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Dome Site

Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect Engish Partnerships to receive payments for development of the Dome site.[HL4732]

The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker): English Partnerships will receive payments for the development of its land on the Greenwich peninsula at the point when legal ownership of the site transfers from EP. Ownership will transfer on a plot by plot basis over the lifetime of the joint venture with Meridian Delta Limited (MDL) and will occur only after MDL has spent substantial sums on planning, marketing and installation of the infrastructure needed to support the redevelopment of the peninsula. Payments for the Dome itself will take the form of a share of profits, to be paid once the Dome is re-opened to the public. The precise timing of all these payments depends on when planning permission is granted and the precise phasing of development.

China: Visit of Mr Li Ruihuan

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

What human rights concerns they raised in the discussions with Mr Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, during his recent visit to the United Kingdom; and with what results. [HL4675]

The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): My noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor raised a number of issues of current concern, including freedom of speech, Tibet and the need for dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Falun Gong, and the use of the death penalty. Mr Li replied along standard lines.

Steel Industry

Lord Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:

What they have done to assist the United Kingdom steel industry to face up to the United States' protectionist measures. [HL4740]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government fully support the European Commission's robust response in immediately pursuing WTO action and took a lead in pressing for EU safeguard action to protect the UK and EU steel industry against diversion of trade.

We are also actively supporting UK companies in their efforts to secure product exclusions from the US measures.

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Azerbaijan: Displaced Persons

Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assistance they are providing to agencies working with internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan. [HL4752]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Department for International Development began providing support to refugee programmes in Azerbaijan in 1999. Financial commitments of £119,500 and £89,000 were made to Oxfam and the Red Cross respectively in that year. A further grant of £70,000 was made to Oxfam in 2000, followed later that year by a grant of £240,000 to UNFPA, whose programme is ongoing. The funds were used to provide basic healthcare and livelihood improvements for refugees living in temporary camps.

The British Embassy in Baku has funded a project bringing together South Caucasus NGOs to discuss the problems of refugees. The embassy has also funded two projects to provide better education for refugee and internally displaced children.

Ingushetia: Displaced Chechen People

Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking bilaterally and multilaterally to seek reassurance that displaced Chechen people in Ingushetia will not be forced by direct or indirect pressure to return to Chechnya against their will and that all resettlement in Chechnya is genuinely voluntary. [HL4753]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have not made any recent representations to the Russian authorities about the humanitarian situation in Ingushetia. Our bilateral discussions have instead focused on allegations of human rights violations in Chechnya. We have, however, supported and helped draft an EU demarche to the Russian Government stressing that any return of IDPs from Ingushetia to Chechnya must be fully voluntary and expressed doubt that this is currently realistic given the lack of basic amenities and security guarantees.

Guantanamo Bay

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have recently discussed with the Government of the United States the conditions of prisoners held at Guantanamo in Cuba and the prospects for bringing them to trial or release; and, if so, with what result. [HL4792]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer my honourable friend the Member for North Warwickshire gave to my honourable friend the Member for the City of Chester in another place on

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13 June (Official Report, col. 1397W). We remain in close touch with the US Government on the legal procedure to which the detainees might be subject.

Afghanistan: Prisoners

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are discussing with the civil and military authorities in Afghanistan the future of all prisoners held there as a result of military operations. [HL4793]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We made clear to the Afghan Interim Administration, and will continue to make clear to their successor, the Transitional Administration, that we expect them to respect their international obligations regarding prisoners currently being held in Afghanistan. We remain in regular contact with the International Commiittee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which closely monitors the situation and welfare of all prisoners.

EU: Public Knowledge

Baroness Ludford asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the level of public knowledge of matters relating to the European Union. [HL4801]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: An opinion poll on public knowledge of, and attitudes to, the European Union was carried out by ICM for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in October 2001. The full results of the poll were published and placed in the Library of the House in December 2001.

Ageing: Report to UN Conference

Lord McColl of Dulwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of their report submitted to the United Nations Conference on Ageing. [HL4746]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): My right honourable friend the Minister for Pensions delivered the United Kingdom's national statement at the United Nations Second World Assembly on Ageing held in Madrid from 8 April 2002 to 12 April 2002. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Temporary Veterinary Inspectors

Lord Redesdale asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many temporary veterinary inspectors, while on the Government's temporary register of veterinary surgeons, have been found guilty of unprofessional conduct in each of the last 10 years. [HL4473]

27 Jun 2002 : Column WA154

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): As far as can be determined, no temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) have been found guilty of unprofessional conduct in each of the last 10 years while holding a TVI appointment.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 2 May (WA 140), whether they are able to state:


(a) what moneys have already been paid;


(b) the number of claims that have been received and are still to be processed;


(c) the number of claims that are now overdue; and


(d) the length of time each overdue claim has been outstanding. [HL4611]

Lord Whitty: By 24 May 2002 the department had spent £295 million on cleansing and disinfection.

The accounts of contractors used by Defra during the FMD outbreak to cleanse and disinfect premises have been the subject of detailed examination. It has necessitated Defra obtaining legal advice from a number of external law firms on whether sums claimed by contractors are valid and due.

Wide-ranging issues have arisen on the accounts. These include legal issues such as matters of contractual interpretation, forensic accountancy issues and evidential issues involving the assessment of both a large amount of documentation and proofing of witnesses. Some of these disputes will inevitably result in court proceedings, although Defra remains committed to resolving matters by mediation where appropriate.

In these circumstances it is not possible at present for reasons of legal and commercial confidentiality to disclose the number of claims that have been received and are still to be processed; the number of claims that contractors claim are now overdue; and the length of time each allegedly overdue claim has been outstanding.

Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Elliot Morley, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 2 May (HC Deb, 938W), whether road haulage contracts for the removal of foot and mouth carcasses in Northumberland were awarded as a result of the competitive tendering process; whether contracts awarded to Snowie were the outcome of the competitive tendering process; how many separate contracts were awarded; and in each case, how many other firms tendered. [HL4612]

27 Jun 2002 : Column WA155

Lord Whitty: Pursuant to the Written Answer by Elliot Morley, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Defra, on 2 May (HC Deb, 938W), a road haulage contact was awarded to Snowie through the use of the negotiated procurement procedure without the prior publication of an official journal (OJEU) notice.

Separate road haulage contracts were awarded as a result of the competitive tendering process to Banks; Yuill and Dodds; NDMR; Whitkirks; Beverley Ridley; and Blakey's Haulage. In each case a minimum of three to four other firms tendered.

All contractors' performance was subject to ongoing review and management by quantity surveyors, forensic accountants and other technical specialists retained by Defra.

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