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Health: MRSA
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will test imported pig and poultry meat for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus in view of the infection in four European Union countries; and whether they will begin taking sample tests of live pigs and poultry in Britain, together with meat for retail sale. [HL4035]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): We have no plans to test imported pigs, poultry and their meat for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. The FSA has not previously conducted any surveys for the presence of MRSA in raw meats (whether imported or home-reared) at the point of retail sale. At present, the FSA does not intend to conduct such a survey as the results would not change policy advice on the handling of meat.
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The UK is taking part in an EU-wide survey which includes testing for MRSA in breeding pig herds, running from January to December. The issue of MRSA in other livestock species is actively monitored by the Defra Antimicrobial Resistance Co-ordination (DARC) group. At present, there is no evidence that food-producing animals form a reservoir of MRSA infection in the UK and the organism has not been detected in farmed livestock in the UK. The sub-group concluded that broadening the scope of work in this area should only be considered if recommended by colleagues specialising in public health and that, in the absence of such recommendations, speculative investigation of other species for MRSA was not an appropriate use of the limited resources available.
Health: Prescribing and Dispensing
Baroness Cumberlege asked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements are made for public and patient consultation when a GP practice applies to dispense medicines in their area. [HL3922]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer I gave her on 9 June 2008 (Official Report, cols. WA 84-85).
Immigration: A8 Countries
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many citizens from each of the A8 countries have registered under workers registration procedures in the United Kingdom. [HL3937]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Not all A8 migrant workers need to register under the worker registration scheme. However, information on those A8 workers who have registered on the worker registration scheme since it commenced in May 2004 is available on the following link at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/reports/accession_ monitoring_report/
The figures referred to are not provided under national statistics protocols. They have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
The information requested is available from the Accession Monitoring Report, a copy of which is available in the House Library
Immigration: Information
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
What information about life and challenges in the United Kingdom is made available in Eastern European communities for those planning to work in the United Kingdom. [HL3933]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Several leaflets inform migrants from Eastern Europe of their rights and responsibilities when coming to work in the UK, some of which are available in the languages of the target audiences. The leaflets provide information on how to meet the requirements to work legally in the UK, as well as information on workers’ rights such as the minimum wage and health and safety. Also included are contact details of useful organisations that can provide further advice.
Living and Working in the UK: Rights and responsibilities of nationals from the new member states from 1 May 2004. This can be found online at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/wrs/workers/Living and Working in the UK: Rights and responsibilities of nationals from Bulgaria and Romania from 1 January 2007. This leaflet can be found online at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/bulgariaromania/liveworkuk/Working in the UK: Know your rights and how to get help and advice. This leaflet can be found online at: www.berr.gov.uk/employment/migrant-workers/index.htmlWorking in the UK: Your rights at work. This leaflet can be found online at: www.tuc.org.uk/international/index.cfm?mins=288There is also an extensive question and answer section on the UKBA website for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, which covers their free movement rights and work authorisation requirements.
Immigration: Polish Citizens
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the number of Polish citizens who were resident in the United Kingdom in 1980, 1990, 2000, 2005 and 2007. [HL3936]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Roberts of Llandudno dated June 2008.
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Question concerning the estimate of the number of Polish citizens who were resident in the United Kingdom in 1980, 1990, 2000, 2005 and 2007. (HL3936)
Estimates of the numbers of Polish nationals living in the UK are provided in the table below. The estimate for 1990 is based on the Labour Force Survey, all other estimates are from the Annual Population Survey. 2006 is the latest calendar year for which data are available. No comparable estimates are available for 1980.
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| Year | Estimate of Polish nationals living in the UK |
Immigration: Temporary Entry
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many persons granted temporary entry to the United Kingdom are currently registered as having failed to depart within the given period. [HL3607]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): It is not currently possible to provide an Answer to this Question as the information requested does not form part of the national control of immigration statistics and could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost to the business.
Border Force Officers at ports and airports have a wide range of powers which they use to operate immigration controls and to tackle immigration-related crime. These include the power to grant temporary admission at any stage in the case consideration process. Temporary admission may be granted to passengers who cannot immediately satisfy the immigration officer that they qualify for leave to enter the UK. Such passengers may be temporarily admitted pending further investigation.
However, not all persons who are granted temporary admission are subsequently refused entry and removed from the UK. Indeed, a passenger may be granted leave to enter the UK following an initial period of temporary admission, provided they can satisfy the immigration officer that they qualify for leave to enter.
Indonesia: West Papua
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are co-operating with the Interpol red notice against Colonel Siagian Burhanuddin of the Indonesian army in West Papua. [HL3881]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We are not aware of an Interpol red notice against Colonel Siagian Burhanuddin, but we do know that Colonel Burhanuddin was indicted by the UN's Serious Crimes Unit in East Timor. However, both Indonesia and East Timor have insisted that it is for their respective countries to resolve these human rights issues between them.
The UK has consistently expressed concern to both the Indonesian and East Timorese Governments about impunity for those responsible for human rights abuses in East Timor. These issues are pursued through their bilateral Commission for Truth and Friendship. We have encouraged both Governments to make the
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Malaysia: Crashed Bomber
Lord Lee of Trafford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will organise an expedition to the likely crash site in Malaysia of the Liberator Bomber KL 654, which was lost in August 1945 with eight airmen. [HL4003]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The defence attaché in Kuala Lumpur and a member of his military staff accompanied a team from the Malaysian Armed Forces on an expedition to the crash site in January 2007. The team conducted a comprehensive investigation of the crash site and recovered a number of items which enabled them to confirm the identity of the aircraft. Forensic examination established that none of the items recovered were human remains. The MoD succeeded in contacting a number of next-of-kin of the crew and they were informed of the results of the expedition. There are currently no plans to undertake a further expedition.
Millennium Fund: Projects
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by Lord Davies of Oldham on 7 May (WA 74—5), what are their definitions of “public good objectives” and “public good purposes”; and whether these definitions take into account the history of terrorism in Northern Ireland. [HL3858]
Lord Davies of Oldham: When the Millennium Commission was established in 1994, commissioners identified five project themes that they wished to support throughout the UK. These were:
encouraging environmental sustainability;investing in education;revitalising our cities;supporting our communities; and promoting science and technology.Each project-awarded grant was required to address at least one of these themes. Each individual project also had a specific project purpose defined in its grant agreement.
These five project themes, together with the project-purpose definition for each individual project, are the public good objectives and public good purposes referred to in the earlier Answer.
The Big Lottery Fund advises that the project themes, individual project purpose and the linkage to public good objectives and purposes, are sufficiently broad to take account of the circumstances of Northern Ireland.
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Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 28 April (WA 8—9) concerning the chairman of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum, how the figure of 70 days required from the chairman was calculated; by whom; and on what basis. [HL3402]
Lord Rooker: It was initially estimated that the chair of the Bill of Rights Forum would require 60 days working on forum business. This figure was calculated by Northern Ireland Office officials.
In July 2007, members of the forum, including representatives of all political parties, requested that the work of the forum should be extended until 31 March 2008. It was therefore necessary for government to increase the number of days the chairman was required to work to 70.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 12 May (WA 113), what were the “changing resource requirements for work” within the remit of the Northern Ireland Office division which sponsored the Bill of Rights Forum. [HL3731]
Lord Rooker: The division referred to in my Answer of 12 May (WA 113) formed part of the political directorate of the Northern Ireland Office, and had responsibilities in relation to a range of issues including elections, human rights, equality, extradition and contested security cases.
Further details of the work undertaken in these areas during the financial year 2002-03 and the financial year 2003-04 can be found in the relevant departmental reports available at: www.nio.gov.uk/departmental_ report_2003.pdf and www.nio.gov.uk/departmental_ report_2004.pdf.
Official Visits: Irish President
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 6 May (WA 56) concerning official visits of the President of the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland over the past five years, how many unofficial visits she made during that period; and what was the cost for the United Kingdom.[HL3836]
Lord Rooker: President McAleese has made no official visits to Northern Ireland over the past five years.
Pesticides
Lord Willoughby de Broke asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Government agree that plant protection products should be properly controlled, and support much of the proposed regulation, particularly where it would improve harmonisation
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We understand that the presidency is considering a revised proposal for presentation to the June Agriculture Council.
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