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18 July 2011 : Column WA223



18 July 2011 : Column WA223

Written Answers

Monday 18 July 2011

Abortion

Questions

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): It is accepted parliamentary practice that proposals for changes in the law on abortion come from Back-Bench Members and that decisions are made on the basis of free votes.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

Earl Howe: Abortion can only legally be performed in the circumstances set out in the Abortion Act 1967 as amended. All abortion service providers should also provide the full range of contraception. The "Service Specification-Termination of Pregnancy", which forms part of the Guidance on the NHS Standard Contract for Acute Services 2010-11, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, states that women should receive an effective method of contraception of their choice which suits their health and other needs regardless of whether an abortion goes ahead.

Agriculture: Eggs

Questions

Asked by Lord Corbett of Castle Vale

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): From 1 January 2012 it will be illegal to keep laying hens in conventional cages and, on that basis, marketing such eggs as class A within the UK will be against the law.



18 July 2011 : Column WA224

In addition, the UK Government have been at the forefront of efforts to convince the Commission that simply relying on infraction proceedings against non-compliant member states will not be enough to deal with the negative impact that non-compliance would cause. We have urged the Commission to put additional measures in place to prevent market disturbance and to protect compliant producers.

We would favour a time-limited intra-Community trade ban which would restrict the sale of eggs from non-compliant systems after 2012 from being exported outside that member state's border and the strengthening of the requirement for each member state to share the data in the annual returns it sends to the Commission under the EU marketing regulations, giving details of each producer, which system they use, their production code et cetera, so that these data could then be used by member states to identify non-compliance. We will continue to keep up the pressure on the Commission to act and act quickly.

We are also in the process of drawing up an enforcement strategy which we will be discussing with industry representatives and retailers to see how we can best work together to take things forward.

Animal By-products

Question

Asked by Baroness Jenkin of Kennington

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The European Commission's TSE Roadmap 2 published in July 2010 sets out the way forward for TSE controls and includes the future policy option of permitting processed animal protein (PAP) derived from non-ruminants such as chickens and pigs to be fed to non-ruminant farmed animals which are omnivores or carnivores. This would be subject to strict segregation rules to maintain the existing ban on intra-species recycling of PAP and the validation of a test to determine the species of origin of PAP in animal feed.

The European Commission has now made a specific proposal to allow non-ruminant PAP to be fed to non-ruminant farmed animals of a different species-allowing, for example, chicken PAP to be fed to pigs or fish and pig PAP to be fed to chickens or fish-subject to the conditions set out above. The Government are currently considering this proposal. They have sought views from interested parties and will seek advice on the food safety implications from the Food Standards Agency.

Animals: Scientific Procedures

Questions

Asked by Lord Wills



18 July 2011 : Column WA225

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): The public consultation on the options for transposing European directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes seeks views on the system of inspection of breeders, suppliers and users of animals. The consultation closes on 5 September 2011. No decisions have yet been made on this issue.

At present the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate implements a risk-based approach to inspection and as such the frequency, duration and style of inspection may vary as any relevant risks alter.

Asked by Lord Wills

Baroness Browning: Members of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate who are members of the Senior Civil Service are required to make a declaration of potential conflicts of interest every six months.

18 July 2011 : Column WA226

This would include membership of, or personal or professional interests in, organisations concerned with either animal protection or the production of animals or equipment used in scientific procedures on animals.

Inspectors who are not senior civil servants are not required to make the declaration. However some have voluntarily made one where a potential conflict might be perceived.

Armed Forces: Costs

Question

Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The annual audited figures for the net additional costs of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq from financial year 2001-02 to 2009-10 are shown in the following table:

£ million2001-022002-032003-042004-052005-062006-072007-082008-092009-10Total spend to date

Afghanistan

221

311

46

67

199

738

1,504

2,623

3,821

9,530

Iraq

0

847

1,311

910

958

956

1,457

1,381

342

8,162

The estimated net additional cost of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq for financial year 2010-11 is provided in the following table. Final audited figures will be available in the annual report and accounts, which are due to be published shortly.

2010-1l £ million

Afghanistan

3,774

Iraq

95

Armed Forces: Helicopters

Question

Asked by Lord West of Spithead

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): It is planned to start transition for Royal Navy and Royal Marines Sea King mark 4 crews into Merlin mark 3 after September this year, as part of the plan to re-equip the Commando Helicopter Force with Merlin for the Future Force 2020. A decision has yet to be taken on the exact number of personnel in this initial transition.

Bahrain

Questions

Asked by Lord Bilston

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): As my honourable friend the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said on 30 June, the UK Government welcome the establishment by His Majesty the King of an independent commission, composed of international figures, to look into the events of recent months and into allegations of abuses of human rights. It is our hope that this promising and significant step will lead to concrete progress in addressing the recent serious concerns about the human rights situation in Bahrain. We also hope these developments will be complemented by all sides participating in a successful and peaceful commencement of the national dialogue.

Asked by Lord Luce

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK Government welcome the establishment by His Majesty King Hamad of an independent commission, composed of international figures, to look into the events of recent months and into allegations of abuses of human rights. It is our hope that this promising and significant step will lead to concrete progress in addressing the recent serious concerns about the human rights situation in Bahrain. We also hope these developments will be complemented by all sides participating in a successful and peaceful commencement of the national dialogue which brings the genuine political reform needed to ensure long-term stability in Bahrain.

Banks: Credit Cards

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The payment services directive (2007/64/EC) provides that member states may forbid or limit the right of the payee (for example, a retailer) to impose charges for the use of any payment instrument, including debit cards, taking into account the need to encourage competition and promote efficient payment instruments.

Belfast Agreement

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The British and Irish Governments meet regularly both at ministerial and official level to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern, including matters relating to the implementation of the Belfast agreement in each jurisdiction.

Clostridium Sordellii

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool



18 July 2011 : Column WA228

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Lord Alton of Liverpool, dated July 2011.

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking (a) what was the registered cause of death, and (b) what secondary references were included on the certificate, in each case since 2005 where a sufferer of Clostridium sordelli died subsequent to infection. (HL11061)

Information on deaths involving Clostridium sordellii is not directly available from the statistical information derived from death registrations. To obtain figures on deaths related to C. sordellii it would be necessary to identify all deaths with an International Classification of Disease code relating to Clostridium infection, and then study the text of the death certificate for the word "sordellii". This exercise cannot be completed without disproportionate costs.

It is not always possible from the information given at death registration to state whether the deceased had a specific infection at the time of death. Internationally accepted guidance from the World Health Organisation requires only those conditions that contributed directly to the death to be recorded on the death certificate. Medical practitioners and coroners are not required to record all of the diseases or conditions present at or before death, and whether a condition contributed is a matter for their clinical judgement.

The number of deaths involving Clostridium difficile registered in England and Wales each year by sex and age are published annually on the National Statistics website at: www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp ?vInk=14782.

Court of the Bank of England

Questions

Asked by Lord Myners

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): Government Ministers regularly meet Bank directors, including the chairman of the Court of the Bank of England, to discuss a range of issues.



18 July 2011 : Column WA229

Asked by Lord Myners

Lord Sassoon: Non-executive appointments to the Court of the Bank of England are subject to a fair, open and transparent competition process, which ensures that applicants' qualifications and skills are appropriately evaluated against the advertised role criteria.

Appointments are regulated by the Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments and an independent assessor sits on both the sift and interview panels.

Detention: Pre-trial

Question

Asked by Baroness Whitaker

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The deadline for responses to the Commission's Green Paper on detention issues is 30 November. The Ministry of Justice will co-ordinate a government response to the consultation and will respond within the deadline.

Diplomats: Cross-accreditation

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): There has not been an incident, in recent memory, of a proposed cross-accreditation of a British head of mission being refused.

However, Article 5.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations makes clear that a state may refuse accreditation to a head of mission who is accredited to another state. Such a refusal would generally be in relation to a specific proposal for cross-accreditation and would be dependent on the government policies in place at that time in the state concerned.

It is not therefore possible to say how many states might under some circumstances object to cross-accreditation.

Economy: Balance of Payments

Question

Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch



18 July 2011 : Column WA230

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director General for ONS, to Lord Pearson of Rannoch, dated July 2011.

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the United Kingdom Balance of Payments 2010 to be published; and whether it will reflect exports and imports of goods and services which pass through Rotterdam and Antwerp. (HL11163)

The United Kingdom Balance of Payments 2010 (including data for 2009) was published in 2010. It can be found at the following web link: http://www.statistics. gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vInk=1140.

The United Kingdom Balance of Payments 2011 (including data for 2010) is to be published electronically on 1 November 2011.

The convention for recording exports and imports of goods and services (e.g. on HMRC customs declarations) is that the partner country recorded is the country the goods or services first enter after leaving their country of origin. Therefore, exports or imports that pass through Rotterdam and Antwerp would be recorded as exports to or imports from Netherlands and Belgium respectively.

Economy: Northern Ireland

Question

Asked by Lord Kilclooney

Lord Shutt of Greetland: For events of this nature the Northern Ireland Office routinely and specifically alerts the Belfast Telegraph, Irish News, News Letter, Press Association and other news outlets with which the NIO has regular contact on UK government issues.

Embryology

Questions

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): No assessment has been made by the Government of this information. This research is ongoing and has not yet been published in a peer review journal.



18 July 2011 : Column WA231

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

Earl Howe: There is nothing further I can add to the information I gave the noble Lord in my Written Answer of 7 July 2011 (Official Report, cols. WA 95-96).

EU: Bank Accounts

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): Under the European Union's savings directive, financial institutions are required to report savings interest on accounts held by residents of other member states to HM Revenue and Customs for automatic exchange of information with the relevant member state. Arrangements for keeping account holders informed may vary between financial institutions.

EU: Environment Council

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): On 21 June the EU Environment Council adopted conclusions that welcomed the Commission's intention to propose an EU response to water challenges in 2012, by means of its Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources. At this stage, no decisions were taken that had cost implications for member states. We will assess the full cost implications as necessary once the Commission provides details of the proposed actions.

EU: Logo

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon



18 July 2011 : Column WA232

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): Article 69 of European Union regulation 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006, which sets out general provisions on the European regional development fund (ERDF) and other structural funds, requires member-state managing authorities to ensure that projects supported by the ERDF adequately publicise this support. European Union regulation 1828/2006 of 8 December 2006 sets out rules for the implementation of the ERDF and other structural funds. These rules include the detailed requirements for funding recipients to publicise information on the source of their funding, including statements to that effect in all related documents. It is standard practice for funding providers in general to ask that their role in supporting a project or organisation be recognised and communicated.

The managing authority may withdraw some or all funding from a beneficiary if the project does not comply with the regulations. This is a financial correction, not a fine and there is no right of appeal under the regulations. The European Commission also has powers to impose financial corrections on the basis of examinations it has carried out, but these are generally at operational programme, not individual project, level.

EU: Membership

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Government are a strong supporter of EU enlargement. We believe further EU enlargement is dependent on countries meeting the fair and rigorous accession criteria. Croatia, Iceland, Montenegro, Macedonia and Turkey are all candidate countries. The EU is also committed to the European perspective of the western Balkans. My right honourable friend the Minister for Europe, David Lidington, restated the Government's support for eventual EU membership for the countries of the western Balkans subject to them meeting the accession criteria, at the EU-Western Balkans Forum on 20 June. The European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) play a useful role in the EU enlargement process. The Commission, with input from the EEAS, monitors and assesses progress in the reforms necessary for EU membership in those countries with an EU perspective, the result of which is an annual progress report on these countries and an annual EU enlargement strategy which suggests the proposed direction of this policy. The UK fully endorses last December's council conclusions, which stated "that by making solid progress in economic and political reform and by fulfilling the necessary conditions and requirements, the remaining potential candidates in the western Balkans should achieve candidate status, according to their own merits, with EU membership as the ultimate goal".



18 July 2011 : Column WA233

Female Genital Mutilation

Questions

Asked by Baroness Tonge

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) provides advice to newly arrived refugees on accessing NHS services. All individuals entering UKBA-arranged accommodation are offered health screening.

Temporary United Kingdom residents (refugees and asylum seekers whose application is still being considered, and anyone who has been lawfully living in the UK for 12 months immediately prior to treatment) are afforded the protections available to permanent UK residents, including access to 15 specialist clinics in the NHS which treat women and girls who have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). These clinics all have trained and culturally sensitive staff who offer a range of confidential healthcare services for women and girls including reversal surgery. These clinics are open to women to attend without referral from their own doctors. These clinics are funded by local primary care trusts.

The Government have also distributed 40,000 leaflets and posters to public sector partners within the UK, highlighting the issue of FGM.

Asked by Baroness Tonge

Baroness Browning: The Government have distributed leaflets and posters to British embassies across Africa to raise awareness among individuals applying to come to the UK that female genital mutilation is illegal here. At present the Government do not publish such information in languages other than English.

Asked by Baroness Tonge

Baroness Browning: The Government chair and run the female genital mutilation (FGM) forum, which allows the voluntary and community sector to meet with policy officials, raise any concerns and discuss current issues. No direct financial support has been made available in this financial year.

Finance: Foreign Exchange

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): HM Treasury provides guidance in Managing Public Money (chapter 5 and annexe 5.7) to departments on foreign exchange transactions. In particular, if foreign exchange transactions form a substantial part of a department's business, its foreign exchange management policy will need to be agreed with HM Treasury.

Financial Services Bill

Questions

Asked by Baroness Noakes

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Joint Committee to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Financial Services Bill will be formed when Motions to form the committee have been agreed by both Houses.

Asked by Baroness Noakes

Lord Sassoon: The Joint Committee will be able to make recommendations on all aspects of the draft legislation.

Government Departments: Research and Data

Questions

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

Earl Attlee: A list of research and data collection that has been initiated, terminated and/or amended by the Department for Transport since 12 May 2010 is provided in the table below. Further information is available on the department's research management database at http://www.dft.gov.uk/rmd/.



18 July 2011 : Column WA235

Research initiated, amended or terminated since 12 May 2010
TitleInitiated (I), amended (A), terminated (T)

Value of Prevented Fatalities and Injuries-Phase 1

I

Advanced Biofuels: the potential for a UK industry

I

Scenarios for the cost-effective deployment of biofuel in the UK road transport sector in 2020

I

Amendments to the UK Renewable Energy Directive Art 19(2) report on emissions from cultivation of biofuels feedstocks in the UK

I

Child media consumption research

I

Christmas 2010 THINK! road safety drink drive campaign: post-activity tracking research

I

Annual survey of attitudes to THINK! campaign, road safety and driving behaviour

I

Post campaign tracking research for the THINK! road safety 'Tales of the road' campaign, for children aged 6-11

I

Evaluation of the 'Code of Everand' road safety online game, for children aged 9-12

I

Evaluation of THINK! road safety education resources for early years and upper primary children

I

High Speed 2 Rail Omnibus Survey (Pre consultation)

I

Station usage and demand forecasting at newly-opened railway lines and stations

I

Peak spreading fares study

I

Network Modelling Framework Script Development

I

Strategic Fares Model Updating 2

I

Responsiveness of rail demand

I

Comparing rail forecasting approaches

I

Implementing the "revisiting the elasticity-based framework" study

I

Van CO2 Database Matching Project

I

GB Van CO2 Database

I

Freight route choice using GPS data

I

Omnibus survey of public attitudes to bus travel

I

Omnibus survey of public attitudes to climate change and travel choices

I

Marginal Abatement Cost Curve Project

I

Market Maturity and Econometrics

I

Aviation Health Studies

I

Train Operating Company Cost Model

A

Emissions Model

A

Evidence Review of the Economics of Shipping and UK Ports

A

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shipping Services

A

Value of Travel Time Savings (VTTS) study-Phase 1

T

National Transport Model Version 4 Commissioning-Phase 4

T

Validation of the NTM using ASHE

T

Funding of the Transport Research Centre

T

Airport Development-Appraisal of Sustainability Scoping Document

T



18 July 2011 : Column WA236

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The contract was varied following a request from the contractor. The variation extended the end-date by three months to ensure that the contractor had sufficient time to complete their agreed obligations. No additional cost was incurred to the department for this variation.

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

Lord Henley: Defra funded project NF0424 to establish a breeding programme for short rotation coppice willow led by Rothamsted Research. This was necessary because there was no market to support a breeding programme, and low yields were one of the causes of low commercial viability of this dedicated biomass crop, which in previous trials demonstrated good adaptation across the UK.

Work at Rothamsted delivered breeding tools and improved varieties over five years. Defra indicated that at the end of this period the research providers should seek joint funding from industry to continue the work. The contract variation was a six-month paid extension agreed with Rothamsted to provide more time for developing a project with industrial partners. However, this did not come into fruition.

Rothamsted is pursuing genetic improvement of short rotation coppice willow through the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's Sustainable Bioenergy Centre.

Health: Contaminated Blood Products

Question

Asked by Lord Corbett of Castle Vale

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Skipton Fund received a total of 465 registrations of intent to make a claim in respect of individuals in England who died before 29 August 2003, prior to the 31 March 2011 deadline. As at 7 July 2011, the Skipton Fund has received 304 completed application forms, of which 195 have been approved for payment.



18 July 2011 : Column WA237

Health: Down's Syndrome

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The following table provides the number of live births notified to the National Congenital Anomaly System for England and Wales (NCAS) with a mention of Down's syndrome for the years 1981, 1991 and 2001. Figures are not available for 2011. The number of notifications received by NCAS is likely to be less than the actual number of infants born with an anomaly.

Table: Number of live birth notifications to the National Congenital Anomaly System with a mention of Down's syndrome1, 1981,1991 and 2001, England and Wales2
YearNumber of notificationsRates per 10,000 live and stillbirths

19813

465

7.3

19914

424

6.1

20015

344

5.8

Health: Drug Tariff

Question

Asked by Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The NHS drug tariff, including category M, forms part of the community pharmacy contractual framework, and is therefore negotiated between the department and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.

To date, the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association has been content for the value of drug reimbursements paid to

18 July 2011 : Column WA238

dispensing GPs to be based on the NHS drug tariff, and these arrangements have been carried forward for many years.

Recently, the position of the GPC and dispensing doctors has changed. The department has made clear to representatives of dispensing doctors that it is happy to discuss whether new arrangements should be agreed in calculating how dispensing doctors might be funded, including ensuring that ongoing efficiencies are secured for the benefit of the National Health Service and taxpayer, given that the latest independent information on earnings for dispensing doctors (the GP earnings and expenses report for 2008-09, published by the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care, in January 2011) showed that the average income before tax of a dispensing GP in England was £123,800, which is around £17,000 a year more per GP than those who are not dispensing doctors.

Health: General Practitioners

Question

Asked by Lord Bradley

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The information requested is shown in the following table.

Number of general practitioners (GPs), excluding retainers and registrars, per head of population for primary care trusts (PCTs) within Greater Manchester as at 30 September 2010
All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) headcount(1)All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) headcount per 100,000 population

Total specified organisations

1,791

68.0

Ashton, Leigh And Wigan PCT

190

62.0

Bolton PCT

210

79.2

Bury PCT

116

63.5

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT

141

68.9

Manchester PCT

353

73.0

Oldham PCT

143

65.4

Salford PCT

169

75.1

Stockport PCT

193

68.0

Tameside and Glossop PCT(2)

147

59.0

Trafford PCT

141

65.5

Health: Orthopaedics

Questions

Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The aim of the best-practice tariff (BPT) for hip fracture is to reduce unexplained variations and to raise the quality of care and improve outcomes for patients. The BPT is based on elements of care which are consistent with best practice and the recently published hip fracture guidance from National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). BPT was introduced in April 2010 and data received over the past 12 months have demonstrated a steady increase in the number of patients whose care is in line with the standards of care required for compliance with the BPT. At this stage, it is not possible to express improvements in outcomes in terms of QALYs. The department has commissioned an evaluation of the impact of the introduction of the BPT, which is due to report later this year. This report will comment on the improvement in care for patients, using the most appropriate means of measurement.

Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham

Earl Howe: The department has taken a number of steps to improve the management of osteoporosis and fracture risk in primary care in a number of areas. These include guidance through a commissioning toolkit to support organisations' establishment of effective falls and fracture prevention and management;

18 July 2011 : Column WA240

commissioning the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to develop clinical guidelines for hip fractures; and technology appraisals covering the primary and secondary prevention of osteoporosis.

It also includes the development of a best-practice tariff which offers financial incentives to hospitals meeting quality standards for hip fracture patients (including a fracture prevention assessment) and the NHS Clinical Knowledge Summaries (formerly PRODIGY) which is aimed at healthcare professionals working in primary and first-contact care, and provides information on osteoporosis prevention and management.

The department's guidance on the falls and fractures commissioning toolkit includes prevention of frailty, promotion of bone health and reduction of accidents through encouraging physical activity and healthy lifestyle and reducing unnecessary environmental hazards as one of its four intervention objectives in the context of local services for falls, falls prevention and fractures.

Health: Patient Safety

Question

Asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The National Patient Safety Agency routinely shares all rapid response reports with the health departments in the devolved Administrations.

Health: Pressure Sores

Question

Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We understand that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recently initiated a review of its clinical guideline on the management of pressure ulcers in primary and secondary care, published in September 2005.

The updated guideline will include the amalgamation of NICE's clinical guideline on the use of pressure-relieving devices for the prevention of pressure ulcers in primary and secondary care. Further information is at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp ?action=byID&o =10972.

In addition, NICE is developing a quality standard on the management of pressure ulcers.



18 July 2011 : Column WA241

Health: Rural Pharmacies

Question

Asked by Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We fully support patients having a choice of pharmaceutical services providers. Patients can take their prescriptions to any National Health Service pharmacy they wish to have their prescriptions dispensed.

However, in more remote and rural areas, NHS pharmacies may not always be viable. That is why, to ensure adequate access to NHS dispensing services, primary care trusts may authorise general practitioners (GPs) to dispense to patients provided certain criteria set out in regulations are met. Such arrangements have existed for many decades and pre-date the formation of the NHS.

The current NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005 as amended implement an agreement reached in 2001, regarding rural dispensing, between representatives of contractors, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association and the Dispensing Doctors Association. These regulations updated and reformed the previous regulatory regime and set out the circumstances under which patients who live in designated rural areas are eligible to receive dispensing services from their GP. Such arrangements are of course generally subject to the agreement of the doctor or practice. However, the primary role of NHS general medical practitioners is to provide NHS medical services to their patients.

Health: Stroke Care

Question

Asked by Lord Touhig

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): On 8 July 2011, Sir David Nicholson, chief executive-designate of the NHS Commissioning Board, published Developing the NHS Commissioning Board, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, which sets out proposals about how the NHS Commissioning Board will operate. It proposes that the NHS Commissioning Board will host clinical networks which will continue to advise on distinct areas of care, such as stroke.



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Health: Surgical Instruments

Questions

Asked by Lord McColl of Dulwich

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Manufacturers of surgical instruments (medical devices) must designate them as single-use only or as being suitable for reprocessing. Although a manufacturer may employ the same materials in a single-use medical device as in a reusable device, the design of the single-use device may not be appropriate to allow for effective decontamination and sterilisation of the product.

A reusable device must include guidance on the reprocessing of the product in the instructions for use. Any medical device that includes a sterilisation process must involve a notified body in the validation of this process prior to the application of a CE mark.

A medical device designated as single-use only will not have been validated for reprocessing by the manufacturer and should not be reused.

The reuse of single-use only medical devices carries additional risks of infection and the possibility that the equipment will not perform as intended.

In addition, any organisation that donates medical devices for use by a third party outside of the manufacturer's intended purpose does so at their own risk. If the medical device causes harm to a patient, then the civil liability for this would be with the supplying organisation.

Hillsborough Castle

Question

Asked by Lord Kilclooney

Lord Shutt of Greetland: There was no cost to public funds in relation to the event involving Independent News and Media, which met all the expenses.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland agreed to attend this event as it supported a Northern Ireland Office departmental objective in relation to rebalancing the economy in Northern Ireland. The event provided an opportunity for Independent News and Media to explore how best it could help promote Northern Ireland, through its international network, in order to support and promote economic growth.



18 July 2011 : Column WA243

House of Lords: Media Training

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: This information is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

Human Rights

Question

Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): When I replied to my noble friend's Questions on this issue on 11 October 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 39), I said that the Government had not made an assessment of the compatibility of United Kingdom law with the seventh protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. That remains the position. In addition, I said the Government would establish a commission to consider the case for a UK Bill of Rights, which would incorporate and build on our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, and that the Government believed any proposal to add to these obligations, for example by ratifying Protocol 7, should be considered in the context of the work of the commission. As he is aware, the commission was established on 18 March 2011 and is due to report no later than by the end of 2012.

Iran

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We are deeply concerned about Iran's recent cross-border shelling in the border region of Kurdistan. This is no clear justification for such action, which endangers innocent civilians. We will continue to monitor the situation and call on Iran to play a constructive role in Iraq. This includes Iran respecting Iraq's territorial integrity and the individual rights of the Kurdish people in the region.



18 July 2011 : Column WA244

Iraq

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We have had no recent discussions with the Governments of Iraq or the United States (US) about Iraq sovereignty, since Iraq regained its sovereignty. The US has a military presence in Iraq under a bilateral agreement which expires in December 2011. The US provides support and training, including to the Iraqi air force to enable it to defend Iraqi airspace. Much of Iraqi airspace is already controlled by the Iraqis, with the US progressively handing over responsibilities as Iraqi capabilities improve.

Israel and Palestine

Questions

Asked by Baroness Tonge

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): I can confirm 12 British nationals were detained on 8 July at Ben Gurion Airport. All but one have now returned to the UK, with one being allowed to enter Israel. None of them was charged. The legal basis for their detention is a matter for the Israeli authorities, and for the detainees to follow up through their own lawyer should they wish to. However, our travel advice clearly states that travellers to the Occupied Territories may face difficulties on arrival. They were visited four times by consular staff, including a visit by our ambassador.

Our ambassador was in regular contact with the Israeli Government at a senior level to facilitate the quickest possible return of the detainees, and his team were in constant communication to raise and resolve issues at the working level. We will follow up any allegations of mistreatment with the Israeli authorities.

Asked by Baroness Tonge

Lord Howell of Guildford: I can confirm 12 British nationals were detained on 8 July at Ben Gurion Airport. All but one have now returned to the UK,

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with one being allowed to enter Israel. None of them was charged. The legal basis for their detention is a matter for the Israeli authorities, and for the detainees to follow up through their own lawyer should they wish to. However, our travel advice clearly states that travellers to the Occupied Territories may face difficulties on arrival. They were visited four times by consular staff, including a visit by our ambassador.

Our ambassador was in regular contact with the Israeli Government at a senior level to facilitate the quickest possible return of the detainees, and his team were in constant communication to raise and resolve issues at the working level. We will follow up any allegations of mistreatment with the Israeli authorities.

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation

Question

Asked by Baroness King of Bow

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): As part of the localisation of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, all planning powers are being transferred to locally accountable bodies on 1 October 2012. The Mayor of London has consulted on a proposed mayoral development corporation that would assume planning powers for part of the area currently covered by London Thames Gateway Development Corporation with a boundary including the following areas:

the core Olympic Park, comprising land owned by Olympic Park Legacy Company and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, including Eton Manor;the Olympic Village and associated development sites owned by the Olympic Delivery Authority and London and Continental Railways Ltd;the Stratford City development site, including the Westfield Shopping Centre and Chobham Farm;Hackney Wick and Fish Island;Bromley-by-Bow North (with a southern boundary at the District line);Pudding Mill Lane and Sugarhouse Lane;Three Mills and Mill Meads; andCarpenters Estate.

The mayor is due to announce the agreed boundary in September 2011. All of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation's planning powers outside of the mayoral development corporation boundary will be returned to the local boroughs of Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets.



18 July 2011 : Column WA246

Media: News International Ltd

Question

Asked by Lord Donoughue

The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness): The role of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is to advise and decide upon the bringing of prosecutions following the completion of an investigation by the police. In the event of allegations of corruption being referred to the CPS following an investigation, any such case will be considered in accordance with the code for Crown prosecutors.

National Commissioning Board

Question

Asked by Lord Bradley

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The National Health Service commissioning board will be free to take decisions about how best to discharge its responsibilities. It is anticipated that the primary care trust cluster arrangements will be reflected in the local arrangements of the board.

NHS: Food

Question

Asked by Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Good hospital food is an important part of care, both for clinical reasons and to ensure a good care experience.

From 1 October 2010, every health and adult social care service in England is legally responsible for making sure it meets new essential standards of quality and safety, including a requirement to provide:

a choice of suitable and nutritious food and hydration, in sufficient quantities to meet service users' needs;food and hydration that meet any reasonable requirements arising from a service user's religious or cultural background; andsupport, where necessary, for the purposes of enabling service users to eat and drink sufficient amounts for their needs.

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Registration and licensing are the responsibility of the Care Quality Commission, which has a wide range of actions it can take if it finds care services are not meeting essential standards.

The operating framework for 2011-12 requires the National Health Service to consider the government buying standards for food (published June 2011), which encourage procurement that supports a healthy balanced diet for those in the care of public services and for public sector workers, and that reduces the impact of food and catering on the environment.

At the same time as Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published the government buying standards, the Department of Health published a toolkit for public sector organisations serving food to adults. This gives advice to caterers on improving healthy food provision. It replaces guidance previously published by the Food Standards Agency.

NHS: Peterborough Primary Care Trust

Questions

Asked by Lord Mawhinney

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Peterborough Primary Care Trust (PCT) has not borrowed any money from the department in the past three financial years. The East of England Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has further advised that the PCT has not borrowed from others.

The following table consolidates all the revenue resource allocations, known collectively as the revenue resource limit, made to the PCT in the past three financial years. These can be seen in the audited accounts of the PCT.

2008-092009-102010-11
£000£000£000

Initial Allocation

238,393

244,676

257,356

In-year Allocations

3,754

27,275

32,747

Total

242,147

271,951

290,103



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The initial allocation is made up of initial recurrent revenue allocations. The in-year allocations are made up of non-recurrent central budget allocations and inter authority transfers (movements between SHAs and PCTs in year) which are also non-recurrent.

NHS: Private Finance Initiative

Questions

Asked by Lord Mawhinney

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The information requested is a matter for Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We have written to Nigel Hards, chairman of Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, informing him of the noble Lord's inquiry. Mr Hards will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Office: Sick Leave

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Comparable figures for the department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.

Since 12 April 2010, no days of stress-related leave were taken by staff of the Northern Ireland Office.



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Northern Ireland: Economy

Question

Asked by Lord Kilclooney

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The consultation on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy closed on 8 July 2011. Initial analysis suggests that over 700 responses have been received. A summary of consultation responses will be published in due course.

Nuclear Weapons

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): Yes. The nuclear physics package-the heart of the UK's nuclear warhead-is entirely designed and manufactured in the UK.

While the UK may choose to purchase certain non-nuclear warhead components and share experimental facilities with its allies, this is only undertaken where it is considered more efficient and/or cost-effective to do so and where national sovereignty is not compromised. In addition, such activities are undertaken in compliance with our international obligations and do not affect the independence of the UK's nuclear deterrent.

Offenders: Unpaid Work

Question

Asked by Lord Ramsbotham

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): All community orders are required by law to specify the local justice area in which the offender lives, or will be living. The order then becomes the responsibility of the offender's responsible officer, who is an officer of a provider of probation services acting in the specified local justice area.



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Olympic Games 2012

Question

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): Operation Podium is the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) response to deal with criminal networks targeting the economy of the 2012 Games. Its remit is to investigate Games-related serious and organised criminality, focusing on acquisitive crimes including money-laundering, organised ticket crime, corruption, bribery, fraud, counterfeiting and false identity abuse. Operation Podium has worked with the MPS Directorate of Public Affairs to prepare key messages for the public on this issue. The intention is to raise awareness nationally and internationally on where to safely purchase tickets, providing consumers with some top tips on how to protect themselves from being a victim of a fraudulent ticket sale. Maximum media exposure will be sought while also utilising internal law enforcement networks, community groups, stakeholders and international contacts to heighten impact.

Operation Podium is working closely with internet providers (ISPs) to ensure that fraudulent websites are taken down quickly and, where appropriate, will use the range of existing fraud legislation to seek prosecutions against offenders. Anybody applying for London 2012 tickets can use LOCOG's online website, http://www.london2012.com/about-this-website/ticketing-website-checker.php, to ensure the site they are using is an authorised ticket reseller. The Government are also committed to tackling the illegal touting of Games tickets. The London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Amendment) Bill, currently before Parliament, proposes increasing the maximum penalty for illegal reselling of Games tickets from £5,000 to £20,000.

Planning

Question

Asked by Lord Greaves

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): As of July 2011, 149 local planning authorities in England have submitted their core strategies for examination; 102 of these authorities have now adopted their core strategy.



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Prisoners: Pastoral Care

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The pastoral and spiritual needs of prisoners are met through a multi-faith team of chaplains in each prison working inclusively, while respecting the integrity of each tradition. Roman Catholic chaplains, of whom there are some 170 (full-time, part-time and sessional), are an integral part of this provision. The former senior manager post of principal Roman Catholic chaplain in the National Offender Management Service has been discontinued following lengthy discussions with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, which has created a new role of Catholic bishops' prisons adviser. This outcome will not negatively impact on the spiritual help and pastoral care available for all prisoners.

Questions for Written Answer

Questions

Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill

Baroness Verma: I refer my noble friend to my answer of 11 July 2011 (Official Report, cols. WA125-26).

Asked by Lord Berkeley

Earl Attlee: I have answered these questions today.

Railways: Channel Tunnel

Questions

Asked by Lord Berkeley

Earl Attlee: The Department for Transport's contingent liabilities in respect of the Channel Tunnel are published in its resource accounts for 2009-10 at http://www. dft.gov.uk/about/publications/apr/resourceaccounts 0910/pdf/resourceaccounts0910.pdf.

The department classifies contingent liabilities in accordance with accounting rules. There is an agreement relating to the "underpinning" of access charges for domestic passenger services for HS1. This was entered into in July 2010.

The maximum amount which may be payable under this agreement is approximately £3.2 billion in 2009 prices (for the period 2010 to 2040).

Whether any moneys are actually paid depends on whether or not the Secretary of State chooses to specify the relevant services in future franchise agreements. It is his present intention to do so and the agreement is therefore unlikely to be of a nature that is accounted as a contingent liability in the 2010-11 resource accounts.

Asked by Lord Berkeley

Earl Attlee: The charge of £8,278,233 in respect of Infrastructure (Opex) charges for rail freight in 2010-11 was a fixed cost paid under the terms of the railways usage contract (RUC) for the Channel Tunnel.

Both Opex and variable charges in respect of passenger services running under the terms of the RUC are paid by the DfT on behalf of the British Railways Board, which remains the formal signatory to the contract, with a same-day refund from Eurostar to DfT under the terms of the supplementary agreements that were implemented to enable the privatisation of BRB's international business.

Asked by Lord Berkeley

Earl Attlee: Charges in respect of passenger train services running under the terms of the railways usage contract (RUC) are paid by the DfT on behalf of the British Railways Board, which remains the formal

18 July 2011 : Column WA253

signatory to the contract, with a same-day refund from Eurostar to DfT under the terms of the supplementary agreements that were implemented to enable the privatisation of BRB's international business.

Somalia: Piracy

Question

Asked by Lord Tebbit

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 23 May 2011 (Official Report, col. WA 391). Since then a further three suspected pirates have been encountered by the Royal Navy during a boarding operation. Following detailed analysis of all physical evidence, witness statements, and options for prosecution these individuals were released, as it was assessed that a successful prosecution was unlikely.

South Wales Police

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): There is no offence of holding a mobile phone while driving although it could constitute an offence of driving without due care and attention depending on the circumstances of an individual case. Whether a person is guilty of using a mobile phone while driving is a matter for the courts to decide on the basis of the evidence put before them. Enforcement of the legislation is an operational matter for the police.

Syria

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We are aware of reports of a fire in the Golan Heights which has since been brought under control. We are also aware of allegations that the fire was deliberately started but we have not seen evidence in support of this.



18 July 2011 : Column WA254

Taiwan

Questions

Asked by Lord Northbrook

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Government support Taiwan's practical participation in international organisations where this does not require statehood. Taiwan is currently represented at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meetings by a non-governmental organisation, the Industrial Technology Research Institute.

The Government attach importance to engagement with Taiwan on climate change issues and have regular exchanges with the Taiwanese authorities about low-carbon development.

Asked by Lord Northbrook

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government do not comment on leaked documents. The Government welcome the fact that Taiwan now participates as an observer at the World Health Assembly. It is important to UK interests that Taiwan is able to participate practically in the global health safety net.

Taxation: VAT

Questions

Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The cost of reducing VAT from 20 per cent to 5 per cent on repair, maintenance and improvement of residential property, in the absence of behavioural change, is tentatively estimated to be in the region of £2.2 billion.



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The revenue from VAT at 20 per cent on the conversion of non-residential into residential property, in the absence of behavioural change, is estimated to be about £300 million, compared to an estimate of about £75 million at the current 5 per cent rate.

The revenue from making the construction of new dwellings liable to VAT at 5 per cent rate, in the absence of behavioural change, is estimated to be about £1.5 billion.

Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

Lord Sassoon: No such estimates have been made.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes estimates of the total tax gap in Measuring Tax Gaps 2010, which is available in the House of Lords Library and on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps-2010.htm.pdf.

The latest estimates show evasion accounted for 17.5 per cent of the total tax gap in 2007-08, approximately £7 billion.

Measuring Tax Gaps 2011 will be published on 21 September 2011.


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