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Written Answers
Thursday, 10th April 2003.
Angola: HIV/AIDS
The Earl of Listowel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps are being taken to achieve accurate monitoring of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS throughout Angola.[HL2269]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): Over 27 years of civil war in Angola have made the systematic monitoring of HIV prevalence extremely difficult. With the arrival of peace in April 2002, the Angolan Government are now in the process of developing a national HIV/AIDS strategy which will include, among other things, a monitoring system. UNAIDS estimates that the current prevalence of HIV infection among adults (aged between 15 and 49 years) is about 5.5 per cent and rising.
Global surveillance of HIV/AIDS is a joint effort of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the joint programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), in close collaboration with national AIDS programmes and a number of other partners. DfID supports WHO and UNAIDS both financially and through collaborative efforts to scale up co-ordinated and effective responses to HIV/AIDS.
The Earl of Listowel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What discussions they and their international partners have had with the Government of Angola on developing an effective public health strategy to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in post-conflict Angola.[HL2330]
Baroness Amos: Until recently discussions between the international community and the Government of Angola on an effective public health strategy to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS have been limited. Although Angola developed its first national AIDS strategy in 1999, it was never effectively implemented. It was following the peace agreement in April 2002 that both the Government and donors began to focus greater attention on HIV. In November 2002, a National AIDS Commission, headed by President dos Santos, was established. The Ministry of Health, supported by UNAIDS, UNICEF and UNDP, has been tasked with preparing a national HIV/AIDS strategy, known as the Programa Estrategico Nacional (PEN). This process has only just begun and there has been no indication as to when it might be completed.
Last year a country co-ordinating mechanism (CCM), comprising representatives from government, donors, multilateral agencies and NGOs, was set up to prepare an integrated proposal for support from the UN Global Fund for HIV/AIDS. However, the CCM
failed to reach consensus on the details of the proposal and the deadline lapsed. Continued lack of agreement may prevent the CCM from submitting a revised proposal before the new 31 May deadline. In the meantime most bilateral donors continue to channel funding for HIV/AIDS prevention through UN agencies and NGOs.DfID is currently consulting with key partners (UNAIDS, World Bank, USAID) with a view to better supporting an effective national response.
Disadvantaged Areas: Stamp Duty
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
- (a) Why the Treasury has not yet instructed the Inland Revenue to abolish the limit of £150,000 for stamp duty on non-residential property purchases in disadvantaged areas of the United Kingdom, for which approval was given by the European Commission under state aid rules on 21 January; and (b) when such instruction will be issued; and[HL2287]
Whether they intend the abolition of stamp duty on non-residential property in disadvantaged areas of the United Kingdom to continue beyond 31 December 2006; and, if so, when and how they will seek the approval of the European Commission under state aid rules; and [HL2288]
What professional advice they have received on the effect which short-term abolition, until 2006, of stamp duty on non-residential property purchases in disadvantaged areas of the United Kingdom will have on valuations of long-term commercial property investment in those areas.[HL2289]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget that, with effect from midnight last night, this relief is extended to all non-residential property in qualifying areas. This represents a major boost not only to businesses investing in commercial premises but to the 2000 enterprise areas in which this relief is available, along with a wider package of measures which will ensure that these areas now benefit from investment which is long overdue. Individual home-buyers will continue to benefit from the relief on residential property where the consideration does not exceed £150,000.
The extension of the relief to all non-residential property was subject to approval as state aid, which the European Commission has given until the renewal of the relevant guidelines in 2006. This does not preclude the Government from applying for approval to continue beyond 2006. Any such decision will be taken on the basis of evaluation of the effectiveness of the measure in promoting the regeneration of the most deprived areas of the UK.
School-age Girls: Pregnancy
Lord Skelmersdale asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many females of school age became pregnant in each of the past 20 years for which figures are available.[HL2393]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the reponsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook, National Statistician, dated 10 April 2003.
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many females of school age became pregnant in each of the last twenty years for which figures are available. (HL2393)
The information requested is shown in the attached table. Figures prior to 1987 are not comparable with later years as the method of calculating mother's age at conception was revised in that year.
| Year | Number of conceptions resulting in a birth or termination |
| 1982 | 24,029 |
| 1983 | 24,598 |
| 1984 | 25,644 |
| 1985 | 25,552 |
| 1986 | 24,619 |
| 1987(1) | 24,739 |
| 1988 | 23,653 |
| 1989 | 22,653 |
| 1990 | 22,062 |
| 1991 | 20,103 |
| 1992 | 19,149 |
| 1993 | 18,298 |
| 1994 | 19,131 |
| 1995 | 20,433 |
| 1996 | 23,141 |
| 1997 | 22,329 |
| 1998 | 22,254 |
| 1999 | 21,279 |
| 2000 | 21,268 |
| 2001(2) | 20,994 |
(1) The method used to calculate mother's age at conception was
revised in 1987.
(2) Provisional.
Lord Northbourne asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook, Registrar General, dated 10 April 2003.
As national statistician and registrar general for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Question concerning whether there has been consideration given to the long-term implications for parents and children of the policy to introduce the registration of births online. (HL2443)
The development of the proposals in the Government's White Paper Civil Registration: Vital Change published in January 2002, took full account of the impact of civil registration reform on the needs of society, families and individuals. The system of civil registration will continue to play a vital role in securing and protecting basic human rights by continuing to provide a child with a name and status in society and evidence of parentage. It will also continue to uphold the rights of individuals to access information about themselves and their families. The General Register Office, those commentating on the White Paper and those involved in earlier consultation have not identified any detrimental effects of these changes.
Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The Government recognise the importance of the working time opt-out to the motorsport industry and other industries and will take into account their concerns when negotiating with the Commission on its review of the opt-out. Of course the Government will make certain that they are closely involved in the review process to ensure the best possible outcome for the UK.
Lord Brookman asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin): Bob Ainsworth has appointed two new members to the Animal Procedures Committee. Mr Graham Moore was appointed from 1 December 2002. He is a veterinarian who recently retired from Pfizer UK, where he was director of animal welfare. Professor Dawn Oliver was appointed from 1 March 2003. She is a barrister and professor of constitutional law at University College London. Each member has been appointed for a four-year term. We are grateful to both for accepting membership of this important committee.
Whether they have considered the long-term implications for parents and children of their policy to introduce the registration of births online.[HL2443]
Whether in the next review of the working time regulations they will support the concerns of the Motorsport Industry Association.[HL2370]
When they will appoint two new members to the Animal Procedures Committee.[HL2537]
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