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12 Nov 2010 : Column WA139
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA139
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA139
Friday 12 November 2010
Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops
Question
Asked by Lord Powell of Bayswater
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they intend to apply to determine whether plant, fungal and algal products are regulated as food or as medicine after 30 April 2011, in the light of advances in nutrigenomic science illuminating how food bioactive components (nutrients and non-nutrients) can influence gene expression.[HL3497]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): There is no mention of the term "nutrigenomic" in the medicines directive 2001/83. The decision as to whether a product falls within the definition of a medicinal product is made by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on a case-by-case basis using the definition of that term contained in Article 1 of the directive. The criteria that the MHRA takes into account are set out in their document Guidance Note 8: A Guide to What is a Medicinal Product. This can be found on the MHRA website at www.mhra.gov.uk/home/group/is-lic/documents/ publication/co007.pdf.
The criteria include all presentational material and available scientific evidence or information on any pharmacological, metabolic or immunological function of the ingredients. The approach that the MHRA takes is in line with the relevant judgments of the European Court.
Arts: Funding
Question
Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with representatives of the tourist industry to ascertain the effects of the reduction of arts funding on their future growth prospects; and what was the outcome of those discussions.[HL3359]
Baroness Rawlings: Ministers and officials of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport meet representatives from the tourism industry on a regular basis. However, the spending review settlement for Arts Council England was not discussed with representatives of the tourism industry before it was announced.
By limiting cuts to the cultural core to 15 per cent over four years, and taking into account the separate but parallel increase in income for the arts good cause from the National Lottery, the department is confident that the arts can continue to make their valuable contribution to the visitor economy.
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA140
Autism
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they will set out in the forthcoming Department of Health guidance Implementing Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives to improve local arrangements for leadership in relation to the provision of relevant services to adults with autism.[HL3598]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The national consultation on the statutory guidance closed on 22 October 2010. We are currently in the process of analysing the response, which will inform the further development of the statutory guidance. Ministers will then consider a revised draft and take final decisions on content. We would not wish nor would it be appropriate to anticipate this process.
The Autism Act sets the publication date for the statutory guidance, which must be produced and published before 31 December 2010.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures will be set out in the forthcoming statutory guidance on autism services Implementing Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives to ensure that adults with autism are able to access the services they need even when they do not have an accompanying learning disability or a co-occurring mental health problem.[HL3639]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what account they have taken of the cost savings that the National Audit Office found could be made by investing in autism teams, as they develop the forthcoming statutory guidance on autism services Implementing Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives.[HL3640]
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in light of recommendations in the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report Supporting Adults with Autism into Adulthood, what measures will be set out in the forthcoming statutory guidance on autism services Implementing Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives to ensure that collection of local data on adults with autism is improved.[HL3641]
Earl Howe: In the preparation of draft guidance for consultation, account was taken of all available evidence, including the work and findings of the National Audit Office.
The national consultation on the statutory guidance closed on 22 October 2010. We are currently in the process of analysing the response, which will inform the further development of the statutory guidance. Ministers will then consider a revised draft and take final decisions on content. We would not wish nor would it be appropriate to anticipate this process.
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Crime: Rape
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that women and girls raped in conflict are ensured full, non-discriminatory medical care, including abortions.[HL3599]
Baroness Verma: The Department for International Development (DfID) directly supports the provision of non-discriminatory medical care to victims of rape in a range of countries, including those affected by conflict. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, the UK has made contributions totalling around £1 million to the Panzi hospital in Bukavu, which has a specialist unit to provide care for the victims of acts of sexual violence. In Sierra Leone, DfID funds referral centres that support large numbers of women-including girls under 15-who have been victims of sexual assault.
The UK Government do not promote abortion as a method of family planning, but we are committed to reducing maternal mortality in the developing world and one of the leading causes of maternal death is unsafe abortion. The World Health Organisation estimates that nearly 70,000 women die each year following unsafe abortion and we are committed to bringing this number down, including in situations of armed conflict.
Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 13 October (WA 73-4), whether the data in the journal Human Fertility (volume 10, issue 3, pages 183-7) were previously presented to members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) at the HFEA Research Licence Committee Meeting on 14 September 2006; and, if so, why it is not possible for the HFEA to identify the licensed centres responsible for the incidence of hospitalisation due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) that was described therein.[HL3454]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that no meeting of its Research Licence Committee was held on 14 September 2006.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 October (WA 73-4) regarding the proposed Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) consultation on donation policies, how information available on the authority's website (http://www.hfea.gov.uk/3411.html) provides evidence of obstacles to donation subsequent to the removal of donor anonymity.[HL3455]
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To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 October (WA 73-4) regarding the proposed Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) consultation on donation policies, whether the HFEA can explain why more women than men have donated gametes since 1997, in light of the greater invasiveness in obtaining eggs.[HL3456]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the reports of interviews with donors conducted on behalf of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the results of a public opinion poll commissioned by the HFEA that was conducted by IPSOS Mori, or the experience of Cryos-International Sperm Bank (as communicated to the HFEA), suggest that significantly increasing payment to those providing gametes might alleviate perceived shortages, as described in the Guardian on 23 August 2010.[HL3457]
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 October 2008 (WA 109) and Lord Drayson on 10 March 2010 (WA75), to what extent a growing demand for eggs might relate to the demands of human cloning research; why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority chair is considering a move towards the Spanish system of payment for eggs; and whether any British representatives attempted to influence the legalisation of human embryo cloning in Spain as in Australia.[HL3458]
Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the web page cited does no more than provide information about the numbers of new sperm and egg donors registered in each year from 1992 to 2008.
Issues related to gamete donation will be discussed in a HFEA public consultation to be published in the new year. That consultation will include issues that may have an impact on the availability of donor-assisted conception treatment. The HFEA expects to reach a decision on the content of that consultation at its meeting in December.
On the question of why more women than men have donated gametes since 1997, the HFEA has advised that it has nothing further to add to my written reply of 13 October 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 73).
The Government have no view as to how a growing demand for eggs might relate to the demands of human cloning research. The nature of legislation in Spain or Australia on this issue is entirely a matter for those respective Governments.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 23 June (WA 184), when the person responsible for Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) licence R0179 requested that this licence should be revoked with immediate effect; what were the reasons given by the person responsible for making this
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA143
Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that the licence holder for research project R0179 at the Centre for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (centre 0296) notified the authority on 11 August 2010 that no research was being undertaken pursuant to that licence. The licence was revoked by a licence committee that met on 15 September 2010. The reason given by the person responsible for the ending of the project was that the project could not continue due to lack of funding.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 October 2010 (WA 73), what limitations there are that prevent hospitals from reporting cases of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) to the patient's IVF clinic (a) currently, and (b) during the period of data collection for the annual reports on assisted reproduction in Europe published by the European IVF Monitoring Programme for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Human Reproduction 2004, volume 19, pp 490-503 and 2008, volume 23, pp 756-71 using the European registers of 2000 and 2004; and whether there were any legal requirements for IVF patients to report severe OHSS to the IVF clinic in those respective time points.[HL3632]
Earl Howe: There are no legal requirements preventing hospitals from informing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics if any patient treated by that clinic has also been treated at the hospital for symptoms of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), unless the patient has refused her consent to the information being given to the IVF clinic. There are no legal requirements for patients themselves to inform the clinic that carried out their IVF treatment whether they have been treated by another healthcare provider for symptoms of OHSS.
The National Patient Safety Agency operates a national reporting and learning service, which encourages and facilitates reporting of patient safety incidents.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Answer by Earl Howe on 13 October (Official Report, col. 511) and the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 October (WA 72), how soon the conclusions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's internal governance review are expected to be made available before the authority ceases to exist.[HL3633]
Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that its internal governance review report is expected to be available in the new year.
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA144
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what legal requirements there are to follow up the physical, mental, emotional, social and psychological health of children created to be saviour siblings; and, where there are no such requirements, what proportion of saviour siblings have been followed up and what criteria have been used in assessing their well-being. [HL3635]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority holds follow-up information for all saviour siblings created under licence.[HL3636]
Earl Howe: There are no legal requirements for the monitoring of the long-term health of children described as "saviour siblings"-that is, those children born from embryos selected following pre-implantation tissue typing in order to help an older sibling with a serious medical condition. However, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's (HFEA) code of practice requires clinics offering pre-implantation tissue typing to have arrangements in place for inviting patients and their families to take part in long-term follow-up studies
The HFEA has advised that it does not hold follow-up information on these children.
Gaza
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the United Nations to send shipments containing the construction materials required by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for repairs and replacements of buildings destroyed in the conflict of 2008-09 and for necessary new schools direct to Gaza.[HL3452]
Baroness Verma: We believe that the most effective way of bringing construction materials into Gaza in the quantities required, without benefiting Hamas or disregarding Israel's legitimate security concerns, is via the land crossings between Israel and Gaza. To that end, we will continue to press Israel to implement in full the measures announced in June to relax movement and access restrictions on Gaza and to ensure that the full entry of materials for UN reconstruction projects is approved expeditiously.
Health: Ophthalmology
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to making blindness from giant cell arteritis a "never event".[HL3554]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department has proposed an extended list of "never events" and is currently undertaking an open engagement exercise to seek comments on the proposals and to consider suggestions for additional events to include in this list.
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA145
A copy of the proposals has been placed in the Library and is available at www.dh.gov.uk/en/publicationsandstatistics/publications/publicationspolicyandguidance/dh_120247.
The engagement process will run until 19 November 2010, following which the Government will consider all suggestions for amendments and additions to the "never event" list. We will publish an expanded list of "never events" in due course.
Health: Tuberculosis
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure tuberculosis treatment continues for the homeless and other hard-to-reach groups in light of the fact that funding for the Find and Treat programme will end in April 2011.[HL3594]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The National Health Service in London is working with the department to consider the future provision of tuberculosis services for homeless and other hard-to-reach groups, taking into account the current evaluation of the find and treat service by the Health Protection Agency.
Human Rights
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to propose amendments (a) to the European Convention on Human Rights in the light of recent judgments against the United Kingdom, and (b) to other international treaties governing human rights and political asylum.[HL3488]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): As I indicated in my Written Answer of 14 June (col. WA 72), the Government have no plans to propose amendments to the rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Government similarly have no plans to propose amendments to the rights protected by other principal human rights treaties.
To ask Her Majesty's Government which statutory bodies have represented the United Kingdom at meetings of the International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions in the past five years.[HL3489]
Lord McNally: Three United Kingdom statutory bodies are accredited as national human rights institutions: the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Human Rights Commission. They have all attended meetings of the International Co-ordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions in the past five years.
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA146
Indonesia
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider providing aid to Indonesia following the recent tsunami.[HL3430]
Baroness Verma: The Government of Indonesia have confirmed that they have the capacity to deal with the effects of the earthquake and tsunami that struck west Sumatra on 25 October 2010. They have not requested assistance for relief efforts from the international community. We are monitoring developments closely and are in contact with the Government of Indonesia. We stand ready to assist if necessary.
Medical Students: Non-EU Nationals
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 26 October (WA 278), how many of the 2,812 medical practitioners admitted to the United Kingdom from non-European Economic Area countries in 2009 have become general practitioners; and what is the annual output of graduates from United Kingdom medical schools. [HL3486]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The number of the 2,812 medical practitioners admitted to the United Kingdom from non-European Economic Area countries in 2009 who have become general practitioners is not available centrally. The latest data available from the Higher Education Funding Council for England show that in the 2008-09 academic year there were 5,684 medical graduates in England.
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 26 October (WA 278), what specialties and geographic areas were recorded for the 2,812 medical practitioners admitted to the United Kingdom from non-European Economic Area countries in 2009; and who were the sponsor employers.[HL3487]
Earl Howe: The Home Office records details on the certificate of sponsorships issued. The requested data on speciality and geographic areas recorded of the 2,812 medical practitioners admitted to the United Kingdom have been placed in the Library. Data cannot be broken down by sponsor, as this would contravene data protection.
Overseas Aid
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of overseas aid is paid directly and how much through the European Union.[HL3503]
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA147
Baroness Verma: In 2009, total UK official development assistance (ODA) was £7,356 million, of which £4,902 million (67 per cent) was paid directly by the UK and £2,454 million (33 per cent) was paid through multilateral channels. Of the multilateral ODA, £1,244 million was attributable to expenditure through the EU, which is equivalent to 17 per cent of overall ODA.
Pensions
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 26 October (WA 273), whether they will commission research on the median length of service related to public sector pensions in payment, in light of the fact that the Independent Public Sector Pensions Commission's interim report relies on comparative assessments of the level of such pensions in payment without details of the relevant service lengths.[HL3490]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): It is a matter for Lord Hutton of Furness to decide what evidence he considers is appropriate to inform his review of public service pensions.
South East: Urban Growth
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Ashford, Kent, retains its status as a growth area for the South East.[HL3242]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The delivery of locally planned housing growth is a matter for local authorities. We will, however, continue
12 Nov 2010 : Column WA148
Sport: Gambling
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a national licensing system for sports betting operators based offshore.[HL3569]
Baroness Garden of Frognal: A consultation on the regulatory future of remote gambling in Great Britain closed on 18 June 2010. Since then, Ministers at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have been examining the issues and identifying possible solutions. They hope to be able to make an announcement in due course.
St Helena: Airport
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the proposed airport for St Helena.[HL3463]
Baroness Verma: In his Written Statement to the House on 22 July 2010, the Secretary of State for International Development set out four conditions for the approval of the airport on St Helena. Good progress is being made in addressing these conditions. My right honourable friend will make a further announcement once we are satisfied that the conditions can be met.
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