Written Answers
Thursday, 3rd July 2003.
Department For Constitutional Affairs
asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the functions of the Department for Constitutional Affairs in so far as they relate to England. [HL3511]
I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister in another place on 19 June (Official Report, col. 329W). All of the relevant functions set out by my right honourable friend relate at least to England.
The Lord Chancellor: Sitting Time On The Woolsack, Session 2001–02
asked the Leader of the House:For how many hours per week during Session 2001–02 the Lord Chancellor sat on the Woolsack; and what proportion of the total sitting time this represents. [HL3647]
In the 2001–02 Session the Lord Chancellor sat on the Woolsack for an average of three hours and 30 minutes per week.The House of Lords sat for a total of 1,395 hours and 21 minutes in the 2001–02 Session. The Lord Chancellor sat on the Woolsack for 141 hours and 40 minutes in the same period. He was therefore on the Woolsack for 10.02 per cent of the total sitting time.
Iraq: Military List Equipment Exports
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any goods subject to strategic controls have recently been approved for export to Iraq. [HL3730]
Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved two licences to export military list goods to Iraq. The arms embargo against Iraq remains in place under United Nations Security Council resolution 1483 (2003), with the exception of "arms and related material required by the (Coalition Provisional) Authority to serve the purposes of this and other related resolutions". Accordingly Her Majesty's Government consider it appropriate to grant exemptions for these goods to be exported on the basis that they are to be used for the purpose of protecting companies working on reconstruction projects in Iraq which form part of the authority's functions under resolution 1483 (2003). These exports are consistent with the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria. Future applications will continue to be assessed on a case by case basis against the UN embargo and consolidated criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time.
Sexual Offences Legislation: Sado-Masochistic Activity
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether current legislation regarding sexual offences and offences against the person which criminalises sado-masochistic activity when that activity results in no lasting harm or injury is contrary to the Human Rights Act 1998. [HL3598]
The relevant issue in respect of sexual offences legislation and sado-masochistic activity is consent to the sexual activity. The fact that the sexual activity was sado-masochistic activity would not criminalise otherwise lawful consensual sexual activity. The question of convention rights therefore does not arise. As regards offences against the person, the issue is whether it should be possible to engage in or give consent to violent activity which causes some injury or harm. The Government do not believe that the legislation on offences against the person is incompatible with the convention rights in this respect.
Criminal Cases Review Commission
asked Her Majesty's Government:Who will be appointed as the chairman for the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). [HL3804]
We would like to inform the House that Professor Graham Zellick has been appointed as chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Copies of the press release relating to this appointment are available in the House Library.
Counter-Terrorism, Security And Resilience
asked Her Majesty's Government:When they plan to provide an update on domestic counter-terrorism, security and resilience issues. [HL3805]
We wish to take the opportunity of the debate on the Intelligence and Security Committee's (ISC) annual report today to provide the House with an update on the progress that we are making in combating terrorism and creating security in the UK. We have had a year of significant progress in developing effective counter-terrorism and resilience measures, focusing on a range of fronts such as threat assessment, infrastructure, exercises and joint working.We discuss the assessment of threats frequently with the Director General of the Security Service and, as she recently said publicly, we must accept the realistic possibility of some form of unconventional terrorist attack in the western world. This is why we have invested significantly in prevention.Creating security means investing in good government, effective services and international co-operation in a way that generates trust. This means:
- having the right organisational arrangements and involvement of Ministers;
- being vigilant and well prepared at home (working on border security, having the right equipment and using exercises to train for a range of risks);
- tackling terrorism at home and abroad (by seizing and stopping terrorist finance, arrests and detentions where necessary but also working to develop good community relations at home);
- ensuring that all states are taking measures to combat terrorism and that terrorist groups can find no safe haven (around the world key terrorist suspects have been detained, many as a result of international co-operation involving the UK agencies); and
- strengthening the international structures that we need to maintain this unprecedented level of activity (the UN, EU and G8).
Our organisational arrangements remain strong. The Home Secretary continues as overall security co-ordinator, with all relevant Ministers working together through Cabinet committees. Beverley Hughes is now the Home Secretary's deputy across the board on domestic counter-terrorism.
We have changed structures when needed in order to strengthen joint working. The creation last month of the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), which brought together those assessing and reporting threat intelligence, is a case in point. But we are determined not to make major structural changes where it would just hinder efficient working and add bureaucracy simply for the sake of a change of name.
We endorse the ISC's high regard for the valuable work of our security agencies and their numerous successes in counter-terrorism.
As the Home Secretary suggested to another place on 2 April, the agreement that he signed with the US Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge, is leading to unprecedented co-operation between the UK and US Governments.
A joint contact group of US and UK officials led by the Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator met in June and agreed to undertake joint crisis management through a series of table top exercises, leading to a major US/UK exercise in 2005. Work is also taking place on bilateral technology development, such as the opportunities created by biometrics.
At home we have taken major steps to secure our borders. For example through setting up an iris recognition project, immigration fingerprinting with links to the Eurodac system, forgery detection equipment at ports and extensive use of CCTV and ANPR—all designed to smooth the flow of legitimate travellers while catching illegal entrants and terrorists suspects. We are also running a trial using passenger information gathered at time of check-in which is checked eletronically against our database. Preliminary results are very positive. Such a concept provides a mechanism for routinely pre-screening passengers in advance of arrival. In parallel we are considering all the options for gathering information to carry out a full pre-screening programme for incoming passengers.
Another major step forward is the introduction of routine screening of port traffic for the illicit movement of radiological materials to reduce the threat from nuclear or radiological attack. This is a significant part of the £330 million additional counter-terrorism money announced in the Budget, which also funds counter-terrorism projects for the Cabinet Office and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
While the most important priority is to prevent attacks, particularly through intelligence work, we are also prepared to deal with any attacks because no amount of preventative action can ever be 100 per cent sure. A capabilities programme has been set up, following a review by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, consisting of 16 workstreams each the responsibility of a lead department with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office having overall management. The capabilities concerned cover personnel, equipment and training, as well as plans and concepts of operations. The aim of the programme is to ensure that the response is in place to deal rapidly, effectively and flexibly with the results of conventional or non-conventional destructive action.
An ongoing programme is equipping and training fire, police, health and other public service personnel for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) resilience. We have already trained 3,700 police officers and by next year will have trained over 6,000 officers to ensure that police forces nationally are able to deal with a CBRN incident. This is the level that the Association of Chief Police Officers has requested to deal with CBRN incidents.
Decontamination arrangements have been agreed between fire fighters and health services. Personal protective equipment and training has been provided for ambulance workers and A&E departments. Strategic guidance on decontamination has been in place since February.
But we must not focus on CBRN to the exclusion of "conventional"' terrorism. Many of the recent terrorist attacks elsewhere in the world have been suicide bombs, not CBRN.
Our exercise programme is key to building this resilience to deal with a range of threats. We have one of the world's best counter-terrorism exercise programmes and we are determined to ensure no loss of momentum. The Home Office has sponsored and supported a series of exercises over many years to ensure the UK's response to terrorism is kept to a high standard. A series of live counter-terrorist exercises takes place each year in addition to seminars and workshops in police force areas.
By their nature, these exercises reveal areas for improvement. The lessons learnt are circulated to the agencies and tested in further exercises. Moreover, these exercises are a vital training tool; they are not just for learning lessons or highlighting areas for improvement. Recent exercises have validated our response to a hi-jacked aircraft, terrorist occupation of buildings and ships, released or threatened release of chemical and biological agents and to a nuclear device.
A programme of local and pan-London training exercises and day to day procedures testing is under way. One element of this programme is the London Underground exercise. Planning on this, which the Secretary of State for Transport will take the operational lead on, is under way for the exercise to take place by the autumn. Physical security has also been improved where needed, such as around major landmarks.
A key weapon in the fight against terrorism is tackling its financing, much of which is through organised crime. Anti-terrorism investigations have benefited from the integration of a terrorist finance strategy from the outset.
Legislation that we have brought in is now paying off. In the past six months, two precedents have been set in the fight against terrorist financing—convictions have been obtained under Section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and cash forfeitures made under the Anti-terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 (ATCS). There have been eight cash seizures under the ATCS Act so far this year.
An example of this is an extremist support cell convicted of terrorist finance offences, with two men sentenced to 11 years each and a network disrupted that is thought to have raised in excess of £350,000 through cheque and credit card fraud. In another case, in March, four men were arrested attempting to leave the country with over £25,000 which was seized.
Internationally we continue to develop new standards and best practices to counter terrorist financing. We have made significant progress in tracking down and freezing the funds of international terrorist groups. Much of the 115 million US dollars frozen in the UK both before and after 11 September has been unfrozen and made available to the legitimate government of Afghanistan for the reconstruction of that country.
Small projects are also important, for example, the Metropolitan Police campaign to make small retailers aware that low level credit card fraud can be used to fund terrorism. The free CD and booklet produced by London First in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office and the Business Continuity Institute, with our endorsement, also advises businesses to contingency plan to survive a range of disaster risks.
The Government are continuing to take firm action to prevent terrorists using this country as a base or recruiting ground. For example, there have been a number of arrests here in connection with the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on 30 April. Detention pending eventual deportation is used where necessary—15 individuals have been detained under powers in Part 4 of ATCS, two of whom have since left the country voluntarily. Detainees have a full right of appeal and the first batch of appeals to be heard by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) started in May and will continue through to the autumn.
The Home Secretary will keep powers in legislation under review and make changes if necessary. For example, in the Criminal Justice Bill we are proposing an amendment to Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000 to increase the maximum period that a terrorism suspect can be held without charge from seven to 14 days, when agreed by a court. A second amendment seeks to align the penalties for passport and driving licence fraud—an avenue of exploitation for terrorists—and make both arrestable offences.
We have streamlined the assessment of threats and their communication to the public. Today we are publishing an update of our website, www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism, including new information on exercises and on warnings and informing the public about terrorist threats. Since its launch the website has received around 320,000 page viewings. Recognising that not everyone has access to or feels comfortable with using a website, we are informing public libraries of the new content and advising them to make print copies available.
We want to re-emphasise the message of balance and of not letting terrorism disrupt daily life. We have lived with threats for over three decades and they will be with us for years, we need to find a way of carrying on normally while taking sensible measures.
We need to remember also that our security can only be assured through a sustained long-term effort that includes work to address the political and social conditions that terrorists exploit and to ensure that CBRN materials and know-how do not fall into their hands. This is just as important as building resilience at home. The ISC in its report which is being debated today in another place expressed concerns about collection gaps due to the focus on current crises. The focus needs to be on both current threats and longer-term concerns. They are invariably interrelated. We are confident that we have the balance right.
Disposal Services Agency: Key Targets 2003–04
asked Her Majesty's Government:What key targets have been set for the Disposal Services Agency for financial year 2003–04. [HL3806]
The agency was originally launched as the Disposal Sales Agency in October 1994 and was relaunched in November 2000 as the Disposal Services Agency. The agency provides a total disposal solution by acting as a broker and adding value through expert advice across the public sector. The agency operates very much in line with the Government's aim of more joined-up delivery. The chief executive of the agency has been set the following key targets for the financial year 2003–04.
- to achieve a disposal sales gross cash receipt of £20 million from sales of surplus government-owned equipment and stores. This figure reflects the expected surplus equipment disposal programme;
- to meet the key performance indicators as agreed in the customer supplier agreement (CSA) with the Defence Logistic Organisation (DLO);
- to ensure that the agency is at the standard or above the standard of the public sector
| Number of deaths from intentional self-harm and injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted, persons in full-time education1, England and Wales. 1997 to 20012 | |||||
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | |
| (i) 13–15 years | |||||
| Intentional self-harm3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted4 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 9 |
| Total | 19 | 14 | 12 | 25 | 17 |
| (ii) 6 years and over | |||||
| Intentional self-harm3 | 92 | 90 | 79 | 79 | 70 |
| Injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted4 | 43 | 58 | 40 | 39 | 38 |
| Total | 135 | 148 | 119 | 118 | 108 |
| 1 All persons aged 5 to 15 years were assumed to be in full-time education. However, those aged under 13 are excluded from the table (see note 4). Persons aged 16 and over in full-time education were identified by the SOC90 occupation pseudo-code 030 'full-time student' for 1997–2000 and the SOC2000 occupation pseudo-code 0040 'student, school girl, school boy' for 2001. | |||||
| 2 Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year from 1997 to 2001. | |||||
| 3 The cause of death for intentional self-harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases. Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and, for the year 2001 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84. | |||||
| 4 The cause of death for injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E980-E989 excluding E988.8 for the years 1997 to 2000, and, for the year 2001 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. It is likely that most of these deaths at ages over 13 are cases where the harm is self-inflicted but there was insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased deliberately intended to kill themselves. As there were no intentional self-harm deaths in children under the age of 13, data for deaths undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted have not been included either. | |||||
benchmarking report for overall customer satisfaction; and
to secure £360,000 sales per person employed for commercial sales activities.
Deaths By Suicide: Students
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many deaths by suicide were recorded among students at (a) universities; (b) further education colleges; and (c) schools, since January 2003, and for each year for the past five years. [HL3613]
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter to Lord Rogan from the National Statistician, dated 3 July 2003.
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question on how many deaths by suicide were recorded among students at (a) universities, (b) further education colleges, and (c) schools, since January 2003, and for each year for the past five years. [HL3613].
The numbers of suicides of persons aged 13 years or over in full-time education are given in the attached table for each of the five years ending 2001, the most recent year for which these figures are available. Information about both the type of educational establishment attended and about persons in part-time education is not available at death registration.
Ec Communications Directives: Implementation
asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure that the EC Communications Directives are implemented on the required date of 25 July 2003. [HL3807]
As my honourable friend the Minister of State for E-Commerce and Competitiveness indicated in his statement in another place on 24 March (Hansard col. 1WS) it is the Government's intention to implement the four EC Communications Directives by the required deadline of 25 July 2003 through the legislation contained in the Communications Bill (particularly Part 2 of the Bill) and the orders and regulations to be made under that legislation. Subject to the remaining parliamentary processes being completed satisfactorily, the Government believe that it is still possible for the Bill to receive Royal Assent before Parliament rises for the summer recess and for the necessary orders and regulations to be made in time to ensure that the directives are implemented by the required date.The time between Royal Assent and 25 July will however mean that the normal 21-day delay between the making of certain orders and regulations and their coming into effect cannot be observed. The Government regret this, but consider it inevitable in order to ensure that there is a smooth transition to the new regulatory regime (which is founded on the EC directives which have to be implemented on 25 July). To alleviate problems which might arise from the short interval between the making of the orders and regulations and 25 July, the Government are today publishing the draft of the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order that will need to be made as soon as the Bill has been passed. This draft takes account of comments received during consultations earlier this year, and in parallel with the revised drafts, the Department of Trade and Industry is publishing a response document summarising the way in which the issues raised in the consultations have been dealt with. As soon as the order has been made following the passing of the Communications Bill, the Department of Trade and Industry will inform all those thought to be interested in the matter and will draw attention to any significant changes from the texts being published today.The Department of Trade and Industry is also publishing today revised drafts of the Numbering Exclusion Order and the Electronic Communications (Networks and Services) (Penalties) (Rules for Calculation of Turnover) Order together with response documents describing how the responses to the consultations on those documents have been dealt with. As these orders require affirmative resolution of both Houses, the formal drafts will be laid once the Bill has been passed, and affirmative resolutions sought as soon as parliamentary time permits.The Department of Trade and Industry will also publish within the next week a response to the consultation on the draft Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations, on which consultation closed on 19 June, together with a revised draft of the regulations. Like the Universal Service Order, these regulations will need to be made between Royal Assent to the Bill and the commencement of the relevant provisions, and the department will therefore also inform interested parties as soon as these regulations have been made.At least two other orders will also need to be made in the interval between Royal Assent and 25 July—the First Commencement Order, and the Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Licences) Order. The Radiocommunications Agency is currently consulting on the latter draft order, and the text is available on the Radiocommunications Agency website.The timetable to achieve Royal Assent before 25 July does however remain very tight and, as previously announced, since it would not be an option to fail to implement the directives by 25 July, if the Bill has not been passed in time the Government would need to bring forward regulations under the European Communities Act 1972 to ensure that our obligations were met. The Department of Trade and Industry consulted on drafts of these regulations in March, and within the next few days will republish the revised texts on the draft regulations together with a response document summarising how issues raised in that consultation have been dealt with. If the Bill does not receive Royal Assent before the summer recess, the regulations will be made so as to be effective by 25 July. The interval between the making of the regulations and their coming into force would also be very short, and accordingly the Department of Trade and Industry would contact all those thought to be interested in the issue to inform them of the making of the regulations. Copies of all the documents published today have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and made available on the internet:
www.communicationsbill.gov.uk. Copies of the further documents will be published in a similar manner as soon as they are available. The Department of Trade and Industry is also informing all those thought to be interested in these issues of the publication of the documents. Anyone who has not received personal notification of the publication of the drafts and who wishes to be informed of the further action should contact the Department of Trade and Industry (at communications.billconsultation@dti.gsi.gov.uk) to ensure they are added to the list of interested parties.
National Lottery
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the review of lottery distribution. [HL3808]
The Government are today publishing their National Lottery Funding Decision Document, which sets out the changes that the Government propose to make to the distribution of National Lottery funds.The Lottery has been a huge success. Over £14 billion has been raised for good causes since 1994. However, nine years on from when the lottery started there is a need to revitalise the way lottery money is distributed. That is why last year we published a consultation document to consider how lottery distribution can be made more strategic and streamlined, and importantly how it can remain responsive to public need.Ultimately our proposals are driven by the need to reconnect people with the lottery, to ensure that people are aware of, and can have greater influence over, how their money is spent, and to make it much easier for everyone to apply for and to use lottery money.The document sets out proposals for involving the public more and responding to people's priorities. It also describes in more detail how we will create a new lottery distributor, merging the Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund. This new distributor will also take on some of the powers of the Millennium Commission, including the ability to fund big transformational projects of national significance. We also propose ways to improve the management of issues and projects which cut across lottery distributors, including proposals for a new lottery forum with a formal mandate to take forward more joined up working. We will create a more unified promotional approach to make clear the link between the lottery game and the money going to good causes, and more streamlining of the application process for grants.I believe that these changes will enable us to build on the success already achieved and secure the lottery's position for the future. These changes will require legislation and we will bring forward proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows.Copies of the
National Lottery Funding Decision Document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and the text is also available on the DCMS departmental website at www.culture.gov.uk.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the review of lottery licensing and regulation. [HL3809]
The Government are today publishing a document, which sets out the changes which they propose to make to the licensing and regulation of the National Lottery.Our National Lottery is one of the most successful in the world. After 10 years and two licensing rounds, however, we cannot assume that current arrangements will continue to give the best outcome for good causes. That is why last year we published a consultation document to consider whether there might be scope to reinvigorate competition to run the lottery. The licensing proposals set out in the document are intended to take effect after the end of the current lottery operating licence in January 2009. The Government recognise the importance of stability and continuity to the operation of the lottery. These proposals therefore allow time for legislative changes to be brought forward and for the National Lottery Commission to begin early preparations for the new competitive arrangements.The document proposes a radical new approach to licensing the National Lottery. It will move away from a requirement for a single major licence competition every seven years. We will strengthen the National Lottery Commission as regulator, and it will have the ability to offer for competition a range of licences to run different parts of the lottery. We would also allow for licences of different lengths. The commission will decide the scope of the competitions and the length of the licences before the end of Camelot's current licence. The commission will exercise its independent judgment in making these decisions, taking account of developments in technology and market conditions.I believe that these changes will enable us to build on the success already achieved and secure the lottery's position for the future. They should not be taken as criticism either of Camelot or the commission, both of which have worked hard for the benefit of good causes within the constraints of the current statutory framework. The Government will bring forward legislative proposals as soon as parliamentary time allows.Copies of the decision document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and the text is also available on the DCMS departmental website at
www.culture.gov.uk.
Zoos: North-West England
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many zoos operate in the North West of England; and what are the principal regulations to which they are subject. [HL3601]
It is estimated that there are approximately 40 zoos operating in the North West of England.Zoos are subject to the Zoo Licensing Act 1981. This was amended on 8 January this year by the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 which implemented in England Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos.The Act provides for licensing and inspection of zoos by local authorities.
Sea Defences
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many sea defences have been completed in England within the past 10 years; what are their locations; and how many of them received Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food grant. [HL3602]
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provides grant aid to the coastal defence operating authorities (primarily the Environment Agency but also some maritime district councils) for capital works and studies to assist in the management of flood risk from the sea.Defra (and previously the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) has approved 200 capital works projects for grant since 1 April 1993 which have been recorded as being primarily to protect against flooding from the sea. This does not include projects to protect against coastal erosion, works carried out without grant aid, nor maintenance works. I have placed a list of the projects in the Library of the House. I have shown projects approved rather than completed in the past 10 years as we do not record completion date in every case but have shown the latter where possible. I have also included projects approved earlier but which our records show as having been completed within the period. We would expect most projects to be completed within three years of approval.The department does not record details of projects undertaken without grant aid so I am unable to provide details of these but it is unlikely that the coastal defence operating authorities would carry out many capital works of any size without grant aid.
Food Supplements
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received representations regarding the method of handling by the Food Standards Agency press office of the publication of the recent report by the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals; and what action they intend to take as a result of any such representations. [HL3410]
The agency has received some representations on this publication. The agency supports a safety-based approach to regulation of food supplements, and is committed to promoting informed choice. Prior to the publication of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EVM) report the agency held two press conferences to brief the media with the chairman of the EVM. The agency was careful to present balanced information on the risks associated with some high dose vitamin and mineral supplements and is satisfied that this will have contributed significantly to helping consumers to make informed choices about the food supplement products they buy.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it remains their policy that vitamin B6 should not be consumed at more than 10mg per day; and whether they will identify how many adverse reactions have been notified as a result of vitamin B6 consumption since that advice was given in 1997. [HL3411]
The Reference Nutrient Intake for Vitamin B6 is 1.2 mg/day for adult females and 1.4 mg/ day for adult males. Government advice remains that people limit their intake of vitamin B6 from dietary supplements to no more than 10 mg per day unless acting on the advice of their GP or health professional.Reports of suspected adverse reactions to medicines are collated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the Committee on Safety of Medicines through the spontaneous reporting Yellow Card Scheme.Between 1 January 1997 and 18 June 2003, 178 reports of suspected adverse drug reactions associated with products containing vitamin B6 have been received through the Yellow Card Scheme. Of these reports, 42 suspected adverse drug reactions were associated with single-constituent products and 259 suspected adverse drug reactions were associated with multi-constituent products. Some reports may contain more than one adverse reaction.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total cost of the work of the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals; whether they consider it has delivered value for money; and whether they intend to re-examine those areas in which its findings are inconsistent with those of other internationally respected bodies. [HL3442]
The work of the Export Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EVM) covered a five-year period and has involved expenditure by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health, and since its establishment the Food Standards Agency. The Food Standards Agency has led on the work of the EVM over the past three years and costs in respect of meetings and publication of the EVM report over this period have totalled £76,000.The work of the EVM, which considered over 10,000 scientific papers, is a valuable resource on a subject which is the most up-to-date, independent, expert assessment of the issue yet to be published. As such it will inform policy decisions on the safety of vitamins and minerals on a United Kingdom and European basis.There are no plans at this stage to reconsider specific areas of the EVM's findings. The need for this will be kept under ongoing review as the evidence base in this subject area develops further.
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the membership of the newly established panel of the European Food Safety Authority which is intended to consider the safety of food supplements. [HL3443]
The scientific panel of the European Food Safety Authority that will deal with food supplements will be the Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Foods.The membership, which consists of individual experts appointed in their own right, is as follows:
- Dr Susan Barlow (Chair)
- Prof Werner Grunow (Vice-Chair)
- Mr John Christian Larsen (Vice-Chair)
- Prof Robert Henri Eugene Anton
- Prof Dimitrios Boskou
- Dr Laurence Castle
- Dr Riccardo Crebelli
- Prof Wolfgang Dekant
- Prof Karl-Heinz Engel
- Dr Stephen Forsythe
- Dr Catherine Leclercq
- Dr Wim C Mennes
- Dr Maria Rosaria Milana
- Prof Ivonne Magdalena Catharina Maria Rietjens
- Dr Kettil Svensson
- Prof Paul P G Tobback
- Prof Fidel Toldra
asked Her Majesty's Government:What resources are being allocated by the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency to delivering their policy objectives for missing nutrients and maximum permitted levels for nutrients within the provision of the Food Supplements Directive. [HL3480]
The issues of missing nutrients and maximum permitted levels for nutrients within the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive are just two of a number of policy issues being addressed by the Food Labelling and Standards (FLS) Division of the Food Standards Agency. FLS Division has a budget for 2003–04 of £3.187 million and a complement of 37 full-time equivalent staff. The FLS divisional business plan lists work on food supplements as high priority.
asked Her Majesty's Government:When last they discussed their policy objectives for food supplements with counterparts in other member states; with whom such discussions were held; and what progress was made. [HL3485]
The Government are firmly committed to the view that, in the interests of consumer choice, the law should allow food supplements that are safe and properly labelled to be freely marketed.The most recent formal discussions on this issue took place in the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses in November 2002 and involved representatives of all European Union member states other than Luxembourg; no firm conclusions were reached. The next key action at EU level will be a proposal for maximum permitted levels of nutrients in food supplements. The Government's view, which we are strongly arguing, is that these should be based on safety considerations rather than supposed need so as to neither unnecessarily limit consumer choice nor unduly restrict trade.The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for negotiations on this issue, is taking every opportunity to press this case bilaterally with member states. In addition, in May, the Food Standards Agency wrote to EU member states to advise them of the conclusions of the United Kingdom Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EVM) on safe intakes of vitamins and minerals. The EVM's advice will form the basis of the UK's position when substantive discussions at EU level take place in due course.
Prescriptions: Electronic Transmission Pilots
asked Her Majesty's Government:How the interests of patients and general practitioners will be protected as the current electronic transmission of prescription pilots are replaced by a national programme for such services; and [HL3624]What plans are in place to ensure continuity of care for patients who have grown to rely upon electronic transmission of prescription services as part of the current pilots, as wider plans are made to replace the pilots by a national programme; and [HL3625]What plans are in place to avoid disruption to general practitioner practices that have supported the Department of Health's electronic transmission of prescription pilots, as wider plans are made to replace the pilots by a national programme. [HL3626]
The electronic transmission of prescriptions pilots have demonstrated that prescriptions can be transmitted electronically in an accurate and secure manner, and now having served their intended purpose they will be formally closed with effect from the end of June 2003. In order to ensure that patients do not experience difficulties in obtaining their prescriptions and to minimise inconvenience to healthcare professionals, an appropriate timeframe for ceasing the processing of electronic prescriptions will be agreed with the remaining pilots.The pilots have been independently evaluated and this information is being used by the National Programme for National Health Service Information Technology to develop a sustainable, national prescription service.
Carers
asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they have given to Mencap's recent report on family carers, entitled
Breaking Point; and whether they will be taking any action on its findings. [HL3656]
We appreciate the real contribution carers make in looking after their disabled relatives. We are working to make sure that carers have the information and help they need to support them in their caring role. The Mencap report identifies some areas of particular concern to carers and is a helpful contribution to the work we are already taking forward.The Learning Disability Task Force, which monitors the implementation of the White Paper
Valuing People: A New strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century (Cm 5086), published in March 2001, will be looking in detail at issues affecting family carers at its meeting in September. The Valuing People Support Team, which offers advice and support to Learning Disability Partnership Boards, has work around family carers issues as a priority for 2003. The Learning Disability Helpline, funded jointly by Mencap and the Department of Health, offers advice and information on a wide range of learning disability issues and is already well used by family carers.
The carers grant, worth £100 million this year, provides money for local councils to provide short breaks for carers to enable them to continue in their caring role. Information on the number of breaks for carers is collected annually.
To support provision of good quality carers services the Department of Health published Quality Standards for Local Carer Support Services in February 2000. Monitoring the quality of services for carers is undertaken as part of the Social Service Inspectorate performance assessment function.
Care Direct
asked Her Majesty's Government:When the evaluation of the first phase pilots of Care Direct is likely to be published. [HL3678]
The Personal Social Services Research Unit of the University of Kent (PSSRU) was commissioned to evaluate the Care Direct pilot. Its interim report was completed in the autumn of 2002 and published earlier this year on the Care Direct website (www.caredirect.gov.uk) and the PSSRU's own website (www.kent.ac.uk).
asked Her Majesty's Government:How, given that the evaluation has not yet been published, they propose to take account of the lessons learned from the Care Direct first phase pilots in setting up the new Third Age Service. [HL3679]
The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for taking forward the development of a Third Age Service. It is doing so in the light of the interim evaluation report, published earlier this year by the Personal Social Services Research Unit of the University of Kent, and the invaluable experience of live running of Care Direct over 18 months.
asked Her Majesty's Government:How much was spent, authority by authority, on preparing second phase pilots for Care Direct, including the cost of staff planning time; and what and how much compensation the local authorities involved have received, or are likely to receive, for costs incurred as a result of abandoning the pilots. [HL3680]
The set-up grant paid to each of the Care Direct second phase authorities was as follows:
| £ | |
| Bath & North East Somerset | 87,716 |
| Bradford | 114,238 |
| Cornwall | 133,247 |
| Dorset | 126,481 |
| Essex | 208.049 |
| North Somerset | 93,069 |
| Nottingham | 96,591 |
| Nottinghamshire | 148,137 |
| Poole | 87,619 |
| South Gloucestershire | 91.949 |
| Surrey | 179,838 |
| Swindon | 85,788 |
| Torbay | 88,432 |
| Wiltshire | 114,428 |