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NHS: Non-executive Directors
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they agree with the statement of the National Health Service Appointments Commissioner reported in the Health Service Journal on 30 May that the core responsibilities of non-executive directors in the National Health Service are to support the executive team and to deliver the Government's new agenda. [HL4661]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Non-executive board members work alongside executive directors on corporate boards. Successive governments have emphasised the need for boards to observe the Secretary of State for Health's policies and priorities and to ensure that government targets are met.
Countryside Stewardship Scheme
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many staff were employed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in each region in 2000, 2001 and this year to administer the Countryside Stewardship scheme; and of these how many in each region were primarily concerned with the access element of the scheme.[HL4464]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): The table below shows the number of staff employed by the department in each region in 2000, 2001 and this year to administer the Countryside Stewardship scheme.
| Region | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 |
| East | 44 | 36 | 44 |
| East Midlands | 56 | 36 | 34 |
| North East | 44 | 11 | 24 |
| North West | 27 | 24 | 37 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 33 | 44 | 48 |
| South East | 56 | 42 | 52 |
| West Midlands | 30 | 46 | 40 |
| South West | 69 | 68 | 78 |
| Total | 359 | 307(1) | 357(2) |
(1) Reduction due to staff temporarily transferring to FMD duties.
(2) Estimated figure from the Rural Development Service business plan.
The access element of the scheme is not administered as a separate element of the scheme. Although there are designated national and regional access specialists, this role only forms part of a range of scheme work for which they have responsibility.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they have taken following the presentation made in March 2001 by an Ulster Scots human rights group concerning the ° million movement of population in Northern Ireland. [HL4360]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): A copy of the report was sent to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission last year, as requested by the noble Lord, Lord Laird, at a meeting held with George Howarth MP (then Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office). It was the Government's understanding that no formal response was required from us on the matter. However, the Government, take the issues with which the report deals extremely seriously and have taken a number of steps to ensure that people can reside where they wish free from fear or intimidation.
I understand that the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission wrote to the noble Lord on 4 and 14 September 2001 explaining that the commission would consider the issue as part of its work on victims of the past. This work is ongoing.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people are currently in prison in Northern Ireland; and under what categories including the non-political sections.[HL4361]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: As at 20 May 2002 there are 1,014 prisoners in Northern Ireland prison estabishments, including 129 inmates in HM Young Offenders Centre.
The breakdown is as follows: there are 124 high risk, 752 medium risk and 138 low risk prisoners/inmates.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The President of the Irish Republic has visited Northern Ireland on 62 occasions since 1998. Apart from the usual security requirements, any costs were borne by the
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: There are no current plans for a state visit by Her Majesty The Queen to the Republic of Ireland. Therefore the Question does not arise. The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, has not yet made a state visit to any part of the United Kingdom.
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Successive administrations have regarded the ability of Ministers to meet and discuss policy issues in private to be essential for effective decision-making. This is reflected in Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which states that disclosure of the proceedings of Cabinet or Cabinet committees would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion, as I stated in my previous Answer on 21 May.
On how many occasions since 1998 the President of the Irish Republic has visited Northern Ireland; what was the total cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer of each visit; whether these visits were conducted with the full protocol required for a visiting head of state; and, if not, why not.[HL4552]
Whether the arrangements for the proposed visit of Her Majesty The Queen to the Republic of Ireland will be similar to those visits by the President of the Irish Republic to Northern Ireland.[HL4553]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 21 May (WA 83), whether they will explain how information on when Cabinet meets, and the length of those meetings, if disclosed could ''harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion''.[HL4593]
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