| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 27 March (WA 61), whether they will list all the cases dealt with by the Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) from 1996 to 2001, giving the date when each incident was reported to the Health and Safety Executive and then to PIAP and the date upon which PIAP notified the individual(s) concerned of their case classification.[HL3729]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: As the Question requests a substantial amount of information, a comprehensive list of all 397 cases dealt with by the Pesticides Incidents Appraisal Panel (PIAP) between 1996 and 2001, showing all three dates requested, will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 27 March (WA 61), what lessons have been derived from the cumulative information on pesticide incidents that have occurred between 1996 and 2001; which pesticides or other ingredients have been involved; when the information was passed to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides; and whether there has been any regulatory outcome as a result of the process. [HL3730]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Health and Safety Executive produces annual information about pesticide incidents investigated by its inspectors. The Pesticide Incidents Report is published each autumn and the results presented to the ACP. The report includes analyses of data collated for previous years and highlights trends in respect of alleged ill health and other non-health related complaints. The most recent report was discussed at the ACP meeting held on 29 November 2001. The 10 most commonly recorded chemical types for active ingredients in alleged ill health incidents for the past 10 years are listed in the report.
Organophosphates remain the most commonly recorded pesticide type, although more recently (from 1999) pyrethroids have featured more frequently. The most commonly recorded pesticide functions are herbicides and fungicides. Data obtained from incidents where pesticides are confirmed to have caused ill health are fed back into the approvals system and taken into account when the active substance is reviewed. Progressively, under European legislation now in place, future incidents reports will provide information on investigated incidents and complaints involving plant protection products (currently referred to as agricultural pesticides under the national system of pesticide approvals) and biocides (currently called non-agricultural pesticides).
Safety on Roads: Warning Signs
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether a highway authority's responsibilities for safety of the road under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 would oblige it to provide and maintain warning signs when a straight road leading over a railway bridge was realigned onto a blind bend and the bridge removed 33 years ago; and [HL3734]
Whether they will list the number, type and result of prosecutions in the last five years for failure to ensure the safety of a road. [HL3736]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a general duty on employers to conduct their undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of the public. In general, Section 3 is not enforced where public and worker safety is adequately protected by a more specific and detailed law enforced by another authority, in this instance the Highways Act 1980 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 gives a traffic authority the power to place traffic signs on or near a road and the Highways Act 1980 puts on highway authorities a duty to maintain the highway (including signs). The Highways Act does not specify the standard of maintenance required but case law suggests that the extent of this duty will vary according to the type of highway and the kind of traffic that may
normally be expected on it. Information about prosecutions for failure to ensure the safety of a road is not kept centrally. Rebo
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Health and Safety Executive intends to prosecute Lincolnshire County Council for a failure to ensure the safety of the road at Nocton.[HL3735]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Both the British Transport Police and Lincolnshire police are investigating this incident. Until these investigations are concluded no decision can be taken about whether the Health and Safety Executive will prosecute Lincolnshire County Council.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In respect of the accident at Nocton in Lincolnshire on 28 February, whether there had ever been a road barrier in place since the under-bridge was removed 33 years ago; if so, who removed the barrier; when; and why it was not replaced.[HL3738]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is a matter for whoever is responsible for maintaining the road.
Railway Safety
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list the number, type and result of prosecutions in the last five years for failure to ensure the safety of a railway.[HL3737]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: A summary of prosecutions by the Health and Safety Executive for the five years 1996–97 to 2000–01 for breaches of health and safety legislation is provided in the table below.
| Year | Number of prosecutions heard | Successful prosecutions |
| 1996–97 | 6 | 6 |
| 1997–98 | 8 | 8 |
| 1998–99 | 10 | 10 |
| 1999–2000 | 11 | 11 |
| 2000–01 | 12 | 11 |
Full details of these prosecutions are included in the HM Chief Inspector of Railways' Annual Report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain. Copies are available from both the House libraries.
Rebo
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the first projects of the Merseyside waterfront development plan will start. [HL3813]
22 Apr 2002 : Column WA11
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Work on the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park is progressing as planned and a commencement business plan is currently being finalised for consideration by partners and stakeholders.
The five Merseyside local authorities have formed a steering group to develop a programme of proposed projects over the period 2002–05. The programme is anticipated to commence in September.
Witham: Advertising Hoardings
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will ask Braintree District Council to cease using land adjacent to the A12 trunk road at Witham for advertising hoardings, which are contrary to government planning policy guidance.[HL3836]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Local planning authorities are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the advertisement control system. They have powers to control outdoor advertisements and to remove advertisements which are displayed unlawfully. Rebo
Green Ministers Cabinet Sub-Committee
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which Ministers sit on the Green Ministers Cabinet Sub-Committee; and how many times the sub-committee has met since 7 June 2001. [HL3484]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): Following the General Election in June 2001, the previously informal committee was upgraded to a Cabinet Sub-Committee of ENV and it is established practice under exemption two of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.
The membership of the committee is as follows:
| Name | Department |
| Rt. Hon Michael Meacher MP Minister of State (Environment) (Chair) | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
| Rt. Hon Harriet Harman QC MP Solicitor General | Law Officers Department |
| Rt. Hon Paul Boateng Financial Secretary | HM Treasury |
| Rt. Hon Alun Michael Minister of State (Rural Affairs) | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
| Brian Wilson QC MP Minister for Industry and Energy | Department of Trade and Industry |
| Rt. Hon Baroness Blackstone Minister for the Arts | Department for Culture, Media and Sport |
| George Foulkes MP Minister of State | Scotland Office |
| Christopher Leslie MP Parliamentary Secretary | Cabinet Office |
| Rosie Winterton MP Parliamentary Secretary | Lord Chancellor's Department |
| Angela Eagle MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Home Office |
| Hilary Benn MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Department of International Development |
| Rt. Hon Baroness Hollis of Heigham Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Department for Work and Pensions |
| Dr Alan Whitehead MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions |
| Yvette Cooper MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Department of Health |
| Baroness Ashton of Upholland Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Department for Education and Skills |
| Dr Lewis Moonie MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Ministry of Defence |
| Dr Denis MacShane MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
| Desmond Browne MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State | Northern Ireland Office |
| Don Touhig MP Parliamentary under Secretary of State | Wales Office |
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |