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5 Jun 2007 : Column 443W—continued
Paramedical Staff: Manpower
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paramedics were employed in each strategic health authority area in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004 and (e) 2005; and if she will make a statement. [137278]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
| National health service hospital and community health services: ambulance paramedics in England by strategic health authority (SHA) as at 30 September each specified year | |||||
| Headcount | |||||
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
| Note: 2005 data are as reported by the ambulance trusts. Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census. | |||||
Pregnant Women: Domestic Violence
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on implementation of her Department’s guidance on questioning pregnant women about experiences of abuse and domestic violence to identify cases of adult abuse and help prevent children’s exposure to abuse and violence. [140611]
Mr. Ivan Lewis
[holding answer 4 June 2007]: Following publication of “Responding to Domestic Abuse: A handbook for health professionals” (January 2006) the Department has supported the work of the national domestic abuse co-ordinator in a range of domestic abuse policy implementation activities at
national, regional and primary care trust-level. Specifically in June and July 2006 regional strategic breakfasts were held with the Home Office involving the former regional offices with the aim of strengthening local partnerships. The events enabled the sharing of good practice in this area.
The co-ordinator is also training and supporting specialist health visitors in an intensive parenting intervention project. Work is also in hand to develop a template with embedded diagnostic codes for domestic abuse.
Primary Health Care: Nottinghamshire
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which electoral wards in Nottinghamshire have the lowest numbers of people registered with (a) general practitioners and (b) dentists. [138827]
Andy Burnham: The information requested is not held centrally.
York Hospital: Maternity Services
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the number of beds available in maternity facilities at York Hospital. [139713]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has received no representations on the number of beds available in maternity facilities at York hospital. Officials have, however, received one letter which refers to maternity services in Yorkshire.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Iraq
13. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if she will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq. [140322]
Dr. Kim Howells: The security situation varies across Iraq. Sectarian violence and attacks by terrorist groups represent the biggest challenge around Baghdad. In the south, the most serious problem is competition among Shi ‘i militias and criminal gangs. In Basra, most attacks are against coalition forces. In provinces where the Iraqi authorities have assumed responsibility, they have shown themselves capable of dealing with security challenges. We continue to support them in developing their security capability.
23. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she last discussed Iraq with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [140333]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discusses Iraq and a range of foreign policy issues with Cabinet colleagues on a regular basis.
India
14. Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on relations between India and Burma. [140324]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs raised Burma with the Indian Government in June and November last year. He urged the Indian Government to use their influence to help bring peace, stability and democracy to Burma.
Lebanon
15. Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the political situation in Lebanon. [140325]
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of political stability in Lebanon. [140331]
Dr. Howells: The Government have serious concerns about the political stability of Lebanon. Following months of political deadlock the recent upsurge of violence is a worrying development. We fully support the Government of Lebanon in its efforts to bring the situation under control. We urge them to minimise civilian casualties and prioritise the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians.
We welcome UN Security Council Resolution 1757 establishing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. We call on all parties to move forward on this basis.
Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the political and security situation in Lebanon. [140316]
Dr. Howells: The Government have serious concerns about the political and security situation in Lebanon. Following months of political deadlock, the recent upsurge of violence is a worrying development. We fully support the Government of Lebanon in its efforts to bring the situation under control. We urge them to minimise civilian casualties and prioritise the humanitarian needs of the Palestinians.
We welcome UN Security Council Resolution 1757 establishing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. We call on all parties to move forward on this basis.
Aviation Training: United States
16. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the US Administration on the treatment of British citizens of Asian descent in respect of aviation training in the US. [140326]
Dr. Howells:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the US Administration on this subject, and there is no
indication that British citizens of Asian descent are treated differently than any other group seeking aviation training in the US.
Afghanistan
17. John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if she will make a statement on women's rights in Afghanistan. [140327]
Dr. Howells: The UK has regular discussions with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, the UN and the EU on women's rights. Much progress has been made since the fall of the Taliban, but more needs to be done.
We recognise that serious problems remain but our goal remains the full participation of women in all sectors of society. Further details can be obtained from the FCO's human rights report, 2006.
Pakistan
19. Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government have provided to help facilitate free and fair elections in Pakistan in 2007. [140329]
Dr. Howells: In January, the Department for International Development announced the allocation of £3.5 million to support the electoral process during Pakistan's forthcoming general elections.
We look forward to free and fair elections in Pakistan in 2007. We have welcomed the appointment of an independent electoral commissioner, and are pleased to provide support for the electoral process.
EU Constitution
20. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on proposals for the EU constitution under the German presidency. [140330]
Mr. Hoon: Following an extended period of reflection, EU institutional reform will be discussed at the forthcoming European Council.
As part of the continuing negotiations in the run up to that meeting, we have made clear to our EU partners that the EU should agree an amending treaty that makes the EU more effective and better able to deliver practical benefits to EU citizens. Such an approach would be consistent with how treaty change has been agreed in the past.
Human Trafficking
22. Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which EU counterparts she has discussed the extent of trafficking of women and children within the EU in the last 12 months. [140332]
Mr. Hoon:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this issue with EU counterparts in the months before the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary also raised the issue with EU colleagues in
March, when the UK signed the Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking Human Beings and published its action plan on tackling human trafficking.
The UK remains concerned about all forms of people trafficking globally and is committed to tackling it.
Afghanistan: Russia
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her Russian counterpart on the Russian relationship with Afghanistan and its current diplomatic activity in the country. [137327]
Margaret Beckett: I discussed the situation in Afghanistan with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the two most recent meetings of G8 Foreign Ministers—22 September 2006 and 29 June 2006. The G8 countries have repeatedly stated their commitment to assisting Afghanistan's development and we welcome Russian diplomatic activity to further this goal. During a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council on 26 April, Foreign Ministers welcomed practical co-operation between NATO and Russia to counter the Afghan narcotics threat.
Albania: EC Enlargement
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her Albanian counterpart on EU accession for that country. [140216]
Mr. Hoon: The Government have regular discussions with the Government of Albania on EU accession. I last met the Albanian ambassador on 8 March and discussed, among other things, Albania's EU stabilisation and association agreement and the progress Albania was making towards EU integration. On 14 May our ambassador in Tirana called on Albania's new Foreign Minister, Lulzim Basha, and discussed a range of issues including EU integration.
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