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Primary Care Trusts

Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to delegate functions to primary care trusts under the terms of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Bill, once it is enacted, at a date other than the beginning of a financial year; if so, how they will make allocations at that time to primary care trusts to enable them to carry out those delegated functions; and how they will provide for the sharing of the financial responsibility for that financial year between primary care trusts and health authorities (or strategic health authorities).[HL3568]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Primary care trusts (PCTs) currently provide or secure the provision of a limited range of services (including primary, community care and secondary care services). Subject to the successful passage of the Bill, more functions will be delegated from health authorities to PCTs from 1 October 2002.

We currently allocate funding to health authorities, and they in turn allocate funding to PCTs on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority and PCTs' fair share of available resources to enable them to commission similar levels of services for populations in equal need.

We announced allocations to health authorities for 2002–03 on 6 December 2001. Health authorities are setting initial PCT allocations for 2002–03 for those

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functions for which PCTs will be responsible from 1 April 2002. PCT allocations will be reset to cover the functions that will be delegated to PCTs from 1 October 2002.

In future the intention is that allocations will be made direct to PCTs. Allocations will continue to be based on the principle of weighted capitation.

Health Targets

Lord Smith of Leigh asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they expect any overspending on National Health Service budgets during 2001–02 to impact on the work of acute trusts, primary care trusts and other health bodies in delivering the Government's health targets during 2002–03.[HL3604]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are still in discussion with health bodies about managing their end-of-year 2001–02 positions and plans for 2002–03. However, we expect them to live within their agreed resources and not to overspend. Information on the 2001–02 financial position will be made available when National Health Service bodies' accounts have completed audit. This will be in the autumn.

Overseas Broadcasting Organisations:Arabic-speaking Services

Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions have taken place between Foreign Office officials and Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials on the issue of licensing of overseas broadcasting organisations to provide services in Arabic within the United Kingdom.[HL3462]

The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): From time to time officials in my department have discussed the broadcasting of Arabic speaking services with officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, both as a matter of general policy and pursuant to any specific licence applications to the ITC, to assist the ITC in fulfilling its statutory obligations under Section 143 of the 1996 Broadcasting Act.

Northern Ireland: Crime Investigations

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of crime investigations in Northern Ireland of all types have been brought to a successful conclusion during each year from 1994 to date. [HL3166]

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): As a result of the major change in the Home Office crime counting rules on 1 April 1998, data from that date

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cannot be compared directly with previous years. The table below therefore reflects figures from the financial year 1998–99. Provisional figures for the current year from April to December are included.

	Total Recorded Crimes	Total Crimes Cleared	% Clearance Rate
1998–99	109,053	31,639	29.00
1999–00	119,111	36,004	30.20
2000–01	119,912	32,522	27.10
2001–02 (April–December)	104,299	19,295	18.50

Belfast Agreement

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which parts of the Belfast Agreement of 1998 they consider have not been fully implemented, stating in each case by whom and why; and [HL3288]

What topics relating to non-implementation of the Belfast Agreement of 1998 have been discussed with the Government of the Irish Republic. [HL3290]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Remarkable progress has been made in the implementation of the Belfast Agreement, although much remains to be done. For example, the two major reviews on policing and criminal justice are still in the course of implementation; the security situation is far from normal, while there remains a paramilitary threat, with the consequent security force response, and while the decommissioning issue, despite encouraging recent progress, remains to be resolved; and there remains the question of devolving further responsibility for policing and criminal justice, as envisaged in the agreement. All parties who support the agreement need to proceed in partnership to ensure its effective implementation. We regularly discuss implementation of the agreement, including issues set out above, with the Irish Government.

Northern Ireland: Victim Support

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which organisations and groups benefited from the £18 million allocated as core funding for victims in response to the Bloomfield Report We will remember them (1998); by how much each group: and what are their geographical location and remit. [HL3387]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Since 1998, government have £18.25 million to support victims of the Troubles. Of this, £3.1 million was initially allocated to core fund victims and survivors groups. The core funding scheme, which was introduced in January 2000 for a period of two years, is administered by the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT), which has recently published its annual report for 2001. This report

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details each core funding allocation to victims' groups as at 31 March 2001.

The details of grant allocations given in Annex A will vary from those in NIVT's annual report. Annex A gives total grant allocations as at 28 March 2002. Groups are still drawing down money from these allocations and amounts allocated are adjusted as projects progress.

Details of the geographical location and the main geographical area served by each group are also provided. However, groups may provide support to victims in areas outside those given.

In December 2001, Des Browne, Victims Minister, announced the allocation of a further £3 million to extend the core funding scheme. An evaluation of the scheme has recently been completed and a report will be published within the next few weeks. Decisions on arrangements for administering this further allocation will be guided by the findings of the evaluation.

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the role and remit of the Northern Ireland Office Victims Liaison Unit; and what are its staffing levels and running costs. [HL3388]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Victims Liaison Unit, established in 1998 to implement the recommendations of the Bloomfield Report, is responsible for the provision of core funding to victims support groups; management and provision of grant aid to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund; prioritisation and allocation of central government funding for victims; and ensuring that all victims' issues which fall within the excepted and reserved fields in Northern Ireland are addressed.

The unit works in close partnership with the devolved administration's Victims Unit. This co-ordinated approach ensures the most effective support to victims of the Troubles.

At 25 March 2002, the staffing levels in the Victims Liaison Unit (incorporating the secretariat of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund) are as follows:

1 x Grade A (Principal Officer)

2 x Grade B1 (Deputy Principal Officer)

2 x Grade B2 (Staff Officer)

2 x Grade C (Executive Officer)

1 x Grade D1 (Administrative Officer) part-time

8 Total Victims Liaison Unit Annual Running Costs The annual running costs for VLU are £309K. Breakdown of figures: Pay and Allowances = £275K* Administrative costs = £34K * This includes the costs of the secondment of two members of staff to the Grants Office of the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.

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Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the recommendation of the Victims Commissioner (Sir Kenneth Bloomfield) that there should be a comprehensive review of the "fitness for purpose" of criminal injuries compensation in serving the needs of victims of violence has been implemented and, if so, what has been the progress or result.[HL3392]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The recommendation led to an independent review of criminal injuries compensation carried out by Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. That review reported in 1999. In response to recommendations made by the review, the Government published in 2001 proposals for draft legislation. The Criminal Injuries Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 received Royal Assent on 26 March, and a draft scheme made under the order, which will introduce a tariff-based system of criminal injuries compensation, was laid before the House on 10 April.

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