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Liberia: Rubber Industry
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will now discuss with the Government of Liberia the feasibility of recommissioning the rubber factory at Gbarnga, as a means of providing employment for demobilised combatants and reducing the dependency of Liberia on foreign aid by increasing the value of its exports.[HL1246]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The focus of the international effort is to build a secure environment in which both the Liberian people and the economy can thrive without dependency on international aid. At the recent Liberia Donor Conference on 5 and 6 February, the UK committed £9 million to Liberia, £6 million of which will go towards the disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation process.
The Liberian rubber industry is potentially a significant local employer. Although the civil war destroyed rubber factories around Gbarnga, a viable rubber industry continues to exist in Liberia. The lead for drawing up and implementing a reconstruction programme lies with the UN Mission in Liberia.
US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement
Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the 1958 United States-United Kingdom Mutual Defence Agreement, last extended in 1994, will be extended for a further 10-year period before the end of 2004.[HL1285]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Discussions continue between the United Kingdom and United States Governments on the renewal of this agreement. Subject to the outcome of those discussions, we expect to lay any amendments before the House later this year in accordance with normal procedures for treaty renewals.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How Parliament will be consulted over any proposed extension of the 1958 United States-United Kingdom Mutual Defence Agreement.[HL1286]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Subject to the outcome of our ongoing discussions with the Government of the United States, we expect to lay before the House some amendments to the Mutual Defence Agreement, including its renewal for a further 10 years, later this year in accordance with normal procedures.
Iraq: Militias
Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) whether they will list the militias in Iraq;
(b) whether these are Shia Arab, Sunni Arab or Kurdish and to what political party or individual they owe allegiance; and
(c) what are the estimated numbers in each militia.[HL1333]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The issue of militias in Iraq is being addressed as part of efforts to form the New Iraqi Army, Iraq Civil Defence Corps and the Iraqi Police Service. There is widespread recognition in Iraq of the need for such militias to disband or be incorporated in the new national security forces. It would be provocative, at a sensitive time in the national Iraqi debate on the future of militia, to list specific groups. There is no simple definition of militia in Iraq. There are many groups in Iraq possessing weapons and it is not possible to be certain of membership or numbers. Reporting is often contradictory or attributes membership differently due to changes or variations in group names.
Lord Pendry asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The Chief Medical Officer commissioned a report in March 2002 on physical activity and health. The report is currently undergoing an academic peer review process, prior to publication later this year.
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
What further consideration has been given to the suggestion made by the Chief Medical Officer at the Westminster Diet and Health Forum for the development of a "kite mark" for use on health food and weight management options; and on what basis products would be assessed for inclusion in such a scheme[HL1137]
Lord Warner: The use of the National Health Service brand to identify reliable third party sources of information and advice on health-related matters is
Rules on the labelling of food are harmonised at Community level. Negotiations are ongoing on a proposal to regulate nutrition and health claims, which seeks to establish a list of approved claims and pre-authorisation of new claims on the advice of the European Food Safety Authority. In addition, the European Commission is due to bring forward proposals to amend the nutrition labelling rules, including mandatory nutrition labelling on all pre-packaged foods, and improvements to the presentation of this information to consumers.
The Earl of Listowel asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Warner: Decisions on the frequency of visits to meet the mental health needs of children living in residential child care units are best made locally in order that the specific needs of individual children and communities can be addressed.
In general, it is the Government's belief that all children, including those in residential units, should have access to high-quality child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) when they need them. It is the Government's aim to increase and improve the level of CAMHS provision generally. Approximately £250 million is being invested in CAMHS over three years and one of the key challenges will be to ensure that there are sufficient trained clinical staff to meet the mental health needs of all chidren.
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Warner: The cost of funding the television campaign to raise public awareness of the risk to children of second-hand smoke "Smoking Near Children" was £2,770,792.
Lord Taylor of Warwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Warner: The independent Commission for Health Improvement was responsible for developing the indicators and their construction for use in the National Health Service performance ratings. From April 2004, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI) will take over this responsibility.
The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 requires CHAI to conduct a review of the provision of health care by and for each NHS body and to award performance ratings.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): Defra was formed in June 2001. The Information requested cannot be provided as it is not held centrally. The department is in the process of compiling a central list for the future but this will take some time to complete and will not be retrospective.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Commissioner Fischler's letter reminds member states of the circumstances in which an approach to the single farm payment based other
Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: No. Illegal imports of meat are destroyed without undue delay. We are currently looking at the feasibility of undertaking a sampling programme.
Seized plant material is sometimes tested if, for example, inspectors suspect the presence of plant pests or diseases.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000, as regards the labelling of beef and beef products, is enforced in the UK under the Beef Labelling (Enforcement) Regulations 2000, which give powers to enforcement officers to undertake inspections. In England and Wales, where responsibility for the legislation lies with Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government, enforcement is undertaken by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) at slaughterhouses, cutting plants etc, and by Local Authorities at points of sale to the consumer. In Scotland, enforcement is by SEERAD and in Northern Ireland by DARDNI. The labelling requirements in Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 applies only to fresh and frozen beef and veal, and mince; labelling of other meats and meat products is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
When the Chief Medical Officer's report on health and physical activity was commissioned; and when it is due to be published.[HL992]
What progress has been made to date in promoting the use of the National Health Service brand to identify reliable third party sources of information and advice on health-related matters; and whether they have any plans to extend the scheme further so as to include the endorsement of health food and other products; and[HL1136]
What steps they are taking to ensure that appropriate regular visits are undertaken by either a clinical psychologist, a phychiatrist or a child psychotherapist to each residential child care unit.[HL1203]
What was the cost of funding the United Kingdom television campaign to raise public awareness of the risks to children of second-hand smoke.[HL1236]
With what system of assessing hospital performance they will replace the current system of star ratings.[HL1256]
How many consultants and professional advisers were employed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in each of the years from 2000 to 2003.[HL1077]
What is their response to the letter sent by the European Union Agriculture Commissioner recommending that the historic payment system should be adopted throughout the member states.[HL1253]
Whether there is any laboratory testing on illegal meat and vegetable products seized as a means of disease control.[HL1306]
What systems they have in place to ensure that Regulation (EC) No 2065/2001, as regards the labelling of beef and beef products, is enforced across the United Kingdom.[HL1313]
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