| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
11 July 2007 : Column WA219
Army: Training
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Army has ready access to a suitable video to aid training in conduct after capture. [HL4600]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Drayson): Conduct after capture training is now known as resistance training and is provided for by the level A survival, evasion, resistance (to interrogation) and extraction (SERE) training package. This training is delivered using a video/DVD. It is readily available to all service personnel, and is mandatory for all units prior to deployment on operations.
Children: Every Child Matters
The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they have taken to enable working parents to spend quality time with their school-age children with the Every Child Matters strategy. [HL4656]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Lord Adonis): The Every Child Matters strategy aims to support all parents in the choices they make about caring for their children, recognising that parents are the most important influence on children's outcomes. The Every Parent Matters document published in March 2007 sets out the ways in which the Government provide support to parents, from their children's earliest years to the challenges of adolescence. It includes increased investment in programmes to help parents make the most of the time they spend with their children and play a full and positive part in their children's learning and development. This can take a variety of forms including structured parenting programmes in the growing number of schools offering extended services, the new National Academy for Parenting Practitioners ensuring the workforce has the skills necessary for supporting parents, and informal advice provided by Parentline Plus.
In responding to parents' needs, the Government acknowledge the diversity of family circumstances and the increasing role played by fathers. It is for parents to determine the right balance between work and family commitments. The Government's approach includes encouragement for flexible working, which many employers extend voluntarily to parents of school-age children.
Cyprus: British Council
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent the British Council has assisted and financially supported (a) education; (b) the arts; (c) environmental or scientific programmes; and (d) community initiatives in (i) the Republic of Cyprus, and (ii) Northern Cyprus in each of the three years since 24 April 2004. [HL4625]
11 July 2007 : Column WA220
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The information requested by the noble Lord is as follows:
Northern Cyprus funding—Financial Year (FY) 2006-07: £56,000.
FYs 2004-05 to 2006-07—Eight Turkish Cypriots have attended the European Research Institute course in Birmingham.
Republic of Cyprus funding—FY 2006-07: £7,500.
Although the majority of arts events are held in the Republic of Cyprus, participants are invited from both communities.
Funding for events based in Northern Cyprus —FY 2005-06: £9,000 in project work.
Funding for events based in the Republic of Cyprus —FY 2006-07: £16,500 in project work, and £6,000 in travel grants to organisations/individuals to increase their exposure to the UK.
FY 2005-06: £1,500 in project work, and £5,000 in travel grants to organisations to support UK artists.
FY 2004-05: £61,900 in project work.
Environmental or scientific programmes
Republic of Cyprus funding—£12,000 over the three financial years covered by the Question.
Northern Cyprus funding—£202,500 over the three financial years (funded by the EU and managed by the British Council).
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent the British Council has supported visits to the United Kingdom by those involved in (a) the arts; (b) sport; (c) educational advancement; and (d) medical research in Northern Cyprus in each of the three years since 24 April 2004. [HL4626]
Lord Malloch-Brown: Since 2004, a total of six teachers from Northern Cyprus attended short courses and seminars as part of professional development, as well as international seminars, courses and training programmes in the UK. Eight Turkish Cypriots have attended the European Research Institute course in Birmingham.
The British Council provided a travel grant for one visitor from Northern Cyprus to attend the British Educational Training and Technology Exhibition, the world’s largest educational technology event; the Greenwich Youth Summit in London; and a Pilgrims English Language Course.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
To what extent the British Council has assisted practically or financially in the teaching of English in (a) primary, and (b) secondary schools in Northern Cyprus during each of the three years since 24 April 2004. [HL4627]
11 July 2007 : Column WA221
Lord Malloch-Brown: The British Council supports the professional development of teachers in primary and secondary education by giving them opportunities and/or grants to attend seminars and training worldwide.
Primary EducationIn 2004, the British Council, in collaboration with the Turkish Cypriot educational authorities, initiated a three-year reform project (costing £50,000) to improve English language teaching in primary education in three major areas: curriculum, materials and resources, and professional development.
Secondary EducationThe British Council provided consultancy to the Turkish Cypriot educational authorities to look at their current English language training curriculum in secondary schools in 2005, with a UK English language expert working with a local education team.
Cyprus: Official Visits
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Ministers will maintain the precedent set by the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Jack Straw, when he visited the President of Northern Cyprus, Mr Mehmet Ali Tallat; and whether they will formally invite President Tallat to visit Westminster during 2007. [HL4628]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government give high priority to supporting the UN in its efforts to find a just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem that benefits all Cypriots. Only by engaging with both communities in Cyprus can we help make progress towards this objective. Officials and Ministers will therefore maintain dialogue with representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community at all levels, both in Cyprus and in the UK. This naturally includes the Turkish Cypriot leader. This does not change our long established policy of non-recognition of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Ecosystem Management
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will increase the human and financial research resources provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to clarify the connections between ecological processes and the provision of ecosystem management and services. [HL4519]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Defra's evidence and innovation strategy(1) sets out the department's main research priorities. This includes work to boost
11 July 2007 : Column WA222
Defra is also involved in broader partnerships in this area. These include the living with environmental change programme, and the recently approved NERC/ESRC transdisciplinary seminar series framing ecosystem services and human well-being (FRESH). One of FRESH's objectives is to “understand how ecological processes generate ecosystem services and associated economic and social benefits at different spatial and temporal scales”.
By the end of 2007, Defra plans to publish an action plan for embedding an ecosystems approach to policy-making and delivery in England. This will require active engagement with delivery bodies, relevant parts of government, and other partners.
(2) NR0107 England's terrestrial ecosystem services and the rationale for an ecosystem-based approach.
Embryology
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 January (WA 129—30), why data on the number of embryos created using cell nuclear replacement (cloning) as part of a research project are not routinely collected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, regardless of the grant of a particular licence in the first instance. [HL4585]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 28 June 2007, Official Report, col. WA160. I have nothing further to add to that Answer.
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 January (WA 204) and 26 June (WA 129-30), whether the remit of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority extends to the responsibility for licensing human embryo research which is prohibited by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and whether the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill would be required in order for the research project R0153 to be licensed by the regulatory authority. [HL4624]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is an independent statutory body with the responsibility for making decisions relating to licensing of research projects under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Human embryo research can only be licensed by the HFEA if it is shown to be necessary or desirable for one of the research
11 July 2007 : Column WA223
The HFEA granted licence R0153 to the Centre at Life, Newcastle, following appeal. A summary of how it reached this decision is available on the HFEA website at www.hfea.gov.uk.
Energy: Oil Depots
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the annual report and accounts 2005-06 of the Environment Agency, whether the Buncefield oil terminal had been assessed, prior to its destruction, under the operator and pollution risk appraisal system; if so, which band it was placed in; how many other such terminals have been risk assessed; and what bands they are in. [HL4545]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Operator and pollution risk appraisal (OPRA) is a risk screening methodology developed for the Environment Agency's regulation of industry under the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994.
The Buncefield oil terminal was not regulated by the Environment Agency under either of these pieces of legislation and, as such, was not assessed against OPRA. The depot was regulated under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 by the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive, which acted as the competent authorities. It also had a permit in relation to air emissions from the local authority, Dacorum Borough Council.
Health: Dementia
Baroness Greengross asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they propose to make services for dementia patients a priority for physical and mental health providers. [HL4666]
11 July 2007 : Column WA224
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Government are committed to improving older people's mental health services. The components of a comprehensive older people's mental health service for health and social care services is outlined in the department's service development guide, Everybody's Business.
In addition to this, the department is reviewing what more needs to be done to improve services for people with dementia in line with the findings and conclusions of the recently published National Audit Office report, Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia.
Health: Prescription Drugs
Lord Selsdon asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their current estimate of the volume and value of drugs supplied under prescription to non-British nationals in the United Kingdom which are then taken abroad for consumption by, or sale to, third parties. [HL4530]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The department does not collect this information.
Human Rights: Freedom of Association
Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they will take to ensure that citizens of the United Kingdom are free to exercise their right to marry or associate with individuals of whom their families disapprove without threat of violence or death. [HL4719]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): Forced marriages are an abuse of fundamental human rights and cannot be justified on religious or cultural grounds. They are very different from arranged marriages, where both parties give their full and free consent.
In 2005, the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) was established as the UK’s one-stop shop for developing government policy on forced marriage, co-ordinating awareness-raising projects and providing support, information and protection to those at risk. The FMU handles approximately 250 to 300 cases per year, 15 per cent of which involve men. The FMU also assists reluctant sponsors—those forced into marriage and subsequently forced to sponsor a visa application—and has dealt with over 100 cases since May 2006.
Given the serious risk that forced marriage can present to victims, the FMU works closely with other agencies across the UK, including the police and social services, to ensure that the right level of protection is provided. Guidelines for police officers and social workers, as well as registrars and health and education professionals, have been developed and published by the FMU. More information on the work of the FMU, and copies of these guidelines, can be found at www.fco.gov.uk/forcedmarriage.
11 July 2007 : Column WA225
The Government are also supporting the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill that is going through Parliament. This will provide enhanced civil protection for vulnerable men, women and children threatened with forced marriage and will send out a clear message that forced marriage will not be tolerated.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |