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19 Feb 2007 : Column 387W—continued
Saudi Arabia: Human Rights
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has received concerning the treatment of British citizens in Saudi Arabia. [121442]
Dr. Howells: In November 2006, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary held two meetings with five British nationals formerly detained in Saudi Arabia.
She has also recently received representations about the treatment of a British citizen currently held in Jeddah. A consular access visit has taken place and the detainee's family are being kept informed.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have died in Saudi Arabia in each of the last three years. [121443]
Dr. Howells: We cannot provide definitive figures for the number of British nationals who died in Saudi Arabia in each of the last three years as we only have records of those cases in which consular assistance was sought. Our records, since 2004, for the numbers of British nationals who died while in Saudi Arabia are:
| Number | |
Four deaths were also recorded during this year's Hajj pilgrimage by the British Hajj delegation. We are still waiting to receive notification from the Saudi authorities confirming the dates of death. Therefore, it is unclear at present whether they will be recorded in the figures for 2006 or 2007.
Scotland
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2007, Official Report, column 1003W, on Scotland, what assessment she has made of whether, if an independent Scotland were to leave the EU, the remainder of the UK would have to renegotiate its EU membership. [111589]
Mr. Hoon: If Scotland were to become independent from the UK, the rest of the UK would remain part of the EU, but changes in arrangements would have to be agreed, for example, to reflect the change in the size of the population of the UK.
Somalia: Politics and Government
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia’s decision to impose martial law in those areas under its control; and if she will make a statement. [119469]
Mr. McCartney: We support the Transitional Federal Government’s (TFG) attempts to stabilise the security situation and ensure that all Somalis are able to move around without fear. A state of emergency law was passed by the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia on 13 January.
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, recently met President Yusuf of the TFG in the margins of the African Union summit on 26 January and urged him to be inclusive in the political process of reconciliation. This will be the biggest contributing factor in stabilising the internal situation in Somalia.
Treaties: European Union
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which articles of the EU treaties require membership of the EU. [119997]
Mr. Hoon: The EU treaties apply only to EU member states. It is only by acceding to these treaties that states become members of the EU. In some areas, international agreements may be negotiated with third states under which they are associated with, or participate in, measures developed in the framework of the EU.
Treaty of Rome: Anniversaries
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the draft declaration marking the 50(th) anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. [120224]
Mr. Hoon: The EU Presidency have not yet circulated a draft text of the Declaration that will be adopted in Berlin to mark the 50(th) anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome. A copy of the final Declaration will be deposited in the Library of the House following its expected adoption on 25 March.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on the content of the proposed declaration to mark the 50(th) anniversary of the Treaty of Rome; and if she will make a statement. [121396]
Mr. Hoon: The Government believe that we should celebrate the 50(th) anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome. We believe the Berlin Declaration should be a short and accessible document. It should not only celebrate 50 years of achievements and the shared values of EU members, but also look forward to the key challenges facing the EU and its citizens in a globalised world.
Uganda: Armed Conflict
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the government of Uganda on the recent attacks on the Lords Resistance Army by the Ugandan People's Defence Force in designated areas. [120889]
Mr. McCartney: We have had no reports of recent attacks on the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) by the Ugandan People's Defence Force in designated area. There have, however, been unconfirmed reports of the LRA attacking civilians in southern Sudan in recent days.
We continue to urge all parties to demonstrate a strong commitment to finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in northern Uganda. Ideally this would include returning to the mediation process currently being hosted by the government of southern Sudan in Juba. A sustainable peace agreement would be the first step towards enabling the communities of northern Uganda to start rebuilding their lives.
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contribution the Government have made towards a negotiated end to the war in Northern Uganda; and if she will make a statement. [121264]
Mr. McCartney:
We continue to urge all parties to demonstrate a strong commitment to finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in northern Uganda. On 1 February the UK was instrumental in
securing a statement to this effect from a number of heads of diplomatic missions in Kampala. We have also provided financial support, amounting to £250,000, to the UN appeal fund supporting the mediation process.
The immediate priority is for both sides to demonstrate their commitment to the Juba talks. A sustainable peace agreement would be the first step towards meeting the needs of the communities of northern Uganda and improving peace and security in the region.
Uganda: Ethnic Groups
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the governments of (a) Uganda and (b) Kenya on pursuing a peace initiative in Karamoja with the warring tribes in that area. [120469]
Mr. McCartney: Following an upsurge in violence in Karamoja in late October and early November 2006 the co-chairs (currently Netherlands and Ireland) of the Partners for Democracy and Governance (PDG) group in Kampala called on the Ugandan Prime Minister on 9 November 2006 to express the concerns of the international community. This meeting took place in the context of an ongoing dialogue between the Ugandan government and the PDG about the situation in Karamoja. The UK is an active member of the PDG.
On 24 November 2006 a number of donor representatives, including the UK, went on a fact finding visit to Kotido District in Karamoja where discussions were held with the local community, district leaders, the army and the Ugandan Minister of State for Karamoja.
In late December 2006 UK representatives in Nairobi raised the need for co-ordinated peaceful disarmament in this Kenya-Uganda border area with the Kenyan government's co-ordinator for peacebuilding and conflict management and with the Executive Secretary of the Nairobi-based Regional Centre for Small Arms and Light Weapons.
We continue to press for a peaceful and voluntary disarmament process across the region that involves all the stakeholders, respects human rights and protects the civilian population. Disarmament should go hand in hand with broader development interventions in the region.
Uganda: Peace Negotiations
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the prospects for peace in Northern Uganda following the recent breakdown of peace talks; and if she will make a statement. [121059]
Mr. McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 24 January 2007, Official Report, column 1850W to the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown).
Uganda: Sudan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the governments of (a) Uganda and (b) Sudan on the incursions of the Ugandan Peoples' Defence Force into southern Sudan. [120468]
Mr. McCartney: We hold regular discussions with the governments of southern Sudan, Uganda and Sudan on the peace talks process in Juba between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government.
Under the terms of an agreement reached in October 2001, between the governments of Uganda and Sudan, the Ugandan People's Defence Force (UPDF) were permitted to mount operations in southern Sudan against the LRA. As far as the UK is aware this agreement expired in January 2006, but the parties continue to abide by its terms. The government of southern Sudan has not raised any concerns with us at the UPDF's continued presence in southern Sudan.
Our priority is to support efforts aimed at building a sustainable peace in northern Uganda, which would enable the UPDF to leave southern Sudan.
USA: Entry Clearances
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the US Administration on its requirement for UK citizens with HIV/AIDS to obtain a separate visa to visit that country; and if she will make a statement. [120974]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any representations to the US Administration on US entry restrictions for UK citizens with HIV/AIDS.
US immigration policy is a matter for the US authorities and as such we have no plans to raise this subject with the Americans.
Written Questions: Administrative Delays
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she plans to answer Question 113806, on public sector pensions, tabled on 5 January 2007. [120262]
Mr. Hoon: I replied to the hon. Member today (UIN 113806).
Health
Air Ambulance Services
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration her Department has given to allowing air ambulance charities to contribute towards the cost of clinical staff; and if she will make a statement. [121132]
Andy Burnham: Air ambulances are funded by charities. Since 1 April 2002, the cost of clinical staff on air ambulances should be met by the national health service. It is for NHS trusts to decide whether they provide any additional funding to air ambulance charities. If the air ambulance trust wishes to enter into different funding arrangements for clinical staff it should discuss this with the relevant NHS ambulance trust(s).
Anti-psychotic Drugs
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse reaction reports were received through the yellow card reporting system for (a) all anti-psychotic drugs, (b) traditional anti-psychotic drugs and (c) atypical anti-psychotic drugs since 31 March 2006; how many prescriptions there were for each type of drug for those aged (i) 60 to 64, (ii) 65 to 74 and (iii) 75 years and over; and if she will make a statement. [116237]
Caroline Flint: Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme.
The anti-psychotic drugs are used in the treatment of schizophrenia and as with all marketed drugs their safety is continually monitored by the MHRA and the CHM.
The following table shows the number of suspected ADR reports received by the MHRA between 31 March 2006 and 31 December 2006 where an anti-psychotic drug was listed as being suspect.
| Number of suspected ADR reports received by the MHRA between 31 March and 31 December 2006 | |
| Number | |
| Note: The total ADR reports all anti-psychotics will not be equal to the sum of both atypical and traditional anti-psychotics; an individual ADR report may provide more than one drug as suspect and therefore may appear in more than one column. | |
The submission of a suspected ADR report does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease.
Of the total 1,529 reports, 729 list Clozaril (active constituent, clozapine) as a suspect drug. Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, which is a severe reduction in the number of white blood cells and can be potentially life threatening if it is not detected and appropriately treated. In order to reduce this risk, the Marketing Authorisation holders are obliged to collect information from the Clozapine Patient Monitoring Scheme and report changes in blood counts to the MHRA via the Yellow card Scheme.
The incidence of agranulocytosis and the fatality rate in those developing agranulocytosis have decreased
markedly since the introduction of this monitoring scheme and the need for regular blood tests during treatment.
The table shows the number of prescriptions that have been dispensed in the community in England for elderly people. This data covers the period April to November 2006.
The MHRA does not hold data broken down by age group and so data has been provided for elderly patients which are defined as those over the age of 60.
Prescriptions for the elderly are based on a one in 20 sample and the figures have been rounded to reflect this. Please see the notes to the following table for more information on this.
The following table shows the number of prescriptions that have been dispensed in the community in England for elderly people.
| Anti-psychotic items dispensed as elderly exemptions from April to November 2006 | |
| Number | |
| Note: The exemption data are identified from the box ticked on the back of the prescription form and rely on the form being completed correctly which may not always be the case. Information for categories that are not required to pay a charge (e.g. children) is based on a one in 20 sample of all exempt prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors. The information we have is therefore an estimate and subject to sampling errors. To reflect this we have rounded the exemption figures appropriately—figures less than 1,000 are shown as “*”; figures between 1,000 and 100,000 have been rounded to the nearest 1,000 and figures between 100,000 and 1 million have been rounded to the nearest 10,000. Data for total of all ages have not been rounded since they are not exemption data. Due to rounding, the sum of the components may not equal the totals. | |
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