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Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Royal Air Force logo was changed. [HL1363]

Lord Drayson: For several years the RAF has used a variety of logo type images to identify itself. As certain areas of the retail sector were using images very similar to the RAF's, development of a more coherent image was deemed necessary, thereby removing confusion and increasing coherence.

Royal International Air Tattoo

Lord Garden asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will review the safety arrangements for the Royal International Air Tattoo, held at RAF Fairford, in the light of the manoeuvre conducted by a Typhoon aircraft at the Air Tattoo at around 4.30 pm on 15 July. [HL1338]

Lord Drayson: Safety at flying displays is of paramount concern and is kept under constant review. The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) flying
 
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control committee sets and reviews safety arrangements for displays at the event.74It is confident that these arrangements are rigorous and that they worked well in this case. The pilot of the Typhoon experienced difficulty during a particular manoeuvre in his display sequence during a practice flight. During his routine post-flight review, the pilot, in consultation with his supervisors and the RIAT flying control committee, decided to modify the display which was subsequently reflown and revalidated.

Royal Mail

Lord Taylor of Warwick asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why they have delayed announcing the terms of reference and the inquiry team to review the future of Royal Mail. [HL1353]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry said today, when appointing Sir George Bain to support him on Royal Mail issues, the Government remain committed to reviewing the impact of market liberalisation on Royal Mail. There has been no delay in announcing the review, as the manifesto did not set a timetable.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they will have with local authorities regarding the continuing contribution of local authorities to the funds of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) when local authorities renew contracts with the RNLI to provide a beach lifeguard service. [HL1238]

Baroness Andrews: The provision of beach lifeguarding is at the discretion of local authorities. In the autumn, an ODPM Minister will invite representatives of the local authorities and the RNLI to a meeting to give them an opportunity to discuss with each other issues of concern.

Royal Navy: Counter-narcotics Operations

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

What standing naval commitments in the Caribbean and the north Atlantic are to be routinely tasked with counter-narcotics operations from November 2005 to May 2006. [HL1361]

Lord Drayson: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 21 July 2005 (Official Report, col. WA 320).

 
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Rural Payments Agency: Staffing

Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many persons are currently employed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to monitor and inspect compliance with the Single Farm Payment scheme. [HL1517]

Lord Bach: The Rural Payments Agency currently employs some 240 full-time equivalent inspectors for compliance monitoring purposes across all of the schemes it administers. There are currently 200 persons trained to undertake inspections for compliance with the single payment scheme.

Safeguarding Children: Chief Inspectors' Report

The Earl of Listowel asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they intend to prevent a repetition of young people with a history of abusing children being placed in a dormitory with younger children as described in the second joint Chief Inspectors' report on Arrangements to Safeguard Children. [HL1453]

Lord Adonis: The joint Chief Inspectors' report recognises that there have been major developments in policy on children's services but it raises a number of concerns, including the care of children in residential settings, all of which the Government are considering carefully and will respond to in due course.

There is already much good practice. For example, the Chief Inspectors found that where guidance—in particular, the framework for the assessment of children in need and their families—is being used effectively for new placements to inform the care plan, the higher quality of information has led to better outcomes for these children.

Residential care homes should have a statement of purpose—this should prevent potential perpetrators being placed with potential younger victims. Homes are also expected to have explicit processes to ensure that children are protected and positive behaviour is supported.

Residential special schools are also required to have a statement of purpose and are subject to the national minimum standards. The standards cover admissions for example, schools are required to make reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary information about a child including about any matters that might make a child vulnerable or a danger to others. They are required to take account of the effects of a child's admission on the existing group of children. A written placement plan is also required for each boarding pupil specifying how the school will care for the child in accordance with his/her assessed needs.

The Government also recognise the importance and impact of a well-trained workforce on these issues. That is why the children's workforce strategy,
 
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published by my department on 1 April 2005, made improving the recruitment and retention of social workers a key priority. The strategy commits the Government to looking at further measures to increase the supply of social workers and calls on local authorities to adopt best practice in recruitment, training and development, working practices, and leadership and supervision.

Schools: Missing Afro-Caribbean Children

Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 July (WA 198), what evidence the Metropolitan Police Officers have found to indicate that all African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001 are safe and well; and [HL1415]

Whether they will ask the Metropolitan Police to publish the names, schools and suspected present locations of the African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001 and for whom they have no evidence that they are safe and well; and [HL1416]

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 July (WA 198), whether the 161 boys pursued by individual officers were in addition to the 300 possible names notified to the Metropolitan Police as African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001; and [HL1417]

How many of the African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001 are now accounted for; and [HL1418]

What evidence they have that may indicate whether any of the African-Caribbean boys aged four to seven who were reported as missing from schools in London in 2001 have been involved in exorcisms or similar rituals and practices. [HL1419]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I refer the noble Lord to the reply given to the Question from him on 27 June 2005 (HL790). None of the boys reported as missing is unaccounted for, but their personal details are police operational information and remain confidential. I understand from the Metropolitan Police Service that in every case there were legitimate reasons for the boys not returning to school. There is no evidence that any of them has come to any harm or been involved in ritualistic practices. There were no allegations from either the families or schools that the welfare of these children was at risk. The 161 boys in respect of whom enquiries were pursued by individual officers are a sub-set of the 300 names notified to the Metropolitan Police Service.

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