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23 Jan 2006 : Column 1837W—continued
Prisoners (Right to Vote)
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the timetable is for the Government's formal response to the European Court of Human Rights ruling on giving prisoners the right to vote; and if she will make a statement. [43543]
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Ms Harman: The judgment raises a number of complex issues which will need careful consideration, including, in particular, what specific measures may need to be taken to implement it. The Government are giving urgent consideration to the judgment, and will indicate what steps it intends to take next shortly.
Small Claims
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research has been (a) conducted and (b) commissioned into the impact of the recommendation of the Better Regulation Task Force to raise the small claims limit for personal injury claims. [44940]
Bridget Prentice: The Better Regulation Task Force in its report, 'Better Routes to Redress' recommended that research should be carried out into the potential impact of raising the small claims limit for personal injury cases from the current limit of £1,000. The Government indicated that it would carry out this research and would also consider other options for dealing with these claims in a more proportionate and cost effective way. This work is currently under way.
Suspicious Deaths
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether a coroner can make a recommendation that the police re-open their inquiries in the case of a suspicious death where no charges have previously been brought. [44398]
Ms Harman: Where a coroner considers from evidence given at the inquest that a person might be charged with a homicide offence, rule 28 of the Coroners Rules 1984 provides that he must adjourn the inquest for 14 days and send particulars of the evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions or Crown Prosecution Service. If a coroner or jury returns an unlawful killing verdict at the inquest there will an expectation that the matter will be referred to the CPS for consideration.
HEALTH
Accident and Emergency Departments
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children under the age of five attended the accident and emergency department in hospitals in England in each of the last five years; [41364]
(2) what proportion of children under the age of five admitted to accident and emergency departments in hospitals in England in the last 12 months were subsequently taken into care by social services; [41377]
(3) what proportion of children under the age of five who attended accident and emergency departments in hospitals in England in the last 12 months were treated for conditions related to the consumption of inappropriate objects; [41381]
(4) how many children under the age of five years attended the accident and emergency department in hospitals in (a) Hull and (b) the East Riding in each of the last five years. [41382]
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Mr. Byrne: The comprehensive data requested are not currently collected centrally.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she used when setting the target of 98 per cent. of patients being seen within fourhours of attendance at accident and emergency departments. [43016]
Mr. Byrne: Studies show that almost all patients, withno non-clinical delays, should be able to complete their treatment in an accident and emergency (A&E) department within four hours.
The 98 per cent. minimum operating standard was set to allow for the minority of patients who clinically require more than four hours in A&E. It followed a wide consultation with clinicians and their representative organisations.
Ambulance Service
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many emergency calls were answered within the Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the last five years; [42094]
(2) what proportion of emergency calls resulted in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response times in Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the last five years. [42095]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The numbers of emergency calls answered by each ambulance service from 2000–05 are published in table 3 of the statistical bulletin, Ambulance services, England: 2004–05". This is available in the Library and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/36/79/04113679.pdf.
Reported performance for Staffordshire Ambulance Services National Health Service Trust, for the years 2000–01 to 2004–05 is shown in the table.
(54)Data for category B calls for the period October 2004 to March 2005.
Further information can be found in the statistical bulletin.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will encourage ambulance services to promote the use of the In Case of Emergency contact numbers stored in mobile handsets. [42579]
Mr. Byrne:
The Department is supportive of initiatives that encourage members of the public to carry with them emergency contact details in case of need. As there are a number of such initiatives, it is for ambulance
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trusts to make local decisions on whether to promote an initiative and whether to endorse one initiative over another.
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she issues to ambulance trusts on the purchase of ambulances. [42322]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 16 January 2006]: For the outright purchase of accident and emergency ambulances, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has the accident and emergency national framework agreement to provide ambulances at nationally negotiated discounted rates.
The framework commenced in June 2003 and expires in May 2006. However, an extension period of one year has already been agreed with key stakeholders. Suppliers awarded to the framework are compliant with the Committee for European Standardisation, which incorporates number BS EN 1789 of the British Standards Institute list as best practice and relates to any stretcher-bearing vehicle. Achievement of compliance requires a supplier to undertake extensive engineering testing and investment via an independent United Kingdom test house.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances are available to each hospital in (a) Southend, (b) Essex and (c) Hertfordshire; and how many were available in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2003. [41726]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.
Assessment Care Plans
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account her Department takes of the supporting people assessment in the guidance for the single assessment process; and how the resulting single assessment care plan operates in relation to the support plan. [41900]
Mr. Byrne: Guidance on the single assessment process (SAP) does not formally extend to housing authorities or other statutory agencies. However, it is recognised that, for many older people, housing services can make important contributions to promoting independence and well-being. Where possible, local national health service bodies and councils are encouraged to engage with housing authorities as they implement the SAP. In addition, where local assessment for housing services has been incorporated into the SAP for older people, it is also expected that all services which are provided are reflected in the care plan and any associated support plan.
Furthermore, as the hon. Member will be aware from replies given by the Minister for Local Government, the hon. Member for Oldham, East and Saddleworth (Mr.Woolas) on 14 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1970–71W, there is no standardised process for supporting people assessments.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role her Department has in assessment of people applying for access to an Extra Care scheme under the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Supporting People scheme. [41905]
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Mr. Byrne: Extra care housing is available through local authorities (LAs), housing associations and private providers. Access to extra care housing is not governed or determined by the supporting people programme, although supporting people funding may contribute to an individual's ongoing extra care costs, where housing related support is needed.
Housing related support is not assessed through the single assessment process. LAs consider individual needs depending on each set of personal circumstances. If accommodation is required as part of a needs assessment or a change in needs, decisions are made following consultation with the individual about their preferences, housing provision in the area and any statutory obligations that arise.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to revise single assessment process guidance to cover (a) housing-related needs and (b) housing-related service options. [41906]
Mr. Byrne: There are no plans at this time to revise the single assessment process (SAP) guidance to cover housing-related needs and housing-related service options. However, as set out in the Office of Deputy Prime Minister consultation, Creating Sustainable Communities: Supporting People", work is planned to consider how housing-related support might be made part of integrated assessment processes. We will consider at the appropriate time whether this work might require changes to SAP or other relevant guidance.
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