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Baroness Thomas of Walliswood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Ministry of Defence has established a baseline for policy appraisal against which to measure progress on equal treatment; and what progress has been achieved. [HL3722]
Lord Bach: Although the Ministry of Defence does not have a policy appraisal baseline against which to measure progress on equal treatment, the requirement
to consider the impact of proposals, either directly or indirectly, on different groups of people, including women, is embedded in the department's guidance to policy makers and as such is taken into account as a matter of course.Zimbabwe
Baroness Whitaker asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether Zimbabwe was discussed during the recent EU General Affairs Council on 15 April. [HL3861]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): On 15 April, the EU General Affairs Council imposed a moratorium on bilateral ministerial level contacts with Zimbabwe until further notice, except for the conduct of political dialogue intended to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe and on issues relating to regional security or for addressing humanitarian needs. The Council decided to defer consideration of additional targeted measures against the Government of Zimbabwe until its next meeting in May. An EU troika will visit Southern Africa soon to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe with SADC countries (not Zimbabwe itself).
We have made clear that the people of Zimbabwe have been denied their fundamental right to choose by whom they are governed. We support efforts by South Africa and Nigeria to facilitate dialogue between ZANU (PF) and MDC to try to restore democracy and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. We remain in continuous contact with our EU, US, Commonwealth and SADC partners. Rebo
Fireworks: Depleted Uranium
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether depleted uranium is present in any fireworks, whether manufactured in the United Kingdom or manufactured elsewhere and imported.[HL3660]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Health and Safety Executive's Explosives Inspectorate has wide experience of licensing and inspecting sites used for the manufacture and storage of fireworks. It knows of no cases where depleted uranium (DU) has been used in fireworks, whether they have been manufactured in the UK or imported from elsewhere. The primary function of DU in an explosives context is its use in munitions designed to penetrate armour plate. HSE is not aware of any valid contribution that the material would make to a pyrotechnic composition and in its view the cost of using it would be prohibitive.
Homeless Families: Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress the national Bed and Breakfast Unit has made since 1 October 2001; and whether they consider the target of removing all homeless families with children from bed and breakfast accommodation by March 2004 to be attainable.[HL3700]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Bed and Breakfast Unit (BBU) has undertaken a national consultation exercise, including a conference, and regional good practice seminars. Examples of good practice have also been identified and shared through a newsletter. Shortly, the first action advice teams will go into authorities to audit procedures for getting people out of B&B. With the Department for Work and Pensions, changes have also been made to housing benefit subsidy arrangement to make leasing self-contained property for homeless households more financially viable.
The commitment to ensure that by March 2004 no homeless family with children is in B&B for more than six weeks was set after extensive consultation. In addition to the changes to housing benefit, worth an estimated £10 million to authorities, we are also providing an additional £35 million this year to help authorities meet the commitment. High B&B using authorities are producing action plans showing how they will reduce numbers and length of stay for homeless families with children in B&B over the next two years to meet the Secretary of State's commitment.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many homeless households were in bed and breakfast accommodation at the most recent date.[HL3701]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The number of households accepted by local authorities under statutory homelessness provisions in England and accommodated in bed and breakfast hotels on 31 December 2001 was 12,110.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions recently announced a new commitment to ensure that by March 2004 no family with children will be placed in B&B other than in an emergency. This was accompanied by changes in housing benefit subsidies to make leasing self-contained temporary accommodation more cost-effective and an additional £35 million from DTLR to help local authorities find alternatives to B&B. Rebo
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the annual cost of providing bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless people.[HL3702]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Based on the latest information supplied by local authorities in England, gross expenditure on bed and breakfast provision in
2000–01 was £193 million. Net expenditure, after taking into account income arising from charges to clients and housing benefit subsidy, was £74 million.The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions recently announced a new commitment to ensure that by March 2004 no family with children will be placed in B&B other than in an emergency. This was accompanied by changes in housing benefit subsidies to make leasing self-contained temporary accommodation more cost-effective and an additional £35 million from DTLR to help local authorities find alternatives to B &B.
Sporting Events: Temporary Use Provisions
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What evidence they have to show that the 28 days a year planning rule, under which many sporting events take place, is not operating satisfactory.[HL3704]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The department commissioned some research in February 2000, which included an investigation of the impact of provisions relating to the temporary use of land. It addressed matters such as impact on local amenity and the environment, for example in terms of litter, noise and relationships with other land uses in the area. The report was published on 12 September 2001. The department has also received correspondence from Members of Parliament, local planning authorities and members of the public about concerns arising from the temporary use provisions. The principal concerns relate to increased traffic, noise and litter.
We issued on 24 January 2002 a consultation paper on possible options for change to the current temporary use provisions. The paper puts forward six options for possible change as well as inviting proposals for alternative options. The closing date for responses is 24 April 2002. The department will consider the way forward in the light of the responses received. Rebo
Aviation: Economic Impact
Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they intend to take into account the contribution of general and business aviation to local economies as they develop an aviation policy for the next 30 years.[HL3727]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Future of Aviation consultation paper published in December 2000 posed questions on a wide range of aviation issues, including questions on the role of general aviation. The role of business aviation has also been considered in the airport capacity studies we have carried out covering the whole of the UK. We plan to publish these studies shortly and bring forward proposals on which we will consult. We will analyse responses to the two consultation exercises before bringing forward new
aviation and airports policies in an air transport White Paper.The Government have also decided to support research by the General Aviation Awareness Council which will examine the economic impact of general aviation, and are intending to commission a separate piece of research to examine the noise impacts of general aviation.
Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will consider strengthening the provisions of Planning Policy Guidance 13 (PPG13) in respect of general aviation aerodromes and in particular the account that local authorities should take of the contribution of general aviation to local and regional economies when formulating planning policies and procedures.[HL3728]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government have decided to support research by the General Aviation Awareness Council which will examine the contribution of general aviation to both local and regional economies. Separate research looking at the environmental impacts of general aviation will also be commissioned. Once the projects have been completed, we will look at the findings and consider whether our policies on general aviation and the guidance in PPG13 needs to be reviewed.
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