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8 Nov 2006 : Column WA186
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is any government-funded organisation, other than the Medical Research Council, which is currently reviewing findings of international (particularly United States) medical and scientific researchers into Gulf War illnesses.[HL8107]
Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence, as the lead government department on Gulf veterans’ illnesses (GVI), takes independent advice on the programme of GVI research principally from the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MoD has also established the independent Depleted Uranium Oversight Board and Independent Panel on Vaccines Interactions to provide specific advice on depleted uranium and multiple immunisations. These consider wider international findings as appropriate.
Hemp
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any proposals relating to the cultivation and uses of hemp in the United Kingdom.[HL8048]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Hemp is grown under licence in the UK for both non-food and food uses.
The Government encourage the sustainable development of the renewables sector, including hemp, through the strategy for non-food crops, launched in 2004. Industrial uses for hemp include fibres, biocomposites, construction materials and horse bedding. Special varieties are used for pharmaceutical applications. A two-year progress report on the strategy for non-food crops, discussing impacts and future priorities, will be published on 16 November 2006.
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the benefits and disadvantages of the cultivation of hemp as a cash crop in developing countries.[HL8049]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): DfID has in the past funded research in Tanzania into the use of a form of hemp (sunhemp) as green manure to promote increased yields from a variety of cash crops. We do not currently provide direct funding for research into the use of hemp as a cash crop, but we do fund the agriculture research programmes of a number of regional and national institutes in Africa. These programmes reflect the priorities of the countries and regions concerned and they would include research to promote cash crops appropriate to these areas.
DfID recognises the importance of agriculture to the reduction of poverty and that cash crops can play a significant role in this—as part of wider strategies for sustainable agriculture.
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Immigration: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: Two male prisoners are currently held in HMP Maghaberry for immigration offences.
International Development: Helicopters
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What helicopter activity they are funding in their international development programme; and through which agencies.[HL7797]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): DfID uses helicopters only where it is considered essential—either when they are needed for immediate emergency humanitarian response to disasters or when the security situation makes this necessary. Where possible, this is from civilian sources but, if necessary, from the UK military. The most recent humanitarian example was the Government’s response to the earthquake in Pakistan. Our immediate response included providing three helicopters through the Ministry of Defence for a month (for which DfID funded the marginal costs and the MoD the standing costs).
DfID has contributed more than £7 million to the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) for helicopter operations and logistical support during the humanitarian response to the Pakistan earthquake. This included the costs of chartering helicopters, the provision of technical personnel and vehicles, and co-ordination activities. DfID provided further funds towards wider relief activities of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which included the use of helicopters and logistical support as a component.
In Iraq, we are using military helicopters to transfer staff from Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) to the International Zone (IZ). This helicopter air bridge is run by UK and US coalition forces. DfID makes a financial contribution to this operation, along with other Whitehall government departments, based on the number of people that we have working in Baghdad.
DfID Uganda helped to hire a helicopter during late 2004 and early 2005 to ferry a peace negotiator to and from rebel positions to help secure peace between the Ugandan Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army. This was the only safe way to travel in a dangerous environment in northern Uganda. The helicopter was hired from a commercial company in Kenya as the cheapest option available at the time and cost £126,347 (funds used were from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool). For safety reasons, DfID Sierra Leone also uses helicopters to transfer aid workers from Freetown to the local airport.
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Interpreters
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support the interpreting profession's initiative to bring forward proposals for a national call centre for interpreters, similar to that used by police for duty solicitors; and [HL7814]
What guidelines have been or are being established to ensure that, as far as possible, only qualified interpreters are used within the criminal justice system; what percentage usage of qualified interpreters would be regarded as good practice; and how the guidelines set up in the new interpreter's working agreement will be monitored.[HL7815]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) is currently leading a cross-agency review of the 2002 national agreement on arrangements for the attendance of interpreters in investigations and proceedings within the criminal justice system.
The guidance contained in that agreement already makes clear that interpreters working in a court or a police station should, wherever possible, be registered with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) or the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People.
If, in an individual case, it is not possible to select an interpreter from these registers, checks should be carried out to ensure that the interpreter selected meets standards at least equal to those required for registration. This is the recommended good practice standard.
However, we are aware that there are shortages of interpreters in some languages and in some parts of the country. Rural areas may face particular difficulties in finding qualified interpreters compared with metropolitan areas, which usually have a more cosmopolitan population. These are difficult issues which the review is looking into.
Monitoring of interpreter usage is one of the issues being considered in the current review. However, a national call centre for interpreters is not one of the options under consideration. We believe there are other ways of addressing current problems in interpreter provision.
Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their assessment of the capacity of United Kingdom military forces to contribute sufficient numbers of combat troops for peacekeeping duties in both Iraq and Afghanistan.[HL8039]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The assessment of the requirements for military forces in overseas theatres is kept under constant review, as is the capacity of the Armed Forces to meet that requirement. The current requirement is assessed as challenging but manageable.
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Iraq: Supply of Weapons
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What weapons they have supplied to the Government of Iraq for the use of Iraqi security forces; and on what terms the weapons were supplied.[HL8074]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The following weapons have been supplied by HMG to the Iraqi Government for use by the Iraqi security forces following Operation TELIC:
438 x Underslung grenade launchers for AK47
774 x Medium machine guns (PKMs)
1,150 x Light machine guns (RPKs)
The following weapons are awaiting delivery but have been approved to be supplied to the Iraqi Government for use by the Iraqi security forces:
These weapons have been gifted to the Iraqi Government. Prior to gifting, a minute was laid before Parliament to inform Parliament of HMG’s intention to supply these weapons.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have recorded and retained the serial numbers or other identification information in respect of any weapons or other military material supplied to the Government of Iraq.[HL8075]
Lord Drayson: Identification information for most military equipment supplied to the Iraqi Government by HMG following Operation TELIC has been recorded and retained. This includes the serial numbers of the weapons supplied. However no specific identifiers have been retained for equipment such as individual helmets and individual pairs of boots that have been supplied to the Iraqi security forces.
Iraq: Troop Morale
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
What evidence they have to support the statement by the Lord Drayson on 1 November that morale among British forces in Iraq has improved by 14 per cent since March; and, if the statement was based on a survey or opinion poll, whether they will place the full questionnaire, sample selection, data and results in the Library of the House.[HL8093]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): I welcome this opportunity to correct a data point in my answer to Lord Craig of Radley in the Question on Iraq on 1 November. The percentage increase of 14 per cent in soldiers' morale that I quoted from information briefed to me by the department was not correct. The correct figure is 16.7 per cent. The percentage of soldiers in the Army who recorded their morale as “high or very high” in the 2006 attitude survey is 49 per cent, a 16.7 per cent increase on the 2005 figure of 42 per cent.
These figures are derived from the single-services' continuous attitude surveys which are available in the Library of the House and are also available on the MoD FoI website. The latest versions were released on 31 October 2006.
Libya: Gaddafi Development Foundation
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Gaddafi Development Foundation is sufficiently independent to qualify as a monitoring body in relation to the memorandum of understanding signed with Libya.[HL8113]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The Government believe that the Gaddafi Development Foundation (GDF) will carry out its functions as a monitoring body independently and effectively. Both the Libyan and British Governments have undertaken to support the monitoring body's full and unrestricted implementation of its terms of reference.
The GDF is the largest and most experienced non-governmental organisation in Libya. It has been operating since 1998. It frequently adopts public positions which are distinct from those of the Libyan authorities; for example, in its work on the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff accused in 1999 of deliberately spreading HIV in a children's hospital in Benghazi. The British Government have undertaken to provide capacity-building assistance which the GDF may request in preparation for carrying out its monitoring role. The GDF has so far identified a need for training in forensic medicine and on the application of international human rights law. The Government are making arrangements for such training to take place.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the independence and suitability of the Gaddafi Foundation for Development as an independent monitor for the memorandum of understanding signed with Libya.[HL8114]
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Lord Triesman: The Government believe that the Gaddafi Development Foundation (GDF) will carry out its functions as a monitoring body independently and effectively. Both the Libyan and British Governments have undertaken to support the monitoring body's full and unrestricted implementation of its terms of reference.
The GDF is the largest and most experienced non-governmental organisation in Libya. It has been operating since 1998. It frequently adopts public positions which are distinct from those of the Libyan authorities, for example in its work on the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff accused in 1999 of deliberately spreading HN in a children's hospital in Benghazi. The British Government have undertaken to provide capacity-building assistance which the GDF may request in preparation for carrying out its monitoring role. The GDF has so far identified a need for training in forensic medicine and on the application of international human rights law; the Government are making arrangements for such training to take place.
Marine Environment
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the answer by the Lord Rooker on 31 October (HL Deb, col. 153), how his statement that English Nature requested closure because of the pink sea fan is compatible with the indication given to the Minister by English Nature that the purpose of the closure would be to prevent damage from towed fishing gear to seabed habitats and communities.[HL8108]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Like a lot of commentators on this issue, I confused the request for a stop order for specific protection purposes with a possible request to designate the area as a special area for conservation to protect the reefs and wider biodiversity. English Nature did advise that increased scalloping was having a significant impact on important reef features and it recommended the closure of 60 square miles—8 per cent—of Lyme Bay. It also provided advice that the area is the habitat of pink sea fans, ross corals and sunset corals that have been afforded protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended. However, in subsequent discussions, English Nature concentrated on the need to protect pink sea fans and the department took this on board.
After due consideration of all of the evidence produced in relation to this matter, my honourable friend the Minister for Fisheries, Mr Ben Bradshaw, concluded that a zonal solution was the most appropriate in all the circumstances to date. That afforded seven times the protection for pink sea fans that had existed under the previous voluntary agreement and the areas provided protection to over 92 per cent of the known pink sea fan sites.
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