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G8: Religious Leaders
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have studied the joint statement issued by the 100 leaders of the world's main religious faiths who met in St Petersburg; and whether they will advocate this approach to global issues to the other G8 members.[HL6873]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The Government's approach to global issues is set out in the White Paper Active Diplomacy for a Changing World published in March 2006, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. The joint statement of the religious leaders who met in Moscow on 3 and 4 July contains many elements that are consistent with that approach and with the objectives we have pursued in our work with partners in the G8 process. We welcome the contribution which religious groups and their leaders can make to address the major international challenges in today's world.
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Government Departments: Special Advisers
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for Education and Skills; and what is the nature of their services.[HL6968]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): Four members of staff are primarily employed to provide support of a non-political nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and what is the nature of their services.[HL6969]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Three officials contribute to the administrative support of the two special advisers. This support is of a non-political nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Cabinet Office; and what is the nature of their services.[HL6970]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: One member of staff supports the special advisers in the Cabinet Office, providing administrative support of a non-political nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for Trade and Industry; and what is the nature of their services.[HL7014]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Special advisers in the DTI are supported by two members of staff. These staff are employed to provide support of a non-political nature in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
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Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Treasury Solicitor's Department; and what is the nature of their services.[HL7029]
The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith): The Treasury Solicitor's Department has no special advisers.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Office of Fair Trading; and what is the nature of their services.[HL7031]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Office of Fair Trading does not employ special advisers.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10 July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Office for Standards in Education; and what is the nature of their services.[HL7077]
Lord Adonis: Since Ofsted is a non-ministerial government department, there are no special advisers within the inspectorate.
Guantanamo Bay
Lord Morris of Aberavon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the answer by the Lord Triesman on 11 July (Official Report, col. 583), on what date they made it clear to the Government of the United States that Guantanamo Bay should be closed.[HL6935]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We have long made it clear that we regard the circumstances under which detainees are held at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay as unacceptable. The US Government are well aware of our views through our regular discussions on detainee-related issues.
Gulf War Syndrome
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What procedures Gulf War veterans must comply with to have the umbrella term Gulf War syndrome applied to recognised medical conditions for which they are already receiving an award and which are attributable to service during the 1990-91 Gulf War.[HL6888]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): If a veteranhas recognised medical conditions accepted as attributable to or aggravated by service in connection with the 1990-91 Gulf War, they should write to the Veterans’ Agency requesting a review of whether the application of the umbrella term Gulf War syndrome would be appropriate. Thereafter a claim form may be required depending on the circumstances of the case.
Gulf War: Pensions
Lord Tyler asked Her Majesty's Government:
What legal remedy is available to counter reinterpretation and tampering by public officials in handling decisions of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal such as that in the case of Gulf War veteran Mark McGreevy, as documented in the tribunal president's letter to the Ministry of Defence of 5 April.[HL6843]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The Ministry of Defence did not attempt to reinterpret or tamper with the decision by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal in the case of Mr McGreevy. The department acted in good faith and with the intention of giving effect to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal's decision. The response by the department of 5 June to the president of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal’s letter of 5 April explained the way in which Gulf War syndrome has been applied in Mr McGreevy's case as an umbrella term. A copy of the Ministry of Defence letter has been placed in the Library.
An individual who feels that the Ministry of Defence has failed to implement a tribunal decision may have a remedy in judicial review.
House of Lords: Smoking
Baroness Gale asked the Chairman of Committees:
What arrangements will be made to ensure that the House of Lords adopts policies on smoking consistent with the Health Act 2006.[HL7121]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): Part 1 of the Health Act 2006 does not apply to either House of Parliament, but it has been the long-held position that on matters such as public health and safety this House gives effect to general legislation as if it applied to the House.
In the next Session, proposals will be put to the Administration and Works Committee for bringing the House fully in line with Part 1 of the Health Act 2006. The committee will then make a set of recommendations to the House before the provisions of that part of the Act come into force
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Memorials
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to commemorate the military personnel and police who died in (a) the 1916 Easter rebellion in Ireland; (b) the 1919-21 war of independence in Ireland; and (c) the 1921-22 civil disturbances in Northern Ireland.[HL6541]
Lord Rooker: We have no plans to do so.
The national service of remembrance at the Cenotaph is an expression of remembrance and a commemoration of all those killed and injured in service of their country, and all those who mourn them.
National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
Baroness Buscombe asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposed register of pupils in the National Academy for Gifted Youth will be held in electronic form; who will have access to the information held on it; and, if it is to be held electronically, when a procurement process will begin for the information technology required to support it.[HL7074]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): The national register will include all pupils identified as gifted and talented by their primary and secondary schools, including those 11 to 19 year-olds who are within the top 5 per cent by ability and so eligible for membership of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY). The national register will be computerised. It will draw together material in NAGTY's existing database and in the national pupil database. We have asked NAGTY to undertake the management of the national register and we anticipate that it will be developed under existing contracts. Schools will be the main users of the national register. We anticipate access for parents and pupils to their own data, as well as access to relevant aggregated data for school improvement partners, local authorities and higher education institutions, in a manner consistent with the data protection legislation.
NHS: Appointments
Lord Livsey of Talgarth asked Her Majesty's Government:
What oversight role the chairman of the NHS Appointments Commission has when the suitability of a National Health Service chairman to continue in post is assessed when a chairman's circumstances have substantially changed since his appointment; and [HL6988]
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How they determine whether a relationship between a national health service chair and chief executive officer has become too close or “cosy” as described in the NHS Appointments Commissioner’s publication, Governing the NHS—a Guide for NHS Boards; and what remedies are available to address the situation.[HL6989]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The NHS Appointments Commission has the power, delegated to it by the Secretary of State for Health, to terminate the appointment of chairs and non-executive members of NHS boards, under circumstances prescribed in regulations. This includes provisions for the termination of an appointment if someone has become disqualified from appointment during their tenure of office or if it is not in the best interests of the NHS for them to remain in post.
NHS: Finances
Baroness Quin asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many health trusts in England were in deficit at the end of the financial year 2005-06; and, of these, how many were foundation trusts.[HL6911]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The 2005-06 provisional outturn figures for the National Health Service show that a total of 68 NHS trusts, excluding NHS foundation trusts, incurred a deficit.
Monitor has responsibility for overseeing the financial performance of NHS foundation trusts. The latest 2005-06 provisional outturn figures from Monitor show that a total of 11 NHS foundation trusts incurred a deficit.
NHS: Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
Lord Livsey of Talgarth asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether National Health Service trusts and organisations in England have been reminded of the NHS Standards of Business Conduct, following the June 2005 Audit Commission report into the contracting arrangements of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, with Talquin Limited, which found that the NHS standards had been broken; and [HL6943]
Whether a National Health Service trust in England, which has seconded a member of staff to another trust or other NHS organisation in Wales is obliged to inform the receiving trust or organisation of an ongoing Audit Commission investigation relating to the seconded member of staff; and [HL6944]
What powers they have to intervene if a National Health Service trust board does not take action over a clear breach of the NHS Code of Accountability by an executive director; and [HL6945]
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What information the Department of Health received during the Audit Commission investigation in 2005 at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital into contracting arrangements with Talquin Limited; and when any such information was received; and [HL6946]
Whether a Minister was briefed during the Audit Commission investigation in 2004-05 at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital into contracting arrangements with Talquin Limited regarding this investigation; and [HL6947]
Whether it is normal procedure for the Department of Health to request the secondment of a National Health Service trust chief executive connected with an Audit Commission investigation.[HL6948]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The report referred to in these questions was a specific review undertaken at the trust's request by the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust’s appointed external auditor. The NHS West Midlands strategic health authority (SHA) reports that there were no recommendations requiring action by the Department of Health.
Employment matters are the responsibility of the relevant local NHS organisations, particularly with regard to appropriate references for the individual concerned. However, the NHS West Midlands SHA confirms that the “receiving” NHS organisation was made aware of the circumstances of the individual concerned.
The Department of Health can be asked for a view by a current or prospective employer about the appropriateness of a chief executive under investigation taking on another NHS role. The department's advice takes account of the nature of the concern and any recommendations forthcoming from an audit inquiry of an NHS Management Code of Conduct investigation.
The department would want assurances that due process has been followed in any investigation and that all the relevant information has been made available to a prospective employer. Decisions about offering chief executives in this type of situation a secondment opportunity rests with the prospective employer.
According to departmental records no information was received by either Ministers or the department with regard to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust and its contracting arrangements with Talquin Limited.
In the event of a primary care trust (PCT) or NHS trust not performing one or more of its functions adequately, or if there are significant failings in the way it is being run, then the Secretary of State may make an intervention order under Sections 84A and 84B of the National Health Service Act 1977. The Secretary of State also has powers under Section 17 of that Act to direct an NHS trust or PCT about the exercise of its functions whether as a sanction or otherwise. There are further powers under Sections 97C, 97D and 99 to direct an NHS trust or PCT in respect of its financial functions.
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The Secretary of State has delegated her appointment functions for chairs and non-executive board members to the NHS Appointments Commission. The appointments may be terminated where it is not in the interests of the NHS, or it is not conducive to the good management of the NHS trust or PCT, for the individual to continue to serve. However, termination is only made after due process.
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