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Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What monitoring is done of compliance with the provisions and purposes of the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002.[HL3766]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): We would expect feedback on the exceptions to copyright in the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002 to form a part of our regular contact with representatives of copyright holders and disability organisations. However, as with all exceptions to copyright, the Government do not monitor day-to-day compliance with the terms of exceptions.
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the publisher of the latest Harry Potter book complied with the provisions of the Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002; and whether any asessment has been made of the book's availability in formats accessible to visually impaired people.[HL3767]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act 2002 only introduces exceptions to copyright so that visually impaired people, or charitable or similar organisations acting on their behalf, can make accessible formats of books, subject to certain conditions, but without infringing copyright. The Act does not, therefore, require publishers to make accessible formats, but I understand that the publisher of the latest Harry Potter book is making efforts to ensure that it is available in accessible formats.
Healthcare Workers: Smallpox Immunisation
Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many doctors and nurses comprise the cohort of immunised staff able to deal safely with any potential smallpox sufferers.[HL3128]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): We anticipate that up to 93 per cent of healthcare workers will be medical doctors or nurses.
NHS: Specialised Commissioning
Lord Ashley of Stoke asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What information they have regarding the existence of postcode lotteries for specialised services; and for which services does this apply.[HL3528]
Lord Warner: Primary care trusts commission healthcare services for their local populations including specialised services on the basis of national imperatives such as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraisals, and priorities according to local needs and evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness. Specialised services are often purchased by consortia which will consider issues of access as part of the process. This information is not collected centrally.
Water Fluoridation
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 31 January 2001 (WA 66) on the promotional role of the British Fluoridation Society and the Lord Warner on 26 June (WA 39), whether they believe that evidence from the British Fluoridation Society about the public acceptability of fluoridation is likely to be reliable.[HL3697]
Lord Warner: Yes, the surveys the British Fluoridation Society commissioned were conducted by reputable opinion poll research groups. The results will be reliable within the parameters set for the conduct of such surveys.
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 26 June (WA 39), why they describe the evidence of risks to overall health from fluoridation found by the National Health Service Centre of Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York (and discussed in the report of their systematic scientific review in 2000 in Section 8.5 on bone problems, Sections 9.1 and 9.6 on cancer and Section 10 on other negative effects) as "no evidence".[HL3698]
Lord Warner: The report A systematic review of water fluoridation, published in September 2000 from the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York, concludes in Section 12.4 that, "The best available evidence on the association of water fluoridation and bone fractures . . . show(s) no association. Similarly, the best available evidence on the association of water fluoridation and cancers . . . show(s) no association.
The miscellaneous other adverse effects studies did not provide enough good quality evidence on any particular outcome to reach conclusions".Royal Parks: Performance Targets
Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What performance targets have been set for the Royal Parks for the year 2003–04 to 2005–06.[HL3916]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey): The following performance targets have been set for the Royal Parks:
- 1. To increase numbers benefiting from educational activities by 10 per cent each year.
- 2. Each park to score at least 85 per cent for quality and cleanliness as assessed by visitor satisfaction surveys.
- 3. Each park to score at least 85 per cent for soft landscaping, as assessed by an independent expert.
- 4. Maintain the International Standards Organisation's certifiable standard (ISO14001) status for environmental management.
- 5. To enhance summer entertainment in 2003–04 with at least four new events extending access to target groups.
- 6. To increase self-generated income by £1.1 million to £7 million by 2005–06 (= 29 per cent of DCMS grant).
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