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Baroness Uddin asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are recruiting nurses from the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East; and, if so, what are the numbers in the National Health Service in comparison to the numbers recruited from China, Thailand and African countries.[HL3201]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: This information is not held centrally. Information on applications from nurses outside the United Kingdom for registration to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) can be found in the UKCC annual statistical analysis of the UKCC professional register. Information on the number of work permits issued to employers is available from the Overseas Labour Service.
The National Health Service Executive issued guidance on international recruitment to the service in November last year. The guidance gives NHS employers clear and authoritative policy on how they should pursue international recruitment and states that NHS employers should consider international recruitment only when its professional and service value can be clearly demonstrated and when it will have no adverse effects upon the recruit's home healthcare system. Copies are available in the Library.
Departmental Cars
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 8 June (WA 173), what type and make of cars are used by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[HL2887]
Lord Mcintosh of Haringey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not directly own any cars but leases those that it uses from the Government Car and Dispatch Agency. These are not included in this Answer. For the details I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, on 6 July, Official Report, (WA 148-49). The Royal Parks Agency does not own any cars but leases them. They are Ford Escorts, Renault Laguna Estates, Subaru Estates and Vauxhall Astra Estates.
Historic Ships
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are their plans to provide statutory safeguards for those ships which are listed by the National Historic Ships Project as either of "core collection" or "designated" status; and[HL3098]
What are their plans to provide financial support for the conservation of those ships which are listed by the National Historic Ships Project as either of "core collection" or "designated" status.[HL3099]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There are no plans to provide statutory safeguards for those ships which are listed by the National Historic Ships Project as either of "core collection" or "designated" status. While the Government recognise the importance of historic ships to our heritage, we are not convinced that the extension of statutory protection to them is either necessary or appropriate.
Her Majesty's Government do not provide direct financial support for the conservation of historic ships other than through the provision of grant-in-aid to those museums, funded by my department, which hold historic vessels as part of their collections. However, since 1995 the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded grants totalling nearly £7 million for the support of historic ships.
UK Dog Owners in Germany
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What they are doing to assist United Kingdom citizens in Germany who, in the light of a media campaign against certain breeds of dog, are seeking to bring their dogs back to the United Kingdom in order to protect them.[HL3187]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman): Pet owners in Europe are free to bring their dogs to the UK if they wish. Those dogs which meet the conditions of the Pet Travel Scheme may enter the UK without going into quarantine; other dogs will have to undergo six months' quarantine. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 the following types of dog may not be brought
into the country: pit bull terrier; Japanese tosa; Dogo Argentino; and Fila Braziliero.Joint Committee on Human Rights
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to propose to both Houses of Parliament the terms of reference of the Joint Committee on Human Rights.[HL2960]
The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington): We are currently consulting on the proposed joint committee through the usual channels. We will table the proposed terms of reference as soon as those consultations are complete.
Legislative Programme
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the context of the current Session of Parliament, they consider that the Legislative Programme Committee of the Cabinet has performed satisfactorily.[HL3127]
Baroness Jay of Paddington: It is a longstanding policy of this and previous administrations not to comment on the operation of Cabinet or its committees.
Council of Europe and WEU: Changes in Composition of Delegation
Viscount Simon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there are any changes in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union.[HL3226]
Baroness Jay of Paddington: The honourable Member for Ruislip Northwood (Mr Wilkinson) has been appointed as a representative in place of the late Michael Colvin.
NMEC: Advice of Accounting Officer
Baroness Blatch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When and by whom the sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) was made aware of the advice of the Accounting Officer to the Millennium Commission that a further grant to the NMEC would not represent value for money; and what representations, if any, the sole shareholder made about the further use of lottery money.[HL2805]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): While officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) who support me in my role as sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) had been informed about the advice the Millennium Commission might give to the Millennium Commissioners, I did not know what the advice from the accounting officer was to be before the meeting on 21 May. After the meeting I was told by officials of the DCMS what advice had been given and what decision had been taken. I made no representation to the Millennium Commission about the use of lottery money in connection with the application, though I had discussed the subject informally with individual commissioners.
Strategic Communications Unit
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the use of party political slogans in the communications of the Strategic Communications Unit to government departments would (a) affect the unit's political impartiality; and (b) represent an appropriate use of taxpayers' money.[HL3043]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: All communications from the Strategic Communications Unit comply with Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service.
Millennium Dome: Distributionof Sale Proceeds
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 23 June (WA 49) about the proportion of the proceeds of sale from the Millennium Dome site that will be split between the New Millennium Company and English Partnerships, what factors will be taken into consideration when determining the division of proceeds; and what priority will be given to those factors.[HL3048]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The recommended decision on the division of proceeds will be taken by
Ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), HM Treasury, and myself. In taking this decision Ministers will receive information and advice from the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), English Partnerships, the Millennium Commission, and officials in their respective Departments. This will include information about the nature of the preferred bid, including the associated financial offer and the land and other assets required. Such information will be taken into account in deciding how the proceeds of the sale will be divided between NMEC and EP.Welsh Assembly: Draft Protocolon Primary Legislation
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 8 May (WA 216), what is the latest position with regard to the draft protocol on primary legislative procedure discussed at the National Assembly for Wales on 2 February; and whether they will place a copy of the protocol in the Library of the House.[HL3134]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The protocol is still being considered in the light of the experience of this Session. When it is agreed with the Assembly, Her Majesty's Government will place a copy in the Library of the House.
Departmental Cars
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 14 June (WA 203) on the type and make of cars used by the Welsh Office, what types, makes and number of cars are supplied to the Welsh Office by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.[HL3154]
Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: I refer the noble Lord to the response given by Lord Falconer on 6 July 2000 (col. WA 148). Further details of the cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the Wales Office cannot be disclosed for security reasons.
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