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Tobacco Advertising and Promotion: Ban
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to introduce a Bill on the advertising of tobacco products.[HL70]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): A Bill to ban tobacco advertising and promotion will be introduced as soon as the Parliamentary timetable allows.
Doctors and Nurses: Recruitment
Lord Shore of Stepney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many of the extra 20,000 nurses and 10,000 doctors that they propose to attract to the National Health Service they estimate will be trained in the United Kingdom; and how many will be recruited from doctors and nurses trained and working abroad.[HL76]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath; Much of the growth in the workforce will be delivered from the increase in doctors and nurses in training. There are over 6,000 more nurse training places and 820 more doctors in the registrar group than there were in 1997. Recruitment and retention initiatives and international recruitment will also contribute to delivery of the workforce increase. Targets have not been set for the number to be recruited from doctors and nurses who trained or are working abroad.
Air Pollutants: Research
Lord Lewis of Newnham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have for further research on the issue of the long-term effects of air pollutant exposure in the United Kingdom in view of recent press coverage of a report by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants concerning the impact on Londoners of pollution by airborne particles, based on the results of studies in North America.[HL141]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The need for further research work on the effects on health of air pollutants, especially on the effects of long-term exposure to pollutants, has been reviewed by the Department of Health. It is likely that a call for research proposals will be published later this year. The areas selected for study will be listed in the call for proposals.
Lord Lewis of Newnham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have to fund new research on the effects of air pollutant exposure within the home, given that particle levels within the home are typically higher than those outdoors and the latter are estimated to have adverse effects on health and life expectancy. [HL142]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The effects on health of exposure to indoor air pollutants will be included as some of the topics to be listed in a call for research proposals that is likely to be published later this year. Emphasis will be placed on particles and carbon monoxide.
Type 2 Diabetes: Early Identification
Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will establish national targeted programmes to identify Type 2 diabetes early. [HL152]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We recognise the importance of detecting and treating diabetes as early as possible. We are exploring possible approaches to improving early identification of the condition, including public and professional awareness raising and are planning further work on the evidence for and feasibility of screening sub-groups of the population at high risk of developing diabetes.
Asperger's Syndrome: Diagnosis
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What percentage of adults with Asperger's Syndrome are not diagnosed until beyond 16 years of age. [HL154]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The number of people being identified as having Asperger's Syndrome is increasing. Although more people are being diagnosed in childhood, improvements in diagnosis are also resulting in the initial identification of adults with this disorder. A recent analysis by the National Autistic Society of data from 450 parents of adults with autistic spectrum disorders suggested that 46 per cent of adults with Asperger's Syndrome were not diagnosed until after the age of 16.
Screening, diagnosis and early interventions in autism are being addressed by a group chaired by Professor Ann Le Couteur. We will consider what further action on diagnosis might be necessary in the light of that group's report.
Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Community Care Assessment
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their latest information on the number of adults with an autism spectrum disorder who have had a community care assessment. [HL155]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 gave local authorities a duty to give a community care assessment to anyone who, in their view, might be in need of community care services. About 1 million clients in England had completed assessments during the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000. This figure is not broken down by client group.
A recent analysis by the National Autistic Society of data from 450 parents of adults with autistic spectrum disorders suggested that 38 per cent had received a community care assessment.
NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency: Annual Business Plan
Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency will publish its annual business plan. [HL164]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are pleased to announce that the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's annual business plan has been published and copies have been placed in the Library.
Coal Mine Methane: Utilisation
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will classify coal mine methane (CMM) as green in status where it can be captured and removed as a waste gas by making it a source of energy.[HL72]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Coal mine methane is a fossil fuel and this precludes its inclusion as a renewable form of energy as defined under the Utilities Act 2000. As a fossil fuel, it will not be eligible for support under the Renewables Obligation.
Nevertheless, for both environmental and commercial reasons, the Government welcome greater utilisation of coal mine methane and are examining ways in which support can be given to the industry.
Commonwealth Games: Funding
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What assessment they have made of the adequacy of funding for next year's Commonwealth Games; what representations they have received about funding of the games; and whether there is any further action they will be taking. [HL103]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): The Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 will be the biggest multi-sport event ever held in the United Kingdom. They will leave a lasting sporting, economic and social legacy.
The Minister of State at the Cabinet Office explained, in evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on 20 March, that Manchester City Council, with the Government, had arranged a review of the finances and organisation of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester next year as a build-up to the games moves from the planning to the implementation phase.
Following the review, conscious of the benefits the games will bring to the nation as a whole, the Government announced on 2 July that they had agreed to provide up to £30 million to support the games. In addition, Sport England has also agreed to provide up to £30 million to support the games' costs in addition to its existing contribution to capital facilities. Manchester City Council will also make available a further £45 million. Twenty-five million pounds of these funds will be held jointly by the three parties as a contingency fund. Government's support is additional to the £10.5 million which the Government have already made available towards the costs of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games, and marks the full extent of the financial support the Government are prepared to make available.
The Government consider that this package should give the games' organisation sufficient certainty to deliver the games. Manchester City Council continues to retain financial responsibility for the games.
Discussions continue about the make-up and timing of the package of financial support. The Government, Manchester City Council and Sport England will agree appropriate controls to manage it.
UNHCR: UK Funding
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What evaluation they have made of the nature and scale of worldwide need to which the United Nations High Commission for Refugees should be responding; and what conclusions they have reached concerning the appropriate size of the contribution by the United Kingdom to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in the light of such evaluation.[HL45]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): The total number of persons of concern to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was 22.3 million as of January 2000. Of these, 11.7 million were refugees, 1.2 million asylum-seekers, 2.5 million returnees and 6.9 million internally displaced persons or others of concern. UNHCR's core mandate is the protection of refugees' rights. The organisation may also provide humanitarian assistance to persons of concern according to need.
The Department for International Development (DFID) provided approximately £20 million to UNHCR during the year 2000-01 as part of a package of targeted assistance for humanitarian response and to improve the organisation's internal management and programme delivery. Contributions this year are likely to be at a similar level, although this will depend on specific appraisal of needs in response to particular cases affecting refugees.
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