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Written Answers
Thursday, 28th March 2002.
Queen's Counsel
Lord Mayhew of Twysden asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have a policy on whether to recommend to Her Majesty the Queen that an applicant who is a Member of the House of Commons shall be appointed to the rank of Queen's Counsel; and, if so, what that policy is.[HL3445]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The policy is that all appointments to the rank of Queen's Counsel are on merit alone. The criteria for appointment are set out in the Guide for Applicants and in the Guide for Consultees. The current guides have been available by post and on the department's website since 28 August 2001.
BBC World Service: Arabic Translation
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the cost to the BBC World Service of translation services in Arabic.[HL3458]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Translation of material for broadcast, both into and from English, is an integral part of all language service operations within the BBC World Service and is carried out by programme staff as part of their normal duties. All languages combine translation of central BBC material in English with original journalism by producers and editors. The costs of translation are part of the overall costs of programme production.
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What arrangements exist for translation by outside contractors of BBC World Service programmes.[HL3459]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The BBC World Service's 43 language services are run by BBC members of staff. Some translation work is done by freelancers or workers on a casual basis, but this is a very small proportion. All output is subject to BBC guidelines and rigorous review procedures.
BSE: Sheepmeat
Lord Vinson asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the likelihood of BSE being found in sheepmeat, given that sheep are normally slaughtered under the age of 18 months, that contaminated meat and bone feed were withdrawn in 1986 and that recent research shows maternal transmission of BSE in cattle to be unlikely.[HL3316]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): Theoretically, sheep could have contacted BSE from infected animal feed and it could have spread from sheep to sheep despite the introduction of feed controls.
To date, no cases of BSE have been found in the national sheep flock. However, the numbers tested are still relatively low because there is no validated, rapid method for differentiating between BSE and Scrapie. We have to use a number of different tests, including where possible bioassay in mice.
Of course the Government have in place a comprehensive risk management strategy should the theoretical risk of BSE in sheep become a real one. This includes removal of specified risk material from the food chain for all animals over 12 months old, consistent with available risk assessment advice from the EU Scientific Steering Committee.
Illegally Imported Animal Products
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many of the 1,142 seizures of illegally imported animal products that have been made since April 2001 were made from passengers arriving by air; and in how many cases the passengers were (a) refused entry to the United Kingdom and (b) prosecuted.[HL3401]
Lord Whitty: There have been 832 seizures that have been recorded centrally by Defra for illegally imported animal products by passengers travelling via airports.
HM Customs and Excise has prosecuted three people for CITES offences involving illegal meat imports. Two were convicted and one was acquitted but convicted under a separate animal health offence.
No one has been refused entry into the UK because of illegally importing animal products.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will introduce prominent signs at Britain's airports warning passengers that the import of bushmeat and other unlicensed meat is illegal, in the way as is done at airports in the United States.[HL3402]
Lord Whitty: There are already hard-hitting posters on display at all major airports. These postes warn passengers of what meat is not allowed to be brought in and state the penalties for bringing in prohibited animal products.
We are continuously reviewing the impact of the campaign and will be undertaking market research to help assess the impact of the posters and provide information on how public awareness can be improved still further.
Packaging Waste
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What were the figures reached in 2001 of:
What percentage of businesses in the United Kingdom are required to comply with efforts to reduce packaging waste.[HL3474]
(a) material specific packaging waste; and
(b) general packaging waste
that businesses must recover and recycle; and[HL3473]
Lord Whitty: The recovery and recycling targets in Article 6(1) of the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste, 94/62/EC, are implemented in Great Britain by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended).
In order to comply with the requirements in
the directive, recovery and recycling targets for 2001 under the packaging regulations were 56 per cent for recovery and 18 per cent for material-specific recycling of packaging waste. Final outturn figures for 2001 are not yet available but data received to date suggest that, if all obligated parties met their 2001 obligations, these targets should be met. This would mean that the UK had recovered 4.6 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2001 ie. 50 per cent. We would expect to recycle some 45 per cent. We also anticipate that all materials will meet the 15 per cent material-specific target in the directive, with the possible exception of plastics.
Only businesses handling more than 50 tonnes of packaging and with financial turnover of more than
£2 million in their most recently audited accounts are obligated under the regulations if they perform one or more of the following activities: manufacturing raw materials for packaging; converting materials into packaging; filling packaging; selling packaging to
the final user; or importing packaging or packaging materials into the UK. Figures received so far for 2001 indicate that there were some 6,000 registrations under the packaging regulations, which, because one registration can cover more than one business (eg where there is a group registration), means that between 10,000 and 14,000 businesses were registered.
Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs held a seminar on 26 March 2002 with leaders of the farming and food sectors and others with an interest in the environment and the rural economy and identified early actions to drive forward the commission's report. A new strategy for sustainable farming and food, incorporating a definitive response to the Policy
Copies of the document are available from the Libraries of both Houses. Details of the announcement and the document are also available in electronic form from the Defra website, www.defra.gov.uk.
Lord Hughes of Woodside asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Following the recent consultation, we shall very shortly announce how we intend to distribute the fund. Guidance will be sent to all local authorities and will be available on the Defra website. Copies of the guidance and results of the consultation will be placed in the Library of the House.
Lord Rea asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State yesterday announced a review of the three science laboratories; the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (CEFAS); and the two regulatory agencies, the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) and the Veterinary Medicines Agency (VMD).
The review will be conducted by a team attached to Defra's Corporate and Service Delivery Directorate General, working in consultation with other government departments with an interest. The review team will be advised by a steering group composed of a majority of non-departmental members.
The terms of reference for the review are:
In so doing, the review will: analyse the requirements of government, industry and society for core science facilities and key skills for the provision of R&D, scientific support services, surveillance, policy and regulatory functions, advice and emergency response capability; analyse and identify the work required to support the core requirements, examine the likely trend of Defra and other public funders' requirements, including developments in horizon scanning and contingency planning; consider the possible options and evaluate the best models for delivery of the services and the organisation of the functions required, including policy advice and associated work; assess the implications for Defra, OGDs, the DAs and the agencies about the choice of those models; assess the implications for non-core activities; and assess the implications for commercial activity.
The review team will consult customers, stakeholders, scientific opinion and other interests and will take into account relevant reviews and studies, in particular the SR2002 science and research cross-cutting review and Defra's prioritisation of science programmes exercise; the work on the development of science in Defra, including a new science and innovation strategy; and the Cabinet Office review of agency policy.
In light of the findings of the consultation exercise, the review will examine the most appropriate freedoms, controls, financial regimes, governance arrangements and performance management to ensure the optimum delivery of a high quality service, providing good value for money.
The review team will report with recommendations to Ministers through the management board by the end of October 2002.
Interested parties are invited to submit their views to the review team by 30 May 2002. Details of how to contact them are contained in Defra's news release, issued today.
When they will respond to the Policy Commission's report on the future of farming and food.[HL3589]
How they intend to distribute the waste minimisation and recycling fund.[HL3590]
What plans they have to conduct a review of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs scientific and regulatory agencies.[HL3591]
"To evaluate the effectiveness of the operation of Defra agencies, with regard to the departmental aim and objectives and their relationship with the department and the sectors they serve".
The review is to be conducted in two parallel processes: for those executive agencies due for quinquennial review in 2002 (VLA, CSL, CEFAS),
to conduct an evaluation of their performance since the date of the last review and to examine their relationship
with core-Defra, other government departments (OGDs) and the devolved administrations (DAs); for the regulatory executive agencies (PSD and VMD), to take into account the conclusions of, and developments since, the completion of their quinquennial reviews.
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