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Ecolabelling

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many companies which manufacture or distribute in the United Kingdom were holders of the European Union ecolabel awarded by the United Kingdom competent body in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.[HL4619]

Lord Whitty: In 1998 four manufacturing companies held the EU ecolabel award licence from the UK competent body. Two companies held the award in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

One of these licensees also makes products for retail companies. In 1998 the ecolabel appeared on its own products and those of two retail companies. In 1999 the label was carried on the products of three retail companies and in 2000 and 2001 on the products of two retail companies.

13 Jun 2002 : Column WA51

Sustainable Development

Baroness Mallalieu asked Her Majesty's Government:

When will they report on the outcome of the fourth preparatory committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which was held in Bali from 24 May to 7 June.[HL4694]

Lord Whitty: The fourth preparatory committee meeting for the World Summit on Sustainable Development gives us a basis for the final run-up to Johannesburg. Progress was made on a programme of action, which includes the importance of sanitation in eradicating poverty and meeting the Millennium Development Goal on safe drinking water. Broad agreement was also reached on key issues such as the urgent need to restore fish stocks and address illegal fishing and on the important role non-governmental actors can play in achieving sustainable development. The meeting also recognised the need for a strong focus on Africa.

Other difficult issues remain outstanding such as how the summit can address trade and finance issues to complement the Monterrey Consensus and the Doha Development Agenda. There are also specific targets on sanitation, biodiversity loss and energy which have yet to be agreed. The UK will continue to work constructively with partners to ensure a succesful outcome for Johannesburg, including concrete actions and coherent work programmes on energy, water and sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

Medical Student Places

Lord Walton of Detchant asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of their commitment to increase medical student numbers, what action they propose to take to reverse the redundancies of clinical academic staff in London's medical schools resulting from financial cuts imposed by the Higher Education Funding Council.[HL4306]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): Publicly planned funding for higher education in England will increase by £1.7 billion over the six years to 2003–04—an increase of 18 per cent. in real terms. In 2001–02, for the first time over a decade, funding per full-time equivalent student has increased in real terms. Within that, the additional costs of teaching the new medical student places announced by the Government is fully taken into account.

The Higher Education Funding Council distributes funding for research according to the quality ratings arrived at through the research assessment exercise, so that the best research receives the most funding. Where the volume or the quality of research falls, then the funding decreases. The outcome of the research assessment exercise held in 2001 has therefore led to some redistribution of research funds between higher

13 Jun 2002 : Column WA52

education institutions, with some institutions gaining as much as 36 per cent. but others losing resources on the basis of the relative quality of their accounts.

The Department of Health and the Higher Education Funding Council are monitoring the implementation of the new medical places and will assess whether shortages of clinical academic staff are an issue.

Science GCSEs

Lord Lewis asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many students took GCSEs in (a) chemistry and (b) physics in each of the years 1999, 2000 and 2001; and how these figures compare to the number taking GCSE combined sciences in each of these years; and[HL4535]

What was the distribution in each of the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 between candidates from state and independent schools taking GCSEs in (a) chemistry, (b) physics, and (c) combined sciences; and[HL4536]

How many students (a) start courses in A-level chemistry and physics and (b) complete the courses.[HL4537]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The number of 15 year-old pupils taking GCSE in each of the specified subjects in England were:

	1999	2000	2001
(a) Chemistry	37,640	37,699	38,797
of which
Maintained schools	58%	56%	60%
Independent	42%	44%	40%
(b) Physics	37,205	37,532	38,455
of which
Maintained schools	58%	60%	60%
Independent	42%	40%	40%
(c) Double Science	441,897	455,100	464,403
of which
Maintained schools	96%	96%	96%
Independent	4%	4%	4%

Information on the numbers of students starting and completing GCE A-level courses is not available. However, in 2000–01, 33,538 students aged 17 or 18 took GCE A-level chemistry, and 27,704 took GCE A-level physics.

Intelligence and Security Committee Report

Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will respond to the Intelligence and Security Committee's annual report for 2001–02.[HL4723]

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The Prime Minister has today laid the government response to the Intelligence and Security Committee's report before Parliament.

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