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Nursing Home Residents: Free Nursing Care
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they have taken to inform residents of nursing homes of their entitlement to free nursing care.[HL1039]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Draft guidance, containing our proposals to implement free nursing care was issued for consultation, together with a press release, in July. The Department of Health has produced a leaflet, NHS Funded Nursing Care in Nursing Homes—What it means for you, a guide for people living in or going into nursing homes, their families and their carers to coincide with the implementation of free nursing care for those funding their own care from 1 October. Primary care trusts, health authorities and councils are distributing these to nursing homes, residents, their families and carers. National Health Service nurses will also have the opportunity to explain the scheme face-to-face when individual determinations of the registered nursing care contribution are carried out. The public can also obtain information from NHS Direct and, in the south-west of England, from Care Direct.
Stem Cells
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have to follow the example of the United States National Institutes of Health in collecting centrally information about the import and use of stem cells. [HL1129]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government have no plans at present to collect information on the importation and use of stem cells, although we continue to monitor developments in this field of research. Stem cell research is being examined currently by an ad hoc Select Committee of the House of Lords and the Government will consider its recommendations when they are published.
Welsh Sunday Licensing
Lord Hooson asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In the light of the decision of the National Assembly for Wales in favour of ending septennial voting on whether public houses should remain open on a Sunday or not, and in view of the fact that the next vote is due to be called in 2003, whether they can give any indication on when the necessary legislation will be introduced into the Westminster Parliament to abolish the necessity for this poll. [HL933]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): The abolition of the Welsh Sunday opening polls requires the repeal of Sections 67 and 68 of, and Schedule 8 to, the
Licensing Act 1964. Polls only need to be held in 2003 if 500 electors in any Welsh district requisition one. It has been the policy of successive governments to abolish these polls and we have indicated our readiness to do so as part of the general reform and modernisation of alcohol licensing law. However, as it was not possible to include a licensing reform Bill in the legislative programme announced on 20 June for this Session of Parliament, it may not be possible to abolish the polls by means of primary legislation before they are next due in 2003. The Government are therefore presently considering whether or not it would be lawful and appropriate to amend the law by means of a regulatory reform order under the terms of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. However, no final decision has yet been made as to whether to seek such an order.English Heritage: Employment of Children's Education Officers
Lord Rogers of Riverside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much English Heritage will spend this year on direct employment of children's education officers.[HL1025]
Baroness Blackstone: For 2001-02 English Heritage expects to spend £500,000 on direct employment of children's education officers. This includes payroll and programme costs.
DEFRA: Receipt of Rural Recovery Report
The Earl of Shrewsbury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When Ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and specifically the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Lord Whitty, were first made aware of the receipt by the department of the report Rural Recovery after Foot-and-mouth Disease, published on 18 October, from the Rural Recovery Co-ordinator, Lord Haskins.[HL911]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): All Ministers in the department were made aware of the receipt of a near-final draft report from my noble friend Lord Haskins shortly after that draft was received on 2 October. Lord Haskins continued to have meetings, such as with the regional development agencies, after that date and made subsequent changes in his draft report.
DEFRA: Exeter Office
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What were the grades of the members of staff suspended in the Exeter office of the Department for
- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 August as part of an investigation into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic; and[HL1130]
When Ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs were first informed that members of staff had been suspended on 13 August as part of an investigation into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic; and why no subsequent announcement was made to either the Devon County Council inquiry or to Parliament; and[HL1131]
What items of equipment have gone missing from the Exeter office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which could be relevant to the foot and mouth outbreak; and whether any records relating to the outbreak have been lost; and[HL1132]
Whether members of staff in any office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs other than the Exeter office have been or are under investigation into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic or into the loss of equipment; and[HL1133]
What sums of public money are involved in the investigation at the Exeter office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic; and[HL1134]
Whether the police have been informed of the investigation at the Exeter office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic; and if so, when.[HL1135]
Lord Whitty: Eighteen members of staff who had been based at Exeter are suspended from duty while the department carries out its own internal criminal investigation concerning expenses claims. An investigation into missing equipment is also being carried out. The police have not been advised as my staff have the power to deal with criminal matters. As the investigations are ongoing it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.
British Bird Population: Effects of Slug Pellets
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What research has been, or is being, undertaken to evaluate the effects of slug pellets on the British bird population, especially on species such as the song thrush. [HL946]
Lord Whitty: No research has been commissioned by DEFRA specifically on the effects of slug pellets on British bird populations. However, in carrying out its regulatory activities under UK and EU legislation, DEFRA assesses the risk to non-target species and research is conducted for DEFRA into the risk to birds and mammals from pellets and treated slugs. This is aimed at improving pesticide risk assessments. In addition, there is research funded on integrated
methods of slug control, including research to provide novel technologies that reduce the impact on non-target organisms such as birds. More details are provided by the DEFRA website under "research".Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have completed their review of grants for repairing storage facilities outside nitrate vulnerable zones; and, if not, when they expect to do so. [HL1213]
Lord Whitty: We will shortly be putting proposals on extending nitrate vulnerable zones out for public consultation. The review will be undertaken as a part of consideration of the responses to this consultation. We have informed the Better Regulation Task Force, which recommended this review, of our plans.
Badger Culling: Trials and Audit Reports
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the badger culling trials will be fully operational again; and whether they have yet appointed an external auditor to check field operations. [HL1214]
Lord Whitty: DEFRA, in consultation with the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, is currently drawing up plans for resuming trial operations. In the light of the foot and mouth outbreak, any resumption will be subject to a strict risk assessment.
Various aspects of the field operations of the trial are subject to audit, including surveying, social group territory delineation and the humaneness of despatch procedures. Audit reports and the Government's responses are published. Review of audit arrangements is a component of restarting the trial following foot and mouth disease.
Import Inspections
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 24 October (WA 133):
(a) how many designated United Kingdom border inspection posts there are;
(b) when the European Commission last inspected the United Kingdom border inspection posts, and whether they were considered adequate;
(c) when the Food Standards Agency expects to have the results of its audits on enforcement standards; and
(d) what further ways to improve the enforcement of import controls have been established, or are being considered.[HL981]
Lord Whitty: (a) There are 42 designated UK border inspection posts (BIPs), 30 of which are approved to deal with food imports; 10 take only products not for human consumption and 2 only live animals.
(b) European Commission veterinary experts carry out inspections to border inspection posts in each member state on a regular basis, taking in a number (but not all) of the BIPs during any one visit. They completed an inspection of BIPs in the UK on 26 October this year but have not yet produced a report.
(c) The Food Standards Agency's audit programme of local authorities commenced on 1 April 2001 and copies of reports on local authorities that have been audited are available on the agency's website (www.foodstandards.gov.uk).
(d) All official veterinary surgeons responsible for border inspection posts undergo training organised
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