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Incapacity Benefit Tracking Study

Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): Two research projects are being conducted into people leaving Incapacity Benefit. The first is the Tracking Study, which is being carried out by the department in-house using administrative records. The second is a large scale survey carried out for the department by the Policy Studies Institute. We plan to publish the reports of both research projects in the autumn. Habitual Residence Test: Review

Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:

3 Sept 1998 : Column WA54

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Work on the review of the habitual residence test is ongoing. However we wish to take account of all relevant evidence and information before drawing any conclusions. This clearly needs to include the outcome of litigation which could have a significant impact on the scope for reform of the test, such as the case of Mr. Robin Swaddling currently under consideration by the European Court of Justice. We expect to bring forward our recommendations later this year. Report: No Entry: The Single Room Rent and Youth Homelessness

Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will study the report No Entry: The Single Room Rent and Youth Homelessness by Adam Chugg for the National Rent Deposit Forum, in association with the Catholic Housing Aid Association.[HL3194]

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Yes. We intend to study all the available evidence on the impact of the Single Room Rent restriction before taking decisions on the way forward. Scottish Herring Fishing Industry

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What steps they propose to take on the regulation of the Scottish herring fishing industry as a result of the recent decision at Lerwick Sheriff Count that it is unlawful to ban a boat from fishing both in western waters, west of the four degree line and in the North Sea, east of the four degree line, on the same fishing trip.[HL2947]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel): Fisheries departments do not accept that they have acted in contravention of EU law and an appeal against the decision has been lodged. The existing licensing arrangements for herring fisheries will continue to apply, and be enforced, until the outcome of the appeal is known. Infectious Salmon Anaemia

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:

    How many fish farming sites have notified an outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia.[HL2948]

Lord Sewel: The presence of infectious salmon anaemia has been confirmed on eight sites, three in Loch Creran, two in Loch Nevis, two in Loch Linnhe and one in Loch Snizort.

In two instances the fish farm operator notified the Scottish Office that he suspected the disease; in all

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other cases it has been confirmed as a result of official surveillance and laboratory testing.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they have established the source of infectious salmon anaemia; and, if so, what is the source so identified.[HL2951]

Lord Sewel: The source has not yet been identified. An investigation, as required by European disease control legislation, is under way.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether there is any evidence that infectious salmon anaemia can spread from farmed salmon to wild salmon.[HL2988]

Lord Sewel: Wild salmon populations are potentially susceptible to infectious salmon anaemia in the same way as farmed salmon; the disease may therefore be transmitted in either direction.

There are no known cases of infectious salmon anaemia in wild salmon. However, the effects of diseases on wild populations are difficult to determine because unhealthy fish are normally rapidly removed by predation. There is no experimental evidence that sea trout can carry the ISA virus without being affected by the disease and that sea trout carriers can infect salmon. ISA and Gyrodactylus Salaris: Outbreaks

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will list those countries where there have been outbreaks of (a) infectious salmon anaemia and (b) gyrodactylus salaris.[HL2991]

Lord Sewel: Infectious salmon anaemia has previously been confirmed in Norway and Canada. Gyrodactylus salaris has been recorded in Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, Spain and Portugal. Edinburgh Castle Great Hall: Fund-Raising Events

Lord Ewing of Kirkford asked Her Majesty's Government:

    How many applications were received during the course of 1998 from charities requesting the use of the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle to hold a fund-raising charity event.[HL3111]

Lord Sewel: Since 1 January 1998 requests have been received from five charities seeking approval to use the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle. Two of these applications relate to this financial year and three relate to 1999-2000.

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Lord Ewing of Kirkford asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will publish in the Official Report a list of the charities granted the use of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle to hold a fund-raising event; together with the dates of the events.[HL3112]

Lord Sewel: The information requested is provided in the following table:

OrganisationDate of function
Shelter3 March 1997
Riding for the Disabled10 October 1997
Leukaemia and Cancer Children's Fund17 October 1997
Edinburgh International Festival6 November 1997
Barnardo's27 November 1997
British Heart Foundation28 November 1997
Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals15 May 1998
Leonard Cheshire FoundationDate to be arranged
Carers National AssociationDate to be arranged
The Royal Blind Asylum and SchoolDate to be arranged
Cancer Research Campaign, ScotlandDate to be arranged
Marie Curie Cancer CareDate to be arranged

Lord Ewing of Kirkford asked Her Majesty's Government:

    On what date each successful applicant for the use of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle submitted its application to hold a fund-raising event for charity; and on what date they were advised that their application had been granted.[HL3113]

Lord Sewel: The information requested is provided in the following table:

OrganisationDate of applicationDate of approval
Shelter18 November 19966 February 1997
Riding for the Disabled3 December 199617 March 1997
Leukaemia and Cancer Children's Fund27 January 199717 March 1997
Edinburgh International Festival13 January 199721 March 1997
Barnardo's26 February 199717 March 1997
British Heart Foundation2 December 199617 March 1997
Leonard Cheshire20 December 199617 March 1997
The Royal Blind Asylum and School11 March 199717 March 1997
Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals16 December 199617 March 1997
Cancer Research Campaign, Scotland19 January 199717 March 1997
Carers National Association3 April 199722 July 1998
Marie Curie Cancer Care8 May 199822 July 1998

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Lord Ewing of Kirkford asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will publish in the Official Report a list of organisations whose application to have the use of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle to hold a fund-raising event for charity was refused.[HL3114]

Lord Sewel: Those organisations which made an application which on that occasion was unsuccessful are:


    YMCA Scotland


    The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals


    Birdlife International


    Strathallan School


    Marie Curie Cancer Care


    The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society


    Tenovus Scotland


    National Art Collection Fund


    Brahmar Kumaris


    Scottish Adoption Association


    St. Columba's Hospice


    National Meningitis Fund


    Children in Scotland


    Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust

Lord Ewing of Kirkford asked Her Majesty's Government:

    On what date each unsuccessful applicant for the use of the Great hall of Edinburgh Castle submitted its application to hold a fund-raising event for charity; and on what date they were advised that their application had been refused.[HL3115]

Lord Sewel: The information requested is provided in the following table:

OrganisationDate of applicationDate of refusal

YMCA Scotland14 January 199714 March 1997

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals23 January 199714 March 1997

Birdlife

International4 February 199714 March 1997

Strathallan School21 February 199717 March 1997

Marie Curie Cancer Care27 February 199717 March 1997

The Royal Scottish

Country Dance Society28 February 199725 March 1997

Tenovus Scotland5 May 199722 July 1998

National Art Collection29 July 199722 July 1998

Brahmar Kumaras14 September

199722 July 1998

Scottish Adoption Society31 October 199722 July 1998

St. Columba's Hospice6 November 199722 July 1998

National Meningitis Fund18 November

199722 July 1998

Children in Scotland28 November

199722 July 1998

Edinburgh Sick Childrens NHS Trust25 May 199822 July 1998


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