asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress they have made on the Pathways to Work scheme; and when they expect to complete the rollout. [HL5325]

The Government's successful Pathways to Work programme was first introduced in October 2003. It is now available in 40 per cent of Great Britain. In June 2006, Ministers announced that, by April 2008, Pathways to Work would be extended to the remaining 60 per cent of the country. This will occur in two phases, the first to go live in December 2007 and the second in April 2008, both delivered by contracted private and voluntary providers. Procurement for both phases is now well under way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to consult on the contracting process to be used by (a) the private sector; (b) not-for-profit organisations; and (c) charitable organisations in the future provision of Welfare to Work services. [HL5327]

In July 2007 we published In work, better off: next steps to full employment. This set out our proposals for the future provision of Welfare to Work services. We are currently consulting on all these proposals, including delivery through partnership by working with the private sector; not-for-profit organisations and charitable organisations. The consultation period ends on 31 October 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many patients from Wales received treatment in hospitals outside Wales in each of the years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. [HL5268]

The Welsh Assembly Government are responsible for the NHS in Wales. However they do not collate this information centrally.

The Information Centre for Health and Social Care (which collates figures for the number of periods of patient care in English hospitals) shows the following number of periods for Welsh patients in English hospitals:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether patients from Wales are able to be treated at (a) Walton Hospital, Liverpool; (b) Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool; and (c) Alderhey Hospital, Liverpool; and [HL5269]

Whether they have plans to discontinue the treatment of patients from Wales at (a) Walton Hospital, Liverpool; (b) Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool; or (c) Alderhey Hospital, Liverpool. [HL5270]

Responsibility for the health service in Wales has been devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government.

Currently, should a patient in north Wales need treatment that is not available locally, they are referred to the nearest available hospitals that can provide the service, including those in Liverpool.

Welsh Assembly Ministers have made clear their commitment to a world-class health service that is available to everyone, irrespective of who they are or where they live in Wales, and at the time they need it. To this end, work is ongoing to develop services in Wales, which includes looking at the whole range of services that are available, including the development of best specialist treatment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has been the total cost of the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland since its establishment. [HL5232]

The total expenditure incurred by the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland since its establishment on 6 November 2000 until 31 March 2007 is £45,764,391.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to take any legal proceedings against those responsible for the leak of diesel into the River Thames on 13 and 14 September; and [HL5374]

What evaluation has taken place on the effect on wildlife and geese, swan and fish stocks of the leak of diesel into the River Thames at Maidenhead in the week of 10 September; and [HL5375]

For what period of time the water extraction arrangements at Bray were withdrawn from service during the incident of diesel pollution of the River Thames at Maidenhead in the week of 10 September; and [HL5376]

Whether they will review the powers available to the Environment Agency for the prevention of diesel pollution of rivers with a view to including the removal of offending equipment at a cost to those responsible; and [HL5377]

On what date and at what time the leak of diesel into the River Thames at Maidenhead during the week of 10 September was first reported to the Environment Agency. [HL5378]

The leak of diesel into the River Thames at Maidenhead was first reported to the Environment Agency on 13 September at 1740. Environment Agency officers attended the incident and observed that the diesel appeared iridescent on the water. As a result it would not have had any impact on fish stocks, birds or other wildlife. The Environment Agency officers who attended the incident did not observe any impact on birds in the vicinity of the diesel.

The Environment Agency assesses incidents according to their potential to cause environmental harm and the enforcement response depends on this classification. This incident was classified as a “category 3” incident, to which the normal enforcement response is a warning letter.

The Environment Agency notified the relevant water companies of the incident on the evening of 13 September at 1845. However, there was no evidence at that time to confirm that the abstractions would be affected. The water companies responded by stopping abstraction until approximately 1000 the following morning. Shortly after this time the Environment Agency informed the water companies that no diesel was on the river and abstraction then began immediately.

We have no plans to review the existing powers. The Environment Agency has power to prevent or remedy pollution of controlled waters through the issue of notices under The Anti-Pollution Works Regulations 1999. These regulations enable the Environment Agency to serve “works notices” on polluters or potential polluters. A works notice will specify works or operations which the recipient of the notice must carry out where pollution has already taken place to waters, or measures to take to prevent pollution occurring. Any costs associated with preventive or remedial works would be a matter for the recipient of the notice. Any person who fails to comply with the requirements of a works notice is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction (magistrates’ court) to a fine of up to £20,000 and/or up to three months’ imprisonment, and on conviction on indictment (Crown Court) to an unlimited fine and/or up to two years’ imprisonment.