asked Her Majesty's Government:

What current manning shortfalls exist in the Defence Medical Services; and to what extent they have been reduced. [HL2043]

The table below shows the Defence Medical Services' current requirement for personnel (including a manning and training margin, MTM) and the numbers of personnel on the trained strength or in training in January 2007 and January 2008. The trained strength has increased by 153 personnel over this period.

We accept that manpower shortfalls remain in some key specialties, including some medical consultant cadres and specialist nurses. These shortfalls have never resulted in the Defence Medical Services being unable to meet operational commitments. We manage medical deployments on a tri-service basis, allowing the workload to be shared more evenly and maximising capabilities. In addition we make use of reserves and civilian agency contractors and work closely with allies to ensure appropriate medical support is in place.

The department pays “golden hellos” and retention bonuses to recruit or retain personnel in certain specialities where there are the most significant shortfalls. In addition, the single services' medical directorates have their own locally driven policies to improve recruitment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they have given to the research findings in the National Autistic Society's recently published report, I Exist; what response they will be making to its conclusion; and what action they will take on this matter.[HL2448]

The department will be taking forward discussions with autism stakeholder organisations on the options for, and benefits of, future research.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Where candidates with the correct qualifications can take the tier 1 level 2 boatmasters examination; and how long it takes to arrange such tests. [HL2428]

The relevant tests for tier 1 level 2 boatmasters’ licence examinations must currently be arranged through the local Maritime and Coastguard Agency marine office. The marine office will guide the candidates as to how and when the tests may be conducted. Currently, the examinations will be assessed orally either on board a vessel or at the local marine office. The practical tests can be done only on board a vessel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What information is available to them regarding the increases in costs of operating local bus services as a consequence of wage increases, fuel costs, insurance and vehicle provision and maintenance. [HL2484]

The Department for Transport estimates that bus operating costs per vehicle kilometre in England have risen by 29.8 per cent in real terms over the past 10 years, with an increase of 6.7 per cent comparing 2006-07 with the previous year.

The department publishes estimates of changes in real terms in overall local bus service operating costs, derived from its annual survey of bus operators. The latest estimates were published in Table 1.1 of Public Transport Statistics Bulletin GB: 2007 Edition Supplement.

Other available sources, including further information on trends in particular costs, are:

the report on cost issues in public transport operation published by the Commission for Integrated Transport;

the index of industry costs published by the Confederation of Passenger Transport;

the annual survey of trends in the costs of tendered services produced by the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers; and

the Bus Industry Monitor, available from the TAS Partnership.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What software upgrades to the Child Support Agency's computer system are planned for the next 12 months; and [HL2392]

Whether the new software planned for the Child Support Agency entitled PR1 is on schedule to be operational during this financial year. [HL2393]

As with all IT systems, an ongoing programme of upgrades ensures that, in addition to any remedial work, changes to the operating model are fully supported by the agency's computer system. The problems with the agency's IT have been well rehearsed, and since March 2005 the agency has successfully introduced eight IT upgrades, which primarily rectified many of the much publicised defects in the system as well as introducing enhancements to improve client service.

For the next IT upgrade, the agency chose Easter 2008 as the planning date for implementation, with a clear commitment to its people that the upgrade would not be released until such time as the agency was ready to introduce the changes and the organisation was sufficiently prepared to take full advantage of the benefits.

The agency has made good progress in preparing for this upgrade. The development phase is now complete and testing is well advanced. However, being mindful of history, it has decided to undertake another round of testing and to further look at its approach to training to give the sort of assurance we all want that both the IT application and the agency are ready to go live. Following this further testing, the agency will agree a new date for the implementation of the upgrade.

It is important to remember that this upgrade is primarily designed to support new ways of working already in place within the agency. These changes have already delivered substantial improvements to the service that the agency provides. Client service is better than it has ever been: the agency is collecting and arranging more maintenance, continuing to reduce the number of uncleared applications and dealing with new cases more quickly than before.

Future IT upgrades are planned to support the repeal of Section 6 and the introduction of the information and support service as well as the launch of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. In addition, the agency is planning a range of enhancements to the current system to support a continuation in improvements in the performance of the agency.

The different elements in these planned upgrades are under constant review and will not be finalised until the agency is in a position to announce the implementation date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Child Support Agency's operational improvement plan is on course to deliver all its stated objectives. [HL2394]

The Child Support Agency's operational improvement plan, announced in February 2006, sets out the performance improvement expected across all aspects of the agency's operations by March 2009.

The agency's performance has already significantly improved since March 2006 and it is on course to deliver the objectives of the operational improvement plan. The agency now clears more applications than it receives per month and uncleared new scheme applications are at their lowest since October 2003. Over half of all new applications are now cleared within six weeks.

However, the real test is the difference made for children by collecting or arranging maintenance. Nearly 675,000 children now benefit from £975 million in maintenance, an increase of around 78,000 children and £140 million in maintenance since March 2006 and significant progress towards the March 2009 commitment of 790,000 children benefiting from £1,080 million in maintenance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements they have made with EDS to ensure that the child support computer system which supports old cases will continue beyond the original contract date of April 2008; and whether extra costs will be incurred. [HL2462]

The ongoing maintenance of the agency's original computer system (CSCS) was included in the department's realigned contract with EDS in 2005, which currently runs to 2010.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 January (WA 28) regarding the culture of embryos for more than 14 days in vitro, how it has been proven that the zona pellicida is absolutely required for embryonic development; and whether peer-reviewed literature supports the view that no embryo allowed to outgrow after attaching to the surface of a culture dish would ever develop in a mammal, and therefore would not be classed as an embryo by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [HL2353]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's (HFEA) decision, based on the available evidence, is that outgrowing embryos have ceased to be human embryos. This conclusion was reached in part because an outgrown “embryo” no longer has the organisational structure of a viable embryo, including signs representative of primitive streak formation and there is no longer a relationship between the trophectoderm and the inner cell mass. The embryo outgrowth is therefore not considered an embryo by the HFEA as it is potential-less and would not be able to develop if implanted in a woman.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 28 February (WA 132-3), what is the basis for their interpretation of the European Union race directive as not covering discrimination on the ground of colour.[HL2269]

Article 1 of Council directive 2000/43/EC (the race directive) states that the purpose of the directive is to lay down a framework for combating discrimination “on grounds of racial or ethnic origin”. It does not mention colour. Furthermore, the legal basis for the directive is Article 13 of the treaty of Amsterdam, which does not refer to colour.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to publish guidance under Section 63Q of the Family Law Act 1996 (as inserted by the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007). [HL2412]

Work is under way to revise the existing guidance for professionals in light of the provisions of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007. We aim to reissue this guidance on a statutory footing in the autumn.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What staff reductions are planned in the Child Support Agency and the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission over the next three years as a result of the department's Gershon efficiency targets. [HL2391]

Everyone working in the Child Support Agency will move to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in 2008, alongside the transfer of child support functions.

The Gershon efficiency challenge and associated headcount targets relate to spending review 2004 (SR04), which runs until 31 March 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they use international aid to encourage countries that prohibit the use of strong analgesics for the relief of severe pain to allow their use. [HL2237]

The Department for International Development (DfID) recently commissioned a report on the global state of palliative care in relation to HIV and AIDS. This report pointed out weaknesses in the international system, especially the lack of access to strong analgesics such as oral morphine for palliative care.

Availability of these products is strictly controlled by the international drug conventions. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) oversees the implementation of these conventions.

DfID has commissioned work looking at barriers to improving access to strong analgesics such as oral morphine. We have discussed initial findings from this work with the INCB, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This work will continue during 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action is to be taken in the case of Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare over its sale of Gaviscon; and [HL2456]

What discussions took place in each of the last five years between Arnand Sharma of Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare and officials at the Department of Health at which generic substitutes for Gaviscon were discussed; and [HL2457]

Whether they will institute an inquiry into Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare's position as supplier of Gaviscon and its attitude towards generic substitutes; and [HL2458]

Whether the NHS counter-fraud section will carry out an inquiry into the overcharging of the National Health Service for drugs by the producers of Gaviscon. [HL2459]

The department would be concerned if any manufacturer of branded medicines sought to protect their patent-expired products in the manner alleged. However, we have received no proof that Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare has done so. The National Health Service counter-fraud service would be happy to receive any information related to this matter.

There are no records of any meetings having been held between the department and Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare during which generic substitutes for Gaviscon were discussed.

The department has no current plans to hold an inquiry into the alleged actions by Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare. We are unable to speculate as to whether any of the alleged actions by the company have discouraged generic manufacturers from bringing alternatives to the market. In the absence of a generic alternative to Gaviscon, other preparations are available to prescribers.

The NHS counter-fraud service will assess allegations made in relation to the supply of Gaviscon to determine whether a fraud investigation is appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many letters they have received since 6 September 2007 from (a) nurses, (b) other health professionals and (c) parliamentarians commenting on the proposed changes to Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related services to primary care. [HL2452]

The department has received over 830 letters from parliamentarians concerning Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related services to primary care since 6 September 2007. The department has also received over 1,500 letters and e-mails from members of the public on this issue since 6 September 2007. However, we can supply the number of these that were from nurses and other health professionals only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have approved or reviewed the policy of the International Finance Corporation to assist small and medium-sized enterprises mainly through financial intermediaries with little monitoring. [HL2320]

The Department for International Development endorses the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) policy change in 1999 to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through increased investments in financial institutions that would make loans to firms. This approach encourages the development of financial markets, which is fundamental for economic growth in poor countries.

The IFC has a robust monitoring framework to assess the performance of the financial institutions it invests in. This includes an annual survey to assist their disbursement rates, risk exposure and portfolio performance. In addition, IFC provides technical assistance to these institutions to enhance their capacity to make sound investments and effectively manage their portfolios. Finally, the IFC has recently initiated work to assess the developmental impact of its support to financial intermediaries providing financial services to SMEs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of how many people died in the conflict in Iraq in January 2008. [HL2289]

The security situation in Iraq has improved over the last few months, but deaths by violent means continue to be difficult to gauge accurately or reliably. Estimates, drawn up by a variety of organisations, vary greatly. The Government's view remains that records of civilian deaths are best monitored by the Iraqi Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to close Jobcentre Plus offices in England and Wales. [HL2350]

Yes, the Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform has recently approved 21 closures in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset and four in Cumbria, all of which have been subject to extensive local consultation. In addition, the Minister of State has recently agreed that local consultation can commence on the proposed closure of seven Jobcentre Plus offices in London.

Since its inception, Jobcentre Plus has continued to refocus and transform the way in which it delivers its services. It now provides access to a wide range of services by telephone through benefit delivery and contact centres and provides face-to-face access for customers through a network of modernised jobcentres.

These major transformation programmes have improved the quality and breadth of customer service as well as the environment in which it is delivered. They have enabled customers to access many services from the comfort of their own home and at a time convenient to them through the telephone or the internet. This has meant that jobcentres can focus more on working with people who need more support to move into work.

The changes have resulted in a reduction of the number of jobcentres across England and Wales because some sites were no longer required. All closures have been subject to consultation locally and arrangements have been put in place to maintain provision of the service. Any further closures in other parts of the country would follow a similar consultation and approvals process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the advice given on all benefits by Jobcentre Plus offices in England and Wales is monitored. [HL2351]

Benefit inquiries are dealt with over the telephone in benefit delivery centres. On average, Jobcentre Plus receives over 500,000 benefit inquiries per week. These calls are not monitored. Team leaders sit with staff to monitor the quality of the advice given to customers on a proportion of their calls.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will publish a timetable to reduce the waiting time for tribunal hearings under the Mental Health Act 2007. [HL2361]

Currently applications to the Mental Health Review Tribunal are being listed for a hearing in line with timeframes set out under the Mental Health Act (Section 2 applications have a target of seven days from receipt; Section 3 applications have a target of six weeks from receipt; and other applications have a target of 16 weeks from receipt).

The Government will look to reduce the time before a patient's case is “automatically” referred to the Mental Health Review Tribunal when we feel that both hospitals and the Mental Health Review Tribunal are in a position where they will be able to meet reduced time limits within their available resources.

The Government have no immediate plans to publish such a timetable but we will clearly look to continue to improve the position.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps the Ministry of Defence is taking to ensure that main contractors are not adding an unreasonable mark-up to quotations or supplies from subcontractors. [HL2521]

The department seeks to drive out the best possible prices through effective competition and reference to market forces. In addition, MoD has proven mechanisms in place to investigate, challenge and negotiate the prices of prime contractors and subcontractors both before the contract is placed and after it has finished. MoD is constantly looking at new ways to improve its pricing strategy and is currently undertaking several initiatives to streamline the procurement process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the precise nature of the contractual relationship between Northern Rock and Granite. [HL2335]

Northern Rock set up Granite as a separate company structure to raise finance for mortgage lending by Northern Rock. The commercial relationship between them reflects that. Other banks have set up similar securitisation arrangements.

Details of their relationship are publicly available in the full Granite prospectus on Northern Rock's website at http://companyinfor.northernrock.co.uk/treasury/securitisation/mortgages.asp.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will encourage and assist the production of films based on personal histories and illustrating the dangers of trafficking for women and children, intended for showing in the countries of origin. [HL2439]

Preventing human trafficking through raising awareness of the dangers of trafficking among vulnerable groups is central to the UK's strategy. The UK action plan highlights a number of different ways in which awareness-raising work is undertaken in source countries.

The extent to which the UK Government can offer encouragement and assistance in the production of films based on personal histories will depend on a number of factors such as the proposed content, target audience, delivery method and intended impact.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many cases were referred by the Secretary of State to the Parole Board under (a) Section 32(4)(a) and (b) Section 32(4)(b) of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 in each of the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. [HL2231]

The table below provides a breakdown of life sentence prisoners recalled to custody under the provisions of Section 32 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997.

All prisoners recalled under the provisions of Section 32(2) have their cases referred to the Parole Board under the provisions of Section 32(4)(b). We do not hold reliable central data relating to the number of referrals to the Parole Board in respect of prisoners recalled under Section 32(1) and Section 32(2) who subsequently make representations pursuant to Section 32(4)(a); to provide such information would require a manual trawl of individual case files and this would incur disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept the recommendation of the Chief Inspector of Prisons in her report on HMP Woodhill published on 13 February that no juveniles should be in that prison. [HL2253]

The agreement between HM Prison Service and the Youth Justice Board to accommodate category A status young people in Woodhill has now ceased.

HM Prison Service is now carrying out a review of appropriate accommodation for young people who need higher levels of security than normal.

While the aim of the review will be to keep young people within establishments set aside for under-18s, in exceptional circumstances there is likely to be a need to use high-security prisons, including Woodhill.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they propose to monitor the standards the successful bidder for the east coast main line undertook to maintain regarding catering on the route. [HL2481]

While the successful bidder provided a catering plan as part of its franchise bid, catering is provided at the train operator’s discretion and is not a contractual obligation in the franchise agreement. The Government’s role in the monitoring of the franchise agreement is to ensure that the train operator delivers its contractual commitments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will arrange for the Highways Agency to take steps to ensure that those responsible for litter clearance on the A11 trunk road between the M11 and the A14 fulfil their obligations. [HL2523]

Under Section 86(9) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (code of practice on litter and refuse), responsibility for keeping all-purpose trunk roads free from litter falls to the local district and borough councils. On the A11 between the M11 and the A14, South Cambridgeshire and East Cambridgeshire District Councils are responsible for the collection of litter.

The Highways Agency monitors the cleanliness of its network and, where it considers that the standards set by the Environmental Protection Act are not being met, contacts the relevant local authority asking for action to be taken to cleanse the area of accumulated rubbish. On safety grounds, any material that is a hazard to traffic is removed directly by the Highways Agency as a matter of priority.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In which languages other than English it is possible to take GCSE examinations; and how many entrants there have been for examinations in each language in the last three years for which figures are available. [HL2360]

GCSE examinations are available in the following languages: Arabic, Bengali, Dutch, Chinese, French, German, Gujarati, modern Greek, modern Hebrew, Irish (short course), Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Panjabi, Persian, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Urdu, Latin and ancient Greek.

The attached table shows the number of GCSE entries since 2005. The entries figures for French, German and Spanish for last three years have been rounded while validation checks are under way. The final figures will be available by April. Entry figures for Latin and ancient Greek are not currently available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many subject access requests to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development are out of time and awaiting (a) an acknowledgement, and (b) an answer; and what is the longest time for which such a request has been awaiting (a) an acknowledgement, and (b) an answer. [HL2163]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development have no subject access requests that are out of time and awaiting an acknowledgement or an answer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has delivered the commitments made three years ago when a 13 per cent increase in fees was agreed in respect of timely appointments at vehicle testing stations. [HL2482]

The commitment that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) made three years ago, when the 13 per cent increase in fees was agreed, to maintain the improvement to forward booking time performance in respect of timely appointments at vehicle testing stations has been delivered. VOSA’s booking time performance improved from 18 working days in 2005 to the latest figures from February 2008 of between three and 13 working days across the country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many visa applications made to the embassy in Tbilisi by Georgian nationals for entry into the United Kingdom have been granted without appeal to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in each of the last three years. [HL2357]

The total number of visas issued to Georgian nationals from our embassy in Tbilisi in each of the last three years is provided below, with the number issued following an appeal to the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal shown in brackets:

2005—3,195 (including four issued following an appeal);

2006—3,722 (including six issued following an appeal); and

2007—4,172 (including three issued following an appeal).