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Hunting with Dogs
Lord Donoughue asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Given that the Burns Report quotes evidence that there are 198 packs of foxhounds, harriers and fellhounds, totalling around 16,000 hounds, what measures they propose to find homes for these hounds if a ban on hunting is introduced; and[HL4678]
Whether, in the event that a ban on hunting is introduced, they are content that a significant number of redundant hounds may be killed; and[HL4679]
What evidence there is, should attempts be made to replace hunting with drag hunting, that hounds accustomed to following fox scent will not deviate from the drag if a fox is smelled; and[HL4680]
Whether they will conduct research to discover what hunts will do with redundant hounds if a ban on hunting is introduced; and[HL4681]
What measures they will propose, if a ban on hunting is introduced, to ensure the future welfare of the 16,000 hounds currently in packs; and whether
- they will pledge financial support towards providing such welfare; and[HL4682]
Whether they have asked the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals whether it has the resources to find homes for up to 16,000 hounds.[HL4683]
Lord Whitty: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) made a Statement to the House of Commons on 21 March on how he intends to proceed on hunting with dogs. He has invited evidence and representations on all relevant considerations and will be taking responses into account in drawing up draft legislation for Parliament to consider.
Agricultural Grants and Subsidies: Administration Costs
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the estimated cost of administration of payments to farmers for (a) "agricultural" grants and subsidies; and (b) "environmental" grants and subsidies.[HL4426]
Lord Whitty: The estimated cost of administration for agricultural grants and subsidies in England by the Rural Payments Agency is £108 million in the 2002–03 financial year. The estimated running costs for the Rural Development Service to operate the England Rural Development Programme, which covers schemes with environmental or wider rural economy objectives, is £39 million in the 2002–03 financial year.
National Museum of Science and Industry
Baroness Hilton of Eggardon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made on the review of the National Museum of Science and Industry.[HL4821]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): I have today published the first stage report of the review of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The report examines the roles and functions of the NMSI and how these functions contribute to the delivery of wider DCMS and governmental objectives. It identifies a number of ways in which NMSI can make a bigger contribution to DfES, DTI and Defra objectives.
The publication of the report marks the end of the first stage of the review. There will be no formal stage two process. However, my department is embarking upon a major study of the collections storage of the DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries which should have implications for NMSI.
A copy of the report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Museum of London, Horniman Museum and Geffrye Museum
Baroness Hilton of Eggardon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made on the joint review of the Museum of London, the Horniman Museum and the Geffrye Museum.[HL4820]
Baroness Blackstone: I have today published the first stage report of the joint quinquennial review of the Museum of London, the Horniman Museum and the Geffrye Museum. The report examines the roles and functions of the museums and how these functions contribute to the delivery of wider DCMS and governmental objectives. It confirms that the three museums are contributing strongly to the delivery of the Government's educational and social policy objectives. All three museums have potential to perform a regional or sub-regional role.
The publication of the report marks the end of the first stage of the review. The second stage will take forward the recommendations of the first stage and consider how the museums' services and functions could be provided more efficiently and effectively in the future.
A copy of the report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Toll Roads
Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider toll roads suitable for new roads or existing roads, or both.[HL4519]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): The Government have no plans to apply user charges to new or existing roads, except as already in operation or as already announced by the Government, including the road user charging scheme for lorries announced by the Chancellor in his recent Budget.
Golden Jubilee Medal: Palace of Westminster Collection
Lord Marlesford asked the Chairman of Committees:
- Further to his Written Answer on 7 May(WA 170), what progress is being made with the display of The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in the Palace of Westminster Medal Collection.[HL4817]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Tordoff): The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal was put on display on 18 June.
Written Answers: House of Commons
Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the maximum length of time to answer a Question for Written Answer in the House of Commons that would be acceptable to the Government within current guidelines; and how many questions for Written Answer remained unanswered in that House (on 1 May) after 21 days.[HL4152]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): Ministers have an obligation to ensure that Members in the House of Commons receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day, and to endeavour, where possible, to answer an ordinary Written Question within a working week of it being tabled.
Information on the number of Questions for Written Answer in that House that remain unanswered after 21 days is not held centrally.
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