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Bus Lane Contraventions: Penalty Charges
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On what date they expect to commence consultations under Section 144 of the Transport Act 2000 to enable local authorities outside London, which have taken decriminalised parking enforcement status, to impose penalty charges in respect of bus lane contravention, using camera enforcement.[HL1741]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Early in the new year.
Mobile Phones: Use while Driving
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider it possible for a driver to exercise proper control over a vehicle while driving it at the same time as holding a mobile telephone to his or her ear.[HL1770]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Rule 127 of the Highway Code is clear. It says, XYou MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times. Never use a hand-held mobile phone or microphone while driving."
Strategic Rail Authority: Freight Competition
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Strategic Rail Authority's freight competition has been completed.[HL1772]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Strategic Rail Authority's XInnovative Solutions in Rail Based Logistics" competition is not completed and will continue into 2002.
Porton Down: Security
Lord Lang of Monkton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any break-ins have taken place at Porton Down within the past 18 months; if so, what was taken; what actions were subsequently taken by the relevant authorities; and with what consequences.[HL1583]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): There have been no break-ins or security breaches at the Defence Scientific and Technical Laboratory or the Centre for Applied Microbiology Research at Porton Down during the past 18 months.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether rheumatoid arthritis features in any National Health Service research and development programmes; and[HL1733]
Whether rheumatoid arthritis features in any programmes sponsored by the Medical Research Council.[HL1734]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The main government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The Department of Health funds research to support policy and the delivery of effective practice in the National Health Service.
The MRC spent approximately £4 million on arthritis research in the year 2000–01. This figure includes work on the causes and treatment of arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation. This also includes work on musculoskeletal function, such as ankylosing spondylitis, or connective tissue disorders, such as Sjogrens syndrome and lupus, and on pain. Work being carried out at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research may contribute to the development of new drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases; for example, septic shock.
The Department of Health has funded several research projects on rheumatoid arthritis via its NHS research and development programmes. The department is currently funding three such projects: the British rheumatoid outcome study group trial of symptomatic versus aggressive therapy in established rheumatoid arthritis, at the University of Manchester; a randomised controlled trial of different knee prostheses at the University of Dundee; and, the costs and outcome measures of hydrotherapy programmes compared with physiotherapy in children with rheumatoid conditions at University College London.
The department also provides NHS support funding for research commissioned by the research councils and by charities which take place in the NHS. Details of Department of Health-funded resarch and other projects, completed and underway in the NHS, can be found on the National Research Register which is available on the Internet at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/research/nrr.htm.
Hardwood and Softwood Thinnings
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they are taking to increase the use of home-grown hardwood and softwood thinnings of less than saw-mill size; and what recent success they have had.[HL1458]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): We are supporting research and development into technologies that might create new and better products using small and low-grade logs. There has been some success with gluing technology for small pieces of unseasoned hardwood and softwood species. In 1998 we commissioned a major market development study for softwood. This identified some potential for inward investment for a large-scale development to exploit long fibre spruce round wood. Unfortunately, there is little likelihood of attracting a large industrial plant for predominantly hardwood growing areas where woodlands are more dispersed, therefore solutions are more likely to be small scale. The Forestry Commission is working with other organisations, including the regional development agencies, to try to encourage the development of wood processing facilities.
We are also encouraging the development of the energy and heat market which will provide another important use for small hardwood and softwood timber. Wood-fuelled plants are already being used, for example, for small-scale industrial heating in rural areas. Both energy and heat production from wood can also benefit from the extra £100 million announced by the Prime Minister in June to support the development of renewable energy technologies.
Foot and Mouth: Appeal Costs
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What were the total costs to the taxpayer of the court cases involving appeals against decisions by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials to slaughter animals during the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease.[HL1579]
Lord Whitty: There have been 61 cases so far in which the department has received representations from solicitors. Costs for these cases have not yet been finalised. We always seek to recover costs and have been successful in doing so.
DEFRA: Exeter Office
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the total number of permanent staff employed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at its Exeter Office at the time when 18 members of staff were suspended.[HL1587]
Lord Whitty: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has three offices located in Exeter. They are:
- Clyst House, Winslade Park, Clyst St Mary;
- Estuary House, Peninsula Park, Rydon Lane; and,
- 5 Hanover Court, Manaton Close, Matford Business Park.
Noise Pollution: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Lord Marsh asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will define the responsibilities and powers of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to noise pollution in areas of outstanding natural beauty, including that caused by low-flying aircraft and gliders, powered or towed.[HL1721]
Lord Whitty: Local authorities have powers under the Environmental Pollution Act 1990, the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993, the Noise Act 1996 and the Control of Pollution Act 1974, to deal with most forms of neighbour-related noise concerns. The control of noise caused by low-flying aircraft and gliders, powered or towed, is the responsibility of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR).
Rural Payments Agency
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the total amount of payments that are outstanding due to the industrial action being taken by the Rural Payments Agency, how many tenant farmers have been affected; and how much they are still owed.[HL1775]
Lord Whitty: Industrial action, which commenced in August, has mainly affected the arable area payments scheme. Payments under this scheme are made in a payment window running from 16 November to 31 January. In a normal year, 60 to 70 per cent. of the aid would be paid out in the first two to three weeks. This year the figure is likely to be a little over 50 per cent.
No details are available about the position of tenant farmers.
Ofcom: Disabled and Elderly Consumers
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 29 October (HL Deb, cols. 1225-1226), how they intend to ensure that—
(a) the board of the Office of Communications has sufficient familiarity with the needs of disabled and older people to be able effectively to discharge its intended regulatory functions in relation to them;
(b) the work of the Advisory Committee on Telecommunications for Disabled and Elderly People (DIEL) is carried over to the new regulatory framework and expanded to encompass advice to the Office of Communications on the access needs of disabled and older people in relation to other communications services;
(c) access for disabled people is included among and prioritised within the design criteria for the Office of Communications; and
(d) the Office of Communications adopts a best practice approach to meeting the information and communication needs of disabled customers.[HL1490]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): It is the Government's intention to require the Office of Communications (Ofcom) to give proper weight in all its activities to the special needs of people with disabilities and of the elderly. It will be for Ofcom to determine how it meets this requirement and, in particular, how it obtains appropriate advice on what the special needs of consumers may be, including the special access needs of consumers of communications services. Ofcom will be able to establish committees to provide advice about matters relating to its functions. There will also be a new consumer panel, operating with a high degree of independence from the regulator, and appointments to the panel will take full account of the importance of understanding the concerns of consumers with special needs. The forthcoming draft communications Bill, to be published in the spring, will provide further detail of the remit and operation of the consumer panel.
Further work to be undertaken on the practical arrangements for creating Ofcom will involve gaining a clear understanding of the needs of Ofcom's various stakeholders, including those of disabled people, in order that they may inform its collective purpose and operations. In addition, Ofcom will be expected to ensure the most effective means for making sure that disabled people can have full access to relevant information about its activities.
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