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Special Advisers
Lord Lipsey asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list the special advisers to Ministers.[HL390]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: A list of special advisers currently in post has been placed in the Library of the House together with the new Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, the revised Model Contract for Special Advisers and details of the new pay arrangements for special advisers.
Russia: Nuclear Waste
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made since January 1999 in eliminating the most dangerous kinds of nuclear waste in Russia, particularly in and near the White Sea; and what the programme is for the next three years.[HL281]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Progress has been made in co-operation with the Russian authorities in identifying priority projects in north-west Russia to facilitate Russian efforts to deal with this problem. This has, however, been held up by the delay in agreeing a legal framework under which this work can take place.
It is hoped that a bilateral UK/Russia agreement can be signed shortly which will allow work to commence. Our first project, to provide a spent nuclear fuel storage facility in north-west Russia, can then begin immediately. Other projects, focusing on the main issue of spent nuclear fuel, will follow on closely.
European Telecommunications Council, 27 June
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 16 July (WA100), whether they will publish the minutes of the European Telecommunications Council of 27 June in order that their position at that meeting can be understood fully.[HL420]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Council does not publish minutes of its proceedings either generally or to member states, although meeting and summaries are available on the Council's website.
Data Protection: Civil Liberties Committee Report
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 16 July (WA100), how they respond to the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee's approval of the report from Marco Cappato MEP.[HL421]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The draft Communications Data Protection Directive is subject to co-decision procedures. It will therefore need to be agreed by both the European Parliament and member states before it can be adopted. Member states and the Commission will need to formulate a joint response both to the amendments proposed in the report from the Civil Liberties Committee, and the vote of the plenary session of the European Parliament due to take place early in September, when they meet to agree a common position in October.
Smaller River Hydro Schemes
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their policy on encouraging hydro-generation of electricity by smaller river hydro schemes.[HL453]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Smaller river hydro schemes receive support under the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation and it is proposed that they should be eligible for support under the Renewables Obligation.
The DTI in conjunction with industry is looking at the issues relating to grid connection for small-scale electricity generators including those involved in smaller river hydro schemes.
Postal Voting
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What consideration they have given to the risk of electoral fraud as a result of the universal availability of postal voting; and, in particular, whether they would support the compilation of "marked registers" of electors who have returned postal votes.[HL127]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Electoral Commission, as part of its functions, is carrying out a review of the way the general election was conducted which will include the operation of the postal vote system. It expects to publish its findings shortly. We would wish to consider the findings of that review before deciding whether any further action is necessary on postal vote procedures.
Ballot Papers: Party Logos
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 16 July (WA107), what recourse a candidate has if the returning officer fails to place on the ballot paper the correct party logo which has been properly supplied by the candidate representing the registered party concerned.[HL440]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is open to anyone to raise a petition in the electoral court if they consider that any action of a returning officer has unfairly affected the result of the election. In addition, anyone can inform the police for consideration of action under Section 63 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 if they consider that the returning officer has committed a breach of his official duty.
Trunk Roads: Advertising
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress the police have made with their inquiries into the cutting back of planting on land belonging to the Highways Agency bordering the A12 trunk road Witham bypass adjacent to the advertising hoardings on land owned by Braintree District Council; and what steps they intend to take to ensure that these plantings are not again cut back to expose the advertising hoardings.[HL451]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Highways Agency understands that Essex Police have been in touch with Braintree District Council and the Allam Group, the organisation that controls advertising on most of the
hoardings, to make enquiries. Essex Police have indicated that it would be difficult to identify the culprit(s) responsible.The Highways Agency is unable to guarantee that other parties will not attempt to cut back the planting on the embankment in the future. Braintree District Council, the Allam Group and its clients are now aware of the agency's position regarding the planting and that it will take the strongest action against those proven to have caused criminal damage or trespass.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Along which trunk roads in England and Wales advertising is displayed contrary to Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 19 and the Department of the Environment Circular 5/92.[HL452]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The information requested by the noble Lord is not available. Trunk roads in Wales are the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales. Our policy in England is that the Highways Agency should not permit the placing of advertisements on trunk road land in contravention of PPG19 or DoE Circular 5/92 and any unauthorised advertisements should be removed. Control of advertisements on land outside the trunk road boundary is the responsibility of local planning authorities.
Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001
Earl Peel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will bring forward the necessary commencement orders in order to bring the provisions of the Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001 into force.[HL535]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2001 was signed on 16 July. All the provisions of the 2001 Act will come into effect on 15 August 2001. Commencement of the Act in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Earl Peel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What they are doing to promote awareness of the provisions of the Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001 among those whom it is intended to benefit; and whether they will monitor the take-up rate in rural areas.[HL536]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Local authorities will initially be responsible for bringing the new farm diversification relief and the extension of village shop rate relief to food shops to the attention of potential recipients. Department officials have already written to local authorities informing them that the Act will be commenced in England on 15 August. They have also written to the National Farmers Union and the Country Land and Business Association which will no
doubt bring the Act to the attention of their members. In addition we intend to issue a more detailed press statement about the new reliefs on the day the Act is commenced.
Earl Peel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What percentage of agricultural businesses and rural shops they estimate will benefit from the new provision of rate relief under the Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001; and what percentage will be unable to benefit, as a result of the limitation of a rateable value of £6,000.[HL537]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The number of businesses receiving the new farm diversification relief will depend on how many such businesses are established. There are no precise figures available on the number of businesses that will or will not benefit from the new farm diversification relief, because it is not known how many new enterprises will in future be established and how many of those will be below the qualifying rateable threshold of £6,000. We have estimated that between 5 per cent and 30 per cent of farms in England may establish businesses that are eligible for the new relief, but the eventual figure will depend on demand.
It is also difficult to give precise figures on the number of businesses benefiting from the extension of village shop rate relief to food shops, as they are not currently separately identified in the rating system. However, it is estimated that there are about 3,000 food shops in small rural parishes. We would expect most of these to have rateable values of less than £6,000.
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