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Biosafety Protocol
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if Her Majesty's Government support the application of the Biosafety Protocol's proposed procedures for Advanced Informed Agreement to agricultural commodities and commodities designated for processing, where such commodities contain genetically modified organisms or parts thereof; and if he will oppose any attempts in the protocol negotiations to exclude such commodities from the AIA procedures. [66036]
Mr. Meale: The Government's view is that the Protocol should cover the transboundary movement of all living modified organisms (LMOs), including LMOs that are agricultural commodities and commodities intended for processing. The Advanced Informed Agreement procedures should apply to transboundary movements of LMOs intended for deliberate release, including commodities. The UK is still considering its position on appropriate procedures for commodities intended for processing and will press hard for adequate coverage to secure environmental safety. Commodities that consist of non-living products of LMOs should not be covered by the protocol since the scope set out in the mandate from the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity is to develop a protocol focusing specifically on the transboundary movement of living modified organisms.
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if Her Majesty's Government supports proposals to include provisions in the Biosafety Protocol to allow countries to take socio- economic considerations into account when reaching a decision on whether to grant advanced informed agreement to allow the proposed import of a GMO to proceed. [65963]
Mr. Meale: The Government consider that the basis for decision-making under the Protocol should be a scientific risk assessment, but recognise that some countries may wish to consider socio-economic aspects in reaching their decision on whether to grant advance informed agreement.
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whether his Department will support proposals to include provisions for a regime for strict liability within the Biosafety Protocol. [65962]
Mr. Meale:
The Government acknowledge the importance of the issue of liability and redress in the context of damage to biological diversity and its relevance to the Biosafety Protocol. For this reason, the UK and the European Commission last year hosted a small international workshop to explore the issues arising in relation to the Protocol. The Government consider that provisions for a regime for strict liability cannot be developed in the short time remaining to complete the negotiations. I hope, however, that it will be possible at the final meeting of the Biosafety Working Group developing the Protocol to agree how the matter might be taken forward, bearing in mind the ongoing discussions in the context of Article 14 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
19 Jan 1999 : Column: 447
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 December 1998, Official Report, column 194, over the four year period under consideration (a) how many driving instructors were accepted for registration, (b) how many of these were subsequently removed from registration within (i) six months, (ii) one year, (iii) 18 months, and (iv) two years, (c) what was the average period that those removed from the register had previously been registered, and (d) how many people paid examination fees to the Driving Standards Agency. [65725]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: During the four years up to 30 November 1998, 7,225 new instructors have been added to the Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI). Of these six have been subsequently removed as a result of failing a check test of their instructional ability following three successive check test failures. None were removed in the first 18 months of their registration. Three were removed within their first two years of registration, and the other three were removed between two and four years of registration. The average period they were on the Register was 26 months.
To join the register, a person has to pass a three part examination--a written test, a practical test of driving ability and a practical test of instructional ability for which the fees are currently £50 for the written test and £62 for practical test. During the same 4 year period, some 24,000 people started the ADI qualifying process, taking a total of 46,000 written tests and the Driving Standards Agency also conducted 58,164 practical tests (figures for the two practical tests are not compiled separately). Some of the tests would have been further attempts by unsuccessful candidates.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions from what date all Chapter 2 aircraft are currently planned to be banned from United Kingdom airports; and what proposals there are in (a) the UK and (b) the EU to review that date. [66149]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
From 1 April 2002, Chapter 2 aircraft will be banned from UK airports other than in the most exceptional circumstances. There are no proposals in the UK or the EU to review that date.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the amounts of compensation payable by London Underground as a result of the breakdown of the tube system on 12 January. [66390]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Statistics regarding compensation claims arising from specific incidents are not routinely analysed by London Underground. It is too early to establish how many people will request compensation for service problems experienced on 12 January, An average claim under the Customer Charter is, however, £2.60.
19 Jan 1999 : Column: 448
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what rules or guidance his Department has to govern the (a) formal and (b) informal interaction between his civil servants and commercial lobbyists. [66215]
Mr. Meale:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 27 July 1998, Official Report, column 4, in response to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the relative effectiveness of economic instruments over other measures designed to minimise pesticide use; [66213]
Mr. Meale:
The Government have commissioned extensive research work on economic instruments as a component of its pesticide minimisation policy to be used in combination with other measures. In considering the possible introduction of a pesticide tax, we shall look very carefully at the potential impact on farmers and other pesticide users.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what proportion of bus operators receiving bus fuel duty rebate are using standard diesel fuel; [66104]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: Most of the claims for bus fuel duty rebate are for use of standard diesel fuel. The estimated spend this financial year is £267 million.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage bus operators in receipt of bus fuel duty rebate to adopt ultra low sulphur diesel fuel. [66105]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: A number of possible changes to bus Fuel Duty Rebate, to encourage the use of cleaner fuels and vehicles, are being examined with a view to consultation in due course.
Ms Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many bus operators are receiving bus fuel duty rebate. [66103]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: There are currently 1,800 claimants receiving bus fuel duty rebate. This figure includes subsidiaries or other operating units of larger companies.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list
19 Jan 1999 : Column: 449
the members of the working group on school transport; and if he will publish the remit of the group, its target deliverables and timetable for action. [65936]
Dr. Reid
[holding answer 18 January 1999]: I announced the membership and remit of the School Travel Advisory Group (STAG) in a press notice on 18 December (Working together to improve the journey to school). A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
(2) what plans he has for a compensation regime for farmers and agricultural producers to offset the effects of a pesticide tax. [66229]
(2) how much is spent annually through the bus fuel duty rebate in supporting bus operators using standard diesel fuel. [66106]
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