---

Baroness Darcy de Knayth asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the apparent decrease in the number of statements issued and in early identification and assessment of special educational needs are contributory factors in the sharp increase (19 per cent) in the number of primary school pupils being permanently excluded.[HL5108]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The latest published (final) figures show that the number of pupils with statements in England rose from 252,857 in January 2000 to 258,200 in January 2001 (estimates). The number of children for whom statements were issued for the first time in the calendar year 2000 was 33,746 compared to 35,421 in the calendar year 1999, However, the number of new statements issued for children under five, for example, increased from 6,363 during the calendar year 1999 to 6,518 in the calendar year 2000.

There could be a range of factors accounting for the 19 per cent increase in the number of primary age pupils being excluded from school during the academic year 2000–01, the comparable period. We are looking at possible factors but have no evidence at present to suggest that the increase is linked to the number of new statements issued.

A statutory framework is in place to ensure that local education authorities and schools identify and assess children with special educational needs as early as possible and guidance on this is provided in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. The current version came into force in January 2002 and places a greater emphasis on early identification, both during the early years and at every stage of a child's schooling. A £25 million package has been put in place in support of SEN in the early years, including support for establishing SEN co-ordinators in early years education settings and area SENCOs, with a target of one area SENCO for every 20 non-maintained settings by 2004. This is in addition to the £113.5 million being provided over the period 2001 to 2004 to improve the knowledge and skills of staff involved in government-funded early years education, which will include SEN training.

TSE Regulations: Value of Animals Slaughtered

The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on the 18 June (WA 77), what are their reasons for considering that it is a "reasonable expectation" for a farmer with high value stock to have to take out private insurance.[HL4879]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): It is normal practice for people to look to insure valuable possessions against unforeseen circumstances.

15 Jul 2002 : Column WA123

It is relevant to point out that, although scrapie was made legally notifiable in 1993, there was no payment of compensation to farmers for the slaughter of sick animals until this Government introduced such a measure in 1998. The levels of compensation to farmers were significantly increased in December 2001.

The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on the 18 June (WA 77), whether they are reviewing the arrangements covering "compensation of animals slaughtered"; if so, whom they are consulting and when the results of the consultation will be made public.[HL4880]

Lord Whitty: The current arrangements for paying compensation for all animal diseases have become fragmented over time and are somewhat complex. I am considering how compensation arrangements can be rationalised so as to simplify the whole approach. It will be some time, probably autumn, before we announce a decision on how we intend to take work on this policy area forward. We will, of course, in time consult widely on this issue.

National Park Authorities Review

Baroness Gale asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the report of the review of national park authorities will be published.[HL5252]

Lord Whitty: The report will be published tomorrow. Copies will be available in the House Libraries and the Vote Office. The report will also be available on the department's website: www:defra.gsi.gov.uk/countryside-wildlife. The responses to the public consultation will be deposited in the department's library.

Cancer Research

Lord Ezra asked Her Majesty' Government:

How much other European Union countries spend on cancer research, in particular on research into cancers of the prostate and the breast; and how this compares with the United Kingdom.[HL5048]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Inquiries of the Medical Research Council, the National Cancer Research Institute and Cancer Research UK have all failed to discover a source of the figures requested. Searches of websites for the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Heath Organisation), the International Union Against Cancer, the Europe Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Europe Against Cancer have failed to elicit any relevant data.

15 Jul 2002 : Column WA124

Reorganisation: Redundancy Costs

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the cost of redundancy payments with the transfer of functions from health authorities to primary care trusts and strategic health authorities.[HL5091]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Several thousand staff from health authorities and regional offices of the Department of Health transferred employment into primary care trusts and the new health authorities on 1 April 2002. Staff are currently being appointed into substantive posts in the new organisations based on their previous experience and skills. The human resources framework covering these changes set out as one of its key principles that every effort would be made to avoid redundancies in order to ensure that valuable skills and experience were not lost to the service. As a result, all staff affected have been guaranteed employment for a 12 month period ending 31 March 2003. It is expected that the majority will be found suitable alternative employment during that period but it is not possible at this stage to predict how many staff will be unable to find a suitable post. The redundancies which have taken place so far are among the former health authority chief executives. The provisional position here is that health authorities estimate that, at today's prices, they are liable to pay out about £12.5 million in respect of chief executives' severance costs. Final figures for the totality of the changes will not be available until after 31 March 2003.

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether conditions apply whereby National Health Service employees receiving a redundancy payment have to repay any moneys in the event of taking other National Health Service employemnt.[HL5092]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Redundancy payments to National Health Service employees are governed by an agreement of the General Whitley Council. Under that agreement employees are not entitled to a redundancy payment if (a) they obtain suitable alternative employment with the same or another NHS employer within four week of the date of the termination of the contract or (b) unreasonably refuse to accept or apply for suitable alternative employment with the same or another NHS employer. Before payment is made employees are required to undertake to refund the redundancy payment if these conditions are not satisfied.

Millennium Dome

Viscount Astor asked her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Millennium Commission advanced moneys to English Patnerships on the basis that it would be repaid in full. [HL5058]

15 Jul 2002 : Column WA125

The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): The Millennium Commission has not advanced any moneys to English Partnerships.

Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to wind up the Millennium Commission. [HL5059]

Baroness Blackstone: It is currently planned for the Millennium Commission to continue its programme of work until 2005. Handling of the commission's residual duties will be determined in the interim period.

Viscount Astor asked her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Millennium Commission will receive all moneys due from English Partnerships from the dome during its lifetime. [HL5060]

Baroness Blackstone: The division of proceeds of the sale of the Millennium Dome between the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) and English Partnerships has not been finally ageed, but a fair split will be established. Once NMEC's liquidation is complete, the company's share of the proceeds will revert to the Millennium Commission or any successor bodies.

Trinity College, Dublin: UK Copyright Library

Lord Laird asked her Majesty's Government:

How they exercise control over the United Kingdom Copyright Library based in Trinity College, Dublin. [HL5127]

Baroness Blackstone: The UK Government exercise no control over the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.

The present systems of UK republic of Ireland legal deposit require UK and Irish publishers to deposit publications with the British Library within one month of publication. They also require UK and Irish publishers to deposit publications, if requested within 12 months of publication, within one month of request with the Bodleian Library, Oxford, the University Library, Cambridge, the National Library of Scotand, the National Library of Wales and the Library of Trinity College, Dublin.

---