asked Her Majesty's Government:

What studies they have done or are planning on the long-term impact on the mental health of service personnel affected by roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. [HL4475]

Roadside bombs are one of many operational hazards that place personnel at risk of developing PTSD. There are no known specific mental health issues associated with roadside bombs that would require special study. The characteristics of the mental illness that may be precipitated by such circumstances are common to other cases, whatever the specific cause.

The issue of PTSD in serving personnel is continuously monitored; both in the continuing cohort studies conducted by King's College, London and in identified cases attending the MoD's 15 departments of community mental health (DCMH) in the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support proposals that flights using Luton Airport reroute so that they pass over and above the Ridgeway National Trail and the Chilterns areas of outstanding natural beauty; and that they fly at a reduced height. [HL4380]

Airspace planning and regulation is the responsibility of the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The process for making changes to airspace is governed by the CAA's airspace change process. Under this process it is for airspace change sponsors, for example NATS, to develop and consult on proposals. Detailed guidance is given on what impacts are to be taken into account, how they should be measured and who should be consulted. Informed by the consultation, the sponsor submits the proposal to the CAA's directorate of airspace policy for assessment against regulatory requirements. In determining whether to accept or reject a proposal, the CAA's process reflects the Secretary of State for Transport's directions and guidance to the CAA on the exercise of its statutory duties and environmental objectives.

The NATS consultation on proposed changes to Terminal Control North airspace closed on 19 June. However, it would be inappropriate for Her Majesty's Government to offer comment on these proposals while they are subject to response analysis under the independent airspace change process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 11 June (WA 100), whether they offered an apology for the figures given in July 2006. [HL4213]

As set out in my previous Written Answers dated 17 March (Official Report, col. WA 2), 30 April (Official Report, col. WA 24) and 11 June (Official Report, col. WA 100), the Government recognised that the costs quoted on the BBC's “Sunday AM” programme on 2 July 2006 were inaccurate and took the appropriate action to rectify this by informing Parliament of the correct figures on 20 July 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the current voluntary arrangements within the care sector for hydration policies are adequate; and whether it is their policy that hydration policies should form part of national minimum standards for all care homes for older people. [HL4255]

Care providers are subject to statutory requirements under the existing regulations and national minimum standards (NMS). Regulation 16 of the Care Homes Regulations 2001 requires care homes to “provide, in adequate quantities, suitable, wholesome and nutritious food which is varied and properly prepared and available at such time as may reasonably be required by service users”. Food, in the regulations, includes drink.

Standard 15 of the NMS for care homes for older people, which the Commission for Social Care Inspection must have regard to when inspecting homes, includes the requirements that:

service users receive a varied, appealing, wholesome and nutritious diet, which is suited to individual assessed and recorded requirements, and that meals are taken in a congenial setting and at flexible times; and

hot and cold drinks and snacks are available at all times and offered regularly.

The nutrition action plan, Improving Nutritional Care, was launched in October 2007. It sets out what standards and guidance are in place around nutrition and nutritional care. Implementation of the action plan is being monitored by the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board, which is helping to raise awareness about the importance of access to high-quality nutrition, particularly for older people.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the Health and Social Care Bill, the new Care Quality Commission will assume responsibility for the regulation of health and adult social care providers from April 2009.

We recently conducted a public consultation on a new framework for the registration of health and adult social care providers. Subject to the results of the consultation, we intend that, in order to become and remain registered, all health and social care organisations will have to ensure that people have access to safe and sufficient nourishment and that they do not suffer from malnutrition or dehydration.

The Care Quality Commission will monitor providers against the terms of their registration and will take appropriate enforcement action against non-compliance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ensure that foreign security officials who come to the United Kingdom in support of sporting events are subject to United Kingdom laws; and [HL4342]

Whether they will ensure that foreign security officials who commit a criminal offence while in the United Kingdom, including assault on a member of the public, are liable to investigation and prosecution in the same way as those resident in the United Kingdom; and [HL4343]

Whether they will ensure that complaints about foreign security officials are brought within the jurisdiction of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. [HL4344]

Foreign security officials who come to the United Kingdom in support of sporting events are subject to United Kingdom laws. Foreign security officials who commit a criminal offence while in the United Kingdom, including assault on a member of the public, are liable to investigation and prosecution in the same way as those who are resident in the United Kingdom.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission deals with complaints and conduct matters against police officers and staff in England and Wales. The Government have no plans to extend the jurisdiction of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 January (WA 28) and 19 June (WA 177–78) regarding transfer of outgrowing entities to the womb, whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) treats the absence of evidence for potential as adequate evidence of the absence of potential; and whether it has studied data supporting the views of the HFEA's Scientific and Clinical Advances Group on 14 June 2007 concerning the licensing of cytoplasmic hybrids based on their “potential to develop into a human being if implanted in a woman”. [HL4383]

It will be for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to form a view, taking account of the available evidence, and the research proposals submitted to it, on the potential of outgrown embryos and on the potential of cytoplasmic hybrid embryos.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 19 June (WA 187–8) regarding regulation of embryos where animal DNA does not predominate, his definition of human admixed embryos on 15 January (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 1182–84) and his Written Answer on 12 May (WA 108), to what extent the quantitative criterion reflects the mixing of human sperm with eggs of the Syrian or golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), in light of what is known about the nuclear genome size (in base pairs) of each respective species and the total mass (in picograms) of mitochondrial DNA typically found in mammalian eggs. [HL4384]

Provision regarding the mixing of human gametes with the gametes of an animal for research purposes is provided for under new Section 4A(6)(b) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, as introduced by Clause 4 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What safeguards they would require (a) to protect the natural environment, (b) to prevent seed-firms and suppliers of agro-chemicals obtaining excessive profits, and (c) to prevent other unintended consequences, in the event of permission being given for the growing of genetically modified commercial crops in Great Britain. [HL4354]

The Government support the existing European Union controls on the release of genetically modified (GM) organisms. Under these, GM crops will only be approved for commercial use if a risk assessment indicates that the product in question should not have an adverse effect on human health and the environment. In addition, the cultivation of approved GM seeds must be monitored for possible unforeseen effects. We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that specific action would be required in relation to the profits that might be made by companies marketing GM seeds or agro-chemicals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 7 March (WA 204) on the regulation of clinical physiologists, what are the “several strands of work that are being brought together”; and why the process of statutory regulation of healthcare scientists cannot begin in 2008. [HL4331]

Work is under way within the modernising scientific careers programme to ensure that the scopes of practice, routes of entry and education and training of the aspirant groups of healthcare scientists, including clinical physiologists, are fit for regulation purposes. Discussions to progress the process of statutory regulation will begin once the necessary developmental work has been taken forward.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many general practitioners' surgeries there are in England and Wales; and [HL4282]

How many single-doctor surgeries there are in England and Wales. [HL4283]

On 30 September 2007, the number of general practitioner (GP) partnerships in England was 8,261, of which 1,594 are single-handed practices, and there are 65.7 practitioners (excluding GP registrars and GP retainers) per population of 100,000.

Since health is a devolved matter, data are collected separately in respect of Wales and comparable information should be sought from the Welsh Assembly on both the number of GP partnerships and single-handed practices in Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Communities and Local Government, Iain Wright, on 20 May (Official Report, Commons, 261W), whether the Government have a standard measure of “affordable”; whether this varies across the country; and whether it moves up and down against interest rates. [HL4259]

A new national definition of affordable housing appears in Planning Policy Statement 3—Housing, which was published in November 2006. The definition states:

“Affordable housing includes social rented and intermediate housing, provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Affordable housing should:

meet the needs of eligible households including availability at a cost low enough for them to afford, determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices; and

include provision for the home to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households or, if these restrictions are lifted, for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative housing provision”.

Local planning authorities are required to use this definition when preparing plan policies and determining planning applications for housing. This excludes “low cost market” housing—for example, homes which do not remain affordable on resale.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Housing, Caroline Flint, on 22 May (Official Report, Commons, 443W), why the Chatham House rule was invoked; what procedures govern such invocation; who was present when it was decided in this case; and at what point in the proceedings it was decided to proceed in this way. [HL4258]

The Chatham House rule was invoked to encourage free and frank discussion between members of the stakeholder panel. This is essential to the proper functioning of the panel. It was agreed at the first meeting and reconfirmed during the fourth meeting of the panel that the Chatham House rule would be followed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will require the National Asylum Support Service to inform all its clients that they are entitled to treatment by the National Health Service on the same basis as those ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. [HL4327]

The National Asylum Support Service has ceased to exist but the functions it carried out continue through the regional asylum teams. All asylum seekers are informed by the regional asylum teams about their entitlement to NHS treatment at their first reporting event.

Eligibility for free NHS care is based on ordinary residence in the UK. General practitioners have discretion to register patients for primary care and Department of Health guidance is that asylum seekers should be so registered. In England, asylum seekers awaiting a final decision on their claims are exempt from charges for NHS hospital treatment under the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 as amended. Unsuccessful claimants may continue free of charge until they leave the country with a course of treatment which had already started before appeal rights were exhausted. In the recent case of YA (Palestine) v The Secretary of State for Health, the judge has ruled that failed asylum seekers may potentially be deemed “ordinarily resident” for the purposes of NHS regulations and therefore entitled to free treatment on the same basis as other residents. The Department of Health has appealed against this judgment.

The rules relating to healthcare for foreign nationals in England are currently being reviewed jointly by the UK Border Agency and the Department of Health. The review has looked at a range of issues regarding immigration and asylum, including the eligibility of failed asylum seekers and their children. Proposals will go out to public consultation shortly.

Similar provisions apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Department of Health is intending to engage with the devolved Administrations following the completion of the review in England.

Further information about healthcare entitlement is published on the UKBA website and this is being updated to reflect the latest position.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What monitoring takes place of the handling of visa applications from overseas nationals by entry clearance officers and the Immigration Tribunal Service; and [HL2955]

What monitoring takes place of the service provided by entry clearance officers and the Immigration Tribunal Service in the handling of visa applications from overseas. [HL2955]

Visa categories that have the full right of appeal are considered by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. Other categories that have a limited right of appeal fall under the remit of the Independent Monitor for Entry Clearance, who monitors a sample of applications. We also have internal procedures within the visa section to ensure consistency of decision-making.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What inquiries have been held into Royal Ulster Constabulary and Army operational procedures during the Provisional IRA and loyalist terror campaigns; when each inquiry began and was completed; and what has been the total expenditure for each of these inquiries to date. [HL4191]

The Robert Hamill inquiry, the Rosemary Nelson inquiry and the Billy Wright inquiry are independent public inquiries which have been established by the Government. Their terms of reference, announced on 16 November 2004 are:

The Robert Hamill Inquiry

To inquire into the death of Robert Hamill with a view to determining whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary facilitated his death or obstructed the investigation of it, or whether attempts were made to do so; whether any such act or omission was intentional or negligent; whether the investigation of his death was carried out with due diligence; and to make recommendations.

The Rosemary Nelson Inquiry

To inquire into the death of Rosemary Nelson with a view to determining whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland Office, Army or other state agency facilitated her death or obstructed the investigation of it, or whether attempts were made to do so; whether any such act or omission was intentional or negligent; whether the investigation of her death was carried out with due diligence; and to make recommendations.

The Billy Wright Inquiry

To inquire into the death of Billy Wright with a view to determining whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the prison authorities or other state agencies facilitated his death, or whether attempts were made to do so; whether any such act or omission was intentional or negligent; and to make recommendations.

The costs to the end of May 2008 of each independent public inquiry are:

the Robert Hamill inquiry: £15.62 million;

the Rosemary Nelson inquiry: £27.39 million; and

the Billy Wright inquiry: £16.75 million.

The inquiries have not yet completed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the total estimated cost of the scheme announced on 6 June to encourage local authorities to provide free access to swimming pools; and how much government departments will contribute towards this cost. [HL4311]

Government are offering a £142 million package of revenue and capital to local authorities, designed to extend opportunities to swim and to maximise the health benefits of wider participation in swimming.

Costs and charges are not collected centrally, and vary greatly across the country. The best estimate of Department of Health and Department for Culture, Media and Sport analysts is that, for England, the fund will cover 75 per cent to 100 per cent of the costs to local authorities of providing free swimming to the over-60s, and provide a top-up to local authorities which wish to extend their provision further to under 16s.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who was responsible for paying the national insurance contributions to the Inland Revenue for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum; and whether he was informed of the process. [HL4271]

The Northern Ireland office was responsible for paying national insurance contributions to the Inland Revenue for the chairman of the Bill of Rights Forum, who was informed of these arrangements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 16 June (WA 136), how the estimated number of working days for the chairman of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum was calculated; and on what basis. [HL4274]

Northern Ireland Office officials made an estimate of the working days required from the chair of the Bill of Rights Forum based on the planned duration of the forum's work and the terms of reference that were agreed by all members.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had with the International Olympic Committee regarding the reintroduction of tug-of-war as a discipline for future Olympic Games. [HL4301]

The Government have held no discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the inclusion of tug-of-war as a discipline for future Olympic Games. Representations about the inclusion of new sports must be made to the IOC by the relevant international federation, which in this case would be the Tug of War International Federation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why there was an increase of £6,349 in the telecommunications costs of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission between 2006 and 2007. [HL4182]

The increase in expenditure from 2005-06 to 2006-07 arose from the cost of installing a new server desktop hardware.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what £59,296 was spent in 2006, listed under the heading “professional advisors' service” in the recent annual report of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission; what were the services; who provided them; and how the advisors were selected and monitored. [HL4183]

Professional advisers' services were provided by Stakeholder Communications, which provided media consultancy advice; Moore Stevens UK, which performed the internal audit for 2005-06; and HELM Consultancy, which prepared the commission's annual accounts for 2004-05. The selection processes for the above services were handled by the NIO. The services were monitored through the commission's audit committee.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What areas have been identified as suitable for the establishment of eco-towns. [HL4172]

The Government have identified the areas with potential to become eco-towns in the consultation document Eco-towns—Living a Greener Future, and these are listed below:

Pennbury, Leicestershire;

Manby and Strubby, Lincolnshire;

Curborough, Staffordshire;

Middle Quinton;

Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire;

Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire;

Ford, West Sussex;

Imerys China Clay Community, Cornwall;

Coltishall, Norfolk;

Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire;

Marston Vale and New Marston, Bedfordshire;

North East Elsenham, Essex;

Rossington, Doncaster;

Rushcliffe, Nottingham^*; and

Leeds City Region, Yorkshire^*.

Copies of the consultation document are available in the House Library.

* Two areas of further review to identify sites with potential.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Police Service of Northern Ireland recruits successfully completed their training course in each year since its formation; and what is the (a) gender and (b) community background of those recruits. [HL4367]

The chief constable has provided the following figures:

¹ Note: Some of 2007-08 intake have still to complete training.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What their priorities are for road safety advertising in the financial year 2008–09; and [HL4334]

What funds they have allocated to each of their priorities for road safety advertising in the financial year 2008–09. [HL4335]

The priorities for THINK! road safety campaigns in the current financial year and allocated budgets are:

Drink drive, £3.6 million. There are two campaigns a year, in June and December. Our primary target audience is male drivers under the age of 30 and the strategy is to make them believe there is a strong likelihood that they will get caught if they drive over the legal alcohol limit and to inform them of the consequences, both legal and to the quality of their life, of a conviction.

Motorbike safety, £2.5 million. There are two main strands to the motorcycle campaign. The first is aimed primarily at car drivers and consists of a TV commercial prompting them to look out for motorcycles when driving. The second is a sponsorship of British Superbikes and is aimed at leisure bikers.

Speeding, £3 million. We have a TV campaign aimed at all drivers in urban areas which highlights the dangers to pedestrians of exceeding the 30 mph speed limit with the proposition: “Hit a child at 40 mph and she has an 80 per cent chance of being killed, but hit her at 30 mph and she has an 80 per cent chance of surviving”. There is also a campaign on radio and outdoor media highlighting the dangers of driving too fast on rural roads.

Seatbelt wearing, £3 million. A new seatbelt campaign is in development and will be launched in October 2008.

Children, teenagers and parents, £4.1 million. We have campaigns aimed at primary school children designed to help them learn the green cross code and at teenagers reminding them that they should avoid distractions on the roads. We also target parents with the message that children copy behaviours that they see their parents practise, so they should ensure that they always set a good example when using the roads.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Ashton of Upholland) on 17 December 2007 (WA 102) concerning the Senior Salaries Review Body, whether an announcement of the outcome of the review has been made; if so, what was the announcement; and if not, when it will be made and implemented. [HL4339]

I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 17 June 2008 (Official Report cols. WS 75 and WS 76) and the Written Ministerial Statement made by my right honourable friend the Leader of the House of Commons on 17 June 2008 (Official Report, col. WS 45).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the contract for refuelling air tankers with the United States Air Force won by the European Aerodynamic Defence and Space Company will commence; and [HL4276]

What is their estimate of the number of jobs to be created in the United Kingdom through engagement by United Kingdom companies in the air tankers contract awarded by the United States Air Force to the European Aerodynamic Defence and Space Company; and [HL4277]

When it is estimated that the first refuelling air tankers will be produced by the European Aerodynamic Defence and Space Company for the United States Air Force; and [HL4278]

Where the refuelling air tankers produced by the European Aerodynamic Defence and Space Company for the United States Air Force will be assembled; and [HL4279]

Where the wings of the refuelling air tankers will be manufactured by the European Aerodynamic Defence and Space Company for the United States Air Force; and how many sets of refuelling air tankers' wings will be made; and [HL4280]

On what date the United States Air Force contract for refuelling air tankers was finalised with the European Aerodynamic Defence and Space Company. [HL4281]

On 18 June, following a protest from Boeing, the US Government Accountability Office recommended that the US Air Force reopen discussions with the bidders and make a new source selection decision in the US Air Force competition for 179 tanker aircraft. This is a matter for the US Administration and the companies involved. It is hoped that the contract with Northrop Grumman teamed with EADS, which involves final assembly of the aircraft in Mobile, Alabama, and manufacture of wing sets by Airbus UK, can be finalised soon.