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Wednesday 3 November 2010
Africa: Agricultural Aid
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 19 October (HL2378), which were the eight countries in Africa that met or exceeded the 10 per cent target for public expenditure on agriculture and food security; and how they are seeking to disseminate the lessons learnt from the success of those countries to those countries who failed to do so and are in receipt of direct budgetary support from the United Kingdom. [HL2884]
Baroness Verma: The eight countries that exceeded the 10 per cent for public expenditure on agriculture and food security in 2008 are Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Niger and Senegal.
The countries that received direct budget support from the United Kingdom in 2008-09 and did not exceed the 10 per cent target were Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. These countries are all part of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). The CAADP process has mechanisms in place for lesson-learning through regional peer reviews, joint assessments and information exchange. Through our regular dialogue with those countries, the UK Government also encourage them to pursue the CAADP target of 6 per cent average annual growth of the agricultural sector and the 10 per cent budgetary allocation target.
To ask Her Majesty's Government in which countries in Africa the Department for International Development has an agricultural programme; and whether they plan to increase the numbers of such country programmes.[HL2885]
Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development (DfID) currently has agriculture programmes in Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Rwanda. All DfID bilateral programmes are currently being reviewed under the bilateral aid review to ensure that resources are targeted where they will have most impact. Future allocations to agricultural programmes in each country in which DfID works will be determined as part of this review.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the role of agriculture in the Department for International Development's Southern African Regional Plan; and how the proposal for the south-north corridor will take account of the needs of those whose livelihoods depend on agriculture.[HL2886]
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Baroness Verma: All aid from the Department for International Development (DfID) is currently under review, including regional programmes, to ensure that resources are targeted where they will have most impact. Full details will be announced next year.
The UK Government recognise agriculture as being of vital importance to the livelihoods of people in Southern Africa, both for creating wealth and for improving food security. The UK Government's approach to supporting agricultural development in southern Africa has been focused on three elements: first, strengthening trade facilitation and transport links generally-including support to the north-south corridor -as this helps to improve agricultural trade; secondly, working to ensure the north-south corridor's contribution to development serves to improve regional trade in staple foods, such as maize; and thirdly, addressing the links between agriculture and climate change. In pursuing this approach, we have been working with representatives of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa, the Southern Africa Development Community and the private sector.
Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 25 October (WA 219), what assessment they have made of the claim that products from Roundup Ready crops are entering the food supply in the United Kingdom from abroad and that residues of Roundup are to be found in them; and when was the thorough assessment of the health and environmental effects of Roundup herbicide in the formulations currently used most recently conducted.[HL3204]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): Residues of Roundup (active substance glyphosate) may be present in products derived from some Roundup Ready crop varieties as a result of treatment with this herbicide. The potential effects of these residues arising from the use of the herbicide in the European Union (EU) are considered under legislation concerning the placing on the market of plant protection products. Provided Roundup is applied in accordance with conditions of authorisation, any residues present will be below levels that may cause harm to animals and humans.
Other EU legislation sets maximum residue levels (MRLs) in food and feed based on the conditions of authorisation of all pesticides used in the EU. MRLs are also set to the same standards for residues of pesticides in imported food and feed. MRLs for glyphosate have been agreed for a range of products including dry pulses, oilseeds and cereals. This legislation also establishes an EU programme for monitoring compliance with these MRLs.
The active substance glyphosate was considered as part of the EU-wide review programme in 2002. All UK products were then reconsidered after this review and that exercise was completed in 2006. Any new
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Active substances are reconsidered on a cyclical basis and glyphosate will be reassessed again through the EU-wide review programme from 2012. This review is expected to be completed in 2014.
Birds of Prey
Questions
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the annual value of the annual United Kingdom trade in owls; and whether they monitor websites related to this trade.[HL3123]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The UK Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Management Authority (Animal Health) does not maintain records that would enable an estimate to be made of the value of trade in owls. Neither does the UK CITES Management Authority routinely monitor websites. It does so only if intelligence has been received indicating that they are being used for illegal trading purposes.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements there are to register a captive bred hawk or owl if it is not used for falconry.[HL3193]
Lord Henley: The requirements for registration as contained in Section 7 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are not conditional on the use of a bird nor on the captive bred status of the bird. A keeper is required to register a bird if it is of a species listed in Schedule 4 (as amended) to the 1981 Act and is kept in captivity.
No species of owls are listed on Schedule 4.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they define "commercial purposes" in their guidance Birds of Prey: What You Need to Know issued in 2008.[HL3194]
Lord Henley: The term "commercial purposes" is not defined but there is a definition of "commercial use" which has the same meaning. This is worded as follows:
"Commercial use can mean many things, not just selling something. Offering to buy, buying, keeping for sale, offering for sale, transporting for sale, selling, exchanging, breeding for sale and displaying specimens to the public may all be treated as commercial use whether or not direct payment is involved".
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the number of birds of prey offered for sale on websites, what assessment they have made of the
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Lord Henley: The advice given in the final section of the animal health leaflet was supplied by the Hawk Board. The new leaflet, which will be issued shortly, does not contain this advice.
However, any person who is considering buying a bird for the first time should consider this point as buying a bird is a long-term commitment and they are unlikely to recover their original costs by selling a second-hand bird, which generally attracts a lower price than a newly bred bird.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to adopt a new definition of "commercial use" in deciding whether or not traded owls and hawks should have a certificate.[HL3196]
Lord Henley: "Commercial use" is defined in the relevant European legislation which implements the CITES requirements. Article 8 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 defines commercial activities as follows:
"The purchase, offer to purchase, acquisition for commercial purposes, display to the public for commercial purposes use for commercial gain and sale, keeping for sale, offering for sale or transporting for sale of specimens".
There are no current plans to alter this definition.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prosecutions there have been in each of the past five years for failure to obtain the necessary Article 10 certification for a traded bird.[HL3197]
Lord Henley: While information on the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences under Regulation 8(1) and (8) of the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (COTES) is held by the Ministry of Justice, it is not possible to separate proceedings for offences involving failure to obtain an Article 10 certificate for a traded bird from other offences within Regulation 8(1) and (8) of COTES. The total number proceeded againast is as follows:
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
The data for 2009 do not include figures for December 2009 as these are not yet separately available. I will write to the noble Lady when these data become available.
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Census
Question
Asked by Lord Young of Norwood Green
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will release the 1921 census early, as was the case with the 1911 census.[HL3057]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Lord Young, dated October 2010.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking whether the 1921 Census will be released early. (HL3057)
There are no plans to release the 1921 Census before January 2022.
All censuses carried out from 1921 onwards have been taken under the powers of the Census Act 1920. This Act contained provisions prohibiting the release of personal census information and set out penalties for unlawful disclosure.
The Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 has replaced parts of the Census Act 1920 and reinforces these confidentiality provisions by making it an offence to disclose personal census information while it remains in the custody of the UK Statistics Authority. Current Government policy is that the UK Statistics Authority should retain all census returns from the 1921 Census onwards, for 100 years.
This policy was reiterated in the Government White Paper Helping to shape tomorrow, CM 7513 published in December 2008.
The partial release of the 1911 Census when it was in the custody of the National Archives was the result of a decision by the Information Commissioner. The 1911 Census will not however, be fully open to the public until January 2012.
Children: Infant Mortality
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what indicators the Department for International Development currently uses or plans to develop to measure its impact on reducing the number of children who die before their fifth birthday.[HL2860]
Baroness Verma: In order to assess the effectiveness of our programmes to improve maternal and newborn health, the Department for International Development (DfID) draws on national data and statistics, as well as data and statistics collected by DfID's partners, including agencies such as the GAVI Alliance and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
At the global level, DfID also draws on data from the United Nations Statistics Division's millennium development goal (MDG) database to assess progress against MDGs 4 and 5 pertaining to maternal and child health.
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These data are also being used to inform the ongoing bilateral and multilateral aid reviews.
Coroners' Inquests
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 19 October (WA 140), whether they will consider publishing details of inquests held, names of deceased, date of death, verdicts, and any jury or coroner recommendations, either online or otherwise, in order to inform interested parties and the public of the work of the Coroners' Service.[HL3247]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): As part of our plans to bring improvements to the coroner system, we will consider how transparency of coroners' work can be better achieved at a local level. However, as the service will remain locally funded and managed, we have no plans to establish a public-facing central website, or database, of the outcome of inquests, beyond continuing to provide both biannual summaries of reports made by coroners to prevent future deaths, and an annual statistical summary of the outcome of deaths reported to coroners.
Debt: Interest Rates
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much interest was paid on government debt in the last calendar quarter and how much of that was paid to United Kingdom investors.[HL3028]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General of the ONS, to Lord Myners, dated October 2010.
As Director General of the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to Her Majesty's Government on the amount of interest that was paid on government debt in the last calendar quarter and on how much of that interest was paid to United Kingdom investors (HL3028).
Statistics on expenditure on interest payable by the UK Central Government sector are included in the monthly publication Public sector finances: Statistical Bulletin, published jointly by ONS and HM Treasury, within Table PSF3, variable NMFX. A time series for these statistics is available on the ONS website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/tsdtablesl.asp? vlnk=pusf.
For the July to September 2010 quarter, these statistics show that interest expenditure by Central Government was £10.074 billion.
ONS does not publish statistics, nor have access to data, on the residence of the recipients.
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Driving: Vehicle Registration
Question
Asked by Lord Browne of Belmont
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has received for the vehicle keeper details of vehicles registered in Northern Ireland using the DVLA's electronic access facility since the facility was created.[HL3353]
Earl Attlee: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not record this information.
Any request for vehicle keeper details for vehicles registered in Northern Ireland received through the DVLA's electronic access facility would receive an automatic rejection message.
Drugs: Ultra-orphan Diseases
Question
Asked by Lord Walton of Detchant
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the mechanism for referring the need for new ultra-orphan drug treatments to the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services.[HL2910]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently working with the secretariat of the Advisory Group for National Specialised Services (AGNSS) to develop a set of protocols that will set out the circumstances in which NICE will suggest treatments for very rare conditions for consideration by AGNSS.
Energy: Gas
Question
Asked by Lord Jenkin of Roding
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of current gas infrastructure of pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminal import capacity to ensure security of United Kingdom energy supplies.[HL3259]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): The statutory security of supply report, which is being laid before Parliament on 4 November, is a joint report from the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Ofgem. It gives a full account of the Government's latest assessment on the availability of gas for meeting the reasonable demands of United Kingdom consumers.
Energy: Gas Storage
Questions
Asked by Lord Jenkin of Roding
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they intend to implement before the winter of 2015 to ensure that additional gas storage capacity is committed to construction to support market needs. [HL3255]
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To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce a requirement on gas suppliers to hold minimum storage levels.[HL3256]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): The forthcoming energy security and green economy Bill will include a provision to strengthen the market incentive mechanism for ensuring sufficient gas is available. This will help underpin commercial demand for gas supply infrastructure, including gas storage facilities.
The Government keep the gas market regulatory framework under constant review, but have no plans for further measures.
Asked by Lord Jenkin of Roding
To ask Her Majesty's Government what indications they have received from the gas industry as to whether the suggested increase in system-balancing penalties ensuring gas supplies is likely to secure the investment in new storage capacity needed in the coming years.[HL3257]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what standard will be applied in determining whether the proposed system-balancing penalties for gas suppliers are providing sufficient commitment to new storage capacity; and in what timeframe.[HL3258]
Lord Marland: The Government believe that a stable regulatory framework that creates the right incentives for industry operators to ensure they have a balanced portfolio to meet their contractual supply obligations is a necessary condition to ensure security of gas supplies.
Accordingly, the Government plan to confer on Ofgem additional powers in the energy security and green economy Bill to sharpen commercial incentives on gas market participants to meet their contractual supply obligations during a gas supply emergency. In turn this will sharpen incentives to avoid such an emergency, and as such will help underpin the commercial demand for gas supply infrastructure.
The impact of any changes will not be possible until Ofgem determine how it will use new powers after consultation with industry. Ofgem will keep the impact on the market of any revised arrangements under review.
Energy: Tariffs
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that the proposed Energy Security and Green Economy Bill requires that all energy tariff marketing materials feature an itemised summary box which includes (a) the tariff name, (b) the tariff rate per kilowatt hour, including a breakdown of rate variance throughout the day, (c) how the cost has been calculated, (d) any relative discounts and their expiry dates, (e) any exit fees incurred should
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): The Bill will include measures to improve energy efficiency and energy security, measures to enable low-carbon generation and measures to clarify liabilities and responsibilities.
Having consulted on the information required on bills following their retail markets probe, Ofgem introduced new rules that require suppliers to provide additional information on bills and issue annual statements that cover many of the points raised by the noble Lord.
In addition to these requirements we welcome the work that is being done by Which?, Consumer Focus and energy suppliers to improve the clarity of billing further. This collaborative, voluntary approach has improved bills, so we see no need for the forthcoming Bill to include the measures the noble Lord suggests.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of energy tariffs have changed in the period between a customer asking to switch tariffs and the company in question completing that switch.[HL3130]
Lord Marland: DECC does not hold the information requested. To meet its principal duty, to protect the interests of consumers, Ofgem collects relevant information but I understand it does not have the specific data requested.
Energy: Wind Generation
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a strategy for the United Kingdom to be a world leader in offshore wind energy.[HL3182]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): We are committed to being a global leader in the deployment of offshore wind to maintain a secure energy supply, tackle climate change and meet our renewable energy targets for 2020 and beyond. The UK already has more offshore wind energy than any other country.
The Minister for Energy co-chairs the Offshore Wind Developers Forum, which is working to ensure the viability and deliverability of offshore wind and to identify economic opportunities for UK business.
In order to realise the potential of offshore wind, we have taken a number of positive steps, including: providing up to £60 million for offshore wind infrastructure at our ports; putting in place an enduring regime for offshore electricity transmission; extending the renewables obligation (RO) to provide two ROCs for offshore wind that accredits by 31 March 2014; and recently consulting on the introduction of phased RO support for offshore wind projects, allowing developers to register groups of turbines in phases to recognise
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Flooding
Question
Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to make mapping data relating to the flood plain areas of west Cumbria, including Cockermouth and Keswick, available to the public.[HL3396]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The flood map is already available free to the public via the Environment Agency's website. The agency aims to update the map every three months-the next update will be later this month. Alternatively, paper copies of the map for any area can be requested from the Environment Agency's customer contact centre.
Flooding: Insurance
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received assurances from the insurance industry that universal household flooding insurance will be maintained in the light of the planned cutback in flood defence capital expenditure.[HL3121]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): At the flood insurance summit in September, key representatives from the insurance industry, the National Flood Forum, the Environment Agency and local government agreed on a road map towards 2013, when the current statement of principles between the Government and insurers on flood risk management expires. It was agreed that flood insurance should remain widely available.
Fluoridation
Question
Asked by Baroness Gardner of Parkes
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of water fluoridation on the general health of the population in areas where water fluoridation has occurred; and how this compares with areas where the water has not been fluoridated.[HL3099]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Fluoride offers the best prospect for reducing inequalities in oral health. In areas where the water is fluoridated, dental decay is lower than in comparable un-fluoridated areas.
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Nevertheless, it is also important to provide assurance that the general health of the population is not adversely affected. Water fluoridation has been in operation in England for over 45 years, serving some 10 per cent of the population. Routine health monitoring has not revealed any adverse effects in those areas. In addition, the department monitors relevant research and also commissions research. There is no evidence of risk to people's health from the fluoridation of water at the level permitted in the United Kingdom.
Government Departments: Salaries
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated net saving in the pay bill of the Department for Education for each of the next four years if all salaries and increments are frozen.[HL2449]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): Following the spending review settlement for the Department for Education, detailed workforce plans and pay-bill allocations, on which such estimates would be based, are being developed and finalised. We are therefore currently unable to provide estimates of savings for the years in question.
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated net saving in the pay bill of the Department for Transport for each of the next four years if all salaries and increments are frozen.[HL2531]
Earl Attlee: Following the spending review settlement for the Department for Transport, detailed workforce plans and pay-bill allocations, on which such estimates would be based, are being developed and finalised. We are therefore currently unable to provide estimates of savings for the years in question.
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated net saving in the pay bill of the Ministry of Justice for each of the next four years if no bonuses are paid and all salaries and increments are frozen.[HL3213]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer I gave him on 21 October 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 192).
The Answer previously provided also extends to the estimated net saving if no bonuses are paid in the Ministry of Justice, including the National Offender Management Service, for each of the next four years.
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated net saving in the pay bill of the Scotland Office for each of the next four years if no bonuses are paid and all salaries and increments are frozen. [HL3216]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness): I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 25 October 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 232).
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Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be the estimated net saving to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in each of the next four years if no bonuses were paid and all salaries and increments were frozen.[HL3330]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to the noble Lord Newby on 21 October (Official Report, col. WA 193).
Government: Overseas Properties
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what properties they own or lease in New York City; what is the annual rent of those they lease, and when those leases expire; what is the capital value of those they own; what use is made of each property; and what plans they have for the disposal of those properties.[HL3068]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) owns 20 residential properties, and leases two office properties and 39 residential properties in New York City. The use and cost of this office and residential accommodation is shared with other United Kingdom government departments and the British Council.
In 2010, the annual costs of the British Consulate-General's and the UK Mission to the United Nations' leases will be US$3,061,790 and US$3,282,853 respectively; these leases expire on 28 February 2025 and 31 December 2025 respectively. All 39 residential property leases expire in the period 1 January 2011-31 May 2013 and their total annual cost is US$2,893,752.
The current total capital (book) value for the 20 residential properties owned by the FCO in New York City is £52.84 million.
The FCO constantly reviews its global estate in the light of changing operational needs to optimise the use of its property assets. In order to maximise the price received for the sale of our assets, it is not our policy to provide exact details of our sales programme, nor the price we expect to receive in advance of formal marketing.
We will continue to keep our New York City property portfolio under review, ensuring that it provides value for money, fitness for purpose and security for our staff.
Habitual Residence Test
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 18 October (WA 114-15), to how many European Economic Area nationals the habitual residence test was applied in the past three years; how many passed; and how many were turned down.[HL3078]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The table below shows the number of claims1 from European Economic Area (EEA) nationals that were subject to the habitual residence test (HRT) over the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2010. These figures also include decisions on repeat claims. Data on how many of those who passed the HRT and then went on to receive benefit are not available, as this information is not recorded by nationality.
| Habitual Residence Test | 20082 | 2009 | 2010 |
1 The data cover claims to income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance and state pension credit.
2 The report year runs between 1 April and 31 March.
3 The EEA includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, as well as Switzerland, whose citizens enjoy the same free movement rights as other EEA nationals. The data in the table do not include information on United Kingdom nationals.
4 Data are based on clerical inputs and are therefore subject to input error.
Health: Health Visitors
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government (a) how many, and (b) what proportion, of first-time mothers receive weekly home visits from a health visitor, family nurse or other suitably qualified person during the first year of the child's life.[HL2943]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the criteria for deciding whether a first-time mother should receive weekly visits throughout the first year of the child's life.[HL2944]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the cost per mother of providing weekly visits by a suitably qualified person during the first year of the child's life.[HL2945]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they prioritise "hard to reach" families in the provision of weekly visits by suitably qualified persons to first-time mothers during the first year of the child's life.[HL2946]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): This information is not collected centrally.
The schedule for involvement with families is set out in the Healthy Child Programme from birth to five years old. Health visitors have a key role to play in leading and delivering the Healthy Child Programme and wider health services to children and families
3 Nov 2010 : Column WA418
The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme complements and supports the work of health visitors, providing the intensive care end of prevention for families who need more help to care well for their children and themselves.
We announced on 21 October a national recruitment drive to create 4,200 new health visitor posts and build a rejuvenated profession, and we will also shortly be setting out our plans to extend the FNP programme.
A copy of The Healthy Child Programme-Pregnancy and the First Five Years of Life (2009) has already been placed in the Library.
Houses of Parliament: Wireless Internet
Question
To ask the Chairman of Committees what plans there are to extend wireless internet access across the parliamentary estate.[HL3307]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): It is proposed to extend wireless internet access to the Millbank Island site, specifically in the ground floor library and the first-floor meeting rooms. There are no other plans to extend wireless internet access across the House of Lords estate at this time.
Housing Benefit
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to exempt residents of London from the housing benefit cap.[HL3264]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): We have no plans to introduce exemptions for specific groups when we cap local housing allowance rates from April 2011. We have provided a substantial increase in the discretionary housing payments budget which will allow local authorities to give additional support where it is most needed.
Kazakhstan
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government who will be the representative of the United Kingdom at the 2010 Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit of heads of state or government in Astana, Kazakhstan.[HL2950]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): A decision on who will lead the UK delegation to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit in Astana has not yet been taken.
3 Nov 2010 : Column WA419
National Parks
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect national parks in the light of proposals that publicly owned forests should be sold.[HL3090]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): Details of the Government's strategic approach to forestry will be set out later in the autumn.
We will ensure that our forests continue to play a full role in our efforts to combat climate change, protect the environment, enhance biodiversity and provide green space for access and recreation. We will also seek opportunities to support modernisation and growth in the forestry sector.
People Trafficking
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place to provide safe accommodation for all child victims of trafficking in the form of specialist foster care.[HL2988]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The Government recognise that trafficked children are vulnerable and may be at risk of harm. Local authorities have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote their welfare, as they do in respect of all children in care.
In every case where a child becomes looked after, local authorities must allocate the child a social worker who will assess their needs and draw up a care plan that sets out how the authority intends to respond to the full range of a child's needs. This must take into account the child's wishes and feelings. For children who may have been trafficked, the social worker's assessment should identify the child's vulnerability to the continuing control of his or her traffickers. The local authority should then place the child with a carer (foster or residential) who has the necessary skills and experience to support them in a safe environment.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they and the National Health Service ensure that trafficked persons know they are entitled to necessary medical assistance, regardless of their immigration status. [HL3063]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The leaflet Help for Victims of Human Trafficking, explains the options available to trafficked persons. This leaflet is available in 11 languages to all front-line agencies and first responders and it mentions that help with medical treatment is available. The leaflet contains information on support services such as the POPPY Project and Migrant Helpline, which will facilitate victims' access to healthcare.
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National Health Service chief executives were notified in April 2009 of a change to regulations that provided for victims and suspected victims of human trafficking to be exempt from charges for NHS hospital treatment.
Trafficking victims are also entitled to register with a general practitioner and get free primary care. Immigration status has no bearing on eligibility for primary medical services. If someone has difficulty in registering for the NHS with a primary medical services contractor, they should get in touch with their local primary care trust (directly or via the local patient advice and liaison services) to discuss what assistance might be available locally.
Premature Deaths
Question
Asked by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals aged 8-18 died in the United Kingdom in July and August in each of the past 10 years for which records are available.[HL3153]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, director-general for the ONS, to Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, dated October 2010.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many individuals aged 8-18 died in the United Kingdom in July and August in each of the last ten years for which records are available. (HL3153)
The table attached provides the information requested, for the years 1999 to 2008 (the latest year available).
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age and cause are published annually on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Productasp?vlnk =15096.
| Table 1. Number of deaths of children aged between 8 and 18 occurring in July and August, United Kingdom, 1999 to 20081,2,3 | |
| Year | Deaths |
1 Deaths extracted by date of death from all registered between 1999 and 2009.
2 Figures included data provided by the General Register Office for Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
3 Figures included deaths of non-residents.
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Roads: Casualties
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there was an increase in road casualties involving (a) children, (b) cyclists, and (c) pensioners between 25 October 2009 and 28 March 2010 compared with the six months before the clocks were returned to GMT.[HL2798]
Earl Attlee: Reported road casualties data for 2010 are not yet available, therefore data are not available for the whole of the period specified. For the equivalent periods a year earlier-30 March 2008 to 25 October 2008 (British Summer Time (BST)) and 26 October 2008 to 28 March 2009 (Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)), the average number of reported road casualties per day that were (a) children aged 0-15 years, (b) pedal cyclists and (c) adults aged 65 years and over were all lower during the GMT period than during BST.
Differences in casualties between these time periods will reflect seasonal variations, such as school holidays and differences in traffic volumes. Casualty rates per day were considered as the length of BST is approximately seven months, compared with five months for the GMT period.
Scotland: Immigration
Question
Asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of measures to encourage immigration to Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government.[HL3027]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness): The Government are aware that the Scottish economy and Scottish society have benefited from migration to this country. By reforming the UK immigration system, the Government will ensure that Scotland and the UK can attract and retain those people who are able and willing to contribute to our economy and national life. It will also better regulate and manage the flow of people into our country in order to increase accountability and better manage community integration across the UK. The UK Border Agency works closely with Scottish government officials on policy and operational matters.
Spending Review 2010
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what areas of work on treatment for dementia will be prioritised and benefit from protected spending, as stated in spending review 2010.[HL2978]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Treatment for dementia was not specifically mentioned in the 2010 spending review document. However, in the Chancellor's spending review Statement on 20 October 2010 (Official
3 Nov 2010 : Column WA422
The department has recently published its new outcomes-focused implementation plan for the national dementia strategy. This sets out four priority objectives for action in 2010-11 to support local delivery of the strategy:
good quality early diagnosis and intervention for all;improved quality of care in general hospitals;living well with dementia in care homes; andreduced use of antipsychotic medicationIn the next spending review we have protected National Health Service spending in real terms, representing the Government's determination to provide the best care and best outcomes for patients. We will set out our priorities for the NHS in 2011-12 in the operating framework.
The Government will be giving increased priority to dementia research, and the work of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Dementia Research is key to that. One of the main purposes of the group is to find ways to increase the success of the dementia research community in securing available funding and support.
Sport: Gambling
Question
Asked by Lord Williams of Elvel
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there have been prosecutions in the United Kingdom relating to gambling on sporting events; and whether such prosecutions were brought under laws relating to conspiracy.[HL2940]
Baroness Garden of Frognal: The Gambling Commission has advised that there are a number of ongoing cases, either under laws relating to conspiracy or the Gambling Act 2005.
All previous prosecutions with regard to the corruption of sporting events were dealt with using laws relating to conspiracy.
Traffic Regulation Orders
Question
Asked by Baroness Scott of Needham Market
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the legislation regarding the statutory procedures for notifying and advertising traffic regulation orders.[HL3201]
Earl Attlee: This department is currently developing proposals to improve the traffic regulation order process as part of the traffic signs policy review. This review will consider the appropriateness of the current legislation regarding the statutory procedures for notifying and advertising traffic regulation orders.
3 Nov 2010 : Column WA423
Transport: Fares
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the results of the latest research they have commissioned into fare elasticities in public transport.[HL3308]
Earl Attlee: The Department for Transport has published research into bus fare elasticities in 2010, as part of research into the reimbursement of revenues and costs to bus operators for carrying concessionary passengers. This is available at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/informationlocal authorities/reimbursementappeals/reimbursement-research/.
The department is continuing to undertake research into rail fare elasticities and will publish the results of this when its review of the work undertaken is complete.
Turks and Caicos Islands
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the radar equipment purchased to patrol the coastline of the Turks and Caicos Islands will be operational; and what has been the cause of the delay in the equipment becoming operational.[HL3211]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The installation is expected to become operational in 2011. The delay has been caused in part by the deficit in the Turks and Caicos Islands Government's public finances and by protracted negotiations to acquire land needed to gain full access to the radar site. Those negotiations have now been successfully concluded. The project board has been reconvened and work is expected to restart shortly.
Zimbabwe
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are working with the Council of Zimbabwe to assist the rehabilitation of Zimbabwe.[HL2952]
Baroness Verma: The Council for Reconstruction of Zimbabwe, often referred to more simply as the Council for Zimbabwe, is an organisation based in New York that is concerned with supporting recovery in Zimbabwe, principally by rebuilding human resource capital from the Zimbabwean diaspora. Department for International Development (DfID) officials have been in touch with the Council for Reconstruction of Zimbabwe to inform the organisation of particular diaspora events in the UK. We do not maintain regular contact.
3 Nov 2010 : Column WA424
The UK Government recognise the importance of the diaspora to recovery in Zimbabwe. DfID and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are in regular contact with the UK-based Zimbabwe Diaspora Focus Group to provide information and updates on relevant aspects of the UK' s foreign and development policy.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what development and humanitarian aid they are providing to Zimbabwe; and for what purposes.[HL2953]
Baroness Verma: The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe has improved significantly over the past 18 months, with substantially fewer numbers at risk of hunger and no significant recurrence of the cholera epidemic of 2008-09. Donor assistance has been crucial in contributing to this stabilisation. The UK Government, alongside others, are boosting food security systems, including local markets and production, for example by supplying seeds and farming inputs to over 2 million people.
The UK Government also provide aid to protect livelihoods, improve the provision of basic services and encourage continuing much needed economic and governance reform. Information on all the Department for International Development's (DfID's) bilateral projects, including in Zimbabwe, is published on the DfID website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance- and-performance/Project-information/.
As with all bilateral aid programmes, we are currently reviewing our programme in Zimbabwe under the Bilateral Aid Review to ensure that UK aid is effective and represents value for money.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have given any support this year to education and health services in Zimbabwe.[HL2955]
Baroness Verma: The welfare of the people of Zimbabwe, including their health and education, is a major concern for the UK Government. In 2010-11 we continue to provide essential support through the UN and other NGOs and in co-ordination with other donors. Examples of this include: ensuring that 72,000 people living with AIDS will receive anti-retroviral treatment; and the supply of a stationery kit and a core set of textbooks to every state primary school pupil in Zimbabwe. We are also in dialogue with appropriate Ministries in the inclusive Government about how to reform and strengthen national health and education systems. None of our bilateral funding passes through governmental systems.
Further detail on all the Department for International Development's (DfID's) bilateral projects, including in Zimbabwe, is published on the DfID website at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Project-information/.
As with all bilateral aid programmes, we are currently reviewing our programme in Zimbabwe under the Bilateral Aid Review to ensure UK aid is effective and represents value for money.
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