HC Deb 27 January 1993 vol 217 cc719-20W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what obligation is laid on each newly-established NHS trust to establish an inventory of physical assets; and if she will make a statement.

Tower Hamlets, (h) West Lambeth, (i) Lewisham and North Southwark and (j) England at the latest available date.

Dr. Mawhinney

The table shows the number of notifications received to the addicts index by the Home Office from doctors during 1991 (the latest year for which figures for district health authorities are available centrally), and the number expressed as a rate per million population.

The addicts index includes only those drug addicts who are notifiable under the terms of the Misuse of Drugs (Notification and Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1973. This covers 14 controlled drugs, mainly opiates and cocaine, which are specified in the regulations.

Dr. Mawhinney

There is no specific obligation but trusts have to draw up inventories for two practical reasons, one as part of the system of transferring assets from a health authority to a national health service trust and the other for valuation purposes to facilitate the assessment of the trusts' originating capital debt.