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Written Answers
Tuesday, 27th October 1998.
HIV: Incidence in East Africa
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have any new evidence of a reduction in the incidence or prevalence of the HIV virus (a) in Uganda, and (b) in any other country in East Africa; and, if so, whether the reduction can be quantified.[HL3465]
Baroness Amos: In Uganda, the latest published figures (March 1998) of HIV prevalence rates reported from sentinel sites based in antenatal clinics show a consistent, if slow, decline since their peak in 1992. In urban Kampala, rates have fallen from a high of around 30 per cent. of all pregnant mothers attending clinics being positive in 1992 to around 15 per cent. in late 1997, while in rural areas the fall has been from a high of around 15 per cent. in 1992 to around 7 per cent. in late 1997. This downward trend is confirmed from a long term population-based study being conducted by the Medical Research Council in a rural area of Uganda where rates show a fall from 8.2 per cent. of the population studied being positive in 1990, to 6.9 per cent. in 1997. Early evidence also suggests a decline in prevalence in the urban areas of Kenya from 20.3 per cent. to 16.6 per cent. between 1995 and 1996, and we expect that 1997-98 figures will confirm this decline. We do not as yet have similar data for Tanzania but we are working closely with the Government of Tanzania on their response to the epidemic.
Incidence rates--that is the rate at which new infections are being acquired rather than what percentage of a population is positive--are much more difficult and costly to measure. However, evidence from the work done by the Medical Research Council in Uganda, while not reaching statistical significance, indicates that the general trend for incidence is also downwards. If true this is also good news, but there is some concern that the fall may be more pronounced in older age groups and that efforts to target preventive measures towards children and adolescents may need to be increased.
HIV in Uganda: UK Aid
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What proportion of their overseas aid expenditure in Uganda has been committed to HIV prevention, palliative care and education during the last two financial years; and whether this proportion will be maintained, or increased.[HL3466]
Baroness Amos: The UK Government take an integrated approach to their support for health improvement in Uganda. As such it is not possible to
identify all funding which supports action against a single infection. The Department for International Development's (DFID) support from bilateral funds which can be identified as specifically targeted towards prevention of HIV infection and care for people suffering with AIDS amounted to 3.5 per cent. of all development investment (around £3 million) in Uganda over 1996-97 and 1997-98. So far in 1998-99 we have spent £2.7 million on direct HIV activities. In addition to funds committed through the bilateral programme DFID has funded HIV activities carried out by NGOs through the Joint Funding Scheme and has contributed to the costs of a Medical Research Council operation based in Entebbe.While the efforts of the Government of Uganda have resulted in it being the first country to report significant and sustained falls in the prevalence rate of HIV infection, a continued national and international effort will be required to maintain this decline. We have no plans to reduce our support, although the overall proportion of our expenditure directed specifically at HIV/AIDS activities may decline as a result of our increased support for Universal Primary Education and broader-based programmes in the health and other important pro-poor sectors.
Breast Cancer Radiotherapy: Legal Aid Board Action
Lord Ironside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In respect of the Legal Aid Board's multi-party action in which plaintiffs are seeking compensation for injuries caused by radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer, whether the experts' meeting ordered to take place before the end of September to consider the continuation of legal aid in 41 of the remaining cases has reached a conclusion; and, if so, with what results.[HL3422]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The experts' meeting ordered for the end of September has not taken place as the defence experts were not ready. A rearranged date has yet to be fixed.
Lord Ironside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In respect of the Legal Aid Board's multi-party action in which plaintiffs are seeking compensation for injuries caused by radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer, on what grounds the 10 lead cases out of the total pleading in May 1998 were chosen, given that five of them were formally discontinued before trial as the alleged facts and evidence did not appear to be sustainable.[HL3423]
The Lord Chancellor: In group actions it is usual practice for lead cases to be chosen which best illustrate the issues raised by the group as a whole. As with any litigation there is always a risk that a particular case will fail on its own facts. However, I am determined in reforming legal aid to ensure that taxpayers' money should only be expended on any case that has so strong a prospect of success and clear benefit to the individual
concerned, that, if the individual was able to fund the case out of own resources, he or she would do so and accept the risk of litigation.
Lord Ironside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the net expenditure by the Legal Aid Board amounting to £2.3 million up to August 1998 in their multi-party action involving 105 plaintiffs claiming compensation for injuries caused by radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer is proportionate to the amounts recovered by the three successful litigants out of the 10 lead cases.[HL3425]
The Lord Chancellor: I cannot comment on the merits of individual cases. I am determined in reforming legal aid, however, to ensure that taxpayers' money should only be expended on any case that has so strong a prospect of success and clear benefit to the individual concerned that, if the individual was able to fund it out of own resources, he or she would do so and would accept the risk of litigation.
Lord Ironside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider the total net sum of £2.3 million stated as being spent by the Legal Aid Board up to August 1998 on cases in which plaintiffs are seeking compensation for injuries caused by the use of radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer has been an appropriate use of public money.[HL3424]
The Lord Chancellor: I cannot comment on the merits of individual cases. I am determined in reforming legal aid, however, to ensure that taxpayers' money should only be expended on any case that has so strong a prospect of success and clear benefit to the individual concerned that, if the individual was able to fund it out of own resources, he or she would do so and accept the risk of litigation.
Non-cash Vouchers: National Insurance Liability
Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the proposed extension of National Insurance contribution liability to non-cash vouchers will impact most severely on low-paid employees in small companies since employees in larger firms whose employers provide canteens will not face increased liability; and whether they will reconsider this proposal in the light of representations made by both employers and unions.[HL3441]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): The Government announced on 22 July 1997 at the Second Reading of the Social Security Bill their intention to bring non-cash vouchers into liability for Class 1 National Insurance in the same way as cash vouchers. The key principles of the proposals are to bring about greater alignment of tax and National Insurance and to bring greater fairness in the NI treatment of earnings. We are currently considering our
response to the points raised in the public consultation which ran from 14 August to 14 September. The vast majority of low paid workers do not receive luncheon vouchers and are therefore liable for National Insurance on all their earnings.Training and Enterprise Councils
Lord Dormand of Easington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect their report on Training and Enterprise Councils to be published; and whether it will contain a clarification of the councils' remit.[HL3512]
The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone): The consultation on the proposals for the operation of Training and Enterprise Councils and Chambers of Commerce, Training and Enterprise (TECs/CCTEs) ended on 30 September. We are currently considering the responses received and deciding on any changes that will result to the remit, role and operational framework for TECs/CCTEs. Once we have completed this work, we will announce the outcome of our consultation and publish new strategic guidance for TECs/CCTEs which will clarify their remit.
National Learning Targets
Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have to announce new National Learning Targets.[HL3587]
Baroness Blackstone: I shall be announcing new National Learning Targets for England tomorrow. They will cover 16 year olds, young people post-school, adults and organisations, in addition to the targets for 11 year olds already announced. Copies will be placed in the Library.
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