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24 Jan 2005 : Column 191W—continued
Social Workers
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision for mental health training is included in the new degree course for social workers. [210361]
Dr. Ladyman: The social work degree is a generic degree based on a prescribed curriculum. Training providers must ensure that students undertake specific learning in a number of key areas. As part of their learning and assessment, students receive training on mental health matters in the human growth and development element of their degree. This forms a key element of the prescribed curriculum, which is also based on the National Occupation Standards for Social Work, in England, developed by Topss England. Mental health matters are covered in some detail in these standards.
On qualification, there are opportunities for further training in specialist areas. As part of the reform of the social work education, the General Social Care Council is undertaking a review of the current framework for post-qualifying training for social work.
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Trust Financial Shortfalls
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely financial shortfall of (a) NHS Plymouth Hospital Trust and (b) Plymouth Primary Care Trust at 31 March; and if he will make a statement. [209955]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In line with shifting the balance of power, strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for the financial performance management of individual health organisations within their health economy.
The latest information published by the South West Peninsula SHA shows that the 2004–05 forecast outturn position for Plymouth Hospitals national health service trust is a deficit of £6.2 million. The 2004–05 forecast outturn position for Plymouth Primary Care Trust is that they will achieve financial balance.
Tuberculosis
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources he plans to devote to information and education campaigns in relation to tuberculosis in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005. [200099]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department is currently funding a joint campaign with the charity, TB Alert, targeted at raising awareness of tuberculosis among health professions and the public. This media campaign will launch this spring and the Department will resource a continuing media campaign throughout 2005.
Waiting List Deaths
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons died while on a waiting list for (a) an in-patient and (b) an out-patient appointment in England in each of the last five years. [209915]
Mr. Hutton: This information is not collected centrally.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Abandoned Vehicles (Morecambe Bay)
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) Lancaster city council and (b) South Lakeland district council have responsibility for the removal of abandoned vehicles on the sands of Morecambe Bay. [206083]
Keith Hill:
Under Section 3(1) of the Refuse Disposal Amenity Act 1978, local authorities are under a duty to remove vehicles that are abandoned in their area on any land in the open air or on any other land forming part of a highway. However, under Section 3(3) of the same Act, local authorities are absolved of this duty regarding vehicles that are situated otherwise than on a carriageway if it appears to them that the cost of removing them to the nearest convenient carriageway would be unreasonably high.
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Anti-social Behaviour Act
Mr. Tyler: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he intends to publish guidance to local authorities on implementation of Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. [210351]
Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to issue guidance for local authorities at the same time as the Regulations to bring Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 into force are laid before Parliament. We expect the complaints system to be fully operational early this year.
Consultation
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines he issues on periods appropriate for consultation on major documents; and if he will make a statement. [210414]
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Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister follows the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Consultation which can be found at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/docs/consultation/pdf/code.pdf
Council Housing
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total income in capital receipts was from the sale of council housing under the right-to-buy in each year between 1997–98 and 2002–03, broken down by Government Office region. [209697]
Keith Hill: Figures for the estimated right-to-buy receipts (based on the selling price net of discount) for 1997–98 to 2002–03 by Government Office region are tabled as follows:
Council Tax (Bexley)
Derek Conway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the discussions between his Department and Bexley borough council on the level of council tax increases. [210408]
Mr. Raynsford: I wrote to all local authority Leaders on 9 December making it clear that the Government expect all local authorities to budget prudently in 2005–06 and that the average council tax increase in England should be less than 5 per cent. I also said that the Government are prepared to take tougher capping action than we did in 2004–05 to deal with excessive budgets.
The Leader of Bexley borough council will have received this letter along with all other authorities.
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Department on (a) indoor bought plants, (b) indoor hired plants, (c) outdoor bought plants and (d) outdoor hired plants in each year since 1997. [205588]
Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002. Since that date the following has been spent on the provision and maintenance of indoor and outdoor plants. The figures include VAT.
All expenditure incurred in the purchase and procurement of these services and items has been made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government Offices, they carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.
The information for agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997; how many (a) actions, (b) settlements and (c) court cases there were in each year; and what the costs were of each settlement. [206448]
Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister came into existence from May 2002. The information listed in following table provides the expenditure related to litigation cases worked on in year by the Treasury Solicitor's Department on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
To provide a breakdown of expenditure exactly as requested would incur disproportionate cost.
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