§ Mr. David Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a scheme for compulsory periodic medical check-ups as a preventive care measure.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:No. Compulsory medical examination plays no part in the philosophy and practice of the provision of health care in the NHS, except in the control of some infectious diseases.
Supplementary Benefit
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of people currently having supplementary benefit in the area covered by Kirklees metropolitan district authority and Oldham metropolitan district authority; and what were the numbers for autumn 1978, 1979 and 1980.
§ Mrs. Chalker:Information is not available in the form requested. However, 49,800 people were receiving supplementary benefit from the four DHSS local offices in the two districts at 5 August 1981—the latest available date. This includes some people who live outside Kirklees and Oldham metropolitan districts.
Figures for previous years are as follows:
325W
November 1978 38,300 November 1979 36,800 December 1980 42,000 Source: 100 per cent. count of cases
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff were employed at each
Huddersfield 193 202 204 208 213 210 Dewsbury 169 173 177 176 179 183
b. Oldham Metropolitan District Area Oldham 213 230 235 237 225 221 Failsworth 158 170 169 166 160 157 Unemployment benefit offices are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.
§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of administration of supplementary benefit, including costs of investigations of abuse and prosecutions for fraud; and what is the total value of supplementary benefits paid.
§ Mrs. Chalker:The estimated cost in 1981–82 is £340 million and £4,353 million respectively.
Action on Smoking and Health
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what public funds have been paid to Action on Smoking and Health in each year since its inception; what is the size of the grant in the current year; and what plans he has to make a further grant in 1982.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:Since its inception in 1971, Action on Smoking and Health and its Welsh and Scottish branches have been allocated the following sums by the Health Departments:
1971–72 19,000 — — 1972–73 6,000 — — 1973–74 3,000 — — 1974–75 6,400 — — 1975–76 18,500 — 810 1976–77 31,000 750 1,740 1977–78 41,500 750 1,590 1978–79 59,500 1,000 1,440 1979–80 70,000 1,200 2,200 1980–81 80,000 1,600 * 11,000 1981–82 112,000 1,600 15,400 *Introduction of revised funding arrangements and an end to the separate contribution from the former Scottish health education unit. No application has yet been received for a grant for 1982–83.
Mr. Michael Brown asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he is having with Action on Smoking and Health concerning the possibility of a grant from public funds in 1982.
326Wbenefit office in (a) the Kirklees metropolitan district area and (b) the Oldham metropolitan district area in each year from 1975 to 1980; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Chalker:The information requested on staff employed at DHSS local offices is as follows:
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:I shall shortly be meeting representatives of Action on Smoking and Health at their request.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions Ministers of his Department have met officers of Action on Smoking and Health since May 1979.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:There have been three formal meetings at the request of Action on Smoking and Health.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what checks he makes on how the grant from public funds to Action on Smoking and Health is spent.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:Officials attend annual general meetings and meetings of the executive and council of Action on Smoking and Health as observers, and maintain regular contact with officers of the organisation. Like other voluntary organisations seeking grants from the Department under the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968, ASH submits detailed financial estimates and audited accounts annually, which are scrutinised by the Department and discussed as necessary with ASH.