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19 Oct 2009 : Column WA33
19 Oct 2009 : Column WA33
19 Oct 2009 : Column WA33
Monday 19 October 2009
Air Quality
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that local authorities in Greater London that have not declared an air quality management area for all places in their area that are not likely to achieve European Union limit values for air pollutants do so. [HL5501]
To ask Her Majesty's Government which local authorities in Greater London that have declared an air quality management area have not finalised an action plan. [HL5502]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995, local authorities are required to review and assess air quality in their authorities for certain key pollutants as set out in the air quality strategy. Where levels of these key pollutants are above the air quality objectives set out in strategy, they must carry out a more detailed assessment of air quality and, if necessary, declare an air quality management area (AQMA) and prepare an action plan to deliver air quality improvements in line with the local air quality management (LAQM) process. The third round of this process began in 2006, with all local authorities required to complete the first phase of this round-an updating and screening assessment (USA)-by the end of April 2006. Local authorities which identified a risk of exceeding an air quality objective then carried out a detailed assessment in 2007. Similarly the fourth round of the LAQM process commenced in April 2009 with all local authorities required to submit a USA by the end of April 2009.
All London boroughs have declared AQMAs for pollutants that breach air quality objectives. Except for the London Borough of Havering, all London boroughs have action plans in place and are reporting progress against these to Defra. Havering has declared an AQMA across the entire borough for high concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter) and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), and has drafted an action plan which is currently being reviewed by the Greater London Authority.
Armed Forces: Medical Treatment
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government in the last three months (a) how many injured British soldiers were evacuated to the United Kingdom, (b) how many injured British soldiers were evacuated to other countries, and (c) why any soldiers evacuated to other countries were not returned to the United Kingdom. [HL5476]
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The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Between 1 June 2009 and 31 August 2009, the latest three-month period for which validated data are held, there were 344 British army soldiers aeromedically evacuated to the United Kingdom from operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Of these 251 were injured.
A small number, fewer than five, of British soldiers were aeromedically evacuated from Afghanistan to another country and subsequently transferred to the United Kingdom. I am unable to provide any further information on why any individuals are evacuated to another country for reasons of medical confidentiality and operational security.
Children: Protection
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have not published the report of the academic panel, chaired by Professor David Buckingham of the Institute of Education, on the impact of the commercial world on children's wellbeing, delivered to them in March; and when they will publish it. [HL5529]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Baroness Morgan of Drefelin): Professor Buckingham's report, and the Government's response to it, will be published within the next few months.
Cyprus
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, as a guarantor power, of the approach of Greek-Cypriots to the Cyprus talks process; whether they draw any conclusions from the display of flags by Greek-Cypriots, such as the display of Greek flags and a "Cyprus is Greek" banner at the Apoel Nicosia v Chelsea Champions League match on 30 September; and what assessment they have made of any indications that the "Akritas" and "Iphestos 1974" plans still define the Greek-Cypriot political ethos.[HL5519]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The Government's assessment is that the two leaders have shown a strong commitment to the Cyprus talks process. We welcome their recent decision to meet more regularly and urge both leaders to intensify their efforts to ensure this unique opportunity is not missed.
We have not drawn any conclusions from the display of flags and banners at the Champions League match on 30 September 2009 in Cyprus. This is a matter for Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). We understand from UEFA that they will instigate disciplinary proceedings against the Cypriot club for "manifestations of a non-sporting nature".
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Drugs: Cocaine
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the trend of illegal use of cocaine in the United Kingdom over the past few years. [HL4942]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Home Office is only responsible for the assessment of illegal use of cocaine in England and Wales; the Governments in
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Within England and Wales, the British Crime Survey (BCS) is used to provide information on the prevalence and trends of illicit drug use among 16 to 59 year-olds.
Figures in the attached table show prevalence of cocaine use (including crack cocaine and cocaine powder) between the 2001-02 and 2008-09 BCS. These figures show that there has been a statistically significant increase in cocaine use among 16 to 59 year- olds in this period (from 2 per cent to 3 per cent).
| Proportion of 16 to 59 year-olds reporting use of drugs in the last year, 2001-02 to 2008-09 BCS | |||||||||
| Percentages | BCS | ||||||||
| 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2007-08 to 2008-09 | |
1. A statistically significant increase at the 5 per cent. level is denoted by "^" while a statistically significant decrease at the 5 per cent. level is denoted by "v".
2. Base numbers relate to any drug use. Bases for other drug measures will be similar.
Earthquake: South-East Asia
Question
Asked by Lord King of West Bromwich
To ask Her Majesty's Government what help they have made available to the British victims of the recent earthquake in south-east Asia. [HL5553]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): Immediately following the earthquake off the coast of Western Sumatra on 30 September 2009, consular staff in our embassy in Jakarta made contact with the UK consular wardens in Padang, Western Sumatra; and in Medan, Northern Sumatra. The warden in Padang immediately travelled to the affected area to check the level of damage and offer assistance to any British nationals. On arrival she located two British nationals who were staying at a hostel in Padang. She confirmed that they did not need any medical assistance and had the means and ability to leave the area. She provided her and the embassy's contact numbers in case they had any problems leaving Padang.
Consular staff checked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's LOCATE database to establish how many British nationals were registered as living in Western Sumatra and Northern Sumatra, and began to contact any of those possibly affected. They also established regular communication with the local authorities, and with representatives of other countries which may have had nationals involved.
The vice consul and pro consul travelled from Jakarta to Padang on 1 October 2009 to support the UK warden in liaising with local authorities, and making checks on hospitals, morgues, hotels and potential other sources of information. Consular staff remained in Padang until the evening of Sunday 4 October 2009, when the Indonesian authorities announced their search and rescue effort was ending.
We have made direct contact with, or confirmed the safety of, all the British nationals who we were notified may have been in the area.
Egypt: Rafah Crossing
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Egypt concerning the opening of the Rafah crossing. [HL5494]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): We are in regular contact with the Government of Egypt, both to discuss individual cases and the general level of access in and out of Gaza. My honourable friend the then Minister for the Middle East, Bill Rammell, also raised this with the Egyptian Government during his visit to Egypt in May 2009.
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However, the primary crossing points and responsibility for allowing the entry of humanitarian aid and other supplies into Gaza lies with the Government of Israel. We continue to press them to relax their restrictions to allow far greater access.
Elections
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice is being given to returning officers on whether they should count the votes on the night or on the following day at the next general election; and what assessment they have made of the proportion of constituencies that are likely to count on the following day. [HL5595]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): Rule 44(1) of the Parliamentary Election Rules in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that the returning officer shall make arrangements for counting the votes in the presence of the counting agents as soon as practicable after the close of the poll.
Under Section 10 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the Electoral Commission is responsible for producing advice and guidance for electoral administrators to follow at UK parliamentary elections. As part of this responsibility, the chief executive of the Electoral Commission wrote to all returning officers on 10 September 2009 to make clear the Electoral Commission's position on the timing of the count: that it is for returning officers to decide whether to count on Thursday evening or on Friday morning taking into account local circumstances.
Returning officers are rightly independent of government. While many of those involved in politics would not wish to see the tradition of overnight counts lost, the Government would not seek to interfere with the necessary discretion of returning officers, or the capacity of the Electoral Commission to give advice as it thinks appropriate. The Government have not made an assessment of the proportion of constituencies that are likely to count on the following day.
Employment: Ex-offenders
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Prescribed Criteria and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 on the employment prospects of former offenders; and whether they will review the criteria set out in the regulations. [HL5513]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Public protection remains the Government's top priority. In particular, we must do all that we can to protect the most vulnerable members of society. There is overwhelming public
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The new regulations strike an appropriate balance, by ensuring that someone's suitability to work with children or vulnerable adults is carefully considered on a case by case basis.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) is responsible for policy and legislative issues arising from the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007. As is now the case with all legislation, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 will be reviewed after its implementation in line with Cabinet Office guidance.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2009 on the employment prospects of former offenders, particularly those who offended as juveniles or have only offended once. [HL5514]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Under the 2001 Act each application is assessed individually taking into consideration the relevance, seriousness, recency and disposal of each offence.
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