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Universal Postal Service
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether Postcomm's recent proposals for postal competition will threaten the provision of a universal postal service based on a standard United Kingdom-wide tariff; and, in the event that they affect the ability of Consignia to provide such a service while maintaining commercial viability, whether the shortfall will be met by government subsidy or an increase in postage rates.[HL3221]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): It is Postcomm's primary statutory duty to ensure the provision of a universal postal service at a tariff uniform throughout the UK.
Postcomm currently requires Consignia plc, in the licence, to provide a universal postal service. The licence provides that any proposals by Consignia for an increase in the price of first and second-class mail needs approval by Postcomm.
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the primary responsibility of Postcomm, laid down by the Postal Services Act 2000, is to ensure the provision of a universal postal service at a uniform tariff throughout the United Kingdom(HL3222)
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Yes. Under the legislation Postcomm shall exercise its functions in the manner which it considers is best calculated to ensure the provision of a universal postal service.
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider it acceptable for residents in rural areas to have to collect their post from a central point in the locality such as a village post office instead of having it delivered to their door.(HL3223)
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Postal Services Act 2000 lays down the universal postal service includes the delivery each working day to the home or premises of every individual in the UK.
The legislation does provide for the possibility that some addresses will receive less than this but only in exceptional circumstances. Such exceptions must be justified and agreed with Postcomm.
Gulf War Veterans: Khamisiyah Demolitions
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What consideration they have given to the statistics released by the United States Veterans Affairs Secretary showing dramatically higher death rates among Khamisyah veterans of the Gulf War, suggesting exposure to Sarin chemical warfare agents; and what action they are taking in relation
- to British servicemen and women who were in the area at the same time(HL3086)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): The Government's initial assessment of the implications for UK personnel of the Khamisiyah demolitions was published in December 1999 in a Ministry of Defence paper entitled Review of Events concerning 32 Field Hospital and the Release of Nerve Agent Arising From US Demolition of Iraqi Munitions at the Khamisiyah Depot In March 1991. The paper is available in the Library of the House and on the Internet at http://www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar/info/khamisiyah.htm. The paper's main conclusion was that the possible level of nerve agent exposure would have no detectable effect on human health, either in the short or long term.
The statistics recently released by the US Veterans Benefits Administration are believed to be based on remodelling of the theoretical plume of nerve agent which may have been released by the demolitions carried out subsequently. The MoD is seeking to establish from the US authorities the full scientific basis for the remodelling. Once this has been obtained and analysed, I will write to the noble Lord and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
MoD Budget
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are confident that the security of the United Kingdom will not be endangered if there is no increase in the Ministry of Defence budget for the next financial year to counter terrorism and pay for any additional overseas commitments.[HL3273]
Lord Bach: Funds to meet the additional cost of overseas commitments are sought at Main Estimates, once a taut and realistic estimate has been calculated. In 2001–02 they were shown under Request for Resources 2, Conflict Prevention. Additional funds were provided at Spring Supplementary Estimates 2001–02 to meet in full the additional costs which the Ministry of Defence had incurred on operations overseas. A similar process will be followed for 2002–03. Separate work is in progress on counter terrorism. Once realistic Estimates for this requirement have been determined, additional funding, where necessary, will be sought.
Royal Armoured Corps Regiments and Infantry Battalions: Replacement of B Vehicles
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the planned date for replacing B vehicles in Royal Armoured Corps regiments and infantry battalions.[HL3276]
Lord Bach: There are a number of programmes that will introduce replacements for operational combat
support vehicles (B vehicles) in Royal Armoured Corps regiments and the infantry battalions. The in-service dates for these fleets vary from 2004 to 2009, with deliveries in each continuing for a number of years thereafter.Challenger 2 Battle Tanks
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the total number of Challenger 2 battle tanks that will be bought; and if this number is fewer than 348 tanks, where the balance of tanks will come from to retain regiments at a 58-tank war establishment.[HL3277]
Lord Bach: 386 Challenger main battle tanks have been purchased. The last one is due to be delivered next month. jenny
Historic Ships: Heritage Lottery Funding
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the total amount awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to the preservation and conservation of historic ships in 2000 and 2001; which ships were the subject of these awards; and which bodies are responsible for managing the funds awarded to maintain the ships.[HL3063]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the following amounts to the preservation and conservation of historic ships:
- 2000—£4,311,081 in 12 grants;
- 2001—£4,864,400 in 5 grants.
| Applicant | Project Title | Awarded | Description | Decision Date |
| Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust | Chatham Historic Dockyard— HMS Gannet Restoration | £1,212,000 | Restoration of HMS Gannet which symbolised the technological transition from timber to steel construction | March 2000 |
| Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust | HMS Gannet Development Study | £260,500 | Restoration of HMS Gannet, the last surviving Victorian sloop of the Royal Navy | May 2000 |
| HMS Cavalier (Chatham) Consortium | HMS Cavalier Preservation Phase II | £665,781 | Preservation and interpretation of World War II destroyer | June 2000 |
| ss Great Britain Project | ss Great Britain—Securing the Heritage Core | £350,000 | Conservation of the fabric of the iron steamship ss Great Britain | July 2000 |
| Frinton & Walton Heritage Trust | James Stevens No 14 Lifeboat—Restoration | £75,000 | Restoration of the James Stevens No 14 liftboat to seagoing condition for exhibition in association with Walton Maritime museum as well as being used for demonstration trips | August 2000 |
| Royal Navy Submarine Museum | Holland 1 conversion and interpretation | £671,000 | Conversion of existing building as a viewing gallery for submarine Holland 1, also include repairs to sub | August 2000 with grant increase March 2001 |
| Clyde Maritime Trust Ltd | Glenlee Restoration Phase III | £180,000 | Completion of the restoration works on the SV Glenlee as well as provision of mooring and access arrangements | October 2000 |
| Boat Museum Society | Restoration of 1912 Tunnel Tug "Worcester" | £33,600 | Restoration of "Worcester"; production of display and educational material | December 2000 |
| Consuta Trust | Consuta Umpire Launch Restoration | £38,200 | Restore and preserve the steam launch Consuta and display to the public at water based events | December 2000 |
| Imperial War Museum | HMS Belfast Sleep-over Accommodation | £50,000 | To extend physical and educational access to school children and youth groups and to enhance their experience of the historic warship by providing overnight accommodation in two of HMS Belfast's original messdecks | December 2000 |
| Shropshire Union Fly-Boat Restoration Society Ltd | Saturn: Relaunching the Shropshire Union Fly-Boat | £50,000 | The restoration of the last floating example of a wooden horse-drawn Shropshire Union Fly-Boat using traditional skills. The boat will be used in waterway events and education | December 2000 |
| Warrior Preservation Trust Ltd. | HMS Warrior 1860, Portsmouth—Repairs | £725,000 | Replacement of upper deck of the HMS Warrior 1860 | December 2000 |
| Total (12) | £4,311,081 |
| Applicant | Project Title | Awarded | Description | Decision Date
|
| MV Wincham Preservation Society Ltd | MV Wincham Renovation | £47,400 | Renovation of 1948 ship | January 2001
|
| Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust | Steam Tug "Challenge", Southampton—Restoration | £274,500 | To secure the future of the only surviving steam tug involved in the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940 and give the public access to the ship and its history | March 2001 |
| Mary Rose Trust | Mary Rose—Hull Conservation (Phase 1) | £488,000 | To complete Phase 1 of a three phase hull conservation programme. Phase 1 is to impregnate the inner sound core of every timber to prevent cell wall shrinkage | March 2001
|
| HMS Trincomalee Trust | HMS Trincomalee Restoration Project, Hartlepool | £4,005,000 | Completion of the Trincomalee restoration project which aims to restore the ship HMS Trincomalee as well as establish a visitor centre | June 2001
|
| Grimsay Boatshed Trust | Turning the Tide | £49,500 | Restoration of Grimsay boats | December 2001
|
| ||||
| Total (5) | £4,864,400
|
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