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The guidance also makes clear that the decision-maker should be satisfied that any capital funding required to implement proposals will be available. This is not something specific to sixth form proposals, but is a requirement common to all school organisation proposals.
Elections: Armed Forces
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those in full-time training to serve in the Armed Forces are registered to vote. [HL550]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the requirements on those running training facilities of the Armed Forces with regard to registering on the electoral roll those undergoing full-time training to serve in the Armed Forces and resident at such facilities. [HL551]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): As part of their induction to service life, trainees are encouraged to participate in
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Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 1 December (HL18), whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority would consider that a researcher had taken reasonable steps to contact the person who originally provided cells if the researcher had no access to the necessary contact information. [HL476]
Baroness Thornton: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that this would be judged on a case by case basis, as indicated in my Answer of 1 December (WA20).
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 1 December (WA 20), what representations the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority would make to a tissue bank in order to ensure that they use contact information at their disposal so that a researcher could try to contact the person who originally provided cells. [HL484]
Baroness Thornton: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it would be for the researcher to obtain information from the tissue bank in order to try to contact the person who originally provided the cells.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 1 December (WA 21), which professional bodies have issued advice recommending that the production of 44 eggs following superovulation is appropriate when associated with the pursuit of material for research. [HL485]
Baroness Thornton: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it is not aware that any guidelines have been published specifically recommending the collection of 44 eggs. The content of any professional guidance is a matter for the professional bodies themselves.
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Energy: Carbon Capture and Storage
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Health and Safety Executive about designating carbon capture and storage in the same way as dangerous fluids requiring appropriate safety measures. [HL390]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): My officials have had a number of discussions with officials from the Health and Safety Executive about the arrangements that will be put in place effectively to regulate the health and safety of carbon capture and storage. As with any other technology it is important that the hazards associated with CCS are subject to an appropriate level of control. The HSE is taking part in discussions with the European Commission about including CO2 in the CCS process in the Seveso Directive, and the EC is now considering whether to make a formal proposal for its inclusion in the directive. Subject to this outcome, HSE will consider whether or not to include carbon dioxide within its onshore and offshore control of major hazard regulations. HSE is also about to consult on the pipelines safety regulations which would extend additional major accident hazard pipeline duties to carbon dioxide.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they will introduce to ensure that carbon capture technology companies make adequate provision for safe storage and sealing of carbon, decommissioning of plants and minimising the costs of altering plants for other uses. [HL394]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The European directive on the geological storage of carbon dioxide (2009/31/EC) requires that operators of carbon dioxide storage sites shall ensure that the carbon dioxide will be permanently contained so as to prevent or eliminate as far as possible any risk to the environment or human health; and that the site will be sealed and the injection facilities removed after the cessation of operations. The Government's approach to such measures was set out in the response to the towards carbon capture and storage consultation (April 2009 URN 09D1532), and further consultation is currently underway to set out these requirements in greater detail. This closes on 30 December. The Energy Act 2008 ensures that the decommissioning regime of Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998 also applies to carbon dioxide storage installations; this regime will allow deferral of decommissioning of offshore facilities for future use for carbon dioxide storage where justified.
Energy: Nuclear Power Stations
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the financial framework for encouraging companies to invest in new nuclear power plants in the United Kingdom. [HL545]
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The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): As set out in the nuclear White Paper, the Office for Nuclear Development is taking active steps to establish and implement the right policy framework in the UK for investment in new nuclear power stations.
We published a draft nuclear national policy statement on 9 November for consultation. We have legislated to ensure developers put money aside from day one for eventual clean up. We have published the recommendations made by Dr Tim Stone on the nuclear regulatory environment. However, there is no public subsidy for new nuclear and it is up to energy companies to take a view on the economics of new nuclear power. So far energy companies have committed to build up to 16 GW of new nuclear. The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme provides a financial framework for ensuring that a price is attached to carbon emissions and thus benefits investment in low carbon technologies such as nuclear power, renewables and clean coal.
Energy: Renewables
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the commercial viability of using recovered fuel oil in place of other fuels with a greater carbon footprint. [HL444]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Waste Strategy 2007 recognises that recovered fuel oil (RFO), which is part-processed waste oil, may be used as a fuel substitute, and the energy in the RFO recovered. There are a number of operators undertaking this activity, the commercial viability of which is affected by a number of factors, including the price of fuel oil. Under the revised waste framework directive the recovery of energy from waste is placed fourth in the waste hierarchy, which shall apply as a priority order, and is above waste disposal which includes incineration without energy recovery. The regeneration of waste oil into base oil by re-refining is classed as recycling and is placed third in the waste hierarchy.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent of illegal dumping of waste oil; and whether the development of a market for recovered fuel oil would alleviate that practice. [HL445]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The correct disposal of hazardous waste, including waste oil, is a legal requirement and there are controls in place to prevent illegal dumping. The Environment Agency gathers information on oil-related incidents. From its records, there appears to be no increase in the oil-related incidents that it deals with regarding illegal disposal. Similarly, data collected under the Flycapture scheme from local authorities on the number of fly tips cleared by the local authority show no increase in the amount of such waste being fly tipped between 2007 and 2008.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government whether recovered fuel oil is exported from the United Kingdom for use as a fuel in other European Union member states. [HL446]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Information on the transfrontier shipment of waste oils from England and Wales is collected by the Environment Agency. This information shows that in 2008, the latest year for which data are available, 9,298 tonnes of waste oils were exported from England and Wales for recovery. This included a proportion of waste oil for energy recovery in the EU.
Equality: Life Expectancy
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 2 December (WA 46) stating that specific groups experience disadvantage based upon their innate characteristics, whether they intend to address the inequality of life expectation between men and women. [HL543]
Baroness Thornton: Tackling health inequalities is a government priority, including the health differences between men and women. The latest data for 2006-08 show a 4.1 years difference between the life expectancy of men and women in England-82 years for women and 77.9 for men-with lower levels of life expectancy in disadvantaged areas.
The Secretary of State for Health has asked Professor Sir Michael Marmot of University College London to review the latest global evidence on health inequalities and identify possible policy options for the future. The review is exploring avoidable health differences in the population through an approach that emphasises the social determinants of health. This includes socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity and disability. Sir Michael is expected to publish his independent report in the new year and his findings will inform the development of a post-2010 cross-government health inequalities strategy.
Flooding
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to see a reduction in the number of United Kingdom domestic properties at risk from river, sea and surface water flooding. [HL566]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): The Government target is to move 145,000 households to a lower flood probability category by March 2011.
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The Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards are on track to exceed this target and provide better protection to 160,000 homes.
However, the Environment Agency's long term investment strategy, published in June, suggests that investment will need to increase by 80 per cent by 2035 to counter the future effects of climate change.
Food: Salt
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider methods for reducing the salt content of children's food below 3 grams for five year-olds, 5 grams for seven-to-ten year-olds, and 6 grams for those over 11, following recent findings. [HL391]
Baroness Thornton: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has set voluntary salt reduction targets for around 80 categories of food to be met by the food industry by 2010; and an additional, stricter set of targets to be achieved by 2012. Foods that contribute to children's diets are generally the same as those that contribute to adults diets. As the FSA's salt targets apply to all foods within the defined categories, whether these are aimed at adults or children, achievement of these targets by the food industry will help to secure a reduction in children's intakes.
Government Network Office
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State at Communities and Local Government, Ms Rosie Winterton, on 12 June (Official Report, House of Commons, cols. 1062-4), why the reorganisation of the Government Office Network resulted in the centralisation of accommodation costs; where those costs are now reported; how many years' costs are included; and what savings are expected as a result of the reorganisation. [HL384]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): Reorganisation of the Government Office Network's corporate services is part of the Government's continuing operational efficiencies programme and shared service agenda. The Government Office Network and Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG)'s integration of finance, human relations and information technology, as well as estates and accommodation, aims to achieve efficiencies and savings.
Accommodation costs are included in the Government Office Network accounts which are consolidated into the CLG accounts laid before Parliament annually. Savings and efficiencies will be reported as part of the whole shared services reorganisation once it is complete.
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Gurkhas
Questions
Asked by Lord Selkirk of Douglas
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the annual cost of welfare payments to (a) Gurkha ex-servicemen settled in the United Kingdom, (b) dependants of such soldiers who have emigrated to the United Kingdom following the recent change in policy, and (c) Gurkha servicemen yet to retire who would be eligible to settle in the United Kingdom. [HL279]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (a) the cost of providing welfare payments to those Gurkha ex-servicemen who retired before 1 July 1997, and (b) the cost of providing pensions to those Gurkha ex-servicemen who retired before 1 July 1997. [HL280]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their forecast of the cost of welfare provision over the next 20 years for 10,000 to 15,000 Gurkhas and their dependants settling in the United Kingdom. [HL281]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Government's position on settlement rights for those who retired from the Brigade of Gurkhas before July 1997 was set out in the Home Secretary's Statement on 21 May 2009. On the basis that 36,000 Gurkhas and their dependants settled in the United Kingdom, the Government estimated that the annual cost would be approximately £1.4 billion. On the basis that 10,000 to 15,000 applicants plus their dependants chose to settle in the UK, the Government estimate that the costs are likely to be £300 million to £400 million a year. This does not include service related pensions.
It has been estimated that the cost of providing retired Gurkhas with Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) equivalent pension benefits for all pensionable service before one July 1997 would be a one-off cost of £500 million and then £1 billion spread over 20 years. The £1.5 billion would benefit a small group of mainly officers where the pension difference between Gurkha Pension Scheme and AFPS is significant.
No estimates have been made of the annual cost of welfare payments to include Gurkhas who retired after 1997 or the future cost relating to those still serving and who choose to settle in the UK upon discharge.
Health: Autologous Therapy
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress is being made in developing autologous therapy for NHS patients, particularly in heart attack and similar cases. [HL564]
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Baroness Thornton: Autologous therapy, using a patient's own stem cells, has been used with increasing success to treat a range of conditions, such as burns to the skin or damage to the cornea. A number of research trials have investigated bone marrow stem cells to treat damage to the heart following a heart attack. While these studies are ongoing, to date any benefits for patients appear to be marginal and transient in nature. More clinical research will be required to establish with confidence whether or not there really are any clinical benefits from this approach.
Health: Cancer
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to make it a requirement to provide ovarian cancer screening for women. [HL477]
Baroness Thornton: As stated in the Cancer Reform Strategy published in 2007, the cancer research community is committed to investigating screening approaches in cancers where we do not currently have national screening programmes. The National Health Service Constitution (January 2009) also commits the NHS to providing screening programmes as recommended by the United Kingdom National Screening Committee.
The department, the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK are currently funding the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening. The trial began in 2000 and final results are expected in 2015. Over the next five years, the researchers will be looking at whether an ovarian cancer screening programme using these tests can reduce deaths from ovarian cancer.
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