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21 Feb 2008 : Column WA79
Written Answers
Thursday 21 February 2008
Embassies
Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty's Government:
What, in absolute and percentage terms, is the planned reduction in locally engaged embassy staff in Paris between mid-2007 and the end of 2008. [HL1760]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): At present, we have no plans to make any reduction of local staff numbers in our embassy in Paris before the end of 2008, nor have there been any reductions since mid-2007 to date.
As in any organisation, we are constantly reviewing our staffing needs and considering restructuring as necessary.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty's Government:
What, in absolute and percentage terms, is the planned reduction in locally engaged embassy staff in Rome between mid-2007 and the end of 2008. [HL1761]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The number of planned reductions in local staff in our embassy in Rome between mid-2007 and the end of 2008 is one (1 per cent). This is a net figure based on four (4 per cent) reductions in one area and an increase of three (3 per cent) in another area.
As in any organisation, we are constantly reviewing our staffing needs and considering restructuring as necessary.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty's Government:
What, in absolute and percentage terms, is the planned reduction in locally engaged embassy staff in Berlin between mid-2007 and the end of 2008. [HL1762]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The number of planned reductions in local staff in our embassy in Berlin between mid-2007 and the end of 2008 is 6.5 (7.47 per cent).
As in any organisation, we are constantly reviewing our staffing needs and considering restructuring as necessary.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty's Government:
What, in absolute and percentage terms, is the planned reduction in locally engaged embassy staff in The Hague between mid-2007 and the end of 2008. [HL1763]
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Lord Malloch-Brown: The number of planned reductions in local staff in our embassy in The Hague between mid-2007 and the end of 2008 is up to 8.2 (21.0 per cent).
As in any organisation, we are constantly reviewing our staffing needs and considering restructuring as necessary.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty's Government:
What, in absolute and percentage terms, is the planned reduction in locally engaged embassy staff in Madrid between mid-2007 and the end of 2008. [HL1764]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The number of planned reductions in local staff in our embassy in Madrid between mid-2007 and the end of 2008 is six (5.5 per cent).
As in any organisation, we are constantly reviewing our staffing needs and considering restructuring as necessary.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty's Government:
What, in absolute and percentage terms, is the planned reduction in locally engaged embassy staff in Washington between mid-2007 and the end of 2008. [HL1765]
Lord Malloch-Brown: At present, we have no plans to make any reduction of local staff numbers in our embassy in Washington before the end of 2008, nor have there been any reductions since mid-2007 to date.
As in any organisation we are constantly reviewing our staffing needs and considering restructuring as necessary.
Equatorial Guinea: Simon Mann
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Simon Mann has received a visit from the United Kingdom consulate while being held at Black Beach prison in Equatorial Guinea; and, if not, when they expect that he will be visited. [HL1814]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The British deputy high commission in Lagos provides consular assistance to British nationals in Equatorial Guinea. Our consul in Lagos visited Mr Mann in Black Beach prison on 12 February.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Triesman on 4 June 2007 (WA 180), whether they have regularly monitored the legal and medical situation relating to Simon Mann; what ongoing communication they
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Lord Malloch-Brown: Our consul in Harare visited Simon Mann regularly. We reminded the Zimbabwe authorities of their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights when considering an extradition request. We received assurances that due process would be followed regarding Mr Mann's extradition. We understand from Mr Mann's lawyer that he had indicated an intention to further appeal his extradition. In the event, Mr Mann was removed from Zimbabwe without a further appeal being considered and is now in Equatorial Guinea. Our consul in Lagos visited him in prison in Equatorial Guinea on 12 February.
EU: Draft Legislation
Lord Vinson asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they are making to the European Union to improve the probability of the United Kingdom amending draft European Union legislation before it is enacted. [HL1831]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): All EU legislation is a product of negotiation among member states.
The Lisbon treaty strengthens the role of national parliaments in EU decision-making. National parliaments will be given a direct say in the EU's law-making procedures for the first time. At present, there is no obligation on the EU institutions to consult national parliaments about EU laws. Under the new mechanism, all national parliaments must be notified by the EU institutions of proposed EU legislation and be given eight weeks to comment.
National parliaments also gain the power to challenge the EU institutions if they consider that a proposal would breach the principle of subsidiarity. If one third of national parliaments challenge on subsidiarity grounds, the EU institutions would have to reconsider and decide whether to maintain, amend or withdraw their proposal. If a majority of national parliaments object, and the Council and European Parliament agree, the proposal would fall.
Government proposals to improve scrutiny procedures were debated and agreed in another place on 7 February. The Government continue to work closely with both scrutiny committees at both ministerial and official level to look at ways in which the day-to-day scrutiny process can be improved.
Forced Marriage
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will discuss with the Governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh the possibility
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The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government have discussed with the Governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh ways to tackle forced marriage. Our high commissions provided consular assistance in 158 cases relating to forced marriage in these countries last year. We could not have done this without the support of the Governments and local authorities. We will continue to work with these Governments and encourage them to take steps to prevent forced marriages taking place.
Health: Dentistry
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they promote free dental care for children; and, if so, whether each NHS dentist is required to ration the number of children treated each year. [HL1832]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): All those aged under 18 are exempt from National Health Service dental charges, along with other groups such as those on benefits and pregnant women. Information on who is exempt from charges is available to the public via all dental practices, primary care trusts or online.
No central limit is placed on the number of new patients, of any age, that a dentist may treat during a year. Dentists see new patients as and when appointments become available. How many new patients to accept is a matter for the individual dentist, taking account of the contracted yearly activity he or she has agreed with their local NHS primary care trust to deliver.
Health: Dietary Requirements
Baroness Barker asked Her Majesty's Government:
What provisions are made in NHS hospitals for patients who have particular dietary preferences as a result of their religion or lifestyle choices; and [HL1790]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The department's core standard C15b states:
“Where food is provided, healthcare organisations have systems in place to ensure that patients' individual nutritional, personal and clinical dietary requirements are met, including any necessary help with feeding and access to food 24 hours a day”.
This includes making appropriate provision for religious or cultural dietary preferences.
Information on the number of patients who are weighed on admission is not collected centrally.
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Health: Diethylstilbestrol
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What efforts have been made to ensure that women who have previously received diethylstilbestrol are properly screened for cervical and other cancers. [HL1797]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Both advisory committees for cervical and breast screening have discussed the issue of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and have agreed that women who took DES and their daughters should be managed individually and should discuss any concerns they have with their general practitioner.
Regarding cervical cancer, women exposed to DES in utero should be offered an initial colposcopic examination, if there is an absence of abnormalities only routine cervical screening is required. If abnormalities are found annual colposcopic examination of the vagina and cervix, at a specialist centre, may be required. However, this would need to be considered on an individual basis between the woman and her gynaecologist.
The risk of breast cancer in women who were prescribed DES is thought to be relatively small. The National Health Service breast screening programme does not identify women who are at an above average risk of developing breast cancer and therefore does not invite such women more often. It is therefore important that these women take up their invitation to be screened when it is offered and to be breast aware, so that they can spot the signs/symptoms of breast cancer and seek medical help early.
Health: Dieticians
Baroness Barker asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many dieticians work in NHS hospitals; and whether they will provide a breakdown of the numbers by NHS trust. [HL1793]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The annual NHS workforce census does not separately identify the number of dieticians who work in NHS hospitals. The census figure includes dieticians who work in NHS hospitals and those who work in the community.
The number of qualified dieticians employed in the NHS is 3,413, and has increased by 1,240 (57 per cent) since September 1997.
The breakdown of dieticians working in the NHS by NHS trust is shown in a table which has been placed in the Library.
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Health: Multiprofessional Education and Training Levy
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to ensure that the service level agreement between the Department of Health and strategic health authorities on the allocation of the multiprofessional education and training levy (MPET) in 2007—08 will adequately protect the resources in the levy from being used for other purposes by NHS trusts, particularly at times of wider financial difficulty in the NHS. [HL1732]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): In 2007-08 a service level agreement (SLA) and accountability framework has been issued to ensure that strategic health authorities (SHAs) are held to account for the training they support. The SLA also sets out that there should be a learning and development agreement in place with service providers to underpin the education and training funds passed to National Health Service trusts. The role of the department should be to focus on outputs and accountability rather than on ensuring that a fixed amount of money is spent for a particular purpose regardless of local priorities. SHAs were asked in July 2007 to provide a report on their performance against a variety of key performance indicators set out in the service level agreement. They were expected to publish an annual investment plan by 30 June 2007 which was based on long-term workforce planning. They also provide relevant financial and activity data up to four times per year to the department.
Health: Single-sex Accommodation
Baroness Meacher asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide guidance to clinicians to ensure that patients are only admitted to mixed-sex accommodation where it is safe and does not compromise their dignity. [HL1663]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The 2007-08 NHS Operating Framework for England requires primary care trusts to ensure local implementation of the reduction in mixed-sex accommodation and to maximise privacy and dignity where the need to admit and treat takes precedence over complete segregation.
The chief nursing officer published a report entitled Privacy and Dignity—A report by the Chief Nursing Officer into mixed-sex accommodation in hospitals, in May 2007. It makes recommendations for actions to be taken by staff when complete segregation is not possible, in order to maintain the privacy and dignity of patients. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library.
The NHS Institute published guidance in December 2007 that outlines 11 key principles to support the achievement of good separation within the hospital
21 Feb 2008 : Column WA85
Health: Untreatable Patients
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the appropriate treatment test in the revised draft of the Mental Health Act 1983 code of practice will put patients who cannot be treated at risk of being detained in psychiatric facilities when there is no prospect of a health benefit to them. [HL1828]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): No. The draft revised code of practice makes it clear that no one will be detained unless they are to be offered treatment for their mental disorder which is appropriate and available. Treatment will only be appropriate if it is for the purpose of alleviating or preventing the deterioration of a person's mental disorder or one or more of its symptoms or manifestations.
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