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Written Answers
Wednesday, 19th June 2002.
Sexual Offences
Baroness Billingham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to publish a response to the consultation on the review of sexual offences, Setting the Boundaries; Reforming the Law on Sex Offences. [HL4823]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): My right honourable friend the Home Secretary intends to publish a response to the consultation and the recommendations in Setting the Boundaries setting out proposals for legislation in the autumn. At the same time he will publish proposals for reform of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 following the review of its provisions and subsequent consultation. He will introduce modernised and strengthened legislation on sex offences and sex offenders as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Watchkeeper Project
Lord Vivian asked her Majesty's Government:
- What progress they are making with the Watchkeeper project; what benefits they anticipate from this; and on what timetable they are planning to proceed. [HL4628]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): Good progess is being made with the Watchkeeper project. Proposals from potential contractors for detailed assessment phase work were received in May and are being assessed. The Watchkeeper system, comprising unmanned aerial vehicles, their sensor packages and associated exploitation facilities on the ground is a new capability. It will meet a significant proportion of the intelligence and information requirements, principally of land commanders, by providing accurate, timely and high quality imagery and intelligence information in all weathers, day and night. It will be complemented by other programmes and existing capabilities. The in-service date for Watchkeeper will be finalised as part of the current assessment work but the working assumption is for an initial operating capability in 2007. The project is on schedule to achieve this.
Youth Convention on the Future of Europe
Lord King of West Bromwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How the United Kingdom will be represented at the Youth Convention on the Future of Europe.[HL4755]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The youth convention is an initiative proposed by Giscard d'Estaing, President of the European Convention, to involve young people in the Future of Europe debate. Representatives nominated by member states and accession countries and the European Parliament will hold a plenary session on 9-10 July before reporting to the convention on 11/12 July.
The UK's delegation has six members. Three were selected by a national essay competition, for which there were over 80 entries, organised jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Independent: Claire McCarthy, Miles Kemp and Carina Dunkerly. Three others were appointed by the main UK political parties represented at the convention. They are Blair McDougall (Labour); Sam Dobbyn (Conservative); and Alison Goldsworthy (Liberal Democrat).
RBG Resources
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have given any financial assistance to RBG Resources or any other company in which Viren Rastogi is involved; if so, how much, for what purpose and pursuant to what Act or scheme; and what was the actual or perceived benefit to the United Kingdom for the giving of such assistance.[HL4204]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turvile): A serach has been made of the DTI's records and these show that no such financial assitance has been given to RBG Resources or any other company which Companies House files for UK registered companies show as being associated with Mr Rastogi.
NHS: Violent Incidents, Accidents Involving Staff and Sickness Absence
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will publish the results of the 2000–01 survey of violent incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence in National Health Service trusts and health authorities in England.[HL4822]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The results of the Department of Health's survey of reported violent or abusive incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence in National Health Service trusts and health authorities in England in 2000–01 have been placed in the Library.
The survey found that there were 84,273 reported violent or abusive incidents against staff in 2000–01. Details of the number of reported violent or abusive incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness
absence by type of NHS trust are shown in the following tables. There were 108,743 reported accidents involving staff during the same period. The sickness absence rate, measured during calendar year 2000, was 4.68 per cent.| Type of NHS trust | total number of reported(1) incidents in the year | estimated number of incidents per 1,000 staff per month(1) |
| acute | 22,338 | 5 |
| multi-service | 12,019 | 8 |
| ambulance | 3,882 | 13 |
| community/mental health(2) | 37,053 | 23 |
| mental health/learning disability | 7,766 | 27 |
| All NHS trusts(3) | 84,214 | 10 |
Notes:
(1)Some NHS trusts were unable to supply data. In particular, some community trusts were undergoing re-configuration. Figures in this table are for those NHS trusts which provided figures.
(2)Some community NHS trusts also provide mental health and/or learning disability services.
(3)Includes figures for the small number of primary care trusts which were able to supply data.
(1) Some NHS trusts were unable to supply data. In particular, some community trusts were undergoing re-configuration. Figures in this table are for those NHS trusts which provided figures.
(2) Some community NHS trusts also provide mental health and/or learning disability services.
(3)Includes figures for the small number of primary care trusts which were able to supply data.
Notes:
(1) Some NHS trusts were unable to supply data. In particular, some community trusts were undergoing re-configuration. Figures in this table are for those NHS trusts which provided figures.
(2) Some community NHS trusts also provide mental health and/or learning disability services.
(3) Includes figures for the small number of primary care trusts which were able to supply data.
Baroness Rendell of Babergh asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): We have today published DEFRA's sustainable development strategy—Foundations for our Future.
Foundations for our Future clarifies what sustainable development means in practice for Defra's policy development and decision-making, as well as its own operations. In particular the strategy: sets out the principles and processes which Defra needs to adopt to ensure all its policies address economic, social and environmental objectives at the same time, identifies Defra policy areas which pose the greatest challenges or can make the greatest contribution to the achievement of sustainable development, with a set of indicators to measure progress in these areas; and looks at the scope to contribute to sustainable development through Defra's own impacts (including energy, waste, travel, staff policies and procurement).
The strategy also commits my department to review annually the progress that we make against the principles, commitments and priorities that are included within the strategy. This review process will be open and participative, involving Defra's staff and stakeholders.
Copies of the strategy have been placed in the Library of the House. It is also available at: http://defraweb/environment/sustainable/index.htm.
Type of NHS trust total number of reported(1) accidents in the year estimated number of accidents per 1,000 staff per month(1)
acute 51,889 12
multi-service 21,032 14
ambulance 5,746 21
community(2) 22,757 15
mental health/learning disability 2,996 11
All NHS trusts(3) 106,348 13
Notes:
Type of NHS Trust estimated average sickness absence rate (%)
acute 4.46
multi-service 4.67
ambulance 6.80
community 5.09
mental health/learning disability 5.23
All NHS trusts(3) 4.73
When they will publish the forthcoming Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' sustainable development strategy.[HL4754]
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