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19 Jul 2005 : Column 1680W—continued
Section 64 Funding
Ms Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason bereavement was removed from the criteria for eligibility for section 64 funding for 2005–06. [12255]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In 2005–06, bereavement organisations received grants totalling more than £200,000 through the section 64 general scheme of grants.
Funding for section 64 grants is limited and always over subscribed. In these circumstances, funding for new projects from 2006–07 was directed at priorities other than bereavement. However, a number of bereavement organisations continue to receive funding through previous section 64 awards through until 2008.
Smoking
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the possibility of smoking being a contributing factor in the onset of blindness; and if she will make a statement. [11875]
Caroline Flint: The Government have not commissioned research on the possibility of smoking being a contributing factor in the onset of blindness. However, it is widely recognised that smoking is linked to many serious and chronic conditions.
Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the board members of health trusts within the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority who have left their positions in the last three years. [12798]
Caroline Flint:
The information is not held centrally, nor is it collected locally by the strategic health authority.
19 Jul 2005 : Column 1681W
Responsibility for appointments functions relating to the appointment of non-executive directors of national health service trusts was delegated to the NHS Appointments Commission when it was established in 2001. The chair of the NHS Appointments Commission will write to the hon. Member directly with the information he has asked for.
Walnuttree Hospital, Sudbury
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations her Department has received from (a) patients, (b) patients' relatives, (c) medical staff and (d) other health authority staff regarding the proposal to close the Walnuttree hospital in Sudbury. [9337]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department has received letters and emails from patients, patients' relatives and medical staff on the proposal to close the Walnuttree hospital in Sudbury. In addition, a 10,000 signature petition was presented to the Department on 24 November 2004 on behalf of the campaigners, Hands Off Our Hospital".
World Health Organisation
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has given to the World Health Organisation in each year since 1997; whether there are restrictions on the use of these funds; and if she will make a statement. [12719]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department pays the United Kingdom's annual subscription to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in line with the United Nation's scales of assessment, which is shown in the table. There are no restrictions on the use of these funds.
(62) Figures are in sterling and based on the United Kingdom's financial year starting from 1997–98 to 2004–05.
(63) Figures are not comparable to previous years due to the introduction of the resource accounting and budgeting out-turn exercise. This information is compiled in line with the requirements of Government Accounting 2000".
(64) Amount in sterling is provisional.
Notes:
1. WHO contributions against the UK are in US dollars and converted into sterling by using the exchange rates used by the Bank of England.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousands.
In addition to the annual subscription, the Department has made voluntary contributions targeted to specific WHO programmes in the following areas:
Non communicable diseases (health inequalities, WHO global strategy on diet, physical activity and health)
TREASURY
Child Trust Fund
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Child Trust Fund cheques have been invested; and if he will make a statement. [13642]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 286–87W. Figures are published quarterly and the next figures will be published at the end of August.
Childcare Vouchers
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department is providing to parents to explain the effect of claiming tax-free childcare vouchers on (a) child tax credit and (b) superannuation contributions. [10790]
Dawn Primarolo: Guidance on the effect of accepting tax-free childcare vouchers on tax credits and pension contributions where these are offered by employers in return for a salary sacrifice is available on HMRC's website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/specialist/salary_sacrifice.htm
Employers should advise employees of any effect of childcare vouchers on tax credits and pension contributions.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the effect of take-up of tax-free childcare vouchers by employees will be on occupational pension contributions for (a) men and (b) women. [10791]
Dawn Primarolo: The tax and NICs exemption for employer-provided childcare vouchers has no effect on occupational pension contributions for men or women. Whether employers choose to alter pension contributions is entirely a matter for them.
Class A Drugs
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been arrested for trafficking class A drugs at (a) airports and (b) ports in each of the last five years. [13212]
Dawn Primarolo: HMRC does not currently collect arrest data in a way that readily allows production of this kind of breakdown.
HMRC prosecution statistics for class A offences are regularly published by the Home Office in Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics reports. However, these do not include breakdowns by locations of seizure.
The most recent of these reports was published in July 2004, covering results for 2001 and 2002. In 2001, there were 560 prosecutions for illegal import or export of class A drugs. In 2002, there were 1,220.
19 Jul 2005 : Column 1683W
Cost Recovery
Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1424W, on cost recovery, when he expects the National Partnership Group for Palliative Care to publish the further information on full cost recovery to which he refers. [10402]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
The information on health care resource groups, payment by results and the principles of full costs recovery being prepared for the national partnership group for palliative care is presently out for consultation with the group. We expect to issue this information once the consultation process is complete.
Council Tax
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 432W, on council tax, if he will place in the Library a copy of the written advice or reports submitted to the Valuation Office Agency by (a) Cole Layer Trumble, (b) the International Association of Assessing Officers, (c) the International Property Tax Institute, (d) the Institute of Revenue Rating and Valuation, (e) the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveys and (f) KPMG. [13160]
Dawn Primarolo: I have asked the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to arrange for hardcopy versions of Mass Appraisal of Real Property" and Property Appraisal and Assessment Administration" published by the International Association of Assessing Officers and A vision for valuation" published by the RIGS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) to be placed in the House of Commons and the House of Lords Libraries. (A vision for valuation" is also available on www.rics.org.). The Valuation Office Agency has used these publications to aid their review of potential techniques which may assist the revaluation, and also discussed aspects with representatives of the bodies concerned.
The remaining written advice provided by (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) , (e) and (f) has been given to assist in the formulation of Government policy on the future assessment of properties for council tax purposes using computer aided mass appraisal techniques, which are still under development. This written advice has been provided in confidence, and in addition disclosure could in some cases prejudice the commercial interests of the supplier and their relationship with the VOA.
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