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Health: GPs
Question
Asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made by primary care trusts in commissioning comprehensive well-being and prevention services under the GP access and responsiveness programme; and to what extent the six key goals, including sexual health, have been taken into account in that programme. [HL1111]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The GP access and responsiveness programme is focused on driving improvements in patients' experience of accessing general practitioner (GP) services, as reported through the national GP patient survey. The next-stage review committed primary care trusts (PCTs), working with their local partners, to commission comprehensive well-being and prevention services, customising those services to meet the needs of their local populations. Efforts are focused on six key goals: tackling obesity, reducing alcohol harm, treating drug addiction, reducing smoking rates, improving sexual health and improving mental health. In line with this, PCTs have produced five-year strategic plans outlining their priorities for investment in improving the health of their local populations. Many of these strategies will combine focused efforts on the six key goals with strategies to improve patients' access to GP services.
Health: Labyrinthitis and BPP Vertigo
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the current treatment by general practitioners and hospitals of patients suffering labyrinthitis and BPP vertigo. [HL1195]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): We have made no assessments of the current treatment of patients living with labyrinthitis and BPP vertigo.
Health: Primary Care Trust Boards
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Statement by Baroness Andrews on 21 January (Official Report, House of Lords, col. GC 112) that the appointments to primary care trusts “are of local people on the advice of local authorities”, what are the procedures for appointment of non-executive members of primary care trust boards; what arrangements are made for local authorities to provide such advice; and what is the statutory basis for its provision. [HL1009]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The Secretary of State's powers to appoint non-executive members of primary care trusts (PCTs) are delegated to the Appointments Commission (an executive non-departmental public body of the department). The Appointments Commission recruits members using a fair, open and transparent process and makes appointments on merit, in line with the requirements of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, who regulates the process.
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Local authorities do not have a role in the selection of non-executives to PCT boards. However, the Appointments Commission, in collaboration with the recruiting organisation, also works closely with local authorities to target campaigns and encourage applications and preference is given to local candidates.
The Appointments Commission is to continue working with the department and other stakeholders to explore options for how local engagement in the recruitment of key local National Health Service public appointments can be strengthened further.
Health: Rheumatism and Arthritis
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures the National Health Service will take to improve treatment modes and after-care for rheumatism and arthritis sufferers. [HL1196]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The musculoskeletal services framework, published in July 2006, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, provides the NHS with guidance to help improve health and social care services for people suffering from conditions such as rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis.
This framework sets out how the National Health Service (NHS) can use a wider range of health professionals including physiotherapists, nurses and pharmacists in addition to general practitioners and hospital consultants to provide faster treatment, in more convenient settings, such as closer to home, rather than in hospital.
Houses of Parliament: Bribery
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce legislation to prohibit bribery of members of either House of Parliament in relation to proceedings in Parliament and to require parliamentary privilege to be waived in relation to bribery charges. [HL1139]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The Government are committed to reform of the law of bribery and intend to bring forward a draft bribery Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny this session. This follows the publication of the Law Commission report on Reforming Bribery (HC 928) in November last year. We are currently considering its recommendations and related issues, including parliamentary privilege.
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Human Rights: Same-sex Relationships
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Lord Bach on 23 October 2008 (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 1127), whether they have amended or withdrawn their intervention before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Horst Schalk and Johann Kopf v Austria (Application No 30141/04); and, if so, what are the terms on which they have done so. [HL1144]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The Government have carried out a review of their policy on the application to same-sex relationships of the concept of “family life” in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In light of that review, the Government wrote to the European Court of Human Rights on 15 January this year to indicate that, while it is ultimately a matter for the court to decide, we would not argue against the possible future development of the court's case law in this area. However, in our view any such future development should have prospective effect only. A copy of that letter has been sent to the noble Lord, and I have now placed a copy in both Libraries.
Immigration
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will adopt a statutory time limit for immigration or asylum detention comparable to that of other European Union countries. [HL1181]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): We have no plans to do so.
Immigration: Georgia
Question
Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 22 July 2008 (WA 264), on what dates the person who prepared the refusal of entry clearance document on 1 April 2005 and the entry clearance officer who interviewed Anna Zurabishvili on 30 March 2005 were appointed to the Tbilisi embassy. [HL750]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): It is our policy not to disclose information about individual members of staff.
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Immigration: Mental Illness
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many detainees now in immigration or asylum detention were mentally ill when detained; and how many have become mentally ill while in detention. [HL1180]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): There is no single definition of mental illness and the term can cover mild mental disorders such as anxiety and depression and more serious psychotic disorders.
International Polar Year
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will increase financial support to the Arctic Synoptic Basin-Wide Oceanography programme to coincide with the International Polar Year. [HL982]
The Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Lord Drayson): The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is funded by the department, has allocated approximately £1.6 million in funding to the Arctic Synoptic Basin-wide Oceanography project between 2007-08 and 2010-11. NERC has not received any request for extension of the original award or for additional financial support. Any such request would have to go through the normal NERC assessment processes.
Israel
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arms or components for arms were sold to Israel in (a) 2007, and (b) 2008; and what was the cost of each item. [HL915]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform & Cabinet Office (Baroness Vadera): The Government publish detailed information on export licences issued, refused and revoked, by destination, including the overall value and a summary of the items covered by these licences, in their annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls.
The Government's annual reports, published since 1997, and quarterly reports, published since 2004, are available from the Libraries of the House and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/publications/annual-reports/export-controls1.
The latest date for which information is available is 30 June 2008. BERR officials will shortly be publishing the report for the quarter ending 30 September 2008.
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Israel and Palestine
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the joint mechanism, provided by Section 5 of the Annapolis joint understanding between Israel and Palestine, has implemented any of the road map obligations; if so, which obligations; and, if not, why. [HL145]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Since Annapolis, US General Fraser and more recently US General Selva have led a road-map monitoring team.
There have been some improvements, most notably in Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank. However, significant problems remain. The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be a concern. While overall movement and access for Palestinians in the West Bank has improved, the number of net closures has increased. And Israel has not fulfilled its commitments to stop building in settlements. Indeed since Annapolis there has been a significant increase in settlement activity.
We continue to support the road-map priorities and actively encourage both parties to fulfil their commitments.
Local Information Networks
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have given to local authorities on setting up local information networks (LINks), what is the timetable according to which they must be set up, and what action can be taken by citizens if this timetable is not adhered to. [HL1198]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Local authorities (LAs) with social services responsibilities are under a duty (set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007) to make arrangements for the activities of local involvement networks (LINks) to be carried on in their area. They do this by contracting with an independent organisation—known as the host—that facilitates the establishment and running of the LINk. The duty came into effect on 1 April 2008.
The department issued two guidance documents in August 2007 to help LAs prepare for LINks (Getting ready for LINks—Planning Your Local Involvement Network, and Getting Ready for LINks—Contracting a Host Organisation for Your Local Involvement Network). The second document contained a model contract for LAs to use as a reference. These documents are available on the department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publications PolicyAndGuidance/DH_077266. Copies have been placed in the Library. The department also allocated a one-off payment of £10,000 to each local authority to assist in the procurement process.
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Last year LINk leads received monthly bulletins updating them on policy developments and giving them practical information. As part of the programme of support a compendium of guidance to aid implementation was produced by the NHS Centre for Involvement, and expert advisers were available to visit LAs to provide help and advice; good practice has also been shared more widely at workshops and seminars.
To allow for the possibility that LAs might not have contracted a host organisation by 1 April 2008, they were placed under a transitional duty to ensure that LINk activities could be carried on by other means. This transitional duty ended on 31 December 2008.
If citizens are concerned that there are no arrangements in place for LINk activities to be carried on in their area, they should raise this with the appropriate LA, the statutory body under the duty to make such arrangements.
NHS: Constitution
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the term “constitution” was first used in relation to the document now known as the NHS Constitution; whom they consulted before deciding to use the term “constitution”; what consideration was given to how the British public understand the term “constitution”; and what other terms were considered. [HL1169]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): When announcing the launch of the NHS next-stage review, on 4 July 2007 (col. 963), my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health said that the review would also look at the case for a new NHS constitution.
A Consultation on the NHS Constitution,published on 30 June 2008 alongside the final report of the NHS next-stage review, explained how the draft NHS Constitution was developed, drawing on an extensive programme of research and informal consultation. This was then followed by full public consultation, before the final NHS Constitution was published on 21 January 2009.
A copy of A Consultation on the NHS Constitution has been placed in the Library and it may also be found at www.dh.gov.uk/en/consultations/closed consultations/DH_085812.
NHS: Health Informatics
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to strategic health authorities and primary care trusts as to the role of health informatics in the commissioning cycle. [HL1324]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of health informatics in improving the commissioning capabilities of primary care trusts. [HL1325]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The National Health Service (NHS) operating framework for 2009-10 outlined the need for informatics planning, with board-level ownership and support, to deliver information-enabled service transformation. A copy has already been placed in the Library. An associated document, Informatics Planning for 2009-10, provides further guidance, including a link to supporting tools for chief executives and other key stakeholders. A copy has been placed in the Library. Both documents, published on 8 December 2008, can be accessed from the department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publications PolicyAndGuidance/DH_091445.
The informatics planning guidance is set in the context of the NHS next-stage review report High Quality Care for All, the health informatics review, and the drive to achieve world-class commissioning standards. The Government firmly believe that the achievement of this vision for the NHS relies crucially upon the provision of integrated information across health and social care.
NHS: Principles
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the joint statement on NHS principles, published on 3 July 2008, was presented to Parliament. [HL1170]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what purpose is served by the joint statement on NHS principles, published on 3 July 2008. [HL1171]
To ask Her Majesty's Government who initiated the discussions that led to the joint statement on NHS principles published on 3 July 2008; what discussions and meetings were held to draft the statement; and who attended those meetings. [HL1172]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation took place with non-government groups in the drafting of the joint statement on NHS principles published on 3 July 2008; and with whom this consultation took place. [HL1173]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what role the joint statement on NHS principles, published on 3 July 2008, has played in the drafting of the NHS Constitution. [HL1174]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to publicise the joint statement on NHS principles, published on 3 July 2008. [HL1232]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The joint statement on NHS principleswas published on 3 July 2008 as a joint press release from the department, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly. It made clear that, while health is a devolved responsibility, the core principles on which the National Health Service operates are shared across the UK; the 60th anniversary of the NHS was an opportunity to reaffirm this.
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