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Aluminium, as with other valuable materials, is a globally traded commodity and is exported for recovery to where the best price is paid. Many products are manufactured in the Far East and there is an increasing demand, therefore, for recyclable materials in these countries. Overall, this helps the global effort to boost recycling and reduce reliance on natural resources.

Under the controls that apply to the export of waste, aluminium scrap is classed as a green list waste, and as such it can be exported for recycling to many countries under normal commercial controls. Those countries have informed the European Commission that they are content to receive such wastes for recycling.

Waterways: Rivers

Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the system developed by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology to measure endocrine disruption from steroid oestrogens in rivers will be marketed overseas; and, if so, which organisation will be responsible for doing so. [HL5657]

The Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Lord Drayson): The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) is a wholly owned research centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is in turn funded by the DIUS. The CEH has developed a set of new modelling approaches that enables users to describe and predict the fate and behaviour of oestrogenic steroids in water bodies, and in particular their concentrations in rivers. Research into the application of the new methodology is still in progress and the modelling system is being tested and improved by the CEH and its spin-out partner Wallingford HydroSolutions.

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Welfare Services: Child Education

Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to improve the level of public services available to vulnerable infants in need of child education welfare services, with a view to reducing the risk of longer-term anti-social behaviour or violent behaviour. [HL5665]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Baroness Morgan of Drefelin): Over the financial years 2008-11, the Government are investing over £3 billion in Sure Start children's centres for children under five and their families. The greater part of this investment is intended for intensive support to families in the most disadvantaged communities and those children who

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face the greatest risk of poor outcomes in life. Children's centres provide a range of services for families with young children, including parenting and family support, social care services, integrated early learning and daycare, health services and advice and information on training and employment for parents. There are currently 2,900 centres and by 2010 there will be over 3,500—one for every community. The national evaluation of Sure Start shows that Sure Start is beginning to have real and demonstrable benefits, helping improve parenting and lay the foundations for children's happiness, well-being and future success. In addition, as part of the roll-out of intensive family support announced in the Youth Crime Action Plan, some local authorities may develop family intervention projects to support vulnerable families with young children. This will promote positive outcomes for children and families and help prevent future problems such as anti-social behaviour and offending.

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