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Haemophiliacs: vCJD Implicated Products
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 19 December 2002 (WA156), whether any patient living in England or Northern Ireland could be affected by the case of the blood donor in Scotland found recently to have vCJD and from whom plasma had been used to manufacture haemophilia treatment by the National Health Service; whether any patient living in Wales could be affected; and what contact there has been between the Department of Health and both the Scottish and Welsh Executives about the case.[HL933]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The batches of clotting factor concentrates manufactured by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service from the plasma taken from a donor who subsequently developed vCJD were distributed to haemophilia centres in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Patients treated with these products living in Scotland and Northern Ireland have been contacted by their clinicians. A small number of patients who received these implicated products are now living in England. Information has been passed to their local haemophilia centres so that they can be contacted. We are not aware of any cases involving patients living in Wales. There was extensive correspondence on this case between the secretariat of the CJD Incidents Panel and the various Scottish bodies involved.
Thimerosal/Mercury-based Vaccines
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What research has taken place into allergic reactions to thimerosal/mercury-based vaccines, especially among infant children.[HL1024]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There is a substantial body of published research on allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions associated with thiomersal. This research has shown that thiomersal, which is contained in some vaccines used in infants, can cause mild hypersensitivity reactions that typically include skin rashes or local swelling at the site of injection. Severe hypersensitivity reactions to thiomersal-containing vaccines, such as those involving swelling of the face and wheezing, are rare. A list of relevant publications has been placed in the Library.
The European Medicines Evaluation Agency's Scientific Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) reviewed the safety of medicinal products containing thiormersal in 1999. The CPMP advised that there is no evidence of harm caused by the level of thiomersal exposure from vaccines. Given the known association between thiomersal and hypersensitivity reactions, the CPMP advised that warnings about these reactions should be provided in the product information for thiomersal-containing vaccines.
As with all medicinal products, the Medicines Control Agency and Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) keeps the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines under continual review. The CSM reviewed the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines in 2001 and advised that, with the exception of hypersensitivity reactions, there is no evidence of harm from thiomersal contained in vaccines. Therefore, the CSM advised that the benefits of immunisation with thiomersal-containing vaccines outweigh any potential risks of vaccination.
NHS Negligence Claims: Haemophilia Society Proposal
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will confirm the National Audit Office's figure of £4.4 billion of outstanding claims against the National Health Service for negligence; and what estimate they have made of the cost per year over 10 years of the Haemophilia Society's proposals for compensating people infected with hepatitis by contaminated National Health Service blood products.[HL1134]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We can confirm that the National Audit Office's reported figure of £4.4 billion of outstanding claims against the National Health Service for clinical negligence in 2000-01 is correct. The estimated cost of the Haemophilia Society's proposal is £52.26 million per year over 10 years.
Provisional IRA
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the Provisional IRA is still involved in recruiting, re-arming, training, targeting and punishment beatings; and, if so, in what activities.[HL950]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): We continue to judge that the PIRA ceasefire remains in place but, as the Prime Minister made clear in his speech in Belfast on 17 October, in the Government's view the IRA remains an active paramilitary organisation. We cannot tolerate paramilitary activity in any form. Everyone has to make a commitment to achieving their objectives by exclusively peaceful means—real, total and permanent.
O'Neill Memorial and Castle Gardens Primary Schools
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What were the dates of the closure of (a) O'Neill Memorial School, Castlereagh and (b) Castle Gardens School, Newtownards; and what proposals there are for the future use of these buildings or their disposal.[HL960]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: O'Neill Memorial Primary School, Castlereagh and Castle Gardens Primary School, Newtownards both closed with effect from 31 August 2002.
The South-Eastern Education and Library Board does not own these properties but is pursuing the possibility of retention of the two properties for continued educational purposes, subject to legal formalities being satisfactorily resolved.
Abbey Primary School, Newtownards
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the present enrolment at Abbey Primary School, Newtownards; how many applicants for enrolment for the academic year beginning September 2002 were refused; and what proposals there are to replace the temporary classrooms at this new school.[HL976]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The current enrolment at Abbey Primary School, Newtownards is 594; seven applicants were refused admission for September 2002. There are no immediate plans to replace the temporary accommodation at the school.
Ulster Canal
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether Waterways Ireland has any plans to restore and re-open the Ulster Canal as a tourist attraction. [HL991]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Waterways Ireland has no plans to restore and re-open the Ulster Canal, but the question of funding is at present being explored by independent consultants.
Armagh Protestant Board of Education
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the role of the Armagh Protestant Board of Education at the Royal School, Armagh; when this board came into existence; and what is its statutory basis. [HL1001]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: I understand that the Armagh Protestant Board of Education owns and manages the Royal School Armagh, subject to the legislation governing all schools. It was established by an educational endowment scheme made under the Educational Endowments (Ireland) Act 1885 for the government and management of the endowments of the Ulster Royal Schools (including Armagh Royal School) and was approved by Order in Council on 22 May 1891.
Waterways Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 January (WA173) concerning Waterways Ireland, what is meant by the wording "equality scheme is set out below".[HL1014]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Regrettably the list of organisations consulted by Waterways Ireland regarding the equality scheme was accidentally omitted from my previous Written Answer (WA173). The list in question is now set out below:
Lough Erne Advisory Consultative Group
Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (Northern Ireland Branch)
Coalisland Canal Restoration Committee
Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network
Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside
Ferguson McIlveen Consulting Engineers
Fisheries Sectoral Development Programme
Letterbreen Development Association
Tourist Development International
University of Ulster School of Environmental Studies
Central Government Departments (15)
The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the other nine Northern Ireland departments
The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (for information only)
Department of Finance (for information only)
Department of Justice Equality and Law (for information only)
North/South Implementation Bodies (5)
District Councils in Northern Ireland (26)
Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland (5)
Health and Social Services Councils in Northern Ireland (4)
Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland (4)
Political parties (10): (listed in alphabetical order)
Organisations representing a wide range of interests in Northern Ireland (64)
Association of Chief Officers of Voluntary Associations
Association of Independent Advice Centres
Catholics Bishops Commission on Justice and Peace
Centre for Voluntary Action Studies
Combat Poverty Action Group Northern Ireland
Committee on the Administration of Justice
Community Relations Council (NI)
Community Relations Training/Learning Consortium
Community Work Education and Training Network
Employers' Forum on Disability
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
International Fund for Ireland Communities in Action Project
Londonderry Regeneration Initiative
National Lottery Charities Board
Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network
Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
Northern Ireland Committee—Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU)
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
Northern Ireland Economic Council
Northern Ireland Environmental Link
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Northern Ireland Inter-Faith Forum
Northern Ireland Partnership Board
Northern Ireland Pre-school Playgroup Association
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust
Northern Ireland Volunteer Development Agency
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Sports Council Northern Ireland
Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards
Sustainable Northern Ireland Programme
The Local Government Staff Commission for NI
Workers Educational Association Northern Ireland
Youth Council for Northern Ireland
Amputees Association of Northern Ireland
Armagh Travellers Support Group
Belfast Traveller Sites Project
Belfast Travellers' Education and Development Group
Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre
British Sport Association for the Disabled (BSAD)
Catholic Boy Scouts Foundation NI
Chest, Heart and Stroke Organisation
Chinese Chamber of Commerce (NI)
Coalition on Sexual Orientation
Community Development and Health Network
Confederation of Community Groups
Confederation of Community Groups Newry
Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network
Craigavon Asian Women and Children Association
Craigavon Travellers' Support Committee
Derry Travellers' Support Group
Dyslexic Association of Northern Ireland
East Down Rural Community Network
Family Planning Association NI
Fermanagh Rural Community Network
Forum for Action on Substance Abuse
Glen Road Heights Women's Group
Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikh Temple
Huntington's Disease Association
Industrial Therapy Organisation
Irish Central Border Area Network
La Societa Italiana Irlands del Nord
Lurgan Council for Voluntary Action
Monagh Road Women's Steering Group
Multi-Cultural Resource Centre (NI)
Muscular Dystrophy Group of GB and NI
Northern Ireland Association of Mental Health
Newry and Mourne Senior Citizens' Consortium
Newry Interagency Consortium for Travellers
Newry Travellers' Early Years Action Group
Newtownabbey Senior Citizens' Forum
North West Ethnic Communities Association
North West Forum of People with Disabilities (2)
Northern Ireland African Cutural Centre
Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
Northern Ireland Council for the Homeless
Northern Ireland Disability Council
Northern Ireland Filipino Association
Northern Ireland Filipino Community in Action
Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association
Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation
Northern Ireland Women's European Platform
Organisation for the Unemployed
Parents and Professionals and Autism
Regeneration of South Armagh Rural Development Council
South Armagh Farmers and Residents Association
Southern Travellers' Early Years Partners
Sperrin Lakeland Senior Citizens' Consortium
Swedish Society of Northern Ireland
The Cedar Foundation (formerly NICOD)
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
The Special Olympics (Northern Ireland Branch)
Traveller Movement Northern Ireland
Travellers Support Group for Playgroup Workers
Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC)
Women's Resource and Development Agency
Sheridan, N
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