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3 Nov 2009 : Column 930W—continued
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the NHS has for future expenditure on the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore. [296583]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust continues to work on their outline business case for the redevelopment of the Stanmore site.
School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend his Department's free fruit and vegetable scheme to junior school children; and if he will make a statement. [295910]
Gillian Merron: There are no plans to extend the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme to junior school children.
Swine Flu
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) guidance and (b) advice his Department plans to issue to (i) GPs and (ii) pregnant women to assist each in making an informed decision on swine influenza vaccination in individual cases; and if he will make a statement. [297544]
Gillian Merron: On 2 November, the Department issued a comprehensive briefing to all general practitioners about the swine flu vaccination programme and pregnancy, which covers the evidence, risks and benefits of the vaccine for pregnant women. The document has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
A patient focused leaflet is also planned to be issued shortly, which aims to assist pregnant women in making an informed decision about vaccination.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors he took into account when assessing the risks to pregnant women arising from (a) administration of the swine influenza vaccination and (b) contracting swine influenza; and if he will make a statement. [297545]
Gillian Merron: Two vaccines have been licensed by the European Medicines Authority for use in pregnant women in the United Kingdom. Licensing of vaccines, including influenza vaccines, is held to a very high standard of safety and the vaccines would not be licensed if they were considered unsafe.
In licensing the current swine flu vaccines for use in pregnancy, the European regulators gave careful consideration to the severe burden of illness caused by swine flu in pregnant women. Epidemiological evidence from North America, Australia and Europe shows that pregnant women are at increased risk of severe disease and influenza-related hospital admission. Figures from the United States have shown that pregnant women who have swine flu are four to five times more likely to be hospitalised than the general population.
The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation reviewed the two licenced vaccines and recommended that pregnant women should be given Pandemrix. This vaccine appears to give adequate levels of antibodies after a single dose thereby conferring protection more rapidly than would be afforded by Celvapan, which requires a two-dose schedule given three weeks apart.
Urology: Greater London
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the NHS has to improve urology services at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [296649]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Improving specific services is a matter for local determination. It is the role of primary care trusts to ensure they commission services to meet the needs of their local population.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
2010 World Cup
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to provide travel advice to British nationals ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals; and if he will make a statement. [295023]
Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working with a wide range of organisations to provide travel advice for British fans through our Know Before You Go campaign and its associated partners, the Travel Advice service, and our High Commission in South Africa. Our official travel safety campaign will be launched just before the 4 December World Cup draw. The campaign will regularly reinforce important safety messages in the run up to the World Cup using a variety of communication methods. We already provide advice and tips through the website:
which will be regularly updated.
Afghanistan: Reconstruction
Dr. Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government are giving to the Government of Afghanistan on negotiating trans-national contracts for the supply of raw materials. [297328]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK does not provide specific assistance to the Government of Afghanistan on the negotiation of trans-national contracts for the supply of raw materials. The World Bank is the main provider of such assistance in Kabul. The UK does however continue to work with the Government of Afghanistan on wider cross-border trade issues, including by supporting fora such as the Regional Economic Co-operation Conference.
Afghanistan: UK Trade and Investment
Dr. Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the establishment of a UK Trade and Investment representation in Afghanistan. [297329]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Building up the basics of the licit private sector economy is vital before we can expect substantial UK investment in Afghanistan, therefore there have not yet been substantive discussions at ministerial level on this issue. At present, UK Trade and Investment has no presence in Afghanistan and does not proactively support UK companies in this market. However, UK officials liaise periodically with our embassy in Kabul and lobbying on behalf of British companies may be carried out on a case-by-case basis by the embassy.
The UK's economic development efforts in Afghanistan are focused on stimulating economic growth and job creation through private sector and agricultural development, as well as building the capacity of the economic Ministries. The UK (through the Department for International Development) contributes £30 million to Harakat, an investment facility working to encourage private sector investment. The Department for International Development is also investing in the Supporting Employment and Enterprise Development programme, which will create a fund to help Afghan businesses develop innovative ideas, fund skills development, as well as supporting the Microfinance Investment and Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA) which has extended micro-credit and savings facilities to over 440,000 Afghans.
Brazil
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Brazil. [297481]
Chris Bryant: Brazil is an emerging global power: economically and politically. The Government's overriding objective is to be Brazil's partner of choice as Brazil takes its proper place as a global player in foreign, security and development spheres.
In particular, it is the Government's aim to assist Brazil in using its upcoming elected term on the UN Security Council from January 2010 in a way which will bolster its claim to be a permanent member of the Security Council as part of a reformed UN. The UK also seeks a greater role for Brazil in the weapons of mass destruction and disarmament agenda. As a long-standing declared non-nuclear power, Brazil is important in persuading Iran to co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UK would also like Brazil to sign the Additional Protocol of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to make full inspections of nuclear facilities the international norm.
The UK continues to work closely with Brazil in the security sphere. In particular, the UK is keen to help Brazil capitalise on its experience in leading the UN Mission to Haiti (MINUSTAH) so as to increase its capacity to play a greater role in security operations in conflict zones elsewhere, including Africa.
The UK has also been working closely with Brazil to help make the case for reform of the international architecture to meet modern demands: not least the World Bank, G20, the UN and International Monetary Fund. It is our hope that Brazil will use its influence within others, such as the G77 and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), to persuade other countries of the case.
On climate change, the UK works closely with Brazil on climate change-as a country with a relatively clean energy matrix and with a strong commitment to addressing deforestation. The UK sees Brazil as a key partner in helping to achieve a deal in Copenhagen.
The UK also seeks a more active role for Brazil in development, particularly in Africa, with which Brazil has traditional links and where Brazil's techniques on social protection are helpful.
The UK is looking to develop a stronger bilateral trade and commercial relationship with Brazil, including increased trade and investment which maximises
opportunities for both countries. On multilateral trade, Brazil and the UK share the view that a Doha Development deal should be both market opening and pro-development. Both countries have a shared vision about the role that trade can and should play in enhancing opportunities for economic development.
Rio de Janeiro has recently been successful in its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. As London will be the host for the 2012 Olympics, this is an excellent opportunity for Brazil and UK to work closely together to maximise all the opportunities across a wide range of policy areas and a broad spectrum of mutual interests.
British Overseas Territories: Carbon Emissions
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether records are kept of the levels of carbon dioxide emissions produced by the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean. [293310]
Chris Bryant: Responsibility for environmental issues, including for maintaining records of carbon dioxide emissions, has been devolved to the overseas territories.
British Overseas Territories: Databases
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the age is of the youngest person whose personal records are held on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System. [293306]
Chris Bryant: The youngest person whose personal record (name, date of birth, sex, home address and passport number) is held on the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System is aged nine.
The data on the system are highly protected and are not accessible by local IT network systems. All data stored on the system are protected under the UK Data Protection Act, and in accordance with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights.
British Overseas Territories: Gross Domestic Product
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the gross domestic product per capita was for the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean in each of the last five years. [293309]
Chris Bryant: The accuracy of gross domestic product (GDP) per head calculations in the Overseas Territories varies, and data are not always available for every year. It is not unusual for estimates to be revised after they have been published. This is compounded by the variable populations of the Overseas Territories-a small change in population can have a bigger effect on GDP per capita.
GDP statistics are available on the following territory websites:
Cayman Islands: http://www.gov.ky/
Anguilla: http://gov.ai/
Turks and Caicos Islands: http://www.turksandcaicos.tc/government/
Bermuda: http://www.gov.bm/
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Montserrat have not published these statistics on their Government websites. Their best estimates of GDP per capita for the five years until 2008 are below in current prices:
| BVI (US$) | Montserrat (EC$) | |
British Overseas Territories: Internet
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of households in (a) Montserrat, (b) the British Virgin Islands, (c) the Turks and Caicos Islands, (d) the Cayman Islands, (e) Bermuda and (f) Anguilla have access to high-speed broadband internet. [293300]
Chris Bryant: All of the Caribbean overseas territories and Bermuda offer broadband internet access to the population but its speed and use varies between territories.
British Overseas Territories: Renewable Energy
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether solar photovoltaic systems have been installed on government buildings in the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean; and whether any other green technologies have been trialled. [293307]
Chris Bryant: The installation of solar photovoltaic systems in the Caribbean Overseas Territories is a matter for Overseas Territory governments.
British Overseas Territories: Telecommunications
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place to improve the telecommunications infrastructure in the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean. [293301]
Chris Bryant: Such measures are the internal responsibility of each overseas territory government, and differ widely in each case.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place to improve the telecommunications infrastructure in the UK Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic. [293302]
Chris Bryant: The Governments of the South Atlantic British Overseas Territories are committed to working to improve their telecommunications services to meet the needs of their communities' social and economic needs. For example:
on the Falkland Islands, a system is being installed to offer internet connectivity to the dispersed population. Also, there are plans to introduce revised legislation, and more effective regulation;
on St. Helena, a consultant has been engaged to advise on negotiating and granting a new telecommunications licence in 2012. The St. Helena Government's aim is that the new licence will provide for improvements to the existing telecommunications infrastructure;
and on Tristan da Cunha, possible suppliers are being engaged on the feasibility of a new broadband wifi system to provide internet and telephony.
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