Previous Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page

Fishing: Northern Ireland

Lord Rooker: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland (Paul Goggins) has made the following ministerial Statement.

Copies of the inland fisheries annual report of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for 2004 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

The document provides details of the department's activities to conserve, protect and develop salmon and inland fisheries under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 as amended and includes statistical information and income and expenditure details for the 2004-05 financial year.
 
12 Jun 2006 : Column WS5
 

Food Safety Promotion Board: Northern Ireland

Lord Rooker: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Paul Goggins) has made the following ministerial Statement.

Copies of the Food Safety Promotion Board Annual Report 2004, incorporating financial statements for 2004, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This document provides details of the Food Safety Promotion Board's activities, its performance and expenditure to the end of 2004.

NHS: Anti-social Behaviour

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): My right honourable friend the Minister of State (Caroline Flint) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

On 10 June 2006, the Department of Health launched a consultation on proposed measures to deal with anti-social individuals creating a nuisance or disturbance on National Health Service healthcare premises. In some areas of the NHS, certain individuals can divert resources away from healthcare provision by causing a nuisance or disturbance to patients and staff. This consultation document proposes introducing new legislation to give NHS health bodies new powers to tackle this problem. This paper seeks comments on the need for such legislation and all aspects of its formulation and use. The consultation period will close on 1 September 2006. Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Library.

Prison Service: Business Plan 2006–07

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr Gerry Sutcliffe) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The Prison Service business plan for 2006–07, including the previously agreed key performance indicator targets, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.
 
12 Jun 2006 : Column WS6
 

UN Central Emergency Relief Fund

The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I informed honourable Members on 9 March of the official launch of the United Nations (UN) Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The CERF is intended to provide UN humanitarian agencies with early funding so that they can respond immediately when a crisis strikes, and to enable them to channel funds to neglected emergencies.

To date, the CERF total stands at $262 million from 42 donors, of which the UK is the largest single contributor, with $70 million (£40 million) for this first year of operation. The CERF has made an encouraging start, with $92 million committed to a number of humanitarian crises, the largest allocations of which are to the Horn of Africa ($25 million); Darfur ($20 million); the Democratic Republic of Congo ($17 million); Chad ($10 million); Niger ($6 million); Côte d'Ivoire ($2 million); and Burundi ($2 million).

The UK has a seat on the CERF advisory group, which provides the UN's emergency relief co-ordinator with advice on the speed and appropriateness of fund allocations and examines performance and accountability. The group had its first meeting on 23 May.

In the light of the CERF's encouraging start, and as part of our ongoing efforts to improve the quality and quantity of the UK's response to humanitarian crises, I am pleased to inform the House that I have approved a further commitment to the CERF of £120 million over the next three years, January 2007 to December 2009, which is conditional on DfID continuing to be satisfied with the results that the UN is achieving with the CERF. We will monitor closely the performance of the CERF to ensure that this investment is used to the best effect. I hope that this long-term commitment will encourage other donors to do likewise, thereby strengthening the financial sustainability of the CERF, and we will actively lobby key donors to this end.


Next Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page