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Statins
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will ask the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to advise general practitioners on prescribing statins, in view of the study by the Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation relating to reduced vascular events and deaths experienced by patients with a previous history of coronary and vascular disease. [HL2313]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): We have no plans at present to ask the National Institute for Clincial Excellence to advise general practitioners on the prescribing of the statin group of drugs. Current guidance is available in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Coronary Heart Disease (published March 2000), as amended by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO)'s Update 29. Data on prescribing of statins in primary care shows a substantial increase in prescribing since the NSF was published in line with the recommendations in the NSF for the effective treatment of patients with established coronary heart disease to prevent further coronary events. This trend is continuing with prescribing of statins currently increasing by about 30 per cent each year.
The full findings of the research by the Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation, called the Heart Protection Study, are expected later this year. We will consider whether any further guidance is necessary when the full results are available.
Digital Hearing Aids
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What representations they have had concerning the rate of progress in making the digital hearing aid available to National Health Service trusts; what percentage of hearing-impaired people they plan to have fitted with the aid by the end of each of the years 2002–03 and 2003–04; and when they expect digital hearing aids to be available to all those eligible for the aid. [HL2886]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have received a great deal of correspondence regarding the Modernising Hearing Aid Services project, including over 10,000 postcards from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. It is estimated that there are currently
1.5 million hearing aid users in this country. We do not know the number of people with a hearing impairment who may benefit from an aid but are not currently using one. As of the end of January 2002, 16,352 people have been fitted with digital hearing aids by the 20 sites currently involved in the pilot project. We have announced that the additional £20 million funding for the project for next year will mean that there will be 50 sites fitting digital hearing aids by the end of March 2003. This will mean that one-third of the country will have access to a site participating in the project.The research evaluation of this project will help to inform the modernisation of hearing aid services across the country. The Government will use the report to inform decisions about how best to make a modernised service available more widely.
Health Improvement Commission Report
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the 2000–01 Annual Report of the Commission for Health Improvement will be published. [HL2899]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The combined annual report and accounts Holding a mirror up to ourselves have been published and copies have been placed in the Library.
Prime Minister's Visit to Africa
Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many planes were chartered during the visit by the Prime Minister to Africa in February; and [HL2796]
What was the cost of chartered planes for the visit by the Prime Minister to Africa in February. [HL2797]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): Since 1999 this Government have published a list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers, including the Prime Minister, costing £500 or more during each financial year. The information requested will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. As promised in my Answer of 9 January [Official Report, col. WA 112], a copy of the list will be sent to the noble Lord when it is published.
All travel was undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
Northern Ireland Bill of Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 14 January (WA 144), whether they will make available the letter of 18 May 2001 from the Prime Minister's office to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.[HL2442]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): A copy of the letter from the Prime Minister's office to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission dated 18 May 2001 will be placed in the Library.
IRA-attributed Murders
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many murders are alleged to have been committed by the IRA in (a) County Londonderry, excluding the city and (b) the City of Londonderry during each year from 1971 to 1980; and in how many cases successful prosecutions followed. [HL2712]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: It is not possible to provide the statistics in the format requested. The table below provides the number of murders attributed to republican groups and the number of murders where charges have been brought.
| City of Londonderry | County Londonderry (excluding the city) | |
| Number of murders attributed to republican groups(3) | 96 | 44 |
| Number of above murders for which charges have been brought(1) | 24 | 17 |
Notes:
1. Includes Strand Road, Waterside and Shantallow Station areas.
2. Includes Limavady, Coleraine and Magherafelt Sub-Divisions and Eglinton and Claudy Station areas (both within Waterside sub-division).
3. Murders cannot be attributed to specific groups. The table provides the total number of murders by republicans.
4. The police database does not include details of prosecutions. The table gives the number of murders that have resulted in charges being brought.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: It is not possible to answer the Question in the format requested (successful prosecutions). However, I have attached statistics that incorporate the bringing of charges for murders attributed to republican groups.
Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The list included in the Chief Commissioner's letter of 3 January represented the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's suggested contact list at the start of the evaluation process. A full list of all those contacted will be available once Mr Hosking submits his report to the commission. The chief commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord at that time.
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: In response to the Northern Ireland Policing Board's recommendations on the Omagh report, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has stated that he would wish to follow up with the board and others their views on any further steps to take. This would include the board's suggestions of the review mechanism for the work of the Police Ombudsman and consideration of how best to develop good working relationships.
Lord Howie of Troon asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): The minimum funding requirement (MFR) is not working as intended, and we have announced proposals to replace it as soon as parliamentary time for the necessary primary legislation becomes available. These proposals will mean better protection and more effective security for pension scheme members, and we are currently working with the pensions industry, consumer organisations, employers and trade unions to take our proposals forward.
In the meantime regulations have been laid before Parliament today which will enable the MFR to operate more effectively in the period leading up to its replacement and which improve protection for members when an employer decides to wind a scheme up. Draft regulations were issued for consultation on 18 September 2001, and the consultation period ended on 10 December. A summary of the responses to the consultation has been placed in the Library.
What percentage of murders alleged to have been committed by the IRA from 1970 to date have resulted in successful prosecutions. [HL2713]
Number
Number of murders attributed to Republican groups 1,803
Number of murders (attributed to Republicans) where charges have been brought 518 (29%)
Note:
Further to the written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 4 February (WA75–76), whether the only groups consulted by Mr Peter Hosking in reviewing the work of the commission were those in the letter of 3 January, and whether all groups listed were consulted. [HL2771]
Following the decisions of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on 7 February, how best they will (a) review the mechanisms for the work of the Police Ombudsman; and (b) develop the best working relationships between the Police Ombudsman and all parties, including governments, involved in the provision of policing in Northern Ireland. [HL2835]
When they will make changes to the minimum funding requirement for occupational pension schemes. [HL2961]
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