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Written Answers
Monday, 28th January 2002.
Speed Limits
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether John Denham is correctly reported to have said that, "our aim is not to catch speeding motorists"; if so, whether they intend to enforce any speed limits; and how.[HL1914]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): My right honourable friend's words are correctly but not fully reported. What he said was, "Our aim is not to catch speeding motorists but to reduce injuries and crashes at known accident hotspots".
There is no doubt of our commitment and that of the police to enforce speed limits against those drivers who would seek to disregard them. The whole purpose of speed limits, however, is to prevent injuries and deaths on our roads. We would far rather that people complied with the speed limits than that they broke the law and had to have proceedings taken against them.
Cohesive Communities
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action is being pursued, and by whom, in order to tackle the adverse effects of emerging racial segregation occurring in some towns and cities.[HL2356]
Lord Rooker: The Government published their report Building Cohesive Communities on 11 December 2001, at the same time as a number of other reports were published on last summer's disturbances in some towns and cities in England. Those reports identified, among other issues, the adverse effects of segregation on community cohesion in such towns and cities, and made a number of recommendations.
The Government will implement the recommendations in their report Building Cohesive Communities and will consider, and where appropriate implement, the recommendations in the other reports. The Government are also committed to establishing a Community Cohesion Panel, made up of those with a special knowledge of such issues, to inform the Government's actions. The Government hopes to announce the composition of the Panel shortly.
British Crime Survey: Victims of Racist Crimes
Lord Dholakia asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have undertaken victim satisfaction surveys of victims of racist crimes; and, if so, whether they will publish the results of the surveys.[HL2386]
Lord Rooker: The British Crime Survey collects information on crimes committed against individuals and their property; it also asks victims whether they believed the incident was racially motivated, and so can provide trends for racially motivated offences.
A report was published in 2001, presenting findings from the 2000 British Crime Survey, covering within it both the extent and nature of racially motivated crimes.
The most recent information on victim satisfaction for victims of racist crimes was published in Clancy, A., Hough, M., Aust, R., & Kershaw, C. (2001) Crime, Policing and Justice: the experiences of ethnic minorities. Findings from the 2000 British Crime Survey, Home Office Research Study 223. Table 4.2 in this report contains results by ethnicity on satisfaction with police handling of incidents for victims reporting household, personal and racial crimes. This has been deposited in the Library.
The 2001 and 2002 British Crime Surveys continue to monitor attitudes of ethnic minority groups and racially motivated crimes. A booster sample of 3,000 interviews is carried out amongst the non-white population, in addition to the 37,000 core interviews carried out each year.
Suspected Terrorists: Decisions on Extradition to Stand Trial
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 January (WA 171), whether they consider that they are under international obligations to ensure that suspected terrorists are not extradited to a requesting state to face trial for a terrorist offence before a tribunal that fails to satisfy the requirements for a fair trial of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.[HL2401]
Lord Rooker: Judgements of the European Court of Human Rights have established that the United Kingdom is restricted in its consideration of extradition where a fugitive whose extradition is requested has suffered or risks suffering a flagrant denial of a fair trial in the requesting country. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights could be interpreted similarly. Each case will need to be considered on its own merits.
Northern Ireland: Aggregates Tax Levy
Lord Glentoran asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they plan to suspend the aggregates tax levy in Northern Ireland, considering that area's geographical circumstances.[HL2396]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: As announced in the Pre-Budget Report, the Government have considered in detail the impact of the aggregates levy on Northern Ireland and propose to phase in the levy for aggregates used in processed products in Northern Ireland. This recognises the potential effects of the levy on this specific sector. Phasing in the levy, including an exemption in 2002–03, will be subject to EU state aids approval.
Lord Glentoran asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they will ensure that sufficient resources are available in Northern Ireland to ensure that the aggregates tax levy is imposed.[HL2397]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: As with other taxes it administers, Customs will apply the level of resource appropriate to the revenue risk.
Lord Glentoran asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How the imposition of the aggregates tax levy in Northern Ireland is contributing towards a more dynamic economy and a cleaner environment.[HL2398]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Aggregates levy will be implemented in April 2002 on virgin aggregate. In Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the UK, it will encourage the use of recycled and alternative materials, reducing demand for quarrying. The levy will ensure that the environmental impacts of quarrying, such as damage to biodiversity, noise, dust, visual intrusion and loss of amenity, are fully reflected in prices, thus ensuring greater economic efficiency.
The Government are minded to phase in the levy for aggregates used in processed products in Northern Ireland, subject to EU state aids approval. This recognises the potential effects of the levy on this specific sector, and will allow the industry time to adjust and improve environmental performance.
Scotland: Personal Care for Elderly People
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government
- What financial assistance they are giving to the Scottish Executive in the plan to make free in Scotland, from 1 July, personal care for elderly people in their own homes and in nursing homes.[HL2462]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It is for the Scottish Executive to determine its policies and priorities in devolved areas, including care for the elderly, within its existing overall budget.
Scotland: Animal Health Legislation
Earl Peel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they are taking to persuade the Scottish Executive to introduce, in the near future, legislation relating to the control of foot and mouth disease in order to safeguard the position in England. [HL2380]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): Animal health is a devolved matter in Scotland. Scottish Ministers have stated that they support the principle of new legislation on disease control, and propose to take this forward under the timetable and procedures of the Scottish Parliament.
I understand that Scottish Ministers hope to issue a consultation on proposed legislative changes shortly.
However, I understand that if there were to be a resurgence of foot and mouth disease or an outbreak of another serious animal disease Scottish Ministers would review the situation urgently and consider bringing forward emergency legislation.
Common Land
Lord Williams of Elvel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will publish the White Paper on common land. [HL2399]
Lord Whitty: The Government are considering proposals for improving the legislation on common land and town and village greens, as set out in the consultation paper Greater Protection and Better Management of Common Land in England and Wales. Due to the number and complexity of the issues raised, progress has been slower than hoped. We expect to announce our proposals for future action and to publish a detailed report on the responses to the paper in the spring.
Lord Williams of Elvel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect to publish draft regulations on vehicular access over common land in accordance with Section 68 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. [HL2400]
Lord Whitty: The Government are currently considering the many responses made during the public consultation exercise on the regulations undertaken last year. We hope to be in a position to lay draft regulations for England before Parliament soon.
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