asked Her Majesty's Government:

What support they intend to offer the Government of Ecuador in preserving the Yasuni rainforest reserve. [HL5494]

Joan Ruddock met the Yasuni Green Gold Campaign last week. We are supportive of approaches to develop incentives to reduce emissions from both wholesale deforestation and more gradual damage. The UK has contributed £15 million to the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility which will assist developing countries in working out how they can participate in and benefit from evolving incentive mechanisms for avoided deforestation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the technology planned for reducing emissions from new coal-fired power stations is the same as that approved by the Environment Agency for use by plants mixing waste material with coal in industrial furnaces; for example, in the production of cement. [HL5463]

A variety of techniques is used for reducing a range of emissions from industrial and combustion facilities. These are tailored to the particular processes being carried out. The technology that would be used to capture CO₂ emissions from new coal-fired power stations differs from that which is used for flue-gas desulphurisation. The Environment Agency considers what are the best available techniques when determining environmental permits.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the flood risk maps established by the Environment Agency take account of existing flood defences and assess the risk of flooding accordingly. [HL5736]

The Environment Agency flood map indicates the location of some flood defences, but work is currently taking place to extend this. Some of the areas which benefit from these defences are shown on the Environment Agency website by a hatched shading. Defences can be overtopped if a flood occurs which is higher than the defences are designed to withstand.

A national flood risk assessment of the likelihood of flooding from rivers and the sea has been undertaken that uses a risk-based probabilistic approach that takes into account the location, type and performance of flood defences in the assessment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, Mr Ivan Lewis, on 20 June (Official Report, House of Commons, 1226–32W), why the figures vary to the degree they do between primary care trusts; and, in particular, why the figures for Lincolnshire, South Gloucestershire, South West Essex, the East Riding of Yorkshire and Gloucestershire have fewer than 10 per 50,000 people receiving continuing NHS healthcare. [HL5467]

The National Framework for Continuing Care, introduced in October 2007, replaced 28 separate strategic health authority (SHA) continuing healthcare criteria. One of the purposes of the framework was to produce greater consistency on eligibility for continuing care across primary care trusts (PCTs) in England.

PCTs had one year from the introduction of the framework to reassess those previously eligible under the old SHA criteria. Therefore, the continuing care data currently reflect a mixture of individuals receiving care under the old and new arrangements for eligibility.

The department is currently reviewing the collection of continuing care data.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Part IX items are dispensed by the largest dispensing appliance contractor annually; and how many Part IX items are dispensed by the largest theoretical example given in the table on page 27 of their impact assessment on proposed new arrangements for Part IX of the Drug Tariff. [HL5610]

Between 1 August 2007 and 31 August 2008, the largest dispensing appliance contractor dispensed 979,504 Part IXA, Part IXB and Part IXC line items.

Regarding the table on page 27 of the impact assessment that was published alongside the latest consultation entitled Proposed new arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances—and related services—in Primary Care. June 2008, the largest theoretical company dispenses 700,000 prescription items per year as stated in the example.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much of the social housing resources has been spent on consultants in connection with the Housing Corporation's induced merger of the black and ethnic minority-led Presentation Housing Association. [HL5746]

The Housing Corporation has not induced a merger of Presentation Housing Association. Presentation's own, independent, board has taken a decision to seek to enter into a partnership with another registered social landlord that is itself financially strong, in order to safeguard the interests of Presentation residents and the public funds invested in Presentation properties.

The details of business operations, including the use of consultants, are matters for the association's board to decide, and are not subject to individual scrutiny by the Housing Corporation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the quality and consistency of decision-making in the new asylum model, in the light of (a) the UK Border Agency’s new asylum model quality team report, (b) the Refugee Council's survey of January 2008, and (c) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’s quality initiative; and what conclusions they have reached, in particular concerning implementation of the gender asylum policy instruction and the giving of due attention to such issues as experience of sexual violence, female genital mutilation, trafficking and sympathetic treatment of torture victims. [HL5416]

Continuous improvement in the quality and consistency of asylum interviewing and decision-making is very important to the UK Border Agency.

Joint working with UNHCR on this agenda has proved effective and many of the improvements made have been recognised in each of their five separate reports to Home Office Ministers. The Refugee Council's survey also provided some key pointers to the improvements made recently and to further improvements that could be achieved. The agency's own internal quality team adds to the battery of resource available to drive up the quality of work. Our overall assessment is that quality is improving but that room for further improvement remains.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What documentation of their qualifications migrants from the European Union need before obtaining employment in the United Kingdom. [HL5650]

Any national of a member state has a right to live, work and set up business in any other member state. However, in most member states certain professions are regulated. A migrant wishing to become established in the UK and pursue a regulated profession must have his qualifications recognised by the competent authority that allows access to the profession. The competent authority will provide the migrant with the appropriate documentation.

If the profession is not regulated, there is no official requirement for further documentation relating to the qualification, and an employer would decide whether the migrant's qualifications were acceptable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether migrant workers from the European Union can participate in training courses in the United Kingdom to enhance their skills. [HL5649]

Yes. European economic area (EEA) migrant workers are eligible for funding through the Learning and Skills Council for further education and skills courses at FE colleges and providers based in England so long as they have been resident in the EEA for three years prior to the start of their course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 29 September (WA 317), why the number of staff employed in the Northern Ireland Office has risen from 1,909 to 2,088 since 2005; and what policies and proposals for cutting staff numbers in the Northern Ireland Office and the civil service have been in place or announced since 2004. [HL5447]

The 2004 spending review set stretching efficiency targets for all departments. The additional resources released by efficiency gains were to be re-allocated to front-line services, leading to improvements in public services. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) committed to reduce civil servant headcount by 128 as part of the spending review. The NIO achieved this headcount by reducing central administrative posts within the core NIO. The efficiency gains this released allowed more front-line staff to be recruited, leading to increased headcount in the NIO's agencies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many applicants were interviewed at each of the passport personal interview offices from 31 July 2007 to 31 July 2008. [HL5449]

For the time period requested, we completed 216,581 interviews which have been broken down by office in the table in the attached Annex A.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the impact of delays in approving orders on the availability of rolling stock. [HL5643]

The Department for Transport is in discussion with train operating companies to define the requirements to deliver the additional capacity as set out in the Rolling Stock Plan. It is the responsibility of the operators to ensure that the vehicles are competitively procured and to identify the delivery dates with manufacturers to match the high level output specification funding period.

There have already been 423 additional vehicles ordered, the first of which will commence entry into service later this year. The department has set out in the Rolling Stock Plan that 1,300 additional vehicles will be delivered by 2014.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How long they expect negotiations with TransPennine Express and National Express East Anglia over the provision of additional rolling stock to last. [HL5815]

The negotiations with TransPennine Express and National Express East Anglia are expected to continue into 2009.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the figure published in the Department for Transport's Rolling Stock Plan for additional vehicles required for TransPennine Express services is correct. [HL5816]

The Department for Transport recently published High Level Output Specification (HLOS) plan update July 2008, which described the process for implementing the Rolling Stock Plan. This stated that it would announce a number of vehicles different from that shown in the plan only if and when it contracted with a train operating company for a different number.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to conclude their discussions with South West Trains about additional vehicles. [HL5769]

Discussions with South West Trains are continuing. To protect best value for the taxpayer these discussions remain confidential.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the revenue arm of HM Revenue and Customs, how many staff (a) are currently serving in each of the grade (or pay) levels; (b) in each of those levels have more than two years' revenue service; (c) in each of those levels have resigned over the past three years; and (d) are temporary (by any definition) with more than 12 months' service. [HL5720]

Information relating to staff of the revenue arm is not separately identifiable. Data in respect of all HMRC staff are given below:

(a) Total number of HMRC staff by grade at 1 October 2008

(b) Total number of HMRC staff by grade with more than two years’ service at 1 October 2008

(c) Total number of HMRC staff by grade who have resigned over past three years

(d) Total number of HMRC staff who are temporary (by any definition) with more than 12 months' service. The figures below relate to staff who are currently employed by HMRC on a temporary basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements are being put in place to meet the target of having 2 million more people participating in sport by 2012. [HL5478]

The Government's legacy action plan target is to get 2 million more people active by 2012, which will mean individuals participating three times a week, for at least 30 minutes each time. Sport England has developed a new strategy to deliver 1 million of these through sport, with greater responsibility and accountability given to national governing bodies, which will be commissioned to deliver through a new generation of whole sport plans. A range of government departments, including the Department of Health, the Department for Transport and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are working together on physical activity initiatives to ensure the overall legacy target is reached.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they intend to meet any increased demand for more sports facilities derived from the target of having 2 million more people participating in sport by 2012, having regard to the loss of sporting facilities such as playing fields over the past 20 years. [HL5479]

Since 1996, 65 per cent of the nation's facilities stock has been either built or refurbished, and now more than 90 per cent of the population live within 20 minutes of two or more of the most in demand sports facilities.

Building on this work, the Government's legacy action plan target is to get 2 million more people active by 2012, and Sport England has developed a new strategy to deliver 1 million of these new participants through sport.

Under this strategy, national governing bodies (NGBs) will be commissioned by Sport England to drive up participation, and given increased responsibility to control the development of their sport. The new generation of whole sport plans will provide a single funding stream through which NGBs can co-ordinate the development of their facilities stock, improving their quality in concert with their participation objectives, and ensuring new demand is met.

From 2001, in excess of £1 billion government and National Lottery funding has helped develop or refurbish over 4,000 sports facilities. Many of these support multi-sport usage, which allows these resources to be maximised. Sport England has now established a facilities improvement service, alongside a range of planning tools for local authorities, as part of its core funded offer. This will encourage similar strategic planning at a local level and ensure that every community has access to as wide a range of facilities as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the remarks by Lord Rooker on 8 July (Official Report, House of Lords, col. GC 97–8) on the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2008, what are the figures for exports of packaging waste in 2007; and whether the quantities for paper, glass, aluminium, steel and plastic are additional; and [HL5708]

Further to the remarks by Lord Rooker on 8 July (Official Report, House of Lords, col. GC 98) on the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2008, why 42 per cent of all aluminium was destined for recycling; and why it is necessary to export any aluminium for recycling. [HL5709]

Updated figures show that the UK exported a total of 2.35 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2007. This waste comprised approximately:

1.54 million tonnes of paper;

271,000 tonnes of glass;

19,000 tonnes of aluminium;

164,000 tonnes of steel; and

324,000 tonnes of plastic.

Forty-two per cent of all packaging aluminium collected in the UK was exported for recovery. The remaining 58 per cent of aluminium was reprocessed in the UK.

Aluminium, as with other valuable materials, is a globally traded commodity and is exported for recovery to where the best price is paid. Many products are manufactured in the Far East and there is an increasing demand, therefore, for recyclable materials in these countries. Overall, this helps the global effort to boost recycling and reduce reliance on natural resources.

Under the controls that apply to the export of waste, aluminium scrap is classed as a green list waste, and as such it can be exported for recycling to many countries under normal commercial controls. Those countries have informed the European Commission that they are content to receive such wastes for recycling.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the system developed by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology to measure endocrine disruption from steroid oestrogens in rivers will be marketed overseas; and, if so, which organisation will be responsible for doing so. [HL5657]

The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) is a wholly owned research centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which is in turn funded by the DIUS. The CEH has developed a set of new modelling approaches that enables users to describe and predict the fate and behaviour of oestrogenic steroids in water bodies, and in particular their concentrations in rivers. Research into the application of the new methodology is still in progress and the modelling system is being tested and improved by the CEH and its spin-out partner Wallingford HydroSolutions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to improve the level of public services available to vulnerable infants in need of child education welfare services, with a view to reducing the risk of longer-term anti-social behaviour or violent behaviour. [HL5665]

Over the financial years 2008-11, the Government are investing over £3 billion in Sure Start children's centres for children under five and their families. The greater part of this investment is intended for intensive support to families in the most disadvantaged communities and those children who face the greatest risk of poor outcomes in life. Children's centres provide a range of services for families with young children, including parenting and family support, social care services, integrated early learning and daycare, health services and advice and information on training and employment for parents. There are currently 2,900 centres and by 2010 there will be over 3,500—one for every community. The national evaluation of Sure Start shows that Sure Start is beginning to have real and demonstrable benefits, helping improve parenting and lay the foundations for children's happiness, well-being and future success. In addition, as part of the roll-out of intensive family support announced in the Youth Crime Action Plan, some local authorities may develop family intervention projects to support vulnerable families with young children. This will promote positive outcomes for children and families and help prevent future problems such as anti-social behaviour and offending.