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Israel: Military Action
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions they have had with the Government of Israel concerning reparations to Lebanon and Gaza following recent military action.[HL7524]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We have held recent discussions at official level with the Israelis on the reconstruction of Lebanon following the conflict. We continue to attach great importance to this and have contributed £22.3 million for humanitarian assistance and early recovery projects in Lebanon. At the Stockholm conference on 31 August, donors pledged over $940 million for humanitarian and reconstruction work in Lebanon, well in excess of the $530 million target required by the Government of Lebanon's early recovery plan. Israel's military operations in Lebanon were in response to Hezbollah's attack on Israel on 12 July and Hezbollah's subsequent firing of rockets into Israel. Widespread damage was caused to both Israeli and Lebanese infrastructure.
Lebanon: EU Action Plan
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What early steps they intend to take to ensure the success of the European Union Action Plan for the Republic of Lebanon (com. 2006—365 final).[HL7711]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The European Neighbourhood Policy EU-Lebanon action plan was adopted by EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 October 2006. The UK looks forward to speedy implementation of all aspects of the action plan in order to promote political, social and economic reform in Lebanon and strengthen EU-Lebanon relations. We expect that the EU-Lebanon Association Council will take place during the first half of 2007. This will be an important opportunity to monitor progress of the implementation of the action plan.
NHS: Mental Care Units
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many beds were available in mental care units throughout England and Wales in (a) 1985; (b) 1990; (c) 1995; (d) 2000; and (e) 2005.[HL7664]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): This information is shown in the table. The reduction in mental health bed numbers under successive Governments reflects the increasing provision by the National Health Service in England and Wales of treatment for patients with mental health conditions in primary care and community settings, without the need for hospital admissions.
Official Gifts: Prime Minister
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What presents, gifts or mementos purchased with public funds the Prime Minister has given to foreign dignitaries while overseas or within the United Kingdom in the past year; and, in each case, what was the name of the recipient, the nature of the gift and its approximate value.[HL7578]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in the other place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister to the honourable Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on Monday 9 October (Official Report, col. 4W).
Official Travel: Bilderberg Conference
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any Ministers attended the Bilderberg Conference in Ottawa between 8 and 11 June; if so, whether they attended in a ministerial or private capacity; whether they made contributions to debates; and, if so, on which subjects.[HL7569]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: All ministerial visits are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Since 1999, the Government have published annually a list of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500 and the total cost of all ministerial travel. Information for 2005-06 was published on Monday 24 July 2006. Copies are available in the Library for the reference of noble Lords. Information for 2006-07 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.
Public Bodies: Financial Reporting
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Food Standards Agency has any arrangements to enable staff of that agency to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.[HL7692]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): Under the whistle-blowing procedures operating in the Food Standards Agency (FSA), staff are able to raise concerns, in confidence, about any malpractice or illegal act, or if they feel that the FSA is failing in its duty to protect public health. In the first instance, staff are encouraged to raise such concerns with their line manager. Alternatively they may raise the matter with the human resource director or directly with the FSA board's appointed complaints investigator. The complaints investigator, who is independent, reports his findings to the FSA chair and a report is made annually to the FSA board.
In addition, if staff do not receive what they consider to be a reasonable response they are able to report the matter to the Civil Service Commissioners. Staff have access to the FSA's accounts and the disclosure information contained within them. The FSA's internal auditors have recently conducted a counter-fraud testing audit and concluded that procedures were generally sound.
Public Expenditure: Scotland
Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much of total public spending in Scotland listed in Cm 6811 (Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2006) is allocated under the Barnett formula; and what is the percentage of public spending, excluding local authority spending.[HL7807]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: Changes in the departmental expenditure limits for the Scottish Executive are calculated using the Barnett formula in accordance with the Treasury's Statement of Funding Policy. Table 1.12 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2006 (Cm 6811) gives details of Scotland’s departmental expenditure limits for 2000-01 to 2007-08.
Table 7.17 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2006 (Cm 6811) shows identifiable expenditure on services in Scotland by the Scottish Executive, Scottish local authorities and UK government departments.
Railways: Freight Charges
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Alistair Darling, on 19 July 2005 (Official Report, House of Commons, cols. 71-4WS) in which they announced that they would provide clear guidance if and when the level of freight charges was reviewed by the Office of Rail Regulation, when such guidance will be published in connection with the current review.[HL7679]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The department will provide guidance to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in response to the ORR's consultation on freight charges. The consultation is expected to take place later this year and will contribute to the Periodic Review 2008.
Reporting Regulations
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which industries are included within the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.[HL7682]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) are made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSW Act) and apply a single set of reporting requirements to all work activities in Great Britain and to the offshore oil and gas industry but not to all incidents.
Work-related incidents which are not reportable under RIDDOR 1995 include: those arising from medical treatment; most road traffic accidents; accidents reportable under separate merchant shipping, civil aviation, air navigation, nuclear installation, explosives and radiation legislation; accidents to members of the Armed Forces while on duty; and the death of a self-employed person at premises where they were the only person with a legal duty to report.
Roads: A59
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will commission a survey of the safety for cyclists of the A59 between Preston and Skipton and, in particular, at the junction with the A56 and at the junction where it crosses the road from Sabden to Clitheroe.[HL7817]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Local highway authorities are responsible for road safety in their local areas; therefore this would be a matter for the local highway authority to consider.
Television: Analogue Frequencies
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much they expect to receive from the saleof analogue television frequencies followingthe compulsory introduction of digital television.[HL7704]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), as independent regulator for the communications sector. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the noble Lord. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries.
Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether heavy goods vehicles pay a fair price for the use they make of the roads and associated facilities; and [HL7750]
Whether heavy goods vehicles registered outside the United Kingdom pay a fair price for the use they make of roads and associated facilities in this country.[HL7751]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: Fuel and vehicle taxes, while linked to environmental and other issues, are not currently related directly to the full incremental costs that road users, including heavy goods vehicles, impose on society. In response to the Burns inquiry into fuel costs, foreign competition and freight taxes, the Government invited the main haulage industry associations to participate in a joint task group at the 2005 Pre-Budget Report. The task group has made progress in analysing the competitive position of the industry, and its findings will inform future decisions on how to ensure that haulage continues to fulfil its important role in the UK economy.
Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Draft Bill
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will reply to the letter dated 20 September from Philip Evans, chair of the Enforcement Law Reform Group, concerning the draft Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill; and whether they propose to submit that draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.[HL7573]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): My right honourable and noble friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor replied to Mr Evans's letter on 20 October 2006. The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill was published in draft on 25 July and has been available for pre-legislative scrutiny by interested parties. There are no plans to invite a parliamentary committee to conduct a specific scrutiny inquiry on the Bill, though any comments from parliamentary bodies are welcome.
UN: Reform
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take steps with other United Nations partner countries to revive the United Nations reform exercise.[HL7508]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The Government continue to be strong and active supporters of reform of the UN. We hold regular discussions on the issue with UN and EU partners to ensure that the momentum for reform is maintained.
A number of reforms have been implemented following the 2005 world summit, including the establishment of the new Peacebuilding Commission and Human Rights Council. We continue to press for further progress on Security Council enlargement and management reforms. Important reform issues currently on the agenda include the report in November of the Secretary-General's high-level panel on system-wide coherence, which seeks to improve UN operations on the ground, and the review of UN governance, oversight, procurement and human resources.
I refer the noble Lord to the speech on the UN given by my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Kim Howells, at the London School of Economics on 9 October, available at www.fco.gov.uk.
My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary presented to another place in July 2006 a comprehensive assessment of the UN in the command paperThe United Kingdom at the United Nations (Cm 6892).
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