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Data from the United States had suggested that there was a link between ethnicity and prostate cancer, with black men more likely to develop prostate cancer. To investigate whether this was the same for England, we funded the PROCESS study (prostate cancer in ethnic subgroup) in 2002. This study has now been completed and shows that black men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer compared with white men, but that they do not have worse outcomes. Follow-up studies are currently being devised and will help to advise how best to take this issue forward.

Health: Stem Cell Therapy

Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): In reference to the Answer given to the noble Lord on 30 April 2007 (Official Report, WA182), of the stem cell clinical trials that already fall under the remit of the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee, all were carried out using adult stem cells.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Casualty Reporting

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): This information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate effort. Casualty reporting is undertaken as quickly and sensitively as possible and takes precedence over all but the most urgent operational and security matters.

Land Management

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The England catchment sensitive farming capital grant scheme is available in 40 catchments. These catchments were identified jointly by the Environment Agency and English Nature (now part of Natural England) from data gathered for water framework directive purposes on nitrates, phosphorus and sediment pollution, combined with data on sensitive freshwater fisheries, chalk streams, failing bathing waters, groundwaters and lakes designated as special areas of conservation. English Nature prioritisation of designated sites at risk of diffuse water pollution from agriculture was also taken into account. Further local appraisals were carried out to target specific areas and pollutants as set out in a funding priority statement for each catchment. These statements can be found at www.defra.gov. uk/farm/environment/water/csf/grants/capital-grants-scheme.htm. I have also arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Rooker: The England catchment sensitive farming capital grant scheme covers 26 sets of items. These are mainly low-cost items and include funding for fences and gates, water provision for grazing livestock, management of run-off, drainage water, dirty water and sediments, and sheep-dip facilities. The full list can be found in the Farmer Handbook at: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/water/csf/grants /capital-grants-scheme.htm. I have also arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Rooker The England catchment sensitive farming capital grant scheme is part of the England catchment sensitive farming delivery initiative, which runs until 31 March 2008. The future of the initiative depends on departmental spending plans for 2008-09 through to 2010-11, which are currently being considered as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007.

Licensing: Music

Lord Redesdale asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Lord Davies of Oldham: The findings of the Musicians Union’s “State of the Nation” survey are yet to be published. In assessing the impact of the Licensing Act on live music, we will look at a range of evidence, and the views of the Musicians Union’s members will provide a valuable contribution.

DCMS set up the Live Music Forum to help to monitor the impact of the Licensing Act on live music. It has been working with, and drawing on evidence from, a range of stakeholders, including the Musicians Union. In addition, DCMS has commissioned its own research to assess the Act’s impact in this area, details of which are available on the DCMS website: www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Research. This research is also available in the Library of the House.

Lord Redesdale asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Davies of Oldham: We do not hold this information. However, in most circumstances, busking, in the sense in which the word is normally used, will not be licensable. This is because busking is usually “incidental” to other activities, such as shopping, or the premises where the music is played will not have been provided for busking to take place. There may, however, be instances that fall outside this, and other laws and by-laws may apply.

Lord Redesdale asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Davies of Oldham: Schedule 1 to the Licensing Act 2003 provides the full definition of “regulated entertainment”, for which an authorisation is required: www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/30017--k.htm#sch 1.

In summary, performances of live music require an authorisation under the Licensing Act 2003 if they are provided to any extent for members of the public, in order to entertain them, and where the premises at which the live music is provided has been made available for that purpose. Section 173 lists places that are exempt from the requirements of the 2003 Act regardless of whether a performance is for the public or a private event.

A private event with live music will become licensable only where a charge is made by the event organisers or managers to an audience for whom the entertainment is, or entertainment facilities are, being provided with a view to making a profit.

Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the 2003 Act sets out certain exemptions in relation to regulated entertainment, including both public and private performances.

The 2003 Act devolved the administration of the licensing regime to licensing authorities. Any person who is uncertain whether or not any particular performance would constitute a licensable activity should seek the advice of their local licensing authority as part of planning their event.

Lord Redesdale asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Davies of Oldham: We do not hold this information. Sections 5.4 to 5.7 of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport's revised Guidance to Licensing Authorities provides advice about the application of Section 177 of the Licensing Act 2003.

Northern Ireland Office: Block Grant

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Rooker: The following table shows the amounts that have been allocated to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) in each of the last five years as per the annual published Treasury Spring Supplementary Estimates.

2002-03 £000s2003-04 £000s2004-05 £000s2005-06 £000s2006-07 £000s

Resource DEL

1,165,361

1,136,389

1,203,735

1,235,529

1,281,828

Capital DEL

41,575

72,852

82,736

65,348

85,329

The following tables show the resources allocated to the various NIO operational directorates, agencies, legal offices and non-departmental public bodies as per the 2007 NIO departmental report.

Resource Outturn
2002-03 £000s2003-04 £000s2004-05 £000s2005-06 £000s2006-07 Estimated £000s

Policing and Security

790,906

763,538

880,460

858,570

881,743

Criminal Justice

22,638

19,647

23,217

26,889

27,679

Public Prosecution Service

14,315

19,339

22,619

25,135

34,364

Prisons

149,162

112,194

114,175

129,349

138,757

Compensation Agency

33,601

28,482

26,230

45,099

41,595

Bloody Sunday Inquiry

27,037

30,411

12,411

9,397

6,687

Youth Justice Agency

0

12,822

14,864

18,970

28,929

Other

58,138

57,531

55,551

69,802

110,076

Total Resource Outturn

1,095,797

1,043,964

1,149,527

1,183,211

1,269,830

Capital Outturn
2002-03 £000s2003-04 £000s2004-05 £000s2005-06 £000s2006-07 Estimated £000s

Policing and Security

35,276

28,756

46,636

35,010

40,140

Criminal Justice

702

1,042

2,416

1,853

19,275

Public Prosecution Service

321

1,240

186

721

1,196

Prisons

13,280

14,637

11,902

10,301

13,000

Compensation Agency

582

205

630

529

215

Bloody Sunday Inquiry

0

0

0

0

0

Youth Justice Agency

0

1,959

623

6,981

475

Other

3,261

1,909

8,365

94

6,028

Total Capital Outturn

53,422

49,748

70,758

55,489

80,329


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