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Health: Stress

Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The national service framework for mental health (1999) identifies excessive stress as one of the factors that can reduce mental well-being and, in some cases, lead to physical and mental ill health. As such, stress is part of Making it possible: improving mental health and well-being in England (2006), which provides good practice to support the development and delivery of action to improve mental health and well-being.

The Shift anti-stigma workplace campaign, Action on Stigma, is in line with our emphasis on improving mental health for the whole community. Shift, which is being run from 2004-09 by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE), and is funded by the department, is an integral part of NIMHE's work in tackling stigma and discrimination in mental health. Through Action on Stigma, Shift is helping employers to reduce the discrimination faced by people with mental health problems in the workplace. The initiative has included a listening exercise involving more than 500 employers and Shift will be producing an action plan for employers in 2007.

The Government recognise the importance of tackling work-related stress (WRS) to both the economy and the health of the nation, with the topic also being covered in both the Health Work and Wellbeing Strategy and the Department for Work and Pensions' work on welfare reform. WRS is also one of the priority topics identified in the Health and Safety Commission's strategy for workplace health and safety 2010.

In 2004, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched the management standards for tackling work-related stress (MS) and is supporting organisations through the process.

Nearly 1,500 organisations in the HSE's target sectors (central government, local government, health, education and financial services) have received support via sector implementation plans (SIPs). The first (SIP1) saw nearly 80 organisations provided with direct support from an HSE inspector and access to nearly £300,000 of Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) adviser time. SIP2 started with a series of 69 workshops in late 2006/early 2007 with more than 1,400 organisations represented. Support for SIP2 organisations is provided via a telephone helpline, a series of master classes and guidance on how to choose professional assistance if required.

For employers outside the target sectors, help is still available. Workplace Health Connect is a pilot initiative providing advice to small and medium organisations on a number of occupational health issues, including WRS.

A wealth of guidance is also available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk with content being added regularly. This is in addition to the free printed guidance, also available on the website: Making the stress Management Standards work: How to apply the Standards in your workplace which gives an overview of the process and the stressors identified and Tackling stress: the management standards approach—a short guide.

Guidance for employees is also available on the website and in the publication entitled Working together to reduce stress at work—a guide for employees which was co-published with ACAS and the Trades Union Congress.

Managers have been identified as having a significant bearing on staff's experiences in the workplace. In light of this, HSE has commissioned research from Goldsmiths College on the competencies and behaviour required to minimise WRS—the findings from this work will be launched in March 2007.

Health: Unpaid Charity Workers

Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Anyone who is not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom (UK) is subject to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended, and will be liable for charges for National Health Service hospital treatment if they are not exempt from charge under one of several exemption categories listed in the regulations.

These regulations were amended in 2006 so that anyone who is working outside the UK as a missionary for an organisation with its principal place of business in the UK will be fully exempt from charges. This is regardless of whether they derive a salary or wage from the organisation, or receive any type of funding or assistance from the organisation for the purposes of working overseas. We have no plans to extend that to other unpaid charity workers.

Housing: Energy Reports

Baroness Hanham asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): It is too early to give a definitive assessment of the impact that energy performance certificates will have on the property market. The introduction of energy performance certificates will for the first time allow prospective purchasers to compare the energy efficiency of properties. This in turn is expected to stimulate a market for more efficient properties, which may benefit from a more rapid sale and/or higher value.

International Organisations: Javier Solana

Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Javier Solana is employed by the European Union (specifically the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union) as Secretary-General of the Council and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. He is also Secretary-General of the Western European Union and head of the European Defence Agency, but is not paid a separate salary for either of these positions.

Iraq: Army

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): Operational command of the 10th division of the Iraqi army was handed to Iraqi ground forces command on 1 January 2007 and an enabling MOU was signed in February. 10 div is assessed as being able to carry out independent operations with some support from coalition forces. There are areas which still require improvement and UK forces continue to provide mentoring and training support.

Iraq: Basra

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The decision on when to transition provinces to provincial Iraqi control is made jointly by the Government of Iraq and the coalition based on an assessment of security-related conditions. On current estimates, we hope to handover Basra to provincial Iraqi control in the second half of 2007, although this will be dependent on progress towards meeting the agreed conditions.

Iraq: Chefs

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): Within the past three months we have installed a new kitchen in Basra Palace and within the past six months we have installed five new kitchens in five new camps at the contingency operating base at Basra air station. Each of these new facilities is fitted with air conditioning and appropriate ventilation. In addition, we continually undertake a programme of air condition maintenance, overhaul and replacement as necessary.

Iraq: Detainees

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): As at 27 February 2007, UK Forces were holding 113 individuals in Iraq, at the divisional temporary detention facility (DTDF) at Shaibah logistics base. Eight are on remand while their cases are heard by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI). One has been convicted by the CCCI and is being held while arrangements are made for his transfer to the Iraqi prison service. The remaining internees are held under the authorisation contained in letters annexed to United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1546, as carried forward by resolutions 1637 and 1723.

Since its opening in December 2003 UK forces have interred in the region of 1,500 persons. As would be expected, the numbers of internees have fluctuated in accordance with the type and tempo of operations. Generally, since 2004, the numbers held range between 30 and 130.

Of the 118 who were held on 8 February 2007:

Five had been held for more than two years (one convicted prisoner, two on remand, two internees)Five had been held for 18 to 24 months (five internees)22 had been held for 12 to 18 months (22 internees) 45 had been held for six to 12 months (three on remand, 42 internees)41 had been held for zero to six months (three on remand, 38 internees)

Those detained are assessed and released or interned. All cases of internees are reviewed monthly by MND(SE). In addition, these cases go to a joint Iraqi and MNF-I review board every three months. There are additional review procedures for those held for a period in excess of 18 months.

Iraq: Force Levels

Lord Garden asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): We have made clear our intent to consult with allies over our plans for Iraq and will continue to do so in the future. We consulted the Australian Government, along with other allies, prior to the Lord President's announcement.

Lord Garden asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Drayson: In response to the changing conditions in Basra, the Danish Government announced, in parallel with the UK, plans to replace their battalion of approximately 400 troops with an aviation capability in August. Prior to the UK announcement, the Australian Government stated that they would be sending an additional 70 military trainers to southern Iraq to help enhance the capacity of the Iraqi security forces. This was fully consistent with UK plans. Our other partners in southern Iraq (Czech Republic; Lithuania; Romania) have all confirmed their continued support to Iraq.

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Drayson: The precise number of troops required after transition to provincial Iraqi control will be dependent on the scale of residual tasks. As with those provinces in multinational division (south east) where responsibility for security has already been transferred to the Iraqi authorities, following handover to provincial Iraqi control in Maysan and Basra, we will need to maintain sufficient force levels to continue training and developing Iraqi forces while retaining the ability to reintervene should the security situation necessitate.

Iraq: Heat Exhaustion

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): In addition to an extensive programme to fit air conditioning to many of our current and future armoured fighting vehicles, we have examined other methods of combating high temperatures and mitigating the effects of excessive heat. Access to cold drinking water will be provided to soldiers operating from Warrior vehicles and we hope to procure a personal cooling system to lower the thermal load of soldiers conducting foot patrols and other duties outdoors.

We are also investigating the use of reflective blankets on the top of vehicles to reflect solar heat. Pragmatic measures such as keeping vehicles in shade with hatches closed during the hottest time of day are applied when practical.

Iraq: Police

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): At present there are approximately 135,000 personnel in the Iraqi police service, all of whom have been trained and equipped by coalition forces.

Iraq: Security

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): Central Iraqi Government support to delivering security in all Iraqi provinces continues to develop, with decisions on recruitment, training and equipping the Iraqi security forces (ISF) made centrally by the Iraqi Ministries of Defence and the Interior. Advice is provided to the central Iraqi security institutions by coalition experts, including around 25 from the UK.

The Iraqi military headquarters, Iraqi Ground Force Command, is located in Baghdad; it commands on a national level and has started to take operational control of the Iraqi army. 10 Division, which is based in Basra, was transferred to their command in January 2007 and is increasingly taking a lead role in delivering security. The Iraqi Police Service commands at a provincial level. Once responsibility has been transferred to the Iraqi authorities, it will be the Basra Provincial Police Service which will take the lead for delivering security in the province.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Hamas has not yet made clear its position regarding the recognition of Israel.

We welcome Saudi Arabia's efforts to broker a national unity government through negotiations with Hamas and Fatah in Mecca. We also welcome President Abbas's efforts for intra-Palestinian reconciliation. We await the final details of the new national unity government. We will judge the national unity government as a whole on their actions and respond accordingly.

We have repeatedly made clear that we are ready to engage with any Palestinian Government who are based on the quartet principles: renunciation of violence; recognition of Israel; and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the road map.

Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Triesman: We have had no such discussions following the report of the special rapporteur to which the noble Baroness refers.

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