| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Returning the National Health Service to overall financial balance has been a key priority in 2006-07. As part of the strategy to achieve this, strategic health authorities (SHAs) have top-sliced resource allocations made to their PCTs, thereby creating SHA reserves.
We have asked SHAs to make sure that, as far as possible, PCTs with the greatest health need are the first to be repaid. However, any repayment is dependent on affordability within the SHA economy, and is inextricably linked to the speed and stability of financial recovery in the NHS as a whole.
Office for National Statistics
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the Office for National Statistics intends to undertake the household wealth and assets survey described in chapter 5 of Social Trends No. 36; and when its initial findings are expected to be published. [HL3534]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Colin Mowl, Director of Macroeconomics and Labour Market, to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, dated 8 May 2007, in the absence of the National Statistician.
The survey in question commenced in July 2006, and initial findings, based on the first year of data, will be published in December of this year.
8 May 2007 : Column WA252
Official Meetings: Attorney-General
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many times the Attorney-General has met Lord Levy over the past three years (a) on official business, and (b) at social functions. [HL3378]
The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith): (a) None.
(b) To the best of my knowledge there have been three social occasions within the last three years at which both Lord Levy and I were present (along with many other people). On these occasions conversation between us was very brief and amounted to no more than an exchange of greetings.
Sri Lanka: Missing Persons
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make representations to the Government of Sri Lanka concerning the Reverend Victor Emmanuel Yogarajan, his sons Daniel and David and Mr Joseph Sugandakumar, all missing since 1 March from Negombo, north of Colombo. [HL3478]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We have made no specific representations to the Sri Lankan Government concerning the Reverend Victor Emmanuel Yogarajan, his sons Daniel and David and Mr Joseph Sugandakumar. We will, however, continue to raise our concerns about human rights and about the situation faced by the civilian population in Sri Lanka as a result of the conflict. Both my right honourable friends the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Kim Howells, have done so recently.
Sudan: Darfur
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What timetable has been established for the recruitment of the 3,000 soldiers to be deployed as part of the heavy support package of the United Nations soldiers to be deployed in Darfur as part of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS); and whether this deployment is conditional on the call made by UNMIS of 25 April for a cessation of hostilities before the heavy support package is implemented. [HL3494]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We would like the heavy support package (HSP) to be deployed as soon as possible, and are pressing the UN
8 May 2007 : Column WA253
The military element of the HSP of 3,000 personnel will provide engineering, medical, logistics and aviation capacity to pave the way for the African Union (AU)-UN hybrid force. We understand that, once pre-deployment preparations are complete, deployment should take three to four months. The timing will depend on how rapidly the UN can generate forces from contributing nations for the HSP and build the infrastructure for the deploying force. Deployment will not be easy given Darfur's environment and the oncoming rainy season.
The UN and AU expect all parties to the conflict in Darfur to stand by the commitments made in Ndjamena and Abuja, which include abiding by a ceasefire. A fully functioning ceasefire is not, however, a precondition of the deployment of UN support for the AU in Darfur.
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the claims of the Sudan Liberation Movement on 24 April that the Government of Sudan have been actively recruiting Arab tribes from Niger to constitute a new militia in Darfur and Chad. [HL3495]
8 May 2007 : Column WA254
Lord Triesman: We are not currently aware of militia recruitment from Niger to fight in Darfur. We are investigating the claims of the Sudan Liberation Movement.
We are continuing to press the Government of Sudan to comply with their obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1706 to disarm all militia operating in Darfur. If they do not comply, we will move towards further sanctions and an extension of the existing UN arms embargo in the UN Security Council.
Visas: Abkhazia
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What instructions are given to entry certificate officers based in the British embassy or consulate in Moscow on how to deal with visa applications from residents of Abkhazia travelling on Russian passports. [HL3507]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): There are no specific instructions given to staff at our entry clearance issuing posts in the Russian Federation as regards residents of Abkhazia. All applicants holding Russian passports are required to meet the relevant requirements of the Immigration Rules and are treated equally, without bias.
| Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |