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Male Life Expectancy: Social Class V
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On the basis of the life expectancy figures for professional male workers (class 1) and for low-paid male workers (class V) published by the Office for National Statistics on 18 February in its report Trends in life expectancy by social class 1972–1999, how many of the low-paid male workers would have derived benefit from free television licences at 75.[HL3413]
Baroness Blackstone: The report Trends in life expectancy by social class 1972–1999 was derived from the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) Longitudinal Study. Estimates from this source show that in 1998 there were approximately 76,000 males of age 75 or over in social class V, accounting for 6 per cent of all males of age 75 or over. Given the mortality rates for 1997–99, 46 per cent of males in social class V can expect to live until they are 75 in the future.
Inter-Ministerial Group on Sport
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On how many occasions in 2001 and 2002 the Inter-Ministerial Group on Sport has met; and on how many occasions it has discussed the provision of tax reliefs for community amateur sports clubs.[HL3454]
Baroness Blackstone: The Inter-Ministerial Group on Sport has met on seven occasions. It has not discussed the provision of tax reliefs for community amateur sports clubs.
Private Sewers
Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action is being taken to deal with the problem of private sewers.[HL3113]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): We announced this morning that agreement has been reached with the House Builders
Federation and the water industry that all new sewers will be built to one agreed standard. We now have in place a protocol which sets out the key elements of design and construction for new development to enable wider adoption of sewers. As a result, owners of new property will not have the kind of problems experienced by those with existing private sewers. Copies of the protocol and the report on the outcome of the consultation undertaken by the department into new sewers and drains have been placed in the Library. They are also on the department's website.I am equally keen that we should assist owners of existing private sewers. We have therefore appointed outside consultants to undertake research to establish the extent of the private sewer network, identify and examine the problems associated with private sewers and produce workable solutions. The research began in December and is due to last 18 months.
Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made to review and identify further sensitive areas under the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994.[HL3147]
Lord Whitty: Based on recommendations from the Environment Agency, it (by authority of the Secretary of State) was announced on 5 March 2002 that we have reviewed the identification of sensitive areas in England in accordance with the criteria in Part I of Schedule I of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994 (which transposes the European Council Directive (91/271/EEC) concerning urban waste water treatment).
This review has resulted in the identification of four freshwater stretches of the Rivers Stour, Wissey, Chelmer and Leam, which are intended for the abstraction of drinking water, to be identified as sensitive areas (nitrate) on the basis of elevated levels of nitrate under the terms of the regulations.
These new requirements on water companies to remove nitrate from sewage treatment discharges will complement the action required by farmers under the Nitrates Directive.
Work to provide more stringent treatment (nitrogen removal) at six qualifying treatment works is expected to be completed by end of 2004.
One hundred and eighty bathing waters (already identified under the Bathing Waters Regulations 1991) in England are also to be identified as sensitive areas as discharges from qualifying sewage treatment works receive, or are to receive by 2005, more stringent treatment (ultraviolet disinfection) to fulfil standards of those regulations.
Funding for these improvements have already been provided for in the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) periodic review of water company price limits for the five-year period from 2000.
We are committed to a steady improvement to Britain's freshwater and bathing quality. Already we have the best-ever recorded bathing water quality. Today's moves mean that we can continue our efforts to ensure clean and healthy water both for this country's inhabitants and its aquatic life.
A list of the new sensitive areas will be printed in Hansard, and maps showing the location of all current sensitive areas (nitrate) and (bathing waters) will be deposited in the Library of the House and at offices of the Environment Agency in due course.
Roadbuilding
Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether arrangements exist for dialogue between them and the Scottish Executive on the roadbuilding programme in Scotland and England, where such roads are important to the economy of the United Kingdom as a whole.[HL3306]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Trunk roads within Scotland are a devolved issue, and a matter for the Scottish Executive. Cross-border issues are addressed through dialogue and discussion between the Government, their agencies and the Scottish Executive.
An example of this is the A1 route action plan under the auspices of the A1 Steering Group, whose membership includes the Scottish Executive, the Highways Agency, local authorities and police from both sides of the Border.
Deliveries of Heating Oil to Domestic Premises: VAT
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why there are two different rates of VAT applied to deliveries of heating oil to domestic premises, depending on the quantity delivered; whether householders who find they have been charged the higher rate can get a refund; and by what procedure.[HL3403]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: All deliveries of heating oil to domestic premises are subject to VAT at 5 per cent irrespective of the quantity delivered.
Moldova
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that Moldova qualifies as a heavily indebted poor country.[HL3522]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Moldova is not currently classified as eligible for relief under the enhanced heavily indebted poor country (HIPC) initiative. However, the HIPC list is not fixed and any country that meets the criteria can become eligible.
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