You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Lords Publications > Lords Hansard > Lords Hansard by Date > Daily Hansard
Previous Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page


1 May 2008 : Column WA29



1 May 2008 : Column WA29

Written Answers

Thursday 1 May 2008

Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): .The advances are made to the Department for Work and Pensions under the legal authority of the Contingencies Fund Act 1974.

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Further contingency fund advances will only be sought if essential to the successful introduction of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord McKenzie of Luton: No. The programme to establish the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is subject to internal DWP scrutiny in line with best practice. The programme is also reviewed by the Office of Government Commerce. Decisions by HM Treasury to provide advances from the contingency fund are subject to review and are scrutinised carefully by the National Audit Office.

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope asked Her Majesty's Government:



1 May 2008 : Column WA30

Lord McKenzie of Luton: HM Treasury does not consult the National Audit Office prior to agreement of a contingencies fund advance, as this is not a requirement. All contingencies fund advances are carefully reviewed and scrutinised each year by the National Audit Office.

Civil Service

Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Davies of Oldham: The latest statistics on the number of civil servants entering and leaving departments are published by the Office for National Statistics. Data can be found dating back to 1997 and can be accessed from the following website: www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899_&;_Pos=1_&_ColRank=2_&_Rank=272

Crime: Victims

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Tackling Violence Action Plan, published on 18 February, set out the Government's priority areas of work to tackle serious violent offences, including rape, sexual exploitation and prostitution.

In relation to rape, the action plan focuses on improving the investigation and prosecution of cases and providing enhanced support for victims by continuing to monitor local performance of police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service and on a commitment to more than double the current number of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) and continue to support the national rollout of independent sexual violence advisors (ISVAs). The action plan also contains a commitment to consider the feasibility of setting up a national sexual violence helpline.

We have committed significant resources to ensuring that all victims of sexual violence will be able to access a SARC and an ISVA within the next three years. It is important to ensure that services are sustainable. As police and health budgets are devolved, Home Office funding is intended to supplement funding provided locally. The action plan and the new public service agreements on making communities safer and justice

1 May 2008 : Column WA31

for all are key to ensuring that local funding providers prioritise and take seriously the issue of sexual violence and support local services.

In relation to sexual exploitation and prostitution, the action plan restates our commitment to take forward a range of measures under the existing co-ordinated prostitution strategy and the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking. It also sets out a commitment to conduct a review of what more can be done to tackle the demand for prostitution and to reform the law on street offences to support routes out of prostitution and exploitation. Ensuring that dedicated work takes place to support routes out of prostitution is also part of the action plan. A decision on how this work will be taken forward is likely to be made early in the financial year.

Energy: Renewables

Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Bach: The renewables obligation (RO) was introduced in 2002, and microgenerators have always been eligible to participate under the scheme. We recognise that it is not always appropriate to treat microgenerators under the RO in exactly the same way as larger generators, and we have made a number of changes to the RO to reflect this. These include:

allowing ROC claims to be made either monthly or annually;removing the need for microgenerators to enter into sale and buyback agreements in order to be eligible for ROCs;introducing a simplified online accreditation form and guidance; andallowing agents to represent microgenerators and to pool the ROCs of two or more microgenerators to help obtain a better price.

The most recent changes were made in April last year with the introduction of agents. Since then, the number of microgenerators accredited under the RO has risen by 250 per cent. Later this year we will also be consulting on a more flexible annual ROC claim process for microgenerators, with a view to implementation in April 2009.

Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:



1 May 2008 : Column WA32

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): We understand that, in the British Fluoridation Society's (BFS) view, the prevalence of dental fluorosis of aesthetic concern in populations in the United Kingdom drinking artificially fluoridated water is lower than suggested by the York report. The BFS is independent of government, and the department has no influence on the content of its website. The information on the BFS's website differs from that provided in the York report in that it includes research studies completed after the report was published.

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Darzi of Denham: In the report Water Fluoridation and Health, published in 2002, the Medical Research Council (MRC) also suggested that the prevalence of aesthetically important dental fluorosis was probably lower than that reported in the York review. The MRC goes on to cite the three studies on the British Fluoridation Society's website which were published after the York review. Of the two studies on the website which pre-date the York review, one is cited in the review and the other is not. It is because of the conflicting research evidence that we have commissioned a new research project on the standardisation of the measurement of fluorosis using digital photography. If our research showed that concern about dental fluorosis was greater than we have assumed, one option would be to consider reducing the target concentration of one part per million currently used in artificial fluoridation schemes, but we would need to take into account any loss in the protective effect on teeth that a lower concentration would have.

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Darzi of Denham: The research is investigating whether photographic images can be automatically assessed by software to provide an objective assessment of the degree of fluorosis without the need for subjective assessments by examiners. This will enable true blinding of fluorosis studies to take place in accordance with recommendations of the York report.

Freedom of Information

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:



1 May 2008 : Column WA34

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Freedom of Information Act 2000 contains 23 exemptions under which requested information may be withheld in specific circumstances. All exemptions apply to all public authorities that are subject to the Act, with the exception of the exemption for information relating to the “Formulation of government policy, etc”, which applies only to information held by a government department (including a Northern Ireland department) or the Welsh Assembly Government.

Schedule 1 of the Act lists bodies covered by the Act, some of which are covered in respect of certain of their functions only. A total of 16 individual bodies and eight categories of bodies are listed subject to exclusions of some of their functions. Full details are in the table below.



1 May 2008 : Column WA35



1 May 2008 : Column WA36

Freedom of Information Act 2000: List of public authorities* in respect of which exclusions apply
Part under Schedule 1 of the ActPublic body/category of bodiesFunction excluded or specific functions covered (highlighted in bold)

Part I - General

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills

In respect of information held for purposes other than those of the functions exercisable by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills by virtue of Section 5 (1)(a)(iii) of the Care Standards Act 2000

Part I - General

The Armed Forces of the Crown

Except (a) the special forces, and (b) any unit or part of a unit which is for the time being required by the Secretary of State to assist the Government Communications Headquarters in the exercise of its functions

Part II - Local Government in England and Wales

The Common Council of the City of London

In respect of information held in its capacity as a local authority, police authority or port health authority

Part II - Local Government in England and Wales

The sub-treasurer of the Inner Temple or the under- treasurer of the Middle Temple

In respect of information held in his capacity as a local authority

Part III -The National Health Service England and Wales

Any person providing primary medical services or primary dental services or primary ophthalmic services (a) in accordance with arrangements made under Section 92 or 107 of the National Health Service Act 2006, or Section 50 or 64 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 or (b) under a contract under Section 84 or 100 or 117 of the National Health Service Act 2006, or Section 42 or 57 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006

In respect of information relating to the provision of those services

Part III - The National Health Service England and Wales

Any person providing general medical services, general dental services, general ophthalmic services or pharmaceutical services under the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006

In respect of information relating to the provision of those services

Part III - The National Health Service England and Wales

Any person providing personal medical services or personal dental services under arrangements made under Section 28C of the National Health Service Act 1977

In respect of information relating to the provision of those services

Part III -The National Health Service England and Wales

Any person providing local pharmaceutical services under (a) a pilot scheme established under Section 143 of the National Health Service Act 2006 or Section 92 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 or (b) an LIDS scheme established under Schedule 12 to the National Health Service Act 2006 or Schedule 7 to the National Health Services (Wales) Act 2006

In respect of information relating to the provision of those services

Part I II - The National Health Service Northern Ireland

Any person providing primary medical services, general dental services, general ophthalmic or pharmaceutical services under Part VI of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972

In respect of information relating to the provision of those services

Part V — Police Miscellaneous

Any person who (a) by virtue of any enactment has the function of nominating individuals who may be appointed as special constables by justices of the peace, and (b) is not a public authority by virtue of any other provision of this Act

In respect of information relating to the exercise by any person appointed on his nomination of the functions of a special constable

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Bank of England

In respect of information held for purposes other than those of its functions with respect to (a) monetary policy, (b) financial operations intended to support financial institutions for the purposes of maintaining stability, and (c) the provision of private banking services and related services

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The British Broadcasting Corporation

In respect of information held for purposes other than those of journalism, art or literature

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Channel Four Television Corporation

In respect of information held for purposes other than those of journalism, art or literature

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection

In respect of information held for purposes other than those of its functions exercisable by virtue of paragraph 5(a)(i) of the Care Standards Act 2000

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Commission for Social Care Inspection

In respect of information held for purposes other than those of its functions exercisable by virtue of paragraph 5(a)(ii) of the Care Standards Act 2000

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Competition Commission

In relation to information held by it otherwise than as a tribunal

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel

In relation to information held by it otherwise than as a tribunal

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Gaelic Media Service

In respect of information held for purposes other than those of journalism, art or literature

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

Any regional development agency established under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998

Other than the London Development Agency

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

In respect of information held by it otherwise than as a tribunal

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

In respect of information held by it otherwise than as a tribunal

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

Sianel Pedwar Cymru

In respect of information held for purposes other than those of journalism, art or literature

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Traffic Commissioners

In respect of information held by them otherwise than as a tribunal

Part VI - Other Public Bodies and Offices General

The Verderers of the New Forest

In respect of information held by them otherwise than as a tribunal

* ie bodies/offices and categories of bodies/offices listed in Schedule 1 FOIA but subject to FOIA in respect of some, but not all, of their functions
Next Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page