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Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 26 June 2007 (WA 129-30), what consideration the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has given to findings reported in the journal Nature on 17 September 2009 (volume 461, issue 7262, pages 367-372) with regard to the renewal of research licence R0153; and, in particular, how the HFEA has evaluated comments by Peter Aldhous in New Scientist on 26 August 2009 indicating that the approach described in the paper is superior to a technique pursued at Newcastle University. [HL5764]
Baroness Thornton: We understand that any research licence application or renewal considered by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is assessed in light of the scientific evidence available at the time. When the licence is originally granted, and upon renewal, the application is peer reviewed. The HFEA expects such peer review to consider relevant research.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Triesman on 29 October 2007 (WA 144) and by Lord Darzi of Denham on 10 January 2008 (WA 216) and 18 June 2009 (WA 226), at what point the Newcastle Primary Care Trust switched to offering three cycles of in vitro fertilisation to eligible patients instead of one treatment cycle;
2 Nov 2009 : Column WA8
Baroness Thornton: Newcastle Primary Care Trust (PCT) has offered three cycles of in vitro fertilisation to eligible patients from 1 April 2009. We do not hold information on whether PCT funding criteria has an impact on the tendency of women to donate their eggs for research.
Employment: Young People
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the level of unemployment among young people and their need to acquire skills, they will remove the 16-hour rule for persons over 21 wishing to complete full-time education and claim benefits. [HL5734]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): We have no plans to do so. We recognise that for some people, lack of skills can hamper their entry into work and we actively support jobseekers in gaining the necessary skills. Customers claiming jobseeker's allowance can undertake full-time training if this is needed in order to gain the necessary skills to enter employment. Customers who undertake full-time training are transferred to a training allowance, to which the 16-hour study rule does not apply.
Furthermore, the Government have made a commitment to develop and deliver a fully integrated employment and skills (IES) system in England by 2010-11. The new integrated service will bring together and reform existing employment and skills services to better support skills acquisition, employment and career progression.
Energy: Anaerobic Digestion
Question
Asked by Lord Cameron of Dillington
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve or facilitate connections to the gas and electricity grids to ensure the viability of anaerobic digestion plants and encourage their growth. [HL5894]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): This was addressed in the UK Renewable Energy Strategy (Cm 7686, July 2009). In relation to electricity, various measures to address grid-related access barriers are currently being implemented. These include short-term measures to connect as a priority ready-to-go projects; new rules on long-term grid access; and new incentive mechanisms for investments in grid infrastructure. On gas, the Government are preparing guidance for prospective biomethane producers on how to connect to the gas network; building on the renewable energy strategy, that guidance will also outline arrangements for addressing longer-term issues.
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EU: Budget
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the Budgetary Report of the European Community which argues that the United Kingdom's budgetary position poses severe risks to the sustainability of public finances. [HL5827]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The report published by the European Commission is a theoretical exercise that shows what would happen over the next 50 years if member states did not consolidate their public finances. As the report itself states, "these projections are not robust forecasts and are not meant to be realistic scenarios of what may happen in the future". The Government are committed to protecting the sustainability of the public finances and have set out a clear plan for halving the deficit over four years once the recovery is under way. The fiscal projections set out in the 2009 Budget are consistent with debt falling as a proportion of GDP by 2015-16.
Falkland Islands
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to monitor the first elections under the Falkland Islands' new constitution on 5 November. [HL5749]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The 5 November 2009 elections are being organised according to the terms of the Falkland Islands electoral ordinance. The Government have every confidence in the Falkland Islands Government to run free and fair elections.
Flooding
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures (a) have been implemented, and (b) are planned, to prevent flooding in (1) Gloucestershire, (2) Worcestershire, and (3) Herefordshire. [HL5846]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Since September 2007 the Environment Agency has implemented a number of measures to manage and reduce the risk of flooding in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire:
two flood alleviation schemes have been implemented in Gloucestershire (Deerhurst, Bourton-on-the-Water), and one in Worcestershire (Hylton Road, Worcester). Over £1,000,000 has been spent on an improvement scheme for the River Chelt in Cheltenham;2 Nov 2009 : Column WA10
A £5,000,000 flood scheme in Hereford now provides better protection to 196 properties, including 25 listed buildings.
Details of future projects are given in the Environment Agency's medium-term plan, which is available on its website.
In addition, Defra is funding early action within Gloucestershire on managing risks from surface water: £50,000 has been allocated to date, with a further £100,000 to be provided by March 2011.
Food: Horse Meat
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much horse meat is imported to the United Kingdom; whether it is all covered by horse passports; and how the link between the passport and the meat is made. [HL5941]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Figures are not held on the amount of horse meat imported into the UK. Traditionally, UK consumers have not consumed horse meat so it is unlikely that any significant quantity is imported. Horse passports are not required for the import of horse meat into the UK.
Horse passports indicate that a horse is eligible for entry into the food chain and can be slaughtered for human consumption. After slaughter, the passport is either destroyed or invalidated and returned to the issuing body.
Gaza: Birth Defects
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will recommend that reporting mechanisms be set up in Gaza, following the offensive by Israel, to investigate congenital abnormalities in babies born over the five years from 2010. [HL5769]
2 Nov 2009 : Column WA11
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The World Health Organisation is currently monitoring the incidence of congenital abnormality in Gaza. The agency has carried out a retrospective study of 2008 to act as a baseline for ongoing monitoring. We understand that from a preliminary examination of 2009 data there is not an increased level of congenital abnormality in Palestinian children in Gaza. We will follow closely further conclusions reached.
Health: Costs
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the annual payments in (a) 2007-08, and (b) 2008-09 to the United Kingdom from European economic area countries for reimbursement of healthcare costs for those countries' nationals under EEC regulation 1408/71; and what were the payments from the United Kingdom to those countries under that regulation. [HL5954]
Baroness Thornton: The following tables show the breakdown of actual cash payments received and made by the United Kingdom in the financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 from non-waiver European economic area (EEA) member states and Switzerland for the reimbursement of healthcare provided under EU regulation (EC) 1408/71.
| EEA Medical Costs | ||
| Financial Year 2007-08 | Income received (1) | Payment made (1) |
| Country | £ | £ |
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