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Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they are taking to ensure effective legislation in support of a national bycatch response strategy designed to reduce bycatch of protected species to levels which protect their conservation status.[HL2460]
Lord Whitty: The UK was instrumental in gaining approval at the last Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBANS) to a resolution which clearly identifies that cetacean bycatch above 1.7 per cent of the current abundance estimate constitutes an unacceptable interaction. In July 2001, the Government set up a working group to develop a co-ordinated UK bycatch response strategy which would identify what measures (including legislative changes, if necessary) can be taken to work towards meeting the ASCOBANS target. The group will report later this year.
Bovine TB
Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What additional control measures have been introduced to control the possible spread of bovine TB after the foot and mouth disease outbreak.[HL2637]
Lord Whitty: I am announcing today the introduction of TB movement restrictions on certain herds with overdue TB tests. The herds affected are those in annual test frequency parishes that have missed the six and 12-month tests carried out after the lifting of movement restrictions put in place after an earlier TB incident. A veterinary risk assessment has shown that these have been historically more at risk of being infected with TB than herds with other types of TB test. The measure is expected to affect up to 1,250 herds mainly in the south and west of England. In addition, we are introducing additional checks on herds that have been reformed after FMD. These herds will be TB tested at 12 and 24 months after the normal TB check test at three months after restocking.
Farm Incomes
Lord Evans of Watford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- If they will make a statement on farm incomes.[HL2639]
Lord Whitty: Revised estimates of farm incomes, output and productivity of agriculture during 2001 were published on 31 January. These confirm the increase in farm incomes forecast last November and indicate a modest rise of 13 per cent (11 per cent in real terms).
This increase is due to improved prices leading to higher values of output for milk, potatoes and horticulture outweighing lower values of output for cereals and livestock. Incomes are forecast to show a further rise in 2002 as the volume of cereal production returns to more normal levels and the industry starts to recover from the effects of FMD.
Details have been placed in the Library of the House.
Agricultural Merchants and Saddlers: Medicines Registration Fees
Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the fees to be paid by merchants and saddlers for registration in 2002-03 with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain under the Medicines (Exemptions for Merchants in Veterinary Drugs) Order 1998 have yet been determined.[HL2638]
Lord Whitty: Yes. With the consent of the Treasury, the schedule of fees for registration, retention and restoration has been determined. This is given in the attached table:
| Previous fee | New fee | |
| Application in respect of each premises | £ | £ |
| Agricultural Merchants | ||
| 1. For registration under Article 5 | 224 | 224 |
| 2. For retention of registration under Article 5 | 133 | 140 |
| 3. For restoration of registration under Article 5 | 190 | 190 |
| Saddlers | ||
| 1. For registration under Article 5 | 127 | 127 |
| 2. For retention of registration under Article 5 | 78 | 76 |
| 3. For restoration of registration under Article 5 | 107 | 107 |
Dr Kerr and Mr Haslam
Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will announce the names of the chair and panel members for the independent investigation into the handling of complaints against Dr Kerr and Mr Haslam.[HL2665]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): We are pleased to announce that Mr Nigel Pleming QC has agreed to chair this investigation. Mr Pleming has considerable experience in health law, including mental health law.
We are also pleased to announce that Ms Ruth Lesirge and Ms Ros Alstead have agreed to be panel members. Ms Lesirge is chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation. Ms Alstead is Director of Quality and Operations and Nursing at the South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust.
Mr Pleming and the inquiry panel will start work shortly. They will be holding early meetings with those involved to discuss the issues to be covered in the investigation.
Commissioner for Public Appointments
Baroness Whitaker asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Commissioner for Public Appointments is to be reappointed at the end of her term.[HL2667]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): I am pleased to be able to announce that Dame Rennie Fritchie has been reappointed for a further term of three years when her current appointment comes to an end on 28 February. Dame Rennie has fulfilled her role as regulator of the public appointments system in a resolute and distinguished manner over the last three years. She has made a major contribution to raising standards in this area and I am sure that this will continue during her second term. She will continue to serve as a Civil Service Commissioner.
Northern Ireland: Right to March
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will publish all their correspondence, including e-mails, with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission concerning the issue of the right to march on the Queen's highway.[HL2392]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: It is not the Government's policy to publish private correspondence between Ministers and private individuals or organisations. Requests for information on this issue should be addressed in the first instance to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
The Government have consistently made clear that the best way for the parading issue to be resolved is for a local agreement, reflecting mutual respect for each others' rights and traditions.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: Staffing
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the appointment of Peter Hosking to undertake a review of the work of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was in accord with government guidelines requiring an impartial review of the commission's activity. [HL2254]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on Thursday 10 January 2002 (Official Report, col. WA 124). That Answer referred to an award of £25,000 being made subject to certain conditions. These conditions were attached solely to the grant of £25,000. It was open to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to reject these and conduct the work in accordance with its own wishes and within its existing budget. Within that context, the appointment of Peter Hosking was a matter for commission.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Who prepared and authorised the terms of reference for the independent evaluation and review of staffing of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; on what basis the list of groups to be contacted was developed and by whom; and whether there view team was encouraged to contact members of Parliament,
- Peers and Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly who have expressed an interest in human rights in Northern Ireland; and [HL2255]
Which groups and indviduals Peter Hosking consulted in recent evaluation of the work of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.[HL2287]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on Thursday 10 January (Official Report, col. WA 124) and the letter of 3 January 2002 from the Chief Commissioner, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
Statutory Instruments
Lord Milner of Leeds asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to improve the explanatory material supplied with statutory instruments. [HL2599]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: I am pleased to announce that, with effect from 1 March, all affirmative statutory instruments laid before the House will be accompanied by an explanatory memorandum which will be a fuller document than the existing explanatory note. This is intended to assist Parliament in considering the instrument. The new memoranda will be in addition to the explanatory notes, which will continue to be printed with statutory instruments.
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