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Child Protection Register
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What guidance they will give to local authorities about the review of cases where children have been placed on "at risk" registers as a consequence of disputed medical evidence, even though that evidence may not have been tested in the courts.[HL1994]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): We have no plans to issue further guidance to local authorities which relates to the review of children who have been placed on the child protection register as a consequence of disputed medical evidence which may not have been tested in the courts.
The local authority circular, LAC(2004)5, which was issued on 25 February 2004, provided guidance to councils about the action needed in the light of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the criminal case of R v Angela Cannings. This included guidance in respect of children whose final care orders are in place and the finding of significant harm turned on disputed medical evidence.
The Government's child protection guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999) sets out clearly when a child should be placed on the child protection register and the review process which should follow registration. It emphasises that the purpose of the child protection review is to review the safety, health and development of the child against intended outcomes set out in the child protection plan. simone
Private Finance Initiative: Hospitals
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they received any complaints relating to issues of conflict of interest in the allocation of a contract to Health Care Projects, a subsidiary of Skanska Innisfree, for the rebuilding of St Bartholemew's and the Royal London Hospital under the private finance initiative; and, if so, whether consideration was given to such complaints before or after the signing of the contract.[HL1810]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): We do not accept that any conflict of interest has arisen in the appointment of Skanska/Innisfree as the preferred bidder for the redevelopment project at the Barts and the London NHS Trust. Throughout the entire procurement process the trust has been open and transparent about the involvement of former trust staff with Skanska/Innisfree.
Diabetes
Lord Dixon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many registered diabetics there are in the area covered by South Tyneside Primary Care Trust; and of these how many are aged (a) 0–4; (b) 5–14; (c) 15–24; (d) 25–34; (e) 35–44; (f) 45–54; (g) 55–64; and (h) 65 or over.[HL1926]
Lord Warner: This information is not available in the form requested. However, the Health Survey for England estimates that the number of people with diabetes in England is as follows:
| Year | Number of people with diabetes |
| 1994 | 1,378,707 |
| 1998 | 1,684,111 |
Source:
Health Survey for England
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the interests of consumer choice, they will seek improvements to European Commission Regulation 1829/2003 by requiring the labelling of meat and milk to show whether or not it has been produced from genetically modified animal feed.[HL2018]
5 Apr 2004 : Column WA203
Lord Warner: European Commission Regulation 1829/2003 will be reviewed two years after adoption. This will provide an opportunity to discuss revisions to the regulation for example the labelling of milk and meat from animals fed genetically modified animal feed. simone
Hepatitis C
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to ministerial undertakings to consult the Haemophilia Society on all aspects of ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products, when the Department of Health will be meeting the society to discuss issues of implementation.[HL2021]
Lord Warner: As part of the Department of Health's ongoing dialogue, officials from the departments of health in England, Scotland and Wales met with representatives from the Haemophilia Society and other patient groups on 26 March 2004 to discuss the implementation of the ex gratia payment scheme, and in particular the application process.
Pharmacies
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What proportion of pharmacies have facilities to obtain information about a customer's medical history in private.[HL2028]
Lord Warner: This information is not held centrally.
However, the Office of Fair Trading's report The control of entry regulations and retail pharmacy services in the UK, published in January 2003, included results from a questionnaire of pharmacies conducted by Frontier Economics. It reported half of those pharmacies responding had private consultation areas.
We expect the number of pharmacies providing suitable private consultation areas to increase. We are currently discussing a new contractual framework for community pharmacy in England with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the NHS Confederation. Designed to improve the range and quality of services offered to patients, our discussions include proposals for pharmacies to provide a range of advanced services subject to accreditation of the pharmacist and/or the pharmacy premises meeting specific requirements. This would include providing a suitable private consultation area for patients. We hope to conclude discussions shortly, and, subject to a further ballot of contractors, implement the new framework later in 2004.
NHS Continuing Care
Baroness Greengross asked Her Majesty's Government: simone
- As a result of the Health Ombudsman's February 2003 report on National Health Service continuing care:
As a result of the Health Ombudsman's February 2003 report on National Health Service continuing care:
(a) how many complaints have been reviewed by each strategic health authority in total;
(b) how many complaints have been found to be eligible for continuing health care funding (i) in a nursing home; or (ii) elsewhere;
(c) how many complaints have been rejected; and
(d) how many complainants have requested a further review by a panel hearing; or have submitted their complaint to the ombudsman; and[HL2212]
(a) how many complaints remain outstanding; and
(b) by what date all outstanding reviews should be completed.[HL2213]
Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not collect information on the setting in which people receive continuing care or the number of individuals who have requested a further review by a panel hearing. The position on the total number of investigations, the number of people recompensed, rejected for recompense or remaining outstanding will be reviewed after the end of March 2004.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): Some of the new and extended provisions of the revised social charter are not clearly defined and appear to require open-ended commitments from governments. The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) considered the application of the revised charter by the first states that had ratified it, for the first time in 2002–03. In its conclusions on the first national reports, the ECSR stated that it will progressively determine its interpretation of the amended and new provisions and has asked the relevant countries for a range of additional information to help it do so. The UK Government hope that definitions will be clearer following forthcoming interpretations from the ECSR in
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: When considering the location of the Pension Protection Fund we took into account the principles of the Lyons review before reaching a decision.
The Department for Work and Pensions is acutely aware of the need to consider location as part of the business requirements and is already widely dispersed. Further departmental relocation proposals out of London and the south-east are included in the Lyons review.
In reaching a decision to locate the Pension Protection Fund in southern England we looked at three independent criteria:
Whether there are any differences between the European Social Charter 1961 and the revised charter which create potential obstacles to ratification of the revised charter by the United Kingdom; and, if so, whether they will identify the nature of the obstacles.[HL2036]
Whether they intend to locate offices of the Pension Protection Fund in southern England; and, if so, how this can be reconciled with the Lyons report recommendation for an enforced presumption against London and south-east locations for new government bodies and activities.[HL2129]
achieving successful implementation of the PPF
ability to recruit expert staff
value for money.
On balance we concluded that southern England was the best option which met the business needs to ensure that the Pension Protection Fund could operate with optimum effectiveness and efficiency.
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