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Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many general practitioners there were in the National Health Service in (a) 1998, and (b) 2008. [HL2110]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Figures for the number of general practitioners employed by the National Health Service in England in 2008 will be available when the new NHS workforce census is published on the 25 March 2009. The table below gives the number employed in the NHS in England in 1998 and the available figure from the last workforce census which was published in April 2008.
| General Practitioners in England (Excluding GP Retainers andGP Registrars) | ||
| Headcount | Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) | |
Health: Nurses
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many nurses there were in the National Health Service in (a) 1998, and (b) 2008. [HL2111]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Figures for the number of nurses employed by the National Health Service in England in 2008 will be available when the new NHS workforce census is published on the 25 March 2009. The table below gives the number of nurses employed in the NHS in England in 1998 and the available figure from the last workforce census which was published in April 2008.
| All Qualified Nursing. Midwifery and Health Visiting Staff in England | ||
| Headcount | Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) | |
Health: Pharmaceutical Services
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish the findings of the White Paper consultation, Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths—delivering the future: proposals for legislative change, which closed in November 2008, in particular with regard to the market entry arrangements for community pharmacies open at least 100 hours per week. [HL2176]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Following the consultation which began on 27 August 2008 and ended on 20 November 2008, a summary report relating to proposals for primary legislation was published on 16 January on the department's website alongside the Health Bill. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library and it is available at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Responsestoconsultations.
We are considering the responses to the consultation in respect of pharmacies opening at least 100 hours per week. A full report of the consultation will be published in due course. In the mean time, the current system remains in place.
Houses of Parliament: Copyright
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask the Chairman of Committees who receives the income generated from the sale of House of Lords papers protected by parliamentary copyright; and what is the annual net profit derived from such sales in each of the last five years. [HL2382]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): Parliamentary copyright has no bearing on the arrangements for the sale of parliamentary papers: all House of Lords parliamentary copyright publications are available free of charge online. The distribution of printed parliamentary publications is managed as a public service concession contract, which means that the supplier, The Stationery Office (TSO), does not charge the House of Lords for the service of distributing publications to the public, but keeps the revenue from any sales. In the absence of such an arrangement, any shortfall in TSO's revenue would necessarily be met, under the terms of a revised contract, from the public purse. The amount of revenue generated from sales is a matter for TSO.
24 Mar 2009 : Column WA119
Houses of Parliament: Interns
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they have made to ensure that university students from the United States can obtain permission to work as interns during the summer of 2009, in particular in the Houses of Parliament. [HL1978]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Government's new points-based system for managing migration provides a number of routes which could be used by students from the United States wishing to undertake internships in the UK.
Under tier 4, the rules for which were laid before Parliament on 9 March (HC 314) and which are due to take effect from 31 March, students on overseas degree courses may undertake a course-related internship placement provided they also spend some time studying in the UK and provided that the length of internship does not exceed the time spent studying in this country.
Under tier 5, temporary workers, there is a sub-category for government-authorised exchange (GAE) schemes. A GAE requires the support of a government department and would need to be compliant with all relevant UK laws, including national minimum wage legislation but one could be created to accommodate internship exchanges for those interns interested purely in taking a work placement in the UK. UKBA officials are currently discussing options for such a scheme with interested departments.
The tier 5 youth mobility scheme (YMS), which allows young participants to do most work of choice during their stay in the UK, could also be used to provide a route for US interns if the USA decides to join the scheme and is able to meet the qualifying criteria.
Housing
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which investment in labour-intensive housing and infrastructure schemes can contribute towards both alleviating the current economic situation and increasing employment levels; and whether they took that into account when announcing on 28 February funding levels for the housing market renewal pathfinder schemes which will reduce funding by approximately 9 per cent between 2008—09 and 2009—10 and between 2009—10 and 2010—11. [HL2146]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Decisions to grant funding to the housing market renewal programme for 2008-11 were taken as part of allocations within the Department of Communities and Local Government following the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007.
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The funding reflects in part the initial success of the programme in narrowing the gaps in house prices and vacancies between pathfinders and their regions. It also recognises the need to tackle problems of deep-seated structural need and to ensure that the housing market renewal and growth programmes can be taken forward together where appropriate. The total of approximately £2.2 billion invested since 2002 represents a very substantial local economic stimulus and the programme is bringing back confidence to areas that have been neglected for too long, something that is particularly important in times of economic uncertainty. The announcement on 10 March 2009 confirming funding allocations for 2009-10, gives further incentive to pathfinders to focus on outcomes precisely to help stimulate local economic activity.
Ibrahim Moussawi
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to allow Dr Ibrahim Moussawi to visit the United Kingdom; and whether they will use the same criteria in reaching that decision as were used in refusing entry to Mr Geert Wilders in February. [HL2147]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Dr Moussawi has been refused a visa under paragraph 320(19) of the Immigration Rules on the grounds that his presence in the UK would not be conducive to the public good.
Geert Wilders was refused admission to the UK under regulation 19 of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 because, in accordance with regulation 21 of the same regulations, an immigration officer was satisfied that his exclusion was justified on grounds of public policy and/or public security.
Immigration: Detention Centres
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will reduce the length of time that individuals are held in immigration and asylum detention centres; and how many people are detained for more than one year. [HL2150]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): It is important that those who apply for asylum in the UK have their application processed as quickly, as possible and that is why we have set a target to conclude 90 per cent of asylum applications within six months by December 2011. In order to effect removal of those who have committed crimes in the UK at the earliest opportunity, the early removal scheme and the facilitated returns scheme are available specifically for foreign national prisoners who meet the qualifying criteria. Under these incentives removals take place considerably more quickly decreasing pressures on prisons and the UK Border Agency's detention estate.
24 Mar 2009 : Column WA121
Detention will always be for as short a time as possible and for no longer than is necessary. However, detention is often prolonged by individuals and families with no right to be here refusing to leave voluntarily and frustrating our attempts to remove them. They can voluntarily leave the UK at any point.
Published management information indicates that as at 27 December 2008, a total of 150 persons were recorded as being detained within the UK Border Agency's detention estate solely under Immigration Act powers for one year or more. This figure is rounded to the nearest five, has not been quality-assured under National Statistics protocols, is subject to change and should be treated as provisional. This is the latest date for which published statistics are available.
National statistics on persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a snapshot basis are published quarterly. This information is published in tables 9-11 of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom bulletins, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.
To ask Her Majesty's Government why (a) Mr Ahmed Abu Bakar Hassam has been held at Oakington detention centre for 28 months; and (b) Mr Ali Saifi has been held at Colnbrook detention centre for 22 months. [HL2189]
Lord West of Spithead: Information contained in individual records held by the UK Border Agency is treated as being confidential and is not normally disclosed to third parties.
This is, of course, unless they are authorised representatives of the individual concerned. This is not a question of secrecy for its own sake but simply a matter of protecting the privacy of the individual.
International Festivals and Competitions
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidelines are provided to competitors from overseas to enable them to enter the United Kingdom and participate in international festivals and competitions. [HL2174]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Those seeking entry to the United Kingdom in order to take part in international festivals and competitions may, depending on circumstances, seek entry as either sports or entertainer visitors.
Full guidance on whether participants would qualify as visitors or whether they would be required to seek entry under the points-based system is publicly available on both the UKBA and visa services websites.
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Licensing Act
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current status of their review of the live music provisions of the Licensing Act 2003. [HL2235]
Lord Davies of Oldham: There is no formal review of the live music provisions of the Licensing Act 2003. However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport continues to discuss the effect of the Licensing Act 2003 on live music with representatives of musicians and local government. These discussions include consideration of how low impact live music events might be further encouraged.
Migrant Workers: Employment
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what results they expect from the European Union blue card entry system for highly skilled entrants from third countries, and what proportion of entrants they expect to apply to be United Kingdom entry under the new tier two provisions. [HL2180]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The United Kingdom has not opted into the directive on the entry and residence of third country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment. It is not possible for the Government to reliably predict how many of those admitted onto the territory of another member state as the holder of a blue card issued under the terms of the directive will subsequently apply for admission to the United Kingdom under the points-based system, or which tier of the points-based system they would seek to access. However, since the UK has not opted into the directive, any such worker would need to meet the full criteria of the points-based system in the same way as a person seeking admission from outside the European Union.
NHS: Hospital Referral
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in circumstances where the general practitioner and the patient agree on the hospital to which the patient will be referred, primary care trusts can override their wishes and deny access to the relevant hospital. [HL2282]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): From 1 April 2009 patients will have a legal right to choose the organisation that provides their treatment when they are referred to a consultant-led service for their first outpatient appointment, and to information to
24 Mar 2009 : Column WA123
The standard National Health Service contract for acute services says “the provider shall accept all clinically appropriate referrals of patients”.
Under Free Choice, patients are able to choose from a national menu of services provided by National Health Service and nationally appointed independent sector providers. General practitioners (GPs) will be able to refer to any clinically appropriate provider and it will be for the referring clinician to guide the patient through the clinical aspects of their options as appropriate. GPs referral will continue to constitute authority to treat on behalf of the PCT. PCTs commissioning arrangements will not restrict where patients are offered choice.
Northern Ireland Office: Bonuses
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 24 February (WA 60—61) concerning bonus payments to the Northern Ireland Office, when was the last time a review of the administrative budget led to a reduction in that budget. [HL2218]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Office reviews all budgets, including administration budgets, on an ongoing basis.
As part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review settlement, the department was required to make 5 per cent per annum savings in administration costs which were recycled to front line programmes.
Northern Ireland Office: Electricity
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 24 February (WA 61) concerning the cost of electricity for the Northern Ireland Office, why the cost rose 61 per cent between 2003—04 and 2007—08. [HL1822]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: An analysis of the costs has shown that there are two main reasons for the increase in the department's (excluding agencies and Executive NDPBs) electricity expenditure between 2003-04 and 2007-08.
an increase in charges from approximately £0.085 to £0.113 per unit consumed. This is equivalent to a 33 per cent price rise. The department does not hold details of the units of electricity consumed in 2003-04, so it is not possible to compare consumption totals; andan increase in staff numbers from 1,032 to 1,251 (a 21 per cent rise). This has resulted in increased accommodation costs, including electricity. During| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |