house of lords official report - United Kingdom Parliament

WA 213 Written Answers
[LORDS]
Written Answers
WA 214
At the present time we see no firm evidence that
further legislation and/or other restrictions, on top of
the existing tight restrictions, are necessary.
Latvia and Republic of Ireland
Question
Asked by Lord Kilclooney
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether
economic support to Latvia and the Republic of
Ireland will be provided only by nations in the
eurozone or by the whole of the European Union;
and what are the implications of such support
coming from the United Kingdom. [HL4148]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury
(Lord Myners): Latvia secured agreement to a ¤7.5 billion
financial support package in December 2008, including
¤3.1 billion from the European Union’s medium-term
balance of payments facility and ¤1.7 billion from the
International Monetary Fund. The UK did not make
a bilateral contribution.
The Government are not aware of any request from
Ireland for international economic support.
Legal Aid
Question
Asked by Lord Laird
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much
funding was provided as legal aid in Northern
Ireland in each of the past 10 years. [HL4048]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry
of Justice (Lord Bach): The funding provided to the
Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission for legal
aid in Northern Ireland in each of the past 10 years is
as follows;
Financial Year Legal Aid Fund £m
99-00 34.5
00-01 37.5
01-02 41.5
02-03 45.0
03-04 49.9
04-05 58.6
05-06 57.2
06-07 68.5
07-08 73.7
08-09 80.0
NHS: Ageism
Question
Asked by Baroness Greengross
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps
they are taking to tackle ageism in the National
Health Service in the light of the survey of British
Geriatrics Society members reported by Help the
Aged in January 2009.
[HL4169]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The
Government are strongly committed to ending age
discrimination. The National Health Service (NHS)
Constitution, published in January 2009, states that
“the NHS provides a comprehensive service, available
to all irrespective of gender, race, disability, age, sexual
orientation, religion or belief” and sets out patients’
right not to be unlawfully discriminated against in the
provision of NHS services, including on grounds of
age once the relevant provisions of the Equality Bill
are brought into force for the health sector. The Bill,
currently before Parliament, includes provisions to
prohibit age discrimination in the provision of services
and the exercise of public functions. This will apply to
health and social care.
NHS professionals are dedicated to offering good
care to all patients irrespective of age, but we recognise
that more needs to be done to improve services for all
age groups and tackle age discrimination where it
exists.
The Secretary of State for Health has initiated a
national review of age discrimination led from the
south-west region by Sir Ian Carruthers, chief executive
of the South West Strategic Health Authority, and Jan
Ormondroyd, chief executive of Bristol City Council.
The review is looking at the key actions health and
adult social care should take to prepare for implementation
of the ban on age discrimination. More widely, the
department is considering how health and social care
organisations can ensure that people receive high quality
services, whatever their age. The review will make its
recommendations in a published report in October
2009.
Parliaments: Members’ Costs
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the
average annual cost of maintaining a member of
(a) the House of Lords; (b) the House of Commons;
and (c) the European Parliament including salaries,
pensions, attendance allowances, travelling allowances
and office expenses for the most recent year for
which figures are available.
[HL3826]
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Baroness
Royall of Blaisdon): I refer the noble Lord to the
Answer given to Baroness Seccombe on 26 November
2008 (Official Report, col. WA 336-7).
Poland
Question
Asked by Lord Ouseley
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they
will make representations to the Government of
Poland about the safety of black British citizens
visiting Poland.
[HL4233]
Lord Brett: We are not aware of any reports in the
Polish press of abuse, harassment or threatening behaviour
being directed towards black British citizens in Poland.
We do not, therefore, have any plans to make
representations to the Polish Government about the
safety of black British citizens in Poland.