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NHS Diabetes is currently working on a commissioning toolkit, which will assist in local commissioning of diabetes services, including services for children with diabetes. The toolkit will state the need for compliance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, the Diabetes National Service Framework and the Children's National Service Framework. The toolkit will clearly specify commissioners' and providers' responsibilities for the whole patient episode.
Health: Former UK Residents
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 20 May (WA 324), why the United Kingdom paid the Republic of Ireland €450 million for reimbursement of healthcare costs in 2007; what is the forecast figure for 2009; and how much is expected to be offset in 2009 for previous overpayments. [HL4553]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The payment of €450 million in 2007 was made as part of ongoing negotiations between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland on the terms for the reimbursement of healthcare costs. The payment was made on account, based on the amount that the Republic of Ireland had claimed. The department stated that as a result of the expected reduction in United Kingdom liabilities, it would likely represent an overpayment which would lead to financial adjustments in subsequent years. As negotiations between the UK and Ireland are ongoing and key issues are still to be resolved, it is not currently possible to calculate either the amount due by the UK or the income due to it, in respect of 2009.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the latest annual payments to the United Kingdom from non-waiver European economic area countries for reimbursement of health treatment costs for those countries' nationals under European Union Regulation 1408/71. [HL4554]
Lord Darzi of Denham: The following table shows the breakdown of actual cash payments received by the United Kingdom in the financial year 2008-09 from non-waiver European economic area (EEA) member states for the reimbursement of healthcare provided in the UK under EU Regulation (EC) 1408/71.
| EEA Medical Costs | |
| 2008/09 Income received (1) | £ |
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- 1. Payments made in one year do not necessarily relate to claims for that year nor do they reflect the full value of claims for that year.
Health: Glaucoma
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to publicise and implement the recommendations of the latest National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence glaucoma guidelines. [HL4572]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published final guidance on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma on 22 April 2009 and the Government expect National Health Service organisations to work towards implementation over time within available resources.
NICE has produced a range of tools to support the implementation of the NICE clinical guideline (CG85) on glaucoma. This includes a cost report and template that aims to help organisations plan for the financial implications of implementation, and a slide set that provides an overview of the guideline. NICE is also currently in the process of producing a commissioning guide which we are expecting to be published in the autumn.
Higher Education: Overseas Students
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when advice will be issued to higher education institutions in respect of their duty to monitor and report upon overseas student attendance at courses. [HL4537]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Guidance to higher education establishments was originally issued in June 2008. Updates were issued in September and November 2008. A final version of the guidance was published in February 2009 and is available on the UKBA website at https://www.points.homeoffice.gov.uk/gui-sponsorisf/SponsorHome.faces.
Prior to issue, the guidance was sent to the Joint Education taskforce, UKBA's main stakeholder group in the sector.
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Human Rights
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 22 June (WA 255), why they propose that England will not have particular human rights provided for it but that Northern Ireland will. [HL4671]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): On the 23 March 2009 the Government published a Green Paper, Rights and Responsibilities: Developing our Constitutional Framework which commences a debate about whether all parts of the United Kingdom, including England, would benefit from a UK Bill of Rights and Responsibilities containing rights additional to those in the European Convention.
The Government are separately committed to publishing a consultation paper on a potential Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The question of whether there is a need for additional rights to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland will be explored during that consultation.
Identity Cards
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the effect of the introduction of identity cards on postal application times for overseas students. [HL4535]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): All students applying to extend their stay in the UK are now required to enrol their biometrics before UKBA can process their application. This requires an applicant to book an appointment, receive confirmation from UKBA and attend to enrol their biometrics. This can take around 20 days from receipt of their initial application by UKBA. The average waiting time for a single biometric appointment is currently eight days so many are seen and enrolled within 14 days of their application being received.
Immigration
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what duties existing employers have to investigate the immigration status of an employee hired before the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 came into force. [HL4356]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Prior to the implementation of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, legislation to prevent illegal migrant working was in place in the form of Section 8 of the Asylum and Nationality Act 1996. This placed a requirement on employers to check and record certain specified documents before a potential employee is
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The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 has, since it came into force on 29 February 2008, allowed the UK Border Agency to instead issue civil penalties of up to £10,000 per worker to employers who are found to be liable for employing illegal migrant workers.
This is combined with the introduction of a new criminal offence of knowingly employing an illegal migrant worker (under Section 21 of the 2006 Act). This will help in the more serious cases where rogue employers knowingly and deliberately use illegal migrant workers, often for personal financial gain. This will carry a maximum two-year custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.
The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 does not apply retrospectively; therefore, any employer who is found to have been employing a person illegally prior to 29 February 2008 (when the 2006 Act came into force) may still risk prosecution under Section 8 of the 1996 Act. To comply with the requirements of the 2006 Act, which would apply to employees who started work since 29 February 2008, an employer would have to satisfy themselves of the entitlement of prospective employees to work in the UK to ensure they are not employing an illegal migrant worker before the employment begins.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been (a) arrested, and (b) convicted, under immigration legislation in each of the past three years for trafficking people for exploitation. [HL4384]
Lord West of Spithead: Offences of human trafficking are prosecuted under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants Act, etc.) 2004.
Figures from the UK Human Trafficking Centre's interrogation of the police national computer show as of 24 May, the number of arrests and convictions as below:
| Arrests | Convictions | |
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foreign nationals have been excluded from entering the United Kingdom on grounds of (a) national security, and (b) unacceptable behaviour, in each year since 2006. [HL4417]
Lord West of Spithead: In each year since 2006, the following number of foreign nationals have been excluded from the UK on grounds of (a) national security, and (b) unacceptable behaviour:
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To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants were arrested in each of the past five years. [HL4419]
Lord West of Spithead: The attached table sets out the total number of arrests for suspected illegal entry and Section 10 offences. Due to changes in the nature of the system used to record details of arrests made by the UK Border Agency, complete and reliable data are only available from October 2006.
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