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Jersey: Financial Information
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether Jersey is meeting the new European Union rules on sharing financial information.[HL4705]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There are no European Union rules on sharing financial information that apply to Jersey.
Financial Services Authority Annual Report
Lord Orme asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect the annual report of the Financial Services Authority to be published.[HL4825]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The FSA annual report is to be published today. Copies have been placed in the Library. The report forms a key part of the accountability mechanism for the FSA under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and this report is the first to assess the performance of the FSA against its statutory objectives.
Steel Industry
Lord Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What new measures they have adopted to assist the steel industry in Britain to face up to competition within and without the country.[HL4739]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The Department of Trade and Industry in particular has worked closely with the UK steel industry for many years to improve its competitiveness and to encourage best practice.
The DTI has provided financial support for a number of initiatives to bring about improvements in skills, training, business planning, lean manufacturing, exports and e-commerce. Earlier this year, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced funding of £2.7 million (£1.5 million from DTI and £1.2 million from Yorkshire Forward) for a new national metals technology centre. The centre will play an important role in ensuring the industry remains competitive and a world leader in innovation.
Lord Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their estimate of the annual value of United Kingdom exports of steel products for the years 1999–2001.[HL4742]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The value of UK exports of primary steel products were as follows:
- 1999—£2,145 million
- 2000—£2,395 million
- 2001—£2,417 million.
- Source: Iron & Steel Statistics Bureau.
Beaches
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many beaches around England which are monitored for bathing quality passed the European Commission standards in 2000 and 2001; how many failed to meet the standards in 2000 and 2001; and what action is being taken to increase the success rate further.[HL4540]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: (Lord Whitty): 388 (98 per cent) of the coastal bathing waters in England passed the Bathing Water Directive's main mandatory standards in 2001, compared with 375 (95 per cent) in 2000. Nine bathing waters (2 per cent) failed in 2001, compared with 21 (5 per cent) in 2000. Investment totalling £600 million in England and Wales is committed up to 2005, aimed at achieving further improvements, targeted at over 100 sewage treatment works and several hundred storm overflows. Ultra-violet disinfection of effluent has been or will be provided at over 120 sewage treatment works where this is needed to protect bathing waters, bringing water quality benefits to some 180 bathing waters. We are also actively addressing diffuse pollution of water from agriculture.
Badgers
Baroness Sharples asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are aware that, because of the rapid increase in damage caused to permanent pasture by badgers, farmers are reluctant to rent grazing in certain areas because of the risk of disease.[HL4594]
Lord Whitty: The Government are aware of anecdotal evidence that increased badger activity has led to damage to some pasture in some areas. However, we have not seen any evidence that farmers are unwilling to rent land for grazing because of disease concerns.
Meat Imports
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- (a) What monitoring schemes are in place to check that the stipulated physical checks on meat imports happen as instructed at each place of entry to the United Kingdom;
(b) What records of such checks are kept and in what form; and
(c) Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the records for the last six months for each port and airport in England.[HL4609]
Lord Whitty: (a) Border inspection posts (BIPs) are required to make monthly returns to Defra indicating the number of consignments received and what checks
have been carried out on them. The Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission carries out frequent inspections of border inspection posts to ensure they are operating to the required standards. We are currently finalising arrangements under which staff of the State Veterinary Service will inspect BIPs on a regular basis and will ensure that the correct levels of checks are applied.(b) A detailed record of checks carried out is held at the BIP. This record includes the number of documentary, identity and physical checks carried out and the number of consignments sampled and rejected. These records can be held electronically or on paper.
(c) A table detailing the number of physical checks on meat carried out by BIPs in England from October 2001 to March 2002 is being prepared and will be placed in the Library of the House when available.
Montgomery Canal
Lord Carlile of Berriew asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their policy towards the restoration of the Montgomery Canal for use by leisure and other craft from the Llangollen Canal southwards towards Newtown; and what is their policy towards the resourcing of any restoration.[HL4665]
Lord Whitty: In line with their policy document Waterways for Tomorrow, the Government wish to encourage waterway restoration projects which have clear economic, environmental or social benefits. The Government look to the promoters of restoration projects such as the Montgomery Canal to seek funding from national lottery bodies, regional development agencies, European funds and other sources available to support the delivery of these objectives.
Open Country and Common Land Maps
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the letter of 17 April from Alun Michael MP to Baroness Byford concerning the "very large number of comments" on the first draft maps of open country and registered common land in England, whether later parts of the programme might attract fewer comments if:
(a) draft maps showed existing access restrictions, for instance on Ministry of Defence land;
(b) the definition of improved or semi-improved grassland were to be widened to cover more than simply agricultural improvement; and
(c) the definition of heathland were to exclude dense naturally regenerating trees.[HL4718]
Lord Whitty: We welcome the large number of comments on the agency's draft maps for part of the South East and the lower North West of England, which show the high level of public engagement in the consultation.
The purpose of the draft map is to invite comments on whether land is correctly shown on the map as open country or registered common land. While a number of different suggestions have been made, Ministers have looked at the agency's approach and agree with the agency's view that the inclusion of other information, such as existing rights of access or restrictions on access under Ministry of Defence by-laws, would distract people from considering whether the land is correctly shown on the draft map. For example, land managers might fail to object to the classification of land as open country because military by-laws already restrict access. They would then have no further opportunity to object to its classification if the by-laws were subsequently revoked and the land were opened to access.
The agency expects to draw up advisory maps which will show open country and registered common land in the context of other useful information, such as known substantial areas of excepted land, land subject to long-term restrictions and exclusions and land with existing rights of access which will help people to interpret the information shown on conclusive maps.
The agency will look at the criteria for mapping open country (which are set out in its mapping methodology) as it proceeds with assessing the comments made to it on the draft maps for the lead mapping regions, including comments similar to those made by the noble Baroness. Any amendments to the criteria will be reflected in the provisional maps for these two regions and in the draft maps issued for subsequent regions.
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Slug pellets, like all pesticides, are approved taking into account their impact on people and the environment and all give guidance to users on how to minimise the risk from using them. Provided these products are used in accordance with their statutory conditions of approval there should be minimal risk to people, non-target animals and the wider environment.
All approved pesticide products are subject to routine review but may be reviewed at any time if specific concerns emerge concerning their safety. If appropriate, an approval can be restricted or revoked entirely. Where there is clear evidence of careless use, court action can be, and has been, taken.
Metaldehyde, an active substance used in some slug pellets, was reviewed in 1996 and as a result additional conditions and restrictions on use were imposed so as to further improve the safety of these products in use. Methiocarb, the other principle active substance used in slug pellets, is presently being reviewed as part of the UK's review of anticholinesterase pesticides.
Whether they will issue notice or consider taking appropriate action to prevent or to discourage the careless use of slug pellets.[HL4728]
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