asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has decided to rely on commons registers held by local authorities for information on which to base their assessment of farmers' hill farm allowances and single farm payments. [HL3732]

The allocation of commons for hill farm allowance and single payment scheme purposes is based on the commons rights held by applicants. It is natural, therefore, that the Rural Payments Agency should work from the registers of such rights established under the Commons Registration Act 1965. However, a number of industry representatives have raised issues about the allocation of commons for SPS purposes and these will be considered further with those concerned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to discuss joint civil nuclear electric power-sharing schemes with the Government of France. [HL3708]

The Government have no such plans—discussions about possible electricity sharing schemes would be for the electricity supply companies to lead.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Statement by Lord Truscott on 23 May on the energy White Paper, what is the definition of nuclear waste as used in their consultation. [HL4005]

Nuclear waste, as discussed in the nuclear consultation The Future of Nuclear Power, is defined as material that has no further use and that contains or is contaminated by radioactivity above certain defined levels. The definition is derived from the definition given in the Radioactive Substances Act 1993.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to stimulate electricity distribution generation research and the development of new production systems following the reduction in such activity since privatisation. [HL3726]

As part of the energy review process, DTI and Ofgem conducted a review of the incentives and barriers to distributed generation—www.dti.gov.uk/files/file35026.pdf —and the energy White Paper, published on 23 May, set out a package of four measures:

more flexible market and licensing arrangements;

improved information and advice on DG options and energy efficiency;

more clarity on terms offered by energy suppliers for export reward; and

making it easier to connect to and use the distribution network.

This package of measures will enable distributed generation to compete more effectively with larger-scale generation. In addition, we have for some years supported research and other activities linked to the removal of barriers to the connection of distributed and renewable generation. This support is currently routed through the DTI’s technology programme and the Electricity Network Strategy Group. In 2006/07 alone, this support amounted to some £1.4 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Statement by Lord Truscott on 23 May on the energy White Paper, what is the breakdown, by category, of the 170 renewable energy applications held in the planning process at the moment. [HL4004]

The figure of,

“over 170 applications in the planning process”,

that I quoted in my Statement on the energy White Paper on 23 May related to wind farm applications in the local planning process and was provided by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) in March 2007.

My department also maintains figures on the number of renewable applications in the planning system on the RESTATS website www.restats.org.uk. This information is updated quarterly and breaks down applications by type of renewable technology and country. As at March 2007 the website was showing that there are 243 renewable applications of all technology types being considered in the planning process.

I am providing a table detailing the number of applications on the RESTATS website by country and technology.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What support they have given to the Greenpeace forest protection initiatives launched worldwide on 12 May. [HL4101]

The Government are not aware of Greenpeace having launched any forest protection initiative worldwide. Greenpeace did make announcements about the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo in May. The Department for International Development has worked closely with Greenpeace and other NGOs for many months on the roundtable review of alternative models and finance mechanisms for sustainable forest use in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 3 May (WA 238), whether they will now make available discarded cord blood units to research scientists; and what consideration they are giving to developing opt-out arrangements whereby patients’ cord blood will be made available for therapies and research unless a patient indicates an unwillingness for their cord blood to be so used. [HL4042]

The NHS cord blood bank obtains consent from donor mothers for cases where, should the units be unsuitable for clinical banking, they may be used for research. The units are made available for ethically approved research projects. In addition, the National Blood Service manages a charity-funded site for the exclusive collection of cord blood units for research. No consideration is being given to the adoption of an opt-out provision for this service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What share of the dispensing appliance contractor market is held by the three largest contractors; and [HL3936]

Whether any National Health Service dispensing appliance contractor has (a) more than 10 per cent market share, or (b) more than 20 per cent market share. [HL3937]

There are two distinct sectors in the dispensing appliance contractor market: incontinence and stoma. Information on market share in each sector is shown in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What new measures they will examine to counteract health inequalities among the United Kingdom population, especially among minority ethnic groups. [HL3727]

In England, a cross-government national health inequalities strategy, Tackling Health Inequalities: A Programme for Action, is in place to deliver the 2010 health inequalities target to narrow the gap in infant mortality and life expectancy at birth. This is complemented by innovative programmes such as NHS Health Trainers, NHS Life Check, and Communities for Health which will examine new approaches to tackling health inequalities and are being implemented first in spearhead areas—the local authority areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators, and the primary care trusts mapping to them.

The spearhead areas contain 44 per cent of the black and minority ethnic population of England, despite containing only 28 per cent of the total population of England, based on the 2001 census population counts, so effective action to tackle inequalities in these areas is likely to have a disproportionate, and beneficial, effect on the health of black and minority ethnic groups in England.

The National Health Service in England operating framework 2007-08 identified tackling health inequalities as a key priority for the NHS. Primary care trusts (PCTs) should continue to use needs assessment systematically to identify and address the specific needs of different groups in their local populations. PCTs should be working in partnership to commission services tailored to meet the needs of disabled people, people with learning disabilities, people from black and minority ethnic communities and people from different gender, sexual orientation and age groups.

Incentives for the NHS and local authorities have also been aligned to encourage partnership working to deliver the 2010 target, with health inequalities a mandatory target for spearhead PCT local delivery plans for 2007-08, and for local authority local area agreements from 2007.

Further action will flow from the recent review of the infant mortality aspect of the target, Review of the Health Inequalities Infant Mortality PSA Target, 2007. This review considered the further action needed to narrow the infant mortality gap across a range of measures, including key interventions. It also highlighted the concern that some black and minority ethnic groups have higher infant mortality rates compared with the rest of the population. An implementation plan to carry forward the recommendations of the review is in preparation, and will be published in the summer.

National support teams on health inequalities and on tobacco control will disseminate best practice across spearhead areas, and areas with high infant mortality rates, providing intensive support for those areas that need it.

Delivering for Health, the blueprint for the future of the NHS in Scotland, identifies the need for the NHS in Scotland to contribute to reducing health inequalities by:

targeting resources on deprived areas and on groups within the population who are at particular risk. Past efforts to improve the population’s health have proved more successful within more affluent groups and communities. This has had the effect of increasing inequalities gaps in some cases; and

focusing on anticipating people’s health problems before they occur, rather than on reacting to them.

The Welsh Assembly Government have a dual strategy approach to tackling health inequalities, advocating strategic action inside and outside the NHS. A focus on the root cause of health inequalities by tackling social and economic disadvantage is complemented by a range of specific health initiatives.

In Northern Ireland, the cross-departmental Investing for Health strategy aims to shift the emphasis from the traditional focus on treatment to the prevention of ill health. It contains a framework of action to improve health and well-being and reduce health inequalities by tackling the wide range of factors that impact on health. The strategy, launched in 2002, will be reviewed in 2008 in order to ensure that it continues to be relevant and appropriate in respect of Northern Ireland society at the current time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many hours per day of outdoor recreation and exercise are allowed to women in Rampton Hospital. [HL4030]

There is a hospital minimum standard of access to fresh air for patients which is 10 hours in the summer months and four hours in the winter months. This is a minimum standard with offered access to fresh air often in excess of this.

Exercise is encouraged for all patients where access to activities is clinically appropriate and risk assessed. Patients may have escorted access to walks within the secure perimeter where this is assessed as appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many hours of individual psychology therapy are provided to women in Rampton Hospital every week. [HL4032]

Psychological therapy is provided in group and individual formats by a variety of professionals including psychiatrists, social workers, occupational therapists, creative therapists, and psychologists. The type of psychological therapy and format is determined by the relevant clinical team according to the needs of each individual patient. Consequently, there is no standard prescribed number of hours or type of psychological therapy per patient; this varies according to each patient’s clinical profile, risk assessment, offending history, stage in treatment, capacity and motivation to engage in therapy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 May (WA 90), whether he will state what are the totals spent to date on embryonic stem cells; and who have been the beneficiaries thus far. [HL4038]

Information on the provision of research funding by type of stem cell research is not routinely collected. However, for the 140 projects supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) during the 2004-05 financial year, information on programmes involving different categories of stem cell research, including adult, foetal and embryonic stem cells, has been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 May, what were the total number of applications for stem cell project licence funding and the percentage of applications that were successful in drawing down funds for embryonic stem cell research and adult stem cell research respectively. [HL4043]

For stem cell research to take place in the United Kingdom, it must be licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Stem cell research projects do not receive public funds unless all necessary permissions have been granted.

Information on the provision of research funding by type of stem cell research is not routinely collected. However, I am informed that for the 140 projects supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) during the 2004-05 financial year, spend on different categories of stem cell research, including adult, foetal and embryonic stem cells, is shown in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consultation is taking place with the Scottish Parliament in connection with the draft Human Tissue and Embryo Bill; and which powers in the Bill are (a) reserved, and (b) devolved; and [HL4040]

Whether the draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill will apply to Northern Ireland; and what consultation is taking place with the Northern Ireland Assembly. [HL4041]

The majority of the provisions of the Bill deal with the same subject matter as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, which is reserved legislation. The Bill extends to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland except that provisions which amend existing legislation have the same extent as the legislation that they are amending. This particularly affects the amendments that are made to the Human Tissue Act 2004 which extends only to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Most of the powers to make secondary legislation for which the Bill provides are exercisable by the Secretary of State. Before exercising the power in Clause 73 to make consequential and transitional provision by order, the Secretary of State is required to consult the Scottish Ministers if an order contains provision which would, if included in an Act of the Scottish Parliament, be within the legislative competence of that Parliament.

The United Kingdom Government are committed to full consultation with the new devolved Administration in Scotland on the potential implications for devolved interests of the provisions in the draft Bill. Similarly, the implications of the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland will need to be considered. Department officials are also in contact with colleagues at the devolved Administration in Scotland and the relevant Northern Ireland department.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to encourage manufacturers of heavy commercial vehicles to provide information to facilitate the safe de-polluting and dismantling of their vehicles in accordance with the principles of the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005; and [HL4018]

Whether a salvage operator at an authorised treatment facility can effectively de-pollute heavy commercial vehicles if the manufacturers of these vehicles do not provide sufficient technical information about the fluids and hazards contained within the vehicles; and[HL4019]

Whether a salvage operator at an authorised treatment facility can dismantle heavy commercial vehicles safely if the manufacturers of these vehicles do not provide sufficient technical information about the fluids and hazards contained within the vehicles. [HL4020]

The End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005 apply only to passenger cars and light vans, and the obligations on manufacturers to provide dismantling information set down in the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 is similarly restricted to such vehicles. However, my officials are shortly to initiate discussions with the heavy commercial vehicle segment of the automotive industry, with a view to exploring the case for manufacturers to provide dismantling information. The International Dismantling Information System (IDIS) was voluntarily set up by vehicle manufacturers and I understand that the IDIS2 Consortium Steering Committee is prepared to consider including treatment data on heavy commercial vehicles in their database.

Authorised treatment facilities which depollute and dismantle heavy commercial vehicles must have permits under the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003. They may refer to the 2004 DTI/Defra publication Depollution Guidance for End-of-Life Vehicles over 3.5 Tonnes, which describes how to remove hazardous components and fluids from heavy commercial vehicles. This guidance is available on www.defra.gov.uk and explains the depollution operations that are necessary to meet the legislative requirements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What guidance they have issued and what studies have been carried out on marine water quality regarding fines and turbidity issues associated with the extractive aggregates industries; when such guidance was issued; and what advice they have had from Natural England about the effect on biodiversity and fisheries. [HL3792]

Guidance on the control of marine minerals dredging from the English seabed is provided by the Government’s marine minerals guidance note 1 and the new marine minerals guidance note 2. The latter provides guidance on the recently implemented regulations which transpose the environmental impact assessment directive and the habitats directive for such dredging in England and Northern Ireland. The Environment Impact Assessment and Natural Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2007 came into force on 1 May 2007, formalising a practice which was previously carried out on a non-statutory basis. The regulations provide for environmental impact assessments and appropriate assessments where required for activities associated with the marine aggregate industry.

Natural England is working, in liaison with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science on a regional monitoring programme for plume effects from dredging and screening activities.

Defra has also initiated additional research through the Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). This includes biodiversity and fisheries-related research, such as turbidity, screening and plume effects. Defra has arranged for the outputs of the MALSF to be collated into a book which will be launched on 3 July 2007.

A number of studies have already been carried out on sediment plumes associated with aggregate extraction. The effects of plumes on fisheries and nature conservation features mainly centre around the potential for a fisheries resource (normally a spawning ground) or a conservation feature to be smothered by the settling fine material. During the preliminary site selection and environmental impact assessment, efforts are made to ensure that such sites and features are avoided where possible, or the impact is mitigated to avoid any adverse environmental impact on the resource or feature. Such mitigation would normally consist of timing restrictions of dredging and/or screening activity at a particular location. Consequently, general conclusions from research in such areas suggest that sediment plumes and increased water column turbidity as a result of aggregate dredging are localised, and background levels are returned to relatively quickly.