Written Answers
Friday 1 February 2013
Africa
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to farmers and governments in sub-Saharan Africa to improve produce-handling in the harvest and immediate post-harvest stages of food production.[HL4777]
Baroness Northover: The UK's support to the international agriculture research system includes development of new technologies and approaches to reduce post-harvest losses for smallholders. For example, in June 2012, the Prime Minister launched a new initiative, AgResults, to help the poorest farmers to innovate technology to boost food production through a scheme backed by G20 leaders, the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The UK Government are providing support to this joint initiative which will help bring tried and tested farming and agricultural technology to those farmers who need it most.
The UK Government also support the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund which backs innovative agri-business ideas along the whole agricultural value chain. The fund has investments in several companies which are tackling decline in crop quality due to poor harvest and post-harvest production techniques. For instance, a company in Nigeria has pioneered new technology which will enable up to 40,000 small-holder farmers to process cassava in the field, preventing deterioration of the crop, and opening up the possibility of sale to large scale commercial buyers. Another company in Zimbabwe will offer 35,000 small holders access to a secure grain store which will maintain the quality of their crops.
Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of blood clots in women who become pregnant through in vitro fertilisation; how that compares to the risk for women becoming pregnant through other methods; and what advice they are giving to women undergoing such treatment. [HL4769]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We are aware of the research published in the British Medical Journal on 15 January 2013, Incidence of Pulmonary and Venous Thromboembolism in Pregnancies after in Vitro Fertilisation: Cross Sectional Study, by Henriksson et al that suggests an increased risk of blood clots occurring during pregnancies resulting from in vitro fertilisation (IVF). A comparative assessment
with pregnancies occurring by other means has not been made but the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, requires centres licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to provide patients with detailed information about the risks of the fertility treatment they are proposing to undergo.
The HFEA has advised that it provides clinics with guidance regarding what this information should include, which is outlined in its code of practice. This can be found on the authority's website at: www.hfea.gov.uk/code.html.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 8 January 2013 (WA 24–6) and 20 July 2011 (WA 305–6), why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority was not able to provide further information in the answer of 8 January to that supplied on 20 July 2011; whether any admixed embryos have been generated since the 155 mentioned in the answer of 20 July 2011; and, if so, how many.[HL4774]
Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it was not able to provide further information because no human admixed embryos have been created since the Written Answer I gave the noble Lord on 20 July 2011 (Official Report, col. WA 305-6).
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff in (1) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, (2) the Human Tissue Authority, (3) the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency, and (4) the Health Research Agency, are paid to carry out media or communication roles; and what was the total salary cost of those staff for 2011–12. [HL4950]
Earl Howe: The following table shows how many staff in the aforementioned arm’s-length bodies (ALBs) are paid to carry out media or communications roles; and the total salary cost of those staff for 2011-12:
| ALB | Number of staff paid to carry out media or communications in 2011-12 (Full Time Equivalent) | Total Salary Cost for 2011-12 £ |
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff in (1) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, (2) the Human Tissue Authority, (3) the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency, and (4) the Health Research Agency, in each of the years 2010 and 2011 were paid to carry out finance functions; and what was the total salary cost of those staff for the year 2011–2012.[HL4951]
Earl Howe: The following table shows how many staff, in the aforementioned arm’s-length bodies (ALBs), in each of the years 2010 and 2011 were paid to carry out finance functions; and what was the total salary cost of those staff for the year 2011–2012:
* These figures are based on including 50% of the time of the director of resources to finance functions. This director also leads on information technology and legal functions.
Energy: Biomass Fuel
Question
Asked by Lord Jenkin of Roding
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to ensure that the use of imported biomass fuel poses no risk of spreading funguses or other causes of tree disease to trees and forests in the United Kingdom.[HL4778]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): The scope of the EU plant health directive extends to wood, wood products and bark. Biomass material imported for fuel is subject to the requirements of the directive in the same way as plants and plant products imported for other purposes. While liquid biofuels or refined solid biofuels such as wood pellets and charcoal will provide no risk of spreading tree diseases, some wood or wood products (eg chips) used as biofuel may pose a risk and such risks are assessed in order to provide the scientific basis for the measures which apply to the control of imports.
Where a risk is identified with imported biomass specific requirements are introduced, which range from an import prohibition to measures which must be applied before exports can take place to the EU. Where a decision is taken to regulate imports of a particular commodity, they must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate to confirm that the prescribed requirements have been complied with. The phytosanitary checks that are made on imports of controlled wood used as biofuel are similar to those applied to other controlled wood products.
These consignment checks include an examination of the accompanying phytosanitary documentation; a check on the identity of the material declared and, where required, a physical inspection to ensure that material is free from pests and diseases and complies with specific landing requirements. An importers’ guide to the controls for wood-based biofuel products is available from the Forestry Commission.
Equality Act 2010
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact the removal of equality impact assessments has upon legal duties and responsibilities under the Equality Act.[HL4764]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: It has never been a legal requirement in England to produce an equality impact assessment (EIA). The public sector equality duty and its supporting regulations require public bodies to have due regard to equality considerations when shaping policy and services. However, it is up to individual public bodies to decide the best way to record how they have taken equality into account.
EU: Medical Specialists
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the European Commission about improving the arrangements for mutual recognition of the training of medical specialists across member states of the European Union. [HL4878]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the European Commission to change the regulations governing the free movement of medical specialists from the sectoral directives, which rely only on time spent in training, to the general systems directives, which can include assessments of specialist skills and knowledge gained in training.[HL4879]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The European Commission is reviewing the directive on the recognition of professional qualifications, and has made proposals to modernise the common minimum European training requirements for automatic recognition for the sectoral professions.
The current requirements are largely based on time-served in training, although there are some prescribed subjects and skills which must be covered. Over time
the Commission intends to develop a more competency based approach to harmonised training requirements. This reflects the representations that the United Kingdom made to the Commission in the UK Government response to the Green Paper on a revised recognition of professional qualifications directive.
We have also made representations to the Commission through the Council Working Group on the proposed new directive, in particular, to clarify that the UK supports the Commission's proposal to include, in relation to specialist medical training, a partial exemption from some elements of the requirements set out in the directive where a doctor has undertaken relevant previous medical specialist training. Further, we have made it clear that we strongly support the Commission's proposal for the minimum requirement for medical training to change from six years to five years duration.
Removing the specialist medical training professions from the automatic recognition regime and instead applying the general system would be likely to result in a greater diversification of training between member states. We would not, therefore, advocate such an approach.
Food: Horse and Pig Meat
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of adulteration of food products with horse and pig meat.[HL4820]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Food businesses are responsible for ensuring that the food they supply meets food safety and labelling requirements. Businesses, including producers, processors and retailers are responsible for ensuring there is effective traceability of food through the food chain and are expected to carry out some testing of products. Specifically retailers are responsible for the quality of products they sell and should take steps to seek assurance of their suppliers' processes.
Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of food composition, labelling and safety legislation. In addition to official controls and inspections, local authorities are required to have risk-based food sampling programmes in place to protect the consumers in their area.
Each year, local authorities carry out a substantial amount of sampling and analysis in order to ensure that the description of meat species in meat products is accurate and not misleading. In 2012, at least 796 samples were tested for meat identification as part of local authority risk based sampling programmes and local authorities were expected to take prompt follow-up action in line with local enforcement policies on the unsatisfactory samples.
Risks associated with adulteration of products will be dependent on specific factors. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) keeps such risks under review, and has an established emerging risks work programme.
In relation to any risks arising from the consumption of products identified in the recent Food Safety Authority
of Ireland (FSAI) survey of beef products which identified samples containing horse and pig DNA, FSAI has carried out a risk assessment. The burgers that tested positive for horse DNA were additionally tested by FSAI for the presence of phenylbutazone (a commonly used medicine in horses that is not allowed in the food chain), and all of the results were negative. Considering this information, and the fact that the risk from microbiological contamination is minimal as the implicated products were frozen and would be cooked before consumption, the FSA have stated that, on the basis of the evidence available, the implicated products pose no risk to public health.
FSA has launched an urgent investigation into this issue and are working closely with Defra on this. A four point plan has been published on the FSA website at: www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2013/jan/ horse-update.
Global Hunger
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made towards meeting commitments made at the Downing Street hunger summit hosted by the Prime Minister on 12 August 2012; and which ministers are responsible for their implementation. [HL4851]
Baroness Northover: The UK made commitments on science and innovation, and accountability. On science and innovation, UK support to CGIAR research announced at the summit to develop new drought resistant and vitamin enriched crop varieties is now being implemented. Since the summit, the International Development Secretary has approved £30 million to support the roll out by HarvestPlus of nutrition rich seeds and tubers in Africa and Asia. This work is underway. On accountability, the UK committed to work with partners to support improved information on nutrition in developing countries. Two programmes are now in their early stages: support to civil society activities to improve Government accountability on nutrition; and piloting the use of text messages for nutrition surveillance in Kenya.
The Secretary of State for International Development is responsible for implementation of the commitments made by the UK. The Department for International Development (DfID) is tracking progress on announcements made by others (including the EU and the World Food Programme).
Government Departments: Catering Facilities
Question
Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost of the subsidy for catering facilities in the Whitehall offices of the Home Office.[HL4978]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Catering facilities in the Home Office headquarters (Whitehall offices) do not receive a cash subsidy.
Government Departments: Staff
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) full-time, (2) part-time, and (3) temporary, staff are employed by each government department in each region of England, not including staff employed by central departments in London; and, in each case, where they are located.[HL4741]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, Director General for ONS, to Lord Greaves, dated January 2013.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many (1) full-time, (2) part-time, and (3) temporary staff are employed by each government department in each region of England, not including staff employed by central departments in London; and, in each case, where they are located. HL4741
Estimates of regional Civil Service employment are published annually by the Office for National Statistics, with a survey reference date of 31 March. The table provides the data that you have requested for 2012. Employment for all departments in London has been excluded. The table will be stored in the Library of the House.
Gypsies and Travellers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will encourage the European Commission to monitor and enable implementation of the European Union framework for national Roma integration.[HL4849]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The council conclusions on Roma integration, adopted by the member states in May 2011, made clear that Roma integration is primarily a matter for the member states. However, they also invited the Commission “to appropriately assess member states' success in accordance with their respective approaches...”. The Commission published an initial assessment of member states' policies on 21 May 2012. This report can be found on the European Commission website at: http ://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/romalindex_en.htm.
The Government work closely with the European Commission and other European Union member states on follow-up to the council conclusions. For example, in October 2012, the Department for Communities
and Local Government represented the UK at the first meeting of National Roma Contact Points, which was chaired by the European Commission, and brought together officials from all the EU member states.
Health: Cancer
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Target Ovarian Cancer's recent finding that almost one third of women with ovarian cancer wait more than six months for a diagnosis. [HL4898]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We know that some cancers, such as ovarian cancer, are more challenging to diagnose early because the symptoms of the disease, particularly in its earliest stages, are often shared with more common, benign conditions.
To support earlier diagnosis of cancer, including ovarian cancer, we have committed over £450 million in funding up to 2014-15. The early diagnosis money is being used to raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer; fund increased general practitioner (GP) access to diagnostic tests; and pay for more testing and treatment in secondary care. One of the tests we are increasing GP access to is non-obstetric ultrasound to support the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and we have now published best practice referral guidelines for GPs on how to access this test.
On 14 January 2013, we launched a pilot ovarian cancer awareness campaign that will run across six cancer networks for nine weeks. The campaign aims to encourage women in the pilot areas who have one of the key symptoms of ovarian cancer—particularly persistent bloating—to see their doctor. Cancer networks have also been working with local GPs to prepare them for the campaign.
The findings of the pilots will be used to inform a decision on whether to test the campaign on a larger scale.
Health: Patient Internet Access
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made with their plans to give patients online access to their general practitioner records by March 2015; whether the professional representatives have agreed to co-operate with those plans; and what arrangements will be made to ensure patients are informed of their online access to those records. [HL4796]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): In line with the recommendations of the NHS Future Forum, the Government have engaged with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), to work in partnership with patient groups
and other professional organisations to lead in the development of a plan to support people to access their records electronically.
The RCGP Clinical Innovation and Research Centre are leading on the actual plans. The results of the RCGP work later this year will determine how best to ensure patients are informed of their online access to general practitioner records.
The NHS Commissioning Board is working with the RCGP and other partners to promote this work from 2013 onwards.
Healthcare: Immigrants
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to improve access to healthcare for immigrants.[HL4766]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Anyone can register with a general practitioner for free primary health care. National Health Service hospital treatment is free to anyone who is living in the United Kingdom on a lawful and properly settled basis or who is otherwise exempt from charges under Regulations, such as refugees, asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking.
We are taking steps to address the poor health outcomes experienced by vulnerable migrants and the difficulties that they, and other vulnerable groups, face in accessing some health services. We have developed an inclusion health programme, through which we are working with other government departments, the NHS and the third sector to tackle the poor health of people in vulnerable groups and to ensure everyone gets the care they need, regardless of their needs or circumstances.
Hospitals: Mobile Phones
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what statutory authority the use of mobile phones by patients in hospitals can be restricted; and whether such restrictions are based solely on technical considerations or whether the need to protect the financial revenue of patient telephone services provided by the hospital is regarded as a legitimate factor. [HL4941]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Mobile phone use in hospitals is not restricted by statute.
It is the responsibility of each National Health Service trust to set its own policy on mobile phone use within its hospitals. The department published Using Mobile Phones in NHS Hospitals in January 2009. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library and is also available at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/ Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_092811.
The guidance concludes that NHS trusts should consider a range of risks and issues when preparing their own policies.
Mobile phones have some potential to interfere with sensitive medical devices, especially at short range. As a result, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency advises that trusts make a decision about the use of mobile phones in hospitals depending on individual circumstances.
Housing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many new homes were built in the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2010.[HL4866]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Statistics on new build homes completed in the United Kingdom are available on the Department for Communities and Local Government web site in Live table 241, at the following link: http://www.gov.uk/government/ statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building.
Judicial Review
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were their reasons for halving the normal period of 12 weeks for public consultation on their proposals to abbreviate the procedures for the judicial review of administrative action.[HL4836]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally):Judicial Review: Proposals for Reform was a short engagement exercise, setting out a small number of simple, straightforward procedural reforms to make the judicial review process function better. For this reason, in line with the Government's new consultation principles, which provide for a more targeted approach to consultation, proportional to the potential impacts (17 July 2012, Official Report, col. 117WS), we believe that the six week engagement period provided sufficient time for consultees to consider the proposals and provide a meaningful response.
Justice: Magistracy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made a breakdown of the socio-economic profile of the lay magistracy; and, if so, how many lay magistrates fall into each group.[HL4861]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Applicants to the magistracy are asked to signify which occupational group they regard themselves
as belonging to. A breakdown of that information for the 24,003 magistrates currently in service is shown below:
| Occupation Category | Total No. | % |
Legal Aid
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 17 November 2010 (WA 213), what payments were made to public interest lawyers from civil legal aid in the past three years.[HL4868]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The total amounts paid by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to public interest lawyers in each of the past three years for undertaking civil legal aid work, was as follows:
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Localism Act 2011
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which provisions in the Localism Act 2011 have not yet been commenced; what is their timetable for the commencement of those provisions; and which, if any, they plan not to commence.[HL4779]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): In relation to England, the following provisions in the Localism Act 2011 have yet to be commenced:
Section 109(1)(a) and (7) (partially) and Schedule 8 and 25 (partially) (abolition of regional strategies)— these repeal provisions relating to regional strategies and make consequential amendments and will only
be commenced where all regional strategies have been fully revoked. Section 109(3) provides an enabling power for the Secretary of State to revoke or partially revoke a regional strategy by order. An order revoking the East of England Regional Strategy came into force on 3 January 2013. An order to revoke the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Strategy, with the exception of the York green belt policies, is being prepared. In accordance with the process required under the strategic environmental assessment directive (as outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 July 2012 (
Official Report
, col.
WS
66-68
), the Secretary of State has consulted on the revocation of each regional strategy and the remaining strategies are at various stages in that process. Subject to the outcome of that process, further revocation orders may be made;Sections 116 and 121 and Schedules 9 to 12 (neighbourhood planning)—these provisions have been commenced except for the purpose of holding a business referendum and its corresponding residential referendum under paragraphs 14 and 15 of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in a neighbourhood area which has been designated as a business area under Section 61H of the 1990 Act. We intend to commence these provisions for this purpose in April 2013 (when provisions for the conduct of any business referendums will also be made in the Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums)(Amendment) Regulations 2013—subject to parliamentary approval);Section 122 (consultation before applying for planning permission)—we are considering how regulation in this area can best be shaped to benefit both applicants and local communities and are therefore keeping commencement of this provision under review; Section 167 and Schedule 15 (abolition of Housing Revenue Account subsidy in England)—we intend to commence these provisions once the subsidy system has been fully wound up;Sections 180 to 182 (housing complaints and transfer of functions to housing ombudsman)—we intend to commence these provisions in April; andSection 237 and Schedule 25, (partially) (repeals and revocations)—these provisions are consequential to the provisions described above and will be commenced at the same time.
In relation to Wales, the following provisions in the Localism Act 2011 have yet to be commenced (implementation is a matter for the Welsh Ministers):
Sections 58 to 67 (EU financial sanctions); Section 68 (business rate supplement ballots); Sections 87 to 108 (assets of community value); Sections 148 and 149 (duties to homeless persons).
Marriage and Divorce
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) marriages, and (2) divorces, there were in (a) 1983, (b) 1993, (c) 2003, and (d) 2010.[HL5023]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, Director General for ONS, to Lord Roberts of Llandudno, dated January 2013.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions on how many (1) marriages, and (2) divorces, there were in (a) 1983, (b) 1993, (c) 2003, and (d) 2010, and how many civil partnerships have been registered in each year since 2005. (HL5023)
The table below shows the numbers of marriages and divorces in England and Wales. ONS divorce statistics include both dissolutions and annulments of marriage.
| Number of Marriages and Divorces, 1983, 1993, 2003, 2010 | ||||
| England and Wales | ||||
| 1983 | 1993 | 2003 | 2010 | |
P. Figures for 2010 are provisional
Source: Office for National Statistics
The table below shows the numbers of civil partnerships formed in England and Wales.
| Number of Civil Partnerships, 2005–2011 | |||||||
| England and Wales | |||||||
| Year | |||||||
| 20051 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
1 The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005 in the UK, the first day couples could give notice of their intention to form a civil partnership. The first day that couples could normally form a partnership was 21 December 2005 in England and Wales (18 civil partnerships were formed under special arrangements before these dates. These are included in the figures).
Source: Office for National Statistics
The Vital Statistics: Population and Health Reference Tables on the ONS website provide the number of marriages, divorces, civil partnership and civil partnership dissolutions for the United Kingdom and its constituent countries. See Annual Time Series Data table at: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/vital-statistics--population-and-health-reference-tables/winter-2012-update/rtd-annual-table.xls.
National Research Ethics Service
Questions
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff in the National Research Ethics Service were paid a salary of over £50,000 in the last year for which accounts are available; and what was the exact description and salary for each post.[HL4825]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total administrative cost of the National Research Ethics Service in (1) 2010–11, and (2) 2011–12. [HL4826]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The National Research Ethics Service (NRES) was a division of the National Patient Safety Agency from April 2007 until it became part of the Health Research Authority (HRA) on HRA's establishment in December 2011.
| NRES salaries during 2011-12 prior to establishment of HRA: | |
| Job title | Salary band |
1. Detailed information on these posts has not been included under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act, which provides for the protection of personal information. Section 40 prohibits a public body from disclosing personal information of those below senior civil servant (SCS) level as doing so would contravene data protection principles.
2. Head of Function is a term describing a role below director level with senior responsibility for operations such as finance, governance, regulation and communication etc.
| NRES salaries during 2011-12 following establishment of HRA on 1 December 2011: | |
| Job title | Salary band |
1 Detailed information on this post has not been included under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act, which provides for the protection of personal information. Section 40 prohibits a public body from disclosing personal information of those below senior civil servant (SCS) level as doing so would contravene data protection principles.
2. Head of function is a term describing a role below director level with senior responsibility for operations such as finance, governance, regulation and communication etc.
| NRES administrative costs (Costs are total admin costs including pay and nonpay and amortisation): | |||
| Accounting Year | Period | Total costs | NRES Administrative Costs |
| research ethics | |||
| (£ million) | (£ million) | ||
Polar Bears
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will vote for a ban on the trade in polar bear body parts at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to be held later in 2013. [HL4808]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): The UK supports a ban on international trade in polar bear pelts and other body parts as we believe this will help safeguard the species.
Public Health England: Staff
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the job description of the director of Health Improvement and Population Healthcare for England; and what targets have been set for the role.[HL4781]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The director—Health Improvement and Population Health is one of four professional appointments to the top team of Public Health England (PHE), which becomes fully operational as an executive agency of the Department of Health on 1 April 2013. PHE's mission is to protect and improve the nation's health, addressing inequalities and improving the health of the poorest fastest.
Professor Kevin Fenton was appointed to the role following open competition and took up post at the beginning of January. A copy of the job description has been placed in the Library.
The objectives for each of PHE's directorates are currently being set by its chief executive as part of the preparation of its inaugural business plan, which will be published in April.