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Cattle: TB Tests
The Duke of Montrose asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many herds of cattle and how many individual animals are contained in the current backlog of tuberculosis tests; and when they expect this backlog to be reduced.[HL4003]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): Just under 26,000 herds currently have overdue TB tests. This represents about a quarter of the herds in Great Britain. Exact figures on the total number of cattle in herds with overdue tests are not available except at disproportionate cost but it is estimated that the number may be between 2.5 and 3 million cattle.
It is not yet possible to say when the backlog of TB tests will be cleared. claire
The Duke of Montrose asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have any plans to increase the frequency of routine herd tests for bovine tuberculosis in (a) Wales or (b) the rest of the country; and, if so, what the frequency would be [HL4004]
Lord Whitty: The frequency of routine testing for bovine tuberculosis (TB) is set at parish level. This ranges from annual testing in parishes with known
higher incidence of bovine TB to once every four years in areas with low or no disclosed incidence of bovine TB. Large parts of the West Midlands, South West of England and South and West of Wales are already under annual or biennial testing.The frequency of testing in parishes is kept constantly under review by divisional veterinary managers and adjusted to take into account the incidence of confirmed TB breakdowns. In Wales the Veterinary Field Service carries out TB control on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. A similar arrangement exists in Scotland.
Marine Stewardship Report
Lord Gladwin of Clee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to publish the forthcoming Marine Stewardship Report.[HL4051]
Lord Whitty: Tomorrow we will publish the first Marine Stewardship Report, Safeguarding Our Seas: A Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Development of our Marine Environment
The report sets out our vision for the marine environment-clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. It is underpinned by the principles of sustainable development, integrated management, the conservation of biological diversity, robust science, the precautionary principle and stakeholder involvement.
It outlines how we are adopting an ecosystem-based approach to marine management better to integrate marine protection objectives with sustainable social and economic goals. It covers the broad spectrum of policies that affect the marine environment. As well as describing past achievements and progress made, it contains new ideas and initiatives to turn our vision into reality.
Our initiatives will improve marine conservation. We will undertake our proposed regional seas pilot scheme in the Irish Sea as the next stage of our review of marine nature conservation. The report also commits us to consult later this year on the regulations to extend the Habitats and Birds Directives out to limit of jurisdiction of UK waters. It also contains a commitment to explore with other countries the case for, and feasibility of, marine protected areas on the high seas.
The report announces our intention to review the regulations that affect development in coastal waters with a view to simplifying the regulatory system and protecting the marine environment. It also includes initiatives to explore the role of spatial planning for our seas at the regional level and provide a focal point to build on existing seabed mapping.
In addition, Safeguarding Our Seas commits us to review current arrangements for marine scientific research to ensure that we have the proper science base to deliver our vision. It underlines our commitment to develop our framework for environmental monitoring
and that we will produce an integrated assessment of our seas by 2004.The report emphasises the importance of involving stakeholders in making the decisions that affect them. It announces that we will hold a joint conference of the English, Scottish and Welsh Coastal fora, together with stakeholders from Northern Ireland, on how to implement the EC recommendation on integrated coastal zone management.
Some policy matters covered in the report are the responsibility of the devolved administrations. The Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales were integral to the preparation of the report. The Northern Ireland Executive has monitored progress of the report and will consider the implications for Northern Ireland.
The report is a valuable first step in turning our vision into reality: I will place copies of the report in the Library of the House. It will also be available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine.
NHS: Funding for Treatment of Individual Patients
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there has been any change in the policy of the Department of Health, as stated by Baroness Hayman on 27 January 1999 (HL Deb, col. 1009) that "we do not believe that it is proper to withdraw treatment in the midst of a course" where funding for treatment outside the National Health Service has been provided by a health authority; and whether the responsibility for funding treatment for individual patients will pass automatically from health authorities to primary care trusts.[HL3895]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): We continue to support the statement made by Baroness Hayman. Funding for treatment secured outside the National Health Service should not normally be discontinued in the midst of a course unless commissioners can secure a clinically appropriate alternative or it is agreed that a treatment is no longer clinically beneficial. Primary care trusts have the freedom to commission locally relevant high quality services for their populations from outside the NHS. Such decisions should be made on the basis of the healthcare needs of the local community and should take account of both clinical and cost effectiveness. With the shift in the balance to the frontline, primary care trusts will become responsible for the delivery of the vast majority of former health authority functions and the totality of care for the populations they serve (subject to legislation). We have allocated funding to health authorities for 2002–03 and they in turn have allocated funding to primary care trusts on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. In future the intention is that funding allocations will be made direct to primary care trusts in line with their enhanced responsibilities.
Sheep Meat
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have any plans to keep ovines over 12 months of age out of the food chain.[HL3910]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: A stakeholder group of consumer, industry and scientific experts has been meeting over recent months to consider whether or not, in the face of continuing uncertainty over BSE and sheep, any additional measures should be taken to protect or inform consumers. The group is considering a range of options, including some relating to the age of sheep, but has yet to report. The Food Standards Agency intends to consult fully on the stakeholder report when it is finalised.
Meanwhile, the position of the Food Standards Agency remains that it is not advising against the consumption of sheep meat. Rebo
Aquariums
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many aquariums have been opened in the years 2000, 2001 and to date, with the help of lottery funding.[HL3812]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): According to our Lottery Awards Database, in the years 2000, 2001 and to date, one aquarium has been opened with the support of lottery funding. The Deep project in Hull received a grant from the Millennium Commission worth £21,476,000 and opened to the public on 23 March 2002. The Deep comprises a visitor centre, learning and research centre and a business centre and forms part of the larger regeneration plans for Hull. It is Europe's deepest aquarium and has the world's only underwater acrylic lift.
Coarse Fishing
Lord Willoughby de Broke asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to introduce legislation in respect of coarse fishing based on the concept of "cruelty and utility"; and, if not, why not.[HL3840]
Baroness Blackstone: We have no plans to introduce legislation in respect of coarse fishing based on the concept of "cruelty and utility". Those involved in angling are aware of the need to avoid unnecessary harm and to minimise any stress caused to fish. The Government remain committed to supporting and promoting all forms of angling, including coarse fishing.
Online Gaming
Lord Donoughue asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they propose to introduce some form of regulation or self-regulation to allow legal Internet gaming in the United Kingdom prior to introducing primary legislation, thus not forcing this industry off-shore as at present.[HL3956]
Baroness Blackstone: No. Primary legislation is required before online gaming could legally be operated from the United Kingdom. We intend to bring forward a Bill including provision for such gaming as soon as parliamentary time permits.
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