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Local Air Pollution Control: Charging Schemes
Lord Rea asked Her Majesty's Government:
- If they will report on the 2002–03 charging schemes for (1) local air pollution control under Part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and (2) local authority integrated pollution prevention and control under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999.[HL3592]
Lord Whitty: Charges to cover the costs of local enforcing authorities in regulating processes which are subject to Part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 were introduced in April 1991. Interim charges
for processes which are subject to the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 were introduced in August 2000.With the approval of the Treasury, and following consultation with local authority associations and industry, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has made revised schemes for England in respect of the Environmental Protection Act, and England and Wales in respect of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act. The schemes specify the scale of fees and charges to take effect from 1 April 2002.
The fees and charges in both schemes have been increased by 1.8 per cent broadly in line with inflation. However, my department is writing to local authorities to advise them that if there is not much more widespread adoption of cost accounting practices for LAPC over the next six months, this increase may be rescinded at the next review of the charging schemes later this year.
The schemes will be laid before both Houses and copies placed in the Libraries.
Nutrition
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the undertaking by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to follow up points raised in the debate on food and nutrition on 30 January (HL Deb,
col. 260), whether they will say:
(a) when they will conduct a survey into the effects of the nutritional guidelines for schools, introduced on 1 April 2001, on the current content, take-up and cost of school meals;
(b) when they will launch a campaign to promote healthy eating among young adults; and
(c) what amount of money they consider is necessary for an adult to spend per week on food in order to ensure a healthy balanced diet.[HL2779]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Department for Education and Skills is currently discussing with the Food Standards Agency how and when a survey should be launched to evaluate the operation of nutritional standards for school lunches. The DfES has no current plans to monitor the take up or cost of school meals.
The FSA is currently conducting research which will lead to new ways of providing information on healthy eating to young adults by the summer.
Various estimates have been made about the cost of a healthy balanced diet for an adult. In practice this will depend on a wide variety of factors including their circumstances and their dietary preferences.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Food Standards Agency advises me that since 30 June 1999 there has been only one finding of bovine spinal cord in a health marked carcass. This was detected during a State Veterinary Service audit visit and did not enter the food chain. The material was removed and disposed of.
The continued inspection of all carcasses for specified risk material is a vital public health protection and consumer reassurance measure. There are no plans to reduce the present level of inspection by the Meat Hygiene Service.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are not aware of any instances since 1 April 2001 of a failure by the Meat Hygiene Service to provide a veterinary surgeon to a small or medium abattoir resulting in the closure of that business during the veterinary surgeon's absence. However, should the noble Baroness have details of such a case, I will be happy to look into it on her behalf, if she could forward them to me.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Since April 2001, the operator of one slaughterhouse has appealed on one occasion against the issuing of an additional charge levied by the Meat Hygiene Service.
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Donoughue of 30 June 1999 (WA 33), whether spinal cord has been found in any United Kingdom slaughtered bovine carcass in the period since June 1999; and, if not, whether they yet consider it appropriate to reduce the level of inspection.[HL3249]
Whether there have been any instances since
1 April 2001 of failure by the Meat Hygiene Service to provide a veterinary surgeon to a small or medium abattoir resulting in the closure of that business during the veterinary surgeon's absence; and, if so, who bore the costs of the closure.[HL3250]
How many occupiers of slaughterhouses have requested independent settlement of a disagreement over an additional charge levied by the Meat Hygiene Service; and whether any of those occupiers have made more than one such request.[HL3252]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 15 January 2001 (WA 110), how much funding, for what period and for what staff and equipment has been received by the National
28 Mar 2002 : Column WA80
- Poisons Information Service regional centres in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Newcastle upon Tyne, or their associated medical resource units, from the agrochemical company Syngenta (formerly Zeneca) from the beginning of 1998 to the present day.[HL3340]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The National Poisons Information Service regional centres in Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Newcastle upon Tyne and their associated medical resource units have not received funding from the agrochemical company Syngenta (formerly Zeneca) from the beginning of 1998 to the present day.
Press Complaints Commission
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are considering suggesting to the newspaper industry any changes in the operation of the Press Complaints Commission.[HL3332]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): The Government continue to monitor the effectiveness of the newspaper industry's system of self-regulation, including the terms of the industry's code of practice and the operations of the Press Complaints Commission. Ministers have no hesitation in suggesting improvements to the self-regulatory system to the industry as and when appropriate.
Broadcasting Licence Applications from Overseas Broadcasters
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What criteria the Independent Television Commission are required to consider in dealing with applications for United Kingdom broadcasting licences from overseas broadcasters.[HL3460]
Baroness Blackstone: Sections 3 and 6(1) and Part II of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 set out the criteria which the Independent Television Commission (ITC) is required to consider, including that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence and that the licensed service would not offend good taste and decency, will present news with due accuracy and impartiality, present political and industrial issues impartially and show religious programmes responsibly. Additionally under the provisions of Section 143 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, if the ITC has grounds to suspect that an applicant is disqualified on grounds of being a political body, the commission is required to ask the applicant to provide further information to enable them to consult the appropriate authorities.
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the average time for the clearance by
the Independent Television Commission of broadcasting licence applications from overseas broadcasters.[HL3461]
Baroness Blackstone: The Independent Television Commission does not have any specific information about the average time taken to process licences. The commision indicates in its guidelines to applicants that the process generally takes approximately four weeks, but the timing depends on the complexity of the application and whether the supporting information is sufficient.
Culture Online
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer of the Baroness Blackstone of 15 November 2001 (WA 103–04) in which she indicated that she hoped to make an announcement in the near future on the business case for Culture Online, what progress they have made in preparing the business case for publication; and what is currently the cost to the Treasury of the preparatory work to set up Culture Online carried out under the auspices of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[HL3486]
Baroness Blackstone: We are continuing to consider a range of alternative options for Culture Online and hope to make an announcement very soon.
Five million pounds was allocated to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the 2000 spending review to allow initial development of the project; the cost of developing our proposals for Culture Online so far is £1,833,555.
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 20 March ((HL3269) regarding the award of Arts Council funds to the development of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, what are the grounds upon which conditions of grant are considered "special" and therefore not open to public scrutiny.[HL3487]
Baroness Blackstone: Special conditions applied to the award of lottery funding are tailored to each particular project. They form part of the contractual agreement between the Arts Council and the board members of the recipient organisation. These conditions are listed in the accepted offer of grant and may contain financial or personal information which, if made public, would be detrimental to the value of the lottery grant or prove embarrassing to individuals related to the project. For example, the public availability of detailed budgetary information may compromise the ability of the budget holders to negotiate with suppliers or the conditions may include a stipulation relating to the position of existing staff or board members. The special conditions cannot be disclosed without the consent of the grantee organisation.
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