HC Deb 10 June 1988 vol 134 cc723-4W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caernarfon of 19 May,Official Report, column 559, why no meetings have been held with representatives of local authorities on the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 since October 1987.

Mr. Scott

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 7 June at column573.

Total expenditure on salaries and wages—Nurses and midwives
1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87
Mersey Region £ thousand Non-NHS per cent. £ thousand Non-NHS per cent. £ thousand Non-NHS per cent. £ thousand Non-NHS per cent. £ thousand Non-NHS per cent.
Chester 12,102 Nil 12,823 Nil 13,529 Nil 14,301 Nil 15,451 Nil
Crewe 11,339 Nil 11,977 Nil 13,033 0.01 14,095 0.03 15,201 0.22
Halton 3,347 Nil 3,468 0.12 3,627 0.28 4,850 0.79 5,713 1.96
Macclesfield 11,148 0.01 11,765 12,459 0.08 12,969 0.05 13,970 0.36
Warrington 14,920 Nil 16,275 Nil 17,374 Nil 18,629 Nil 20,291 Nil
Liverpool 36,143 0.19 36,535 0.32 38,170 1.09 40,335 1.06 44,577 1.24
St. Helens & Knowsley 18,557 Nil 19,309 Nil 20,683 Nil 21,902 Nil 23,751 Nil

We are seeking expert advice on the potential risks associated with taking these products and expect to obtain that in July. However, if the advice is to cast doubt on the safety of the products we shall then need to consider what action can be taken to control them, without affecting the proper use of these substances as stabilisers in food.