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Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme: Fifth Report
Lord Gladwin of Clee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to publish the fifth report to Parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.[HL2069]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The fifth report to Parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) was published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The PPRS: Fifth report to Parliament covers the operation of the 1999 scheme, which was introduced in October 1999. It explains the Government's objectives for the scheme, how the scheme is managed and operated, including pricing policy, and gives detailed consolidated information on company annual financial returns. The report also sets out the contribution made to the economy by the United Kingdom based pharmaceutical industry.
Foot and Mouth Disease: Hunting Permits
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What permit conditions will apply when hunting with dogs resumes in counties which are free from foot and mouth disease.[HL2040]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): On 15 November, my right honourable friend, the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Mr Alun Michael), announced the Government's intention of relaxing the ban on hunting with dogs imposed in February 2001 to control foot and mouth disease, to allow hunting in foot and mouth disease free counties from 17 December under a temporary system of disease control permits. Interested parties were invited to comment on the proposed permit conditions by 7 December. As a result, a small number of changes and clarifications have been made to the permit conditions published on 15 November. I have placed copies of the final version of the permit conditions in the Library of the House. This material has also been published on the DEFRA foot and mouth disease website. Permits will be available from DEFRA animal health divisional offices from 17 December onwards to applicants who can demonstrate compliance with the disease control conditions required.
Foot and Mouth Disease: Lessons Learned Inquiry
Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When Dr Iain Anderson's Lessons Learned Inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak is to start.[HL2061]
Lord Whitty: Dr Iain Anderson's Lessons Learned Inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak launched its framework document on 14 December, marking the formal start of this independent inquiry.
The Prime Minister has confirmed that he expects all Ministers and civil servants to cooperate fully with the Inquiry.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State welcomes the start of the Lessons Learned Inquiry. This inquiry, and the Royal Society's independent scientific review, will be rigorous investigations of all the relevant scientific and policy issues and will enable us to establish the best way forward. We are contributing fully to the independent inquiry process.
Foot and Mouth Disease: Movement of Livestock
Lord Bragg asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the restrictions on the movement of livestock will be further relaxed.[HL2070]
Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State welcomes the fact that we have not had a confirmed case of foot and mouth disease since the end of September and that the programme of testing has enabled us to reduce the risk status of all the counties affected, so considerably easing the movement of livestock within the present control regime. We hope that it will not be long before the
country can, with reasonable confidence, be regarded as free of disease. We still need to maintain precautions against the recurrence of the disease. This will need to be recognised in an interim animal movement regime which, assuming all continues to go well, we hope to introduce in mid-February. The department has been discussing the terms of such a regime with the livestock industry over recent weeks. I plan to publish tomorrow the general principles of such a regime.Public Guardianship Office: Performance
Lord Gladwin of Clee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any additional key performance indicators have been agreed for the Public Guardianship Office.[HL2067]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): Two additional key performance indicators for the Public Guardianship Office have been agreed as follows:
- (1) to achieve 75 per cent effective visits by March 2002; and
- (2) to achieve a unit cost per case of not more than £425.
Government Bills: Human Rights Issues
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will give Parliament more specific information about the consideration given to human rights issues raised by government Bills.[HL2078]
The Lord Chancellor: Yes. The Government have agreed changes to the relevant guidance so that the explanatory notes of all government Bills first introduced after 1 January 2002 will draw attention to the main convention issues raised by a Bill. I hope that this will further assist Parliament in its debates on these matters.
Higher Education: Participation
Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How the current state of participation in higher education compares with the 50 per cent target for 2010; and how the figure for participation is calculated.[HL1882]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills, (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): In 1999–2000 around 40 per cent of 18-30 year olds were participating in higher education.
This definition includes all courses of one year or more leading to a qualification. This definition will form the basis for calculating participation. Further work is being undertaken by the QCA to asssess whether some professional qualifications, in areas like nursing, the law, or management, should be incorporated into the baseline even though the period of study for these qualifications may be less than one year.Foot and Mouth Disease: Effect on Tourism
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their latest estimate of the cost to the tourism industry of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.[HL1846]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): The estimated loss to the tourism industry as a result of foot and mouth disease is estimated to be between £2.9 billion and £3.6 billion in the months from March to October 2001.
National Lottery Funding: Land Purchase
The Duke of Montrose asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In what circumstances they consider that the purchase of land is a suitable use of lottery funding; and, if so, which of the lottery's purposes they think this donation achieved. [HL1876]
Baroness Blackstone: The Government would consider it suitable for the New Opportunities Fund to provide funds for the purchase of land where this was required to meet the objectives of its programmes, all of which are subject to public consultation. This particular grant was made in pursuance of the New Opportunities Fund's aim to support the environment good cause.
Immigration and Asylum Legislation
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, when they next introduce legislation on immigration and asylum, they will consolidate the existing legislation in the interests of reasonable legal certainty. [HL1967]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): The Government recognise the case for consolidating the Acts relating to immigration and asylum. In his Statement of 29 October, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary set out a comprehensive package
of reform of the immigration and asylum process, some of which will need to be taken forward by new legislation. But it would not be practicable to consolidate these Acts before this reform package has been enacted. The Law Commissions have a responsibility for consolidation, and the Government will consult them about a consolidation. By the time the reform package is enacted, the commissions to be consulted may include the Northern Ireland Law Commission proposed to be established by the draft Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill. The draft Bill was published on 12 November of this year. The Government also intend to introduce a consolidated version of the immigration rules after the next set of legislation.Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they received any representations from the Government of the Irish Republic to ensure that the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill did not include measures against republican terrorism. [HL1802]
Asylum Seekers: Accommodation
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many asylum seekers are currently residing in National Asylum Support Service funded accommodation in, respectively, each of the "clusters" under the dispersal programme, London, and other locations.[HL2029]
Lord Rooker: The table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in NASS accommodation in each cluster area as at the end of September 2001.
| Region | Area | Asylum Seekers (including dependants) |
| East Midlands | Derby | 400 |
| Disbenefited(3) | * | |
| Leicester | 750 | |
| Lincoln | * | |
| Nottingham | 1,110 | |
| Total | 2,260 | |
| East of England | Ipswich | 30 |
| Peterborough | 210 | |
| Total | 240 | |
| Greater London | Disbenefited(3) | 290 |
| London | 580 | |
| Total | 870 | |
| North East | Darlington | 40 |
| Gateshead | 520 | |
| Hartlepool | 50 | |
| Middlesbrough | 560 | |
| Newcastle | 1,380 | |
| North Tyneside | 300 | |
| Redcar & Cleveland | 280 | |
| South Tyneside | 140 | |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 280 | |
| Sunderland | 800 | |
| Total | 4,330 | |
| North West | Blackburn | 460 |
| Bolton (Gtr Man) | 690 | |
| Burnley | 130 | |
| Bury (Gtr Man) | 230 | |
| Disbenefited(3) | * | |
| Liverpool | 1,650 | |
| Manchester | 2,080 | |
| Nelson | 180 | |
| Oldham (Gtr Man) | 250 | |
| Rochdale (Gtr Man) | 240 | |
| Salford (Gtr Man) | 310 | |
| Stockport (Gtr Man) | 90 | |
| Tameside (Gtr Man) | 80 | |
| Trafford (Gtr Man) | 60 | |
| Wigan | 440 | |
| Total | 6,880 | |
| Northern Ireland | Belfast | 60 |
| Other | 10 | |
| Total | 70 | |
| Scotland | Glasgow | 4,180 |
| Total | 4,180 | |
| South Central | Bournemouth | * |
| Brighton & Hove | 40 | |
| Disbenefited(3) | 40 | |
| Hastings & St Leonards | 170 | |
| Portsmouth | 150 | |
| Southampton | 200 | |
| Total | 600 | |
| South West | Bristol | 210 |
| Disbenefited(3) | 10 | |
| Exeter | 40 | |
| Plymouth | 340 | |
| Total | 600 | |
| Wales | Cardiff | 380 |
| Swansea | 30 | |
| Wrexham | 50 | |
| Total | 460 | |
| West Midlands | Birmingham | 2,420 |
| Coventry | 920 | |
| Disbenefited(3) | 10 | |
| Dudley | 260 | |
| Sandwell | 130 | |
| Solihull | 60 | |
| West Midlands | Stoke on Trent | 400 |
| (cont.) | Walsall | 290 |
| Wolverhampton | 810 | |
| Total | 5,290 | |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | Barnsley | 210 |
| Bradford | 1,290 | |
| Disbenefited(3) | 10 | |
| Doncaster | 660 | |
| Grimsby | 110 | |
| Halifax | 260 | |
| Hull | 1,000 | |
| Kirklees | 490 | |
| Leeds | 1,120 | |
| Rotherham | 420 | |
| Sheffield | 1,320 | |
| Wakefield | 240 | |
| Total | 7,120 | |
| Overall Total | 32,890 |
(1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. * indicates a number between 1 and 4. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
(2) Figures exclude cases where the asylum seekers support has been ceased.
(3) Disbenefited cases are those cases which were previously supported by social services and after an intitial decision on their asylum application have been transferred onto NASS support. These cases can be located anywhere within the region specified.