HC Deb 25 April 1984 vol 58 cc562-3W
Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list by regions for each year since mobility allowances were introduced (a) the total number of applications submitted, (b) the total number of applications approved, (c) the total number of appeals and (d) the total number of appeals upheld.

Mr. Newton

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The information available for Great Britain is as follows. All figures relate to decisions given in the relevant years, not to the results of claims made in those years.

Mr. John Patten

The latest available information held centrally are the provisional figures for 31 December 1983 which show 598 full-time and 86 part-time staff employed at the regional health authority headquarters.

Mr. O'Brien

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total annual cost of maintaining the Yorkshire regional health authority.

Mr. John Patten

The 1984–85 revenue cash limit for the Yorkshire regional health authority's administration, and management of services such as the West Yorkshire metropolitan ambulance service, is £51 million.

Mr. O'Brien

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the responsibilities of the Yorkshire regional health authority which are distinct from the responsibilities of area health authorities, with respect to expenditure on the provision of health services in that region.

Mr. John Patten

Yorkshire regional health authority has responsibility for the following activities and services in addition to its role in ensuring satisfactory delivery and development of health services in the region through planning, resource allocation, and holding districts to account for their performance:—

—Planning and construction of major capital schemes; including provision of storage depots for equipment relating to such schemes.

—Appointment and employment of senior medical staff in the region (with the exception of the consultants employed by the two Leeds districts).

—West Yorkshire metropolitan ambulance service, including the Ambulance Training Centre at Keighley.

—Blood Transfusion Service including cell separation and plasmapheresis.

—Employment of trainees in community medicine.

—Locally organised research.

—Contribution to the cost of postgraduate medical education.

—Funding of certain trainee posts.

—Yorkshire Regional Cancer Organisation including cancer registry.

—Contractual arrangements with the Retreat at York, a psychiatric hospital used by patients throughout the region.

—Provision of virology, bacteriology and rubella screening services in arrangement with the public health laboratory services.

The range of services provided to district health authorities by the regional health authority includes education and training, legal services, organisation and methods and work study, computer services and statistical services.