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EU: Alternative Medicine
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current status of, and what outcome they anticipate on, European Union legislative proposals which concern (a) food supplements;(b) herbal medicines; and (c) any other area of alternative medicine.[HL6798]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The Food Supplements Directive was agreed in July 2002 and has applied in full since 1 August 2005. The directive includes provisions for setting maximum levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements, and the European Commission has indicated that it will publish proposals for these within two years for discussion with member states.
There are no current proposals from the European Commission for legislation specifically relating to herbal medicinal products or other areas of complementary or alternative medicine.
Extradition: Shackling
Lord Monson asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make representations to the Government of the United States regarding the possible use of shackling or leg irons by the United States authorities on British nationals extradited to the United States who have not been convicted of any crime.[HL6823]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Rule 33 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, adopted by the United Nations in 1955, although not legally binding, states that instruments of restraint, such as shackles and leg irons, shall not be applied as a punishment. However, the standard minimum rules do recognise that restraints may and will be used in certain circumstances, including precaution against escape during transfer. The Government will therefore not make representations on this issue but will continue to monitor closely the welfare of all British detainees in the USA.
Embryology
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total number of eggs obtained from patients since the enactment of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; how many have been used for research; and how many have been used for fertility treatments; and [HL6785]
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What data are collected about hyperstimulation syndrome, and other adverse clinical effects, when eggs are collected at fertility centres for research purposes.[HL6786]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): Most of the information requested is not routinely collected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) or the Department of Health because the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and the remit of the HFEA extends only to research involving the use of human embryos.
The HFEA does hold data on egg collections from 1 August 1991 to 31 March 2004. This indicates that the total number of eggs collected from patients was 3,080,812. For data collected between 1 August 1991 and 31 March 1999 this related to eggs collected solely for treatment purposes. From 1 August 1991 to 31 March 2004, 2,806,764 eggs were mixed with sperm for treatment purposes.
From 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004, 393 eggs were donated to research.
Food: Imports
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the powers of the Food Standards Agency to check imported meats for individual purchase are equally applicable to meat for the catering trade and meat for processed food products.[HL6782]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): We have been advised by the Food Standards Agency that all foods of animal origin, including meat imported to the United Kingdom from outside the European Union, are subject to harmonised EU import controls at designated border inspection posts by local authorities. These include documentary and identity checks and a prescribed proportion are subject to physical checks. These powers are equally applicable whether the meat is destined for retail trade, the catering trade or for processed food products.
In addition to controls at the point of entry, imported food may be subject to further checks throughout the food chain and subject to the same controls as food produced in the UK.
Health Bill: Clause 2(2)
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will enforce the provisions of Clause 2(2) of the Health Bill, if enacted, in domestic premises used by two or more sex workers as both their home and their place of work; and which members of the public might attend for the purpose of seeking services. [HL6663]
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The Minister of State, Department of Health(Lord Warner): Smoke-free requirements for private accommodation where work also takes place will be set out in regulations to be made under powers contained within the Health Bill.
Draft regulations to be made under the powers in Part 1 of Chapter 1 of the Health Bill will be published for public consultation shortly.
Iraq: Military Casualties
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 26 June (WA 127) on military casualties in Iraq, whether they will publish the figures referred to in the Official Report.[HL6771]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The figures referred to in the Official Report are published onthe Ministry of Defence website and are updatedon a monthly basis. They can be found at www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsInIraqBritishCasualties.htm. I am placing a copy of the latest figures in the Library of the House.
Israel and Palestine
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made an assessment of the likely impact of the recent kidnapping of anIsraeli soldier and Israel’s retaliatory measures on the prospects for early recognition of Israel by the Hamas Government; and what steps they are taking to revive these prospects through the European Union's representation in the quartet.[HL6812]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We remain deeply concerned by the recent events in Gaza and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Corporal Shalit. We also urge Israel to act with restraint and in accordance with international law.
We continue to call upon Hamas to commit to the quartet’s (EU, US, UN and Russia) three principles: to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previous agreements and obligations. Hamas needs to start implementing these principles. We are ready to take the peace process forward with it if it does.
We have made no assessment on Hamas’ likelihood of recognising Israel since the abduction of the Israeli soldier.
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Israel and Palestine: Gaza
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning the kidnapping of a civilian doctor and his brother from a house in Gaza, the day before the Palestinian attack on a Israeli army position when Gilad Shalit was abducted.[HL6775]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We remain deeply concerned by the current situation in Gaza. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary raised her concerns with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and Palestinian President Abbas on6 July. We have made no representations about this particular incident.
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will seek an urgent meeting with the Government of Israel to discuss the recent attacks on civilians in Gaza.[HL6814]
Lord Triesman: My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary called Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and Palestinian President Abbas on 6 July to raise her concerns about the recent situation in Gaza. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials met with the Israeli Ambassador on 4 July. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv has also remained in close contact with the Israeli Government to raise our concerns.
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel about the destruction of civic facilities such as power stations and university buildings in the Gaza strip.[HL6816]
Lord Triesman: My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary raised her concerns about the current situation in Gaza with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and Palestinian President Abbas on6 July. On 29 June, our defence attaché in Tel Aviv raised our concerns about the worsening situation in Gaza, in particular about the loss of power and water supplies with the Israel Defence Force. We have made no specific representations about the university.
Middle East
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What effect their action and the action by United Nations partners to promote a just peace in the Middle East will have on radicalisation of members of ethnic minority communities.[HL6811]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories is a source of genuine concern and sometimes anger for many, including British Muslims. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has said, there is no higher priority for the international community than progress towards peace and a viable two-state solution. But we must all do more to address the global ideology that seeks to exploit such issues as a justification for extremism and terrorism. Upholding and promoting the core values of tolerance and democratic freedoms should be our response to the tyrannical ideas expounded by extremists.
NHS: Audiology
Baroness Howe of Idlicote asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will publish the action plan to reduce waiting times for audiology services referred to in Tackling Hospital Waiting: The 18 week patient pathway; and [HL6682]
Whether they will monitor the possible re-routing of direct access audiology referrals to ear, nose and throat consultants by general practitioners anxious to expedite their patients’ treatment; and [HL6683]
Given that referrals are subject to waiting time targets for assessments but not for the fitting of digital hearing aids, how they will ensure that audiology services do not prioritise appointments for assessment over appointments for fitting aids.[HL6684]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The Department of Health is continuing its work with stakeholders to develop a national action plan for adult hearing services and we aim to announce the publication of the action plan in the near future.
The department estimates that 80 per cent of referrals to adult hearing services from general practitioners are direct to audiology departments. We acknowledge the risk that there may be pressure to redirect these existing direct referrals to ear, nose and throat consultants in secondary care, as this way patients would be covered by the 18-week target. The measures that are being taken to address this risk are detailed on page 31 of the publication The 18 Week Patient Pathway: Delivery Resource Pack, which is available in the Library and on the department’s website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/46/70/04134670.pdf.
Referrals for the assessment and fitting for digital hearing aids are not subject to waiting times targets. We acknowledge that there are likely to be pressures in waiting times for audiology services, which is why we are in the process of developing the action plan.
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Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will issue commissioning guidance to ensure that existing levels of investment in adult audiology services are maintained while primary care trusts await the separate action plan promised by the Department of Health.[HL6839]
Lord Warner: There is, and has been, much background work undertaken to support the agreement of a national action plan for adult hearing services, and we hope to announce details about how it will be taken forward in the near future.
The action plan will need to be scoped and developed with a range of stakeholders and may include information for commissioners. Service commissioners have a responsibility for commissioning services that promote their local population’s health and well-being, including those with hearing impairments.
Nuclear Energy: Magnox
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the proposed disposal route for Magnox fuel can splitter fins presently stored in vaults at the Magnox sites; and what transport methods are proposed.[HL6841]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Magnesium oxide fuel element debris (FED), created when uranium fuel was separated from the Magnox cans in order to ship the uranium to Sellafield for reprocessing, is stored in bunkers and vaults at some Magnox sites.
For all sites other than Dungeness A in Kent, the current disposal route is to recover the material, place it into specially designed steel containers, encapsulate it in a grout/cement matrix and store the containers in engineered stores on each site until a long-term waste management facility becomes available.
At Dungeness A the FED is being recovered and the soluble magnesium oxide dissolved with carbonic acid and discharged from the site via an Environment Agency authorised discharge route. Radioactivity is retained in sludges in the processing unit, and ion exchange resins and abatement filters in the discharge line. These are disposed of along with other sludges, resins and filters that are present on the site, by encapsulation and storage until a long-term waste management facility becomes available.
Any transportation of encapsulated waste—including FED—would have to satisfy the relevant transportation regulations and requirements.
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Police and Justice Bill: Clause 12
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
How the powers to be conferred upon police constables by Clause 12 of the Police and Justice Bill will improve their ability to detect and prosecute theft of passengers’ baggage and theft from items of passengers’ baggage by those employed at airports; and what is their estimate of the extra number of offences each year that will be prosecuted as a result.[HL6739]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Clause 12 of the Police and Justice Bill—“Information gathering powers: extension to domestic flights”—amends Section 32 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to enable the police to gain advance bulk access to passenger, crew and service information on air and sea journeys within the United Kingdom for certain purposes. The new power will enable the police to gain effective intelligence on the movement of known terrorist suspects and criminals and will allow them to build up a detailed picture of suspect passengers, travel patterns and networks. Improved intelligence will result in more targeted interventions and reduce the likelihood of innocent travellers being stopped. It is not intended to help the police to detect and prosecute the theft of passengers’ baggage at airports, which is more appropriate to Clause 10. Clause 10 introduces a new power for police to stop and search any person at an aerodrome, amending Part III of the Aviation Security Act 1982, to enable a police constable to stop and search, without warrant, any person, vehicle or aircraft in any area of an aerodrome where he has reasonable grounds to suspect that criminal activity has, or is about to, take place. The aim of this new power is to reduce opportunities for criminal activity at airports and, in turn, simultaneously to reduce opportunities for organised crime and terrorist activity. As such, it will extend to crimes involving the theft of and from passengers’ baggage although at this stage we have no reliable estimates of the number of prosecutions that may result.
Prisoners: Early Release
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures are in place to detain those found guilty of serious violent offences who become eligible for early release, but show no sign of remorse for their previous actions.[HL6424]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Criminal Justice Act 2003 created new public protection sentences aimed specifically at sexual and violent offenders, including the sentence of imprisonment for public protection, which is an indeterminate sentence. These sentences ensure that dangerous sexual and violent offenders are subject to assessment by the Parole Board before
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