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Written Answers
Wednesday, 1st December 1999.
Aviation Safety
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to publish the response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's report into Aviation Safety published on 21 July 1999.[HL149]
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): I am pleased to announce today that we have laid before the House Command Paper (4539), which is a consolidated response on behalf of the Government and of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's Fourteenth Report, titled Aviation Safety, published on 21 July 1999.
The Government welcome the Aviation Safety Report, which covers a wide-ranging and detailed examination of aviation safety issues by the committee. We note that the evidence the committee received showed that the United Kingdom has an excellent safety record, particularly in the commercial aviation sector. The committee seeks reassurance that all necessary steps are being taken to maintain that record in the face of the challenges presented by a dynamic and growing industry in which the UK is a world leader. The Government and the CAA agree that the current high standard of aviation safety in the United Kingdom must be maintained and, where possible, improved. We fully recognise that aviation safety requires constant vigilance by regulators and the regulated alike.
The committee make 29 recommendations, some to the Government, some to the CAA, and others to both. Both we and the CAA have considered the recommendations fully and carefully and they are dealt with in turn, and in detail, in the Command Paper.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Lord Carlile of Berriew asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they plan to change the arrangements for the funding of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority so as to make the authority financially independent of clinics to which it grants or refuses licences.[HL96]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): There are no current plans to change the arrangements for funding the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Royal Parks Agency: Review
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether their review of the Royal Parks Agency was completed by the projected date of 30 November; and when they expect to publish their findings.[HL60]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The review has been completed and a draft report has been submitted to officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This report will now be considered by Ministers, who will announce their conclusions to Parliament in the New Year.
Quality Efficiency and Standards Team
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- With reference to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport press release of 11 November announcing the initial work programme of the Quality Efficiency and Standards Team (Quest): (a) how long they expect the independent Quest team to operate from Department for Culture, Media and Sport offices; (b) whether the initial budget of £500,000 per annum includes the cost of assumed rent for office space; and (c) if not, what allocation has been made to the future Quest budget for office rental when the team moves out of Department for Culture, Media and Sport offices.[HL62]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Quality Efficiency and Standards Team (Quest) is operationally independent of DCMS, but currently works from a small number of offices on the DCMS estate which would otherwise be unoccupied. The initial allocation of £500,000 per annum for each of the three years of the current funding period was made on the basis that Quest would not be required to find new premises. While Quest therefore pays no rent to DCMS, records are kept of the notional costs of rent and other associated services, including heat, light and information technology, to enable the true costs of its operations to be fully understood.
Education Council, 25 November
Baroness Hilton of Eggardon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the outcome of the Education Council held in Brussels on 26 November.[HL177]
The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone): The Council of EC Education Ministers, at which my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Learning and Technology represented the UK, adopted a resolution on "developing new working methods for European co-operation in the fields of
education and vocational training". Ministers then held an open debate on the role of education and vocational training in the new millennium.The Council received information from the Presidency on the outcome of conciliation with the European Parliament on the proposal for a second phase of the Socrates education action programme. Information was received from the European Commission on: the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council to establish the European Year of Languages 2001; forthcoming proposals for European Parliament and Council Recommendations on the mobility of students, young trainees, young volunteers, teachers and trainers and on European co-operation in the evalution of the quality of school education; the role of education and training in implementing the Stability Pact for South-East Europe; the implementation of the Council resolution of 6 May 1996 on educational multimedia in the fields of education and training; and indicators and benchmarks in the field of school quality.
Ministers received a report from the European Schools High Council on the future of the European Schools and held an exchange of views. The Council also received information from the Portuguese delegation on plans for the Portuguese Presidency of the Council.
A copy of the Council minutes will be placed in the Library in due course.
Probation Service
Baroness Hilton of Eggardon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- By what name they intend the reformed Probation Service for England and Wales to be known.[HL178]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton): A Bill to be introduced in this House will reform and modernise the Probation Service within England and Wales. The modernised service will be known as The Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Service for England and Wales (CPRS). This service has a key role to play in delivering the Government's aims on effective sentencing and punishment that:
- The public is protected from dangerous offenders,
- Offenders are properly punished and their sentences are rigorously enforced,
- Punishments are made to work better both in prison and outside,
- Courts have available to them a flexible range of sentences.
Kosovo: Depleted Uranium
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have asked, or will ask, NATO to disclose to the Interim Authority in Kosovo the sites and areas where armaments containing depleted uranium were used during the military campaign, so that adequate measures can be taken to protect the health of KFOR and local civilians.[HL2]
Lord Burlison: British forces in Kosovo have not used depleted uranium munitions, and we have not asked NATO to disclose to the UN Mission in Kosovo details of sites and areas where armaments containing depleted uranium were used during Operation ALLIED FORCE.
UNICOM
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Army's UNICOM computer system was first introduced into units; and what is its life expectancy.[HL76]
Lord Burlison: The implementation of UNICOM at unit level across the Army began in September 1994 and was completed in October 1997. A further 10 supplementary units were completed by March 1998. The life expectancy of UNICOM relates to its associated maintenance contract, which is due to run out in September 2008. Partial Technology Refreshment of UNICOM is planned, with an expected completion date of April 2003.
RAF Aircrew and Alcohol and Drug Misuse
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What criteria and methods are used to determine whether a Royal Air Force pilot is unfit to fly through having taken alcohol or drugs; and what relevant tests are made before flights and after flying accidents.[HL77]
Lord Burlison: The Royal Air Force does not have any specific procedures in place to test a Royal Air Force pilot for drugs or alcohol consumption before flying or after flying accidents. However, Military Flying Regulations require aircrew, including those with supervisory duties, to ensure that they are not suffering from the effects or after effects of alcohol when they report for duty. Aircrew are to minimise
their intake of alcohol during the 24-hour period before flying and no alcohol is to be consumed during the 10-hour period immediately prior to being liable for flying duties. This regulation is applicable to all military aviators and those civilian contractors who fly under military flying regulations.
The Royal Air Force has also operated a random compulsory drugs testing programme since 1 November 1998. This serves to reinforce the Service's policy of zero tolerance towards drug misuse and provides an effective deterrent towards those who would misuse drugs.
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