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6 May 2009 : Column 210Wcontinued
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made arrangements to monitor the health of members of the royal family during the current outbreak of swine influenza in Mexico. [272587]
Dawn Primarolo: The royal family has its own medical advisers to monitor their health. Clearly, all information issued by this Department is available to everyone, including members of the royal family.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies his Department has (a) conducted and (b) evaluated on the effects on public health of long-term exposure to wireless internet networks. [272881]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) advises the Government in relation to the protection of communities from radiation hazards, including those associated with exposure to non-ionising radiation such as the radio waves from wireless communication systems. The agency has concluded that there is no consistent evidence to date that exposure to radio waves from wireless networks adversely affects the health of the
general population. On the basis of current knowledge and experience, exposures are likely to be lower than those from mobile phones and well within the internationally accepted guidelines from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The Agency also considers it sensible, as with any new technology, to adopt a precautionary approach, and keeps the situation under review.
HPA announced in October 2007 that it was to carry out a systematic programme of research into wireless local area networks (WLANs) and their use. At the same time HPA stressed that it had good reasons to expect the results from this research to be reassuring and that there is no reason why schools and others should not use wireless fidelity (WiFi) equipment. This work is ongoing and expected to be complete in 2010. It includes assessments of exposures around selected items of WiFi equipment through measurements and computer modelling and is part of the Agency's ongoing programme of work in the area of electromagnetic fields. Details can be seen on the HPA web site at:
www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733726123?p=1171991026241
In addition to its own research, HPA monitors studies being carried out by others, and conducts comprehensive reviews of the scientific evidence. Its independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising radiation (AGNIR) also prepares reviews of the evidence for health effects. The most recent AGNIR review of health effects in relation to radio waves was published in 2003 (see Documents of the NRPB, volume 14, number 2) and this is also available on the HPA website. AGNIR is about to prepare another review of the health effects of radio wave exposures and this is expected to take two to three years to complete.
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which CDC investee companies have been sampled for the purposes of estimating their tax payments in each of the last five years. [268414]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: As part of its continuing development evaluation work, CDC started to collect tax payment data from its investee companies last year.
CDC collects this information in relation to both subsidiary and non-subsidiary investee companies. As at 31 December 2008, CDC had received tax payment data from 272 investee companies. A list of these companies will be placed in the Library of the House.
The tax payment data are used by CDC to calculate an aggregate tax paid figure for all its investee companies.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effects of his Departments funding for health services in Malawi on the number of unfilled (a) nursing, (b) midwifery and (c) doctor posts in Malawis health services in the last three years. [272351]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £109 million of funding to health services in Malawi over the six-year period 2005-11 including £45 million to the Emergency Human Resource Programme (EHRP).
DFIDs recent assessment is that the funding has led to increases in the numbers of nurses, midwives and doctors working in Malawis health services in the last three years:
(a) The number of registered nurses has increased from 3,250 to 4,450
(b) The proportion of health centres with two staff members having midwifery skills, has increased from 23 per cent. to 48 per cent.
(c) The number of practising doctors has increased from 140 to 190.
Although vacancy rates of health staff remain high, 77 per cent. for nurses and 67 per cent. for doctors, our assessment is that this does not reflect the real progress made. This is due to the fact that in 2006 the Ministry of Health conducted a Functional Review of the health sector which increased the number of health sector posts from 23,114 to 42,309, greatly raising the number of unfilled posts.
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by how much the monetary value of the Governments official development assistance has fallen as a result of the decline in the value of sterling in the last 12 months; what assessment he has made of the effect of this decline on the Governments commitment towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals; and if he will make a statement. [269084]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: It is not the policy of the Government to comment on the value of sterling.
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed in the Budget that the UK remains on track to meet the target of raising development aid to 0.7 per cent. of national income by 2013.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of his Departments buildings are equipped with air conditioning systems with greater than 250kW of output; how many of these systems have been inspected under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each inspection report. [272122]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Departments main listed office building in London does not have an air conditioning system greater than 250kW.
Grant Shapps:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the
Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. [272123]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Departments listed office building in London does not have an air conditioning system greater than 250kW and inspections under the regulations are not required. We also lease office space in Cardiff, but air conditioning systems and inspections are provided as part of the building infrastructure and are the responsibility of the landlord.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009, Official Report, column 55W, on trade unions, what office facilities his Department provides for the exclusive use of each recognised trade union; and what the notional annual value of such provision is. [271935]
Mr. Paul Murphy: No exclusive office facilities are provided in Wales Office premises but as our staff are employed by Ministry of Justice or the Welsh Assembly Government, office facilities are offered by each of these organisations.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Saville Inquiry has spent on security for (a) legal companies and (b) witnesses. [257121]
Mr. Woodward: I am advised that the Bloody Sunday inquiry has spent approximately £3.4 million on security to the end of January 2009. There have been no specific costs incurred by the inquiry associated with providing security for either legal teams or witnesses.
Various security measures were provided by the Government in relation to security for witnesses. These measures ranged from physical protection by the police and security guards, to IT security for the protection of witness information. Given the nature of such security measures, the duration of the inquiry and the distribution of costs throughout various Government Departments and agencies, I am advised that a figure could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) on how many occasions and in what circumstances the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Historical Enquiries Team has departed from its policy of investigating deaths in chronological order; and if he will make a statement; [273055]
(2) how many investigations undertaken by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Historical Enquiries Team have related to the death of a (a) police officer, (b) member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, (c) member of the Army other than the Ulster Defence Regiment and (d) civilian; and if he will make a statement; [273060]
(3) how many deaths the Historical Enquiries Team has investigated to date; of those investigated how many cases have (a) been closed, (b) been referred for prosecution and (c) led to successful prosecutions; and if he will make a statement. [273062]
Paul Goggins: These are operational matters for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and copies of his letters will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the Independent Monitoring Commission to publish its next report. [273100]
Mr. Woodward: I have received the 21st report of the Independent Monitoring Commission and will publish it shortly.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many Police Service of Northern Ireland police officers have been disciplined for concealing shoulder numbers in each of the last five years; [273054]
(2) how many complaints have been made against Police Service of Northern Ireland police officers for concealing shoulder numbers in each of the last five years. [273052]
Paul Goggins: Dealing with such complaints is the operational responsibility of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. I have asked the chief executive to reply to the hon. Member directly, and will arrange for copies of the letters to be placed in the Library of the House.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff work in the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Historical Enquiries Team. [273053]
Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many racially-motivated assaults in Northern Ireland were reported in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; and how many successful prosecutions there were arising from such assaults. [273097]
Paul Goggins: In 2006-07 there were 251 and in 2007-08 there were 204 reported racially-motivated assaults/wounding. Data include the offence categories of, 'wounding with intent', 'grievous bodily harm with intent', 'wounding,' 'grievous bodily harm', 'assault occasioning actual bodily harm', 'common assault', 'aggravated assault' and 'assault on police'.
The information sought on successful prosecutions is not available. Legislation for racial hatred is provided for by way of The Criminal Justice (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004. Under this order, penalties for convictions for specified violent offences can be increased by the court if racial hatred, sexual orientation, gender or disability was an aggravating factor. Court data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed and it is therefore not possible to separate out the number of successful prosecutions for racially motivated offences in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many anti-Semitic assaults occurred in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [273098]
Paul Goggins: That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 826W, on trade unions, which trade unions his Departments agencies recognise. [271920]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office agencies attach great importance to ensuring effective consultation and involvement of its staff. It is a personal decision whether or not to join a trade union; however the agencies encourage staff to join an appropriate trade union and to play an active part in it, ensuring their views are represented.
Members of staff in the Northern Ireland Office agencies are currently represented by the following trade unions:
Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA);
First Division Association (FDA);
Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS);
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT);
Prison Officers Association (POA);
Unison;
Prison Governors Association (PGA).
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many penalty notices for disorder were issued in each year since 2004, broken down by (a) age of recipient and (b) offence. [272022]
Maria Eagle: The number of penalty notices for disorder (PND) issued since 2004 in England and Wales, broken down by age group and offence is shown in tables 1 to 4.
PND data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
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