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Omega 3 Oils
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: Defra supports a programme of research to enhance levels of long-chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in meat and milk as alternatives to fish oils in consumer diets. The research contributes to government nutrition and health objectives set out in The Health of the Nation public health White Paper. Some £4.9 million has been spent on the research programme since it was initiated in 1995.
In addition, UK researchers are involved in an EU-funded sixth framework project to tackle metabolic syndrome, including tendency to coronary heart disease. It aims to create alternative plant sources
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(linseed oil) of long-chain omega 3-using genes from marine algae. Animal nutrition research on feeding poultry these modified oils aims to increase the supply of omega 3-enriched poultry meats.
I have arranged for copies of completed projects or, where they are commercially confidential, executive summaries and descriptions of ongoing projects to be placed in the House Libraries.
Parachute Regiment
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which department will bear the costs of the trial of the seven members and former members of the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (OJAG Case 2005/59). [HL2184]
Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence will bear the costs of the trial, although the Judge Advocate General's salary is paid from the Consolidated Fund and not from any department's voted budget.
Salmon Fishing
Lord Mason of Barnsley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was their input at the last North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) meeting in June concerning drift netting for salmon in Irish waters; whether any further representations have been made to NASCO; and whether they have made representations to the Government of the Irish Republic to curtail their drift netting operations. [HL2179]
Lord Bach: The EU delegation stated its position on coastal salmon fisheries in its opening address and in subsequent negotiations at the NASCO annual meeting in June. It indicated that the problem was coming under control in member states but that some problems persisted. It had therefore commissioned a report,
It indicated that if it proved necessary it was,
"fully committed to taking measures to reduce these fisheries or even to consider whether these fisheries should be brought to a complete end".
The UK has supported that approach. No representations have been made to NASCO subsequent to the annual meeting in June. UK scientists led the initial preparation of the EU review of mixed stock fisheries for Atlantic salmon in European Community waters, excluding the Baltic Sea, which was submitted to the European Commission in August. We are not aware what progress has been made by the European Commission since then.
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Lord Mason of Barnsley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What emergency measures to manage and control salmon stocks in the waters of the Irish Republic have been introduced since the last North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) meeting in June. [HL2180]
Lord Bach: We are not aware of any emergency measures having been introduced to,
since the last North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation meeting in June. We understand that the coastal fishery failed to take the quota that had been set.
Schools: Personalised Learning
Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
How schools will be assessed on the planning and delivery of intensive catch-up support where needed under the personalised learning reforms; whether primary schools will be assessed by Ofsted in the same way as secondary schools; and what proportion of the total funding is likely to go to primary schools. [HL2237]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): Under our reforms for personalisation, school improvement partners and the new Ofsted inspection regime will challenge every school to demonstrate effective planning and delivering of tailored teaching and learning for every child, in particular for pupils who have fallen behind age-related expectations. We also expect all local authorities under their duty to raise educational standards to use their national strategies consultants and other school improvement staff to promote, monitor and spread best practice about personalisation of learning to ensure that all schools meet the needs of parents and pupils in their area.
Ofsted will use the same framework to inspect primary and secondary schools. During inspections, inspectors will evaluate how well teaching and resources promote learning and address the full range of learners' needs and the extent to which programmes or activities match learners' aspirations and potential, building on their prior attainment and experience.
Our White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All—More Choice for Parents and Pupils, published on 25 October, set out an additional £60 million in each of 2006–07 and 2007–08 that would be available to authorities to enable them to support the schools in primary and secondary sectors that had the greatest number of pupils who had fallen behind and faced the greatest challenges in improving their performance. The White Paper also announced £335 million, specifically earmarked in the dedicated schools grant (DSG), to be invested by 2007–08 to
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provide secondary schools with the resources to deliver personalised learning for 11 to 14 year-olds. Details of the methodology used to distribute the funding between local authorities and the actual allocations for each authority will be announced as part of the wider announcement on school funding allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08 later in the year. Guidance for local authorities on the distribution of funding between schools will be made available at the same time.
Sudan: Darfur
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What impact the latest upsurge in violence in Darfur is likely to have on humanitarian operations. [HL1716]
Baroness Amos: The UN estimates that 3.4 million people in Darfur are in need of humanitarian
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assistance. In recent weeks there has been a marked increase in violence perpetrated against civilians and attacks on humanitarian and commercial convoys throughout Darfur. There has also been a significant increase in clashes between the belligerent parties.
Road access for humanitarian agencies in west Darfur has been all but cut by persistent banditry. The UN has positioned air transport in Geneina to meet urgent humanitarian needs and is confident that essential operations can be maintained. In central Darfur, the upsurge in active fighting has seen news waves of localised displacement. The UN is confident that it can meet immediate humanitarian needs with existing resources. Contingency planning for prolonged disruption is under way by the humanitarian agencies.
We have made it consistently clear to all sides that the resumption of violence is unacceptable and that attacks must cease. The AU-mediated Abuja talks are the only prospect for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. We fully support that process, at which a UK observer is present.
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