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28 Mar 2007 : Column WA269
Written Answers
Wednesday 28 March 2007
Afghanistan: Tanks
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received any requests to deploy main battle tanks to Afghanistan from commanders in that country in the past three months; and, if so, what has been their response. [HL2874]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): There have been no such requests.
Armed Forces: Medical Treatment
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many members of the regular Armed Forces and the Reserves, having served in Iraq since January 2003, have been treated for mental illnesses; what consultation Ministers have had with Combat Stress in the past year about the after-care of those discharged because of their illnesses; and what further action is being considered. [HL2692]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): During the operational period from January 2003 to 30 September 2006, 2,123 mobilised British Military Personnel (Regular and Reservists) who deployed to Operation TELIC were assessed by, and received treatment from, the Defence Medical Services for mental health conditions thought to be related to their deployment. This represents around 2 per cent of personnel deployed to Operation TELIC over the same period.
Of this number, 328 service personnel fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), representing around 0.3 per cent of personnel deployed to Operation TELIC over the same period. Some 904 personnel were diagnosed with an adjustment disorder; this figure will include a number who have post-traumatic symptoms not amounting to full PTSD. The other 891 personnel were treated for a range of other miscellaneous disorders.
In 2003, the MoD commissioned research by the King’s Centre for Military Health Research into the health of military personnel who were deployed to Operation TELIC. This report showed that in the 2003 deployment there was no significant increase in ill health of regular forces compared to those that did not deploy. However, the report did show that a higher proportion of Reservists who did deploy displayed symptoms of common mental health problems and PTSD compared to either regulars or to Reservists who did not deploy. As a result of this
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It remains the case that medical discharge from the UK Armed Forces due to psychological illness is also low. Out of the total of some 180,000 regular service personnel, only about 150, or less than 0.1 per cent, are discharged annually for mental health reasons, whatever the cause.
The Veterans Minister has had a number of meetings or discussions with officers of the Ex-Service Mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress) in the past year. Discussions have covered various aspects of the society's work with mentally ill veterans; his latest conversation with the chief executive was as recently as 19 March.
The MoD meets individual costs relating to war pensioners who undergo “remedial treatment” at either of the two Combat Stress homes in England for conditions related to their individual war pensioned disablement. For 2006-07, the “remedial treatment” fees rate was increased by more than the rate of inflation. We are currently in discussions with Combat Stress regarding fee rates for 2007-08.
The MoD also recently awarded a grant of £100,000 to Combat Stress towards the modernisation of its care home in Scotland, Hollybush House.
The Government are committed to good mental health and well-being for Armed Forces personnel, both in service and after they leave. For veterans, healthcare is primarily the responsibility of the NHS. A number of new initiatives are being considered to improve the treatment of veterans suffering with mental health problems. Following recommendations on mental health services for veterans in 2005 by the independent Health and Social Care Advisory Service, officials from the Ministry of Defence, the UK health departments and Combat Stress have been working together to develop and implement a new community-based model for mental health services for veterans; this would include integration of Combat Stress into NHS commissioning arrangements. It is hoped that, beginning in the spring of 2007, the model will be piloted at sites across the UK.
Aviation: Death of Passengers
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
In respect of passengers dying during international flights on airlines registered in the United Kingdom—(a) what regulations or procedures apply; (b) whether there are limits on the time that a deceased person remains strapped in a seat; (c) in what circumstances airlines are required to divert to a nearby airport for the body to be removed; (d) whether airlines are required to provide facilities on board aeroplanes for use in such circumstances on flights over a certain duration; and (e) whether airlines are required to pay compensation for inconvenience caused to passengers in these circumstances. [HL2852]
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Lord Bassam of Brighton: The answers to the points raised are:
(a) The regulations regarding the registration of births, deaths and missing persons are laid down in the Civil Aviation (Births, Deaths and Missing Persons) Regulations 1948, as amended, made pursuant to Section 83 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1982. In general terms, if a death occurs on board an aircraft (which is not a consequence of an aircraft accident) anywhere in the world, the owner of the aircraft needs to notify the CAA of the death by completing the notification of deaths form and returning it to the Aircraft Registration Section. The regulation only covers aircraft that are registered in the UK and does not apply if the death occurs on an aircraft registered in another state, even if operated by a UK airline.(b) No limits are laid down concerning the length of time a deceased person may remain strapped in an aircraft seat.(c) There are no requirements for airlines to divert in the case of a death on board. Any guidance to the aircraft commander on actions to be taken following a death on board will be provided by the aircraft operator and set out in the operator's operations manual.(d) There are no requirements for an airline to provide specific facilities on board an aircraft to cater for a death in flight.(e) There are no regulations requiring an airline to pay compensation for any inconvenience caused to passengers as a result of a death on board.Bangladesh: Mr Ranghani Mro
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 16 March (WA 159), whether they will instruct the British High Commission in Dhaka to visit Mr Ranghani Mro in the Chittagong hospital and report on his welfare and medical condition. [HL2854]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): An official from our high commission in Dhaka visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) as part of a delegation from Dhaka-based EU missions on 21 to 22 March. The delegation met indigenous leaders and non-governmental organisation representatives to discuss the latest situation in CHT. Mr Mro's case formed part of these discussions, but there was no suggestion that his condition is life-threatening. We have no plans to visit him.
Following mounting concerns over the treatment of the indigenous people of the CHT, the EU raised this with the caretaker Government on 18 March. We will continue to press the caretaker Government and the army to respect human rights and the rule of law.
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Banks
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take legislative or regulatory steps to prevent United Kingdom retail banks closing private customer accounts because of legitimate complaints of excessive charges from clients. [HL2778]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The decision to close an account is a commercial decision for the bank. However, the management of private customer current accounts is covered by the banking code, which is monitored by the Banking Code Standards Board (BCSB). The code sets out the ways in which banks fairly and reasonably deal with their customers, including circumstances under which accounts may be closed. If customers think that their bank has failed to treat them fairly and reasonably they can approach the Financial Ombudsman Service to look into the matter.
Botswana: Elephants
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will support Botswana's application to the Committee on International Trade in Endangered Species to sell stocks of ivory accumulated from tusks recovered from elephants which died from natural causes; and whether they will encourage European Union member states to do likewise. [HL2683]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The UK is currently awaiting information on whether criteria, agreed at the 12th conference of CITES parties in 2002, for the one-off sales of ivory stockpiles to take place, have been met. The issue will be discussed by the CITES Standing Committee on 2 June. Botswana’s additional proposals, for annual sales and an increase in the size of any one-off stockpile sale, are to be discussed at the 14th conference of CITES parties (3-15 June). The UK, along with EU member states, is currently looking at these proposals and no decision on them has yet been taken.
Climate Change
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what basis and by whom evidence of human involvement in climate change has been evaluated; and whether the ongoing natural process of climate change has been taken into account in the Government's assessments of climate change. [HL2699]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Recognising the problem of potential global climate change, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United
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The role of the IPCC is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
The IPCC is the most authoritative voice on climate change. Its assessments represent the consensus of thousands of scientists worldwide, based on peer-reviewed, research. Objectivity is ensured by the broad and open review process and shared responsibility for its reports. No one Government, organisation or individual has sole responsibility for any part of the IPCC’s reports.
The IPCC’s latest major assessment, the fourth assessment report on climate change, concludes that most of the observed warming since the mid-20th century is very likely—that is, a more than 90 per cent chance—to be the result of human emissions of greenhouse gases. Both the spatial patterns and trend of warming can only be explained by the inclusion of human emissions. It is therefore very unlikely that the rapid increase in global temperatures seen over the past half century could have been caused by natural factors alone.
Coast
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have published the advice they have received from Natural England in relation to coastal access; and, if not, whether they intend to do so and when. [HL2833]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Natural England's report, Improving Coastal Access: Our advice to Government, will be published at the same time as we issue our public consultation document.
Energy: Biofuels
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What evidence they require from biofuels plants that qualify for enhanced capital allowances of significant carbon dioxide emission savings; and whether this evidence is publicly available.[HL2605]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): ECAs were first introduced for a range of energy-saving technologies in 2001. The qualifying technologies are specified in the Energy Technology List (ETL) published by Defra. The ETL includes a product list that lists the products that meet the energy-saving criteria. This gives businesses
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Providing ECAs for tailor-made installations, such as biofuel plants, rather than an individual piece of equipment requires a different approach. For example, in the case of combined heat and power (CHP) plants, to qualify spending must be certified as being incurred on “good quality” CHP. Accreditation is carried out by the CHP quality assurance programme (CHPQA) on behalf of Defra. The ETL includes a criteria list that lists the equipment making up a CHP installation that can qualify for ECAs.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have quantified the emissions of nitrous oxides associated with feedstock cultivation for biofuels and biofuels consumption; and how this compares with nitrous oxides emissions associated with (a) arable land used for growing food, and (b) production and use of fossil fuels. [HL2646]
Lord Rooker: The Government have funded a number of studies to consider environmental impacts and benefits of biofuels, including emissions of nitrous oxides.
Emissions of nitrous oxide associated with feedstock cultivation are mainly related to fertiliser production and application. The fertiliser nitrogen requirement of arable crops grown for fuel are little different from that required to grow the same crops for food.
Both oxides of nitrogen (NOx—local pollutants) and nitrous oxide (N20—a powerful greenhouse gas) are produced during the combustion of biofuels. A DfT funded study found that at low-level blends, emissions performance of vehicles are broadly the same as for fossil fuels (~0.007 N20 grams per kilometre (g/km)). Pure biofuels had a slightly higher rate of N20 emissions (~0.01 N20 g/km), but NOx emissions were 8 per cent lower than for fossil fuels.
Under the forthcoming Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, obligated companies will be required to report on the environmental impacts and lifecycle greenhouse gas benefits of the fuels that they supply. The Government are currently developing technical guidance to ensure reporting is consistent and robust.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their assessment of the level of input of fertiliser into the cultivation of feedstock for production of bioethanol and biodiesel which will render the use of the biofuel to be responsible for net emissions of greenhouse gas rather than savings. [HL2648]
Lord Rooker: The Government have funded a number of studies to evaluate the net lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions performance of biofuels.
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Emissions associated with the production and use of fertiliser reduce the overall greenhouse gas benefits that biofuels offer. Nevertheless, most biofuels do offer worthwhile emissions savings. For example, UK biodiesel using rapeseed typically offers net lifecycle greenhouse savings of around 50 per cent compared with fossil diesel. Similar levels can be achieved through UK bioethanol derived from wheat. Actual levels of performance can vary widely according to the type of feedstocks used, the level of inputs, and the processing methods employed.
Under the forthcoming Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), obligated companies will be required to report on the lifecycle greenhouse gas benefits of the fuels that they supply. The Government are currently developing the technical guidance that transport fuel suppliers will have to use when calculating their greenhouse gas savings. This will ensure that reporting under the obligation is consistent. In the future, when the reporting system has demonstrated that it is sufficiently robust, the Government are keen to move to a system under which biofuels are rewarded under the RTFO according to their carbon-saving performance. The Government are seeking views in their public consultation on the RTFO, available via the DfT website, on whether, how and when the RTFO might directly incentivise use of biofuels according to their carbon performance.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made an assessment of the carbon accounting trials conducted by the Renewable Energy Association and the Home Grown Cereals Association; and, if so, whether the trials provide an effective model which could be rolled out across the country as a means of assessing the carbon mitigation benefits of biofuels. [HL2708]
Lord Rooker: The Government are aware of the work by the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and the Home Grown Cereals Association (HGCA). It has been considered as part of the development of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation’s carbon reporting framework which will be piloted over the summer. HGCA and REA are on the advisory groups which are helping to develop this framework.
Energy: Radioactive Waste Management
Lord Broers asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been involved in determining the terms of reference for the reconstituted Committee on Radioactive Waste Management; and [HL2687]
Whether the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be involved in the recruitment and appointment of the members of the reconstituted
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The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser was consulted on the terms of reference for the reconstituted Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.
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