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Written Answers
Wednesday, 4th November 1998.
Community Gardens in Urban Areas
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What consideration is being given to promoting the development of community gardens in densely populated and environmentally impoverished areas; and whether they accept the environmental and health benefits of community gardening schemes.[HL3621]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty): The Government acknowledge the environmental and health benefits of community gardens, including the contribution which they can make to the provision of green spaces in urban areas. Planning Policy Guidance 3: Housing (PPG3) will be revised shortly, and will reflect the need for appropriate levels of amenity and recreational space.
Towns and Cities: Policies
Lord Gladwin of Clee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they intend to take forward their policies for towns and cities.[HL3504]
Lord Whitty: The Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee Report on Housing (Tenth Report Session 1997-98) recommended that there should be an Urban White Paper.
We have announced that we intend to produce a White Paper on Urban Policy next year, which will be the first such paper in 20 years. This will describe the Government's policies to improve the quality of life in our towns and cities. We will look at the combined effect of a wide range of issues, with the aim of enabling communities in our towns and cities to prosper, and to tackle problems such as social exclusion. We will consider policies on, for example, housing, competitiveness, delivery of public services, regional development, planning, transport, community involvement and sustainable development. We will also link in with work being taken forward by other departments on issues such as education, training and crime reduction--all of which are essential to enabling communities to achieve their full potential.
The Government's proposals to reform local government and to establish Regional Development Agencies will create the framework to implement our policies and achieve prosperity for our communities.
The Urban Task Force, led by Lord Rogers, and the work undertaken by the coalfields task force has already started the debate on urban issues. We now intend to broaden it further and engage more groups and organisations.
Of course, vibrant and attractive towns and cities complement thriving rural areas. We will separately be paying special attention to the specific issues affecting rural areas and will be making an announcement on this shortly.
NHS Administrators: Redundancies
Lord Hayhoe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many non-medically qualified administrators have been made redundant from the NHS since May 1997.[HL3634]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman): This information is not available centrally. Decisions on redundancy are a matter for individual employers. However, it is important to ensure that, wherever possible, the skills, knowledge and commitment of staff are not lost to the National Health Service. We expect employers to act in accordance with good human resource employment practice and to comply with existing legislation. These principles should also help to ensure that recourse to redundancy is only a last resort.
Medicines Control Agency: Herbal, Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What criteria are used by the Medicines Control Agency in assessing whether a blend of herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements should be classified as a medicine; whether it is the practice of the agency to provide to manufacturers of such blends a clear statement as to their reasons for judging such a product a medicine; and, if not, why not.[HL3646]
Baroness Hayman: In assessing whether a product is a medicine, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has regard to the definition of a medicinal product found in Pharmaceutical Directive 65/65/EEC. It also has regard to legal precedent, and its guidance, (including assessment criteria), which it has published in its Leaflet MAL 8: "A guide to what is a medicinal product". On a case-by-case basis, the agency decides whether a product is presented for treating or preventing disease, or may be administered with a view to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions in humans.
When notifying a manufacturer that it has classified a product as a medicinal product, the MCA explains the grounds for its decision.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in assessing the status of a blend of herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements, the Medicines Control Agency gives consideration to
the availability of that blend on general retail sale in other member states of the European Union.[HL3647]
Baroness Hayman: Judgments of the European Court of Justice have confirmed that it is for the national authorities in each member state to determine, subject to review by the courts, whether a product is a medicinal product. A recent United Kingdom Court of Appeal judgment decided that at this stage of the development of the European Community, complete harmonisation is not possible and each member state's relevant authorities have to be allowed a margin of appreciation in reaching a conclusion. The Medicines Control Agency regards a product's status in other member states as a relevant factor when coming to a decision on its classification in the United Kingdom.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why a product containing a blend of herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements requires a medicines product licence when the different elements of that blend could each be sold separately under food law without such a licence.[HL3648]
Baroness Hayman: A product containing a blend of herbs, vitamins and minerals whose different elements could be sold separately under food law is not considered a medicinal product by the Medicines Control Agency unless it is presented for treating or preventing disease or it may be administered with a view to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions in humans. However, where a herbal product--whether or not it includes non-herbal substances--is classified as a medicinal product it will be subject to medicines legislation. Herbal remedies, accordingly, require a marketing authorisation unless they are exempt from licensing under the terms of Section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968. Section 132 of the Act makes it clear that the exemption for herbal remedies does not extend to products which contain active non-herbal substances.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are aware of any representations received by the Medicines Control Agency in respect of recent contested decisions to classify products containing safe herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements as medicines requiring a product licence.[HL3649]
Baroness Hayman: The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has received representations against determinations it has made that certain products containing herbs, vitamins and minerals were medicinal products and licensable. Because they are unlicensed, the MCA has not assessed their safety, quality and efficacy in terms of medicines law.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have any plans to issue further guidance to the Medicines Control Agency about the classification of products containing blends of herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements.[HL3650]
Baroness Hayman: The Medicines Control Agency acts on behalf of the Licensing Authority in accordance with the Medicines Act 1968. The agency classifies products on a case-by-case basis in accordance with European Community and United Kingdom law, legal precedent and published guidance, and there are no plans to change this.
Territorial Army
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that 45,000 is the minimum strength at which the Territorial Army can operate efficiently; and[HL3573]
How, if a large part of the Territorial Army infantry is disbanded, the Regular Army will be reinforced for operations; and [HL3574]
Whether the Regular Army of 116,000 could be reinforced and units regenerated in times of national and international crisis with a Territorial Army below the strength of 45,000; and, if so, how.[HL3577]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert): The Strategic Defence Review defined the missions that the Armed Forces should be able to undertake, and the various scales of effort that we should be able to contribute to those missions over and above those required for day-to-day commitments such as Northern Ireland.
Taking account of the readiness requirements and other planning assumptions, the Strategic Defence Review identified a total requirement for the Territorial Army, including infantry, of around 40,000.
Both the Territorial Army and the Regular Reserves will be used to regenerate the Regular Army as required.
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