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SaBRE Campaign
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the mission of the Ministry of Defence campaign Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers. [HL292]
Lord Bach: The SaBRE campaign is a Ministry of Defence funded national marketing campaign which was launched in 2002. It aims to win and maintain the support of employers for the volunteer reserves and its goal is to ensure that 80 per cent of reservists in employment work for supportive employers. SaBRE's principal aim is, therefore, to gain the support of employers who are unsupportive, or whose support is unknown. It also works to ensure that supportive employers remain so.
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Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
What financial provision is made by the Ministry of Defence for the campaign Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers. [HL293]
Lord Bach: For the financial year 2004–05, £2,643 million has been allocated to the SaBRE campaign.
Earl Atlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
What increase in resources for the campaign Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers was made by the Ministry of Defence in Order to meet increased activity levels arising from Operation TELIC. [HL294]
Lord Bach: In recognition of the increased mobilisation associated with Operation TELIC, in the financial year 2003–04, expenditure was increased by £230,000.
NHS: Parental Visits
Earl Atlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether financial assistance is available to meet the travel expenses incurred by parents visiting their sick children or elderly relatives in National Health Service hospitals; if so, what amount was expended for this purpose in the latest year for which figures are available; and in relation to how many people. [HL343]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): The hospital travel costs scheme funds transport to hospital for patients, and an escort where medically necessary, where the patient is in receipt of certain benefits or on a low income. Although assistance with travel costs for visiting relatives is not included in the scope of the scheme, hospitals have the discretion to give this assistance for patients who have a clinical need for visitors and in many cases already do so.
Financial expenditure figures for the hospital travel costs scheme are not collected centrally at the Department of Health.
Earl Atlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
What accommodation, if any, is available in National Health Service hospitals for a parent needing to maintain close contact with a sick child; and [HL344]
Whether departmental guidance is issued to National Health Service trusts about appropriate financial arrangements for accommodating parents needing to maintain close contact with a sick child; and [HL345]
What evidence is there that parental stays in hospital, on the advice of professional staff, have any impact in reducing the length of stay in hospital of a sick child. [HL346]
Lord Warner: Accommodation is generally available for parents attending their sick children in hospital. This ranges from separate overnight facilities to folding beds by the child's bed and use of a sitting room, kitchen and washing facilities. The nature of the accommodation usually reflects the child's needs and length of stay. The National Service Framework for Children: Standard for Hospital Services issued in April 2003 states that facilities should cater for parents and siblings with suitable provision for overnight stays and access to meals and relaxation. No charge should be made for accommodation. A number of papers note the beneficial effects of parental access to their children whilst in hospital and subsequently in managing the transition from hospital to home, safely and without delay.
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the members of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and its advisers have professional connections with the architectural and property development industries; if so, what are those connections; and whether individuals with any such connections: (a) declare them; and (b) take no part in any discussion on projects in which there might be a perceived conflict of interest. [HL290]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey): In setting up the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognised that for it to be a credible organisation with the professions, CABE needed to include active representatives from a number of relevant fields. Therefore commissioners and their advisers have professional connections with the architectural and property development industries.
The Cabinet Office's Guidance on Codes of Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies (October 2004) states that board members of non-departmental public bodies should declare any personal or business interests which may conflict with their responsibilities as a board member. Interests should be declared in a register of interests, which should be open to the public. In addition, members of public bodies should not participate in the discussion of matters in which they have a pecuniary interest. Where there may be a perceived conflict of interest, members should not participate in the discussion and should withdraw from the meeting. CABE has its own "operational framework" which incorporates this guidance, and has developed a guidance note on "Managing Conflicts of Interest". CABE has a register of commissioners' interests available to the public on request.
Following concerns about conflict of interest issues at CABE, an independent report was published in June 2004 which examined how conflicts of interest were
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managed (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment—Audit of Conflicts of Interest, June 2004, HC 678). The report concluded: "CABE has taken reasonable steps to ensure it is operating in accordance with the principles defined by the Nolan Committee. As one of the steps, the Accounting Officer has been proactive in monitoring the higher risk of potential conflicts of interest". To protect public perception of CABE's impartiality, the report made recommendations to strengthen the procedures. The department accepted all the report's recommendations and most of them (23 out of 28) have been implemented. The remainder should be completed by the end of March 2005.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the current terms of reference of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. [HL291]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) is a company limited by guarantee (company no: 3831652). Under its memorandum and articles of association, the objects of CABE are:
3.1 to advance, for the public benefit, by whatever means are thought fit and whether charitable or not charitable, education including aesthetic education in architecture, design, management and maintenance in the built environment by, in particular,
(a) promoting and encouraging the attainment of high standards in all areas of architecture, design, management and maintenance in the built environment; and
(b) promoting an understanding and appreciation of architecture, design, management and maintenance in the built environment.
3.2 to provide, for the benefit of the community, by whatever means are thought fit, public works, services and amenities; and
3.3 generally to further, by whatever means are thought fit, any other purpose beneficial to the community relating to architecture, design management and maintenance in the built environment.
Provisions are included in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill to put CABE on a statutory basis.
Battle of Trafalgar: Commemoration
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans have been made, if any, to commemorate next year the Battle of Trafalgar 1805; and, if plans are not yet in hand, whether they propose to hold such a commemoration. [HL333]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar is the inspiration for SeaBritain 2005, a national celebration of Britain's maritime heritage and links with the sea. SeaBritain 2005 is an initiative led by the National Maritime Museum, in partnership with many leading national and regional bodies, including VisitBritain, the Official Nelson Commemorations Committee, the Royal Navy and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
At the heart of SeaBritain 2005 is the Trafalgar Festival, with events throughout summer and autumn 2005 to mark the bicentenary. Highlights will include an international fleet review, son et lumière and firework display at Spithead in the Solent, an international Drumhead ceremony on Southsea Common and an international festival of the sea at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, recreations of the delivery of Vice-Admiral Collingwood's Trafalgar dispatch to London and Nelson's waterborne funeral procession from Greenwich to Whitehall, and commemorative tree-plantings for schools in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The climax of the festival will be the Trafalgar Weekend of 21 to 23 October, with a commemorative dinner in HMS "Victory" on 21 October, a musical celebration of the sea and the Battle of Trafalgar at the Royal Albert Hall on 22 October, and on 23 October, the Sea Cadets' parade in Trafalgar Square and services of commemoration at St Paul's Cathedral, where Nelson is buried, and St Nicholas's Church, Great Yarmouth, where he worshipped in 1801 on his return from the Battle of Copenhagen.
The Trafalgar Festival will emphasise the involvement of young people, demonstrating to them the continuing importance of the sea to Britain and the richness of our maritime heritage. SeaBritain 2005 will encourage all to take part in the festival or to develop their own events under its umbrella, with the aim of leaving a legacy that will stimulate interest in the sea and inland waters. Full details of all events planned as part of SeaBritain 2005, including the Trafalgar Festival, can be found on the SeaBritain web-site at www.SeaBritain2005.com. Details of the Navy Board's Trafalgar 200 events can be found at www.trafalgar200.com.
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