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Written Answers
Tuesday, 29th October 1996.
Dependent Territories: Banking Secrecy
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will take steps to abolish the secrecy of offshore bank accounts in British Dependent Territories in the interests of detecting and preventing crime, except where genuine commercial confidentiality otherwise requires; and, if not, why not.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey): All Dependent Territories are taking substantial steps towards allowing both domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies the same access to otherwise confidential financial information as in the UK. These are important measures for the fight against international crime.
Eurostar and Channel Tunnel: Security
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they remain satisfied with the security arrangements for Eurostar and the Channel Tunnel in the light of the article in The Sunday Times of 15th September 1996 alleging "slack security".
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen): The Government are satisfied that the security measures in place are appropriate to the assessed risk.
Seat Belts
Lord Braine of Wheatley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their estimate of the total number of deaths and injuries prevented as a result of the compulsory wearing of seat belts.
Viscount Goschen: An estimated 5,100 lives and 96,000 serious injuries have been saved as a result of compulsory wearing in front seats. An estimated 740 lives and 9,400 serious injuries have been saved since July 1991 through wearing seat belts in the rear of cars.
Lord Braine of Wheatley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will publish in the Official Report a table showing the latest seat belt wearing rates (a) for a front seat and (b) for a rear seat.
Viscount Goschen: The latest survey by the Transport Research Laboratory, in April 1996, showed that 91 per cent. of drivers, 93 per cent. of front seat passengers and 65 per cent. of rear seat passengers in cars were wearing seat belts.
Waste Exports and Imports: Policy Changes
Lord Bowness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have to review the policies described in the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers): The Government's policies on exports and imports of waste are set out in the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste, which was published on 16th May 1996 following a period of public consultation in 1995 which included consultation with Community Member States and the European Commission. The plan came into operation on 1st June and reflects the Government's long standing policy of self sufficiency in waste disposal and the well established principle of proximity, namely that waste should be disposed of in, or as close as possible to, the country of origin.
Since the plan was published, the Government of the Republic of Ireland, through its Department of the Environment, has made a formal request to the Government to allow the continuing export of a limited quantity of specified clinical waste until the end of 1997. This request follows the closure of all but one of the Republic's clinical waste incinerators in recent years as a result of the more demanding emission standards imposed by European legislation. The Government are minded to agree to the request from the Government of the Republic on grounds of public health and safety and in line with the proximity principle. This exemption would be in order to allow the Republic time to bring its own facilities for the environmentally sound disposal of these wastes on stream.
It has also become apparent that the plan requires clarification on one minor aspect. The plan bans most imports of waste for disposal, but exceptions are made under limited circumstances for mainly chemical wastes moving for high temperature incineration. Since publication of the plan, there have been differences in interpretation of the definition of high temperature incineration. The Government propose therefore to clarify the definition to ensure that only those wastes destined for high temperature incineration in general-purpose chemical waste incinerators are permitted in the limited circumstances allowed under the plan.
My department has therefore today published, for consultation, details of these proposed changes. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House.
Questions on EU Spending: Currency Unit
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in giving answers to Questions concerning European spending programmes, they will state the amounts concerned in the legal tender of the United Kingdom and not in ecu.
The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish): The Government will continue to answer Questions in as informative and accurate a manner as possible. This may mean, depending on the precise Question, that amounts are best expressed in ecu, since the Community Budget is denominated in ecu (for example, in answer to a Question seeking information comparing spending across the Community in different years).
However, where the terms of the Question make it appropriate, amounts will continue to be expressed in pounds sterling as well as, or instead of, in ecu (for example, where a Question relates to Community spending in the UK).
Church Repairs: VAT
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether it remains within the power of Parliament to abolish VAT upon the repair of churches.
Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: The Government have agreed with our European partners not to introduce any new VAT zero rates.
Payments to Witnesses: Consultation Paper
Lord Skidelsky asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they propose to take to prevent payments to witnesses being made in judicial proceedings.
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern): The Government have today published a consultation paper, Payments to Witnesses, which invites comments on the proposal that payments to witnesses by the media, as well as offers of payment and requests for payment, should be prohibited. The Government consider that such payments can constitute a real risk to the administration of justice and that their prevalence justifies serious consideration of what action should be taken. We do not believe that the law in this area is clear or that the matter can be left to media self-regulation alone.
The paper seeks views, by 31st December 1996, on the proposal that payments, offers of payment, and requests for payment should be prohibited, and on specific questions relating to:
- whether the prohibition should take the form of a contempt of court or a criminal offence
- whether a risk of prejudice to the proceedings need be proved
- whether an intention to interfere with the course of justice need be proved
- at what stage the prohibition should begin
- whether the prohibition should cease at the end of the trial
- whether there should be any defences.
MEPs' Expenses
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe asked the Chairman of Committees:
- Whether he will place in the Library a videotape of the programme "Fat Cats", about the expenses claims of MEPs, broadcast on ITV on Thursday 17th October; and whether he will arrange for a showing for Members of the House.
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham): A video tape of the programme has been obtained by the Library. Lords may view the programme using the video facilities available in the Television Room on the Committee Corridor.
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