Written Answers
Friday 21 November 2014
Armed Forces: Meat
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 28 October (HL2119), what information they provide to members of the armed forces to enable them to make informed choices about the consumption of halal food.[HL2738]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): Ministry of Defence policy is fully consistent with current UK legislation and Government guidelines. Although there is no requirement for a menu to state whether a dish does or does not contain halal food. Service and entitled civilian personnel with special dietary requirements are fully informed as to which dishes are suitable for them to eat.
Copyright
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their reasons for proposing an extended three-year transition period from April 2015 for the implementation of section 74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, in the light of the current extent of counterfeiting.[HL2756]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Neville-Rolfe) (Con): The Government’s reasons for proposing a three-year transition period for implementing s74 Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 are set out in its recent consultation which concluded on 27 October 2014 (https:// www.gov.uk/government/consultations/transitional-provisions-for-the-repeal-of-section-52-of-the-cdpa). This does not represent an extended transition period but the Government’s provisional judgement as to the shortest reasonable period, taking into account the needs of both right owners and those using the current law to trade lawfully. The Government is considering the evidence it received and will make its decision on transitional provisions in the light of this. Current items made under the aegis of s52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 would not be considered counterfeits. Counterfeit products (i.e. goods which falsely carry the trade mark of a genuine brand without permission) are already subject to legal sanction under separate trade mark legislation.
In Vitro Fertilisation
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 17 November (HL2643), what was the proportion of stillbirths and linked infant deaths as described in the previously provided table in which both of the two twins and each of the three triplets from the same pregnancy either similarly died in infancy or were stillborn. [HL2908]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Peter Fullerton, Director, Data Collection, Office for National Statistics to Lord Alton dated November 2014.
In the absence of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking Her Majesty’s Government what was the proportion of stillbirths and linked infant deaths as described in the previously provided table (HL2643) in which both of the two twins and each of the three triplets from the same pregnancy either similarly died in infancy or were stillborn. (HL2908)
Table 1 below provides the proportion of multiple maternities where all babies from the same maternity were stillborn in England and Wales for 2002 to 2011.
| Table 1: Percentage of multiple maternities where all babies from the same maternity were stillborn, England and Wales, | ||
| 2002 - 2011 Percentage of multiple maternities | ||
| Year | Twins | Triplets |
Source: Office for National Statistics
Published statistics on births and stillbirths for England and Wales are available on the Office for National Statistics website http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/characteristics-of-birth-2--england-and-wales/index.html
Information on multiplicity is collected at stillbirth registration. However, this information is not collected at death registration so statistics on the number of infant deaths for multiples born in the same maternity are not readily available.
Iraq
Question
Asked by The Marquess of Lothian
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contacts they have had with the government of Iran in relation to the ongoing military campaign in Iraq against ISIL.[HL2881]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), discussed the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and related issues including securing peace in Syria when he met President Rouhani in September at the UN General Assembly. We have also used our expanding bilateral relationship with Iran over the last year to discuss ISIL and other regional issues. We hope that the Iranian government will respond to the shared threat from ISIL by aligning their approach with the international community’s efforts to bring stability to Iraq and Syria.
Israel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the alleged hanging of a Palestinian bus driver by settlers in Jerusalem on 17 November. [HL2860]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We have not made representations to the Israeli government on the alleged hanging of the Palestinian bus driver. An autopsy was carried out at which a Palestinian doctor was present. Based on the results of this autopsy as well as evidence collected at the scene, the Israeli Police have concluded that the likely cause of death was suicide.
Middle East
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning reports of its firing on agricultural land and fishing boats during October.[HL2760]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We are not aware of incident(s) in October involving Israel Defence Forces (IDF) firing on fishermen or over agricultural land in Gaza, but continue to monitor the situation. The IDF has demarcated a 6-mile radius at the western nautical border.
The demarcation of the northern border is not as clear to fishermen and this border area is the site of many incidents. During Operation Protective Edge, we
raised our concern with the IDF several times over incidents in which fishermen were reportedly shot. The IDF maintained that the Israeli Navy fired only warning shots into the air when the fishermen ventured over the nautical border.
Prisoners: Suicide
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many self-inflicted deaths of prisoners occurred in (1) 2003, and (2) 2013.[HL2733]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): The number of self-inflicted deaths in prison in 2003 and 2013 is published in the Safety in Custody statistical bulletin which is available at http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/safety-in-custody-statistics.
Reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths in prisons is a key priority for the Government. We are working hard to understand any trends, but, as is the case in society at large, there is no simple explanation with complex and individual reasons behind any suicide.
We have dedicated resources providing support every day in prisons and have created a specialist team to help share good practice as part of our strenuous efforts to learn from each death.
Young adults are a particularly challenging and vulnerable group, and that is why we have commissioned an independent review into the deaths of 18 to 24-year-olds in prison custody.
RAF Woodvale
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Royal Air Force Woodvale, Southport is still designated as a flying field for the Ministry of Defence. [HL2830]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): RAF Woodvale, Southport is designated as an airfield for the Ministry of Defence. Liverpool University Air Squadron, Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron, No 631 Volunteer Gliding Squadron and No 10 Air Experience Flight are based there.
Select Committee Reports
Question
To ask the Leader of the House how many times in the last 10 years no Government response to a Lords Select Committee report was forthcoming eight months or longer after the report’s publication; and what were the subjects of the report or reports in question.[HL2730]
The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): This information is not held centrally; it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
West Africa
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any members of the armed forces who contract ebola whilst serving in Africa will be immediately returned to the United Kingdom to receive medical treatment. [HL2734]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): Any member of the Armed Forces who contracts Ebola Virus Disease will have their circumstances considered on the basis of individual clinical need. Their safety and that of health practitioners, will be of paramount importance. If it is determined that the best clinical outcome would be achieved through medical evacuation, this would take place.