
| HCHS medical and dental staff(18) | 68,484 | 72,168 |
| General medical practitioners | 31,835 | 32,292 |
(18) Excludes hospital medical hospital practitioners and hospital medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.
Note:
All practitioners include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and GP retainers.
Source:
Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
11 Jul 2003 : Column 1049W
NHS Property/Inventures Sale
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the National Audit Office report into the NHS property and inventures sale; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [123635]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 4 July 2003]: The National Audit Office (NAO) work on the bidding process is nearing completion. A response will then be sent by the NAO to the Pears Group, the complainant.
In addition, the NAO will send an internal management report to the Department of Health summarising their findings and conclusions. No decision has yet been taken as to whether the report will be published.
Prisoners (Health Care)
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors are available to provide health care services to patients in each prison in England and Wales (i) for 24 hours in each day, (ii) for 12 hours in each day, (iii) every other day, (iv) twice a week and (v) once a week; and if he will make a statement. [123308]
Dr. Ladyman: Information is not available in the form requested. Under the Prison Act 1952 every prison must have a medical officer. The provision of health services in an establishment is organised around its health care centre.
Health care centres fall into one of four categories according to the level of service provided and are staffed appropriately to fulfil their particular function. There are 23 type one and 45 type two health care centres at which only daytime health care cover is provided, generally by part-time staff in the former and full-time staff in the latter. There are 68 type three health care centres, which have in-patient facilities and 24-hour nurse cover, and four type four facilities, which have the same level of provision but act as national or regional assessment centres.
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of medication provided in prisons that would normally be administered in tablet form is given in liquid form to prevent storage of medication by prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [123307]
Dr. Ladyman: Information is not available in the form requested. Prisons have a risk assessment process that will be undertaken before a prisoner is allowed to have medication in their possession. Not all medication can be made available in liquid form. Prison Health has published, "A Pharmacy Service for Prisoners", available at www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth, which will help prisons to develop their pharmacy services.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Cyprus
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what documentation will be needed for the export of goods originating in occupied Cyprus, from Famagusta port. [R] [123634]
11 Jul 2003 : Column 1050W
Mr. MacShane: Issues relating to the status of Famagusta port are for the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
However, as mandated by the Copenhagen European Council, the European Commission is consulting the Republic of Cyprus on measures to promote the economic development of the north and bring it closer to the EU.
Environmental Appraisals
Mr. Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the Department's policies have been screened for their environmental impact since June 2001; how many environmental appraisals have been conducted, and on what policy issues; and what information has been published about these screenings and appraisals. [124710]
Mr. Rammell: As well as working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to deliver international environmental policy objectives, the FCO takes environmental issues into account when formulating policy; and, particularly, potential impact on the FCO's two Public Service Agreements that relate to environment as a pillar of sustainable development (Business Plan 2003–06):
Make globalisation work for sustainable development in the UK and internationally (especially in Africa) by promoting democracy and the rule of law, good economic and environmental governance, and security of long-term energy supply, measured by specific underlying targets.
Improvement in the governance, environment and security of the overseas territories, and more diversified economic development, as measured by implementation of the commitments in the 1999 White Paper "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity—Britain and the Overseas Territories".
As detailed in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the right hon. Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell), Official Report, column 472W, the FCO is also in the process of developing a Sustainable Development Strategy.
The FCO has committed itself to implementing the terms of "The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate". Further information on this is available on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk).
The commitments of the Framework for Sustainable Development will be applied to the whole of the FCO UK estate, although time-scales may vary depending on the location and nature of the site.
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