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28 Apr 2003 : Column 79W—continued
Legal Aid
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what geographical areas, and for what areas of law, the legal aid budget for 2002–03 is exhausted; how these budgets compare in real terms with those of the previous three years; and if she will make a statement. [108841]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The legal aid budget in 2002–03 and previous years has not been exhausted in any geographical area or area of law. Sufficient funds to meet demand have been provided to ensure that individuals who pass the means and merits tests for civil matters and the interests of justice test for criminal matters have access to appropriate legal services.
Parental Leave
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff in the Department have used their leave entitlement under the Parental Leave Directive since it came into force. [108415]
Ms Rosie Winterton: All staff in my Department are eligible for unpaid parental leave under the Parental Leave Directive. Responsibility for authorisation and monitoring of parental leave has been devolved to line managers and could only be collated at a disproportionate cost.
My Department currently has a number of policies and practices, including statutory entitlement to parental leave, designed to help staff to find a balance between their working life and family responsibilities. These include a range of flexible working options, paid special leave, career breaks and the provision of a staff network for carers.
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The benefits to my Department of family friendly measures include improved staff morale and performance through a better work/life balance, retention of experienced staff by offering flexible work options, improved planning of staff absences and scope to attract a diverse workforce.
Solicitors
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many firms of solicitors in England and Wales held franchises from the Community Legal Service Commission in 1997; and how many held franchises on the most recent date for which figures are available. [107269]
Ms Rosie Winterton: It is not possible to provide an answer to the exact question asked.
On 12 May 1997, 1,820 solicitor offices and other organisations held franchises with the Legal Aid Board (Legal Aid Franchise Quality Assurance Standard (LAFQAS)). Solicitor offices accounted for the majority of these franchised organisations. The Legal Aid Board was replaced by the Legal Services Commission on 1 April 2000.
The Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) was introduced in April 2002 and replaced LAFQAS. All franchised organisations automatically received the SQM but were required to fulfil additional requirements within a year. As at 7 March 2003, 6,065 solicitor offices and other organisations held the SQM. Solicitor offices accounted for the majority of these organisations.
Timber
Ms Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much independently certified timber is being used in the refurbishment of Clive House; and what proportion of the total timber purchased for this refurbishment this represents. [108152]
Ms Rosie Winterton: 3.47 m 3 of independently certified carcassing timber and 94 m 2 of independently certified plywood are being used in the refurbishment of Clive House: 100 per cent. of the timber purchased.
Ms Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what refurbishment is being undertaken at Clive House; how much timber is being used for this refurbishment and for what purpose; which companies are supplying the timber for this refurbishment; and when the refurbishment is due to be completed. [108153]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Clive House is being refurbished to provide office accommodation for the Lord Chancellor's Department, necessitated as a result of expiring leases on existing accommodation. The building is being stripped to the core and new windows, roof, plant, lifts, cabling and plumbing being installed. 3.47 m 3 of carcassing timber and 94 m 2 of plywood are being used to manufacture 350 new window frames, kitchen base units, reception desk, coat cupboards, bench unit, vanity units, CCTV monitor enclosure and joinery suites. Sampsons and Brown & Carroll are supplying the timber. The refurbishment is due for completion in February 2004.
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HEALTH
Alcoholic Beverages
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implications for (a) people allergic to alcohol and (b) recovering alcoholics of outlets selling non-alcoholic beverages which contain small traces of alcohol. [109235]
Ms Blears: People with allergies and recovering alcoholics, or those who are particularly sensitive to the effects of alcohol, will be aware of their individual needs and will act accordingly to ensure their well being. Additionally, they will be able to look to the labelling to ensure they are able to consume any particular labelled product.
All alcoholic drinks are required by law to have the amount of alcohol they contain marked on the drink container. Any alcoholic drink containing 0.5 per cent. or under will be covered by the labelling regulations. The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (as amended) require the majority of foods, including non-alcoholic drinks, to list their ingredients. Consequently, if alcohol is an ingredient, this will be on the label of the product. However, alcohol may also be used as a solvent for some flavouring. In this case, it will be present in the final food at low levels. Alcohol may be inadvertently present, for example, due to the fermentation which occurs when fruit juice is opened and stored.
Assistive Technology
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has made available for research into the use and benefits of assistive technology in each of the last six years. [108320]
Ms Blears: The Department does not support major programmes of research into the use and benefits of assistive technology. However, in accordance with Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, annual reports on assistive technology research and development have been laid before Parliament, most recently in July 2002. Copies are available in the Library, and also on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/research. The reports describe the wide range of Government funded projects supporting the development, introduction and evaluation of assistive technology.
Babies' Diet
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to educate new mothers on the importance of a nutrient-rich diet for new babies. [109201]
Ms Blears: The Department of Health produces guidance on infant feeding, which includes specific advice on breastfeeding and weaning.
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The guidance is made directly available to parents through national initiatives such as the Welfare Food Scheme, the Sure Start Maternity Grant and the national health service "Birth to Five" book.
Health professionals also play a key role in disseminating guidance and directly advising parents.
Since 1993, the Department has also funded the National Breastfeeding Awareness Week, which aims to raise awareness among health professionals and the general public.
Blood
Mr. Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the risk of blood stocks becoming contaminated from blood donated from those who have received blood transfusions in the last 10 years; [103983]
- (2) if he will publish the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues findings from their consideration of whether recipients of blood and tissue should be excluded from donating blood. [103982]
Ms Blears: There is no evidence world wide that CJD or vCJD has ever been transmitted through blood or blood products. However, the possibility of the theoretical risk cannot be ruled out.
The Government's Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues (MSBT) has considered whether all blood transfusion recipients should be excluded from donating blood and has advised that this policy would have a damaging impact on blood supplies. There are therefore no plans to introduce this measure although we will continue to keep it under review. MSBT is continuing to consider possible further measures to reduce the theoretical risk of vCJD through blood transfusion and the public summaries and minutes of meetings of this Committee will be published on the Department of Health's website shortly.
Bottled Water
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent checks have been carried out on bottled water to determine levels of (a) pesticides, (b) nitrates and (c) endocrine disrupting chemicals; and if she will make a statement. [99215]
Ms Blears: All bottled water sold in the United Kingdom must comply with the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 1999. Compliance with these Regulations is monitored by local authorities. Bottled waters other than natural mineral waters have to meet limits for chemical and microbiological parameters, and are subject to the same sampling regime (based on volume of water) as water from public supplies. Natural mineral waters must come from a recognised source. In order for recognition to be granted the source must be protected from all risk of pollution. After recognition is granted, local authorities monitor the source to ensure that requirements for recognition continue to be met.
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The Government's programme of surveys for chemicals in food includes tests on bottled water as appropriate. The most recent tests for pesticides were in 2000, when no traces of pesticide residues were found in 50 samples of bottled water. During the last five years the programme has not included any tests on bottled waters for nitrates or for endocrine disruptors (other than those included in the pesticide survey).
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