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Written Answers
Monday, 21st January 2002.
Zimbabwe
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What decisions were taken at the Article 96 meeting on Zimbabwe on 19 December. [HL2181]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): The initial Article 96 Consultations on 19 December with the Government of Zimbabwe were postponed. They took place in Brussels on 11 January. The EU asked the Zimbabwean Government to send a letter to the President of the Council of the EU by 18 January detailing its actions on points of EU concerns in particular: on respect for human rights; an investigation into political violence; a code of conduct for the election; commitment to freedom of expression (including access to international journalists); and the timely invitation and accreditation of a wide range of international election observers.
Arms Export Policies
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they are taking to co-ordinate the arms export policies, both generally and with particular reference to small and portable weapons, of the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States and Russia; and how far they consider that this will contribute to measures to counter international terrorism and to prevent the proliferation of lethal weapons. [HL2238]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The rigorous application of strict export licence assessment criteria and maximum transparency in information exchanges on arms transfers are central to keeping arms out of the hands of terrorists and in tracing flows of weapons, particularly small arms. We therefore work closely with our EU partners on the operation of the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and on the weapons collection and destruction projects funded under the EU Joint Action on Small Arms. There are regular EU co-ordination exchanges with the United States and Russia, as well as UK national contacts with both the US and Russia.
We also work for greater control of small arms at the UN and OSCE. We have consistently argued for small arms to be included in the Wassenaar Arrangement's information exchanges on arms transfers. In spite of our efforts, the Wassenaar Arrangement Plenary in December 2001 was not able to agree to this move, although Wassenaar has previously agreed guidelines on the transfer of MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defence Systems) because of concerns about exploitation by
terrorists. The 2001 plenary was, however, able to agree that one of Wassenaar's fundamental aims was to prevent arms flows to terrorists.Gibraltar
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any joint, shared or partial sovereignty which may arise from the talks in Gibraltar about its future between Britain and Spain will be subject to the consent of the people of Gibraltar in a referendum.[HL2316]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I refer the noble Lord to my statement in the House on 12 December 2001 (Official Report, col. 1407).
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there are any plans to ask Gibraltarians, by referendum, to decide on future sovereignty.[HL2329]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I refer the noble Lord to my statement in the House on 12 December 2001 (Official Report, col. 1407).
Gypsies: Planning Permission Appeals
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many appeals by gypsies against refusal of planning permission were considered by the Secretary of State in each of the years 1994 to 2001 inclusive; how many of those were successful; and, in each case where the Secretary of State upheld the appeal, how many pitches were allowed.[HL2315]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr Chris Shepley, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter from the Chief Planning Inspector, Chris Shepley, dated 21 January 2002.
The Minister of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has asked me to reply to your Question about planning appeals made by gypsies.
The Inspectorate does not maintain records on the status of appellants. We do, however, record the proposed land use, and the number of appeals against refusal of planning permission for gypsy encampments and the number allowed are as follows.
| Decided by Inspectors | Decided by the Secretary of State | |||
| Year | ||||
| Number decided | Number allowed | Number decided | Number allowed | |
| 1994 | 36 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | 37 | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| 1996 | 31 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 | 28 | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| 1998 | 40 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| 1999 | 26 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000 | 30 | 13 | 4 | 3 |
| 2001 | 28 | 16 | 4 | 3 |
The number of pitches allowed is as follows.
| Number of pitches unidentified | Number of pitches allowed | |||||
| By Inspectors | By Secretary of State | |||||
| Year | Appeals by Inspectors | Appeals by Secretary of State | Appeals | Pitches | Appeals | Pitches |
| 1994 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 1995 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 13 | ||
| 1996 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1997 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1998 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1999 | 13 | 1 | ||||
| 2000 | 13 | 3 | ||||
| 2001 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | ||
Tourism Enterprises: Planning Policies
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they are taking to review planning laws and guidelines which specifically deal with tourism enterprises, with a view to relaxing any which restrict development.[HL2373]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Specific national planning policies on tourism are set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 21. Our intention, outlined in the Government's Green Paper Planning: delivering a fundamental change, is to review all planning policy guidance notes to identify whether they are still needed; to ensure that they achieve much greater clarity in expressing policies; and to ensure that they distinguish between policy and advice. We shall be putting forward proposals about PPG21 shortly.
Bullying in the Workplace
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they are taking or planning to take to combat the growth of bullying in the workplace.[HL2272]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Bullying and harassment have no place in today's work environment and are unacceptable whenever they occur. The Government strongly condemn such behaviour and believe employees should be able to work without fear of encountering bullying from their employers or anyone else.
The adoption of best employment relations practice should help to create a culture where bullying becomes unacceptable. The Government have established the Partnership Fund which encourages participative and open cultures within organisations. There are a number of projects which are specifically focusing on the issue of bullying and more that include it as part of their overall culture change.
Moreover, we are working closely with the Health and Safety Executive on the development of management standards. The first step is to undertake research to establish the real extent of the problem and how it manifests itself in the workplace.
There are a number of legal measures employees can turn to if the situation requires it. ACAS has produced a code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures developed in September 2000 which has a section relating to bullying. The code also offers advice to employees and employers in this and many areas of employment relations. The code can be taken into account in an employment tribunal and therefore carries weight.
Access Land
Lord Fyfe of Fairfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect to begin consultation on proposals for regulations on the dedication of access land under Section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.[HL2411]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): We have today published a consultation paper which sets out the Government's proposals for regulations on the dedication of access land under Section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The regulations, which we expect to lay before Parliament later this year, will enable the owner of any land, or a lessee with a long lease, irrevocably to dedicate that land for public access. The Forestry Commission has already announced its intention in principle to dedicate the national forestry estate under Section 16.
My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Mr Alun Michael) is also writing today to green minister colleagues about the considerable scope for dedication of land held by government departments and sponsored non-departmental public bodies where dedication is compatible with the purpose for which the land is held. We will work with other departments to explore the opportunities for dedication through the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.
Copies of the consultation paper are being sent to organisations representing local authorities, recreational users and land managers representative organisations and others with an interest; the consultation paper is also being published on the Defra website. A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
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