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11 Aug 2011 : Column WA357
11 Aug 2011 : Column WA357
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Answers received between Thursday 21 July andMonday 25 July 2011
Abortion
Question
Asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will finalise their proposals for all women seeking an abortion to be offered counselling; and who will be consulted in determining the proposals.[HL11110]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' guidance, The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, recommends that clinicians caring for women requesting abortion should try to identify those who require more support than can be provided in the routine clinic setting (such as those with a psychiatric history, poor social support or evidence of coercion). For the minority of women who require formal therapeutic counselling, services should have formal care pathways in place with access to trained counsellors with appropriate expertise.
We are looking to strengthen these existing arrangements and are drawing up proposals to enable all women who are seeking an abortion to be offered access to independent counselling. We would want the counselling to be provided by appropriately qualified individuals. Detailed proposals are being worked on. We plan to consult widely on those later this year and will finalise our plans in early 2012.
Agriculture: Peat
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the amount of peat extracted for (a) horticultural, and (b) non-horticultural, use in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years; and by whom it was extracted. [HL11100]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): Data on sales of peat extracted in Great Britain by end use are currently available up to 2009-there are no comparable data collected for peat extraction in Northern Ireland.
Around 13.3 million cubic metres of peat were sold by GB extractors over the period 2000-09. It is not possible to separate the 2001 and 2002 data by end use. Of the 10.5 million cubic metres of peat sold in the remaining eight years, around 10.3 million cubic metres were for horticultural use and 233,000 cubic metres were for non-horticultural uses.
No data are held regarding by whom the peat was extracted.
Armed Forces: Afghanistan and Iraq
Question
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many serving members of (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy, and (c) the Royal Air Force, have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq in each of the past ten years.[HL10944]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The following tables show the numbers of Service personnel killed or wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq in each of the past 10 years. Figures have been presented as those resulting from both hostile and non-hostile action. The figures of those wounded include those classified as very seriously injured (VSI) and seriously injured (SI).
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Armed Forces: Pilots
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for French language training of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force pilots.[HL11262]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): Personnel are selected for French language training based on their aptitude and on current assessments of the operational and interoperability requirements. Selection is irrespective of their trade or branch within the Services, and will include pilots and aircrew.
Armed Forces: Staff
Question
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest estimate of the average total cost to the Exchequer, including salary, pension and associated employment costs, of (a) an officer, and (b) a member of the other ranks, serving in the armed forces. [HL10942]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): In financial year 2010-11, the average cost of employment of an officer was some £83,000 and that of an other rank some £39,000.
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These figures include basic salary, specialist pay, employer's social security costs and pension contributions for the average numbers of personnel serving in the Armed Forces during financial year 2010-11.
Childcare Act 2006
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the definition of "prospective parent" under Section 2(2) of the Childcare Act 2006 to include the father.[HL11022]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): We do not believe it is necessary to review the definition of "prospective parent" under Section 2(2) of the Childcare Act 2006. The term "prospective parent" includes the father. Section 2(2) also defines parent as "a parent of a young child, and includes any individual who (a) has parental responsibility for a young child, or (b) has care of a young child". This will not only include fathers, but stepfathers and stepmothers, grandparents who have grandchildren living with them, foster parents and adoptive parents.
Crime: Burglary
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the domestic burglary rates in the last five years according to the British Crime Survey and police figures respectively; on which figures they base their own calculations and policy; and why they maintain two sets of records.[HL11356]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): Statistics on domestic burglary are given in the table.
The police figures are an important source showing the number of domestic burglaries recorded by forces in England and Wales. These are supplemented by the British Crime Survey which includes burglaries that have not been reported to the police.
In her recent independent review of crime statistics, the National Statistician commented that: "Both sources have their strengths and limitations, but they also complement one another, delivering between them a range of information that cannot be provided by one source alone. The two sources therefore add to public understanding of crime in England and Wales".
The Government take account of both sources as they provide a better evidence base than either series alone.
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Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 31 January (WA 220-1) and 22 June (WA 302-3), what analysis was made regarding the Care Quality Commission's routine monitoring of compliance and use of "tough enforcement powers" prior to considering transfer of functions currently carried out by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.[HL11107]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): In proposing that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) functions transfer to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the department took into account that the CQC is an executive non-departmental public body accountable to the Secretary of State for discharging its functions, duties and powers efficiently and effectively. The department monitors the financial and operational performance, and management of risk, at a general and strategic level through regular formal accountability meetings. It does not assess the CQC's inspection or its monitoring of specific providers.
The CQC is responsible for assessing and ensuring the quality of its inspection and monitoring of specific providers on a day-to-day basis. The CQC's annual accounts and annual report are laid before Parliament, and the CQC is publicly accountable through parliamentary scrutiny, including by Select Committees.
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff are employed by the Human Tissue Authority and the Human Embryo and Fertilisation Authority; and how many posts of those are currently filled by locum, agency or temporary staff.[HL11236]
Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it has 78 staff, none of whom are locum, agency or temporary staff. The Human Tissue Authority has advised that it employs 47 staff of whom four are temporary agency workers and two are on temporary contracts.
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Energy: Nuclear Tests
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 5 July (WA 42), whether they will place in the Library of the House a list of the documents relating to the planning and execution of British nuclear tests which have already been disclosed; and how many documents have yet to be disclosed.[HL11292]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): As I stated in my Answer of 5 July 2011, the Ministry of Defence has disclosed over 12,000 documents and agreed special arrangements for handling sensitive documents in the personal injury and war pensions appeals cases. Proceedings are continuing in both the Supreme Court and the War Pensions Tribunal and it would therefore not be appropriate or proportionate to provide lists of documents disclosed in those proceedings, especially as the disclosure process before the Tribunal is ongoing. Consequently, it is also impossible to say how many documents have yet to be disclosed.
Government Departments: Research and Data
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Further analysis of the UK breeding pig salmonella survey data to identify risk factors of transmission of infection"; and for what reason. [HL11048]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): A contract variation was agreed by the department for the project titled "Further analysis of the UK breeding pig salmonella survey data to identify risk factors of transmission of infection" to extend the end date of the project by four months due to delays in sample and data collection beyond the control of the contractor. This did not impact on the objectives of the project or the total cost of the project to the department.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Development of epidemiological models for the spread and control of bluetongue and African horse sickness"; and for what reason.[HL11050]
Lord Henley: A contract variation was agreed by the department for the project titled "Development of epidemiological models for the spread and control of bluetongue and African horse sickness" to add an
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Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Salmonella enteritidis and S. Typhimurium in egg production: Elimination of infection from flocks, and characterisation of public health risks"; and for what reason.[HL11051]
Lord Henley: A contract variation was agreed by the department for the project titled "Salmonella enteritidis and S. Typhimurium in egg production: Elimination of infection from flocks, and characterisation of public health risks" to amend the objectives of the study. The original project included an on-farm study to develop methods for the elimination of salmonella infection from flocks but it proved difficult to recruit the necessary farms. The contract variation resulted in one amended and three new objectives in line with the original aims of the project and did not impact on the end date of the project or the total cost of the project to the department.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Investigation of the risk of transmission of typical forms of scrapie to humans"; and for what reason. [HL11120]
Lord Henley: The department does not fund a project titled, "Investigation of the risk of transmission of typical forms of scrapie to humans". It does however fund a project titled, "Investigation of the risk of transmission of atypical forms of scrapie to humans". This project was designed to provide evidence on the relative risk of atypical scrapie to human and animal health. Preliminary results indicated additional work was required to provide this evidence and fully address the relative risk of atypical scrapie. The variation to the contract resulted in an extended end date and an increase of just under £400,000 in the total cost of the project to the department.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Investigation of the risk of transmission of scrapie in milk of sheep"; and for what reason. [HL11121]
Lord Henley: A contract variation was agreed by the department for the project titled "Investigation of the risk of transmission of scrapie in milk of sheep" to
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Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Practical steps towards reducing discards and developing more environmentally responsible fisheries"; and for what reason. [HL11122]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there are significant changes to any of the details in the original agreement (eg costs, required outputs, timetable, research team, et cetera).
In this particular instance the contract was varied following a policy request to the contractor. The variation extended the contract by £68,500 to enable the contractor to undertake additional research on gear selectivity trials and to carry out further discard analysis via a short desk study.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Marine Protected Areas-gathering/developing and accessing the data for the planning of a network of marine conservation zones"; and for what reasons.[HL11192]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there are significant changes to any of the details in the original agreement (eg costs, required outputs, timetable, research team, etc). In this particular instance the project "Marine Protected Areas-gathering/developing and accessing the data for the planning of a network of marine conservation zones"; was varied at the request of the policy customer to enable additional work to be undertaken. Details are:
Reason-"An additional cost of £1,100 is required to develop the Web-GIS tool to enable the set up of the Marine Conservation Zone's (MCZ's) 3rd iteration work".
Reason-"To provide for extra functionality of digitising and submitting MCZ boundaries and a web-based stakeholder forum".
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Reason-"To produce a matrix describing the sensitivity of pressures for EUNIS* Level 3 broad-scale habitats, OSPAR** threatened and/or declining habitats and species and UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species".
* European Nature Information System.
**The Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "An investigation into the potential formation of and removal of nitrosamines in drinking water treatment"; and for what reasons. [HL11193]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there are significant changes to any of the details in the original agreement (eg costs, required outputs, timetable, research team, etc).
In this particular instance the contract was varied at the request of the project manager to extend the end date to enable the contractor to carry out additional testing which was judged necessary to provide greater scientific confidence in the preliminary findings.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "DEFRA pH monitoring project"; and for what reasons.[HL11195]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there are significant changes to any of the details in the original agreement (eg costs, required outputs, timetable, research team, etc).
The variation to the project "DefrapH-A study to define the present state of UK waters with respect to potential changes in the degree of acidification of these waters, combining collection of new data over two years, review pre-existing information and numerical analysis", was for £21,924 in financial years 2010-11. This was for additional vital research, facilitating the wider ocean acidification programme.
The output of the variation was to produce a desk review on current knowledge for purposes of resolving issues on the interactions between ocean carbonate chemistry in shelf seas and how this affects modelling and calculation of pH. The results from the desk review were made available to those scientists involved in calculating pH from the samples arising from the NERC-Defra OA programme.
Latterly, in March 2011, the DefrapH project was varied again, with a "no cost" extension, to allow the contractors to finish off the final report from the larger DefrapH for publication.
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Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Economics and social assessment for marine strategy framework directive"; and for what reason. [HL11269]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there are significant changes to any of the details in the original agreement (eg costs, required outputs, timetable, research team, etc).
The project "Economics and social assessment for marine strategy framework directive" was varied by an additional £1,900 on the original project budget to allow the contractor to present a paper discussing the socioeconomic implications of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
The European Commission and member states have established, as a part of their common implementation strategy, a Working Group on Economic and Social Analysis to support implementation of the MSFD. The research conducted through this project, although commissioned by the UK Government, was highly relevant to other member states as part of this common implementation strategy; hence the additional requirement to present the findings at the working group.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Maternal transmission of scrapie in sheep"; and for what reason.[HL11270]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there are significant changes to any of the details in the original agreement (eg costs, required outputs, timetable, research team, etc).
A contract variation was agreed by the department for the project titled "Maternal transmission of scrapie in sheep" to extend the end date of the project due to delays resulting from staff losses and from moving the laboratory to a different building. This did not impact on the objectives of the project or the total cost of the project to the department.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "To develop a cost effective and practical method to reduce e.coli 0157 infection in cattle prior to slaughter"; and for what reason.[HL11272]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there
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A contract variation was agreed by the department for the project titled "To develop a cost-effective and practical method to reduce E. coli 0157 infection in cattle prior to slaughter" to extend the end date of the project and re-profile the finances to address the amended timescale of the work.
The end date was extended due to a delay to the start of the project outside of the control of the department. This did not impact on the objectives of the project or the total cost of the project to the department.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Bovine TB vaccine programme"; and for what reason.[HL11273]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there are significant changes to any of the details in the original agreement (eg costs, required outputs, timetable, research team, etc).
There are many projects related to the area of bovine TB vaccines, but project SE3218 "Bovine TB Vaccine Programme Advisor, Prof. Douglas Young" is the only project with the partial title "Bovine TB Vaccine Programme". There has been no variation to project SE3218 since May 2010. The last variation was in September 2009 which extended the project to its end date of March 2011.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 21 June (WA 279), what was the variation agreed in the project "Evaluation of the protection efficacy of vaccines against bovine TB in a natural setting"; and for what reason.[HL11274]
Lord Henley: All Defra evidence contracts are closely monitored by Defra specialists working with policy colleagues. Contract variations are required if there are significant changes to any of the details in the original agreement (eg costs, required outputs, timetable, research team, etc).
Project SE3227 "Evaluation of the protection efficacy of vaccines against bovine TB in a natural setting" was amended in May 2010 to re-profile the finances, and £331,427 was moved from financial year 2010-11 to 2011-12. The total costs of the project were not affected. This variation was carried out as delays in the project resulted in work being done later than originally planned and the finances were amended to reflect the actual spend in the project.
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Health: Midwifery
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the mechanism for Independent Midwives UK to ensure that their members are able to join the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts or its equivalent. [HL11142]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Non-National Health Service bodies, including Independent Midwives UK, cannot currently join the Clinical Negligence Scheme for trusts as members. In future, we intend to make NHS clinical indemnity arrangements available to all providers of NHS acute, community and mental health care, which includes independent midwives who wish to work within the NHS. We will publish proposals in due course.
Health: Pressure Sores
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the cost to the National Health Service of treating pressure sores in hospitals and nursing homes in England. [HL11094]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Data of the cost to the National Health Service of treating pressure sores in hospitals and nursing homes in England is not held centrally by the department.
However, the first NHS Outcomes Framework 2011-12, published on 20 December 2010, sets out the outcomes and corresponding indicators that will be used to track the success of the NHS in delivering improved outcomes. This includes an indicator currently being developed for 2012-13 to measure "incidence of newly-acquired category 3 and 4 pressure ulcers".
Health: Reciprocal Agreements
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the United Kingdom is liable for paying the healthcare costs, in full or in part, of European Union nationals (and members of their families) who have worked in the United Kingdom and who have built up some entitlement to a United Kingdom state pension, and have since retired and returned home; and, if so, how many they estimate are and will be so entitled. [HL11036]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Under European Union (EU) Regulation 883/2004, if someone is in receipt of a state pension from two or more member states and they live in one of the member states that pays them a pension, the member state of residence is liable for the cost of
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Currently, the Government do not have consistent centrally held data to estimate how many non-United Kingdom EU nationals have built up entitlement to a UK state pension and have since retired and returned to their home member state, or will in the future.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the annual cost of National Health Service treatment for European Union nationals ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom; whether any reciprocal arrangements exist for the United Kingdom to reclaim those costs from other European Union countries; and whether United Kingdom nationals ordinarily resident in other European Union countries have the same equivalent rights to health service treatment without charge. [HL11083]
Earl Howe: Persons who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom are entitled to access National Health Service treatment free of charge. Nationality is not a criterion in establishing ordinary residence, and therefore the NHS does not collect data on the nationality of those patients they treat who are ordinarily resident in the UK.
The only reciprocal arrangements in place for the UK to reclaim costs for healthcare provided to European citizens resident here are those provisions set out in European regulation 883/2004. The regulations enable a member state to claim the cost of healthcare for posted workers, pensioners and their dependants, and the dependants of workers, who have registered as resident in another member state to that which is liable for the cost of their healthcare.
State healthcare systems vary across Europe, including residency based systems funded from general taxation and contributions-based systems. Providing a UK national meets the relevant criteria in another member state, they should have the same entitlement to access the state healthcare system in that country as other residents of that country.
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 4 July (WA 10), how many of the E109, S1 and E121 forms issued to registered residents from the United Kingdom of each European Economic Area member state and Switzerland were issued to (a) state pensioners and their dependents who live in a different member state to that which pays their pension, (b) dependents of workers living in a different member state to the worker, and (c) other types of user.[HL11154]
Earl Howe: All E109 forms are issued to the dependants of workers living in a different member state to the worker. All E121 forms are issued to a person in receipt of a state pension or their dependants who
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To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that United Kingdom nationals working in other European Union countries who have dependants in the United Kingdom for whom sickness and maternity benefits are being paid are listed for the purposes of such benefits cost reclaim; and how many United Kingdom citizens have been so registered over the last three years, in relation to which European Union countries. [HL11157]
Earl Howe: A person moving to work in another member state, who leaves their dependants in the United Kingdom, should request form E109 or S1 from the authorities in the country where they work and send the form to the Department of Work and Pensions which registers it in the UK.
The following table (correct as of 25 January 2011) shows such registrations for the calendar years 2008-10.
| Number of forms issued by another member state to the dependants of workers and registered in the UK | |||
| Member state | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
Healthcare: Costs
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 July (WA 181), how was the figure of claims by Polish residents for medical care in the United Kingdom arrived at; by whom; and when was it finalised; and what were the figures for 2007-08 and 2008-09.[HL11280]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Claims submitted in 2009-10 were based on the United Kingdom average cost of pensioner healthcare and the number of Polish pensioners registered in the UK for the purposes of receiving benefits in kind for the years 2004-06. Officials in the Department for Work and Pensions made the claims in December 2009. No average cost claims were submitted to Poland in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
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Immigration
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Ministers are required to publish impact assessments of changes to immigration policy without amendment; and whether they are entitled to add a dissenting view if they so desire.[HL11246]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): The Minister responsible for the policy is required to sign off policy impact assessments. Ministers are entitled to disagree with the assessments, and feed back comments to civil servants. Prior to publication of the impact assessment, the Minister responsible for the policy (or the chief executive of non-departmental public bodies and other agencies) is required to sign a declaration to say that they have read the impact assessment and are satisfied that it represents a reasonable view of the expected costs, benefits, and impacts of the policy.
Iraq
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the judgment by the European Court of Human Rights that United Kingdom troops in Iraq were bound by human rights law, what plans they have for a public inquiry into the United Kingdom detention policy in Iraq.[HL11055]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The Government received the European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber judgments on Al-Skeini and Al-Jedda on 7 July 2011 and are carefully considering the implications and next steps.
Marine Environment: Pollution
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government who monitors pollution in the Irish Sea; and, for each of the readings taken in the last 50 years, how, when and where they were taken; and what was the result. [HL11085]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The Irish Sea is bounded by England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic and these regions all have their specific mechanisms and organisations that monitor and report on pollution in the Irish Sea. UK bodies that undertake pollution monitoring in the Irish Sea include the Department of Environment Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (Water Management Unit), Natural Heritage (Northern Ireland
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Readings for each of these areas for the last 50 years are not readily available in one collated data set.
In 2010, Defra published Charting Progress II (available on the Defra website) which provides the first integrated assessment of the state of the seas across the whole of the UK continental shelf, and includes summaries of the state of the main pollution issues in the Irish Sea.
The main programme for monitoring the status of contaminants in UK waters is the Clean Seas Environmental Monitoring Programme (CSEMP). This measures the concentrations of specific chemicals that are persistent, toxic and have the ability to accumulate in food chains, at almost 500 sites around the UK. The data from around 1990 onwards can robustly be used in time series data and is reported in a series of annual Aquatic Monitoring reports available on the Cefas website. This series of reports provides detailed information on the analytical methods used to monitor pollution sources in UK waters and includes reports on monitoring carried out before 1990.
Joint working with the Irish Republic on the state of the Irish Sea is mainly carried out through the framework of the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the North East Atlantic. Through this, information gathered by the various organisations is brought together, and assessments are made and published in the OSPAR Quality Status Report. A regional report covering parts of the Irish Sea is included.
National Countryside Week
Question
Asked by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to support National Countryside Week (11-18 July). [HL11070]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): National Countryside Week was launched by The Prince's Countryside Fund on 11 July. The fund is intended to improve the sustainability of British farming and rural communities; reconnect consumers with countryside issues; and support farming and rural crisis charities. The fund works by participating companies making a donation and providing in-kind support; as the fund
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National Patient Safety Agency
Question
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will happen to the current functions of the National Patient Safety Agency when it closes in 2012. [HL11235]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, responsibility for the work of the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) relating to reporting and learning from patient safety incidents will move to the NHS Commissioning Board.
The department intends that, over the next few years, the National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS) will become a self-funded service. An interim host will be identified for NCAS prior to the abolition of NPSA.
The Health Research Authority will be established this year, in the first instance as a special health authority, with the National Research Ethics Service as its core.
The function of managing the delivery of the Confidential Enquiries (now known as the Clinical Outcomes Review Programmes), with the relevant provider organisations will transfer from the NPSA to the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.
NHS: Bed-blocking
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what they estimate is the level and cost of bed-blocking in the National Health Service in England.[HL11220]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We have made no estimate of the cost to the National Health Service of delayed transfers of care.
The department collects and routinely publishes information on delayed transfers of care. The most recent data are for May 2011 and these show that there were 4,158 patients delayed on the last Thursday of the month, with the total number of delayed days in the month at 114,241 days.
Passports
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty's Government which passport offices have personal passport interview offices. [HL11275]
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The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has recently completed the co-location of seven passport interview office sites in Belfast, London, Glasgow, Newport, Liverpool, Durham and Peterborough.
The co-location brings together the public counter (passport offices) and interview office functions (personal passport interview offices) into a single location. Each of the seven locations can now deal with two types of transaction-passport applications and interviews.
Prisoners: Self-harm
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 23 June (WA 349), whether disciplinary action was taken following the report into the incident of self-harm at HMP Woodhill on 18 April commissioned by the Governor.[HL11170]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The investigation into the incident was completed on 5 July 2011. The governor concluded, in the light of the findings of the investigation, that no grounds existed on which to justify disciplinary action. The investigation made a number of recommendations and these are being taken forward by the governor.
Schools: Work Experience
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will expand the variety of work experience placements offered to students in secondary schools.[HL11186]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): In line with our policy of devolving greater autonomy to the front line, it will be for individual schools to choose what relationship they want with local employers and how they deliver work experience to their students. At the core of our approach to education policy is trust of professionals and the removal of top-down prescription. We propose to reduce the formal requirement on schools to provide work-related education and allow them greater flexibility to choose provision from a range of opportunities.
South Wales Police
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to police forces about when a burglary becomes recorded as such; and whether they have any concerns about the performance of South Wales Police in this regard.[HL10950]
11 Aug 2011 : Column WA376
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): The recording of crime by the police is governed by the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) and the Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR). These require that a crime is recorded if the circumstances reported by a victim amount to a crime in law and there is no credible evidence to the contrary. The HOCR sets out the classifications under which crimes are to be recorded for statistical purposes and include classifications for burglary. The HOCR also provide considerable guidance, with the use of examples, to aid forces in determining the correct classification under which a report of crime should be recorded. This guidance is kept under review and may be amended when necessary.
The Home Office no longer monitors police force performance from the centre, with that function performed by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.
Answers received between Monday 25 July and Monday 1 August 2011
Abortion
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 14 July (WA 198), what criteria are applied when assessing whether an elective or non-elective abortion tariff ought to be charged; and what percentage of abortions commissioned by the National Health Service for delivery in the private sector in 2010 were non-elective.[HL11307]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The elective tariff applies where an admission to hospital has been arranged in advance, and the non-elective tariff applies where an admission to hospital is unplanned.
I am unable to provide a response to the second part of the question. Work is being undertaken by departmental officials on data collections relating to abortions. Upon the completion of this work, I hope to be able to provide a more substantive response.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 4 July (WA 1), whether, in the light of their statement "abortion is not a method of contraception or family planning", they have any plans to review the designation family planning clinic where the principal economic revenue of such institutions comes from abortion.[HL11308]
Earl Howe: The Secretary of State approves independent sector clinics to perform abortions under Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended. The department has no role in the designation of family planning clinics which are commissioned at local level by primary care trusts.
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Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any reports or representations from (a) the United Nations Population Fund, (b) Marie Stopes International, or (c) the International Planned Parenthood Federation, on gender-based abortion in India or China in the last five years.[HL11366]
Baroness Verma: The United Nations Population Fund has produced several reports and research papers on the issue of sex ratio imbalance. These are available to download from: http://www.unfpa.org/gender/selection.html. The International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Scopes International have not issued any reports or representations on gender-abortion in India or China in the last five years.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 7 July (WA 116-17), what assessment they have made of the ability of the International Conference on Population and Development to enforce their policy prohibiting gender-based abortion.[HL11367]
Baroness Verma: The UK Government have consistently cited the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and its programme of action (POA) as the defining policy-setting text. The Commission for Population and Development (CPD) acting on behalf of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations has the responsibility of monitoring, reviewing and assessing the implementation of the plan of action of ICPD at the national, regional and global levels, identifying reasons for success and failure, and advising the council.
Africa: Agricultural Aid
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government with whom they have discussed the provision of support to the private sector in areas of Africa where the majority of the labour force work in, and a significant percentage of gross domestic product comes from, the agricultural sector; and what was the result of those discussions. [HL11374]
Baroness Verma: The Secretary of State, Ministers and officials at the Department for International Development (DfID) regularly meet with private sector representatives and other interlocutors to inform and determine DfID's approach to working with the private sector in Africa.
These discussions, together with formal public consultations on specific policy issues such as the reform of CDC, underpin DfID's objective on boosting wealth creation and programmes to catalyse business investment in agricultural growth in Africa.
Ministers' commitment to promoting investment and entrepreneurship in Africa is underlined by several visits, including the recent one with the Prime Minister to Nigeria and South Africa, the recent speech made
11 Aug 2011 : Column WA378
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with governments in Africa on meeting their Maputo Declaration commitments to direct 10 per cent of their national budgets into support for agricultural development.[HL11376]
Baroness Verma: Britain routinely discusses factors affecting economic growth and food security with partner governments in Africa. UK Government officials also participate in twice-yearly meetings of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme. We use these meetings and our country-level work to review the programme with the African Union and member states and urge progress towards the Maputo productivity and expenditure targets.
Agriculture and Food
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government with whom they have discussed potential contributions to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme as part of their £1.1 billion commitment to food security made at the G8 in L'Aquila; and what was the result of those discussions.[HL11375]
Baroness Verma: Ministers from the Department for International Development (DfID) have discussed the possibility of the UK contributing to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) with representatives of many of the main institutions involved in its support.
In the first of the three years of our financial commitment to the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative (AFSI), DfID disbursed approximately one-third of its total pledge. We therefore believe we are on track to deliver in full on our AFSI commitment without additional spending through GAFSP. Nevertheless, Ministers are still considering whether to make a UK contribution.
Agriculture and Food: Research Funding
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Technology Strategy Board has completed its review of the lessons learnt from the first research competition on crop protection; and, if so, when they will publish the results.[HL11167]
Baroness Garden of Frognal: The Technology Strategy Board's New Approaches to Crop Protection competition has resulted in support for 32 industry-led research projects worth £26 million, with £13.5 million of public
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On the basis of the feedback received, it will seek to improve delivery of future competitions by, for example:
appointing a high-level steering board to provide sectoral awareness and help in scoping future competitions;increasing the time between launching the competition and the formal opening of the call for applications;engaging more with potential applicants in order to provide more opportunity to learn about the scope of the call and the collaborative R&D process;provide better clarification of state aid issues;make greater use of the knowledge transfer networks to disseminate information about the competition; andhold three consortium building workshops to help organisations meet other potential collaborators.The Technology Strategy Board does not have plans to formally publish the findings.
Agriculture: Dairy Farms
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the average milk price paid to (a) British dairy farmers, and (b) dairy farmers in the European Union member states, in each of the past five years.[HL11169]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The average milk price in pence per litre paid to British dairy farmers in each of the past five years is given below.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
Source: Defra statistical survey
The average milk price in pence per litre paid to dairy farmers in the European Union member states in the past five years (where data are available) is given below.
| Member State | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
Source: DG Agri and DairyCo (There is a small difference between the DG Agri and Defra figures for the UK price)
UK dairy farmers are among the most efficient and competitive in Europe. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food (the right honourable Jim Paice MP) has challenged the industry to capture more of domestic and export markets given the low farmgate price paid relative to our European competitors.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many tonnes of milk products have been exported for each of the past seven years.[HL11248]
Lord Henley: The tables below show the volume of liquid milk and milk products exported from the UK as recorded in the official overseas trade statistics for the period 2004-2010.
Liquid milk is exported from the UK in two forms, as raw milk for processing by dairies, or as liquid drinking milk (eg, pasteurised or UHT milk). Raw milk is only traded across the Irish border-that is, raw milk exports go from Northern Ireland for processing by dairies in the Republic of Ireland.
UK exports of liquid milk, 2004-10| Description | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
Source: DARDNI, HM Revenue and Customs
2010 data are subject to amendments11 Aug 2011 : Column WA381
| Description | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
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