HC Deb 09 December 1994 vol 251 cc388-9W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by(a) district health authorities, (b) family health service authorities, (c) regional health authorities, (d) trusts and (e) general practitioner fundholders on health care purchases from non-NHS providers in each of the last three years.

Mr. Moss

In Northern Ireland integrated health and personal social services are supplied by health boards, trusts, general practitioner fundholders and the Central Services Agency for the Health and Personal Social Services.

Health and social services boards' expenditure on the purchase of health and personal social services from non-NHS/HPSS providers was £5,777,349 in 1992–93 and £4,448,722 in 1993–94.

The accounts of the health and social services boards were revised in 1992–93 to take account of the separation of the purchaser/provider functions and the information is accordingly not readily available prior to this date.

The first health and social services trusts were established in Northern Ireland on 1 April 1993. Their accounts for 1993–94 indicated nil expenditure on purchases from non-NHS/HPSS providers.

The accounts of general practitioner fundholders do not currently separately record expenditure on purchases from non-NHS/HPSS providers.

Family practitioner services which are delivered by the CSA on a regional basis indicated nil expenditure on purchases from non-NHS/HPSS providers.

Mr. Ingram

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated cost per annum of the Child Support Agency proposals to provide DNA testing for fathers in cases of disputed paternity.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Adam Ingram, dated 9 December 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the estimated cost to the Child Support Agency of DNA testing. The contract for providing the DNA testing service has not yet been awarded, but it is being tendered on the basis that there will be no additional administrative costs for the Agency. Where paternity is established, the resulting payment of child maintenance will provide a continuing nett weekly gain to either the parent with care, or in certain benefit cases, the taxpayer. In the expectedly small number of cases where the alleged absent parent proves not to be the father and benefit is involved, the Agency will refund the test fees from within existing operating costs. I hope this reply is helpful.

Mrs. Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much has been paid out by the Child Support Agency over the last 12 months in compensation for errors or inefficiency; and in how many cases;

(2) how many compensation claims for inefficiency are under consideration in the Child Support Agency.

Mr. Burt

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Miss Ann Chant, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Ms Helen Jackson, dated 9 December 1994: I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about claims for compensation from the Child Support Agency. Over the 12 months to the end of September 1994, payments totalling £900 were authorized in respect of four claims. A further 102 were under active consideration. I hope that this reply is helpful.