| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Marine Spatial Planning
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support the concept of marine spatial planning; and whether they envisage involving regional and local authorities in such a system.[HL8030]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): In 2005, the Labour Party manifesto committed to introduce a new framework for the seas based on marine spatial planning. The Government remain very supportive of this concept, which we plan to take forward through a marine Bill.
It will be important that regional and local authorities are involved in such a system to ensure that new marine proposals are integrated with planning processes on land. This is being considered as part of policy development, following the outcome of a public consultation which is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/marinebill/index.htm.
Music: DCMS Research
Lord Colwyn asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the current research by Ipsos-MORI, which was commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will be published.[HL8136]
Lord Davies of Oldham: We intend to publish the Ipsos-MORI live music licensing research report in December.
Music: Licensing
Lord Colwyn asked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of pubs, bars and restaurants have received live music permission since the coming into force of the Licensing Act 2003.[HL8138]
Lord Davies of Oldham: We do not hold this information centrally.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in association with the Live Music Forum, has contracted Ipsos-MORI to carry out a survey of success by smaller venues in securing authorisation to stage live music under the new licensing regime. We expect the findings to give an indication of the proportion of pubs, bars and restaurants which have secured permission to stage live music under the Licensing Act 2003. We intend to release the findings from this survey on the department’s website in December 2006.
8 Nov 2006 : Column WA193
Music: MORI Poll
Lord Colwyn asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the follow-up survey to the 2004 MORI poll into live music, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, will be commissioned.[HL8137]
Lord Davies of Oldham: We intend to contract an organisation early next year in order to carry out the follow-up survey in the summer of 2007.
Nepal: DfID Programmes
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which cancelled or deferred Department for International Development programmes in Nepal have been resumed since April 2006; and what are the revised budgets under the country programmes for 2005—06 and 2006—07.[HL7999]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): Following the takeover by King Gyanendra in February 2005, DfID programmes in support of the police, prison service and Prime Minister's office were withdrawn and have not been reinstated.
DfID is currently reviewing its programme and strategic objectives in Nepal to ensure that its support takes full account of the changing political and conflict context. The case for reinstating cancelled programmes will be examined as part of this broader review.
A review of the Nepal programme following the takeover by the King set planning figures for the country programme of £32 million in 2005-06 and £30 million in 2006-07. In June 2006, DfID Ministers increased the 2006-07 planning figure to £33 million.
NHS: Pathology Testing
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their latest estimate of the national annual cost of pathology testing carried out in National Health Service primary care trusts.[HL7442]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The Department of Health does not collect information centrally about the national annual cost of pathology testing carried out in National Health Service primary care trusts (PCTs). However, the total cost of direct access pathology services—that is, pathology services requested by general practitioners for patients in primary care—provided by PCTs in 2004-05, as reported in 2004-05 reference costs, is £2.25 million. The overwhelming majority of pathology tests are carried out in hospitals.
8 Nov 2006 : Column WA194
Northern Ireland: Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Budget
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
By how much the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has been underspent in each of the past five years.[HL8043]
Lord Rooker: The information requested is contained in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure resource accounts for the years 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 which have been laid before the Houses of Parliament.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What cutbacks they envisage in the budget of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as a result of the creation of the Transitional Fund for Festivals in 2006.[HL8044]
Lord Rooker: No cutbacks are envisaged in the budget of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as a result of transitional funding for festivals in 2006.
Northern Ireland: Festivals
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to offer training to those in Northern Ireland who organise community festivals.[HL8047]
Lord Rooker: Training for festival organisers is an integral part of the support delivered through the Community Festivals Fund administered by the Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC).
Parliamentary Ombudsman
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 May (WA 65), where the information is held indicating on how many occasions since 1997 the Home Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and how members of the public may have access to that information; and [HL6054]
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 May (WA 65), whether the Home Office will in future hold information about the department's compliance with the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendations in a way which permits public access to that information.[HL6055]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The complete information requested is not currently held centrally within the Home Office and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
8 Nov 2006 : Column WA195
In terms of the future, the Home Office will look at better ways of collating and making available information about recommendations made by the Parliamentary Ombudsman following its investigations in a way which is commensurate with the ombudsman's own publication procedures. We will be in touch with the ombudsman about this and I will write to the noble Lord with details of our proposals.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the reason for the delay in answering the Question for Written Answer by the Lord Lester of Herne Hill (HL6054) on the information held regarding the number of occasions since 1997 when the Home Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and [HL7075]
What is the reason for the delay in answering the Question for Written Answer by the Lord Lester of Herne Hill (HL6055) on whether the Home Office will in future hold information about the department’s compliance with the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s recommendations in a way which permits public access to that information.[HL7076]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The complete information requested is not currently held centrally within the Home Office and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman itself publishes a range of information about its investigations. For example, in terms of its role in examining access to official information, the Ombudsman’s report of May 2005 (Monitoring of the Non-Statutory Codes of Practice 1994-2005 (Access to Official Information)) shows that between 1994 and 2005 the Home Office was subject to 18 investigations. Of those investigations, the ombudsman found that in one instance the department has failed to comply with its recommendations.
In terms of the future, the Home Office will look at better ways of collating and making available information about recommendations made by the Parliamentary Ombudsman following its investigations, in a way which is commensurate with the ombudsman’s own publication procedures. We will be in touch with the ombudsman about this and I will write to the noble Lord with details of our proposals.
Pollution
Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made an estimate of the numbers of premature deaths each week during the past five years caused by air pollution, and in particular air pollution caused by road traffic.[HL8086]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The numbers of premature deaths attributed to air pollution are not routinely estimated on a weekly basis. It is not possible to identify individual patients affected by air pollution. The link between air
8 Nov 2006 : Column WA196
Air pollution is associated with adverse health effects. An assessment carried out for the review of the air quality strategy1 estimated that the level of man-made particulate air pollution experienced in the UK in 2005 would be expected to reduce average life expectancy by up to about eight months. This health impact in 2005 is estimated to cost up to £9 billion to £21.4 billion per annum. Road transport will contribute to these effects.
Ozone and particulate matter are long-range pollutants which may travel hundreds of miles before reaching the UK. Particulate matter does have a local component, and local road transport contributes a proportion of this. For ozone, local road transport emissions actually reduce peak levels in cities due to the destruction of ozone in reaction with vehicle emissions.
The Department of Health's Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) quantification sub-group, in its report The quantification of the effects of air pollution on health in the United Kingdom, estimated in 19982 the number of deaths brought forward due to short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM10), ozone and sulphur dioxide as up to 24,000 per year.
Assuming that around a quarter of the PM103 in urban areas is due directly or indirectly to emissions from transport, as a rough estimate it can be assumed that up to around 2,000 deaths brought forward in urban areas may have been related to emissions from transport at that time.
This estimate does not include the impact of transport emissions on life expectancy and on cardiovascular admissions. These were not quantified by COMEAP at the time of the 1998 report. Further work on this issue is likely to be considered as part of the work of the COMEAP sub-group on quantification.
Estimates are made for intense pollution episodes. For example, an estimate was made for the summer smog episode in August 20034. Some 220 to 570 deaths were estimated to have been brought forward over the two-week period due to ozone and a further 202 due to particulate matter (PM10). A report and estimate is also being produced on the summer smog episodes during the June and July 2006 heatwave. This will be available in due course.
- 1 Defra (2006) The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—volume 1. A consultation document for further improvements in air quality.
- 3 This includes PM10 derived directly from road, rail, aircraft and ships and PM10 derived indirectly from NOx transport emissions from the UK and Europe. It excludes sources such as coarse dust, sea salt, and emissions from industry.
- 4 Stedman, J.R., (2003) The predicted number of air pollution related deaths in the UK during the August 2003 heatwave. Atmospheric Environment.
8 Nov 2006 : Column WA197
Prisoners: Gender Balance
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 9 October (WA 94) concerning the imbalance in the number of men and women in prison, whether they have any evidence concerning any difference between men and women in their propensity to commit crime.[HL8116]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Information on the extent and nature of offending in England and Wales, including those aged 10 to 65, is published in the Home Office Research Study 275, Offending in England and Wales: First results from the 2003 Crime and Justice Survey, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and the Home Office website at: www.homeoffce.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hors275.pdf.
The results from the 2003 survey show that overall, among people aged 10 to 65, males were almost twice as likely to report committing an offence in the last year as females (13 per cent versus 7 per cent). Separate figures are not available for adults.
Prisons: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty’s Government:
How many people are held in corrective institutions in Northern Ireland; and what is that number as a percentage of the total capacity available in those institutions.[HL7916]
Lord Rooker: On 25 October, 1,476 people were held in Northern Ireland Prison Service establishments. This represents 108 per cent of the male and 68 per cent of the female accommodation available for each category—these figures are reflected in doubling up by a proportion of male prisoners and young offenders.
Prisons: Vulnerable People
Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the statement by the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 20 July (HC Deb, col. 473) that vulnerable women and those for whom mental health treatment would be more appropriate should not be in prison, what plans they have to achieve that result.[HL7595]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Under the Mental Health Act 1983 the courts have powers to assess mentally disordered offenders before sentencing and to divert them to receive specialist treatment in hospital rather than punishment. In 2004, 1,195 convicted offenders were diverted from prison to hospital by this route. In addition, in 2005-06 the Secretary of State directed
8 Nov 2006 : Column WA198
The Home Office and the Department of Health are also working together on a national development programme for extending offender health support. The programme aims to ensure that offenders’ health and social care needs are identified and addressed in the most appropriate way, including diversion from the criminal justice system where this is appropriate.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |