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10 Feb 2009 : Column WA173
Written Answers
Tuesday 10 February 2009
Armed Forces: War Pensions
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 12 January (WA 84) which indicated that there were “no current plans to seek a time limitation on claims for a war pension”, whether the “preliminary trial on limitation due to commence at the High Court on 19 January 2009” referred to by Mr Kevan Jones MP in his written answer to Mr Nick Harvey MP on 9 December 2008 (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 56W) will not now take place. [HL624]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The two issues are completely separate and unrelated.
My Answer refers to claims for a war pension, under the terms of the war pension scheme, which pays no-fault compensation in the form of tax-free pensions and allowances for ex-service personnel injured as a result of their service. There are no time limits for making a claim under the war pension scheme.
The Written Answer in another place on 9 December 2008 (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 56W) by Mr Kevan Jones refers to a preliminary trial at the High Court, which commenced on 21 January 2009, in relation to a common-law claim for compensation brought by a group of veterans and deceased veterans' dependants or beneficiaries, of the UK's nuclear weapon testing programme. The normal limitation period for personal injury claims is three years from the date the claimant first became aware of the injury, or the cause of the injury.
The purpose of the trial is to assess whether it is fair for the Ministry of Defence to have to continue to defend the claims given the length of time that has elapsed since the tests.
British Coal Compensation
Question
Asked by Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the criminal investigation into the British Coal litigation being conducted by South Yorkshire Police and the Serious Fraud Office. [HL1135]
The Attorney-General (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): I refer my noble Lord to the Answer given on 28 April 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 2).
10 Feb 2009 : Column WA174
Broadcasting: Audio Description
Question
Asked by Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase awareness of the benefits of audio description for television services. [HL1072]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The Communications Act 2003 sets minimum targets for audio description of programmes by broadcasters. However, it is the responsibility of Ofcom to ensure that these requirements are met and to ensure broadcasters are taking effective steps to publicise awareness of their audio description services.
In 2008, Ofcom facilitated an audio description awareness campaign, launched by broadcasters and the Royal National Institute of the Blind. During this six-week campaign, more than 70 television channels broadcast promotions explaining how to find out more about this valuable service. Ofcom's research findings following this campaign showed that the campaign had a positive impact in raising awareness of the service.
Broadcasting: Digital Switchover
Question
Asked by Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their timetable for digital television switchover in the West Country, Wales and Granada regions. [HL1071]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The timetable for digital switchover in the West Country region is as follows:
| Transmitter group | Serving | Starts |
The timetable for digital switchover in Wales is as follows:
| Transmitter group | Serving | Starts |
The timetable for digital switchover in the Granada region is as follows:
| Transmitter group | Serving | Starts |
|
Liverpool, Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and north Staffordshire. |
Crime: Domestic Violence
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of contact arrangements and the confidentiality of proceedings in family courts to levels of reoffending by perpetrators of domestic violence. [HL545]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on the reoffending of perpetrators of domestic violence. These data are not available on the Ministry of Justice extract of the police national computer, which is the source of reoffending data. Similarly applications to family courts on child contact do not require the disclosure of a criminal record so there is no way to extract or cross-reference this information. We do know that family court orders for child contact and residence are often breached but this is not a criminal offence and only extreme cases would be dealt with by way of committal to prison for contempt of court. The court has other measures such as a new order or transferring residence of the child from a parent who continually ignores court orders to someone more responsible.
Crime: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many break-ins, robberies or burglaries involving invasion of people's homes when they are present there have been in Northern Ireland in the past 12 months; how many charges have been brought in relation to them; whether there is a pattern to such crimes; and what are the reasons for their frequency. [HL1223]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: That is an operational matter for the chief constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the noble Lord, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
10 Feb 2009 : Column WA176
Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 January 2008 (WA 28) and 20 January 2009 (WA 197), why outgrowing human embryos are not considered as embryos by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on the basis of views regarding their potential to implant, if the ability to develop if implanted in a woman is not an essential factor in defining the meaning of an embryo under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. [HL1116]
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 January 2008 (WA 28), whether Sections 3(3)(a) and 3(4) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 permit an embryo to be kept in culture for longer than 14 days (notwithstanding cryopreservation) provided that the embryo is cultured in a manner that may be considered as suboptimal for natural development; and, if so, which section of that Act refers to suboptimal culture conditions. [HL1117]
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 20 January (WA 196—97), how the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority considered a broad range of available evidence if it did not consider data that appear contrary to its conclusions regarding culture of embryos beyond 14 days, as described in eight or more papers published between 1979 and 2005. [HL1118]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised me that its Scientific and Clinical Advances Group has considered the characteristics of embryonic masses that form when embryos outgrow their structure. The group concluded that these entities should not be considered embryos as they do not have the 3D organisation of an embryo, do not have a relationship between extra embryonic and embryonic tissue essential for normal development and do not develop a primitive streak.
As stated in my earlier reply on 22 January 2008 (WA 28), the HFEA's Scientific and Clinical Advances Group has concluded that embryonic masses that form when embryos outgrow their structure should not be considered embryos. It is for the HFEA to determine what available evidence it considers in reaching a conclusion on a particular issue within its remit.
With regard to the interpretation of Section 3(3)(a) and 3(4), the 14-day limit applies to all human embryos created in vitro.
Health: Co-morbidity
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the common risk and level of co-morbidity of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and
10 Feb 2009 : Column WA177
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The vascular checks programme will put in place an integrated, systematic, population-wide vascular risk assessment and management programme for those between the ages of 40 and 74. This national programme will assess people's risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease and offer individually tailored prevention. Phased implementation will begin from April 2009-10.
To inform the development of the vascular checks programme, the department constructed a model based on the common risk factors for these conditions: smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, blood pressure, cholesterol, age and ethnicity. The model drew heavily on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance in the relevant areas and went out to consultation in July 2008. The full impact assessment was published in November 2008. The evidence shows that a significant amount of vascular morbidity and mortality is preventable. The modelling work estimates that this programme can prevent 1,600 heart attacks and strokes, save at least 650 lives a year, and prevent over 4,000 people a year from developing diabetes.
Health: Epilepsy
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, as part of the current review of the quality and outcomes framework, they will ensure that primary care trusts collate information about epilepsy patients under the age of 18 to enable services to be developed in line with local needs. [HL1049]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The quality and outcomes framework (QOF) epilepsy register currently excludes patients aged 17 and under because children with epilepsy are generally under the care of a paediatrician. QOF indicators are designed to incentivise high quality of care where the responsibility for ongoing management rests principally with the general practice team. One of the principles underpinning the QOF is that data should never be collected purely for audit purposes.
The department has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to oversee a new independent and transparent process for developing and reviewing QOF clinical and health improvement indicators for England from 1 April 2009 as part of its role in providing guidance for the National Health Service based on evidence of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. We launched a public consultation on the proposed new process on 30 October 2008. The consultation ends on 2 February. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, any proposal for changes to QOF indicators would need to be considered under that new process.
10 Feb 2009 : Column WA178
Health: Sexual Health
Question
Asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton
To ask Her Majesty's Government how primary care trusts are prioritising sexual health in their strategic plans to implement world class commissioning; and how many have included sexual health in their goals and targets. [HL1112]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Primary care trusts (PCTs) have produced five-year strategic plans outlining their priorities for investment in improving the health of their local populations. These strategic plans are being reviewed as part of the annual commissioning assurance process, which was launched last year to assess PCT commissioning capability. PCTs have also chosen 10 local health outcomes against which they will be assessed as part of commissioning assurance. Fifty-three of the 152 PCTs have chosen the under-18 conception rate as one of the 10 measures that they will be assessed against, which puts sexual health in the top 10 of outcome areas chosen as priorities by PCTs.
Health: Terminal Illness
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they will have with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence about the need to fund treatment for more patients with terminal illnesses who can experience life extensions from certain treatments. [HL1194]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): On 2 January 2009, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued supplementary advice to its appraisal committees, to provide more flexibility in the evaluation of higher-cost drugs, which have been shown to extend the lives of terminally ill patients with less common conditions. This advice is available on NICE's website at www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/howwework/devnicetech/endoflifetreatments.jsp. A copy has also been placed in the Library.
Primary care trusts have a legal duty to provide funding for treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisals, within three months of the publication of NICE guidance.
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