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When there is a need for a major overhaul of the heating and cooling infrastructure of specific buildings on the parliamentary estate, it is intended to investigate the potential viability of utilising any of the available forms of sustainable energy technologies, and the option of employing heat pump technology is one that would be included in the study.
Libya: Human Rights
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they last made representations to the Government of Libya concerning internal human rights issues and what was the response; and whether in particular they have, or will, raise the cases of Mr Fathi Elgahoni, detained since 2004, and those of three opposition members who have disappeared in the past 18 months. [HL1280]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We continue to have concerns about the human rights situation in Libya, including the cases to which the noble Lord refers. We monitor the situation closely. With our EU partners we raise these concerns with the Libyan authorities when we judge it would be effective to do so. The UK last formally raised human rights issues with Libya on a bilateral basis in August 2007.
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We will continue to work with the Libyan authorities to encourage them to move towards internationally accepted standards.
London Diplomatic List
Viscount Montgomery of Alamein asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The 2008 edition of the London Diplomatic List was published earlier this month and can be purchased from The Stationery Office. An on-line version of the document is also available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk where it is updated regularly.
NHS: Improvement Foundation
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
What inquiries they have made into the reported expenses and abuse of public funds by members of the NHS Improvement Foundation; and [HL1269]
What assessment they have made of the value of the NHS Improvement Foundation in relation to its costs and benefits; and [HL1270]
Whether the accounts of the NHS Improvement Foundation are subject to examination by the National Audit Office; and, if so, whether they have been examined and approved. [HL1271]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Department officials have contacted the Improvement Foundation and received detailed written assurances from its chief executive that National Health Service money had not been used to fund the reported activities.
The Improvement Foundation is a not-for-profit limited company whose accounts are not subject to examination by the National Audit Office. Its accounts are audited internally by the West Yorkshire Internal Audit consortium and externally by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Based on results from its quality improvement programmes, the Improvement Foundation estimates a return on investment to the NHS of £3 savings for every £1 invested.
Organ Donors
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much was spent in the past five financial years on encouraging the general public to donate an organ after death. [HL1049]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The responsibility for publicising and promoting the organ donor register (ODR) lies with NHS Blood and Transplant. The budget allocation set aside for this purpose over the past five years, along with the number of individuals registered on the ODR, is set out in the following table:
The budget for the current financial year is £1.873 million. This includes a one-off funding allocation of £1 million. The current number of people on the ODR stands at 14.9 million.
| Year | Campaign | Non Campaign | Total number on organ donor register |
In addition, the department has provided Section 64 funding of £110,000 in 2004-05, £127,910 in 2005-06, £118,500 in 2006-07 and £169,800 in 2007-08 to a number of voluntary organisations that aim to increase awareness of organ donation.
Plant Health Order
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Plant Health (Forestry) (Phytophthora ramorum) (Great Britain) (Amendment) Order 2007 (SI 2007/3450) has been brought into force.[HL1468]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): I can confirm that the Plant Health (Forestry) (Phytophthora ramorum) (Great Britain) (Amendment) Order 2007 came into force on 31 December 2007.
Political Parties: Finance
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
What legislation is in place for the financing of political parties; and how this money is divided between the political parties. [HL1193]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The majority of funding received by political parties comes from private rather than public sources.
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 established the Policy Development Grants Scheme, whereby up to £2 million is divided among political parties with two or more sitting MPs. The Electoral Commission drew up a scheme to allocate the money, which was approved by Parliament (Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2002, later superseded by the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2006). The scheme allocates an equal share of £1 million of the money to the eligible
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In addition, funds are provided on a non-statutory basis. Cranborne money provides financial assistance to opposition groups and the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in the House of Lords. Short money is provided to opposition parties with two or more MPs or one MP and more than 150,000 votes at the previous general election.
There has been a significant increase in the level of both Cranborne and Short money over the past decade. Cranborne money has increased from a total of £138,048 in 1998-99 to £726,988 in 2007-08.
Short money has increased from a total of £1,696,131.12 in 1998-99 to £6,618,981.53 in 2007-08. Figures for Cranborne and Short money in 2007-08 are shown in Tables B and C.
The Representation of the People Act 1983 entitles parties to free party political broadcasts, and candidates to free delivery of one election address and free use of public meeting rooms at certain elections.
| Table A: Policy Development Grants in 2007-08 (£) | |
| Table B: Cranborne Money in 2007-08 (£) | |
| Table C: Short Money in 2007-08 (£) | |
Royal Visits
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any proposals for a visit by Her Majesty the Queen to the Republic of Ireland during 2008. [HL1372]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): For security reasons, royal visits overseas are not announced until weeks before a visit takes place.
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Somalia
Baroness Northover asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government are working closely with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to encourage and support them in reaching out to all groups that reject violence and to pursue increased inclusiveness in government and a process of national reconciliation. We are pleased to see that the new Somali Prime Minister and Cabinet are currently initiating these processes.
The Government are also working closely with European Union partners and the United Nations, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Security Council and the Secretariat to support international efforts to bring lasting peace to Somalia.
Sudden Oak Death Virus
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 20 January 2004 (WA 135), whether they will update the table in that Answer with further columns to show new cases of sudden oak death virus since then. [HL1337]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The number of outbreaks of Phytophthora ramorum in England and Wales as of May 2007 and in Scotland to December 2007 are detailed below. More up to date information for England and Wales is being collated and will be provided when available.
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