asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the announcement on 14 December that a new case of Blue Tongue had been confirmed in a cow near Middlesbrough, whether restrictions are now in place to stop the importation of cattle from the restricted zone in Germany into the United Kingdom; and, if not, whether they have any plans to introduce such restrictions. [HL1069]

Under the EU bluetongue regulation, susceptible animals are permitted to move out of restricted zones into free areas provided an official veterinarian of the exporting country certifies that all the necessary conditions have been met. Importers also have a responsibility to import only animals that comply with the rules and to notify Animal Health in advance of the movement.

Investigations are currently under way to determine the precise circumstances under which these animals were exported from Germany.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to produce a vaccine to combat a possible outbreak of African Horse Sickness, whether within the United Kingdom or through the European Union. [HL1070]

There are nine strains of the African Horse Sickness (AHS) virus. The only vaccines currently available are live attenuated preparations manufactured in South Africa and these vaccines are not licensed for use in the European Union. EU legislation does not permit the use of vaccine in the Community except in the case of an outbreak of AHS. However, we are aware that there is some preparatory research on new strains of vaccine being carried out by commercial interests and we would therefore consider the emergency licensing and use of vaccines under emergency control procedures in the event of an outbreak.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of Home Office licence applications were granted and refused under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.[HL1010]

Details for licences granted during 2005 and 2006 under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are shown in the attached table.

A feature of the regulatory regime under the 1986 Act is the discussion that often takes place at an early stage between applicants (or prospective applicants) for licences under the Act and the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. When serious deficiencies are identified during these early discussions, proposals unlikely to meet the Act's stringent requirements are often revised or withdrawn before formal refusal becomes necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which main results they expect from the Bali Climate Change Conference on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the post-Kyoto plan after 2012. [HL710]

I refer the noble Lord to the Statement I made on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 18 December 2007. This can be found in the Official Report, col. 608.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 December (WA 160-1), whether the electricity supply industry delivered the emission reductions that the United Kingdom's share of phase I of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme cap required; and [HL789]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 December (WA 160-1), whether United Kingdom industry sectors outside the electricity supply industry will be provided with allocations that are less than their business-as-usual predictions in phase II of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. [HL790]

In phase I large electricity producers in the UK were provided with allocations below their business-as-usual projections. This meant that the sector would either have to reduce its emissions or purchase allowances from other operators. In 2005 and 2006, the large electricity producers purchased a total of 82.4 million allowances. Other UK industry sectors covered by the EU ETS surrendered 22 million allowances less than they were allocated. The net effect was that all UK installations covered by the scheme purchased 60.4 million allowances over 2005 and 2006.

These allowances represent emission reductions that were made outside the UK but were paid for by the UK, so can count towards UK domestic targets.

The annual free allocation in phase II for UK installations will be 246 million allowances. That is 29MtCO₂ (approx 10 per cent) less than the business-as-usual projections for 2010.

All UK industry sectors except for the large electricity generators will be provided with allocations equal to their business-as-usual projections in phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of the United Kingdom Kyoto targets will be met through (a) domestic action, and (b) the use of overseas credits. [HL1002]

In 2005, the latest year for which final estimates are available, the UK's greenhouse gas emissions were 654.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e), more than 15 per cent below base year emissions. These reductions are all from domestic action.

Our projections show that domestic action alone will ensure that emissions in the UK remain significantly below the level required for us to meet our Kyoto Protocol target to reduce emissions to 12.5 per cent below base year levels over the period 2008 to 2012.

In addition, any allowances and credits surrendered by UK installations through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme for the 2008-12 phase will count when assessing compliance with our Kyoto target for the first commitment period.

In 2006, the last year for which information is available, the net purchase of allowances by UK installations within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme totalled 33.3 million tonnes of CO₂, or about 4.3 per cent of our base year emissions under Kyoto of 775.2 MtCO₂e.

For 2008-12, the Government have set the annual cap for UK companies within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme at 246.2 million tonnes of CO₂. This is an annual reduction of 29.3 MtCO₂ below projected need.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Large Combustion Plants (National Emissions Reduction Plan) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2325), why, under Regulation 5, the Secretary of State must provide information on new plants annually but only include information on plants leaving the scheme in 1 January 2016 or 1 January 2018; and what estimate they have made of the effect of this arrangement on the reporting of emissions and their reduction. [HL914]

Operators of plants subject to the Large Combustion Plants Directive (2001/80/EC—the “LCPD” hereinafter) have the option of participating in a national emissions reduction plan in accordance with Article 4(6) of the LCPD. Because the plan is long-term in nature, it is not considered conducive to its operation to allow plants whose operators exercise that option to be withdrawn from it at any time. Furthermore, even if a participating plant closes, it is necessary for its previous participation in it to remain recorded in the plan. This is so that it can be demonstrated that the closure does not result in an increase in the total annual emissions from the remaining plants covered by the plan.

However, in the light of responses to Defra's February 2007 consultation on the operation of the plan, we decided to provide an option for plants to be withdrawn from participation with effect from 1 January 2016 or 1 January 2018. These are the dates on which some of the emission limits set in the LCPD are tightened. Respondents pointed out that this may, in some cases, make it desirable for the plant to be withdrawn from the plan.

Under the plan, each plant has an annual emission allowance for each of the three pollutants covered by the LCPD. This is calculated as prescribed in the LCPD and the operator has to manage emissions so as not to exceed that allowance or that allowance plus any unused allowance the operator has acquired from another participating plant. Withdrawal of a plant from the plan at either of those dates will not change that requirement in the years prior to withdrawal nor the attendant reporting requirements. After withdrawal, the plant would be subject to emission limit values set in accordance with the LCPD and also the Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive (96/61/EC). The latter directive applies to all plants subject to the LCPD, whether or not they are in the national emission reduction plan.

The February 2007 consultation paper provides further detail on this rather complex issue. That and other pertinent information can be found on Defra's website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Works on Common Land, etc. (Procedure) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2588), why an applicant shall be allowed not to send a notice under Regulation 7(1)(c)(iv) to anyone the applicant believes is not exercising his rights over the common; and whether this exception covers anyone temporarily ceasing to exercise his rights over the common. [HL938]

The Works on Common Land, etc. (Procedure) (England) Regulations 2007 provide for the applicant to send notice of his application (under Regulation 7(1)(c)(iii) and (iv)) to any commoner whom the applicant believes is exercising rights of common, and to any other commoner whom he believes is likely to be affected by the application. An applicant would be well advised to send notice to any active commoner whether or not the commoner had stock on the common at the time. However, it is frequently not practicable for the applicant to identify all persons entitled to exercise rights of common, particularly those who are not active commoners, and the regulations require the applicant to exercise some judgment. Notice of the application must be posted on site, and the Secretary of State has power under Regulations 6(4)(c) and 7(3) to direct that notice must be given to specified other persons. Such a power may be employed if the Secretary of State is not satisfied that sufficient notice has been given to the local community.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many individuals are currently on secondment to BAA from the Department for Transport or vice versa; and how many such secondments have occurred in the past three years. [HL926]

Our records show that during this period there has been one individual seconded from the Department for Transport to BAA. This person worked on the surface transport strategy for Heathrow airport for a period of 10 months. There have been no secondees from BAA to the department during this period. The department runs an active programme of secondment opportunities. Individuals are frequently seconded both in and out of other governmental bodies and departments, Europe, and also commercial organisations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any employee or representative of BAA is currently sitting on any task or working party appointed by the Department for Transport; and, if so, what is the job title of the individual involved and the remit of the group in each case. [HL928]

The 2003 White Paper The Future of Air Transport included commitments to work with airport operators on the delivery of government policy. As with working groups across the Department for Transport, and indeed government, BAA accordingly is represented on two working groups. BAA’s director of Stansted Generation 2 is an observer on the department’s Stansted Project Board. This group manages the department’s input to the work to deliver increased capacity at Stansted. In addition there are monthly Stansted surface-access modelling meetings held at the department which BAA officials and their consultants attend. The department retains all ultimate decision-making powers in these groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 23 October (WA 100) regarding National Health Service provision of three in vitro fertilisation cycles to all infertile couples, whether this was already offered in accordance with the February 2004 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines by the relevant primary care trust where significant public funding has been received so that women might be persuaded to provide 700 eggs specifically for research. [HL864]

The Newcastle primary care trust offers one cycle of in vitro fertilization.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 3 December (WA 160) regarding the lack of women who underwent ovarian stimulation specifically to donate eggs for research since February 2007, why significant financial inducement might therefore be required in order to persuade women to donate eggs for research. [HL865]

The motivation of donors will differ in individual cases. A woman cannot be paid for donating her eggs for research but egg-sharing arrangements are permitted by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. To prevent women from being coerced or misled into donating their eggs, or being misinformed about the extent to which their donation might impact on research, the authority’s code of practice requires a number of safeguards before women give consent to the use of their eggs in a research project. These safeguards include a clear separation between the researchers and the people carrying out the woman’s treatment, detailed information about the realistic outcomes of the research and the impact the donation would have, and a requirement that the person obtaining the woman's consent is independent from the research team.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is meant by the terms (a) donor, and (b) inter-species embryos, in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. [HL905]

Clause 24 of the Bill substitutes new sections to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 which refers to “donor” as someone who has donated sperm, eggs or an embryo for treatment which has led to a child being born. The provisions allow for the donor-conceived person and the donor to receive information.

Paragraph 12 of Schedule 3 to the Bill refers to a “child donor”. In that context, the “child donor” is someone who is about to undergo medical treatment which is likely to cause a significant impairment to their fertility. The provision allows for the storage of the “child donor's” gametes even if they do not have the competence to consent to the storage.

The term inter-species embryo is defined in Clause 4 of the Bill. Inter-species embryos are defined as:

embryos created by the fertilisation of a human egg by an animal sperm or an animal egg by a human sperm, or by combining a pro-nucleus of an animal with a human pro-nucleus. These are commonly referred to as “true hybrid embryos” and are approximately 50 per cent human and 50 per cent animal (new Section 4A(5)(a) of the 1990 Act);

embryos created by cell nuclear replacement (a technique used in cloning), using human cells and animal eggs. The embryos would be more that 99 per cent human. These are commonly referred to as “cytoplasmic hybrid embryos” or “cybrids” (new Section 4A(5)(b) of the 1990 Act);

embryos created by genetically modifying the cells of a human embryo using animal DNA. These are commonly referred to as “transgenic human embryos” (new Section 4A(5)(c) of the 1990 Act); and

embryos created by attaching one or more animal cells to a human embryo. These are commonly referred to as human-animal chimera embryos (new Section 4A(5)(d) of the 1990 Act).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of research licence applications were granted and refused by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority since 2001.[HL1009]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised me that of the research licence applications received, one application has been refused. A licence for the project was later granted after the application was resubmitted.

The HFEA works closely with research teams on the development of the project, prior to a licence application being submitted, to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and the authority’s code of practice. In this way, applications for projects that would not be considered suitable for licensing tend not to be submitted.

A project for which a research licence is sought will have to have received approval from a research ethics committee before a licence can be granted. Where a project would in principle be suitable to be licensed but insufficient information has been submitted to the licence committee, or the committee is of the view that an aspect of the project needs to be reconsidered, it is usual practice for the committee not to reject the application but to ask the applicant to submit further information or undertake changes to the specifications of the project, for reconsideration at a later date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 12 December (WA 57) indicating that the frequency with which more than 20 eggs are collected in a single treatment cycle is not routinely collected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), whether the HFEA was previously unaware that more than 20 eggs were collected from at least one in seven patients at the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life over a period of four years; and [HL1011]

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 5 December (WA 196) and on 12 December (WA 57) regarding ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and incident reporting, when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) was first made aware that life-threatening complications had occurred in two women as recently described in the journal Human Fertility (Volume 10, Issue 3: pages 183-87), whether this was recorded in an incident report submitted to the HFEA; and whether data are held by the HFEA regarding whether or not treatment was discontinued at the time; and [HL1012]

In what capacity any of the authors of a paper recently published in the journal Human Fertility (Volume 10, Issue 3: pages 183-87) had been employed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) during the four-year period from 1999 to 2003. [HL1013]

Information on the number of eggs collected during treatment is provided to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on the report forms submitted by licensed clinics for each treatment cycle carried out. However, this information is not routinely analysed for patterns in the frequency of egg collection, such as the percentage of cases where 20 or more eggs were collected in a particular clinic. I refer the noble Lord to my Answer given on 5 December (Official Report, WA 196). The HFEA would expect licensed clinics to report occurrences that are inconsistent with routine patient care, although whether a report is required is a matter for the treating clinician to judge.

The paper referred to in the noble Lord's Questions is Estimating the Risks of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): Implications for Egg Donation for Research by K Jayaprakasan , M Herbert , E Moody , JA Stewart and AP Murdoch of the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life/International Centre for Life. In accordance with the requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, the article does not identify the individual patients involved nor does it clearly identify the clinic at which the patients were treated, so it is not possible for the HFEA to accurately identify any related incident reports.

Of the authors of this article, Professor Alison Murdoch was employed by the HFEA as an inspector from 1996 to 2005.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will define the word “serious” where it is used in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill in relation to its provisions permitting organs to be removed from a saviour sibling child; and how this differs from the current definition permitting the removal of organs only in life-threatening circumstances. [HL1036]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill includes five purposes for which embryos can be tested. One of these relates to tissue typing—where embryos are tested to see whether they have histocompatible tissue where cord blood, bone marrow or other tissue could be used in the treatment of a sick older sibling where the sibling is suffering from a serious medical condition.

The draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, then called the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, was published for scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses. In the draft Bill, the provision required that the child be suffering from a life-threatening condition. The committee recommended that this be changed to a serious condition. The report from the Joint Committee on the Human Tissue and Embryo Bill said:

“We recognise that this is a delicate area. However, given the Government's apparent acceptance of the principle of selecting for saviour siblings' we do not understand why the practice is limited to ‘life-threatening’ conditions capable of treatment using umbilical cord blood cells. We recommend that the draft Bill be amended to substitute ‘serious’ for ‘life-threatening’”.

The Bill introduced into the House of Lords in November reflected that recommendation.

The 1990 Act does not specifically mention embryo testing, therefore there is no current definition in legislation about when tissue typing can be carried out. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority produce a code of practice which states:

“Preimplantation tissue typing is expected to be available only to select embryos which, when transferred to the woman, may result in a child who may provide histocompatible tissue for the treatment of an existing child who is affected by a serious or life threatening condition. The seriousness of the condition should be a matter for discussion between the people seeking treatment and the clinical team”.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the case of the Department for International Development, how many (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies have been taken to date as a result of the Gershon review; what is the total departmental bill for each type of redundancy; and what is the natural wastage during the Gershon period to date for the department. [HL1065]

There have been no compulsory redundancies within the Department for International Development (DfID) as a result of the Gershon efficiency review.

The total number of voluntary departures arising from the review is set out in the table below. Under resource accounting, costs are recorded against the year in which departure was first agreed. The amount shown for each year represents the total estimated cost of departure to DfID, which in practice is spread over a number of years until an individual attains normal pension age.

Between 1 April 2005 and 31 December 2007, a further 404 staff left DfID for various reasons, in addition to those who left under the early departure arrangements put in place after the Gershon review. The figure of 404 includes staff on fixed-term appointments, and civil servants on loan to DfID who have now returned to their home departments. From a baseline of 1,928, this represents a natural wastage rate of 21 per cent, or 7.6 per cent a year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the case of the Ministry of Justice, how many (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies have been taken to date as a result of the Gershon review; what is the total departmental bill for each type of redundancy; and what is the natural wastage during the Gershon period to date for the department. [HL1014]

There have been no compulsory redundancies as a result of the Gershon review. The cost of voluntary redundancies since April 2006 is £11,627,166. This cost relates to 124 departures from the former Department for Constitutional Affairs, which became part of the Ministry of Justice on 7 May 2007. There have been no voluntary compulsory redundancies from HMPS, NOMS, and OCJR since they became part of the Ministry of Justice.

The natural turnover resulting from the Gershon review is 1,531. This number relates to former Department for Constitutional Affairs staff since April 2006 and NOMS, HMPS and OCJR staff since 7 May 2007 when the Ministry of Justice was created.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list every occasion on which loss of data by a government department or agency has been reported to the Information Commissioner in the last 12 months, indicating in respect of each such occasion the department or agency concerned, the date of the report and the nature of the information. [HL1006]

The information requested about the last 12 months could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Government do not hold the information centrally. The Information Commissioner's Office does not keep records of referrals referenced by department.

I refer the noble Lord to the Statement made by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister on 21 November, (Official Report, col. 1179). The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published on 17 December by the Cabinet Office through a Written Ministerial Statement, col. 98WS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the proposal that a band of forest along the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela should be designated as the Essequibo Peace Park, monitored by the United Nations, in which the indigenous people would have designated land rights. [HL939]

The UK does not take a view on the proposal for a UN-monitored peace park on the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. We do, however, welcome the reiteration of support from Guyana and Venezuela for the Good Offices Process of the United Nations Secretary-General in addressing the dispute between the two countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of President Jagdeo's proposal to make the Essequibo forests a carbon sink to the rest of the world. [HL940]

A bilateral meeting with Guyana was held on 12 December at the UN climate change negotiations in Bali to discuss the offer of using their forests to help mitigate climate change. The Environment Minister, my honourable friend for Oldham East and Saddleworth, requested further information on the proposal and agreed that the UK Government would discuss the offer with Guyana again following the results of the UK review of financing mechanisms for reducing emissions from deforestation announced in September.

In considering the proposal we shall need to understand, first, how to value the additional protection required to maintain existing forest carbon stocks, as distinct from reducing actual deforestation rates; and, secondly, how this valuation relates to the wider ecosystem services that the forests provide.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What communications they have had with the Government of Guyana about the proposal made by President Jagdeo on 1 December that Guyana's rainforests be preserved from development in return for compensation; and whether a more general mechanism for preventing further exploitation of the world's rainforests should be proposed at the United Nations climate change conference in Bali. [HL941]

The Government have been in correspondence with President Jagdeo and a bilateral meeting was held with Guyana's Minister for Agriculture on 12 December at the UN climate change negotiations in Bali to discuss the details of the proposal. The Environment Minister, my honourable friend for Oldham East and Saddleworth, requested further information and agreed that the UK would discuss the proposal with them again after having sight of the results of the review of financing mechanisms for reducing emissions from deforestation which the Government announced in September.

Our priority is to reduce emissions from deforestation in developing countries, and in Bali we reached an agreement on a framework for providing positive incentives to achieve this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many qualified audiologists are employed by the National Health Service. [HL957]

The latest published workforce census showed there were 1,766 qualified audiologists employed by the National Health Service in England as at September 2006, an increase of 184 or 12 per cent since 2004.

Improving Access to Audiology Services in England, published on 6 March 2007, advises primary care trusts to assess the audiological needs of their local populations and any capacity gaps and to develop and commission the right amount of appropriate pathways to substantially reduce waits across the whole patient pathway.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will contact the strategic health authorities responsible for primary care trusts (PCTs) in areas where specialist foot services for people with diabetes are no longer provided to explain what action the PCTs are taking to remedy the lack of provision; and what information they have on the number and locations of PCTs failing to make any such provision. [HL1073]

There are no central plans to request information about the provision of foot care services. It is for primary care trusts to commission these services to meet local needs and for strategic health authorities to ensure they fulfil this duty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment has been made by the Department of Health, or by the Health Protection Agency, of the effectiveness of using hydroxyl radical generators which reproduce the disinfecting qualities of open air in reducing the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections. [HL1037]

The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) was established by the Department of Health in 2004. The panel is serviced by the Health Protection Agency and provides a prompt assessment of the potential of new and novel equipment, materials, and other products or protocols that may support the National Health Service in improving hospital infection control and reducing hospital-acquired infections.

The panel has reviewed 198 products to date, providing feedback and opinion in one of seven categories. Six products have been awarded category 1 (basic research and development, validation and recent in-use evaluations have shown benefits that should be available to NHS bodies to include as appropriate in their cleaning, hygiene or infection control protocols). Twenty one products have been awarded category 2 (basic research and development has been completed and the product may have potential value; in-use evaluations/trials are now needed in an NHS clinical setting).

The RRP has reviewed several hydroxyl radical generators. Steris' and Bioquell's vaporised hydrogen peroxide products both received a recommendation 2.

Bioquell subsequently resubmitted its product to the RRP in September 2007, after improvements to the product since the initial panel review, and received a recommendation 1.

Further information on the RRP and on the products it has considered to date can be found at www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/rapid_review/default.htm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For each year between 1992 and 2006, or as early and as late as data are available between those years, whether they will provide, in tabular form, the proportion among the total population and among the five to 15 age group, or nearest available range, of (a) obese people; (b) people with a body mass index greater than or equal to 30; and (c) people with a body mass index greater than or equal to 26. [HL1007]

The information is not available in the exact format requested. The Health Survey for England—Updating of Trend Tables to Include 2005 Data, published by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care, is available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the National Stroke Strategy does not include a section on preventing and treating stroke in children with sickle cell disease. [HL942]

The National Stroke Strategy is designed as a guide for developing stroke services throughout the country that provide specialist care to the majority of people affected by stroke, those in adulthood. The treatment of stroke in children requires a very different care pathway from that needed for the treatment of stroke in adults. This is because the causes of stroke for children and hence any prevention or management of the condition are very different from the causes of stroke in adults. Every year there are about 100 cases of stroke in children in the whole of the United Kingdom.

In 2004 the Royal College of Physicians produced guidelines for diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of children who have had a stroke.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people have sickle cell disease in the United Kingdom. [HL943]

It is estimated that 12,500 people have sickle cell disease in the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people with sickle cell disease have suffered a stroke because of their condition in (a) 2005; (b) 2006; and (c) 2007. [HL945]

This information is not available as there is no national register or database for sickle cell disease. It is estimated that there are approximately 12,500 patients living with sickle cell disease in the United Kingdom.

The risk of stroke is highest in the most commonly detected type of sickle cell disease—Sickle Cell Anaemia Hb SS. Previous United States of America studies have estimated that currently around 4 per cent of those with this type have suffered a stroke. In addition, the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme picks up around 300 new individuals each year, and 10 per cent of these patients would experience some neurological damage by the age of 20 years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the number of people with sickle cell disease in the United Kingdom is expected to increase over the next 10 years. [HL946]

It is likely that there will be an increase in the number of people with sickle cell disease over the next 10 years, due to an increase in the number of new migrants with family origins that have a higher prevalence of sickle cell disease (outside of northern Europe) and, as Office for National Statistics data have shown, have higher fertility rates, although the numbers could stabilise as a result of the acceptability of antenatal screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia and an increase in the number of babies born with parents of different or mixed family origins.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why, under the high hedges legislation contained in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, the Local Government Ombudsman does not recognise loss of enjoyment of home and garden as an injustice that can accrue a monetary value.[HL1087]

The Local Government Ombudsman would normally get involved in a high hedge complaint only when it considered that there had been maladministration by a local authority which had caused an injustice. In appropriate circumstances, the ombudsman would be able to consider whether loss of enjoyment of home and garden was an injustice which warranted financial compensation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, under the high hedges legislation contained in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, the only recourse complainants have is to the Local Government Ombudsman and judicial review where (a) a council refuses to accept a formal complaint; (b) a council makes an error in the remedial notice and refuses to issue a correction; and (c) the council fails to enforce the remedial notice. [HL1088]

A complainant may challenge the administrative processes through the council's own complaints officer, the Local Government Ombudsman or judicial review. There are no rights of appeal in the scenarios quoted. Another option would be for the complainant to submit a new complaint that met the requirements of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 when a council refuse to accept a formal complaint. It may also be possible for a complainant to bring a private prosecution against the hedge owner where a council fails to enforce a remedial notice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the guidelines issued to councils, High Hedges Complaints: Prevention and Cure; and, in particular, whether they have assessed the accuracy of the preface which states that, “when using this Guide, two points need to be borne in mind. First, Councils and others are not required to follow the advice given. Secondly, it should not be relied on as a definitive statement of the law”. [HL1089]

No formal assessment of the guide, High Hedges Complaints: Prevention and Cure, has been made. We will be carrying out a review of this guidance when Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 is reviewed in 2010.

The guide sets out the Government's policy advice on administering complaints about high hedges under Part 8 of the Act. It is not statutory guidance. It outlines the law and suggests ways in which councils can run the system in line with good administration practice but it is for local authorities themselves to determine how they administer complaints. Ultimately, it is for the courts to interpret the law and its application.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have held any discussions with other European Union member state Governments on the eventual introduction of a harmonised European Union identity card and registration system; and, if so, whether they support this proposal. [HL576]

We have held no such discussions as there is no proposal for a harmonised European Union identity card. Twenty four out of the 27 EU member states currently have their own national identity card schemes, and whether they issue identity cards to their own nationals is a matter for the individual member state.

In December 2005, during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU, a set of council conclusions was agreed on the minimum security standards for national identity cards issued by member states, but these are not binding on member states. The EU Lisbon treaty will bring the format of national identity cards within Community competence, such competence already existing in relation to the format of passports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many NHS Links have benefited from the development awareness grants offered by the Department for International Development over the last five years; and what proportion grants to NHS Links form of the total expenditure on such grants. [HL1099]

The Development Awareness Fund has not allocated any grants for NHS Links during the past five years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What kinds of government funds are accessible to NHS Links that are already established but need small-scale investment in order to grow and diversify their contribution to international development goals. [HL1100]

The Government support the Tropical Health and Education Trust to encourage and support NHS Links. The funding for this is through a grant of £500,000, over three years. In addition, the Government fund the trust's health strategy adviser, whose primary role is to encourage the participation of United Kingdom health institutions in forming partnerships in developing countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much money has been spent by the Department for International Development over the last five years on (a) schools' links with developing countries; (b) higher education links with developing countries; and (c) NHS Links. [HL1098]

Over the last five years the Department for International Development (DfID) has spent £8,287,565 on schools' links and £9,000,000 on higher education links with developing countries from its bilateral programme. DfID also assists higher education links through its support for Commonwealth scholarships, totalling nearly £50 million over the last five years.

In support of NHS Links, £500,000 has been allocated to the Developing Global Partnerships to Improve Health Capacity in Less Developed Countries project over the financial years 2006-07 to 2008-09. This funding, through the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), is to support the establishment of links and the capacity-building of existing links, health systems and workers. In addition, as of July 2007, DfID is providing approximately £2 million over two years, through a consortium managed by the Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health, to strengthen health systems in the Somali Republic. The largest component of this support, approximately £1 million, is through THET and King's College Hospital.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will seek to increase the proportion of European Union assistance to Jordan devoted to good government, human rights and democracy. [HL1044]

European Union (EU) assistance to Jordan is provided through the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). The budget for the ENPI has already been set for 2007-10. Jordan will be receiving €265 million over this period of which €17 million is for the support of human rights, democracy and good governance and €77 million for public finance and administration reforms.

Under the ENPI there is also a €350 million seven-year governance facility (GF) which rewards countries in the neighbourhood (Eastern Europe and the Middle East/North Africa) for implementing reforms towards increased human rights and democracy. Ukraine and Morocco received GF funds in 2007. The UK has been working closely with the European Commission and other EU member states to ensure that the GF has a transparent and objective allocation process which both rewards and encourages reform.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they invite overseas judges, prosecutors and senior police officers to Britain, and in particular those from countries on or near the Mediterranean and Black Sea; and, if so, how many such guests have visited the United Kingdom in recent years. [HL1047]

There is no central record kept of all those visitors to the United Kingdom who are judges, prosecutors and judges. However, information from the Ministry of Justice, the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) shows approximate numbers of annual visits. The Ministry of Justice hosts approximately 300 visiting judges annually, including approximately 100 from south-eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The Ministry also hosts visits from senior officials, legal academics and others with an interest in Ministry of Justice areas of work.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) receives a regular flow of visitors from overseas. In addition to prosecutors, in recent years they have received visits from Ministers, judges, investigating magistrates and senior officials. They have received the following visits from countries on or near the Mediterranean and Black Sea: four in 2007, six in 2006 and two in 2005.

In addition to the above, in November 2007 the CPS hosted a three-day visit from a party of 10 prosecutors from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco and Yemen in co-operation with the UN Development Programme.

The NPIA currently hosts approximately 350 senior international police officers annually: 40 European Mediterranean officers on the European Police College (CEPOL) Programme from the Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Morocco, Algiers, Turkey; 90 on the CEPOL Bramshill programme; 200 on NPIA international leadership and specialist courses; and 20 on other European programmes. Additionally, NPIA also hosts a number of justice sector personnel (judges, prosecutors and civil servants in the programmes referred to above).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to increase research into risks associated with nanoparticles following the recommendations made by the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineers in their joint report published in 2004. [HL993]

Following the publication of the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering report, the Defra-chaired Nanotechnologies Research Co-ordination Group (NRCG) was established in 2005. Its role is to co-ordinate and oversee research into characterising the risks posed by manufactured nanomaterials and the products of nanotechnology.

The work of the NRCG has been taken forward by five task forces, comprising representatives from government departments, their agencies, the research councils and members of the academic and industrial communities. The task forces have developed action plans and commissioned research to address objectives to fill the gaps in our knowledge. Over £10 million has been spent by government departments on nanotechnology environmental, health and safety research since 2005. The Government's second research report was published on 19 December outlining progress and setting out a strategy for prioritising and funding further risk-related research projects.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to Regulation 10 of the National Park Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2542), how an inspector will decide that a person's views are irrelevant so that he may refuse to hear that person or consider any written representation from that person. [HL937]

Although Defra has published guidance on these regulations, the guidance does not prescribe how an inspector should decide that a person's views are irrelevant under Regulation 10(4). Defra expects inspectors to use their discretion within the terms of Regulation 10(4).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Orange Halls in Northern Ireland have been damaged as a result of attacks in each year since 2000, including today in 2007; and in each year how many convictions have occurred as a result. [HL1095]

PSNI has advised that statistics on recorded criminal damage offences, including attempts, involving an Orange Hall are available from only 2001-02. The following table details these statistics.

The information requested on convictions would necessitate a manual trawl through files across departments and police districts which would incur a disproportionate cost.

These attacks are to be condemned and anyone with any information should bring it to the police.

Please note that these figures are provisional and may be subject to revision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they propose to amend legislation to allow the payment of compensation for damage to Orange Halls, as amended by the Secretary of State in February. [HL1096]

There are currently no plans to amend legislation. The Orange Order is entitled to make claims for statutory compensation in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Damage (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977. Following a meeting in February between the then Secretary of State and representatives of the Orange Order, Ministers have been working with the Orange Order, PSNI and the Compensation Agency to ensure that the existing system operates more effectively.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

What was the construction time, original and outturn cost of the new public entrance at St Stephen's entrance, and what were the reasons for any cost overrun. [HL1258]

Work started on the visitor reception building on 9 January 2006 with an original planned completion date of 8 September 2006. It is now expected that the building will open in mid-February 2008.

The original cost for the building as stated in the business case was £8,687,500. Taking into account the delay and remedial work, by 1 November 2007 the cost was estimated at £11,200,000. While this is now expected to be the total cost of the building, some additional equipment will cost up to £250,000. All the costs are shared between the Commons and Lords in the proportion of 60:40.A lessons learnt review will examine the reasons for the delay and cost overrun.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to implement the recommendation of the Callcutt Review of House-building Delivery that there should be a design review process for house building. [HL1060]

The final report from the Callcutt review of the house-building industry was published on 22 November. Her Majesty's Government are currently considering the report and its recommendations and assessing the appropriate responses to them.

The Government take the issue of design quality very seriously. The housing Green Paper published in July 2007 set out how we intend to eliminate poor development over time. We consider that expert advice on schemes at the pre-planning stage can play an important role in driving better standards, and we currently fund the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) to provide a free service that reviews significant schemes at national level. CABE is also providing support for the establishment of design review panels at regional level.

As announced in the housing Green Paper, the Government are commissioning a light-touch review of CABE. This review will consider how its programmes can strategically inform and support both its sponsor departments' priorities most effectively, including maximising its contribution to good design as we expand housing growth. This will include consideration of how we can maximise the effectiveness of its design review function.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps the police are required to take before a magistrate can sign a warrant for the police to search private premises; and [HL1078]

How many search warrants have been executed by the police in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [HL1079]

Section 15 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the PACE Code of Practice B set out the requirements for a constable when seeking a warrant to enter and search premises. In making the application, the police must specify in writing the enactment under which the application is made, the premises to be searched, the object of the search, the grounds for the application, the grounds for either limited or unlimited repeat entries, where applicable, and that there are no grounds to believe that the material sought is not of a status precluded from seizure under the warrant.

A constable must take reasonable steps to ensure that information justifying the application is accurate, recent and not provided maliciously or irresponsibly; ascertain as specifically as possible the nature of the articles concerned and their location; make reasonable enquiries to establish if anything is known about the occupier, the premises and whether the premises have been searched previously; obtain written authorisation for the application from an officer of inspector rank or above; and, if there is reason to believe a search might have an adverse impact on police community relations, the officer in charge should consult the community liaison officer before or as soon as possible after the search.

Information is not collected centrally on the number of search warrants executed by the police.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish the locations of the five sites they are considering for the proposed new prison in Northern Ireland. [HL1021]

On 18 December 2007 my right honourable friend the Minister of State (Paul Goggins) formally announced a comprehensive plan for the provision of prison places in Northern Ireland over the next 10 years. Included in the announcement was a decision to develop a detailed plan for a brand new prison on the site of the existing Magilligan Prison. On the same day he placed the full Options Appraisal in the Library of the House; Appendix J of that report is the site research paper which refers to the potential alternative sites.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to make the areas around the entrances to Civil Service buildings smoke-free. [HL810]

The Health Act 2006 includes powers to make regulations for specific non-enclosed places to be smoke-free if there is “significant risk that, without designation, persons present there would be exposed to significant quantities of smoke”. At present the Government do not intend to make any non-enclosed place smoke-free.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will launch fresh discussions with United Kingdom university and faculty planners to counter the continued reduction in physics and chemistry degree places. [HL924]

Applications and acceptances through UCAS for physics and chemistry courses have increased by some 10 per cent over the last two years. Subjects such as physics and chemistry are starting to become more popular and are taught as major subjects at some 50 and 70 UK institutions, respectively. We have consistently made clear that if a physics or chemistry department closes at one institution, the Higher Education Funding Council for England should seek to maintain regional capacity elsewhere and report to us on how provision can be maintained in this way.