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Montserrat
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made in the granting of entrustments for Montserrat to allow it to continue its full participation in the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) and the CARICOM single market and economy. [HL693]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): I discussed Montserrat’s participation in the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) CARICOM single market and economy (CSME) with the Chief Minister of Montserrat when we met in London last month. A cost benefit analysis, presented in Montserrat on 2 December, is being sent to Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials. This analysis was requested by the FCO to enable us to determine that all the implications of Montserrat's application to join the CSME have been considered thoroughly. The Government of Montserrat also need to demonstrate to the United Kingdom that they have in place all the necessary laws to enable them to give effect to the obligations that will arise out of membership of the CSME. This information must be received before I can decide whether to grant an entrustment, given the Government's responsibilities for international obligations and to protect ourselves from potential contingent liabilities.
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to support constitutional changes to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Montserrat, in order that elected members may have similar powers of scrutiny to those enjoyed by their counterparts in other overseas territories. [HL694]
Lord Triesman: A constitutional review process is under way in the overseas territories, including in Montserrat. The aim is to ensure that the constitutional relationship reflects the needs of both the overseas territories and the United Kingdom. The Government are committed to considering carefully proposals from overseas territory Governments for constitutional modernisation. The draft constitutions resulting from the review process are not identical, as each territory is unique and needs a constitutional framework to suit its own circumstances.
NHS: Monitor
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to alter the relationship between Monitor and National Health Service foundation trusts.[HL520]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): As described in the consultation document published on 27 November 2006, The Future Regulation of Health and Adult Social Care, Monitor will continue to regulate National Health Service foundation trusts ensuring that they meet the requirements for governance, financial stability and delivery of mandatory services set out in their terms of authorisation.
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Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much National Health Service foundation trusts have borrowed from the private sector by way of loans with repayment terms extending beyond one year.[HL521]
Lord Warner: I am advised by the chairman of Monitor (whose statutory name is the Independent Regulator of National Health Service Foundation Trusts) that no NHS foundation trust has made any such borrowing to date.
Monitor will shortly be publishing its six-month report on the NHS foundation trust sector for the period 1 April to 30 September 2006 on its website (www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk). This will show that, further to its ability to do so under Monitor's prudential borrowing code for NHS foundation trusts (a copy of which was laid before Parliament in March 2005), NHS foundation trusts have borrowed approximately £75 million from the department's foundation trust financing facility.
North Korea: Human Rights
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they intend to communicate their concerns over the alleged human rights violations occurring in North Korea to the United Nations Secretary-General-designate, Ban Ki-Moon; whether they will invite him to give his public backing to the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Vitit Muntarbhorn; and whether they will invite him to pursue the cause of human rights in North Korea at high levels within the United Nations. [HL537]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): United Nations Secretary-General-designate, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, has already stated that he will actively look for a diplomatic solution to resolving the issues posed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The DPRK human rights situation is a matter of serious concern to the Government. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary previously raised DPRK human rights issues with Mr Ban when he was Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, and they again discussed DPRK issues during Mr Ban's visit to London on 5 December. We will continue to stress to Mr Ban the importance of maintaining international pressure on DPRK to improve its human rights record and to allow UN Special Rapporteur Vitit Muntarbhorn access to North Korea.
My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, hosted a meeting on 16 November at the House of Commons, where Mr Muntarbhorn addressed Members of both Houses and non-governmental organisations.
Waste Management: Recycling
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the amount and proportion of waste that is recycled (a) by schools in each local education authority in England, and (b) by each further education college in England. [HL544]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): We do not know the amount and proportion of waste that is recycled by schools and further education colleges in England.
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