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Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What performance levels have been set in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's code for sustainable homes for level 1 (the entry level) and level 3 (the required level for publicly funded dwellings) in terms of percentage improvements over part l 2006 of the building regulations. [HL5169]
Baroness Andrews: The Government announced on 9 March 2006 that the lowest levels of the code will be raised above the level of the mandatory requirements of the building regulations.
Performance levels for levels 1 and 3 of the code have not yet been set. Work is continuing on investigating what these performance levels should be.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the estimated extra costs of dwellings to meet the energy element of level 1 and level 3 of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's code for sustainable homes; and on what basis the designs were developed and compliance checked. [HL5170]
Baroness Andrews: The consultation document on the code for sustainable homes, published on 5 December 2005, included a partial regulatory impact assessment which included an estimate of the costs of meeting level 1 of the code. It did not include an estimate of the costs of meeting level 3 of the code. The estimated cost per dwelling of meeting the energy element of level 1 of the proposed code was zero.
In the light of the announcement made by the Government on 9 March 2006 on proposals to strengthen the code, these costs will be recalculated as part of a final regulatory impact assessment. Work on these cost benefit calculations are continuing.
NHS: Controlled Drugs
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Who is responsible for the destruction and return of controlled drugs remaining in the home after the
- death of the patient to whom they have been prescribed. [HL5596]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): There is no formal responsibility for the destruction and return of controlled drugs remaining in the home after the death of a patient for whom they have been prescribed. Patients and carers are encouraged to return any unwanted medicines to a community pharmacy or dispensing practice for safe disposal.
Ensuring safe recovery and disposal in the community is closely linked to ensuring better audit of controlled drugs in the community, as set out in Safer Management of Controlled Drugs: The Government's response to the fourth report of the Shipman inquiry. To improve audit, the Department of Health is currently piloting patient drug record cards for Schedule 2 controlled drugs in the community. Following the results of this pilot, the Government will consider extending the scheme, and they plan to issue guidance on recovery and disposal in the community.
Nigeria: Human Rights
Lord Alderdice asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Government of Nigeria about the proposed legislation entitled Act to Make Provisions for the Prohibition of Relationship Between Persons of the Same Sex, Celebration of Marriage by Them, and for Other Matters Connected Therewith; and [HL5676]
Whether they have made representations to the Government of Nigeria that the proposed Act to Make Provisions for the Prohibition of Relationship Between Persons of the Same Sex, Celebration of Marriage by Them, and for Other Matters Connected Therewith undermines international treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria acceded without reservations in 1993. [HL5677]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We are concerned that the proposed Act will cut across many of Nigeria's international human rights obligations by continuing to criminalise the homosexual community in Nigeria. We are also concerned that the Bill will criminalise non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and human rights defenders who may work on behalf of the homosexual community.
We and EU partners have discussed the issue with Nigerian NGOs campaigning against the proposed Bill. All parties were concerned that the Bill would be incompatible with Nigeria's obligations under international human rights treaties. We intend to raise these concerns with the Nigerian authorities at the most appropriate opportunity.
16 May 2006 : Column WA26
Lord Alderdice asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Government of Nigeria to ensure that the safety and protection of all human rights defenders are guaranteed in Nigeria irrespective of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or religion. [HL5678]
Lord Triesman: We fund projects in Nigeria to improve adherence to international human rights standards. Our High Commission in Abuja also regularly raises human rights issues with the Nigerian authorities, including the fact that all of Nigeria's human rights organisations and defenders are able to operate freely and without intimidation.
Parliamentary Ombudsman
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, English Partnerships has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. [HL5601]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): There have been no occasions since 1997 when English Partnerships has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Arts Council of England has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. [HL5620]
Lord Davies of Oldham: There have been no occasions since 1997 where the Arts Council of England has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (WA 126), on how many occasions since 1997, and in respect of which specific recommendations, the Civil Aviation Authority has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. [HL5623]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The CAA came under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Ombudsman in 1999. Since then, five complaints have been made to the ombudsman about the CAA. None was considered to be justified. However, in one case the ombudsman recommended that a goodwill payment of £50 be made to the complainant. The CAA made the payment forthwith.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 3 May (WA 86), whether the Department of Health will in future hold information about the department's compliance with the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendations in a way which permits public access to that information. [HL5693]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): We are putting in place arrangements to ensure that information about action taken on any recommendations for the Department of Health will be publicly available through the Freedom of Information Act on a case-by-case basis.
Peace Protesters
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether peace protesters can be charged under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. [HL5722]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Sections 128 to 131 of the Act created a new offence of criminal trespass on designated sites. If a peace protester trespassed on a designated site they could be liable to be prosecuted.
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