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3 Jun 2009 : Column WA92
Asked by Lord Morris of Manchester
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Lord Darzi of Denham on 28 April (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 143) undertaking to assist in securing time for their response to the report of the Independent Public Inquiry headed by Lord Archer of Sandwell into the use of contaminated blood in the NHS treatment of haemophilia patients to be debated in the House of Lords, when the debate will take place; and whether they will indicate its timing, following their response to the Archer report being made by Written Statement. [HL3904]
Lord Darzi of Denham: The department would be happy to debate this issue in the House of Lords. However, all debate requests are subject to consultation and agreement with the Government Whips Office and the usual channels of the House.
Health: Dentistry
Questions
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department of Health is on target to ensure that everyone who wants to see an NHS dentist can do so by March 2011. [HL3936]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): All 10 strategic health authorities have set themselves the goal of delivering access to National Health Service dentistry for all who seek it by March 2011 and will be monitoring the progress made by primary care trusts.
A national access team has been set up to support the NHS to deliver the new services and new ways of working this ambitious goal requires. To help the NHS quickly to procure and bring on line new services, the programme has developed a procurement framework, is running a series of bidder workshops in April to June 2009 and has launched a dedicated support website. New services for new patients are starting to come on stream now, though the majority of additional procurements, following the framework, will come online in early 2010.
Access to NHS dentistry is already starting to improve. 100,000 more patients saw an NHS dentist in the 24-month period ending 30 September 2008 than in the 24-month period ending 30 June 2008. And a further 240,000 saw an NHS dentist in the 24-month period ending 31 December 2008. The scale of the challenge remains significant and there is much further to go, but the NHS has made a positive start as these figures show.
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many private dentists are working in the United Kingdom. [HL3937]
Lord Darzi of Denham: This information is not collected.
3 Jun 2009 : Column WA93
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many dentists are working for the NHS in the United Kingdom. [HL3938]
Lord Darzi of Denham: The department is not responsible for the provision of National Health Service dental services outside of England, as this lies with the devolved Administrations.
In England there were 20,815 dentists who had NHS activity recorded through FP17 claim forms during the year ending 31 March 2008, an increase of 655 on the previous year. This figure is reported in Table 32 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2007/08 report. This report has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/denta10708.
This figure refers to the number of high street dentists. It is a headcount and does not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor does it account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others. It is possible that some of these dentists also did NHS work in other parts of the United Kingdom.
Health: Incontinence
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will commission research into how many people suffer from incontinence, and how many are likely to suffer from incontinence in 2030. [HL3939]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The department is currently funding research on a range of aspects of incontinence, but none specifically on prevalence. The department has no plans to commission research into the number of people suffering from incontinence.
Health: Non-UK Residents
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government why no healthcare reimbursement money was sought from Poland in 2006—07 and 2007—08. [HL3876]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The United Kingdom did not make claims against Poland in 2006-07 and 2007-08 either because no citizens from there were treated by the National Health Service, the necessary data were not captured to allow the UK to make a claim or claims are still being assessed. The department is currently piloting an improved overseas visitor data capture process in a number of NHS trusts and intends to roll this out across the NHS in October this year.
3 Jun 2009 : Column WA94
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 18 May (WA 260), why no healthcare reimbursement money was sought from Latvia in 2007—08; and how many Latvians were treated in the United Kingdom that year. [HL3877]
Lord Darzi of Denham: The United Kingdom did not make claims against Latvia in 2007-08 either because no citizens from there were treated by the National Health Service, the necessary data were not captured to allow the UK to make a claim or claims are still being assessed. The department does not collect data centrally on the number of Latvian citizens treated in the UK for any particular year. The department is currently piloting an improved overseas visitor data capture process in a number of NHS trusts and intends to roll this out across the NHS in October this year.
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 18 May (WA 260), why no healthcare reimbursement money was sought from Lithuania in 2007—08; and how many Lithuanians were treated in the United Kingdom that year. [HL3878]
Lord Darzi of Denham: The United Kingdom did not make claims against Lithuania in 2007-08 either because no citizens from there were treated by the National Health Service, the necessary data were not captured to allow the UK to make a claim or claims are still being assessed. The department does not collect data centrally on the number of Lithuanian citizens treated in the UK for any particular year. The department is currently piloting an improved overseas visitor data capture process in a number of NHS trusts and intends to roll this out across the NHS in October this year.
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 18 May (WA 260), which European Economic Area countries were recorded as having no citizens treated by the National Health Service in 2007—08. [HL3879]
Lord Darzi of Denham: The department does not currently collect data centrally on the number of foreign nationals treated by the National Health Service for any particular year. This information is held by individual trusts. The department is currently piloting an improved overseas visitor data capture process in a number of NHS trusts and intends to roll this out across the NHS in October this year.
Identity Cards
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure staff in the businesses they refer to in their website statement on ID cards as trusted
3 Jun 2009 : Column WA95
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) will accredit high street businesses which can demonstrate that they meet our stringent security and service requirements. These requirements will always be defined by the Government and will include security training. It is planned that accredited organisations will need to demonstrate that staff have received the necessary training, which will include all aspects required to ensure the service is delivered securely.
Our approach will ensure that the integrity of a person's biometric data is paramount and that they are not used in any way in the application process other than for the purpose for which they were provided. Work on completing detailed requirements is continuing before the launch of such partnerships in 2011-12.
Israel
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to support the Pope's recent appeal to Israel to negotiate a viable state for the Palestinians. [HL3854]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We welcome the Pope's call for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
We have been clear, in public and in private, on the need to achieve a two-state solution in the Middle East. The UK will continue to work with the US and other partners to help achieve this objective, which we regard as a priority. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary reinforced our commitment during his intervention at the UN Security Council on 11 May 2009.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any conditions were placed on the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Avigdor Lieberman, prior to his meeting the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband. [HL3916]
Lord Malloch-Brown: There were no conditions. It is imperative that we engage with the Israeli Government, including their Foreign Minister, on the important task of reinvigorating a serious political dialogue, aimed at establishing a lasting and just regional peace between Israel and its neighbours.
In their meeting, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary stressed the importance that the UK attaches to the relationship with Israel and our opposition to boycotts of Israel. He also pressed Avigdor Lieberman on the need to end settlement construction,
3 Jun 2009 : Column WA96
Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic)
Question
Asked by Lord Wallace of Tankerness
To ask Her Majesty's Government who represented them and each of the devolved Administrations at the Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic) held on 13 May 2009; what subjects were discussed; and what outcomes were agreed. [HL3770]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): The Joint Ministerial Committee (Domestic) met for the second time on 14 May, after its inaugural meeting on 11 March 2009. Her Majesty's Government were represented by the Ministers for Immigration and the Northern Ireland Office, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland. From the Welsh Assembly Government, the First and Deputy First Ministers attended, from the Northern Ireland Executive the First Minister and a junior Minister in the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister attended, and from the Scottish Executive the Ministers for Culture, External Relations and the Constitution and for Schools and Skills attended. The Secretary of State for Wales was in the chair and the meeting discussed managed migration, agreeing further collaboration would be important.
Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism: Staff
Question
Asked by Baroness Neville-Jones
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many non-United Kingdom nationals work in the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in the Home Office. [HL3727]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Currently, we have two non-United Kingdom nationals working in the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT). However, these are exceptions as most posts within OSCT are reserved for UK nationals. All OSCT staff undergo security checks relevant to their role.
Police: Discrimination
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 5 March (WA 185), whether the independent review of the national police diversity staff support associations will involve consultation with individual police officers of all ranks; when the review is likely to be completed; and whether its findings will be published. [HL3796]
3 Jun 2009 : Column WA97
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The independent review of the national diversity staff support associations (DSSA) has been received and the report is being considered by the Equality and Diversity Strategy Board (EDSB) which commissioned the review. The equality impact assessment report sets out the formal consultation process undertaken, including face-to-face interviews with national DSSA representatives; questionnaire surveying of national DSSAs and key stakeholder groups; a series of interviews with EDSB members and a formal consultation meeting with the national DSSAs prior to completing the final report. A summary of the review will be available when a final decision on the recommendations has been made.
Questions for Written Answer
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their target time for responding to Questions for Written Answer in the House of Lords; and what percentage of Answers were delivered in that time in (a) this Session, and (b) each of the preceding three Sessions. [HL3917]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): In accordance with the Guide to Proceedings, departments aim to respond to Questions for Written Answer within a fortnight.
Until recently, statistical data in relation to Questions for Written Answer were not held centrally. As a result, the information requested is not available for the previous three parliamentary Sessions.
Relevant statistics are now requested from departments and collated by my office on a monthly basis. As of 30 April 2009, 3,024 Questions for Written Answer had been tabled in the House of Lords during the current Session. Sixty-five per cent of these Questions were answered within a fortnight.
Roads: Traffic Officers
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 18 May (WA 272—3), what savings have been achieved in expenditure and police time as a result of the introduction of Highways Agency Traffic Officers. [HL3837]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Home Office does not collect this information.
Southern African Development Community
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support the Southern African Development Community. [HL3842]
3 Jun 2009 : Column WA98
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government maintain a dialogue with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on a range of regional issues, including Zimbabwe. Thematic groups are the major forum for policy dialogue between SADC and donor countries. The Department for International Development (DfID) co-chairs, with SADC, thematic groups on transport, food security and agriculture.
Since 2003, DfID has been supporting regional economic communities in Southern Africa, including SADC, through the regional trade facilitation programme (£16.1 million) and a new Southern African regional aid for trade programme ($100 million). Of this amount, $67 million will be allocated for trade infrastructure related to the North-South Corridor programme, which will directly benefit SADC countries.
DfID provides direct support to the SADC secretariat (based in Gaborone, Botswana), including funding and technical assistance. DflD's new regional climate change programme (£7.5 million over five years) includes direct support to SADC to provide policy advice and support in international climate change negotiations, in particular in applications for multilateral funding to support adaptation to climate change in the region.
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