Written Answers
Monday 24 February 2014
Abortion
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 17 January 2012 (WA 122), 17 December 2012, (WA 267-8) and on 29 January (WA 229), when they will be able to determine whether the inability to find evidence for sex-selective abortion in England and Wales has been due to either the absence of such evidence or flaws in analysis of data by officials from the Department of Health; what consideration they have given to the issues raised by Simpson’s paradox in using data averaged over the entire national population; whether it is possible to determine gender before 16 weeks’ gestation; and, if not, what other explanation they can provide for reports of sex-selective abortions if no abortions are taking place at a later gestational age than is officially recorded.[HL5097]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 29 January (WA 229-30), when they expect that officials from the Department of Health will be able to report that they have understood the potential uses of the methodology employed by academics at Imperial College London.[HL5098]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Previous analysis on gender ratios at birth, carried out by the Department based on birth registrations, found that when broken down by the mothers’ country of birth, no group is statistically different from the range that we would expect to see naturally occurring. Given the large natural variation in gender ratios, large sample sizes are required to give tests of suitable power. Breaking down birth data by country of mothers’ birth leads to small sample sizes. Consequently, to ensure tests of statistical significance had reasonable power, the Department’s analysis used data that was aggregated to a national level and across the five most recent years. As analysis at sub-national level was not practical, the issues raised by Simpson’s paradox were similarly not of practical relevance. The analysis was quality assured by statisticians at the Office for National Statistics.
It is usually possible to identify the sex of a baby at the second ultrasound scan, which takes place at around 18-21 weeks gestation. In 2012, 97.6% of abortions were performed on residents of England and Wales before 18 weeks gestation.
We are clear that abortion on the grounds of gender alone is against the law. Antenatal sexing of the fetus is not a routine part of antenatal care. Scans are undertaken to support the clinical care of the mother and unborn baby. Disclosing the sex of a fetus is a local decision and should be based on clinical judgment
about the certainty of the assessment and the individual circumstances of each case. Data on the gender of aborted foetuses is not collected.
The analysis recently reported in the Independent newspaper is based on Census data for households with usually resident dependent children. The gender balance of dependent children in these households is affected by a number of events that occur after birth, such as the age at which dependent children leave the parental home. As there are a number of alternative explanations for these observations, it cannot be concluded from the Independent’s analysis that sex-selective abortions are taking place. The best available data on which to base gender ratio analysis continues to be births data and this was used in the analysis published by the Department in May 2013.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 17 January 2012 (WA 122) and 29 January (WA 229) and by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Public Health, Jane Ellison, on 13 January (HC Deb, col 403W), how they would determine whether abortions were taking place at a later gestational age than is officially recorded; and to what extent their ability to investigate that practice might be compromised by the proportion of abortions undertaken without the doctor meeting the person seeking to abort their baby.[HL5167]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The gestational age of a fetus must be accurately assessed prior to an abortion taking place. This is important as different abortion methods are appropriate at different gestations. Gestation can be assessed through ultra sound scanning, pelvic examination and/or date of last menstrual period. Gestation is recorded on form HSA4 by the terminating clinician. It is a mandatory requirement that the HSA4 form is submitted to the Chief Medical Officer and the terminating practitioner must certify “to the best of my knowledge the particulars on this form are correct”. If any evidence came to light that practitioners were falsifying information on HSA4 forms this would be reported to the General Medical Council to investigate, which could result in disciplinary procedures.
Agriculture: Deaths and Injuries
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many deaths and serious injuries have occurred in agriculture in each year since 2000.[HL5367]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The number of deaths and serious injuries that have occurred in agriculture since 2000 are as follows:
| Year | 2000/01 | 2001/02 | 2002/ | 2003/04 | 2004/05 | 2005/06 | 2006/07 |
| Year | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13p | 2013/14p (to date) |
These figures are compiled using data reported under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). There is a degree of underreporting of serious injuries with RIDDOR data. The estimated RIDDOR reporting level of serious injuries for workers in the agricultural, forestry and fishing industry is 16%.
Figures for the 2012/13 and 2013/14 are provisional and will be subject to further checking before being finalised for publication. Serious injury data for 2013/14 to data is not yet available.
Agriculture: Funding
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research they are currently funding into improving yields in arable farming.[HL5366]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): In 2011/12 the Government funded approximately £450 million on agriculture and food related research, and in 2013 the Agricultural Technologies Strategy secured a further £160 million to accelerate innovation by UK food and farming businesses.
It is not possible to give separate figures for research into improvement of yields in arable farming as this is supported by a wide range of advances in knowledge and technology. Key ongoing research programmes in this area include:
• the £90 million Technology Strategy Board’s Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform, • Defra’s Food and Farming research programmes (which can be searched at: http://randd.defra.gov.uk/), • The £50 million p.a. Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programmes for Rural Affairs and the Environment, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/About/EBAR/StrategicResearch/future-research-strategy)• Research funded through the Research Councils (whose programmes can be searched via: http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/).
Research funders across Government coordinate many of their activities through the Global Food Security Programme (http://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk ), and the UK Plant Health evidence group.
Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings by Testbiotech published on 8 February which stated that genetically engineered maize 1507 exhibited “huge variations in the amounts of Bt toxin in the plants, and further shows that 1507 maize plants are neither homogenous nor predictable”; and whether they will continue to support the introduction of the variety to the European Union.[HL5428]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): A proposal to authorise the planting of 1507 maize was discussed at the European Union (EU) General Affairs Council on 11 February. The UK indicated its support for authorisation, given the favourable scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority and the UK Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. Variations in the level of Bt protein are to be expected and are not in themselves a cause for concern. Whilst the protein level could have a bearing on the potential for pest resistance and theoretically on the risk to non-target Lepidoptera, these considerations have been adequately addressed by the risk-management measures that will be provided for in the EU authorising decision. The herbicide glufosinate will not be used on 1507 maize crops in the EU, so its effect on Bt protein levels is not a factor in this context.
Agroforestry
Questions
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government , in the light of the funding available under Article 23 of Pillar II of the Common Agricultural Policy (2014–20) under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the establishment and management of agroforestry systems, whether they have decided that they will adopt agroforestry measures as part of the RDP in England.[HL5369]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): I refer the noble Baroness to my previous answer of 21 January 2014, Official Report column WA 93-94.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of agroforestry on productivity, ecology and mitigating climate change, including managing water and silt flow and helping mitigate flooding.[HL5370]
Lord De Mauley: In 2012 Natural England commissioned the Organic Research Centre and Abacus Organic Associates to consider the potential benefits of Agroforestry and any need for support under the
RDPE. We have considered the report “Can Agroforestry Deliver Production and Environmental Benefits in the next Rural Development Programme?” as part of the considerable evidence portfolio for the design of a new environmental land management scheme .The department and its delivery bodies do fund a variety of research and demonstration projects to understand the potential of non-structural methods of reducing flooding, including afforestation. We will continue our research into understanding how woodland creation and tree planting can contribute to managing flood risk by working with natural processes.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what examples of agroforestry schemes Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials have visited. [HL5371]
Lord De Mauley: Over the last twelve months officials from Defra Agencies have visited several agroforestry schemes in England, in particular in Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether agroforestry will be selected from the European Union approved list as an Ecological Focus Area option for English farmers under the greening measures in Pillar II of the Common Agricultural Policy. [HL5384]
Lord De Mauley: Ecological Focus Areas in England will be delivered under the greening measures in Pillar I of the Common Agricultural Policy. The Government has not yet announced which of the Ecological Focus Areas will be permitted in England. Discussions are continuing with stakeholders on this issue, with a view to making announcements shortly.
Apprenticeships
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to create more apprenticeships and opportunities for school leavers in order to help start their careers.[HL5275]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): Apprenticeships are jobs with high quality training. The number of Apprenticeship vacancies is determined by the number of employers offering them.
We are committed to increasing the number of Apprenticeships offered by employers through investing almost £1.5bn in Apprenticeship training this year; improving quality across the programme to better meet employers and individuals needs.
We are also making it as easy and rewarding as possible for employers to take on an apprentice. The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers offers £1,500 payment to smaller businesses to take on a young person
aged 16-24. In addition, the National Apprenticeship Service has made it simpler and faster to recruit an apprentice via their website.
Apprenticeship reforms will put employers in the driving seat giving them the opportunity to lead the way in developing and implementing new Apprenticeships in their sectors, making it easier for them to offer more Apprenticeships in future.
Armed Forces: Ex-Officers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the process for allowing former middle-ranking officers of the armed forces to rejoin.[HL5288]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): Middle-ranking officers are able to apply to rejoin the Service they left and return to the same trade/specialisation. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are dependent upon factors such as the Service need and the skill-set of the individual. If an individual seeks to rejoin a short time after leaving and has an in-date security clearance and medical category (usually within 12 months of leaving) then he or she can be fast-tracked through the recruiting and training process.
Armed Forces: Training
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom military personnel annually travel overseas to be trained in urban warfare or counter-terrorism techniques by the Israeli Defence Force. [HL5250]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The United Kingdom does not send any military personnel overseas for training in urban warfare or counter-terrorism techniques by the Israeli Defence Force.
Asylum Seekers
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arrived in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; and what proportion were subsequently joined by their parents or next of kin.[HL5320]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Home Office publishes statistics on asylum applications from
unaccompanied asylum seeking children in tables as_08 and as_08_q (Asylum data tables Volume 2) of Immigration Statistics. A copy of the latest release Immigration Statistics July-September 2013 is available from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2013 and the Library of the House. Data for Q4 2013 will be available from 27 February 2014.
As announced in Immigration Statistics January-March 2013, an internal review in 2012 of unaccompanied and asylum seeking children and age dispute data highlighted issues in the consistency of the definitions used to produce the previously published figures. The definitions were subsequently refined and re-produced for 2012 and the following quarters of 2013. While the data published using the previous definition provides the best available guide to historical trends for the years 2006 to 2012, comparison with latest figures based on the revised definition are not recommended. It is planned that future releases of Immigration Statistics will include figures for 2006 to 2011 using the new definition.
Figures for the number of unaccompanied children who are subsequently joined by their parents or next of kin are not routinely collected by the Home Office.
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what form their financial support to asylum seekers takes; and whether they have plans to reform it.[HL5401]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what, if any, benefits are available to asylum seekers to enable them to travel on public transport.[HL5402]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Destitute asylum seekers are provided with a cash allowance which they are free to use as they choose. The Home Office also provides travel tickets for certain appointments, including asylum interviews, appeal hearings and attendance at immigration reporting centres.
Autism
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support the Autism Sunday Campaign. [HL5109]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department recognises the importance for many people of Autism Sunday as part of a whole range of activity going on countrywide to raise awareness and understanding of autism. It enjoys cross-party support and its aims are in line with this Government’s aspirations for people with autism, which is for a society that accepts and understands autism and provides real opportunities for all adults with autism to live fulfilling and rewarding lives.
Avian Flu
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what precautions they are taking in relation to the H10N8 bird flu virus.[HL5265]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The United Kingdom is one of the best prepared countries in the world for dealing with threats such as avian and pandemic influenza. Public Health England (PHE) has arrangements in place to identify and investigate potential cases, undertake detailed epidemiological investigations and follow up of early cases and contacts to rapidly assess transmission, spread and severity. PHE has a network of laboratories able to recognise influenza A and able to determine if they are seasonal or avian H7 or H5. Diagnostic capability for unusual influenza viruses is maintained at the national level and would enable any strain to be identified. This system allows for the early detection of emerging influenza viruses, and viruses to be monitored for any changes to help determine whether testing strategies need to be updated. PHE is responsible for maintaining and distributing antiviral stockpiles as part of any early response and the advance purchase agreement for any pandemic vaccine.
Aviation: Air Passenger Duty
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Deighton on 4 February (WA 24), whether as part of their agreement with the Caribbean Council they intend to meet the Council to discuss their analysis of the impact on tourism in the Caribbean of current banding levels of Air Passenger Duty.[HL5249]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): HM Treasury has met and maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Caribbean Council and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.
Aviation: Air Quality
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the finding by the Dutch Organization for Applied Scientific Research published on 13 December 2013, reporting that tricresyl phosphate was found in KLM’s entire fleet of Boeing 737s, and in the light of peer-review criticism of the Cranfield study, whether they have any plans to order a re-run of its aircraft cabin air quality survey to incorporate a measure of a fume event.[HL5430]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): We have recently received the final report on cabin air from the Committee on Toxicity (CoT) and agree with its findings that levels of exposure to chemicals in contaminated bleed air would need to occur in far higher concentrations to have toxic effects, and that a causal link to the range of illnesses reported in relation to fume incidents is unlikely.
As stated in the CoT’s paper, any decision to undertake further research would need to balance the likelihood that it will usefully inform further management of the problem against the costs of undertaking the work. Since 2008, successive Governments have devoted considerable resources to the study of cabin air. An international approach to future investigations now seems justified and, with this in mind, the Department for Transport does not plan to undertake any additional research. However, officials will forward the CoT’s paper to the European Aviation Safety Agency in order to highlight the CoT’s suggestions for further research.
Bahrain
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Bahrain concerning the release from prison of human rights activist Rihanna al Mousawi.[HL5255]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We have not made specific representations to the Government of Bahrain about this case but we continue to encourage them to ensure due process is carefully and transparently followed in all cases, and that civil liberties are protected.
Rihanna Al Mosawi was charged with activities relating to terrorism, following her arrest on 20 April 2013 at the Grand Prix circuit. We understand she has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on charges relating to terrorism.
Bangladesh
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the activities of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh; and whether they consider that action is necessary to address those activities.[HL5281]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Although Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party with the Bangladesh Election Commission was cancelled, it is not a banned organisation in Bangladesh. Through our High Commission in Bangladesh we regularly engage with a broad range of political organisations, including
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. In all our contacts we have made clear that violence and vandalism is never acceptable.
Banking: Regulation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to extend banking regulation to cover those responsible for the mis-selling of retail products and sales-based incentive schemes linked to retail financial products.[HL5186]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has the power to regulate the selling of retail financial products and the remuneration of bank staff, and to require that appointments of persons to perform customer-facing roles in banks is subject to prior regulatory approval.
Benefits
Question
Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the terms of reference for the second review of sanctions referred to by the Minister of State for Employment, Esther McVey, in oral evidence to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee referenced at paragraph 99 of its Report The Role of Jobcentre Plus in the Reformed Welfare System (HC 479); and whether the terms of reference will include reviewing (1) the effects of sanctions on the health and wellbeing of those affected, and (2) the behavioural responses to sanctions.[HL5247]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): Matthew Oakley is carrying out an independent review of sanctions which will offer recommendations to improve the operations of the sanctions process. Further to this, we are committed to on-going evaluation of the sanctions regime.
We monitor all our policies as a matter of course and as part of this we will be sharing further evidence on sanctions within the forthcoming Work programme Evaluation and the Claimant Commitment research which will provide insight into the impact of sanctions on claimant behaviour.
Caste Discrimination
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Government Equalities Office received the results of the research on caste commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.[HL5157]
Lord Popat (Con): The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) sent a copy of its independent research report to department officials at the end of January. The EHRC plans to publish this report shortly.
Central African Republic
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the possible deployment of the Stabilisation Unit to the Central African Republic. [HL5351]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what international non-governmental organisations the Department for International Development is funding to aid the reconciliation work currently being undertaken by the Archbishop of Bangui and Imam Layama.[HL5352]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will review the level of funding allocated by the Department for International Development to the Central African Republic.[HL5353]
Baroness Northover (LD): The continuing violence in the Central African Republic, and the humanitarian needs of people affected, is deeply concerning. The UK has already committed £15m in bilateral humanitarian assistance, and whilst the Government is not directly supporting Archbishop of Bangui and Imam Layama’s Inter-religious platform, it is supporting agencies working with community and religious leaders to encourage reconciliation. Through our contributions to the EU, we are also supporting the work of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to address the root causes of the sectarian violence in the country, tackling inter and intra-communal conflict.
The UK will continue to keep its response under review as the crisis develops. The UK has recently augmented its 2014 commitment with an additional £2 million for NGOs, bringing the total UK contribution to £17 million. We have also recently announced a further £2m in support to the African Union-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA), and are providing extra logistical assistance to the French operation Sangaris. This will help efforts to restore security. We are considering the revised UN appeal and continue to explore all options. Our response will be guided by what extra value the UK contribution can bring, alongside other international partners.
China
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take in the light of the findings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for East Asian Business’ report on outbound investment from China into the United Kingdom.[HL5143]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Livingston of Parkhead) (Con): The government does not routinely respond formally to reports produced by All Party Parliamentary Groups, but will consider the findings of the report by the All Party Parliamentary Group for East Asian Business, and take into account its recommendations where appropriate.
Climate Change
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the impact of poverty and climate change on poor of communities worldwide, what steps they are taking to encourage organisations to develop business solutions that address those problems. [HL5246]
Baroness Northover (LD): DfID recognises the important role of business in addressing the challenges of development and climate change. We believe that business has a key role to play and work with a wide range of private sector partners including smallholder farmers and small, informal enterprises, as well as larger companies to stimulate sustainable economic development and tax revenues that are the only way to end aid dependency.
A number of DfID projects support companies as they develop or scale up innovative “inclusive business” models, which engage target groups as employees, suppliers or distributors across the value chain, or as customers through the development of affordable products and services that meet the needs of people in developing countries. For example, the Food Retail Industry Challenge Fund helps African Farmers by linking them to international markets. The Department also provides support for private sector investment to tackle climate change.
Commonwealth: Membership
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that an independent Scotland would be eligible for membership of the Commonwealth; and, if so, by what process it would join.[HL5359]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Should Scotland become an independent state, it would have to apply and negotiate to become a member of whichever international organisations it wished to join. In the case of an application for membership of the Commonwealth, decisions on new members are taken by consensus. The four-stage membership process includes an assessment against criteria which ultimately is endorsed at a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM). These meetings take place every two years.
In an interview with the BBC last year, the Commonwealth Secretary-General said that Scotland would need to apply to join the Commonwealth if it gained independence.
Commonwealth: Secretariat
Question
Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) women, and (2) men, have been nominated successfully for Secretary-General or Deputy Secretary- General posts at the Commonwealth Secretariat since 1984.[HL5425]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Commonwealth Secretariat has confirmed that:
Since 1984, no woman has been appointed as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
The following women have been appointed as Deputy Secretary-General:
Mmasekgoa Masire-MwambaFlorence Mugasha Veronica Sutherland
Since 1984, the following men have been appointed as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth:
Shridath Ramphal Emeka Anyaoku Don McKinnon Kamalesh Sharma
Over the same period, the following men have served as Deputy Secretary-General:
Peter Marshall Emeka Anyaoku Peter Unwin Anthony Siaguru Humphrey Maud Nick HareKrishnan Srinivasan Winston Cox Ransford Smith Deodat Maharaj
Credit Unions
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Department for Work and Pensions Ministers and officials intend to meet the authors of the Church Urban Fund’s (CUF) report Money Speaks Louder than Words: credit unions and the role of the Church in tackling financial exclusion to consider ways in which the Department and the CUF might take forward the report’s recommendations. [HL5341]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The report reflects many of the findings of the DWP Feasibility Study, particularly around raising awareness of the services credit unions can offer.
Officials meet regularly with Church of England representatives to discuss areas of mutual interest, and we will arrange for the authors of the report to be invited to a future meeting to talk about their findings.
On 18 February DWP officials are meeting Sir Hector Sants, the newly appointed chair of the Church of England Credit Union Taskforce and we will continue to harness their activities to increase membership and support credit unions to become financially sustainable.
Cyclists: Fatalities
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reduce the number of fatal cyclist crashes on the road.[HL5360]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government takes cycle safety very seriously. We have allocated £5 million for cycle proofing at 14 locations on the Highways Agency’s strategic road network over the next two years, and a further £15 million will be invested in 2015/16, with plans in place for many more similar schemes beyond that. We have made it considerably easier for local authorities to implement 20mph zones, “Trixi” mirrors, and other highway measures to support cycle safety. We encourage local authorities to consider these measures on their local highway network.
We have set up a taskforce with Transport for London to raise awareness of safety among HGV drivers and to take targeted enforcement action against the small minority of potentially dangerous operators, drivers and vehicles. Furthermore, in March we will run a second round of the THINK! Cyclist “Safety Tips” campaign.
Diplomatic Service
Question
Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) women, and (2) men, have been appointed to posts as ambassadors or high commissioners since 1984 to (a) the United States, (b) China, (c) Russia, (d) France, (e) Germany, (f) Italy, (g) India, (h) Indonesia, (i) Saudi Arabia, (j) Egypt, (k) Brazil, (l) Argentina, (m) South Africa, (n) Nigeria, (o) Australia, (p) Canada, (q) New Zealand, and (r) Turkey. [HL5422]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Since 1984 the following number of Ambassadors and High Commissioners have been appointed to the following countries
a) United States - Female (0) / Male (8)b) China - Female (0)/ Male (8)c) Russia - Female (1)/ Male (8)
d) France - Female (0)/ Male (7)e) Germany - Female (0)/ Male (8)f) Italy - Female (0)/ Male (9)g) India - Female (0)/ Male (8)h) Indonesia - Female (0)/ Male (9)i) Saudi Arabia - Female (0)/ Male (10)j) Egypt - Female (0)/ Male (10)k) Brazil - Female (0)/ Male (8)l) Argentina - Female (1)/ Male (7) ( NB: Diplomatic and Consular relations broken off in 1982. Consular relations resumed 1989 and Diplomatic relations in 1990)m) South Africa - Female (4)/ Male (4)n) Nigeria - Female (0)/ Male (11)o) Australia - Female (2)/ Male (7)
p) Canada - Female (0)/ Male (10)
q) New Zealand - Female (1)/ Male (7)
r) Turkey - Female (0)/ Male (9)
Drugs
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the United Kingdom’s drug policy and to prevent increases in the number of drug-related deaths.[HL5224]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Coalition Government is committed to keeping the 2010 Drug Strategy under review. The second annual review, which sets out progress to date and priorities for the year ahead, was published in December last year.
Alongside the second annual review, we also published the Drug Strategy evaluation framework outlining our planned approach to evaluating the effectiveness and value for money of the Drug Strategy.
The Government has also announced a review to consider how current legislation and current practice can be better tailored to enable police and law enforcement agencies to combat the dangerous trade in new psychoactive substances. This will build on the work of the Home Office’s International Comparators Study being led by the Minister for Crime Prevention, Norman Baker, which will gather evidence on approaches that other countries are taking to drugs.
Official figures show that recorded numbers of drug-related deaths in England have fallen for the last three years. The ONS reported 1356 drug misuse related deaths in England in 2012, a fall of 7 per cent from the 2011 figure of 1,496—itself a further fall of 10 per cent from the equivalent figure in 2010.
The devolved administrations are responsible for the delivery of healthcare in their countries, including the treatment of drug dependence. The Home Office works with the devolved administrations to ensure that there is good co-ordination across those issues that are reserved and those that are devolved.
Economy: Household Incomes
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the projections from the Institute of Fiscal Studies regarding household incomes. [HL5160]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Institute for Fiscal Studies analysis shows that real household incomes have been falling since 2007-08, but projects that household incomes will rise again in 2013-14. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that Real Household Disposable Income (RHDI) will increase by 0.5% in 2013, 1.1% in 2014, and 1.1% in 2015. Government analysis shows the bottom nine deciles of employees saw their take home pay rise faster than CPI inflation between April 2012 and April 2013. Each of these measures assesses household incomes slightly differently, but all project that household incomes will grow in real terms in 2013-14.
There is no doubt that times are tough. The recession under the previous Government made the country poorer, and people are still feeling the consequences
We are working through our long term economic plan that is seeing our economy grow, the deficit coming down, and jobs being created. As part of this plan, the Government is cutting taxes so that people keep more of the money they earn and have more economic and financial stability. That is why the Government are increasing the personal allowance to £10,000 in 2014-15, freezing fuel duty and council tax, and introducing Tax-Free Childcare. The single biggest risk to the recovery and to living standards would be abandoning our long term economic plan that is delivering more economic security for hardworking people.
Education: Citizenship
Question
Asked by The Earl of Clancarty
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that individuals, including children in schools, are aware of their rights and responsibilities as European Union citizens. [HL5291]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Citizenship education forms part of the national curriculum for secondary schools. The programmes of study are designed to prepare pupils to play a full and active part in society, and are organised around core knowledge about democracy, government, and how laws are made and upheld. In particular, it covers the role of democratic institutions, including both the UK Parliament and European Union.
Education: School Holidays
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to families who are inhibited from taking a holiday outside school terms by increases in the cost of flights, in the light of the increased powers given to schools to fine parents who take their children on holiday in term-time. [HL5259]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Pupils who are absent are less likely to do well at school and achieve good exam results. Primary school is particularly important and if a pupil is absent for a couple of weeks they can miss out on key learning in subjects like English and maths.
The Government believes that the education of every pupil is very important. It has empowered head teachers to make decisions about when pupils can be absent from school, and made clear that it should only happen in exceptional circumstances.
We are encouraging schools to ask families about moving term times, so that they can vary holidays and prevent all school holidays from being in exactly the same week, which tends to push up holiday prices. We want schools to achieve this by being considerate and working with other local schools to make sure that holiday times can be staggered.
Elderly People: Emergency Treatment
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve care for the elderly and reduce the number of occasions on which they need to seek treatment in accident and emergency departments. [HL5127]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Changes to the general practitioner (GP) contract for 2014-15 will mean that everyone aged 75 and over will have a named GP responsible for overseeing their care. Through an enhanced service, GPs will also be asked to identify which of their patients may be at risk of emergency admission and take preventative actions, including ensuring a personalised care plan is developed.
In order to also prevent avoidable readmissions, named GPs will ensure that, following discharge from hospital, vulnerable patients are contacted by an appropriate professional to arrange their on-going care in a co-ordinated way.
We have also asked GPs to review emergency admissions from care and nursing homes in order to prevent unnecessary visits to accident and emergency. Any information on emergency admissions, and readmissions, will be shared with clinical commissioning groups to help inform future commissioning decisions.
These changes are part of a wider vision to improve quality of care for older people, which will be set out later this year.
In addition, the £3.8 billion Better Care Fund also incentivises local areas to reduce emergency admissions by integrating health and social care. Local plans are currently being drafted and need to set out how areas will develop 7-day working, joint care planning and named accountable professionals for those most at need.
Elections: General Election
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any consideration of the case for delaying the next general election until 2016, in the event that Scotland votes for independence; and, if so, by what parliamentary process they envisage the delay could be given effect.[HL5436]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Government has made no such consideration.
Electoral Registration
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will bring into force the provisions in the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 that extend the timetable for United Kingdom parliamentary elections.[HL5323]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Government intends to bring into force provisions in the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 that extend the timetable for UK Parliamentary elections in good time before the UK Parliamentary General Election in 2015.
Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the total number of human embryos which have been destroyed or experimented upon in the United Kingdom, and of animal-human hybrid embryos created, since such procedures were made legal; and, in the light of continued scientific advances using adult stem cells, when they last reviewed whether it is necessary or licit to continue with the creation and destruction of human embryos. [HL5165]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended) provides that human embryos created by in vitro fertilisation that are not transferred to a patient, and human admixed embryos that can only be created for research, cannot
be allowed to develop beyond a maximum of 14 days. At that stage, the embryos are about the size of the head of a pin.
The 1990 Act also provides that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) cannot licence research using human embryos or human admixed embryos .unless the research is necessary or desirable for the purposes specified in the Act and the use of embryos is necessary. The HFEA does not hold data of the number of embryos experimented upon.
The HFEA advises that the number of human embryos that were allowed to perish between 1991 and 2011, and the wider context of the number of human embryos that were created during that period, is as set out in the Answer I provided to the noble Lord on 8 January 2013 (Official Report, columns WA 24-26). In addition, in 2012 the number of embryos allowed to perish was 166,631.
The HFEA also advises that 155 human admixed embryos have been created for research since the 1990 Act was amended in 2008 to allow such research.
The HFEA has advised that its Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC) reviews the progress of research into alternative methods to derive embryonic or embryonic-like stem cells on a regular basis. It last reviewed the research at its meeting on 12 June 2013. This information, and SCAAC’s view, is used to inform HFEA licensing decisions when relevant.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made, and what action they intend to take, in the light of new research conducted at the University of Aberdeen regarding the risks of in vitro fertilisation for some couples; and what assessment they have made of the evidence relating to the effectiveness of in vitro fertilisation and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.[HL5166]
Earl Howe: The Government would seek advice on such matters from the national regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The HFEA has advised that it keeps all new research under review and will look at the University of Aberdeen research as part of that process.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, requires centres licensed by the HFEA to provide patients with all appropriate information on the treatment they propose to undergo, including information about the associated risks and likely outcomes of that treatment. The HFEA provides clinics with guidance regarding what this information should include, which is outlined in its code of practice.
The HFEA presents data on the effectiveness of fertility treatment which can be found on its website at: www.hfea.gov.uk/fertility-treatment-trends.html
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 29 August 2013 (WA 359), 30 October 2013 (WA 259), 22 January (WA 129), whether they consider that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority was correct
to state that “PNT involves genetically modifying an embryo” and that “MST involves genetically modifying a human egg” in the information provided on their website as part of their online consultation; and to what extent that information was conveyed equally clearly in all strands of their consultation. [HL5169]
Earl Howe: As the noble Lord is aware from Viscount Younger of Leckie’s Written Answer of 12 November 2013, Official Report, Col. WA 113, there is no universally accepted definition of “genetic modification”.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), in its public dialogue and consultation exercise on the use of mitochondrial donation in clinical practice, used a variety of terms to refer to the outcomes of these techniques, depending on the context, including “germline gene therapy”, “modification of embryos”, “modification of eggs”, “changing the germline”, “germline modification”, “genetically modifying an embryo” and “genetically modifying a human egg”.
The report that the HFEA provided to the Department at the conclusion of the public dialogue and consultation referred to the mitochondrial donation techniques as “germline modification”.
The HFEA has advised that diagrams and, in most strands, a video on the consultation website, which can be found at: www.hfea.gov.uk/6896.html were used to explain the techniques in all the strands of the public dialogue. Details of the methods used for each strand can be found in the HFEA’s reports.
Employment: Migrants
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to help into employment female migrants who may lack the skills required to be economically active.[HL5125]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): Support for the unemployed is a priority for this Government. We provide funding to enable unemployed people to take up education and training which helps them develop the skills they need for employment.
Eligibility criteria for public funding are set out in the Skills Funding Agency’s Funding Rules. Details are available at:
http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/providers/fundingrules/
Unemployed learners will be eligible for full funded skills training if they are claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (in the Work Related Activity Group) and those on Universal Credit mandated to training by their Jobcentre adviser. Skills providers may also provide fully funded training to unemployed people on other benefits where this will help the learner gain the skills they need for employment.
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013
Question
Asked by Lord Stevenson of Balmacara
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultations or calls for evidence they are planning in respect of the implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. [HL5372]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The Government committed to consulting on when to implement section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. This relates to the commencement of the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
In October 2013, the Government launched a Call for Evidence seeking information on the impact of the timing of the repeal. The Government is currently assessing the evidence received.
The Government plans to publish a consultation in spring 2014 seeking views on the Government’s proposals for transitional provisions.
Environment: Bird Sanctuaries
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much the Environment Agency has spent on creating bird sanctuaries on or near the Somerset Levels in the last ten years.[HL5330]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): As part of the Severn Estuary strategy, the Environment Agency has created inter-tidal habitat on the Steart peninsula at a cost of £20.2million. The new habitat helps protect 75 properties and the high voltage power line from Hinkley power station. In addition it compensates for the losses of internationally important wildlife sites that would otherwise be lost when flood defences along the estuary are improved in the future.
Eritrea
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will discuss with the Eritrean Ambassador to the United Kingdom his compliance with United Nations Resolution 2023 (2011) regarding taxation levied on Eritrean citizens living in the United Kingdom. [HL5299]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The UK supports United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2023, which condemned Eritrea’s use of the diaspora tax
and called on Eritrea to cease using illicit means to collect the tax. On 25 October 2013, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials raised UNSCR 2023 with the Eritrean Ambassador.
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 2023, passed in 2011, which outlawed the “2 per cent tax” on the United Kingdom earnings of Eritreans living in the United Kingdom, being enforced by the government of Eritrea. [HL5333]
Baroness Warsi: The UK supports United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 2023, which condemned Eritrea’s use of the Diaspora tax and called on Eritrea to cease using illicit means to collect the tax. The UK has made clear that the use of coercion or other illicit means to collect the tax in the UK must cease. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials last raised this on 25 October 2013 in a meeting with the Eritrean Ambassador.
On 8 November 2013, officials from the FCO, the National Crime Agency and West Yorkshire Police met members of the Eritrean Diaspora to discuss the Diaspora tax. At this meeting, Eritreans were urged to report any use of coercion or other illicit means to collect the tax to the police. We will continue to engage with the Diaspora on this issue.
EU: Firearms
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the intervention of the European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs into the area of gun control; and whether they consider that gun control should be a national competence covered by subsidiarity.[HL4996]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The UK has some of the toughest gun laws in the world. Gun control is, and should remain, a national competence. We do, however, support the work that the European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs is leading to better understand and disrupt the supply of illegal firearms into and across the European Union.
EU: Foreign Policy
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 24 January concerning European Union foreign policy (WA 173), what role they see for an independent United Kingdom foreign policy, in the light of the involvement of the European Union in foreign policy areas such as Iran, Syria and Ukraine.[HL5435]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The UK has an independent foreign policy. As part of that foreign policy, we work closely with our EU partners to deliver the UK’s international priorities. The UK sees the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, agreed by unanimity, as a multiplier of UK influence.
EU: Referendum
Questions
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the rules covering non-uprating of the basic state pension will apply to United Kingdom pensioners living in the European Union if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union after a referendum.[HL5207]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether clause 20 of the Pensions Bill is intended to apply to United Kingdom pensioners living in the European Union if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union after a referendum.[HL5208]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the European Union Biocidal Products Regulation will apply in the United Kingdom if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union after a referendum. [HL5210]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The Coalition Government has no plans to hold a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. It would therefore be unwise to speculate on the effects of the UK leaving the Union.
EU: UK Membership
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 24 January (WA 174) concerning the future of the United Kingdom in the European Union, whether they will now answer the question asked, namely whether a priority in their reform agenda is the removal from any new treaty the phrase “resolved to continue the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe”.[HL5200]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Government has clearly set out its priorities for reforming the EU: competitiveness, flexibility, democratic accountability, power flowing both ways, and fairness for those within and outside the single currency. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), gave his view on “ever closer union” in his speech on the UK’s relationship with Europe of 23 January 2013.
EU: UK Personnel
Question
Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) women, and (2) men, have been appointed as United Kingdom permanent representative to the European Union.[HL5427]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The number of women and men who have been appointed as United Kingdom permanent representative to the European Union since 1984 are as follows:
Female—0Male—9
European Securities and Markets Authority
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the predetermination that the Chairmanship and Deputy Chairmanship of the European Securities and Markets Authority should be held by nominees of two nominating bodies, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.[HL5123]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Regulation establishing the European Securities and Markets Authority does not specify what institution should provide its chair or vice-chair.
The next chair of the European System Risk Board will be determined following the review required in its establishing Regulation, which states that the European Parliament and Council shall examine the Regulation on the basis of a report from the Commission and “shall, in particular, review the modalities for the designation or election of the chair of the ESRB”. The UK will contribute to this process in the normal way.
Eurozone
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Deighton on 6 February concerning the recent ECOFIN meeting (WS 35), what proposals the Greek Presidency put forward for “further EU/Eurozone integration”; whether they consider such proposals in the United Kingdom’s national interest; and whether they would involve any additional financial support.[HL5356]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): To date, the Greek presidency has not put forward any specific proposals on further EU or Eurozone integration. However, the Greek Presidency continues to take forward work on Banking Union, in particular the Single Resolution Mechanism.
The UK supports closer economic and fiscal integration for the euro area to strengthen the single currency, as it is in our interests to see a stable euro area. However, we have been clear that the UK will not be part of closer integration and will protect the interests of those outside the single currency, especially the single market.
Finance: Payday Loans
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Ofcom’s publication Trends in Advertising Activity—Payday Loans, published in December 2013, what assessment they have made of the impact on children between four and 15 years old of the number of payday loan advertisements to which they are exposed.[HL5192]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Ofcom's publication Trends in Advertising Activity—Payday Loans published in December 2013, what assessment they have made of the increase in the number of payday loan advertisements watched by children aged four to 15 years old over the past four years; and whether they have any plans to address the situation.[HL5193]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Ofcom's publication Trends in Advertising Activity—Payday Loans published in December 2013, what assessment they have made of the frequency and impact of payday loan advertising viewed by children on non-children’s television channels. [HL5194]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Ofcom's publication Trends in Advertising Activity—Payday Loans published in December 2013, whether they plan to commission research into the impact of payday loan advertisements on young peoples' attitudes to the responsible use of money.[HL5195]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Payday loan adverts are subject to the Advertising Standards Authority’s strict content rules. The ASA will not hesitate to ban irresponsible adverts, and has a strong track record of doing so.
The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), the body that writes the Broadcast Advertising Code, is considering Ofcom’s research and the extent to which payday loan advertising features on children's TV, and whether there are any implications for the ASA’s regulation of this sector.
Separately, the Financial Conduct Authority is consulting on new rules for consumer credit adverts, including proposals to introduce mandatory risk warnings and signposting to debt advice. It has powers to ban misleading adverts which breach its rules.
Finance: Short Selling
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Deighton on 30 January (WA 247), whether they have consulted the United Kingdom fund management and ancillary industries in reaching their conclusion that the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union on Case C-280/12 regarding Article 28 of the Short Selling Regulation will not have any day-to-day impact on those industries.[HL5183]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Article 28 concerns the powers available to ESMA in an emergency situation, and not the day-to-day implementation of the Regulation, which the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) supervises. The Government has therefore not consulted the United Kingdom fund management and ancillary industries, in concluding that the judgement in Case C-270/12 will have no day-to-day impact.
Flooding
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 27 January (WA 191), whether, in the light of the continuing flooding of the Somerset levels, they now expect the Environment Agency to increase expenditure on flood alleviation and prevention measures in the affected areas.[HL5146]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): As part of the new funding announced by the Coalition Government to help manage the floods and repair damages across the country, £10m has been earmarked for work on the Somerset Levels.
The Secretary of State has also asked officials to work with local authorities and other local partners in Somerset, as well as the Environment Agency, Natural England and other Government Departments, to develop an action plan by early March for the long term sustainable future of the Levels and Moors. This plan will consider a range of options and future funding for improving the area’s resilience in the long term.
The Secretary of State has made it clear that the action plan will need to stack up against other proposals for funding elsewhere in the country, and that a partnership approach will be essential.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have sought or intend to seek advice from the government of the Netherlands concerning areas of farmland and domestic housing in England that are below sea level.[HL5147]
Lord De Mauley: We have no plans to seek advice directly from the Government of the Netherlands in relation to these issues. However, experts from the Netherlands have been involved in discussions with local drainage boards and others in relation to future dredging and drainage of farmland on the Somerset Moors and Levels. The Environment Agency also has access to valuable Dutch expertise on these issues.
That expertise will be taken into account in the Action Plan for the Levels and Moors, which is currently under development. Once the Action Plan has been agreed we will consider whether lessons can be learned for other parts of the country.
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of European Union directives on flooding and water management on the current flooding in the Somerset Levels; and whether they consider that those directives strike an appropriate balance between protecting environmental and wildlife habitats and ensuring human safety, social wellbeing and economic activity.[HL5232]
Lord De Mauley: The Government has not made an assessment of the impact of European Union directives on the flooding of the Somerset Levels. However, with effective forward planning watercourse maintenance activities can generally be managed in a way which supports the achievement of economic, social and environmental benefits, and strikes an appropriate balance.
The Action Plan for the Levels and Moors will consider a range of options for improving the long-term resilience of the area in a sustainable way. Any barriers to the achievement of those improvements which are identified through the Action Plan will be given urgent consideration, including any which are related to the impact of European Union Directives.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that water quality is being measured in flooded areas, that the results are being publicised, that warnings are being issued about drinking water, and that advice is issued to households and businesses to minimise their contribution to contamination of flood waters.[HL5261]
Lord De Mauley: Responsibility for sampling and assuring the quality of drinking water supplies rests primarily with the water companies, under the supervision of the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
There are no current public health concerns on the safety of drinking water. The Drinking Water Inspectorate and Public Health England are keeping this under review.
Advice on public health aspects of flooding is given by Public Health England. In particular the leaflet Flooding: advice for the public, published in early December 2013, is available on the Public Health England website. For specific events, local authority environmental health officers issue advice to those concerned that follows
guidance published by Drinking Water Inspectorate on contingency or alternate supplies where properties on a private borehole or spring supply are flooded.
In flooded areas of Somerset, Public Health England reports that the drinking water supplied by the local utility companies has not been affected by the bacterial contamination observed in the surface (flood) waters. The mains drinking water supply remains clean and safe to drink, and this information is being relayed regularly to the householders in the area.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 30 January (WA 247), whether one person or body has overall operational and strategic responsibility for the different bodies with responsibilities for flood prevention in the Somerset Levels.[HL5273]
Lord De Mauley: At present, operational and strategic responsibility for flood prevention in the Somerset Levels is not held by one person or body. These responsibilities rest with the bodies outlined in the answer provided on 30 January (WA247). The Secretary of State has asked officials, working with local partners, the Environment Agency, and across other Government Departments, to come up with an action plan by early March. This action plan will examine the best ways in which to ensure long term, sustainable management of the area.
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each year from 2014 to 2020, what forecast they have made of the additional number of properties that will be excluded from the Flood Re insurance scheme because they were built after 2009; and what assessment they have made of the impact on households so excluded.[HL5310]
Lord De Mauley: From 2009-2013, approximately 571,000 properties have been built in the UK, averaging 142,000 properties per year Defra does not have a forecast for the number of houses to be built between now and 2020.
There has also been no assessment made on the impact on households excluded since there has been no change in Government policy.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Environment Agency was first aware that the section of sea wall at Dawlish that has now failed was in a weak state; and what action it took at that time. [HL5329]
Lord De Mauley: The sea wall at Dawlish is not an Environment Agency asset; the Environment Agency were not aware that it was in a weak condition until 4 February 2014.
This is an operational matter for Network Rail, who owns this asset.
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent they consider that inadequate provision of storm and waste-water drainage infrastructure for new housing and commercial development since the year 2000 has contributed to the recent increase in local flooding; what assessment they have made of the respective roles played by central and local government in respect of the matter; and whether they will consider re-examining their current plans to release available undeveloped land for such purposes.[HL5343]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): As my rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) said in his statement of 6 February 2014, Official Report, House of Commons, Column 445, in due course, there will be lessons to be learnt from the recent floods. This includes the role and policies of quangos, the influence of man-made interventions on our landscape and rivers, and the resilience of our nation as a whole in the 21st Century.
Notwithstanding, I would note that the National Planning Policy Framework states that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided. Local planning authorities should direct development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains, but where development is necessary, it must be demonstrated that it is safe and will not increase flood risk elsewhere. This gives councils the robust ability to reject unacceptable planning applications. Councils' Local Plans should also shape where development should and should not go, and address the need for associated infrastructure to accompany new development.
Flood prevention measures, like robust flood and coastal defences, can make development acceptable where it would otherwise not be. For example, London is at risk of tidal flooding, as evident from the North Sea floods of 1953 which inflicted immense damage on the East End of London. However, since 1983, the Thames Barrier has mitigated that risk.
Moreover, national planning policy is clear that any new buildings that are needed in flood risk areas are appropriately flood resistant and resilient. Mitigation measures such as land raising, landscaping, raised thresholds and re-arranging the internal uses of buildings, can sometimes also make development acceptable in such areas. Such measures can be made a requirement of any planning consent by the local authority.
Flooding: Insurance
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of properties excluded from the Flood Re insurance scheme because they were built after 2009; and what assessment they have made of the impact on households so excluded. [HL5309]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The aim of Flood Re is to provide support to those who need it the most; this received wide agreement in the public consultation. Properties built after 2009 were not covered under the 2008 Statement of Principles agreement, the predecessor to Flood Re, and on this basis continue to be excluded. Strong planning controls should mean that very few of those homes which have been built since then will be in areas at risk of flooding.
Over 98% of the UK’s current housing stock was built before 2009. Changing the cut-off date from 2009 to a later date could add between 3,500 and 16,000 properties to the scheme, based on current evidence. Current estimations also suggest overall cost increases to Flood Re would be between £0.9m to £3.3m.
Including properties built after 2009 would either increase costs to all households through necessary increases in the levy or decrease the support available to those on lower incomes.
There has been no assessment made on the impact on households excluded since there has been no change in Government policy.
Food and Drink: Labelling
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to encourage food and beverage manufacturers to include clear and understandable food labelling on products for the benefit of consumers with conditions such as diabetes.[HL5400]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The nutrients that can be declared on pre-packed food are defined in law. From December 2016, the majority of pre-packaged foods will be required to carry nutrition labelling on the back of the pack, including energy value and the amounts of fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt.
The new EU Regulation No. 1169/2011 additionally allows energy value only or energy value plus amounts of fat, saturates, sugars and salt to be voluntarily repeated on front of pack. In June 2013 we published a Government recommendation on how this information could be provided clearly and consistently. To date companies accounting for nearly two thirds of pre-packaged food have said they will use this new scheme.
EU Regulation No. 1169/2011 also introduces for the first time legibility requirements (minimum font sizes) for both back and front of pack nutrition labelling.
Food: Flour Fortification
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 4 February (WA 30), on what date the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s advice on mandatory fortification of wholemeal flour was published; whether
that Committee has reached similar conclusions as regards the fortification of white flour; and what assessment that Committee made of recent research evidence in that field.[HL5267]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s (SACN) consideration of the impact of fortifying wheat flour with folic acid was published in their 2006 report “Folate and Disease Prevention”. Consideration of the inclusion of wholemeal flour in the fortification process was reflected in this report.
The SACN recommended to Government in this report that mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid would reduce the incidence of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects (NTD). However, the Committee stipulated that mandatory fortification should only be introduced alongside a number of other measures including those to reduce the numbers of people exceeding the upper recommended level per day.
The SACN has not been asked to assess any further research evidence in this field since delivery of its advice to the Chief Medical Officer in 2009 on folic acid and colorectal cancer risk.
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 4 February concerning mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid (WA 30), whether wholemeal flour will be exempted; and what assessment they have made of the effects of fortified flour on the general population, other than pregnant women.[HL5357]
Earl Howe: The extent of mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid, including any exemption for wholemeal flour, will be considered along with the effects of folic acid fortification of flour on the general population in coming to a final decision on whether to proceed with this policy or not.
Government Departments: 0845 Telephone Numbers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on the use of 0845 numbers by government departments and agencies; and whether they have given advice to the Environment Agency on their use of an 0845 number for their flood warnings. [HL5164]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Cabinet Office guidance published in December 2013 confirmed that where a non-geographic number is needed, departments should treat the use of the 03 prefix as a default policy position for the provision of core public services.
Ahead of this guidance the Environment Agency introduced a new 0345 prefix number in November 2013 for testing and published the number on their website on 3 February 2014. This number is available in addition to the existing 0845 number.
Members of the public have the choice to use either the 0345 or 0845 number, depending on which is cheapest to them.
Government Departments: Expenditure
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the expected reduction of £304 million in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills budget over the next two years will have any impact on the science budget.[HL5111]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): This Government has a history of strong support for science. We will continue to protect the ringfenced science budget for the next two years
Government Departments: Payroll Services
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations the Cabinet Office allows to receive payments by the use of payroll deduction facilities. [HL5284]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): In the last 12 months, payments have been made from Cabinet Office staff salaries directly from payroll to the following organisations:
Benenden Healthcare SocietyCharities TrustCivil Service Club Civil Service Sports CouncilForester HealthHospital Savings Association Individual (Simply Health)Leeds Hospital FundPCS UnionProspect UnionSun-Life AXACharity for Civil Servants (formerly the Civil Service Benevolent Fund)
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations the Ministry of Defence allows to receive payments by the use of payroll deduction facilities.[HL5286]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The requested information is provided in the following table. It includes all of the main organisations to whom payments can be made from the military or civilian payroll, but the Ministry of Defence considers adding other organisations on a case by case basis:
AEA Recreational SocietyALPHA HealthclubArmy Dependants (Assurance) Trust Army Sports LotteryAXA Sun Life Assurance Society Ltd BUPA Mercia Health BenefitsBenenden Healthcare SocietyBirmingham Hospital Saturday Fund BHCA Boscombe Down Death Benefit FundChildcare Vouchers (paid to Sodexho for onward payment to childcare providers)Child Support Agency (CSA)CPAX FamilyCPAX IndividualCSBF Loan RecoveryCivil Service Benevolent FundCivil Service ClubCivil Service Sports CouncilClyde Submarine Base Dependant FundDisciplinary Compensation Payment (to a third party)DSRA LotteryDSSA ModcareFamily Maintenance GrantsFSNBF Gift AidForester Health BHCAForces SafeguardGive As You Earn (GAYE) including 'Charitable Giving' and other tax- efficient payroll giving schemesGroup InsuranceHSA Health Insurance Health Scheme Hull Health Shield Hospital Fund BHCA Healthsure Portfolio BHCA Her Majesty's Court Services (HMCS) Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Hospital Saturday Fund MOD Liverpool Rec Society MOD Police Lottery Merseyside Health BHCA Midland Society for the Blind Mobile Reservist Pension Contributions (MRPC) Naval Dependants Income & Assurance Trust Patients Aid Association Wolverhampton BHCA PAX Insurance Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIN)
Police Mutual Society Provincial Hospital Services Bedford BHCARAF Benevolent Fund RAF Dependents Fund RAF Sports Lottery Royal Navy Sports Lottery Simply Health Sovereign Accident Plan Sovereign Health Plan Stakeholder Pensions Student Loan company (via HMRC)UK Civil Service Benefit Society Welsh Hospital Health Services Association Western Provident Association Health Services BHCA Westfield Contributory Health Scheme GMBATU National Union of RMT WorkersPCS Union Adjustment Public and Commercial Services Union Public and Commercial Services Union (Non Levy) PROSPECT TGWU Unite (including AMICUS) Defence Police Federation
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations the Department for Work and Pensions allows to receive payments by the use of payroll deduction facilities.[HL5302]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The following list, which is not exhaustive, provides organisations for which voluntary deductions may be made.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations the Foreign and Commonwealth Office allows to receive payments by the use of payroll deduction facilities.[HL5303]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office allows voluntary payroll deductions to the following organisations: Civil Service pensions, Stakeholder pensions, Union subscriptions, Edenred Childcare Vouchers (Salary sacrifice), Benenden Healthcare, British Healthcare Association, Simply Health, The Hospital Saturday Fund, Civil Service Sports and Social club, Charity for Civil Servants, Charities Trust, AXA Life Assurance, Post Office Insurance Society.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations HM Treasury allows to receive payments by the use of payroll deduction facilities.[HL5304]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con):
HM Treasury pays the following organisations:
Cabinet Office—Pension scheme deductions and employer contributions
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills allows to receive payments by the use of payroll deduction facilities.[HL5306]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills allows the following organisations to receive payments by the use of payroll deduction facilities:
HMRCCharitable GivingGAYEBenenden HealthcareCS Benevolent FundCS Sports CouncilPCS UnionPension Scottish WidowsProspectSimply HealthBHSFBritish Health CareCash for HealthCivil Service ClubNational FriendlyHSA IndividualHealthsure GroupHealthshieldHospital Saturday FundLeeds Hosp FundMerseyside HealthMinerva SSAPension PARLIAMENT Pension STD LifePension TUC PRUScottish Ben FunSov Health CareSun Life AssuranceUK CS Benefit SocietyWelsh HospitalsWestfield HealthDSRA LotteryHASSRA LotteryDESO Ret Officer AssociationFirst Div AssociationAVC Equitable Life Death BenefitAVC Equitable LifeAVC Scottish WidowsAVC Standard lifeHM Courts
Gypsies and Travellers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government decides to recover planning appeals by Travellers; how many planning appeals by Travellers are outstanding; what proportion of appeals by Travellers are recovered; and how that figure compares with other ethnic groups.[HL5256]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The Secretary of State’s policy on the recovery of appeals is set out in the Official Report (30 June 2008, Column 44WS; 1 July 2013, Column 1132WS; and 10 October 2013, Column 3OWS). The most recent statement on the recovery of appeals related to the protection of the Green Belt (17 January 2014, Column 35WS).
As of 6 February 2014 there were 144 Traveller appeals which have yet to be determined. Of these, 57 have been recovered for decision by the Secretary of State. We do not hold information relating to planning appeals by ethnic groups.
Health Education England
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 23 January (WA 152), what steps Health Education England is taking to ensure that primary medical and dental services are enabled to carry out the shift from care to prevention that the Secretary of State for Health is promoting.[HL5331]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Health Education England (HEE) has responsibility for promoting high quality education and training that is responsive to the changing needs of patients and local communities. It recognises the importance of prevention in fulfilling that role.
HEE works with stakeholders to influence training curricula as appropriate. The training curricula of primary medical and dental staff already include elements covering prevention. For example both the training curriculum for general practitioners and the dental foundation training curriculum include promoting health and preventing disease.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 23 January (WA 152), how Health Education England decides between conflicting demands on its budget between provision for services in a community-based setting and those in a hospital-based setting.[HL5332]
Earl Howe: Health Education England (HEE), through its local education and training boards, works with providers of NHS services, including those providing services in community and hospital based settings, to develop the workforce plan. This informs HEE’s commissions for training the future healthcare professionals and informs where HEE invests its budget. HEE is also working with training providers to ensure that in future undergraduate trainees have exposure to community services as part of their placements.
Health: Cancer
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve the accuracy of cancer diagnosis in the National Health Service.[HL5276]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): We are fully committed to improving early diagnosis for people with cancer and have set out our intention to support general practitioners (GPs) with access to a range of diagnostic tests. In total, we are investing an additional £450 million over this Spending Review to support additional tests and the costs of subsequent treatment.
This money will fund over two million extra tests over the next four years and give GPs access to non-obstetric ultrasound—to support diagnosis of ovarian cancer; flexible sigmoidoscopy—to support the diagnosis of bowel cancer; and brain magnetic resonance imaging scans—to support the diagnosis of brain cancer.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) Diagnostic Assessment Programme evaluates innovative medical diagnostic technologies in order to ensure that the National Health Service is able to adopt clinically and cost effective technologies rapidly and consistently.
NICE has published diagnostics guidance on specific technologies relating to breast cancer, cervical cancer and lung' cancer and is currently developing guidance on specific technologies relating to colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.
It will be for NHS England and clinical commissioning groups to decide whether to adopt a particular diagnostic technology which has been recommended by NICE.
Health: Cardiology
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase awareness of the impact of a high sugar diet on the risk of heart disease.[HL5277]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Government is not aware of any current evidence directly linking sugar intake with risk of heart disease. However, eating too
many calories, including those from sugary foods, can lead to weight gain which increases the risk of heart disease.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), a committee of experts who advise the Government on nutrition issues, is currently reviewing the evidence on sugar, including risk to cardiovascular disease, as part of its carbohydrates and health review. Upon receipt of SACN’s recommendations, the Government will consider whether its advice on carbohydrates, including sugar, requires updating.
We continue to advise people to eat a healthy balanced diet and we also provide advice tools which support people in improving their health and well-being. These include the Change4Life campaign, 5 A DAY scheme, Public Health Responsibility Deal and the NHS Choices consumer based information website.
Health: Diabetes
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will increase awareness of the risk of diabetes.[HL5363]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Government is taking a number of actions to increase awareness of the risk of diabetes. It is important to differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is not related to obesity or other lifestyle factors and therefore cannot be prevented.
From September to October 2013, NHS England and Public Health England supported the largest ever type 2 diabetes awareness campaign, launched by Diabetes UK. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the risk factors of type 2 diabetes and enable people to understand their risk of developing the condition.
In January 2014, NHS England published 'Action for Diabetes', which sets out how NHS England will drive prevention of type 2 diabetes and earlier diagnosis of all diabetes. As well as prevention, NHS England is putting a real emphasis on screening for high risk or the presence of type 2 diabetes through the NHS Health Check programme.
The NHS Health Check is a risk assessment and management programme, for those aged 40-74, aimed at raising awareness and preventing a range of illnesses, including diabetes.
Health: Meningitis
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the outcome of the further assessment of the cost-effectiveness of treatments for group B meningitis by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation following its meeting on 11 and 12 February.[HL5387]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert committee that advises the Government on all immunisation matters, has not yet made a final recommendation about the use of the meningococcal B vaccine Bexsero®. JCVI is due to report back in March 2014, having reviewed additional evidence at its meeting on 11 and 12 February 2014.
Health: Patient Records
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government , further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 10 February (HL5199), whether patients will be able to withdraw consent for the release of their records under the current proposals to allow those to be shared for research purposes; and, if so, whether the shared records will be returned or otherwise be rendered inaccessible.[HL5355]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): A patient can withdraw consent for the release of their medical records from the different data collections the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) is responsible for at any time by completing the 'Withdrawal of Consent' form, available to download directly from the FISCIC’s website, and providing proof of their identity.
Patients' data will then be anonymised rather than removed.
Health: Polypill
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have undertaken of the impact of the use of the Polypill among people above the age of (1) 50, and (2) 55, as proposed by the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes.[HL5403]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what comparison they have made between the impact of the use of the Polypill among people above the age of (1) 50, and (2) 55, as compared with the National Health Service Check programme to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes.[HL5404]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have undertaken of the efficacy and safety of the use of the Polypill among people above the age of (1) 50, and (2) 55, compared with the NHS Check programme to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes.[HL5405]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): There are no “polypill” products approved for use as proposed by the Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine in the United Kingdom.
An analysis comparing the impact, efficacy or safety of the polypill to the NHS Health Check programme has not been undertaken.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to encourage the licensing of the Polypill to reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes.[HL5406]
Earl Howe: There have been no discussions specifically to encourage the licensing of a “polypill” between the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Department or any other Government body. The MHRA, however, has supported and provided scientific advice to a number of sponsors and companies on their product development in this field. Any application for a marketing authorisation for a medicinal product, including those such as a polypill, will need to be supported by data demonstrating that the quality, safety and efficacy are satisfactory and that the risk to benefit profile is favourable for the proposed treatment before a licence is granted. There are currently no approved marketing authorisations for a product that meets the description of a “polypill”.
Health: Spinal Cord Injuries
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many beds there are for ventilated patients in each Spinal Cord Injury Centre in England; how many ventilated spinal cord injured patients in England are waiting to be admitted to beds in Spinal Cord Injury Centres, and what are the current waiting times listed by the Spinal Cord Injury Centre; and what are the causes of any delay in discharging spinal cord injured patients occupying those ventilated beds.[HL5216]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): There are eight Spinal Cord Injury Centres in England in total, of which six have ventilated beds.
As at 6 December 2013, the total number of beds for ventilated patients was 29, the total number of ventilated patients waiting to be admitted to beds was 18 and the average current waiting time was 42 days.
Delays in discharging spinal cord injured patients from ventilated beds may occur for a number of reasons. Due to patients’ complicated needs, the discharge planning for long term ventilator dependent patients can be lengthy and complex. Often, continuing healthcare funding is almost certain to be awarded, meaning that the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be responsible for funding and sourcing care on discharge, wherever this is provided, which can also take time. In addition to this, the spinal unit requires early authorisation from CCGs to purchase the essential ventilators, respiratory equipment and consumables required for discharge. It may also be the case that further delays occur to allow for the specialist training of necessary
care staff. Discharge dates of patients with complex needs such as these are often altered, which can delay the entire process.
Health: St Paul’s Way Health Centre
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how governance arrangements for collaborative projects between health, education, housing and community services, such as the St Paul’s Way Health Centre in Tower Hamlets, ensure the appropriate sharing of risk between the partners.[HL5090]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisation has overall responsibility for ensuring the collaboration of National Health Service bodies in the delivery of the St Paul’s Way Health Centre in Tower Hamlets, and ensuring that they deliver in an effective and timely manner.[HL5091]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Health and Social Care Act 2012 established specific functions for Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWB), including a duty to prepare Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies to meet the health needs of the local population. HWBs also have powers to encourage close working between commissioners of health-related services (such as housing and many other local government services) and commissioners of health and social care services.
The St Paul’s Way Transformation Project is a component of the local Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Tower Hamlets HWB will be responsible for monitoring the strategy's implementation and will ensure that partners are working together effectively to meet the health and wellbeing needs of the borough.
We are advised that it is for the project leads who are part of the St Paul’s Way Community Interest Company to ensure the appropriate sharing of risk between the partners.
Higher Education: Overseas Students
Questions
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many students from China enrolled at tertiary educational institutions in the United Kingdom in each year since 2010.[HL5417]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many students from India enrolled at tertiary educational institutions in the United Kingdom in each year since 2010.[HL5418]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many students from Malaysia enrolled at tertiary educational institutions in the United Kingdom in each year since 2010.[HL5419]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on student enrolments at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Statistics on enrolments at UK HEIs by students domiciled in China (including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao), India and Malaysia prior to their course are provided in the table.
Information on enrolments at UK HEIs in the academic year 2013/14 will become available from HESA in January 2015.
| Enrolments domiciled (1) in China, Hong Kong, Macao, India and Malaysia | |||
| UK Higher Education Institutions | |||
| Academic Years 2010/11 to 2012/13 | |||
| Domicile | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 |
Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record
Notes: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals.
(1)Domicile refers to a student’s permanent or home address prior to entry to their course