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19 Jan 2007 : Column 1407W—continued
Sudan and Chad
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she has taken to monitor the arms embargo established under UN Security Council resolutions 1556 and 1591 in co-operation with the UN Panel of Experts. [116420]
Mr. McCartney: The UK rigorously enforces both the EU and UN arms embargoes on Sudan and Darfur. We led international efforts to secure UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCR) 1556 and 1591 which imposed the UN arms embargo on Darfur and established a Panel of Experts to monitor the embargo. We remain committed to supporting the Panel in its work. We strongly supported UNSCR 1713 which added a fifth member to the Panel, and are in regular contact with the Panel both at the Security Council and bilaterally. Most recently, on 11 January 2007, our ambassador in Khartoum met the Panel to discuss its work
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the movement of insurgent armed groups across the Sudan/Chad border. [116421]
Mr. McCartney:
We have seen reports of the ongoing cross-border rebel conflicts in eastern Chad and
Darfur. The UK is seriously concerned about the continuing conflict in eastern Chad and the deteriorating situation in the border regions of Chad, Sudan and Central African Republic. The escalating clashes between the rebels and the Chadian army risk worsening the humanitarian crisis and further destabilising the region.
In the interests of regional peace and security we continue to take every appropriate opportunity to call on the Governments of Chad and Sudan to cease supporting each others’ rebels and to fulfil their obligations under the Tripoli Agreement, which calls for greater respect for border integrity.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will press the United Nations Security Council to investigate and report publicly on cross border attacks on civilians and other incidents in the Sudan/Chad border zone. [116422]
Mr. McCartney: The UN Secretary-General’s report on Chad and the Central African Republic, dated 22 December 2006, gave an overview of the political, security, humanitarian and human rights situation. This included an assessment of the rebel and criminal activities as well as inter-ethnic clashes in the region.
A UN technical assessment mission is planned to visit eastern Chad in January/February 2007 to review the current situation in the area and make a further assessment of the options for UN deployment. We have pressed for it to report back as soon as possible.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her counterparts at the UN Security Council on pressing the Government of Sudan (a) to accept the deployment of a strengthened international force with UN elements in Darfur and along the border with Chad, (b) to monitor the UN arms embargo and (c) to help implement the Tripoli Agreement of February 2006. [116426]
Mr. McCartney: At the last UN Security Council consultation on Darfur and Chad on 10 January, we pressed for rapid action on UN deployment in Darfur and Chad. 34 UN troops have deployed to Darfur since 28 December 2006, and a further 152 are expected to deploy under the UN light support package for Darfur.
We remain committed to supporting the UN Panel of Experts, established under UN Security Council resolution 1591 ‘inter alia’ to monitor the aims embargo, in its work. We are in regular contact with the Panel both at the Security Council and bilaterally. Our most recent meeting was 11 January when our ambassador in Khartoum met the Panel to discuss its work.
We regularly press the Government of Sudan to fulfil its obligations under the Tripoli Agreement and to slop supporting rebel groups operating in Chad.
John Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Government of Chad on (a) ceasing support for armed rebel groups in (i) Chad and (ii) Darfur, (b) an international force in Darfur and the
border region, (c) monitoring the arms embargo and (d) the implementation of the Tripoli Agreement of February 2006. [116433]
Mr. McCartney: The UK permanent representative to the UN met with the Chadian Foreign Minister, Ahmat Allami, on 20 December 2006 during his visit to New York. We gave a clear message that the UK look for a resolution of the crisis in Darfur and an improvement in relations between Chad and Sudan. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also met with the Chadian ambassador to the UK on 20 November 2006 and raised our concerns over the security situation in Chad, including the support for armed rebel groups, the cross-border conflict with Sudan and the stability of the region as a whole.
We press the Government of Sudan regularly on the need for a viable ceasefire in Darfur and to stop supporting Chadian rebel groups. We also continue to urge both the Government of Chad and the Government of Sudan to fulfil their obligations under the Tripoli Agreement and respect each other’s borders.
We are currently working in the UN to determine the best options for UN deployment to improve the security of Chad and the region, as envisaged in UN Security Council resolution 1706.
TB: UK Visas
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries' citizens require a certificate to show that they are free from TB in order to gain a UK visa; and what consideration has been given to including additional countries on the list. [116653]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 18 January 2007]: Tuberculosis (TB) testing has been introduced for visa applicants residing in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Tanzania, Thailand and Sudan who intend to spend more than six months in the UK.
TB testing for all long-term visa applicants will be introduced this year in China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The list of countries where TB testing is required will be kept under review.
Uganda
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of (a) the human rights situation and (b) the rule of law in Uganda. [116430]
Mr. McCartney:
Uganda’s human rights record improved after President Museveni came to power in 1986. It has a reasonably free media, though this freedom is occasionally curtailed when the Ugandan Government perceives a conflict with national interest. Uganda also has active civil society organisations. Rule of law problems remain, including poor policing and questionable activities by security agencies such as allegations of illegal detention, torture and politically motivated harassment. The worst cases of human rights abuse occur in northern Uganda where the
general public has not been provided with adequate protection from the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels or the military.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the government of Uganda on (a) the human rights situation, (b) the rule of law and (c) the decision to try 22 civilians for treason by general military court marshal without legal representation in Uganda. [116480]
Mr. McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 15 January 2007, Official Report, columns 834-35W.
On 12 January the Ugandan Constitutional Court called for the immediate release of the group of 22 people, alleged to be People’s Redemption Army rebels, after holding that the continued trial of the group before the General Court Martial was illegal. Three of the group were released under Uganda’s Amnesty Act on 13 January. On 15 January the Prison authorities were ordered to bring the group before the High Court. We are following the situation and call on all sides to abide by the constitution and respect the rule of law.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the human rights situation in Uganda for the visit of the Queen to the 2007 Commonwealth Meeting in Uganda. [116515]
Mr. McCartney: The human rights situation in Uganda has improved since President Museveni came to power, but some challenges remain. As I said in my written answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Elfyn Llwyd) on 15 January 2007, Official Report, columns 834-35W, we regularly discuss these issues with the Ugandan government. We do not judge that there are currently any implications for the visit by Her Majesty the Queen to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kampala in November 2007.
Health
Aerosols
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has commissioned into the effect of butane in aerosols on health. [117007]
Caroline Flint: The Department has not commissioned any research into the effect of butane in aerosols on health. However, gas fuels continue to be associated with the majority of volatile substance abuse (VSA) deaths. In 2004, butane from all sources, including aerosol propellants, accounted for 78 per cent. of VSA deaths (37 of the 47 deaths).
Source:
St. George's University of London: 18th annual report on trends in death associated with volatile substance 1971-2003, key findings for 2004.
Cancer Care
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the letter from her Department’s National Cancer Director on 19 December 2006, gateway reference 7605, on further details on the cancer reform strategy, what major milestones she expects to achieve as part of the strategy in 2007. [115010]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The cancer reform strategy is in the early stages of development. An advisory board of experts including representatives of Royal Colleges, charities, patients and clinicians is being established and the first meeting will be held on 2 February with further meetings planned for May and July. Professor Mike Richards, the National Clinical Director for Cancer, will chair the board.
In addition, we are setting up a number of new working groups responsible for developing specific aspects of the strategy and inform the work of the advisory board. These groups will meet for the first time in February and March and will consider:
provider development and service models;
commissioning and levers for change;
value for money—costs and benefits;
clinical outcomes;
awareness of cancer symptoms and early detection; and
patient experience.
We hope to publish the Cancer Reform Strategy by the end of the year.
Care Homes
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the timetable for review of the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes; when she expects to publish new standards; and if she will make a statement. [116054]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department is planning to begin a public consultation in April 2007 on proposed changes to the national minimum standards for care homes and associated regulations, with a view to implementing changes in autumn 2007.
Clinical Trials
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust has recovered the costs from the relevant third parties for treating the patients who suffered an adverse drug reaction to the treatment TGN 1412. [115012]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I am informed that the payment position has been resolved. A legal agreement has been reached between the parties and that agreement contains confidentiality stipulations.
Community Care Services
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many service users of social services departments have been in receipt of direct payments in each year since 1997; and how many adults receiving community care services provided by social services departments there were in each year since 1997. [114994]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The number of adults aged 18 and over receiving direct payments and community-based services during the year in England is shown in the table for 2000-01 to 2005-06. The table also includes the total number of adults receiving social services, including residential care as well as community-based services. Data for earlier years is not available.
| Number of adults aged 18 and over receiving direct payments, community-based services and social services in England, 2000-01 to 2005-06 | |||
| Rounded number | |||
| Clients aged 18 and over receiving | |||
| 1 April to 31 March | Direct payments( 1) | Community-based services( 2) | Social services( 3) |
| (1) Direct payments are defined as cash payments made in lieu of social service provisions, to individuals who have been assessed as needing services. (2) Community-based services include home care, day care, meals, overnight respite (not in the clients home), short-term residential care (not respite), direct payments, professional support, equipment and adaptations and other community-based care provided by the council. (3) Social services include community-based services, local authority residential care, independent sector residential care and nursing care. (4) Data on the number of people receiving community-based services from 2004-05 is not comparable to previous years. In 2004-05, restated guidance was issued to exclude people receiving services from grant-funded organisations who had not had a community care assessment. (5) Data for 2005-06 are provisional. Source: Information Centre, RAP. | |||
Dental Services
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from primary care trusts on the levels of patient charge income for NHS dental services in the 2006-07 financial year; what the content of these representations was; and if she will make a statement. [114993]
Ms Rosie Winterton: No formal representations have been received but at officer level, some primary care trusts (PCTs) have raised concerns that the levels of patient charge revenue so far reported during the year are lower than originally expected. A number of factors may affect levels of patient charge income, including the annual number of units of dental activity commissioned by PCTs, the time needed for new dental services to be commissioned and come into operation, the timeliness of the reports submitted by dentists on completed courses of treatment, changes in the mix of charge-paying and charge exempt patients treated, and the incidence of certain charge-free courses of treatment for patients who would normally pay charges. The Department has provided guidance to help PCTs and dentists understand the local factors that may affect patient charge revenue and the possible actions, if appropriate, that they can take to improve the position.
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