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30 Jan 2007 : Column WA27
Written Answers
Tuesday 30 January 2007
Agriculture: Farming Delivery Initiative
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the reductions in the budget for the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative from £10 million to around £8.6 million in 2006-07 and from £15 million to £13.2 million in 2007-08 are both part of the £200 million the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recently announced. [HL1263]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Yes. These reductions have been made following the review of financial allocations conducted during the summer of 2006 to address cost pressures of approximately £200 million. This review was comprehensive in nature and has ensured that Defra’s funding across both years is placed where it can have the greatest impact.
Alcohol: Addiction Treatment
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made an assessment of the article by the chief executive of the Addiction Recovery Foundation, “Treatment effectiveness: alcohol services”, in the journal Addiction Today, which found that commissioners were preventing access to empty beds for residential alcohol treatment; and whether the national treatment agency will publish a response to the critique in this article of the agency's review of the effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems.[HL1400]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Some providers of residential treatment services have reported a downturn in referrals into their services from local commissioners during 2006-07. Department of Health and national treatment agency investigations into this have not confirmed widespread disinvestment from commissioners in residential treatment services.
The review of effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems was published in November 2006 by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (the NTA). Its authors are three distinguished UK academics: Dr Duncan Raistrick, who runs the Leeds Addiction Unit and is a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists; Nick Heather, Emeritus Professor of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies at Northumbria University; and Christine Godfrey, Professor of Health Economics and Health Sciences at the University of York. It is for the authors of the review to decide whether to respond to any part of the article they feel is inaccurate, should Addiction Today allow this.
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In commissioning and publishing this review the NTA has sought to make available the evidence base on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alcohol interventions and treatment. The ultimate aim is to ensure that people affected by alcohol problems have access to evidence-based cost-effective help and treatment.
Armed Forces: Compensation Schemes
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations the Ministry of Defence has received from the Royal British Legion on its response to the department's Armed Forces and Reserve Forces compensation schemes evaluation report; what reply is being sent; and whether they will take any action.[HL1445]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The Royal British Legion has been fully involved in the consultation which was conducted as a part of the evaluation of the first year of operation of the Armed Forces compensation scheme. The consultation included completion of a questionnaire, involvement in a one-to-one discussion with officials and taking part in a workshop when the issues raised by stakeholders were shared. The draft evaluation report was issued for comment on 24 November 2006 with a deadline for responses of 15 January 2007. Officials are working on finalising the report in the light of comments received on the draft, including those submitted by the Royal British Legion on 12 January 2007 to which officials will reply. The finalised report will be made public shortly which addresses the issues raised as a result of the first year of the scheme’s operation.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 19 December 2006, on what dates and with what ex-service organisations they consulted in respect of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) (Rights of Appeal) Amendment Regulations 2006; in what detail those ex-service organisations were consulted; and whether they were informed at any stage of the president of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal's reservations. [HL1134]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): Ex-service organisations were informed of the policy intention not to allow appeal rights to temporary awards during a meeting of the central advisory committee chaired by the Veterans Minister on 7 December 2005. The following ex-service organisations were represented at that meeting: the Royal British Legion,
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These ex-service organisations, together with the Forces Pension Society and the Royal Air Forces Association, were consulted over the draft regulations in writing on 14 June 2006 in the same terms and in the same detail as the letters sent to the three presidents of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals (PAT) on 9 June 2006. A copy of the letter to the president of the PAT for England and Wales was placed in the Library of the House following my Written Answer on 6 December 2006, (Official Report, col. WA 140).
The ex-service organisations were not informed of the reservations of the president of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals for England and Wales, given the nature of the president's comments. The Royal British Legion has clarified with the MoD its understanding of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) (Rights of Appeal) Amendment Regulations 2006, and was satisfied with the MoD's position.
Arms Trade: Al Yamamah
Baroness Northover asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Secretary of State for International Development was consulted on the decision to end the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into BAE Systems; if he was consulted, what was his recommendation; and, if he was not consulted, what were the reasons for not doing so. [HL1516]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): The Secretary of State for International Development was not consulted on the decision to end the Serious Fraud Office's investigation into BAE Systems.
His role as Minister leading on the fight against international corruption does not include being involved in decisions on individual law enforcement matters; and nor should it. This is properly a matter for the relevant investigatory and/or prosecuting authorities—the SFO in this case.
As the Attorney-General explained, he obtained the views of the Prime Minister and the Foreign and Defence Secretaries as to the public interest considerations raised by this investigation and conveyed them to the director of the SFO. The Secretary of State for International Development would not expect to be consulted on such national and international security implications.
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
What guidance the staff of the Department for International Development have received following the recent decision to suspend the Serious Fraud Office investigation into the Al Yamamah project; and what advice the department is providing in response to inquiries from developing countries. [HL1524]
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Baroness Amos: No specific advice has been issued to DfID staff on this issue. No inquires have been received from developing countries relating to the project.
Aviation: Air Passenger Duty
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration was given to the position of residents of Northern Ireland who travel to Great Britain by air before the increase in air passenger duty was announced; and whether they will reconsider this increase in tax in so far as it relates to flights between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.[HL1470]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The decision to increase rates was taken after careful consideration of all relevant environmental, social and economic factors. The Government have no plans to reconsider the increase with regard to flights between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they imposed the air passenger duty tax increase retrospectively in respect of air travel already purchased; and what steps they are taking to support travel organisations that may be in financial difficulty as a result.[HL1471]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The announcement made in the 6 December 2006 Pre-Budget Report applies to the carriage of a passenger on an aircraft which begins on or after 1 February 2007. Air carriers (ie, scheduled airlines and other air transport operators) are responsible for ensuring they pay the correct amount of duty to HM Revenue and Customs. How, or whether, they choose to pass that cost on to their customers is a matter for them.
Aviation: Health Risks
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have identified any risk to the health of the travelling public from exposure to traces of tricresyl phosphate or its isomers, known to be found on the walls of United Kingdom jet aircraft; and what scientific studies have been conducted to support this conclusion. [HL1390]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: A major review of evidence, presented by the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) and others, is currently under way by the independent Committee on Toxicity (CoT). Links to the discussion papers and notes of the CoT meetings held on 11 July and 5 December 2006 are below. www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/cotnonfood/index.htm and www.food.gov.uk/science/ouradvisors/toxicity/cotmeets/cot2006/cotmetdec06/.
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The CoT hopes to be in a position to report its findings in late spring and the Government are on record that they will be guided by its conclusions and recommendations.
Benefits: Pensioner Credit
Lord Bradley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people were in receipt of pensioner credit in each local authority ward in the city of Manchester since its introduction.[HL1425]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The Answer is set out in the table below.
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