| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Specified Bovine Offals: Inspection Visits
Lord Gainford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the State Veterinary Service's surveillance of the handling of Specified Bovine Offals in November and December 1995.
Lord Lucas: The State Veterinary Service (SVS) continued to make unannounced visits to slaughterhouses, hunt kennels and knackeries in November and December 1995 to monitor their handling of Specified Bovine Offals (SBOs). The results of these visits were:
22 Jan 1996 : Column WA55
Many of the failings found were of a comparatively mild nature—for example, problems with staining SBOs or with record keeping. There were however some more serious cases, including incidents in which small pieces of spinal cord were left attached to carcases after dressing in slaughterhouses. Eight such instances were detected in November and two in December, the most recent on 14 December; there have been none so far in January 1996. A total of 21 instances in which spinal cord was left attached to carcases have now been detected since the SVS surveillance programme of slaughterhouses began in the summer.
The results of similar surveillance visits to rendering and incineration plants handling SBOs will be announced shortly.
We welcome these significant improvements in the handling of SBOs by slaughterhouses, hunt kennels and knackeries. We expect those that have attained a satisfactory level of performance to maintain the standards they are now achieving, and would expect that those plants which have failed to do so will work harder to ensure they do fully comply with the controls. The SVS will continue its unannounced surveillance visits to plants handling SBOs.
National Maritime Museum: De-accessions
Lord Freyberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
From whom successive Secretaries of State have sought advice before giving their consent, under the National Maritime Museum Act 1934, for the trustees of the museum to de-access any object deemed to be superfluous.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Lord Inglewood): The museum's board of trustees is best placed to advise on the merits of whether or not to retain an object. The Secretary of State accordingly takes her decision on the basis of the case put to her by the museum for each disposal.
Lord Freyberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
Since the National Maritime Museum Act 1934, when the National Maritime Museum was given permission to de-access duplicates in its inventory, how many paintings have been sold from the collection on the grounds that they are duplicates, to whom, for how much, in what year and by what
- means—i.e., by public auction or by direct negotiation with a dealer.
Lord Inglewood: The National Maritime Museum does not require the Secretary of State's permission under its Act of 1934 to dispose of duplicates. However, I understand that since 1990, 10 duplicate paintings have been sold. Details are below. In most cases the disposal was by auction and the final purchaser was not known.
Information on paintings sold prior to 1990 is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Lord Freyberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that an exhibit in the inventory of the National Maritime Museum deemed to be superfluous to the collection should first be offered to another national collection free of charge, as it already belongs to the nation.
Lord Inglewood: When disposing of an object which has been de-accessioned, the National Maritime Museum follows current Museums Association guidelines. Under these guidelines, unwanted objects are advertised in the Museums Journal to give interested parties the opportunity to make their interest known. In some cases the museum has approached other national institutions when it is known or thought they may have an interest. The terms of any transfer of objects between two museums are a matter for the parties.
Parliamentary Documents in Electronic Form
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked the Chairman of Committees:
Which categories of parliamentary documents exist in electronic form so as to be capable of being distributed within and outside Parliament.
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham): Hansard, Public Bills and Select Committee reports are mostly originated in electronic
22 Jan 1996 : Column WA57
form but no category is yet exclusively originated in that form. The question of electronic distribution is under active consideration in both Houses.
HMSO Supply and Service Agreement
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether the Supply and Service Agreement between the House of Lords and HMSO for the provision of printing and publishing services is intended to be contractually binding; and if not, whether its terms will be enforceable at law.
The Chairman of Committees: The Supply and Service Agreement is not contractual is not intended to be enforceable at law. In the event of HMSO being privatised, the agreement will have to be replaced by one or more legally enforceable contracts.
Parliamentary Copyright: Administration
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether it is intended that the administration of parliamentary copyright should be done by HMSO; and, and if so, upon what terms will this be done; and, if not, what is intended in this respect.
The Chairman of Committees: Parliamentary copyright is administered by HMSO at present. Decisions have not yet been taken about the future administration of parliamentary copyright, in the event of HMSO being privatised. Since part of HMSO may remain in the public sector to administer Crown copyright, one option is for that part to be invited to administer parliamentary copyright under agreements with both Houses.
Trident: Refitting Contract
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, as reported, Trident refitting is now to be entrusted to an American owned firm, and whether this is compatible with the independence the British nuclear forces are intended to demonstrate.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe): Negotiations on the design and build of the facilities for refitting Vanguard class and, ultimately, all nuclear powered submarines at Devonport are proceeding with the consortium forming Devonport Management Ltd. While negotiations are proceeding it would not be appropriate to speculate about the outcome. A decision on contract award is expected in the first part of this year. The ultimate ownership of any company entrusted with the work would have no effect on the operational independence of the national deterrent.
22 Jan 1996 : Column WA58
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |