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Lord Ashley of Stoke asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: In response to concerns for nuclear test veterans about their health, two independent epidemiology studies were carried out on the Ministry of Defence's behalf by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), in conjunction with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. The results of these studies were published in 1988 and 1993 and showed that, as a group, participation in the British atmospheric nuclear tests has not had a detectable effect on the expectation of life or on the risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases by those who took part.
A third study has been undertaken by the NRPB into the incidence of multiple myeloma, other cancers and other causes of death among nuclear test veterans. The results of this study are expected to be published later this year.
The results of no other epidemiological studies concerning nuclear test veterans have been made available to the Ministry of Defence.
Lord Ashley of Stoke asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: There is no scientific or medical evidence that shows that the health or other physical problems suffered by the children and grandchildren of nuclear test veterans can be attributed to participation in the test programme.
The recently published Seventh Report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) has dismissed ideas of a general link between paternal preconceptional exposure to radiation and childhood cancer. Current information on radiation health effects suggests that studies of cancer among people exposed to radiation are likely to provide a more sensitive means of detecting such effects than studies of their children.
Lord Ashley of Stoke asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: Two comprehensive independent studies involving some 21,000 nuclear test veterans showed that there is no evidence of excess illness or mortality among the veterans as a group which could be linked to their participation in the nuclear test programme. The results of a third study, which has looked at the incidence of multiple myeloma, other cancers and other causes of death among test veterans, are due to be published at the end of the year. There are no plans for any further studies.
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: The A400M aircraft will be fitted with turbo-prop engines. Airbus Military, as prime contractor, is responsible for selecting the aircraft engines. A decision has yet to be made.
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: The current in-service date (ISD) for the A400M is 2010. However, taking into account the fact the contract has not yet been activated, we will continue to keep the ISD under review.
Lord Clarke of Hampstead asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is today publishing the final report of the English National Stadium Review, led by Patrick Carter, and placing copies in the Libraries of both Houses. The report reflects the detail of the agreements concluded by all principal parties on the national stadium project on 26 September.
My right honourable friend set out on 19 December 2001 in another place (Official Report, cols. 2913) four tests which we expected the Football Association (FA) and Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL) to meet before the offer of government support to the national stadium project could be confirmed:
First, an independent assessment of the multiplex stadium construction contracts: this was undertaken by Cyril Sweett Ltd and copies were placed in the House Libraries in May. Since May the contract has changed from a design, construct and finance arrangement to a design and construct contract. Cyril Sweett Ltd has therefore reviewed the new contract and produced an addendum report that concludes the new contract remains value for money. I am placing copies of the addendum report in the House Libraries today.
Secondly, as my right honourable friend explained in her 7 May statement in another place (Official Report, cols. 212), WNSL has made available to the Comptroller and Auditor General papers relating to the project.
The third test is corporate governance changes to be made to produce a management structure capable of delivering a complex project within procedures acceptable to the public sector. In addition to the significant strengthening of the WNSL Board, already announced, a range of improved procedures are now in place.
The fourth is confirmation that financial support was adequate and fully committed. As Patrick Carter's report sets out, this is now the case.
Having reviewed the steps the FA and WNSL have taken since December last year and Patrick Carter's assessment of the progress made by WNSL, including his view that on balance our four tests have been met, we have confirmed the Government's support to the national stadium project which we had first offered in December. My right honourable friend has however also ensured that the public interest in the new national stadium is protected by stronger safeguards than those secured at the previous project's failed syndication in 2000.
The time has come for Government to stand back as the project moves into the construction phase and is taken forward by the FA and WNSL. But, as Patrick Carter has noted, to safeguard the public interest, the project as a whole will require careful monitoring, and with Sport England and the London Development Agency we shall be putting in place new arrangements as recommended by the Office for Government Commerce.
Lord Inglewood asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): The Government commissioned two independent inquiries into the foot and mouth disease outbreak of 2001, one on the lessons to be learned and the other a scientific review into infectious diseases in livestock by the Royal Society. A full government response to both these inquiries will be made later this year. The Government are taking into account the views and recommendations of the county council reports, including the valuable report from Cumbria, in making their response to the national inquiries but will not be replying to the individual recommendations.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Exports of meat, meat products, livestock and genetic material can only take place with health certification which meets the importing country's requirements or, in the case of EU member states, which meets EU harmonised conditions. Health certification is in place for exports to EU member states and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is working closely with the industry, including through the export certification user groups, to identify priority non-EU markets and to persuade the authorities in those countries to lift remaining restrictions. Defra officials have been active in persuading overseas authorities to accept UK exports again by corresponding with veterinary authorities overseas and have arranged for British embassies and high commissions to make representations and to follow up correspondence. In co-operation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, through our network of British posts overseas, we have also launched a lobbying exercise of all host governments which continue to maintain a ban on British beef, meat and animal products. We have been, and will continue, supporting our livestock companies and associations at international trade shows and have arranged inward missions of Ministers and officials. We are devoting considerable resources to reopening markets and will continue to do so.
Defra is also working closely with the industry to promote British meat, products and livestock exports at trade fairs and will have a presence at several overseas shows this year. Of the £2.5 million made available by Defra during 200102 for the foot and
mouth disease recovery plan, some £750,000 was used by Food From Britain to promote and build exports of food, including meat and meat products. During the current year, of a further £500,000 provided for rebuilding the export market, around £350,000 will be used specifically for meat and meat products. The Meat and Livestock Commission, Defra's non-departmental public body responsible for promoting British meat and meat products at home and abroad, is very active assisting meat exporters to re-establish markets, especially in continental Europe.
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