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Royal Mail

Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:

On which date ministers last discussed the possibility of a full or partial privatisation of Royal Mail; and what were their conclusions. [HL2511]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Baroness Vadera): The Government have no plans to privatise Royal Mail.

Shipping: Erika 3 Measures

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

What steps they intend to take to implement the outstanding measures in the Erika 3 package of maritime safety measures; and what actions are they taking to further implementation of that package throughout the European Union. [HL2851]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government support five of the Third Maritime Safety Package (Erika 3) measures: vessel traffic monitoring, accident investigation, port state control, carrier liability and classification societies. The negotiations on these five proposals are well advanced and the Government are urging the European Commission, other member states and the European Parliament to conclude them as soon as possible.

The Government have yet to be convinced of the need for the remaining two proposals on flag state requirements and the civil liability of shipowners. A policy debate on these two proposals will take place at next week’s transport council.

Once final agreement on all the measures in the Third Maritime Safety Package has been reached, the European Commission will be responsible for ensuring that member states and relevant organisations fulfil their legal requirements. The European Maritime Safety Agency will assist the Commission in undertaking this task. The implementation of the measures in the UK will be undertaken through the usual parliamentary procedures.

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Smoking: Mental Health Patients

Lord Monson asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the decision by certain mental hospitals to prevent sectioned patients from smoking, whether indoors or outdoors in the hospital grounds, is compatible with (a) the Human Rights Act 1998; and (b) the statement by Lord Bach on 1 March (Official Report, col. 1535) that it remains legal for adults to smoke if they choose to do so. [HL2670]

Baroness Thornton: The High Court is considering the issue. It is the opinion of Health Ministers that smokefree legislation is compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998. The Statement of Lord Bach on 1 March does not relate to smoking in hospitals.

Lord Monson asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent smoking is permitted at Broadmoor Hospital and Rampton Hospital. [HL2671]

Baroness Thornton: Details of the specific smoking policies in place at these hospitals are not available centrally as they are the responsibility of the relevant National Health Service trusts. The noble Lord is welcome to contact the relevant trust for details.

South Africa: Infant and Child Rape

Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made about infant and child rape in South Africa, purportedly exacerbated by myths of a “virgin cure” for HIV/AIDS; and what assistance they have offered

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to the government of South Africa to tackle the problem. [HL2354]

Baroness Crawley: The UK Government are deeply concerned about the issues surrounding sexual violence and AIDS in southern Africa and have raised these concerns in dialogue with officials and Ministers. Studies show that of the 54,000 rapes in South Africa every year 40 per cent occur among children under 18, approximately half of these among children under 13. There are no reliable statistics for infant rape, and there is no evidence that rape is exacerbated by myths of a “virgin cure” for AIDS.

The UK Government have supported the South African Government through funding research and community-based action to address child rape and HIV. This has increased understanding of the issues and the responses and policies government should take to tackle the problem.

Special Educational Needs

Lord Bradley asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many children were (a) identified with special educational needs, and (b) statemented for special educational provisions, in the City of Manchester in each of the last five years. [HL2806]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Lord Adonis): The available information for Manchester local authority is given in the tables.

The latest information on special educational needs can be found in the Statistical First Release Special Educational Needs in England, January 2007, which can be found at www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000732/index.shtml.

Maintained Primary Schools1 in Manchester Local Authority: Number of pupils with Special Educational Needs, based on where the pupil attends school
Position in January each year
	Total Pupils	Pupils with statements	%	SEN pupils—school action plus	%	SEN pupils—school action	%	Total SEN pupils without statements	%	Total SEN	%
2003	41,690	380	0.9	2,240	5.4	4,740	11.4	6,970	16.7	7,350	17.6
2004	41,030	470	1.2	2,420	5.9	4,690	11.4	7,110	17.3	7,580	18.5
2005	40,810	600	1.5	2,310	5.7	4,720	11.6	7,030	17.2	7,630	18.7
2006	40,747	590	1.4	2,415	5.9	5,334	13.1	7,749	19.0	8,339	20.5
2007	40,718	564	1.4	2,476	6.1	5,343	13.1	7,819	19.2	8,383	20.6

Source. School Census ¹ Includes middle schools as deemed. Not applicable. No schools of this type.

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Maintained Secondary Schools1 in Manchester Local Authority: Number of pupils with Special Educational Needs, based on where the pupil attends school
Position in January each year
	Total Pupils	Pupils with statements	%	SEN pupils—action plus	%	SEN pupils—school action	%	Total SEN pupils without statements	%	Total SEN	%
2003	24,050	510	2.1	560	2.3	3,430	14.3	4,000	16.6	4,510	18.7
2004	23,680	550	2.3	750	3.2	3,100	13.1	3,850	16.3	4,400	18.6
2005	23,760	590	2.5	890	3.7	2,930	12.3	3,810	16.1	4,400	18.5
2006	23,515	680	2.9	1,029	4.4	3,590	15.3	4,619	19.6	5,299	22.5
2007	23,118	682	3.0	1,325	5.7	3,537	15.3	4,862	21.0	5,544	24.0

Source: School Census ¹ Includes middle schools as deemed.. Not applicable. No schools of this type.

Maintained Mainstream Schools In Manchester Local Authority: Pupils for whom Statements were newly made
2002-2006
Position in January each year	Number of children for whom statements were newly made	Placement in Maintained Mainstream Schools 1
		Number	%
2002	209	120	57.4
2003	361	244	67.6
2004	404	306	75.7
2005	301	204	67.8
2006	287	213	74.2

Source: SEN 2 Survey 2003 - 2006 ¹ Includes resourced provision/units/special classes in maintained mainstream schools.

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