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20 Apr 2007 : Column 801W—continued
Education and Skills
Science: Curriculum
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007, Official Report, column 701W, on science: curriculum, (1) what consultation has taken place on the content of the national curriculum planning guidance; [130264]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the national curriculum planning guidance. [130265]
Jim Knight: As part of the consultation on the secondary curriculum review, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is seeking views on general draft supporting materials. The materials have been designed to be used on the website and can be found at:
An extract has been placed in the House Library.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Horses: Databases
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he expects (a) the information from the National Equine Database to be available to members of the public and (b) members of the public to be able to retrieve (i) statistics on the number of racehorses slaughtered each year, (ii) the ages of racehorses at the time of slaughter and (iii) the reasons for the slaughter of racehorses. [131245]
Barry Gardiner: The National Equine Database (NED) was developed to hold centrally the information confined in horse passports. This is to prevent theft and aid the early recovery of horses and, in terms of veterinary surveillance, help control equine disease outbreaks.
The NED system has been enhanced to hold pedigree, performance, evaluation and grading information on each horse born or resident in the UK with a passport. The enhanced system will be called NED Online and will be available for the public to use. Some of the information will be free and some will be available for a fee, although horse owner names and addresses are confidential to the Government. Currently, when a horse is slaughtered, basic equine identification information is collected including the passport issuing body (for racehorses this would be Weatherbys) and submitted to NED. However, not all horses with a Weatherbys passport race.
As NED Online develops, its facilities will continue to improve in line with users’ requirements. However, there are no plans as yet to enable members of the public to retrieve details of slaughtered racehorses.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bangladesh
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of recent attacks by Muslim extremists against the judiciary in Bangladesh. [132566]
Dr. Howells: We are aware of reports that the prosecutor in the trial of leading militants has been shot. However, no individual has been charged and we are not aware of any militant organisation having claimed responsibility.
Chad: Peace Keeping Operations
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she plans to make to the conclusions of the recent UN mission to the Central African Republic and Chad on the measures needed to bring peace and stability to eastern Chad. [132030]
Mr. McCartney
[holding answer 18 April 2007]: We are very concerned about the humanitarian situation in eastern Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR)
and the spill over of violence from Darfur. We take every opportunity to call on the Governments of Chad and Sudan to implement their commitments to respect each other's borders and honour their obligations to protect their citizens.
On 27 February, Assistant Secretary-General Hedi Annabi briefed the UN Security Council, in closed consultations, on the Secretary-General's recommendations for deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in Chad and CAR following a second Technical Assessment Mission to the two countries.
The UK will continue to work with the UN and partners on the Security Council to create the necessary conditions for a UN mission to Chad and CAR, as called for under UN Security Council Resolution 1706. On 16 April my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated to the Security Council that agreement is needed for a UN peacekeeping operation in Chad.
EC External Trade
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has (a) made to the EU and (b) received on the negotiations on economic partnership agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. [132066]
Mr. Hoon: The Government are working closely with the European Commission who are negotiating economic partnership agreements on behalf of the EU, EU member states and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. They listen carefully to the views of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) while doing so to ensure that these agreements are truly development-focused and designed to deliver long-term development, economic growth and poverty reduction in ACP countries.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is leading the UK representation on these negotiations supported in its work by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development met with ACP Ministers and negotiators in November 2006.
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade met NGOs on 11 January. He and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, meet with them three to four times a year.
As part of the Trade Policy Consultative Forum my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade meets quarterly with NGOs and the business community to discuss a variety of trade policy issues—Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) usually feature on the agenda; the next meeting will be in May.
DTI and DFID officials met with Richard Bernal, Caribbean negotiator, on 14 March.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development met with ACP and EU Ministers in Bonn on 1 March at the EU-ACP Joint Ministerial Trade Committee.
DTI officials met with Peter Thompson, Director-General Trade in charge of EPAs on 26 March.
UK officials have discussions with the Commission and other EU member states on a daily basis/at/around ACP and 133 meetings and in the margins.
Also, UK officials meet with officials from other member states on a quarterly basis.
DTI, DFID and FCO officials met with NGOs on 17 April.
Honours
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the individuals who are not UK citizens who were awarded honours in the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007, indicating in each case the (a) date of announcement, (b) honour in question and (c) reason for the award. [131058]
Margaret Beckett [holding answer 16 April 2007]: As the information requested is lengthy, I will arrange for it to be placed in the Library of the House and will arrange for a copy to be sent directly to the hon. Member.
As honorary awards to citizens of countries where Her Majesty the Queen is not Head of State are not formally announced, the date of the Queen's formal approval of such awards has been given.
Maldives: Politics and Government
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the recent police beatings of the chairman of the Maldivian Democratic Party and the political situation in the Maldives; and if she will make a statement. [132964]
Dr. Howells: Our high commission in Colombo, also accredited to Maldives, has been in regular contact with the Maldivian Government and with officials of Maldivian Democratic Party about the arrest and treatment of Mohammed Nasheed. Mr. Nasheed has now been released. We have made clear to the Government that any allegations against the police should be investigated fully and transparently. Law enforcement agencies should abide by the rule of law and any measures to maintain law and order should be proportionate.
The recent collapse of the inter-party talks in Maldives was a setback for the reform agenda. Our high commissioner in Colombo has urged the parties to resume formal talks as soon as possible and to work together constructively to accelerate the implementation of the Roadmap for Reform Agenda.
Sudan: Peace Keeping Operations
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures she plans to support at the UN and within the EU in order to put pressure on Sudan to abide by its agreements and accept the hybrid AU-UN peacekeeping force. [132027]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 18 April 2007]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary chaired a meeting of the UN Security Council on 16 April to take stock of recent international efforts on Darfur, and to make the case for further measures to pressure the Government of Sudan and rebel movements to abide by their agreements. During that meeting she welcomed the announcement by the Government of Sudan the same day accepting deployment of a heavy support package, and called on them to accept the rapid deployment of a full African Union-UN hybrid force, as well as an immediate ceasefire and a resumption of the political process. If they do not, we will be forced to press for tougher measures, including further targeted sanctions and an expansion of the arms embargo.
Following UK lobbying, the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted strong conclusions in January and in March on the need for Sudan to abide by its international obligations. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister wrote to Chancellor Merkel on 21 March to reiterate this ahead of the 25 March European Council. We continue to press the EU to maintain this position.
Health
Carers
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to provide respite support for carers as referred to in paragraph 5.55 of the Our Health, Our Care, Our Say health White Paper. [131924]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We plan to issue guidance to local authorities in the summer of 2007 to help them design services based on principles that reflect best practice in the provision of planned emergency cover. We are making £25 million available to support implementation of the guidance from October 2007. The funds are additional to the £185 million carers’ grant which helps local authorities support carers through the provision of much needed breaks. The new money is intended to ensure that cover is available in the event of a crisis or an emergency.
Colorectal Cancer: Screening
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the number of people diagnosed with bowel cancer as a result of participating in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. [131163]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 16 April 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Billericay (Mr. Baron) on 22 March, Official Report, column. 1128W. These are the latest available figures.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the demand for FOB testing kits outside the 60 to 69 age range for the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. [131164]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 16 April 2007]: 3,383 men and women aged 70 and over had opted in to the NHS bowel cancer screening programme as at 23 March 2007.
Dental Services: Birmingham
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions patients who met current acceptance criteria for restorative dentistry at Birmingham Dental Hospital have not been given a referral on the ground that there was not the capacity within the NHS waiting list target times for the patient to be seen. [131049]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 16 April 2007]: The information requested is not centrally collected. However, the Department has made it clear that clinical priority must be the main determinant of when patients are treated.
Dental Services: Children
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children received orthodontic treatment in each year between 2002 and 2006; and how many have received such treatment in 2006-07. [129017]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Information is provided for the years ending March 2002 to March 2006. Information for the year ending March 2007 is not yet available.
| Number of children receiving national health service general dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS) orthodontic treatment , England only , April 2001 to March 2006 | |
| Year ending March | Number of children treated |
| Notes: 1. Data are for claims scheduled for the financial years ending March 2002 to March 2006 in both GDS and PDS. 2. The number of children treated is based on the claims containing at least one orthodontic treatment which were processed at the DPD during the year stated. 3. The claims for orthodontic treatment may have been for a transitional payment, complete treatment or incomplete treatment. 4. Orthodontic treatment is as defined under items 32, 55e and 55f of the statement of dental remuneration. 5. Children are defined as patients under 18 on the date of acceptance for treatment. 6. Patients have been identified by using surname, first initial, gender and date of birth. 7. England data are for both GDS and PDS. 8. Because of the transition arrangements from GDS to PDS, patients may have been double counted. For orthodontic cases, which have long durations, this could be a serious distortion. Source: NHS Business Services Authority Dental Practice Division. | |
Dental Services: Northamptonshire
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in Northamptonshire were registered with an NHS dentist (a) in April 2006 and (b) in the most recent month for which figures are available. [131572]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 16 April 2007]: The information requested is not held in the format required.
Registration data no longer form part of the data available under the new national health service dental contract; the new measure is patients seen within the last 24 months and is available at primary care trust level. In response to part (a), data are available as at 31 March 2006. In response to part (b) the latest data available are as at 31 December 2006.
Both datasets can be found in annex 3 of the “NHS Dental Statistics for England quarter 3: 31 December 2006” report, which is available in the Library and is available at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental06q3
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in (a) Kettering, (b) Wellingborough, (c) Corby, (d) Northampton South, (e) Northampton North and (f) Daventry constituency were registered with an NHS dentist (i) in each year since 1997 and (ii) in the latest month in the most recent year for which figures are available. [131575]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 16 April 2007]: Constituency level registration data from 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2006 are contained in annex C of “NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006” which is available in the Library and also at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity.
Registration data no longer form part of the data available under the new national health service dental contract; the new measure is patients seen within the last 24 months and is available at primary care trust level. This latest data available are as at 31 December 2006. This information is contained in annex 3 of the “NHS Dental Statistics for England Quarter 3: 31 December 2006” report, which is available in the Library and also at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental06q3.
Constituency level data are no longer available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
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