Written Ministerial Statements
Tuesday 16 May 2006
Culture, Media and Sport
Government Indemnity Scheme
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. David Lammy): The provision for the Government Indemnity Scheme is made by the National Heritage Act 1980. The scheme facilitates public access to loans of works of art and other objects for public display made to museums,
galleries and other such institutions by private owners and non-national institutions. It does this by indemnifying lenders against loss or damage to objects they loan. Loans covered by the scheme must be for public benefit. The scheme also covers loans of such objects for study purposes within borrowing institutions where this would contribute materially to the public's understanding or appreciation of the object loaned. Examples of this are enhancing interpretation or explanation to the public of objects, or bringing into the public domain the conclusions of any study.
In the six-month period ended 31 March 2006, a total of 2403 undertakings were given to indemnify objects on loan to national and non-national institutions under section 16. The value of contingent liabilities in respect of undertakings given at any time under section 16 and which remained outstanding as at 31 March 2006 was:
| £000 | ||||
| Institution | Number of Indemnities | Loans In (Covered by Section 16 Indemnities) | Loans In (covered by the undertakings to Her Majesty) | Loans Out |
The previous report for the six-month period ending 30 September 2005 omitted to include figures for the national museums of Scotland and Wales. These are shown below:
The value of contingent liabilities in respect of undertakings given at any time under section 16 and which remained outstanding as at 30 September 2005 for national museums of Scotland was £864,773,000 and £49,275,710 for national museums of Wales.
A total of 413 undertakings were given to indemnify objects on loan to national Scottish institutions and 223 undertakings for objects on loan to national Welsh institutions undersection 16.
Defence
Service Personnel's Health (Iraq)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Tom Watson): I would like to place on record my appreciation for the important work being done by Professor Simon Wessely and his colleagues at King's College, London, on the health of personnel who have served on Operation Telic. Today, two papers by his team have been published in The Lancet summarising the initial findings of a study which the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Dr. Lewis Moonie, announced on 7 May 2003, Official Report,column 34WS.
The first paper ‘The Health of UK Military Personnel” who deployed to the 2003 Iraq war concludes that the vast majority of personnel who deployed have not so far experienced a statistically significant worse health outcome compared to those who did not deploy. However, the study has found that a small but measurable number of reservists (when compared either with regulars who did deploy or reservists who did not deploy) are showing some increased health effects as a result of deployment—particularly for common mental disorders (such as anxiety, depression and stress), post-traumatic stress disorder and fatigue. It remains the case, though, that the reported rates of indicators of common mental ill-health for both reservists and regulars are broadly of the same order as found in the general UK population.
Professor Wessely's second paper “Is there an Iraq War syndrome?” analyses the patterns of illness reported by UK service personnel following deployment on Operation Telic and compares them with those seen after the 1990-91 Gulf conflict. He concludes that there
is no sign of a repeated pattern of the illnesses, often referred to as "Gulf War Syndrome", reported widely after the latter.
The MOD takes the health of service personnel, both regulars and reservists, very seriously indeed and clearly this study is an important piece of work which will help us perform our duty of care to our personnel and their families. Although funded by MOD the study is independent. I welcome the conclusions published today and I am sure too that they will be welcomed by the men and women who have been serving in Iraq. Clearly it is very reassuring to know that the overwhelming majority of service personnel are returning to the UK physically and mentally well after service on Operation Telic. MOD's implementation of health lessons learned during Operation Granby has undoubtedly contributed to this. It is obviously especially important that we act on the key finding from the study in respect of the mental health of reservists. This is an area that we have already been monitoring closely and looking at possible solutions. I am, therefore, pleased to announce today a package of support for these particular service people.
We already offer a comprehensive physical and mental healthcare service to mobilised reservists. I will introduce later this year an enhanced post-operational mental healthcare programme for recently-demobilised Reservists. The programme will offer a mental health assessment, conducted by appropriately qualified members of the Defence Medical Services (DMS). This will be available to any member of the reserve forces who has been demobilised since January 2003 following deployment on any operation overseas and who has a concern about their mental health as a result. If individuals are then assessed as having a mental health problem that is categorised primarily as post-traumatic stress disorder or a related traumatic adjustment disorder, and that is directly related to their operational deployment and of a nature that can be treated within the resources of the DMS, then they will be offered out-patient treatment by the DMS.
If the assessment identifies cases that fall outside the parameters set out above, such as complex multi-disorder diagnoses or acute cases requiring in-patient care, the DMS will refer them—with our assessment results—on to the appropriate NHS providers in order to assist their access to NHS treatment, as well as encouraging contact with the relevant welfare organisations to ensure follow-up.
I will make a further announcement in a few months to confirm the details of the service that will be provided, including the location(s) at which the assessments will be provided, and the date on which the service will commence.
This scheme will complement work we have in hand to improve the understanding of military mental health issues in general across the NHS, and ensure that the necessary services are available for veterans of whatever age suffering from mental illness. This work involves Health Departments, the NHS providers and the charitable sector, and I hope to announce details on the outcome of this work later this year when it is completed.
Given the current findings of Professor Wessely's work, and his view that it would be premature to conclude that there has been no health effect as a result
of deployment to Iraq, my Department is considering carefully the recommendation that further follow-up research is required. I understand that Professor Wessely plans to publish further results in due course.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Pesticides Safety Directorate (Performance Targets 2006-07)
The Minister for Climate Change and the Environment (Ian Pearson): The following performance targets for 2006-07 have been set for the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD).
To evaluate pesticide approval applications and applications for detergent derogations according to published targets and fees and contribute effectively to the review programme for pesticides.
To ensure that UK objectives are reflected in EC legislation, to actively monitor the use of pesticides and secure a high level of compliance with pesticide regulations.
To promote the sustainable use of pesticides through appropriate regulatory and voluntary measures and provide information to all stakeholders on pesticide issues.
To recover the full cost of our operations from the industry and from DEFRA and contribute to the Government's better regulation and efficiency agendas.
Further details are given in the Pesticides Safety Directorate Three-Year Business Plan 2006-09:Year 2006-07, copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Veterinary Medicines Directorate (Performance Targets 2006-07)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): I have set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) the following performance targets for 2006-07.
To authorise veterinary medicines against legislative requirements according to published targets and fees and ensure the field-use of veterinary medicines is safe and effective principally through the use of best practice in pharmacovigilance and through actively discouraging improper use.
To ensure that UK policy objectives are reflected in EC legislation and that UK legislation and guidance ensures that veterinary medicines can be used effectively and safely, offering protection to human health, animal health and welfare and the environment.
To actively monitor the safe use of veterinary medicines authorised in the UK through surveillance of residues and proportionate follow-up action where misuse is detected.
To recover the full cost of our operations from the industry and Defra and contribute to the Government's better regulation and efficiency agendas.
Further details are given in the VMD Business Plan for 2006-07 copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Central Science Laboratory (Performance Targets 2006-07)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): The following performance targets for 2006-07 have been set for the Central Science Laboratory (CSL).
To achieve a minimum of 90 per cent. of project milestones in commissioned projects which support DEFRA's objectives.
To achieve a mean score of 4.5 on a scale of 0 to 5 for the assessment of customer satisfaction using the agreed methodology.
Managing the Agency Effectively
To recover the full economic costs of the agency's services from Government Departments, agencies and external customers.
To deliver the efficiency targets set out in the business plan.
To deliver e-Government and commercial exploitation of research outputs.
To enhance the level of assessment in the 2006-07 Science Audit over that for 2001-02.
To work with the laboratory strategy team in implementing the next phase of the agency review.
Further details are given in the CSL business plan for 2006-7 copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Performance Targets 2006-07)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): I have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) the following performance targets for 2006-07.
To achieve full cost recovery.
To deliver 2.5 per cent. efficiency savings.
To meet a 85 per cent. of rationale, objectives, appraisal, monitoring and evaluation (ROAME) milestones.
To achieve 85 per cent. of surveillance deliverables to time.
To achieve a score of at least 75 per cent. satisfaction in the VLA customer satisfaction survey.
Maintaining current third party certifications and accreditations.
To achieve ISO14001 certification for the regional laboratories.
To implement the VLA safety plan 2006-07 to timescales indicated in the Business Plan.
Further details are given in the VLA Business Plan for 2006-07 copies of which will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Marine Fisheries Agency (Performance Targets 2006-07)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): I have set the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) the following performance targets for 2006-07.
Issue 100 per cent. of over 10 metre licences by 23 March and 100 per cent. of under 10 metre licences biennially by 30 June.
No overfishing of quota stocks which results in EU deduction or infraction proceedings against the UK.
Deploy enforcement resources on land in line with risk weightings.
Process completed claims within eight weeks of submission.
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