Lords Hansard text for 2 Nov 200602 Nov 2006 (pt 0002)

Delegated Legislation

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has been the impact of the failure hitherto to include Amendment No. 2 (AMD 14905) March 2004 in the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1521).[HL7892]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): No impact. The electrical contracting industry has been working to Amendment No. 2 of BS767 “Requirements for Electrical Installations” since 2004.

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:

What notice period of inspections is to be given under paragraph 9(2) of the Measuring Instruments (Active Electrical Energy Meters) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1679).[HL7894]

2 Nov 2006 : Column WA53

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: This paragraph provides the power for GEMA (and NIAER) to carry out inspections of UK notified bodies it has designated.

Following designation, GEMA will carry out inspection visits regarding the exercise of the notified body's duties and functions under the Measuring Instruments (Active Electrical Energy Meters) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1679). The timing and notice period for such inspections will be agreed wherever possible between GEMA and the notified body on a reasonable basis. What constitutes a reasonable notice period will be dictated by individual circumstances.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Child Soldiers

Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the Amnesty International report, Children at War: Creating hope for their future; and what practical help they are giving through their development programme to the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of children under arms in the Democratic Republic of Congo.[HL7794]

The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): We welcome the Amnesty International report on children associated with armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the attention it draws to this important issue. Some progress has taken place since the Amnesty International report was compiled. Out of an estimated 30,000 children associated with armed forces, 19,054 had been demobilised when Amnesty International compiled its data (31 June 06). The figure is now 27,346 (30 September 2006). Demobilisation is ongoing, although at a very slow rate. Amnesty is right to demand more from the Congolese Government. We continue to push for the total demobilisation of all child soldiers.

The UK has given £15 million over five years to the World Bank-led multi-country demobilisation and reintegration programme (MDRP), covering DRC and neighbouring countries. We have also given £3 million to the 2006 International Committee of the Red Cross appeal for DRC, which includes programmes for protection and reintegration of children.

The disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) process in DRC is far from finished, and we agree with Amnesty International that there is much more work to be done to complete the complicated and sensitive task of fully reintegrating children. This is particularly so for girls linked with armed groups. We are talking to the World Bank about how to ensure that the DRC's national DDR body—CONADER—and international and national implementing organisations that specialise in this area continue to receive appropriate support.

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Amnesty's report calls for the removal of school fees in DRC to ensure that opportunities for education are available to all, including vulnerable groups such as demobilised children. DfID is currently discussing a major project with the World Bank to increase access to primary education in DRC by helping to reduce these fees.

Energy: Biofuels

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to encourage the growing and processing of plant material for the manufacture of biofuel.[HL7885]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Government are incentivising the production and use of biofuels through a 20p per litre duty rate cut for biodiesel and bioethanol which has been extended to 2008-09. This has led to a growth in the sales of biofuel, and figures from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs give a total of around 21 million litres sold in July this year. This suggests a likely market share of around 0.5 per cent of road fuels for 2006, doubling that of 2005, produced from a variety of feedstocks.

To further develop the supply of biofuels, a renewable transport fuel obligation will be introduced in April 2008 which will require 5 per cent of fuel sold in the UK to come from a renewable source by 2010. A number of companies are building biofuel processing plants in the United Kingdom which will use UK-grown crops, such as oilseed rape, sugar beet and wheat, as a feedstock. Farmers can claim the single payment for biofuel crops grown on set-aside land or where the €45 per hectare energy aid payment is claimed for crops on non-set-aside land.

Energy: Light Pollution

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have proposals to reduce light pollution throughout the United Kingdom.[HL7883]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Government are developing proposals to control light pollution in England as an annexe to planning policy statement 23 (“Planning and Pollution Control”). The Government will aim to consult on the draft annexe in 2007.

Energy: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the members of the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulations were appointed; after what process they were appointed; when they were appointed; and how many of the members live in Northern Ireland.[HL7772]

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Lord Rooker: The members of the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER) were appointed through open competitions under the monitored kitemark scheme of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (OCPANI). The appointment details are as follows.

Position	Name	Appointment Date
Chairman	Dr Peter Matthews	1 April 2006
Member	Mr John Gilliland	1 April 2003
Member	Ms Etain Doyle	1 October 2006
Member	Dr Clive Elphick	1 October 2006
Member	Mr Christopher Le Fevre	1 October 2006
Member	Mr Philip Johnston	1 October 2006
Member	Mr James Oatridge	1 October 2006

The chief executive of the NIAER, Mr Iain Osborne, is also a member of the authority and was appointed on 23 August 2006 with OCPANI approval. One member of the authority lives in Northern Ireland.

EU: Charter of Fundamental Rights

Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current situation as regards the proposed European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights and its relevant agency in Vienna.[HL7891]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The charter of fundamental rights and freedoms signed in Nice on 7 December 2000 is a political declaration by the member states of the European Union. The Government expect that the separate Commission proposal to establish a European Union fundamental rights agency in Vienna as an extension of the mandate of the existing European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia will be submitted to the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 4 and 5 December 2006.

Fair Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to promote the concept of fair trade in Northern Ireland.[HL7830]

Lord Rooker: The Government fully support the concept of fair trade. As part of the Government commitment, it is planned to host a reception at Hillsborough Castle for representatives of local government and NGOs which will promote fair trade.