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Mr. Maclean [holding answer 2 June 1992] : The Department provides grants to householders on low incomes for energy efficiency measures through the home energy efficiency scheme. Finance to encourage energy efficiency measures in housing is also made available through house renovation grants and minor works assistance, local authorities' council housing repair and improvement programmes, the green house demonstration programme and estates action. The Energy Savings Trust announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 13 May, Official Report, at column 136, is also expected to make grants available to improve energy efficiency.
Management Agreements
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to revise his Department's circular 3/84 on financial guidelines for management agreements.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 29 June 1992] : We will make such revisions as are necessary following the forthcoming review of the financial guidelines.
SCOTLAND
Factor 8
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the operation of the Medicines Act (Exemptions from Licences) (Importation) Order 1984--SI, 1984, No. 673--in relation to named patient arrangements for the supply of unlicensed factor 8 preparations and other unlicensed pharmaceutical products.
Mr. Stewart : I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Health on 1 July 1992.
Responsibility for the operation of the Medicines Act (Exemptions from Licences) (Importation) Order 1984 is a matter for the Medicines Control Agency.
Immunologists
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultant immunologists there are in each Scottish health board area.
Mr. Stewart : The information collected centrally records only the main specialty of a doctor and shows that there were no consultant immunologists employed in the NHS in Scotland at 30 September 1991, the latest date for
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which information is available. No information is available centrally on the number of doctors who work in immunology and for whom this specialty constitutes an area of special interest.NHS Staff
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for 1988, 1989 and 1990 (a) the number of whole-time equivalent national health service staff employed on the terms and conditions of the national health service administrative and clerical staffs Whitley council in Scotland, (b) the number of whole-time equivalent national health service general and senior managers and (c) the number of health staff employed at the Scottish Home and Health Department.
Mr. Stewart : The information requested is as follows :
|c|(c) Staff
employed in the
Scottish Home and
Health Department
on|c|
|c|health matters at
1 April|c|
|Number
---------------------
1988 |355
1989 |356
1990 |379
|c|(c) Staff
employed in the
Scottish Home and
Health Department
on|c|
|c|health matters at
1 April|c|
|Number
---------------------
1988 |355
1989 |356
1990 |379
|c|(c) Staff
employed in the
Scottish Home and
Health Department
on|c|
|c|health matters at
1 April|c|
|Number
---------------------
1988 |355
1989 |356
1990 |379
Hospital Directors
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the salaries and other benefits for each executive and non- executive director of the South Ayrshire district general hospital and the Foresterhill hospital.
Mr. Stewart : The chairman of the South Ayrshire NHS trust is paid £17,145 per annum and the chairman of the Aberdeen Royal Hospitals trust £19,285 per annum. Non-executive directors are paid £5,000 per annum. The chairman and non-executive directors of both trusts also qualify for travelling and other allowances identical to those for members of health boards. Salaries and other benefits for executive directors are the responsibility of the trusts themselves.
Departmental Expenses
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost of official (a) hospitality and functions, (b) visits outwith Scotland and (c) gifts, etc. attributable to the Scottish Office in each year since 1980 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 11 June 1992] : The information requested is as follows :
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(a)Hospitality and Functions
Year |Amount spent
|on hospitality
|(£)
---------------------------------------------
1980-81 |19,427
1981-82 |20,762
1982-83 |31,588
1983-84 |26,287
1984-85 |27,301
1985-86 |35,815
1986-87 |38,315
1987-88 |41,983
1988-89 |42,987
1989-90 |60,173
1990-91 |65,123
1991-92 |62,800
(b) Visits outwith Scotland
Scottish Office Ministers and officials incur travel and subsistence costs on journeys outwith Scotland, particularly to England, in the normal course of duties and functions placed on them by Parliament. It is not possible to identify those costs separately from the total Scottish Office travel and subsistence expenditure, which was £4,972 million in 1991-92.
(c) Gifts etc.
Records in relation to gifts attributable to the Scottish Office go back only to 1988-89. The cost of gifts incurred by the Scottish Office since then are :
|£
----------------
1988-89 |109
1989-90 |403
1990-91 |330
1991-92 |450
Superannuation Division
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the timetable for the establishment of the Scottish Office superannuation division as a "next steps" agency ; and whether both the administration and the policy side of the division will be incorporated within it ;
(2) if he will place in the Library the framework document for the establishment of the Scottish Office superannuation division as a "next steps" agency ;
(3) if he will make a statement on his reasons for setting up the Scottish Office superannuation division as a "next steps" agency ; what measures he will take to protect the standards of service provided by the superannuation division ; and what will be the performance criteria for the agency.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 30 June 1992] : The Government's declared policy under its "next steps" programme is that units within government carrying out executive functions should be established as agencies operating within frameworks which enable them to improve their performance. Key aims of the programme are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the agencies and the standard of services which they provide.
The Secretary of State announced on 6 March, Official Report, column 335, that the Scottish Office superannuation division is to be established as an agency by the autumn. A firm date will be announced as soon as possible. The new agency will assume all the functions undertaken at present by the superannuation division, including advising Ministers on policy issues. The framework document under which the agency will operate will include a clear statement of its functions and responsibilites. It will
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be published on the launch of the agency and a copy will be placed in the Library. Performance criteria and key performance targets will also be published at that time.PRIME MINISTER
Tibet
Mr. Alton : To ask the Prime Minister if he will use the opportunity of the British presidency of the EC to co-ordinate a community response to the claims of Tibet to self-determination.
The Prime Minister : No state recognises Tibet as independent. Successive British Governments have, however, consistently regarded Tibet as autonomous, while recognising the special position of the Chinese there. We have urged the Chinese authorities to allow that autonomy. During our presidency we shall continue to take up with the Chinese authorities human rights abuses both in Tibet and in China.
Earth Summit
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in establishing the United Kingdom national consultation committee on sustainable development as agreed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
The Prime Minister : The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development did not agree to set up a United Kingdom national consultation committee on sustainable development. UNCED did agree to recommend that the United Nations General Assembly set up, within the UN system, a Commission for Sustainable Development. The United Kingdom welcomed this, and we have undertaken to report regularly to the commission on our own progress towards sustainable development. In preparing those reports, we shall want to consult fully with interested people and organisations.
War Crimes
Mr. Janner : To ask the Prime Minister what current consideration Her Majesty's Government are giving to evidence of atrocities at the Sylt camp on Alderney and elsewhere in the Channel islands during the second world war.
The Prime Minister : The War Crimes Act 1991 gives United Kingdom courts jurisdiction over acts of murder, manslaughter or culpable homicide committed as violations of the laws and customs of war in territory which was part of Germany or under German occupation during the second world war by people who are now British citizens or resident in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel islands, but who did not have British nationality at the material time.
There is no reason to believe that anyone responsible for atrocities/war crimes committed in the Channel islands is in the United Kingdom.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 2 July.
Sir Peter Tapsell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 2 July.
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The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Environment
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 18 June from the Minister for the Environment and Countryside, Official Report, column 664, when he expects to receive a response from the Group of Seven colleagues to his eight-point plan relating to global forecasting ; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I wrote to G7 leaders proposing that they should commit themselves to action to follow up the agreements reached at the Earth summit. One of my specific proposals was that we should each commit ourselves to preparing and publishing national plans for action on biological diversity.
I hope we shall discuss these matters at the forthcoming summit in Munich.
HEALTH
Baby Food
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the United Kingdom voluntary code on direct advertising of infant formula to parents ; and if she will consider including within the code formulae which are manufactured for older babies.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The United Kingdom delegation was at the forefront of ensuring that the principles of the World Health Organisation international code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes--the WHO code-- were incorporated into the EC
directive--91/321/EEC--on infant formulae and follow-on formulae agreed in May 1991. National legislation to implement the directive is in preparation and will require a review of the voluntary UK code, including the products that are covered. The Government are committed to ensuring that the existing restrictions on marketing and advertising are, at least, maintained.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Finnish baby milk manufacturer Young Nutrition about the application of the United Kingdom voluntary code on direct advertising of infant formulae to parents.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Discussions between representatives from Young Nutrition and officials about the operation of the code of practice for the marketing of infant formulae in the United Kingdom took place before the company launched its products in the UK. As a result, Young Nutrition joined the Infant and Dietetic Foods Association of the Food and Drink Federation and has representation on the code monitoring committee that oversees compliance with the code in the UK.
Haemophilia
Mr. Elletson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has received from the United Kingdom Regional Haemophilia Centre directors' committee about the licensing of pharmaceutical products
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used in the treatment of people with haemophilia ; if she will make it her policy that all people with haemophilia A should be treated with licensed monoclonal high purity products ; and if she will make central funds available for this purpose ;(2) if she will make it her policy not to allow unlicensed factor 8 products for the treatment of haemophilia to be imported or used within the United Kingdom.
Mr. Sackville : We have received no such representations from the United Kingdom Regional Haemophilia Centre Directors' Committee. It is normal practice in the United Kingdom for clinicians to use licensed medicinal products. It is also possible for clinicians, under sections 9 and 13 of the Medicines Act, to prescribe an unlicensed product on a "named patient" basis.
It is for clinicians to decide the most appropriate product indicated for the treatment of each individual patient.
Orthodontic Treatment
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the total numbers, the total cost and the average cost of a chargeable course of orthodontic treatment in the financial years 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 in each health region and England as a whole.
Dr. Mawhinney : This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Over 95 per cent. of orthodontic treatment is given to patients under 18 years of age and even some adult orthodontic treatment is likely to be on patients who are also charge-exempt. The amount of chargeable orthodontic treatment is, therefore, very small.
NHS Staff
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give for 1988 and 1989 (a) the number of whole-time equivalent national health service staff employed on the terms and conditions of the national health service administrative and clerical staffs Whitley council in England, (b) the number of whole-time equivalent national health service general and senior managers and (c) the number of staff employed at her Department.
Dr. Mawhinney : At 30 September 1988 and 1989 the numbers of whole- time equivalent administrative and clerical staff employed in the national health service in England were 114,720 and 116,840 respectively. Corresponding figures for general and senior managers are 1,240 and 4,610. It is not possible to present accurate staffing figures for the Department of Health before 1 January 1989 following its separation from the Department of Social Security in October 1988. Figures for permanent staff in post in 1989 were 8,794 at 1 January and 8,712 at 1 October--part-time staff being counted as half units.
Waiting Lists
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing for each region, and nationally the numbers on the waiting lists as at April and October 1990, 1991 and 1992.
Mr. Sackville : The Department's statistical bulletins are published every six months. These include the total
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number of people waiting for hospital treatment by region and nationally. The most recent information for the six months to 30 September 1991 was published on 4 June. For provisional figures for the year to March 1992, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) on 12 May at columns 489-92. These show that between 31 March 1990 and 31 March 1992 the total number of patients waiting fell by over 43,000 or 4.5 per cent.Obsessive Compulsions
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what treatment is now available under the national health service for obsessive compulsion disorder sufferers ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Yeo : National health service treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder sufferers is a matter for the clinical judgment of the responsible health professional. Current approaches include the use of behaviour therapy and anti-depressant medication.
Community Care
Mr. Kevin Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions she proposes to make to establish the amount of social security transfer to local authorities for community care that will be made available from April 1993 onwards following the disbanding of the Algebra group.
Mr. Yeo : The social security transfer will be calculated in accordance with the formula, and the factors affecting it, which were the subject of the completed discussions in the so-called "Algebra group". The transfer will be announced in the context of this year's local authority expenditure settlement. It will be transparent, separately identifiable and local authorities and others with an interest will be able to see how the calculations were done.
Mr. Kevin Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of financial considerations on the ability of local authorities to implement the Children Act 1989 and the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990.
Mr. Yeo : Personal social services--PSS--standard spending for 1992- 93 has been set at £4,850 million, an increase of 7.7 per cent.--3.1 per cent. in real terms--over 1991-92 standard spending, and 6 per cent. higher than 1991-92 budgets. Over the two years 1990-91 to 1992-93, PSS standard spending will have increased by nearly one third--19 per cent. in real terms. The settlement provides a realistic increase in resources for PSS taking account of falling inflation, and allows for the first full year costs of implementing the Children Act, phase 2 of community care, new and increased specific grants, inflation and demography. PSS expenditure has increased by 67 per cent. in real terms since 1978-79.
Mr. Kevin Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra funds she will grant to health authorities in order that community health services, including district nurses, collaborate with local authorities in implementing care in the community.
Mr. Yeo : District health authorities are working with social services departments to develop strategies for the
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provision of community health services. Health authorities are already funded for their responsibilities, including preparation for implementing "Caring for People" in April 1993. Resources for 1993-94 will be determined in the public expenditure survey in the usual way. Regional health authorities, when allocating these resources to districts and GP fund holders, will take account of special needs resulting from agreed plans for collaboration between national health service and local authority staff.NHS Estates
Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the plans of the National Health Service Estates executive agency.
Mr. Sackville : I am pleased to report that National Health Service Estates has had a successful first year as an executive agency of this Department. I have agreed the agency's 1992-93 three-year corporate plan, and annual business plan.
Objectives/key tasks for the agency for 1992-93 are :
1. To keep within agreed running cost/cash limits and recover budgeted income flow by increasing efficiency, reducing costs and improving revenues saving 4 per cent. on the agency's 1992-93 running cost allocation, producing 100 per cent. of services within time and cost agreed and assessing requirements for eventual move to the most suitable financial regime.
2. To facilitate the release of capital and revenue resources for improved health care through increasing uptake by NHS customers of agency asset management, estate utilisation, option appraisal and design products. Target for 1992-93--£250-£500 million.
3. In the light of the health reforms, to agree with existing and new customers their changing requirements for products and services while identifying a further 30 per cent. ofarea 3 services for untying.
4. Manage the agency's relocation to Leeds by March 1993 maintaining service levels, credibility and morale.
5. To facilitate improved productivity by reviewing pay/performance and staff management requirements making recommendations by March 1993.
6. To improve product quality by implementing a programme to achieve BS 5750 quality assurance accreditation in 1993-94.
Health Service Commissioner
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to receive the annual report of the Health Service Commissioner for 1991-92.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Health Service Commissioner has, as in previous years, made a report on the performance of his functions in England, Scotland and Wales. My right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales and I presented the report to the House on 1 July. It was published today--HC82--and copies have been placed in the Library. Copies are also available from the Vote Office.
Pen Injection Systems
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in her Department's review about the provision of needles for pen injection systems for diabetics through general practitioner prescription ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : Discussions are continuing with suppliers about the price and technical specification of pen
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injection systems and their needles. When these discussions have reached a satisfactory conclusion, we aim to make pens and needles prescribable at the earliest opportunity.Clinical Grading
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her best estimate of the time it will take to resolve outstanding clinical grading by nurses (a) in England, (b) in Wales and (c) in Scotland, (i) at the current rate of progress and (ii) given the current proposals for speeding up the process.
Mr. Sackville : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 30 June at columns 462-63 .
Foetal Parts
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement regarding the uses to which foetal parts from aborted pre- born babies are put when they are not incinerated.
Mr. Sackville : A code of practice on the use of foetal tissue is contained in the Polkinghorne report on the review of the guidance on the research use of foetal and foetal material, a copy of which is in the Library. Health authorities and places approved under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 have been asked to ensure that the code of practice is fully adhered to.
Domestic Fires
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths she estimates could be avoided each year if smoke alarms were installed in all homes.
Mr. Baldry : I have been asked to reply.
Precise estimates are difficult to make. If all homes were fitted with correctly sited and properly maintained smoke detectors, between 100 and 150 lives might be saved each year in fires in the United Kingdom.
DEFENCE
Submarines
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fuel core assemblies from nuclear-powered submarines are being kept at Sellafield ; and what are his plans for reprocessing or providing for long- term storage of this material.
Mr. Aitken : Currently some 36 nuclear submarine used fuel cores are stored at BNFL Sellafield. No decision has yet been taken on whether to reprocess this used fuel which will continue to be held in safe storage.
Disabled Employees
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of officers in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively and overall in his Department are registered disabled people.
Mr. Aitken : The MOD employs 1,164 registered disabled staff which represents 0.9 per cent. of the total work force. At present, none of our registered disabled staff is employed in grades 1 to 7.
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Frigates
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the Royal Navy's future frigate combat management system.
Mr. Aitken : Following competition, contracts were placed with three companies, Dowty Sema, Ferranti Naval Systems and Thomson CSF in February 1992 for feasibility studies into the combat management system for the future frigate. These are due to compete in 1993. In addition, discussions are being conducted with the French to examine the possibilities for collaboration with France on the future frigate, including the combat management system.
Surface-to-Air Missile
Mr. Menzies Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the result of the competition for the medium- range surface-to-air missile.
Mr. Aitken : The evaluation of tenders is currently under way. Consideration of procurement options following the completion of the evaluation will need to be carried out in the context of United Kingdom air defence requirements as a whole. We hope to announce a decision in the first half of 1993.
Defence Research Agency
Mr. Lidington : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets have been set for the Defence Research Agency in 1992-93.
Mr. Aitken : The targets recently set for the Defence Research Agency in 1992-93 and subsequent years are as follows :
(a) To keep within budget for 1992-93 and subsequently to meet profit and cash targets as a trading fund ;
(b) To achieve overall time utilisation of 40 per cent. and utilisation of direct booking staff of 68 per cent. in 1992-93 and to improve these to 48 and 70 per cent. respectively by 1994-95 ; (c) To reduce administrative and general overhead (AGO) to 25 per cent. of direct costs in 1993-94 and to reduce this progressively to 15 per cent. in 1996-97 ;
(d) To increase the percentage of DRA's turnover formally subject to market testing to at least 50 per cent. by 1996-97. Activities to the value of £25 million to be market-tested in 1992-93 ;
(e) To achieve 60 per cent. of milestones within one month of the due date in 1992-93 and to improve this by 5 per cent. per annum for four years ;
(f) To achieve an improvement in quality of service in 1992-93 as measured by the management parameters in the customer satisfaction survey as compared with overall satisfaction--81 per cent. of average level of all parameters in 1992-93 ;
(g) By 31 October 1992, to demonstrate the DRA's ability to operate as a trading fund, and
(h) By 31 March 1993, to develop a definitive programme for asset rationalisation against which targets will be set in future years.
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