House of Lords - Minute

House of Lords - Minute

House of Lords

Session 1998-99
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NOTICES AND ORDERS OF THE DAY

Items marked † are new or have been altered.

Items marked ‡ are expected to be taken during the dinner adjournment.

WEDNESDAY 28TH JULY

At half-past two o’clock

Introductions—

The Lord Watson of Richmond

and

The Lord King of West Bromwich

will be introduced.
*The Lord Montagu of Beaulieu—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek ways to exclude historic road and rail vehicles from the proposed Pressure Equipment Regulations shortly to be introduced, so as not to add regulatory burdens to this part of the National Transport Heritage.
*The Lord Graham of Edmonton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to improve the distribution of British films.
*The Lord Tombs—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to publish their response to the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on “The Management of Nuclear Waste” (HL Paper 41), published on 24th March.
*The Viscount Bridgeman—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in identifying an official residence in Edinburgh for the Secretary of State for Scotland.
†Business of the House—The Baroness Jay of Paddington to move, That Standing Order 38 (Arrangement of the Order Paper) be dispensed with tomorrow to allow the motion relating to financial assistance to opposition parties to be taken before the Committee stage of the Greater London Authority Bill.
Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill—The Baroness Hollis of Heigham to move, That the amendments for the Report stage be marshalled and considered in the following order:

Clauses 1 to 6

Schedule 1

Clauses 7 to 18

Schedule 2

Clause 19

Schedule 3

Clauses 20 and 21

Schedule 4

Clauses 22 to 32

Schedule 5

Clauses 33 to 47

Schedule 6

Clauses 48 to 55

Schedule 7

Clauses 56 to 66

Schedule 8

Clauses 67 to 70

Schedules 9 and 10

Clauses 71 to 77

Schedule 11

Clauses 78 to 80

Schedule 12

Clauses 81 to 83

Schedule 13

Clauses 84 to 86.

Immigration and Asylum Bill—House to be again in Committee [The Lord Williams of Mostyn] [22nd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
‡The Lord Wade of Chorlton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they provide an appropriate level of support for the export of United Kingdom environmental technologies and services.

THURSDAY 29TH JULY
*The Lord Hardy of Wath—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the average increase in the budgets and in the number of police officers employed in the police forces of England this year.
*The Earl of Clanwilliam—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept the recent projection of pension costs in Germany, France and Italy at 16 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in 2000, and, if so, what United Kingdom taxes, if any, are likely to be subject to harmonisation.
*The Lord Chesham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they would give in relation to security measures to be taken by owners of conditionally exempt chattels for inheritance tax purposes who are required by the Inland Revenue to open private houses to the public.
†*The Baroness Williams of Crosby—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to investigate the killing of 14 ethnic Serb farmers in Kosovo.
†Greater London Authority Bill—House to be again in Committee [The Lord Whitty] [16th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
†The Baroness Jay of Paddington—To move, That, in the opinion of this House, the provisions of this Resolution should have effect in relation to the giving of financial assistance to opposition parties and to the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in this House:

(1) The Resolution of the House of 27th November 1996 shall have effect as if paragraph (2)(b) provided for £216,842 and £65,052 respectively to be the maximum amounts of financial assistance which may be given for the year beginning with 1st April 1999.
(2) Financial assistance shall be available to assist the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers in carrying out Parliamentary business on behalf of the Crossbench Peers.
(3) The maximum amounts of financial assistance which may be given to the Convenor under this Resolution shall be—

(a) for the period beginning with 1st October 1999 and ending with 31st March 2000, £10,000;
(b) for the year beginning with 1st April 2000, £20,000, but increased by the percentage (if any) by which the retail prices index for March 2000 has increased compared with the index for March 1999, and (if the resulting amount is not a whole number of pounds) rounded to the nearest pound; and
(c) for each subsequent year, the maximum amount for the previous year but increased by the percentage (if any) by which the retail prices index for the previous March has increased compared with the index for the March before that, and (if the resulting amount is not a whole number of pounds) rounded to the nearest pound.

(4) Any claims for financial assistance under this Resolution are to be made to the Accounting Officer of the House; and, in claiming such assistance, the Convenor shall—

(a) furnish that Officer with a statement of the facts on which the claim is based;
(b) certify to that Officer that the expenses in respect of which the assistance is claimed have been incurred exclusively in relation to Parliamentary business on behalf of the Crossbench Peers; and
(c) as soon as practicable after each 31st March following the passing of this Resolution furnish that Officer with the certificate of an independent professional auditor to the effect that all expenses in respect of which the financial assistance was claimed during the period ending with that day were incurred as mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) above.

(5) In this Resolution—

(a) “the retail prices index” means the general index of retail prices (for all items) published by the Office for National Statistics (or any index or figures published by that Office in place of that index); and
(b) “year” means a year beginning with 1st April.

‡The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what examples they have of good practice in long-term overseas development, with special reference to Africa and India.

FRIDAY 30TH JULY

[At eleven o’clock]
Food Standards Bill—Second Reading [The Lord Donoughue]
†In the event that the bill is read a Second Time, the Lord Donoughue to move, That the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.

MONDAY 11TH OCTOBER
Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill—Report [The Baroness Hollis of Heigham]
‡The Lord Wallace of Saltaire—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the significance of the European Council at Tampere on 15th and 16th October for United Kingdom policing, immigration control and judicial co-operation.

TUESDAY 12TH OCTOBER

Introduction—

†The Lord Carlile of Berriew

will be introduced.
‡The Lord Freyberg—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their plans for the funding and role of art colleges in the United Kingdom.

WEDNESAY 13TH OCTOBER
‡The Lord McNair—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will reconsider their support for the American cruise missile attack on the al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in the light of subsequent scientific and technical reports on the matter.
[It is expected that the Report stage of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill will be concluded this day]

THURSDAY 14TH OCTOBER
‡The Lord Luke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in promoting the regeneration of seaside resorts.

FRIDAY 15TH OCTOBER
The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury—To call attention to the role of religions in the promotion of international order and the avoidance of international disorder; and to move for papers.

TUESDAY 26TH OCTOBER

Introductions—

The Lord Fellowes

will be introduced,

and

Lyndon Harrison, Esq.

will be introduced as a Baron.

WEDNESDAY 27TH OCTOBER

Introduction—

The Lord Grabiner

will be introduced.

NO DAY NAMED

PART I
The Lord Simon of Glaisdale—To move to resolve, That the prolixity of the Statute Book has increased, is increasing and ought to be diminished.
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on the institutional and financing reforms, including the re-weighting of votes in the Council of Ministers, necessary for European Union enlargement.
The Lord Barnett—To call attention to the prospects for the United Kingdom joining EMU in the foreseeable future; and to move for papers.
The Lord Paul—To call attention to the role of privately owned businesses in the British economy; and to move for papers.
The Lord Vinson—To call attention to the case for using nuclear energy to meet the United Kingdom’s Kyoto Conference obligations for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions; and to move for papers.
The Lord Rea—To call attention to the Report of the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health chaired by Sir Donald Acheson; and to move for papers.
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to reduce the incidence of violent and disruptive behaviour by passengers on aircraft entering or leaving the United Kingdom.
The Earl of Gowrie—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the recent financial settlement for the arts constitutes a stable basis of arts funding for the early years of the forthcoming millennium.
The Baroness Denton of Wakefield—To call attention to the future for small businesses in the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Hooper—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current policy towards Cuba.
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to their response to the 6th Report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Public Administration (Session 1997-98), whether they will clarify how the Strategic Communications Unit distinguishes between legitimate activity on behalf of the Government and activity which could unduly advantage the party of Government.
The Earl of Longford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their policy that an individual convicted three times of burglary should be sentenced to at least three years in prison was formulated with full regard to the alternatives to prison in such cases.
The Baroness Denton of Wakefield—To call attention to the role of the Minister for Women; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Carlisle—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will arrange for a pardon to be granted to the 343 officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers from the United Kingdom and the British Empire, who, during the First World War, were “shot at dawn”.
The Lord Taverne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the arrangements now in force to ensure the safety of genetically modified foods.
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to comply with their obligation under section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, which came into force on 1st October 1997, to establish a central computerised register of persons who have applied for a firearm or shotgun certificate or to whom a firearm or shotgun certificate has been granted.
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To call attention to the renewal of arms export licences for British companies selling arms to Indonesia; and to move for papers.
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their view of the current divergences between the United States, Russia and China about the future of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and their effect on the credibility of the British thermonuclear deterrent.
The Lord Judd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is now their policy towards a sustainable peace settlement in the Middle East five years after the signing of the Oslo Peace Agreement.
The Earl of Mar and Kellie—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a strategy for the safe disposal of sewage sludge and waste in Scotland.
The Baroness Byford—To call attention to the contribution made by rural businesses to the United Kingdom economy; and to move for papers.
The Lord Chadlington—To call attention to the levels of suicide in the United Kingdom, particularly amongst the young, the elderly and those in high risk occupations such as farming; to consider ways in which such suicides can be reduced; and to move for papers.
The Lord Harris of High Cross—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they approve of the policy of the National Trust and Wealden District Council to permit the continuing erosion of the cliff at Birling Gap near Eastbourne which affects homes, local employment and tourism.
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy regarding the planning provisions and facilities for General Aviation (GA).
The Earl of Clancarty—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what help is being given to artists (including writers, performing artists and visual artists) whose work in the field of culture is unable to generate a living income for them.
The Lord Methuen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider revoking dormant mineral planning consents granted before 1960.
The Earl of Kinnoull—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with arrangements for air traffic control at London’s airports and what is their response to recent reports of near misses between civil aircraft.
The Viscount Tenby—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to raise public awareness of the dangers of excessive speeding.
The Earl of Listowel—To call attention to the case for an increase in specialised high quality hostel provision for young homeless people addicted to drugs or alcohol; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Listowel—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to increase the availability of counselling for young homeless people.
The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to expedite the British Coal Respiratory Disease Handling Agreement.
The Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the contribution of the city of Aberdeen and North-East Scotland to the economy of the United Kingdom.
The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will encourage India and Pakistan to sign the nuclear Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they would support lifting of sanctions and debt relief for India and Pakistan if they resolve the Kashmir problem in accordance with the United Nations Resolutions.
The Lord Ahmed—To ask HMG whether they intend to extend to the rest of the United Kingdom legislation which applies in Northern Ireland against religious discrimination.
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they consider will be the impact of the broadcasting revolution on the 8.7 million deaf and hard of hearing people who live in the United Kingdom.
The Lord Redesdale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to help reconstruction and development in Mozambique.
The Viscount Waverley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it would assist future conflict resolution if United Nations, Commonwealth, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Organisation for African Unity principles were modernised by clarifying the criteria when the right of self determination can supersede that of territorial integrity.
The Earl of Clancarty—To call attention to the United Kingdom-wide effects of devolution, including the institution of the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, on the arts and their administration; and to move for papers.
The Lord Northbourne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they consider to be the role of fathers in the family and in the rearing of children, whether they believe that role to be important, and what they are doing to support men in their role as fathers.
The Lord Chalfont—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the issues raised in the Computer Weekly report RAF Justice are serious enough to justify re-opening the RAF Board of Inquiry into the crash of Chinook Helicopter ZD576 on the Mull of Kintyre on 2nd June 1994.
The Lord Teviot—To ask HMG whether the level of blood stocks and public participation in blood donation are adequate.
The Lord Morris of Castle Morris—To ask HMG what is their policy on the education of nurses.
The Lord Chadlington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what policies they are considering to realise the full potential of the Internet and prevent its exploitation.
The Lord Swinfen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they consider should be taken to ensure that the Tourism For All initiative is a success.
The Lord St John of Fawsley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the present uses of the Royal Parks are appropriate.
The Lord Ewing of Kirkford—To call attention to the BBC’s reporting of the NATO operation in Kosovo; and to move for papers.
The Lord Thomas of Swynnerton—To call attention to the future sovereignty of Gibraltar; and to move for papers.
House of Lords Bill—The Duke of Montrose to move, That the bill be referred to the Examiners.
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will hold and publish a political, military and economic review of the recent NATO campaign in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The Lord Bishop of Salisbury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered the Women’s Institute report The Changing Village, and what is their response.
The Lord Paul—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to encourage parents to play a more positive role in the education of their children.
The Lord Monk Bretton—To call attention to milk marketing in the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.
The Lord Grantchester—To ask HMG how their proposals for the milk industry and in particular for the supply of raw milk will affect the rural economy.
The Earl of Clancarty—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they believe culture and the arts relate to the issue of “social exclusion”.
The Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will take steps to end the present mandatory requirement on personal pension fund holders to purchase an annuity at the age of 75, in view of the present low return on such annuities.
The Lord Vivian—To call attention to H M Armed Forces and the measures required to reduce overstretch; and to move for papers.
†The Lord Clifford of Chudleigh—To move, That the House of Lords Bill (as amended on Report) be referred to the Examiners in respect of clause 2(1) and (2).

PART II

SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS

[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]
The Lord Tombs—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Management of Nuclear Waste (3rd Report, HL Paper 41). [24th March]
The Lord Reay—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on A Reformed CAP? The outcome of Agenda 2000 (8th Report, HL Paper 61). [25th May]
The Lord Hope of Craighead—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Prosecuting Fraud on the Communities’ Finances—the Corpus Juris (9th Report, HL Paper 62). [26th May]
The Lord Geddes—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Electricity from Renewables (12th Report, HL Paper 78). [7th July]
The Earl of Cranbrook—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Waste Incineration (11th Report, HL Paper 71). [21st July]

QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

[Tabled or amended on 27th July, or unanswered after 21 days]
27th May
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the amount spent on entertaining at (a) No. 10 Downing Street and (b) No. 11 Downing Street in each of the years 1996 and 1998, and the breakdown between food, champagne, and other wines and spirits.      (HL2746)
16th June
The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Answers by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 19th May (HL Deb, cols. 294-296) and 7th June (WA 121), (a) whether the Minister for the Environment was correctly quoted in The Times of 12th April as saying “Scientific opinion on genetically modified organisms is split and the new committee [Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment] will reflect this”; and if he was, (b) how this principle can be reconciled with the Answers already given; (c) whether this principle has general application to other committees; and (d) how it relates to the recruitment of “people’s judges” to the main scientific advisory bodies to monitor GM developments.      (HL3063)
The Lord HolmPatrick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will cause the total output of Improvement Notices served by Official Veterinary Surgeons to be subject to independent scrutiny with a view to determining how many non-statutory works have been required.      (HL3084)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the total costs to the Meat Hygiene Service in the last financial year, including bonuses and social security costs, in employing Official Veterinary Surgeons while carrying out inspection duties under EC Directive 91/497/EEC in slaughterhouses and cutting plants.      (HL3090)
The Viscount Exmouth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a slaughterhouse owner is entitled to refuse entry to a slaughterhall to any Meat Hygiene Service official who is incorrectly dressed or is wearing protective clothing which is contaminated or insufficiently clean.      (HL3097)
The Viscount Exmouth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether slaughterhouse owners and operators are entitled to have access to the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual for the purpose of study and verification; and whether it will cause one copy of the manual to be supplied to each licensed premises for the exclusive use of slaughterhouse operators.      (HL3100)
The Lord Stanley of Alderley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, owing to the difficulties experienced by the Meat Hygiene Service in recruiting official veterinary officers to service abattoirs in remote areas, it is fair that some small abattoirs should be required to pay a higher hourly rate for their Official Veterinary Surgeons, plus travelling time, than abattoirs in more accessible locations.      (HL3102)
The Lord Stanley of Alderley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants they expect to close as a direct result of the increase in veterinary hours imposed on their operators; and whether this will represent, overall, an improvement in the hygiene of the meat supply.      (HL3103)
The Lord Stanley of Alderley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether slaughterhouse owners and operators are entitled to ask for verbal directions and advice given to them or their staff by Official Veterinary Surgeons to be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable after they have been given; and whether they will instruct the Meat Hygiene Service to make arrangements to ensure that such directions and advice are so confirmed.      (HL3104)
The Lord Rowallan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a slaughterhouse owner or operator is entitled to exclude from his premises any member of the Meat Hygiene Service staff who is so disruptive as to interfere unlawfully in the conduct of operations.      (HL3109)
The Lord Rowallan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a slaughterhouse owner who, on being instructed to carry out works by way of an Improvement Notice served by an Official Veterinary Surgeon, carries out those works and then, subsequently, discovers that those works were not a statutory requirement, is entitled to claim compensation for the costs of those works; and to whom any claim should be addressed.      (HL3110)
The Earl of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the relevant provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (section 40, Codes of Practice) apply to Meat Hygiene Service engaged in enforcement duties; and, if not, why not.      (HL3115)
The Earl of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many hours of practical tuition, and practical experience in slaughterhouses under supervision, Official Veterinary Surgeons are required to have in post-mortem inspection of animals; and how much of that time is spent in carrying out the post-mortem inspection of animals.      (HL3117)
The Lord Glentoran—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Regulation 10 Notices under the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations were served by Official Veterinary Surgeons, employed by the Meat Hygiene Service, in the financial years 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.      (HL3119)
The Earl Alexander of Tunis—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a slaughterhouse owner or operator is required to carry out a direction from an Official Veterinary Surgeon if compliance would lead to committing an illegal act.      (HL3126)
21st June
The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the rates of total condemnation in bovine, ovine and porcine species have been for the financial years 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.      (HL3189)
The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are in force for liaison between the Meat Hygiene Service and local authorities, outside the periodic meetings with the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards.      (HL3190)
The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times in the last financial year representatives of the Meat Hygiene Service met with representatives of the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Trading Standards.      (HL3191)
The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what formal system is in place for Meat Hygiene Inspectors employed by the Meat Hygiene Service to complain about the competence and performance of Official Veterinary Surgeons in slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants; and what measures exist to prevent Inspectors who complain from being victimised.      (HL3192)
The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will set up a telephone help-line to enable Meat Hygiene Inspectors to make complaints about the performance and competence of Official Veterinary Surgeons.      (HL3193)
The Lord HolmPatrick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the level of non-productive time booked by the Meat Hygiene Service working in slaughterhouses during 1997-98 and 1998-99, in terms of number of hours and as a proportion of the total hours available.      (HL3200)
The Lord HolmPatrick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Official Veterinary Surgeons employed by the Meat Hygiene Service have been subjected to disciplinary procedures, either formal or informal, for failure to follow the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual.      (HL3201)
The Lord HolmPatrick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government where the responsibility for carrying out statutory duties in meat inspection lies; whether Meat Hygiene Inspectors are authorised specifically in writing to carry out these duties; and, if so, who signs the authorisations.      (HL3202)
The Lord HolmPatrick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether an assessment of the health and safety of Meat Hygiene Service staff working in meat cutting plants and abattoirs has been carried out; and, if so, what recommendations have been made.      (HL3203)
The Lord HolmPatrick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether asking Meat Hygiene Inspectors employed by the Meat Hygiene Service to sign the Official Secrets Act is an appropriate use of this Act.      (HL3204)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is appropriate for an experienced Meat Hygiene Inspector to take instructions from a junior veterinary surgeon who holds the post of Official Veterinary Surgeon, as to the judgment of meat fitness during post-mortem inspections.      (HL3206)
22nd June
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much the meat industry has contributed to the pension fund for Meat Hygiene Service staff in the last financial year; and how much it is estimated that it will contribute in the current financial year.      (HL3227)
23rd June
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 16th June (WA 28), whether a Meat Hygiene Service operations manual is issued to owners or operators of every licensed slaughterhouse and cutting plant to enable them to follow the procedures for appeals against Hygiene Assessment Scheme scores.      (HL3255)
The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a slaughterhouse owner, who suspects that an animal presented for slaughter at his establishment may produce meat in which veterinary medicines residues may be above the statutory limits, may require a sample to be procured by an Official Veterinary Surgeon for transmission to and testing by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate; and whether he is entitled to receive a result in sufficient time to release the carcass, should residue levels be within acceptable limits.      (HL3256)
The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the trimming of carcasses in a slaughterhouse by Meat Hygiene Service personnel, to remove contamination, increases the risk of penetration of bacteria into deep muscle by way of the exposed, cut surfaces.      (HL3257)
The Lord Blyth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what performance indicators are used to measure the performance of the Meat Hygiene Service.      (HL3261)
24th June
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the interests of justice in the former Yugoslavia, they will discuss with Amnesty International the legal cases arising from the death in custody of Mr Sefik Mujkic in Croatia and the alleged miscarriage of justice in the case of the “Zvornic Seven”, heard in the Republika Srpska.      (HL3289)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 16th June (WA 28), how many hours they estimate would be reasonable to allocate to the training of candidate Official Veterinary Surgeons in the Hygiene Assessment Scheme (HAS); and how they can be satisfied that the training of Official Veterinary Surgeons in the implementation of the HAS is adequate, since they are unable to state how many hours are devoted to the HAS in the conversion training for Official Veterinary Surgeons.      (HL3299)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total expenditure on offices and administration for the Meat Hygiene Service for the last financial year.      (HL3304)
The Viscount Long—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Meat Hygiene Service requires any records to be kept as to the number of carcasses in slaughterhouses which have been recommended for condemnation by Meat Hygiene Inspectors, following post mortem inspections, where those recommendations have been rejected by Official Veterinary Surgeons.      (HL3321)
The Viscount Long—To ask Her Majesty’s Government to whom, and in what manner, a Meat Hygiene Inspector may appeal in the event that his recommendation to condemn a carcass in a slaughterhouse, following his post mortem inspection, is rejected by his Official Veterinary Surgeon; and what arrangements are in force for the retention of such a carcass pending the determination of any appeal.      (HL3322)
The Viscount Long—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the event that a Meat Hygiene Inspector determines, following a post mortem inspection in a slaughterhouse, that a carcass should be condemned, and his recommendation is rejected by his Official Veterinary Surgeon, whether the Meat Hygiene Inspector is obliged to apply his personal stamp; and who takes responsibility for the condition of the carcass in the event that the meat derived from it is subsequently found to be unfit.      (HL3323)
The Viscount Long—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what training Official Veterinary Surgeons receive in the investigation of food poisoning; and how much time is allocated to this subject.      (HL3324)
The Lord Palmer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many letters to slaughterhouse owners and operators were written and signed by the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service in the financial years 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99; and how many letters sent by slaughterhouse owners and operators, addressed to the chief executive, were received by the Meat Hygiene Service in the same periods.      (HL3327)
The Lord Palmer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why, if other European Union Member States are complying fully with the requirements for Official Veterinary Surgeon attendance in slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants, the Meat Hygiene Service, or its contractors, are able to recruit veterinary surgeons from those Member States, especially Spain which has large red meat and poultry industries of its own.      (HL3328)
25th June
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff of the Meat Hygiene Service have been charged with, or convicted of, criminal offences which were committed at times when those staff were employed by the Meat Hygiene Service or its contractors.      (HL3339)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Meat Hygiene Service staff are required to comply with the instructions set out in the Meat Hygiene Service operation manual at all times; and what action is taken by the Meat Hygiene Service if they do not.      (HL3340)
28th June
The Lord Shore of Stepney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the European Commission’s Information Programme for European Citizens (Prince) was first introduced; what annual expenditures have been financed under it; and what is the Treaty Article on which the Commission’s programme is based.      (HL3359)
1st July
The Viscount Long—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether for each employee of the Meat Hygiene Service who has visited countries outside the European Union in 1998 or 1999 they will list (a) the countries; (b) the date of the visit and its duration; (c) the grade of the employee; (d) the total cost of each visit; (e) whether these costs were met from the budget of the Meat Hygiene Service or the budget of a named Government Department; and (f) the purpose of the visit.      (HL3452)
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any areas are held definitely not to be in the Euro-Atlantic area; and whether all former member states of the Soviet Union are deemed to be within it.      (HL3464)
27th July
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered the implications for the World Trade Organisation of the 13th July speech of Mr Dan Glickman, United States Secretary of Agriculture, in which he disclosed inadequacies in the current United States system for regulating biotechnologically modified crops and animals; and whether they will encourage the World Trade Organisation (a) to review the work of any panels using scientific research originating in the United States; and (b) to review any fines, etc., arising from these panels’ judgments.      (HL3877)
The Lord Morris of Castle Morris—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which post will be used as a trial for the tape recording of entry clearance interviews, as recommended in the Foreign Affairs Committee Report on entry clearance work on July 1998.      (HL3978)
The Baroness Mallalieu—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide an update on the future of the Cattle Health Scheme.      (HL3979)
The Baroness Mallalieu—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made in meeting the service delivery targets set out in the paper Commitment to Service.      (HL3980)
The Lord Evans of Watford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there have been any recent cases of spinal cord discovered in imported beef.      (HL3981)
The Lord Hardy of Wath—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to receive a report from the Veterinary Products Committee on the safety of veterinary medicines other than sheep dips which have an organophosphorus compound as the active ingredient.      (HL3982)
The Earl Russell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, as part of their Health Impact Assessment, they will collect information showing what percentage of sufferers from malnutrition are—

(a) on means-tested Social Security benefits; and

(b) disentitled to means-tested benefits to which their means would otherwise have entitled them.      (HL3983)
The Earl Russell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will pay ex gratia compensation to homosexual partners bereaved in the bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub; and whether they will review the guidelines for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in the light of Article 14 of the European Convention of Human Rights.      (HL3984)
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what meetings have been held, and with whom, to discuss proposals to display the Elgin Marbles in Athens under the auspices of the British Museum; and when they expect to make an announcement about the outcome of such meetings.      (HL3985)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22nd July (WA 118-119), whether they will publish the terms and conditions of service which were agreed on the appointment of the present Chair of the British Council.      (HL3986)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22nd July (WA 118-119), what further information they have on the question which has been raised by the Charity Commissioners regarding the payment of any honorarium to a trustee of a body with charity status.      (HL3987)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22nd July (WA 118-119), why the details of the terms and conditions of previous Chairmen of the British Council prior to 1992 are not readily available.      (HL3988)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it remains Government policy that the provision of aid should not be linked to compliance with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.      (HL3989)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on the institutional and financing reforms, including re-weighting of votes in the Council of Ministers, necessary for European Union enlargement.      (HL3990)
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the job description for a new Chief Executive of the Royal Parks emphasises the need for accountancy skills and an ability for income generation, with a proven ability to manage the care of large scale horticultural and landscape features and/or sensitive major visitor attractions is desirable but not essential; and how a performance related bonus is to be calculated.      (HL3991)
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many persons hold accountancy qualifications per head of population in the United Kingdom; and how this compares with figures for other European Union Member States.      (HL3992)
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what meaning they currently attach in their policies to the phrase “value for money”.      (HL3993)
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed with the United States Administration the possibility of the latter bombing, or otherwise destroying, North Korea’s missile fabrication facilities, in the cause of pre-emptive counterproliferation; if not, whether they will now do so; and whether such an attack would be in accordance with international law.      (HL3994)
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend terminating the bombing of Iraq by the United Kingdom and the United States which was described by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean as an “exceptional” and “limited” use of force, as “the only means to avert an immediate and overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe” (16th November 1998, WA 140); and whether in the light of an objective assessment of the factual circumstances and currently developing opinions in the Security Council, they will now consult the Security Council concerning the usefulness of the bombing.      (HL3995)
The Lord Kennet—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the British contribution to, and level of participation, in the United Nations space conference recently held in Vienna.      (HL3996)
The Baroness Blatch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Social Exclusion Unit Report “Teenage Pregnancy” quoted a number of research projects such as Kirby et al, Reducing the risk, 1991: and Vincent et al, School and community program for sexual risk reduction amongst teens, 1987, which had been described by the Social Science Research Unit as methodologically unsound.      (HL3997)
The Baroness Blatch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the Institute of Public Policy and Research applied for charitable status; on what date it was granted; who was the original applicant; and who was the original treasurer.      (HL3998)
The Baroness Blatch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much tax relief has been given on covenanted monies to the Institute of Public Policy and Research.      (HL3999)
The Baroness Blatch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which trustees of the Institute of Public Policy and Research—

(a) have become Government Ministers; and

(b) have been given public appointments.      (HL4000)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the registered charity “Iran Aid”, how many existing beneficiaries Iran Aid has (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) elsewhere; and what amount of funds Iran Aid is holding for its beneficiaries.      (HL4001)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the registered charity “Iran Aid”, why no report has been produced by the Charity Commissioners on the affairs of the charity, despite investigations lasting over one year; what will be the cost, if any, to the charity of the investigation into its affairs; when they expect a report to be available; and whether it will be published.      (HL4002)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the registered charity “Iran Aid”, whether they consider that the investigation into the affairs of the charity may have breached the rules of natural justice, or infringed the European Convention on Human Rights.      (HL4003)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the genetically engineered hormone rBST, which stimulates IGF-I, a blood hormone which causes cells to divide, how many cows in the United Kingdom have so far been injected with such a modified hormone; whether the milk of such cows has been sold without special labelling or health warning; if so, in what quantities; and over what period.      (HL4004)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the genetically engineered hormone rBST, which stimulates IGF-I, a blood hormone which causes cells to divide, whether women with relatively small increases in their blood-levels of IGF-I are up to seven times more likely to develop post-menopausal breast cancer.      (HL4005)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the genetically engineered hormone rBST, which stimulates IGF-I, a blood hormone which causes cells to divide, what research has been carried out into the side-effects of rBST in cows, such as increased mastitis and higher antibiotic residues in milk; whether research has been, or will be, commissioned into related sterility, birth defects, cancer and immunological derangements in both cows and humans; and, if not, why not.      (HL4006)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on gathering performance data on routine audiology and hearing aid services; and whether they have any plans to enhance the information collected for performance management.      (HL4007)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the expenditure by the Department of Health on literature and publicity promoting hearing tests for each of the last five years.      (HL4008)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many corneal, renal, liver and heart transplant operations have been carried out in each of the countries of the European Union in each of the last ten years; and what are the corresponding figures for road traffic accident deaths.      (HL4009)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which countries received subsidies under the European Union tobacco regime; and what was the total value of those subsidies for each of the years from 1988 to 1998.      (HL4010)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have given any consideration to funding access to justice in clinical negligence cases by paying for expert reports and after-event insurance combined with a conditional fee agreement instead of paying for legal services.      (HL4011)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their view of the operation of after-event insurance for clinical negligence cases funded by the conditional fee system.      (HL4012)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why, if the number of junior doctors breaching the nationally agreed limits on hours worked is now rising, they are delaying implementing the Working Time Directive for juniors by agreeing to no upper limit on weekly working hours for the first four years and a sixty hour limit for the following three years.      (HL4013)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the number of junior doctors working in excess of the nationally agreed limits on hours has risen by 78 per cent since September 1998; and whether one in four junior doctors now work in excess of the new deal arrangements.      (HL4014)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether patients have had the right to have their varicose veins, sebaceous cysts and lipomas operated on under the National Health Service; if so, whether that right still exists; and, if not, what is their attitude to the provision of private health case for these patients.      (HL4015)
The Lord Higgins—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 22nd July (WA 116) concerning the A2, how it is that the Greenwich Borough Council were unaware that the traffic islands on the A2 at Blackheath were unlit at night for many weeks; why regular inspection was not carried out; whether the Department of Transport will now carry out a full inquiry into the way in which the road works on Blackheath have been carried out without safety inspections; what sub-contractors have been employed; and whether they are satisfied with the performance of Greenwich Borough Council in acting as a Highway Authority.      (HL4016)
The Lord Higgins—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 23rd July (WA 134) concerning the A2 at Kender Street, what cost/benefit analysis has been carried out which suggests that the advantage of replacing the pedestrian zebra crossing with traffic lights at Kender Street outweighs the delay to traffic, congestion and pollution caused by the traffic lights; what evidence there is that the traffic lights will improve the traffic on the Red Route rather than slow it; and, in view of the congestion caused by switching on the lights ahead of the rest of the new system, whether they will now be switched off until it is completed.      (HL4017)
The Lord Higgins—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 23rd July (WA 134) concerning the A2 at Kender Street, by how many weeks the work by Greenwich Borough Council has fallen behind schedule; and what penalties will be imposed for failure to complete on time.      (HL4018)
The Lord Patten—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will allow spouses to take out a marriage contract which permits divorce only on the grounds of fault in order to give legal force to their marriage vows.      (HL4019)
The Earl of Clancarty—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 26th July (WA 154), on what grounds each of the relevant national museums and galleries operate a policy of no re-admission to temporary exhibitions which carry an entrance fee.      (HL4020)
The Lord Robertson of Oakridge—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they stand by the assurance given by the Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish on behalf of the then Government on 15th June 1995 (HL Deb, col. 1957) that the bill which became the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 covered all medical services.      (HL4021)
The Lord Robertson of Oakridge—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as regards the provision of health services to disabled people, especially those with Down’s Syndrome, are properly understood.      (HL4022)
The Lord Robertson of Oakridge—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a legal definition has been established for the term “paedophile”.      (HL4023)
The Lord Sefton of Garston—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will give consideration to the possibility of a referendum being held on the question of the United Kingdom becoming a republic.      (HL4024)
The Lord Shore of Stepney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15th July (WA 55), on what occasions the Council of Ministers has considered the Resolution of 15th July 1998 of the European Parliament on common principles for elections to the European Parliament.      (HL4025)
The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many deaths from new variant CJD in the past decade are known to result from eating beef.      (HL4026)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce legislation to prevent employers in Wales from discriminating against British subjects who cannot speak Welsh.      (HL4027)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 22nd July (WA 115) concerning the costs to the National Health Service of smoking-related illness, how the estimates of such costs were arrived at.      (HL4028)
The Lord Kirkwood—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are funding any development of personnel mine clearing devices; if so, what type of device they are supporting; and what level of reliability for clearance they require.      (HL4029)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what pesticide rules apply to the offshore farmed fish industry.      (HL4030)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what particular codes of conduct apply to the offshore farmed fish industry.      (HL4031)
The Viscount Exmouth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22nd July (WA 118) and in light of the fact that a diplomatic passport does not provide proof of diplomatic immunity, whether they will—

(a) outline the guidelines issued to the courts for deciding whether a claimant is entitled to immunity; and

(b) list the number and nationalities of those applications for diplomatic immunity which have come before the courts during the last three years.      (HL4032)

BILLS IN PROGRESS

[The date in brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]
To be heard by the Examiners on Friday 30th July at 11.00 am

Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (Amendment of Rules)

Waiting for Second Reading

Further and Higher Education (Scotland) (Amendment) [HL]
European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) [HL]
Food Standards [30th July]
Mental Health (Amendment) (Scotland)

Committed to a Select Committee

City of Newcastle upon Tyne [HL]

Committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee

Medway Council [HL]
Kent County Council [HL]

Committed to a Committee of the Whole House

Freedom of Information [HL]
Greater London Authority [29th July]
European Tax Harmonisation (Veto) [HL]
European Community Legislation (Impact) [HL]
Parliamentary Government [HL]
Immigration and Asylum [28th July]
Northern Ireland
Time Zones and Summer Time (Devolution) [HL]

Waiting for Report

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty [HL]
Welfare Reform and Pensions [11th October]

Waiting for Third Reading

House of Lords
United Reformed Church [HL]

Sent to the Commons

Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) [HL]
Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) [HL]
European Parliamentary Elections (Gibraltar) [HL]
Scottish Parliamentary Constituencies [HL]
Road Traffic Regulation (Cycle Parking) [HL]
Obscenity [HL]
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) [HL]
Academic and Academic-Related Staff Pay and Conditions [HL]
Road Traffic (Enforcement Powers) [HL]
Genetically Modified Crops [HL]
Road Traffic (Use of Mobile Telephones) [HL]
Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) [HL]
London Local Authorities [HL]
Baxi Partnership Limited Trusts [HL]

AFFIRMATIVE INSTRUMENTS IN PROGRESS
Waiting for Consideration by the Joint Committee

Draft Tax Credit (New Category of Child Care Provider) Regulations 1999
Draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1999
Draft Working Time Regulations 1999
Draft Financial Services Act 1986 (Restriction of Exemption) Order 1999

Waiting for Affirmative Resolution

Draft Courses for Drink-Drive Offenders (Experimental Period) (Termination of Restrictions) Order 1999
Draft Jobseeker’s Allowance Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1999

SPECIAL PROCEDURE ORDER IN PROGRESS
Referred to a Joint Committee

City of Stoke-on-Trent Tunstall Northern By-Pass Local Government Act Compulsory Purchase Order 1997

COMMITTEES

[Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms

in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheets]

WEDNESDAY 28TH JULY

Science and Technology (Sub-Committee II) 10.30 am

(Science and Society)

Committee for Privileges 4.30 pm

in the Moses Room

Delegated Powers and Deregulation Committee 5.00 pm

WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

European Communities (Sub-Committee C) in Denmark

TUESDAY 12TH OCTOBER

Library and Computers (Sub-Committee) 4.15 pm

WEDNESDAY 13TH OCTOBER

European Communities (Sub-Committee D) 10.30 am

THURSDAY 14TH OCTOBER

European Communities (Sub-Committee B) 10.30 am

European Communities (Sub-Committee A) 10.30 am

TUESDAY 19TH OCTOBER

European Communities (Select Committee) 4.15 pm

Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee) 4.15 pm

WEDNESDAY 20TH OCTOBER

European Communities (Sub-Committee E) 4.15 pm

European Communities (Sub-Committee F) 4.30 pm

TUESDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

Science and Technology (Select Committee) 10.45 am


© Parliamentary copyright 1999	Prepared: 28 july 1999