| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Written Answers
Monday, 17th June 2002.
Mr Steven Bryant
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What views they have expressed to the Moroccan authorities about the imprisonment of Mr Steven Bryant, who has spent longer in a Moroccan prison following a conviction for drug offences than he would have done if convicted by a United Kingdom court for the same offence committed in the United Kingdom.[HL4441]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): We have given, and will continue to offer, all the consular assistance we properly can to Mr Bryant. However, the United Kingdom does not interfere in the judicial processes of other countries. Our own judicial proceedings are similarly protected.
Anti-discrimination Legislation
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 20 May (WA76-77), what are their reasons for deciding not to introduce primary legislation to make it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation, religious belief and age, not only in the areas covered by the European Union directives (employment and occupation) but also in the provision of goods, facilities and services, thereby matching the provision of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976.[HL4475]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Preparing new legislation to outlaw discrimination in work and vocational training on grounds of sexual orientation, religion and age is already a major undertaking and one on which we need to maintain a clear focus. On that basis, we have no plans at present to extend that legislation to cover the provision of goods, facilities and services.
Precision Guided Bomb
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress they are making with their plans to provide the Royal Air Force with full weather precision bombing capability; and what in-service dates for this capability they currently anticipate.[HL4627]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): Invitations to tender for the precision guided bomb contract were issued to six potential contractors in October 2001. Three of these, MBDA, Raytheon and SAGEM, agreed to participate in a two-stage assessment process. Stage one concluded on 31 May 2002, with the decision not to involve SAGEM any further forward in the competition. MBDA and Raytheon's bids will now be assessed in more detail during stage two of the process. The two-stage process reflects Smart acquisition in progress—the elimination of one tenderer at the end of stage one saves both the Ministry of Defence and industry time and money. It is expected that the final selection of a contractor will take place early next year.
The in-service date for the precision guided bomb is planned for late 2006. In the interim, the Tornado GR4 has been given an all-weather precision guided bomb capability with enhanced paveway laser guided bombs, which entered service on 27 October 2001.
Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What assessment they have made of the cost-effectiveness of Tomahawk land attack missiles as launched by vessels of the Royal Navy; what improvements they are considering in arrangements for embarking these missiles; what plans they have for replenishing and increasing the stock of these missiles and for extending launch capability to further vessels and other platforms. [HL4629]
Lord Bach: The cost-effectiveness of the Tomahawk land attack missile (TLAM) capability was initially established when the project was approved in 1995. The missile's utility has since been confirmed during operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan when the availability of the TLAM capability from United Kingdom submarines enabled us to undertake precision attacks, at long range, against selected targets.
The Block IIIC TLAM missiles, currently in service with the Royal Navy, are launched horizontally from submarine torpedo tubes. The next generation tactical Tomahawk (TACTOM) block IV missiles being produced for the US Navy can currently be fired only vertically and are therefore not suitable for UK submarines. Jointly funded UK-US feasibility studies have, however, identified a solution that would allow TACTOM to be launched horizontally from submarine torpedo tubes. Further development work is planned to start later this year, subject to completion of contractual negotiations. Improvements to arrangements for embarking Tomahawk missiles are not necessary.
Since the original purchase of the block IIIC variation to TLAM, additional remanufactured TLAMs have been procured to replace those used during the Kosovo campaign. A contract for the further purchase of remanufactured TLAMs was also signed in February 2002. No decision has been taken
on whether the UK should procure the next generation TACTOM block IV missile or whether the launch capability should be extended to further vessels or other platforms.Smallpox Vaccine Procurement
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 8 May (WA 178), whether the procedure outlined in the Answer constituted a tender procedure; and, if not, how it differed.[HL4284]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The procedure used in the smallpox vaccine procurement constituted a tender procedure in the general sense of seeking offers in relation to a proposed supply contract. The Public Supply Contracts Regulations 1995 did not apply to this contract because the protection of the basic interests of the security of the United Kingdom exempted it.
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 8 May (WA 178), whether they will:
(a) name the five major pharmaceutical companies with which detailed confidential discussions were held;
(b) publish the detailed requirements for vaccine strain, timing and delivery which were made clear to the companies;
(c) state the information that was required to be contained in the responses that the companies submitted;
(d) state how many companies submitted responses;
(e) state when the companies were required to submit responses; and
(f) state whether a decision to award the contract was made on the basis of the responses alone or whether other negotiations took place prior to contract award.[HL4285]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Detailed confidential discussions were held with five major pharmaceutical companies which were known to have vaccine manufacturing capability either in the United Kingdom or in Europe. The companies, whose agreement to being identified has been obtained, were Acambis, Aventis Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline, PowderJect and RIVM. All the companies approached responded and the decision to award the contract was taken solely on the basis of the responses received from the companies. The details of the Government's requirements for smallpox vaccine are not being put in the public domain as this is information that might be of use to terrorists.
Lord Hayhoe asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Under European Union rules, beef derived from cattle of any age from a non-EU country is allowed entry into the EU only if it has been produced to standards at least equivalent to those that are required in EU member states. The EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (formerly the Standing Veterinary Committee) must approve both the country of origin for trade in a particular type of meat and also agree the list of specified plants which may produce for export to the EU. Meat must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate issued by the authorities in the exporting country and must be presented on arrival in the EU at a border inspection post, where it is subject to veterinary checks.
These inspections ensure that all conditions of import, including the appropriate specified risk materials declaration, have been complied with and ensure that the meat has remained in a satisfactory condition during transport. Once these checks have been carried out, a certificate of veterinary clearance is issued and the goods can move freely throughout the EU.
The United States is approved to export beef to the EU, and for this purpose there are two approved establishments in Chicago. No additional restrictions apply for the import of mature beef from the United States into the United Kingdom.
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The income received from agrochemical companies in payment for specific services amounts to, as stated in the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health to Mr Paul Tyler MP, an average over several years of £3,000 per annum. The average of £3,000 p.a. was for specific work on surveillance and advice on safety. The £15,000 was money that the trust asked for to help support registrar posts at the Medical Toxicology Unit. Zeneca Agrochemicals part funded a registrar
No specific post was established in this period (1999–2000) and no specific research was started in this trial period.
What restrictions impede or prevent the import of mature beef from Chicago, United States, for human consumption in the United Kingdom.[HL4339]
How they reconcile the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 March (WA 37-38) with the letter of 4 October 2000 sent by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health to Paul Tyler MP in which she stated "the Medical Toxicology Unit provides post marketing surveillance for one company and advice on safety information for one company—a total of two companies with an annual average income of £3,000".[HL4403]
Next Section
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page