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UN Victims of Torture Fund: UK Contribution
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What contribution they will make to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture in 1998.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We intend to contribute at least £100,000 to the fund in 1998, a major increase over previous years contributions. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overall spending plans for the next financial year are of course, subject to parliamentary approval early in 1998.
Palestinians in West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 9 December (WA 19), what positive results, if any, have followed from the European Union dialogue with Israel about the Palestinian economy and the restrictions imposed upon it.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The EU/Israel dialogue has proven to be a useful mechanism for engaging Israel on the problems facing the Palestinian economy. Despite substantive discussions, the dialogue has yet to produce the intended results on the ground. During our presidency we will work closely with Special Envoy Moratinos to ensure it produces results that enhance Palestinian economic well-being.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What responses Israel has made to the request from the European Union and the United Kingdom to relax all restrictions on free movements of goods and people from the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Israel has removed most of the closure restrictions on the movement of goods and people it imposed following the Jerusalem bombings of 4 September. But significant barriers remain. We will continue to press Israel to remove unnecessary impediments to Palestinian travel and commerce, both bilaterally and through the EU dialogue with Israel.
Mr. Mordechai Vanunu
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether and when representations have been made to the Government of Israel concerning Mr. Mordechai Vanunu, his conditions of imprisonment, mental health and 18 year sentence; if so, with what result; and whether there has been any inter-governmental action on this matter.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have no formal standing to intervene in this case as there is no evidence of any illegality prior to his departure from the United Kingdom. Mr. Vanunu appears to have been treated in accordance with the normal judicial process in Israel. Nevertheless, on humanitarian grounds, we regularly raise with the Israelis the length of Mr. Vanunu's solitary confinement and did this most recently with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 17 December.
Caspian Sea Oil Reserves
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are satisfied that the estimates of substantial oil reserves in the Caspian Sea are accurate and, if those estimates were to prove
- exaggerated, what difference that might make to the Government's policy in the Transcaucasus.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is generally accepted that the oil reserves in the Caspian Sea are substantial, but estimates vary considerably. Our principal policy objectives in the Transcaucasus are underpinning the countries' independence and territorial integrity, supporting efforts to resolve conflicts, encouraging political and economic reform, and increasing bilateral trade. These objectives are unaffected by the level of Caspian oil reserves.
Vehicle Overloading on the M.20
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many vehicles have broken down on the M.20 in the last three years as a result, or partly as a result, of overloading; and whether the incidence of overloading is markedly higher on this road than is usual.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman): I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency, Mr. Ron Oliver, to write to my noble friend.
Letter to Lord Hardy of Wath from the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate, Mr. R. Oliver, dated 22 December 1997.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about vehicle breakdowns on the M.20 as a result of overloading. The Vehicle Inspectorate does not maintain statistics relating to vehicle breakdowns but does maintain overloading statistics. These are recorded by geographical area rather than individual roads. Details of vehicles prohibited over the last three years for carrying overweight loads in the South Eastern Area, which would include the M.20 are shown below:
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98(6) |
| Vehicles(5) weighed | Vehicles prohibited | Vehicles(5) weighed | Vehicles prohibited | Vehicles(5) weighed | Vehicles prohibited
| |
| 17,004 | 773 | 13,333 | 974 | 6,437 | 459 |
(5) Heavy goods vehicles and light goods vehicles only.
(6) Figures for period 1 April to 30 September 1997 only.
Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: The Health and Safety Laboratory has today published the 1996-97 Annual Report and Accounts, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Viscount Exmouth asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) cannot formally complete a report while the matter is the subject of either a prosecution or an appeal. In the case of the "Pescado", the criminal prosecution of the owner and operator and the subsequent appeal process ended in March 1997.
The MAIB is now completing its report. In accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1994, the final draft of the report will be sent to those whose reputation may be adversely affected. If passages in the report remain an issue, alternative text can be submitted to the MAIB within 28 days and these texts, if any, will be published as an appendix to the report. The report will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval to publish.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: The Kyoto Protocol allows for the possibility of emissions trading, subject to rules and guidelines to be developed. The Government will be working with their EU partners and other countries to develop the rules for emissions trading to ensure that it becomes a useful way to maximise reductions, and not a loophole.
The Kyoto Protocol only allows for emissions trading between countries with targets for the limitation or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which do not include developing countries at present.
Lord Cadman asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: No. The terms of the sale agreement between the British Railways Board and English, Welsh and Scottish Railways in respect of Railfreight Distribution are commercially confidential.
Lord Cadman asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: The net present value of cost of the sale to the British Railways Board is estimated at about £242 million. The biggest element comprises payments to Eurotunnel, to which BRB is in any case contractually committed.
Lord Cadman asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: The terms of the sale were approved by the European Commission prior to the sale's completion. The Commission found that the sale terms did not unduly distort competition. Since then, we have secured from the French Government and Eurotunnel commitments designed to increase international railfreight not only by Railfreight Distribution but also by potential new entrants to the market.
Whether the Health and Safety Laboratory intends to publish its Annual Report and Accounts for 1996-97.
Whether they are now in a position to make public the report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch into the sinking of the "Pescado" off the Cornish coast in 1991.
Whether they will agree to the setting up of a free market in pollution permits, as proposed by some parties at the Kyoto meeting on global warming; and, if so, what is their estimate of the effect this might have on the economic development of poor countries whose governments have sold off their permit entitlements.
Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the sale agreement of Railfreight Distribution to English, Welsh and Scottish Railways Ltd.
How much government money has been committed to English, Welsh and Scottish Railways Ltd. as part of the sale agreement to them of Railfreight Distribution.
How the sale of Railfreight Distribution to English, Welsh and Scottish Railways Ltd. complies with the European Community requirements for open access for rail freight through the Channel Tunnel.
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