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Northern Ireland: Arrests under Anti-terrorism Legislation
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many persons have been detained in Northern Ireland under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Emergency Provisions [Northern Ireland] Act in each of the last five years; and how many of those detained were subsequently charged with offences, specifying scheduled and ordinary offences.[HL3693]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Dubs): The table below shows the number of persons arrested under Section 14 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act and Sections 18 and 19 of the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts in each of the last five years.
| Year | PTA Section 14 Arrests | EPA Section 18and 19 Arrests | Total persons charged with terrorist/serious public order type offences* |
| 1993 | 1,641 | 86 | 372 |
| 1994 | 1,503 | 53 | 349 |
| 1995 | 443 | 0 | 440 |
| 1996 | 569 | 7 | 595 |
| 1997 | 504 | 23 | 405 |
* Includes persons arrested under PACE.
Bowes Museum
Lord Freyberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 17 March (H.L. Deb., col. 567), whether the director of the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, Mr. Richard Foster, has published his review of the Bowes Museum; and, if so, whether they will place a copy of the review in the Library of the House.[HL3707]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There are no plans to publish Mr. Foster's review of the Bowes Museum. I shall arrange for a copy of the review to be placed in the Libraries of the House, together with a copy of the joint response of Durham County Council and my
department. Material which was supplied in confidence, or which is otherwise confidential, will not be included.Manchester Health Authority Revenue Allocation 1999-2000
Lord Dean of Beswick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Answer by the Lord Clinton-Davis on 11 November (WA 105) relating to Health Authority Revenue Allocations 1999-2000, why Manchester Health Authority has received a smaller percentage increase than Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield or Liverpool, despite the fact that statistics show that in most cases Manchester has a higher death rate than the other four areas.[HL3857]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman): Allocations to health authorities reflect:
- (a) their existing level of resources (what they already have); and
- (b) their target fair share of resources (what they should have).
Of the health authorities mentioned, Manchester was the most over target and therefore received the smallest increase of the five.
Medicines Control Agency: Herbal and Vitamin Preparations
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Hayman on 4 November (WA 44-45), whether the process by which the Medicines Control Agency reaches a conclusion as to whether a blend of herbs and vitamins is a medicine involves consultation with scientific experts; and if so, which ones.[HL3868]
Baroness Hayman: Where the functionality of a product is a factor in whether it should be classified as a medicine, the Medicines Control Agency takes advice from its medical and pharmaceutical assessors.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Hayman on 4 November (WA 44-45), by what means the Medicines Control Agency notifies a manufacturer of its decision to class a product as a medicine; in what format the reasons for that decision are set out; and whether the absence of such stated reasons would invalidate such a decision in law.[HL3869]
Baroness Hayman: When the Medicines Control Agency notifies a manufacturer of a decision to classify a product as a medicine, it does so in writing, setting
out the reasons for its decision. To do otherwise would infringe principles of natural justice. Failure to give reasons does not, however, automatically invalidate a decision. To date, the decision-making process has been conducted on an administrative basis, but the Government now propose to place it on a statutory footing.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Hayman on 4 November (WA 44-45), whether the Court of Appeal judgment to which they refer was the recent case involving melatonin, which is licensed as a medicine in most other European Union member states; and why, if so, they deem this case relevant to cases of herbal and vitamin blends which are sold under food, not medicines, law in many other member states.[HL3870]
Baroness Hayman: The judgment referred to involved melatonin. The court recognised that it is for national authorities, subject to review by the courts, to determine on a case by case basis the classification of each product, and that, at this stage of the development of the Community, complete harmonisation is not possible. This applies to all products irrespective of their ingredients. The Medicines Control Agency considers each case on its merits, applying the tests of whether a product is a medicinal product set out in the Pharmaceutical Directive 65/65.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have any plans to meet with representatives of DGIII and DGXV of the European Commission to discuss consumers' right to have access to safe herbal and vitamin blends under food law within the European Union Single Market.[HL3871]
Baroness Hayman: There are no immediate plans to do so.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Medicines Control Agency intends to commence its forthcoming consultation exercise about its intention more rigorously to enforce the Medicines Act in relation to herbal remedies and herbal and vitamin blends; what form that consultation will take; whether the consultation will include Consumers for Health Choice; and whether, until that exercise is completed, the Agency will refrain from taking unilateral enforcement action against safe herbal and vitamin blends.[HL3872]
Baroness Hayman: The Medicines Control Agency's consultation package was issued on 6 November, seeking responses by 31 December. Copies have been placed in the Library. It proposes to put the decision-making process for classifying borderline products on to a statutory basis. Organisations consulted include "Consumers for Health Choice". In order to protect public health, the agency will continue on behalf of the licensing authority to ensure that, as the law requires, only medicinal products which are licensed, or exempt from licensing, are placed on the United Kingdom market.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Lord McColl of Dulwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- For each year from 1993 to 1997, how many patients on hospital waiting lists had been waiting for longer than (a) 12 months, and (b) 18 months; and what are the corresponding figures for 1998.[HL3833]
Baroness Hayman: The available information is given in the table.
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | |||||||
| No. of Months | Over 12 | Over 18 | Over 12 | Over 18 | Over 12 | Over 18 | Over 12 | Over 18 | Over 12 | Over 18 | Over 12 | Over 18 |
| England | 71,022 | 6,527 | 62,341 | 4,481 | 27,938 | 43 | 14,993 | 25 | 57,666 | 794 | 63,480 | 0 |
| Wales | N/A | N/A | 6,520 | 1,649 | 5,246 | 872 | 5,303 | 999 | 6,547 | 1,670 | 9,429 | 3,304 |
| Scotland | N/A | N/A | 2,136 | 174 | 1,197 | 29 | 416 | 3 | 235 | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Northern Ireland | N/A | N/A | 4,130 | 1,592 | 2,507 | 849 | 4,474 | 1,698 | 10,637 | 5,466 | 8,563 | 5,679 |
General Notes:
1. Data for September 1998 are provisional. September 1993 data are not comparable.
Specific Notes:
2. Scottish information excludes guarantee exceptions, repeat and deferred waiting lists. Scottish information for 30 September 1998 is not yet available.