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22 Apr 2002 : Column WA1

Written Answers

Monday, 22nd April 2002.

Fairtrade Foundation

The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What support they have given to the Fairtrade Foundation, financially and in other ways, during the last two years; and what support they are giving in the current year, including the promotion of fair trade goods at local and central government level.[HL3477]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): The Department for International Development has supported fair trade initiatives for a number of years, both in developing countries and in the UK. This support forms part of a wider collaboration between government, the private sector and civil society to encourage more socially responsible and ethical business practices. As companies and consumers become more aware of the connections between the way business is done and the livelihoods of poor people in developing countries, so the pressure for positive change grows.

To this end, DfID has provided £169,000 from 1999–2002 in support of media work by the Fairtrade Foundation and an additional £120,000 from 2001–2003 to support the foundation's efforts to reach new consumers through its annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaign. This year's campaign, just completed, highlighted the positive developmental impacts of fair trade, raising the profile of products now on offer in UK shops and supermarkets. Hilary Benn, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, delivered a speech at the launch on 4 March 2002.

In June 2001, DfID approved a further grant (£150,000 over two years) to the Fairtrade Foundation to support an innovative project in East Africa to increase regional producers' involvement in international fair trade labelling. It established an East African regulatory body that offers consulting services, inspection and monitoring of fair trade standards.

Several government departments are developing policies to procure fair trade goods, although the relative lack of product lines means that this cannot yet form a substantial part of overall procurement practice. 1st jenny

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Lord Smith of Leigh asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What advice they have given to the courts for dealing with breaches to anti-social behaviour orders; and whether the sentences being passed on such offences are a sufficient deterrent.[HL3434]

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The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): The requirement for training of magistrates rests with magistrates' courts committees, under guidance issued by the Judicial Studies Board. The Judicial Studies Board has issued training material relating to anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) (Crime and Disorder Act 1998—training material for Sections 1 and 4; anti-social behaviour orders—April 1999 and revised April 2001) based on Home Office guidance on anti-social behaviour orders issued in 1999. This material reflects the seriousness of breach of an ASBO.

The maximum penalty for conviction on indictment for a breach is five years' imprisonment or a fine; but it is for the courts to determine what sentences for breaches of ASBOs are appropriate in individual cases.

Nuisance Caused by Young People

Lord Smith of Leigh asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What is the trend in the number of incidents involving nuisance caused by young people which are recorded by the police; and whether police forces are giving this problem sufficient attention.[HL3435]

Lord Rooker: The police do not record the number of incidents involving nuisance caused by young people. The British Crime Survey, however, reports on how much of a problem people perceive various forms of disorder to be in their local area. "Teenagers hanging around on the streets" was recorded as a "very" or "fairly" big problem for 20 per cent in 1992, with the trend generally upwards to 32 per cent in 2000.

Police forces are required by the Crime and Disorder Act to join local authority representatives and others in crime and disorder partnerships, which can play a significant part in tackling anti-social behaviour. Partnerships have been asked to identify an anti-social behaviour co-ordinator to ensure that nuisance caused by young people and others is given sufficient attention, not only by the police but also by other key partners in the local area. 1st jenny

Biofuels: Excise Duty

The Earl of Mar and Kellie asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether the classification of road fuels wholly derived either from oilseed rape or from refined used cooking oil as "mineral oils" is correct. [HL3765]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Biofuels, including those derived from oilseed rape or used cooking oil, are not classified as mineral oils under the European Council directive on the structures of excise duties on mineral oils. When used as a road fuel, however, they are required to be taxed at the same rate as the fuel for which they substitute.

22 Apr 2002 : Column WA3

Scottish Parliament Building

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

    To what extent HM Treasury is due to contribute towards paying the cost of the Scottish Parliament building; and what is the latest estimate of the total cost. [HL3775]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The cost of the Scottish Parliament building is a devolved matter and is funded from within the Scottish Executive's existing budget.

Privy Council Silver

Lord Freyberg asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 February (WA139), whether a date has been set for the sale of the Privy Council silver that was withdrawn from auction on 29 October 2001; and, if not, when they expect a decision to be made; and [HL3853]

    Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 February (WA139), whether they have identified the institutions that will be invited to bid at the sale of the Privy Council silver. [HL3854]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: No date has yet been set. A number of relevant institutions have been identified.

Gulf Veterans: Exposure to Organophosphates

The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What scientific papers are available on the health consequences of exposure of Gulf War veterans to organophosphates and carbamates (including pyridostigmine bromide). [HL3659]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): The Ministry of Defence's Gulf Veterans' Illnesses Unit is aware of over 500 scientific papers, reports and other material which are considered relevant to the examination of the health consequences for Gulf veterans of possible exposure to organophosphates and carbamates, including exposure in combination. Officials are compiling a list of all of these documents. I will write to the noble Countess providing a copy of the list and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House. 1st jenny

Gulf War: Depleted Uranium

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether depleted uranium was contained in shells or other missiles used by the allies in the Gulf War, in addition to those used in anti-tank weapons.[HL3699]

22 Apr 2002 : Column WA4

Lord Bach: During the Gulf War, the Royal Navy was equipped with the Vulcan Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), an anti-missile defence system which used 20mm depleted uranium (DU) rounds. Rounds from this weapon were fired but purely for proving purposes and not during hostilities.

The US Navy also deployed Vulcan Phalanx CIWS. Some DU shells were fired in response to the launch of a shore-based anti-ship missile.

No other weapons containing DU were used by the allies in the Gulf War, apart from anti-tank weapons.

Manchester War Memorials

Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What representations the Ministry of Defence has received from Manchester City Council on the updating of war memorials to include the names of servicemen and women who lost their lives in conflicts other than the two world wars; what response is being made; and what action they will be taking.[HL3706]

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence has received no representations on behalf of Her Majesty's Government from Manchester City Council on the updating of war memorials, nor would any be expected as the responsibility for maintenance of, or alterations to, war memorials rests with local authorities.

MoD: Equal Opportunities Surveys

Baroness Thomas of Walliswood asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What new data series separated by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by the Ministry of Defence between June 1997 and the present.[HL3721]

Lord Bach: Since June 1997 the Ministry of Defence has conducted three equal opportunities surveys: an ethnic origin re-survey of MoD civil servants; a tri-service ethnic origin re-survey; and a survey by disability of MoD civil servants. Ethnicity surveys of MoD civil servants and Armed Forces personnel were previously conducted in 1991 and 1996 respectively. We have also conducted analysis of the age of MoD civil servants in order to inform our review of retirement policy.Bill

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