asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the announcement by the Minister for Public Health, Dawn Primarolo, on 6 February regarding additional funding for contraception services, whether a proportion of (a) the £14 million allocated to strategic health authorities for innovative service delivery in the area of contraceptive provision, and (b) the £12.8 million allocated to primary care trusts for improving access to contraceptive services, will be ring-fenced for improving the accessibility of contraceptives after termination of pregnancy, particularly in the light of their latest statistics showing that 32 per cent of women who had a termination in 2006 had previously undergone one or more abortions; and [HL2470]

What plans exist to monitor the way in which (a) strategic health authorities spend the £14 million allocated to them for innovative service delivery in the area of contraceptive provision; and (b) primary care trusts spend the £12.8 million allocated to them for improving access to contraceptive services and on services designed to reduce the number of repeat abortions among young women, including the provision of advice on contraception after termination; and [HL2471]

What will be the process for the national evaluation of strategic health authorities' ideas for improved contraceptive provision, which would attract some of the additional funding announced by the Minister for Public Health, Dawn Primarolo, on 6 February; and whether any weighting will be given to ideas designed specifically to reduce the number of repeat abortions through the provision of advice on contraception after termination to address the 32 per cent of terminations carried out in women who have previously undergone one or more abortions. [HL2472]

On 6 February my right honourable friend the Minister of State (Dawn Primarolo) announced £26.8 million funding to improve access to contraceptive services; £12.8 million of this funding will be allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) in their main allocations. It is for PCTs to determine how this funding is allocated to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations.

The remaining £14 million will be allocated to strategic health authorities (SHAs). Service level agreements (SLAs) will be negotiated with SHAs to agree how the funding should be used. Monitoring arrangements will be agreed as part of the SLA.

Proposals for commissioning a national evaluation of any pilots of innovative models of service delivery are still being drawn up. We will welcome pilots that look at ways of improving the care pathway between abortion and contraceptive services to reduce the number of repeat abortions.

In addition to this we will be investing £500,000 to begin to develop a campaign, working with the Teenage Pregnancy Unit, to highlight contraceptive choices available to women.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice they are giving on risk to this year's lambs and spring-born suckled calves in the light of the fact that the bluetongue vaccine is only being licensed for stock over four months old. [HL2403]

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is assessing the applications it has received for provisional marketing authorisations for bluetongue virus serotype 8 vaccines. None of the assessments has been completed, so it is not yet possible to state how any of the vaccines may be used in lambs or young calves. As soon as a provisional marketing authorisation is granted, the summary of product characteristics, which includes details of how the vaccine may be used, will be published on the VMD's website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What level of immunity is expected to be passed from mothers vaccinated against bluetongue to unvaccinated offspring. [HL2404]

Vaccines for bluetongue virus serotype 8 are currently being developed. Relevant experiments on the transmission of immunity from dams to offspring have not yet been carried out. Provided sufficient levels of antibody are present in the dam, it is likely that colostral immunity would be passed to unvaccinated offspring. Such immunity might protect the offspring for around the first three months of its life. However, this needs to be confirmed experimentally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What funding or contingency planning is in place for the National Fallen Stock Company or other bodies to provide an increased level of clearance service for fallen stock, given the risk of greater demand beyond May due to bluetongue. [HL2405]

Defra officials are in discussion with the National Fallen Stock Company on the potential need for an increased level of service as a result of the ongoing bluetongue outbreak.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What benefits, additional to those of the existing double ear-tagging of sheep, would be brought by electronic implant tagging. [HL2421]

A partial regulatory impact assessment which identifies the benefits of electronic identification has been prepared. This is available on the Defra website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the fact that after 10 years' research no discernible trace of BSE has been discovered in sheep, they will seek from the European Union a derogation exempting the United Kingdom sheep flock from additional tracing costs arising from the proposed electronic tagging. [HL2422]

No. Council Regulation 21/2004 was put in place to address animal traceability issues identified during the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. It was not introduced to address concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy in sheep.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 25 February (WA 97), whether they will carry out full-scale trials before implementation of the directive requiring the electronic tagging of sheep by 2009. [HL2423]

Pilot trials have already been carried out in the UK. A report on the English pilot trial is available on the Defra website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to reduce work disincentives arising from the interaction of the tax, tax credit and benefit rules. [HL2460]

The Government support people without children who are on low incomes and working full time primarily through the working tax credit (WTC). Together with the national minimum wage, tax credits have enabled the Government to guarantee minimum levels of income and tax credits entitlement for full-time workers.

The Government also provide the in-work credit to eligible lone parents, and couple parents in London, who have been on benefits for at least a year, during their first year in work. This further improves incentives to work.

From October 2008, a pilot will test a new better-off-in-work credit, which will seek to ensure that long-term benefits recipients who enter work will have an in work income of at least £25 more than they receive from out-of-work benefits.

To further improve work incentives, the Government announced at Budget 2008 that child benefit would be disregarded in calculating income for housing and council tax benefit from October 2009.

The Government keep the tax and benefit system under review with a view to ensuring that workers who see an increase in their gross income also see an increase in their net income, to maintain incentives to work. Since 1997, the Government have reduced by 540,000 the number of households facing marginal deduction rates of over 70 per cent, so more households can keep more of their income as they progress in work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures have been put in place to ensure compliance with revisions to part L of the building regulations, as stated on page 15 of the 2007 United Kingdom energy efficiency action plan. [HL2508]

A package of measures has been put in place to improve compliance with part L of the building regulations, as identified at page 15 of the 2007 United Kingdom energy efficiency action plan. These included a major dissemination and training campaign, the introduction of mandatory pressure testing, simplified guidance, extending the time period for local authorities to prosecute and more use of self-certification schemes.

“Monitoring the Sustainability of Dwellings” was published in February 2007 to meet, among other things, the statutory requirements of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006. It includes a progress report on improving compliance with relevant provisions of the building regulations which have been made in connection with the use of fuel and power for the purposes of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, and is the document referred to on page 21 of the action plan. The report is available on the department's website and can be downloaded via the link at www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/381414.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will include provisions for a coastal access corridor in the forthcoming Marine Bill; and, if so, whether those provisions will apply to England, Wales and Scotland or only to some of those countries. [HL2370]

The Government propose to publish the draft Marine Bill including provisions on coastal access in early spring of this year. The coastal access provisions within the Bill will only apply to England.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the statement by Professor Justin St John at the University of Warwick that transferring a human cell into recipient pig eggs “will generate the first human only cloned embryonic stem cell line”, as quoted on the website of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [HL2524]

The statement by Professor Justin St John is an extract from the lay summary of a research licence application taken from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) website that is currently before the HFEA for consideration. Decisions on the licensing of such research is a matter for the HFEA.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have anything to add to the Answer by Baroness Vadera to the first supplementary question on 19 March (Official Report, col. 252) about the proposed National Nuclear Laboratory and the process of tendering for the management contract. [HL2741]

I would like to clarify my Answer about the proposed National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL). NNL is being set up with the intention of protecting the skills of Nexia Solutions, in particular with respect to decommissioning skills. Its major clients will be the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the site licence companies, including at Sellafield. BERR will finalise the business case for the NNL when it is clearer about the revenue stream from the Sellafield site licence company, whose research programme will have a significant impact on NNL's immediate revenue. The process for the contracting of the site licence for Sellafield is current. In the mean time, Nexia Solutions has been able to carry on providing its vital services to industry and the NDA without interruption. We anticipate the setting up of NNL as soon as the business case is agreed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many salmon netting stations operate under certificates of privilege in England and Wales. [HL2442]

The Environment Agency have records of 198 fisheries (instruments or groups of instrument) holding certificates of privilege. Of these only seven across England and Wales are recorded as having recently (in the past 10 years) operated or as being now operable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many salmon netting stations operating under certificates of privilege are located in rivers not meeting their conservation limits for Atlantic salmon. [HL2443]

Privileged fixed-engine certificates are known to exist for instruments on 13 rivers in which the salmon stock did not meet its conservation limit in 2006. The six privileged fixed-engine fisheries that have operated recently and remain operable are all on rivers in which the salmon stock exceeded the conservation limit in 2006. Three of these fisheries are on the Severn. There is evidence that these fisheries also exploit salmon returning to the River Wye where the salmon stock has failed to meet the conservation limit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they will take to deal with salmon netting stations operating under certificates of privilege in rivers which do not meet their conservation limits. [HL2444]

The Government recognise the potential deleterious effect that unrestricted fisheries operating under certificate of privilege can have on fish stocks and fisheries in rivers not meeting their conservation limits. For that reason, we are proposing to introduce new legislation that will enable the Environment Agency, as fisheries managers, to control the effectiveness of these instruments in order to limit the number of salmon which they can take; where the agency considers it necessary to do so for the protection of fisheries.

More detail of these provisions and the proposed wider changes to legislation managing migratory and freshwater fisheries will be published in the draft Marine Bill in spring.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many salmon netting stations operating under certificates of privilege in rivers not meeting their conservation limits have changed their method of operating from that identified at the time of the granting of the certificates. [HL2445]

The River Severn salmon stock exceeds the conservation limit but there is evidence that fishery stations operating here also exploit salmon returning to the River Wye, the stock of which does not meet the conservation limit.

At least one fishing station (putcher rank) operating there now uses steel baskets instead of the traditional willow and square cross-section basket openings.

There are no records of any other changes in method amongst those instruments now or recently operating.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have informed BAA of the risk to animal health and the economy of illegal meat imports; and, if so, what measures they have taken to obtain the co-operation of BAA to display prominently posters similar to those displayed in airports abroad warning incoming passengers not to bring any meat or meat products into the United Kingdom. [HL2473]

As part of ongoing work to tackle illegal imports of products of animal origin (POAO), Defra and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have always worked in co-operation with stakeholders, major airlines and airport authorities. They have been made fully aware that meat, food and plants can carry animal/plant pests and diseases, which can pose a risk to our environment and our agricultural and horticultural industries.

As part of our joint strategy for raising travellers' awareness of the rules on personal imports of POAO, high visibility posters in line with the European Union (EU) model prescribed in Commission Regulation 745/2004 are displayed at ports and airports. These advise incoming passengers that meat and dairy products from non-EU countries are prohibited and have recently been refreshed and updated. Appropriate sites, including in baggage reclaim areas, are agreed with BAA and the other airport and port operators.

HMRC has local representatives who are in contact with BAA and other airport and port operators to discuss and negotiate various issues, including where posters are sited. For example, during 2005-06, in response to avian influenza outbreaks in a number of countries, HMRC arranged with BAA and other operators for additional temporary “bird flu” posters to be displayed at UK ports and airports. These were placed in passenger terminals at arrivals and departures and highlighted the risk of bringing illegal meat and meat products into the UK. BAA and other operators also provide facilities for the storage and removal of any seized POAO items.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 3 December 2007 (WA 170), whether in negotiating the draft European Convention on Access to Official Documents they will seek to persuade the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights to include a general guarantee of the right of access to official documents; and [HL2375]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 3 December 2007 (WA 170), whether in negotiating the draft European Convention on Access to Official Documents they will seek to persuade the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights to include a general right of access to information held by legislative bodies, judicial bodies and private bodies that exercise public functions; and [HL2376]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 3 December 2007 (WA 170), whether in negotiating the draft European Convention on Access to Official Documents they will seek to persuade the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights to provide for access to an appellate authority to challenge a denial of access to information; and [HL2377]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 3 December 2007 (WA 170), whether in negotiating the draft European Convention on Access to Official Documents they will seek to persuade the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights to specify in respect of which of the convention's provisions reservations may be made. [HL2378]

The convention should set an overarching framework of minimum standards, allowing parties to the convention to set out in their legal systems a more extensive right of access should they wish to do so. For example, the convention would give parties the option, rather than making it mandatory, of applying the convention to information held by legislative bodies, judicial bodies and private bodies that exercise public functions should they wish to do so. Courts and tribunals are not within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in respect of their judicial functions and the Government have no plans to bring them within scope. With regard to private bodies carrying out public functions Section 5 of the Freedom of Information Act provides the possibility of bringing such bodies within scope of the Act. The Government's consultation on Section 5 closed on 1 February 2008 and the Government are currently considering the responses to consultation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the ban on gay men donating blood in the United Kingdom is compatible with the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007. [HL2498]

The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 (Statutory Instruments No. 1263) came into force on 30 April 2007. During the drafting of these regulations, consideration was given to the matter of blood donation from gay men.

This led to specific provision being made in the regulations, which are available at www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/20071263.htm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many reports and recommendations were published on the murder of patients by Dr Harold Shipman; what was the cost to public funds of these reports; and why the lessons drawn from the Shipman murders did not avert the murder of patients at Leeds General Infirmary by the nurse Colin Norris. [HL2525]

The Shipman inquiry published six reports with a total of 228 recommendations, at a cost to public funds of £21 million. The relevant reports were published after the offences at Leeds General Infirmary which took place in 2002.

Systems for protecting patients and the general public have been greatly improved in recent years and further improvements are under way in the light of the lessons learnt from the Shipman murders. However, as the Shipman inquiry itself pointed out, it will never be possible to guard completely against the criminal activities of a future Shipman, only to ensure that such activities are very quickly identified. I understand that the Yorkshire and Humberside Strategic Health Authority is arranging for an independent investigation of the events at Leeds General Infirmary and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Warner on 7 September 2004 (WA 137) and 28 November 2005 (WA 12–13), how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) ambulance staff, (d) scientists, (e) police and (f) others have been vaccinated for smallpox so as to enable them to deal with a terrorist attack; and how many of these have had complications leading to further treatment using the vaccine immunoglobulin. [HL2450]

The department arranged for smallpox vaccination of a cohort of frontline health workers who would deal with any initial suspected or confirmed case of smallpox if it were to occur. The target cohort was reached in 2005 and comprised a total of 516 vaccinated personnel of whom 147 were doctors, 164 were nurses, 100 were ambulance staff, 32 were scientists and 73 held other related healthcare occupations.

None of these had adverse complications that required vaccinia immunoglobulin.

A further programme of revaccination is due to commence in 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How often the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board has entered someone on the specialist register after an adverse recommendation from trained assessors from the specialist committee of the relevant speciality. [HL2493]

Between its establishment on 30 September 2005 and 1 March 2008 the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) has issued just over 12,500 decisions on applications for specialist or general practitioner registration. Nearly all have had an input from the assessors of the specialist training committees of the relevant medical Royal Colleges or Faculties. Of these, PMETB has not accepted 55 adverse recommendations (0.4 per cent).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consultations were carried out with non-governmental groups and public bodies before the United Kingdom's contribution to the International Development Association in December 2007. [HL2509]

Ministers and senior officials from London and the UK Delegation to the World Bank in Washington hold regular meetings with interested non-governmental groups and public bodies to discuss World Bank issues. During 2006 and 2007 some of these meetings covered the 15th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA 15). We also held additional meetings with non-governmental groups throughout 2007 specifically to discuss the UK's approach to the IDA negotiations.

There was a half-day session between the World Bank, IDA donors and African civil society opinion-formers as part of the second IDA 15 replenishment meeting in Maputo in June 2007. In October the World Bank organised a workshop for UK civil society to consult on its progress report on conditionality. Also in October, the lead negotiators from the UK and other donors met with civil society groups in Washington to discuss the replenishment in the margins of the third replenishment meeting. The draft outcome document of the negotiations was placed on the World Bank's website for public comment. The comments were discussed at the final replenishment meeting in Berlin in December and some were incorporated into the final version.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the budget for the Department for International Development has increased for each year since 1997. [HL2510]

The Department for International Development (DfID) total expenditure since 1997 is set out in the table below showing both actual expenditure and expenditure in real terms based on 2006-07 prices. Both methods show that DfID expenditure increased in all but one year, 2004-05.

From 2004-05 EC aid to a group of 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 was no longer attributed to DfID resulting in a decrease in total expenditure for that year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vadera on 10 October 2007 (WA 16), what discussions they have had with the European Commission since October 2007 about providing support for health, water and sanitation in North Korea. [HL2526]

Informal discussions were held with representatives of the Directorate-General for Humanitarian Affairs and AidCo on 13 November in Pyongyang. The overall position on EU assistance to North Korea remains as set out in the Answer provided by my noble friend Baroness Vadera on 10 October 2007 (Official Report, col. WA 16).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When Government officials last visited North Korea; and what was their assessment of the humanitarian situation and current levels of aid provided. [HL2527]

The last visit by a Government official to North Korea to look at humanitarian aid was in November 2007. No general assessment of the humanitarian situation was made on the visit. The primary purpose of the trip was familiarisation with the work of European non-governmental organisations in providing health and water supply services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vadera on 15 October 2007 (WA 36), what funds have since become available under the “non-state actors and local authorities in development thematic programmes” budget line for North Korea. [HL2529]

In principle, €500,000 has been allocated to North Korea under this budget line.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have held with aid agencies about providing support for water and sanitation programmes in North Korea. [HL2542]

Department for International Development (DfID) officials are considering a proposal from UNICEF for a water supply project. If it is approved, funds will come from the budget for humanitarian assistance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many members of (a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and (b) the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve were murdered in Northern Ireland from 1970 to 1998; and in each case how many led to successful convictions. [HL2411]

The number of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve murdered in each year from 1970-98 is set out in the following table.

Information recorded on convictions does not include details of the victim.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has since happened to the 12 children and young people under 18 who were set free by Operation Pentameter 1; and how many persons have so far been assisted by Operation Pentameter 2. [HL2503]

Operation Pentameter 2 is currently ongoing. We shall release the relevant figures after the conclusion of this operation.

Of those minors recovered under Operation Pentameter 1, three volunteered to return home, seven were referred to children's services of which two have been found foster carers. Upon further investigation it was decided the two other minors were not thought to be victims of trafficking.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether prisoners are paid more to undertake work than to attend education or vocational training; if so, whether this is standard practice throughout the Prison Service; for how long has it been their policy; whether they have undertaken any research to examine the effect of the policy on prisoners undertaking education and training courses; and what additional measures they are taking to encourage prisoners to undertake education or training courses. [HL2494]

The policy on prisoners' wages is contained in Prison Service Order 4460 (a copy is in the Library) which sets out minimum levels of pay and requires prison governors to establish local pay schemes that provide an incentive for prisoners to achieve sentence plan targets which could include attending education and offending behaviour courses. This policy has been in place since 2002 and under local schemes there may be higher rates of pay either for education and training or for other activities in particular establishments.

There has been no research undertaken to examine the effect of this policy on prisoners undertaking education and training courses, however. The Learning and Skill's Council's document, Developing the Offenders Learning and Skills Service: the Prospectus, sets out a process for a full review of the vocational learning, by criminal justice area, planned to begin in 2008.

The Prison Service's Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme additionally encourages prisoners to engage with their sentence plan by rewarding prisoners for positive participation in constructive activity which, as well as work, includes education, training and offender behaviour courses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prisoners currently in prisons in England and Wales have served longer than their tariff. [HL2559]

Complete information on the total numbers of all life and other indeterminate sentence prisoners held in custody beyond their tariff period is not currently available centrally. To provide the information requested would require manual checking of individual records which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost. However within the Public Protection Unit of the National Offender Management Service, the Pre-Release Section (PRS) maintains a limited database on those offenders sentenced to imprisonment for public protection (IPP). This indicates that, as at 1 March 2008, 635 such offenders were being held in prison beyond their tariff expiry date.

These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

The department is developing a new database that will allow it to accurately capture the information requested. The database is nearing completion and it is expected to go live this spring.

asked the Leader of the House:

Why the Question for Written Answer tabled by Baroness Valentine on 8 November 2007 remained unanswered on 25 February. [HL2159]

An Answer was given on 17 March (Official Report, col. WA 1).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have asked or will ask the Royal Mail and the Bank of England to celebrate in January 2009 the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. [HL2586]

I understand that Royal Mail does intend to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns by issuing a special stamp and miniature sheet in January 2009.

There are currently no plans for issuing in 2009 a Bank of England bank note including Robert Burns as an historical character. The Bank of England regularly receives representations to include historical figures on the back of its new bank notes. The Governor of the Bank of England makes the final decision on the historical figure to be represented on the back of their new bank notes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many applications made in Tbilisi, Georgia, for visas for entry into the United Kingdom by Georgian citizens have been considered by an asylum and immigration appeals tribunal; how many have been granted an appeal; and how many have been refused. [HL2359]

For the period January to December 2007 the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal received 30 appeals against refusal of entry clearance to the United Kingdom by Georgia nationals who applied at the UK embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia. In the same period, 24 Georgian appeals were decided: immigration judges allowed eight, dismissed nine, and six were withdrawn or abandoned. One appeal was allowed after reconsideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the written answer by the Baroness Crawley to the Countess of Mar on 28 January (WA 98), when the 38-page witness statement and the accompanying evidential material including maps, plans and signed affidavits sent to Lord Mills of the Environment Agency Wales, and receipted by him on or about 9 May 2007, were returned to Mr Gowan; what evidence they have that the documents were dispatched, and what evidence they have that they were received by Mr Gowan. [HL2008]

The Environment Agency has no record of having received an original sworn 38-page witness statement and accompanying material. An electronic unsigned version of the witness statement was e-mailed by Mr Gowan to Chris Mills, regional director of the Environment Agency Wales, on the 9 May 2007. Chris Mills has acknowledged receipt of that e-mail.