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Written Answers
Thursday, 10th October 2002.
Northern Ireland Executive: Security Checks
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What security checks drivers and bodyguards for the Northern Ireland Executive have; and whether these checks are satisfactory.[HL5900]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): This is a devolved matter and is therefore no longer a responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Tobacco Information Campaign
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they propose to take in the next few years to enhance the educational process of the anti-smoking campaign.[HL5532]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): International evidence shows that key elements in any tobacco control strategy are advertising and public education.
The Government are committed to a comprehensive campaign designed to encourage smokers to quit and to persuade non-smokers, particularly young people, not to start.
The campaign has comprised television and press coverage supported by helplines, websites and peer education programmes informing people about the risks of smoking and to support them in giving up.
Although the campaign was initially designed to target adults aged 25 to 44, specific programmes aimed at young people, pregnant women and their partners and South Asian communities have been developed.
The content and effectiveness of the Tobacco Information Campaign are constantly monitored and evaluated and we will continue to develop the campaign in the light of this information.
Transfusions: Reporting of Complications
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are concerned by the under-reporting of adverse incidents associated with transfusions in the National Health Service as
- reported by the Serious Hazards of Transfusion report; and whether, in the interest of improving public safety, they will make the reporting of such incidents mandatory.[HL5765]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) reports provide a comprehensive picture of serious transfusion complications in the United Kingdom. The fifth annual SHOT report (published April 2002) showed an increase in participation to 92 per cent of eligible hospitals. Participation in the scheme has been encouraged by guidance to the National Health Service, most recently in HSC 2002/009—Better Blood Transfusion—Appropriate use of blood (http://www.doh.gov.uk/bbt2/009hsc2002). This asks chief executives of NHS trusts to ensure participation in the SHOT scheme by December 2002.
Plasma
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why they did not stop the use of fresh frozen plasma derived from United Kingdom donors in 1998 at the time they agreed to prevent the use of that plasma in blood derivative products.[HL5769]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The government expert advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation did consider the importation of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in 1998. The National Blood Service advised that sustainable supplies of imported plasma for FFP could not be obtained for the large number of patients every year who required it.
British National Space Centre
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the review of the British National Space Centre has been published.[HL5907]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The review of the British National Space Centre (BNSC) was set up in response to recommendations of the Trade and Industry Select Committee (10th Report, session 1999–2000). The Government decided to conduct "a review of the budgetary and organisational arrangements for BNSC, and its position in relation to the DTI and the Office of Science and Technology". The review, and the Government's response, were published on 23 September. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses, and on the BNSC website www.bnsc.gov.uk.
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