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Written Answers
Tuesday, 22nd January 2002.
Court Sitting Hours
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are still in favour of special courts being open late at night in order to deal expeditiously with alleged drunkenness and violence.[HL2196]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The Government still plan pilot studies for extending court sitting hours and to evaluate whether they represent value for money. In particular, attention will be on the effect extended hours will have on delays, deterring local criminals, improving access to justice and helping reassure local communities. Planning is underway involving all criminal justice partners in London and Manchester. Details for the Manchester scheme were announced in a press notice issued on 11 January 2002 and it is expected that particulars of the London scheme will be released soon. Both are currently planned to start in the spring. It has always been the intention to exclude defendants who are incapable from alcohol or drugs from the pilots.
Government Bills: Human Rights Issues
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 18 December (WA 43), whether the Explanatory Notes of all government Bills will contain the Government's reasons for considering whether their Bills are or are not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.[HL2218]
The Lord Chancellor: Notes on government Bills will describe, in general terms, the most significant convention issues thought to arise from the provisions, together with the Minister's conclusions on compatibility.
Climate Change Levy
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much revenue was received by the Treasury as a result of the climate change levy, and how much was returned to industry by way of rebate, in the fiscal year ended 5 April 2001; and how much is projected to be received and rebated in the fiscal year to 5 April 2002.[HL2234]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The climate change levy was introduced in April 2001. There were no revenues in the fiscal year ended 5 April 2001. It was projected, at the time of the Pre-Budget Report November 2001, that £0.6 billion would be received in the fiscal year to 5 April 2002. The Government also announced that all revenues would be recycled back to business through a 0.3 percentage point cut in employers' national insurance contributions and additional support for energy-efficiency measures and energy-saving technologies. For the fiscal year to 5 April 2002 the Government expect to recycle around £1 billion back to business in this way.
Zimbabwe
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the first Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 8 January about the presidential election in Zimbabwe (WA 97), what they consider to be "the entire electoral process".[HL2280]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): Ideally, independent observers should be present for as much as possible of the campaign prior to the election, as well as for the voting and counting afterwards.
The European Union has called for accreditation of election observers six weeks prior to the election.
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will announce the benchmark which they intend to use to monitor and evaluate the forthcoming presidential election in Zimbabwe.[HL2281]
Baroness Amos: We are discussing with our European Union partners and others the norms and standards we will use to judge the outcome of the forthcoming presidential election in Zimbabwe. We want the EU to publish these well in advance of the election.
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What might be the timetable for the suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth.[HL2282]
Baroness Amos: Zimbabwe was formally added to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) agenda on 20 December 2001. It will be discussed again at the next CMAG meeting on 30 January. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary set out the Government's position in the House of Commons on 8 January (Official Report, col. 400–03). A decision on suspension is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole. Commonwealth Heads of Government will be meeting in early March.
Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997: Central Register
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On which date they expect the central register of persons, who have applied for a shot gun or firearm certificate or to whom a firearm or shot gun certificate has been granted, to go live on the police national computer as required under Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, which came into force on 1 October 1997; and [HL1729]
Whether they are liable to legal action for their failure to create a central register of firearm and shot gun certificate holders as required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment ) Act 1997, which came into force on 1 October 1997; and, if not, for how long it is possible to delay compliance with this legislative requirement. [HL1730]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): Section 39 does not specify when the requirement for a central register must be met but we are fully committed to its development.
The time-scale for delivery has been affected by the need to complete the national DNA database and to upgrade the police national computer (PNC) software infrastructure in order to maintain continuity of service to police forces. The combined effect of these two factors is that it will not be possible to begin rolling out the register until September this year, with progressive data migration and all work planned for completion in November 2002. Design and development has now started and is due for completion in May 2002. System testing will be conducted in June to September.
Police: Baton Guns
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What arrangements have been made for the issue of less-than-lethal ammunition to the police service in England and Wales; and what is the availability of such ammunition at present. [HL1997]
Lord Rooker: The only less lethal option which requires ammunition is the baton gun. Currently 36 police forces in England and Wales have a baton gun capability and a further three non-Home Department forces are similarly equipped. This figure will increase to 45 forces by April 2002 when the manufacturer has supplied further baton guns.
Tobacco Advertising
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Following the consultation by the Department of Health in 2001 on the European Commission's proposal for a directive to harmonise European Union laws on tobacco advertising:
(a) how many organisations or individuals responded to this consultation;
(b) what was the balance of opinions in responses on the merit of the Commission's proposal; and
(c) when the Department of Health will publish a report on the outcome of this consultation. [HL2195]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): There were 54 responses to consultation. Of these 32 supported the proposed directive, eight opposed it and the remaining 14 either expressed no firm view or commented only on matters of detail. Most of those respondents supporting the proposed directive stated that there should be a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.
A summary of the responses has been placed on the Department of Health's website at www.doh.gov.uk/adtobaccoconsresponse.htm
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 8 January, (Official Report, col. WA 100–01).
Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence will publish its first stewardship report on the Defence Estate on Tuesday 22 January. This fulfils the commitment made when In Trust and On Trust: The Strategy for the Defence Estate was launched in June 2000.
In Trust and On Trust set out clearly the MoD's policies and priorities as well as performance targets against which the effectiveness of our stewardship of the estate could be judged. It also contained a pledge to report annually against the strategy's goals.
The stewardship report which we are now publishing contains comprehensive information on the estate, covering both rural and built environments, and sustainability. This is the first time that the MoD has published such a comprehensive report on its estate. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House and also on the MoD website at www.mod.uk.
What progress has been made in securing the fulfilment of commitments to the European countries with regard to the development of the A400M military transport aeroplane. [HL2129]
When they intend to publish the first stewardship report promised in the Ministry of Defence's policy document In Trust and On Trust: The Strategy for the Defence Estate.[HL2412]
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