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13 Oct 2009 : Column 794W—continued
Razouk Choummad
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask HM Ambassador in Rabat to investigate the detention on 1 September 2009 of Mr. Razouk Choummad. [292452]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our ambassador to Morocco and his staff at our embassy in Rabat have already sought clarification from the Moroccan Government regarding Mr. Razouk Choummad and the other Sahrawi students due to take part in an event in Oxford in August this year.
The Government made clear to the Moroccan authorities that they regretted that the students had been prevented from travelling to the UK and that they were concerned by allegations of the disproportionate use of force.
The Moroccan Government have told us that they remain open to participating in future events organised by Talk Together and have investigated the allegations of mistreatment, which they deny. We will continue to seek further clarification from the Moroccan authorities.
Yemen: Armed Conflict
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss the conflict in Yemen with his Saudi Arabian counterpart. [291975]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Yemen with His Royal Highness Prince Saud Al Faisal on a number of occasions, most recently earlier this month. The UK and Saudi Arabia are both committed to supporting the Government of Yemen in addressing the difficult challenges they face, including the conflict in the Northern region of Sa'dah.
We have welcomed the commitment by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to work with the UN to facilitate the safe passage of emergency relief supplies to the internally displaced persons in Northern Yemen. The UK will provide £2 million of additional humanitarian aid to the situation.
I will continue to discuss the situation in Yemen with His Royal Highness as and when the opportunity arises, and my officials will remain in regular contact with their Saudi counterparts.
Defence
Armed Conflict: Children
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the operation of the interpretative declaration on article 1 of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict for the purposes of (a) taking steps to ensure that children are not exposed to the risk of taking direct part in hostilities and (b) monitoring Government compliance with the spirit of the Optional Protocol. [291448]
Bill Rammell: There are no plans to review the operation of the interpretative declaration on article 1 of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. Government policy is that Service Personnel under the age of 18 are not routinely deployed on operations outside the UK. The exception to this is where the operation does not involve personnel becoming engaged in or exposed to hostilities, such as disaster relief.
The MOD believes that its policies on under 18s are robust and compliant with national and international law. We remain fully committed to meeting our obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training has been delivered to armed forces personnel on the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict; and how many such personnel have completed that training. [291674]
Bill Rammell: All members of the armed forces receive training on the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) shortly after joining and regularly throughout their careers.
The UK armed forces do not routinely train all personnel on the Optional Protocol specifically, but personnel involved in handling prisoners of war, internees and detainees receive training which addresses the handling of juveniles and children.
Electronic Warfare
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with his US counterpart on vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse attacks; and if he will make a statement. [289837]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 12 October 2009]: Defence equipment and systems are procured against a set of specifications that includes appropriate protection against electromagnetic attack. These specifications are informed by appropriate consultation at expert level with relevant experts.
Littoral Warfare: Helicopters
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of training provided for helicopter pilots participating in amphibious operations. [290328]
Bill Rammell: The UK amphibious helicopter capability is provided by the Commando Helicopter Force operating Sea King Mk 4 and Lynx Mk 7 helicopters, augmented when required by Chinook and Apache helicopters.
The initial training provided to helicopter pilots as part of the Commando Helicopter Force is considered satisfactory. The tempo of land operations over recent years has had an impact on the ability to conduct amphibious operations. Nevertheless, small scale exercises have been achieved and a minimal level of currency and competency for amphibious operations maintained.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timescale is within which the helicopter fund announced by the Prime Minister will deliver 11 helicopters. [289530]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The first helicopters will be deployed in Afghanistan before the end of 2009. On current plans, further deliveries will take place in 2010 and will complete by the end of 2013.
Additional contributions to the fund would increase the total.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the length of time it would take (a) to place an order for new Merlin helicopters, (b) for Agusta Westland to manufacture the new helicopters and (c) for the armed forces to bring the new helicopters into service after delivery. [292330]
Mr. Quentin Davies: We recently reviewed whether the acquisition of new medium helicopters could be advanced in lieu of the planned life-extension of the Puma helicopter. Several companies, including Agusta Westland provided outline cost and delivery information for their potential candidate aircraft in support of this review. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, we cannot disclose details of their proposals, including delivery estimates.
More generally, the timescales for procurement decisions are dependent on the urgency of the capability need, the value and complexity of the procurement, and the time needed to demonstrate that the solution meets the requirement and represents value for money. We have 'fast track' arrangements for those capabilities required urgently for operations. Once manufactured, it can take significant time to bring a helicopter to the standard required to meet any role, mission or theatre specific requirements, to train crews (and maintainers) accordingly, and to ensure that the aircraft meets the required specification and airworthiness standards, and can withstand the rigours of war.
Territorial Army: Training
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on the deployability of the Territorial Army of the limitation on man training days. [292125]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 12 October 2009]: The Army is on a campaign footing with activity focused on support to current operations.
Man training days are being prioritized to ensure that mobilised TA personnel continue to be properly prepared for their operational roles, prior to deploying alongside their regular counterparts.
Health
Cancer Services
14. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of cancer services in (a) Billericay constituency and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [292241]
Ann Keen: The first annual report of the "Cancer Reform Strategy", published in December 2008, is the most recent assessment of cancer service provision in England. The report showed that good progress is being made against the objectives of the Strategy.
Funding for local health services has been allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. It is therefore for South West Essex PCT in partnership with East of England Strategic Health Authority and the local Cancer Network to make an assessment of cancer services in Billericay.
Dentistry
15. Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of levels of access to NHS dentistry in England. [292242]
Ann Keen: More than 27.6 million people saw an NHS dentist in the 24 months ending June 2009. This is almost three quarters of a million more than in the same period ending June 2008. The number of dentists working in the NHS, and the number of courses of NHS dental treatment provided are also growing steadily. We have invested a record £2 billion in dentistry and set up a national access programme to help the NHS deliver its goal of access for all who seek it by 2011. We therefore expect access to continue to increase.
PCT Boundaries
16. John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the restructuring of primary care trust boundaries on the delivery of healthcare. [292243]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Proposals for the reconfiguration of services are a matter for the NHS locally, working in conjunction with clinicians, patients and other stakeholders and advocated through Lord Darzi's 2008 publication "Leading Local Change".
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
17. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive an application for foundation trust status from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. [292244]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I expect East Lancashire Hospitals National Health Service Trust to make a foundation trust application late in 2010.
Emergency Care
18. Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the delivery of emergency care in (a) independent sector treatment centres and (b) NHS hospitals. [292245]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Independent sector treatment centres provide elective care, not emergency care.
Primary care trusts commission national health service hospital trusts to provide emergency care services according to local needs and monitor performance.
The Department has set an operational standard that 98 per cent. of patients should not spend more than four hours in accident and emergency departments.
National annual performance against the standard was 98.1 per cent. in 2008-09.
Strategic Health Authorities
19. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the role of strategic health authorities in promoting public health. [292246]
Gillian Merron: The Strategic Health Authority Assurance Framework reaffirms their role in promoting public health by including a specific section on "Improving and protecting Health and Wellbeing".
Combining self-assessments and site visits, a Panel chaired by the Department will assess performance against the Framework over the next few months.
Swine Flu
20. Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to assist acute hospital trusts in which levels of accident and emergency department admissions have increased as a result of the swine influenza pandemic. [292247]
Gillian Merron: The NHS, including acute hospitals, has been preparing for pandemic influenza for several years, and all organisations have robust plans in place that cover the whole health economy. These have recently been tested by a series of comprehensive exercises and confirmed by each Board's assurance statements during September.
The Department has also issued guidance on surging capacity so that hospitals can care for increased numbers of admissions.
National No Smoking Day
21. Dr. Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to fund National No Smoking Day in 2010; and if he will make a statement. [292248]
Gillian Merron: We will make funding available for No Smoking Day's 2010 campaign at around the same level as last year, on a regional basis.
Waiting Times
22. Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the length of waiting times in North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust; and if he will make a statement. [292250]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: In July 2009, 99.4 per cent. of admitted patients, and 98 per cent. of non-admitted patients at the trust started consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks of referral.
Staff at the trust should be congratulated for their efforts in helping to bring about this achievement.
Out-of-hours Care: London
23. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the provision and quality of out-of-hours care in London. [292251]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Primary care trusts have a legal requirement to provide high quality out-of-hours cover for the local population, and strategic health authorities
are responsible for the performance management of PCTs in their region. The 2008 Healthcare Commission review of urgent and emergency care found that the NHS has significantly improved performance since 2005.
PCT Funding
24. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the primary care trust allocation formula used in 2009-10. [292252]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The independent Advisory Committee on resource allocation keeps the formula under continual scrutiny, updating it to account for new information and data, changes in service provision and health outcomes. The 2009-10 formula builds and improves on the previous formula, targeting funding where it is needed most.
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