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Written Answers
Tuesday, 9th June 1998.
Treatment of Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses: Report
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the inter-departmental review of the Treatment of Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses announced on 13 June 1997 has now been completed; and whether they propose to publish its findings.[HL2206]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The review of the Treatment of Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses has now been completed and copies of the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group, which is being published for consultation purposes, will be placed in the Library tomorrow.
National Blood Authority and NHS, Scotland
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Scottish National Health Service is affected by changes in senior appointments and in organisation being made within the National Blood Authority.[HL2075]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel): No. The National Blood Authority operates only in England and Wales.
Incontinence Services, Scotland
Lord Selkirk of Douglas asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in view of the proposal in some health boards in Scotland to exclude the supply of incontinence pads from the service provided to incontinent patients by community pharmacies, they will ensure that such pads continue to be supplied in all health board areas; and whether the discontinuance of that service would increase the costs of community pharmacies.[HL2078]
Lord Sewel: Three health boards are considering pilot schemes for integrating all aspects of the continence services provided to patients in their area. Under these schemes the needs of patients would be assessed by clinical specialists in continence, in accordance with national guidelines, giving patients improved access to products appropriate to their needs.
Arrangements for the supply of incontinence pads in other health board areas would remain unchanged.There are no direct costs to community pharmacists as a result of these proposals, although there is a potential loss of revenue in terms of dispensing fees. The purpose of the pilots is to explore the most cost-effective means of providing improved incontinence services to patients.
Disability Discrimination Act 1995: Implementation
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will implement the remaining provisions of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.[HL2204]
The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone): We have decided to implement the remaining provisions of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act in two stages.
From October 1999, service providers will have to take reasonable steps to change practices, policies or procedures which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service; provide auxiliary aids or services which would enable disabled people to use a service; and overcome physical barriers by providing a service by a reasonable alternative method.
From 2004, service providers will have to take reasonable steps to remove, alter, or provide reasonable means of avoiding physical features that make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to use a service.
In reaching our decision on the timetable for implementation, we have taken full account of advice from the National Disability Council, from organisations of and for disabled people and from business. We have also considered the responses to the 1996 consultation exercise. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities has today written to the National Disability Council asking them to review the code of practice in order to take account of the new duties on service providers. I anticipate that public consultation on the council's revised code of practice and the Government's proposals for a small number of regulations under the Act will begin no later than the beginning of August 1998 and last for three months.
We are also publishing today the analysis of the responses to the 1996 consultation exercise on the timetable for implementation. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Primary Class Sizes
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether average primary class sizes have fallen since 1 May 1997.[HL2092]
Baroness Blackstone: The average size of primary classes in maintained schools taught by one teacher was 27.7 pupils in January 1998 (provisional), compared with 27.5 in January 1997. This reflects budget decisions taken by the previous government. Average infant class sizes will fall this September as we have allocated £22 million in specific grants to local education authorities to reduce infant class sizes and £40 million for capital to build additional classrooms. This will enable schools to employ around 1,500 teachers and build an extra 600 classrooms, to the benefit of over 100,000 pupils who will be kept out of large classes.
Corporal Punishment of Children by Childminders
Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the light of their obligations under
the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and of the provision in the School Standards and Framework Bill, which extends abolition of corporal punishment to cover nursery education, the Department of Health will now withdraw the guidance in Local Authority Circular (94)23 which condones corporal punishment of children by childminders.[HL2095]
Baroness Blackstone: The Government announced in November 1997 their plans to consult on the law relating to the use of physical punishment by parents. The Government are also currently consulting on the future framework of regulatory standards for early education and daycare. The structure of the new regulatory framework will be informed by the outcome of the consultation on the law. In advance of the outcome of these consultations, the Government have no plans to withdraw the Department of Health's Circular LAC (94)23, responsibility for which has now been assumed by the Department for Education and Employment.
Marine Dredging
Lord Gregson asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What procedures apply for the authorising of marine dredging.[HL2205]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman): We have today announced the introduction of new non-statutory procedures for authorising marine dredging. They are intended to address concerns raised previously by the Crown Estate, environmental organisations and the
dredging industry about the present arrangements, and are intended as an interim arrangement until such time as statutory procedures can be introduced. The interim procedures, copies of which have been placed in the House Library, will apply in England and Wales and have been developed following extensive consultation with government departments, the Crown Estate, the dredging industry and environmental organisations. We hope that they will lead to more open and quicker consideration of applications for dredging licences, whilst still enabling full public consultation and protection of the environment.We also announced that the Government intend to introduce statutory procedures for authorising the extraction of minerals by marine dredging by March 1999. These will implement the requirements of EEC Directive 85/337/EEC (as amended by EEC Directive 11/97/EEC) on Environmental Impact Assessment in so far as it applies to the extraction of minerals by marine dredging. There will be appropriate consultation on the provisions.
Cannabis: Reports
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will make available any research
the Department of Health has commissioned into the effects of cannabis.[HL2203]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington): Reports of literature reviews addressing the following aspects have now been submitted to the Department of Health in their final form following peer review:
- Clinical and Pharmacological Aspects--Professor Heather Ashton (Newcastle University)
Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects--Dr. Andrew Johns (Institute of Psychiatry)
Therapeutic Aspects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids--Dr. Philip Robson (Oxford University)
NHS Staff: Pay Awards
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect the pay of NHS employees to increase in real terms above the levels of 1 May 1997.[HL2094]
Baroness Jay of Paddington: The Government's approach to pay is part of our wider economic strategy aimed at ensuring a future with low inflation, rising living standards and higher and stable levels of employment. Pay awards for National Health Service staff will be considered within this context.
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