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Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Projected Consultant Shortage

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to redress the expected shortage within two years of consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology foreseen in the annual report of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.[HL3774]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The number of doctors currently training as specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology is sufficient to provide around a further 400 trained specialists available to take up consultant posts by 2004. This is a significant level of growth, which the Government believes will meet the projected levels of demand for consultants. The number of consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology has increased by 187 since 1997, an 18 per cent. increase.

The Department of Health has been in discussions with all bodies involved in delivering obstetric and gynaecology services though the Maternity and Neo-natal Working Group. This group is considering innovative approaches to skill mix and new ways of working to enable services to meet the needs of mothers and babies in the future.

Trade: Foot and Mouth Disease

Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 25 March (WA 21-23), what are the values of the exports and imports totals given in that Answer.[HL3652]

24 Apr 2002 : Column WA40

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): The attached table shows the monthly value of UK trade in meat and meat preparations between January 2000 and December 2001. The monthly data for February cannot be split before and after the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Monthly data are provided so that normal seasonal patterns of trade can be taken into account and to show the effects of the gradual lifting of the export ban.

UK trade in Meat and Meat Preparations (2000–01)(£ million)

Trade Type	Product	Month	2000	2001
Exports	Bovine	January	1	2
		February	2	3
		March	2	2
		April	2	2
		May	4	2
		June	3	3
		July	2	1
		August	2	2
		September	2	2
		October	2	2
		November	2	2
		December	2	2
	Bovine Total		27	24
	Pigmeat	January	14	15
		February	16	14
		March	18	3
		April	14	3
		May	16	3
		June	17	4
		July	16	4
		August	17	5
		September	14	4
		October	15	4
		November	16	8
		December	15	6
	Pigmeat Total		187	73
	Poultrymeat	January	13	21
		February	14	19
		March	18	19
		April	14	17
		May	15	17
		June	15	17
		July	15	18
		August	15	16
		September	16	18
		October	16	20
		November	16	19
		December	18	18
	Poultrymeat Total		186	219
	Sheepmeat	January	17	24
		February	17	14
		March	19	0
		April	14	1
		May	11	1
		June	13	3
		July	15	4
		August	18	5
		September	17	5
		October	17	4
		November	20	6
		December	24	10
	Sheepmeat Total		202	79
	Other	January	1	1
		February	1	1
		March	1	0
		April	1	0
		May	1	1
		June	1	1
		July	1	1
		August	1	1
		September	1	1
		October	1	1
		November	1	1
		December	1	1
	Other Total		12	10
Exports Total			615	404
Imports	Bovine	January	32	43
		February	31	37
		March	37	53
		April	38	43
		May	43	45
		June	48	45
		July	40	40
		August	43	47
		September	44	41
		October	39	46
		November	40	42
		December	38	47
	Bovine Total		473	529
	Pigmeat	January	57	82
		February	55	81
		March	73	127
		April	58	67
		May	72	83
		June	82	92
		July	79	75
		August	73	71
		September	80	84
		October	72	92
		November	78	93
		December	77	88
	Pigmeat Total		854	1,035
	Poultrymeat	January	60	65
		February	55	63
		March	61	73
		April	56	60
		May	64	63
		June	71	70
		July	63	66
		August	65	68
		September	65	63
		October	63	70
		November	69	71
		December	66	70
	Poultrymeat Total		759	801
	Sheepmeat	January	16	16
		February	16	17
		March	25	29
		April	20	24
		May	19	20
		June	17	15
		July	14	15
		August	15	12
		September	13	16
		October	16	12
		November	15	11
		December	21	16
	Sheepmeat Total		207	204
	Other	January	9	11
		February	7	13
		March	10	14
		April	9	13
		May	10	15
		June	9	16
		July	11	14
		August	10	15
		September	10	15
		October	9	16
		November	15	15
		December	14	17
	Other Total		123	176
Imports Total			2,417	2,744

24 Apr 2002 : Column WA42

Osborne House

Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress they have made in their plans to reassign the use of those parts of Osborne House which were previously used as a convalescent home under the terms of the Osborne Estate Acts 1902 and 1914; and.[HL3779]

With regard to the provision by the Osborne Estates Acts 1902 and 1914 that as a memorial to Her late Majesty the Government shall devote the rest of Osborne House and the grounds under their management to be used for the benefit of officers of His Majesty's naval and military forces or their wives, widows or family, what was the legal advice upon which Dr Howells, Minister of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, based his assetion that "I do not believe that that is the law on the matter" (HC Deb 25 March, column, 548)[HL3780]

The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): The Osborne Estates Acts 1902 and 1914 provide for the parts of the House in the personal occupation of Queen Victoria to be kept open to the public and the rest of the House and grounds to be used for the benefit of the Armed Forces and Civil Service. They do not provide explicitly for a convalescent home.

We are currently considering with English Heritage a range of options for that part of Osborne House which was formerly used as a convalescent home. These include using the lower floors to enhance visitors' appreciation of the house and the estate; using the upper floors for holiday lets and conferences and opening the gardens previously restricted to convalescent home use. English Heritage is undertaking external repairs to the property which it estimates will be complete by December 2003.

Premium Bonds

Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many holders of premium bonds hold the maximum holding of £20,000; when this maximum was fixed; what it would be today if the original figure were adjusted for inflation; and whether they will increase the figure.[HL3837]

24 Apr 2002 : Column WA43

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: At 9 April 2002, there are currently 304,100 premium bond holders who have the maximum amount invested. The holding limit for premium bonds is £20,000. It was increased from £10,000 to £20,000 on 13 April 1993. Using the "all Items RPI", the limit adjusted for inflation would be £24,822.19. We keep the holding limit under review, but there are currently no plans to increase it.

Coal Mine Methane: Exemption from Climate Change Levy

Lord Jenkin of Roding asked Her Majesty's Government:

How long they estimate it will take the European Commission to reach and announce a decision on whether the exemption, announced in the Budget, of coal mine methane from the climate change levy, will be approved; and what steps they will take to ensure that a decision is reached as swiftly as possible.[HL3889]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The proposed exemption for CMM will offer economic and environmental benefits. The Government are therefore confident that the exemption will be approved as a state aid under the Commission's guidelines on aid for environmental protection. We hope that a decision will be made in the next few months. Ministers and officials will liase with the Commission to ensure that the matter is progressed as quickly as possible Hannington

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