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Written Answers
Monday, 8th July 2002.
[The following QWA is Reprinted from col. 48 of the Official Report for 3 July 2002 as the attached letter was omitted.]M1 and M6 Motorways: Lighting
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What measures are being taken to ensure full overhead lighting on the M1 and M6 motorways.[HL4770]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews, dated 2 July 2002.
I have been asked by the Transport Minister, Lord MacDonald, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the provision of full overhead lighting on the M1 and M6 motorways.
When considering whether or not to light a particular section of motorway, we consider the potential for reducing accidents and the environmental impact of additional lighting, particularly in rural areas where there is little or no existing light pollution.
The motorways in question have good accident records. The number of night-time incidents reported is below the national average and there are no plans to install overhead lighting on either.
Roads: Multi Modal Studies
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What account they require multi modal studies to take of possible future road pricing programmes for some or all roads.[HL5017]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Guidance on the Methodology for Multi-Modal Studies, issued in March 2000, recognised that local authorities have powers to introduce road user charging schemes. The guidance also noted that, although there were no plans to introduce more widespread charging schemes on the inter-urban network, it was important that all potential options for resolving problems within study corridors were explored. The guidance therefore advised that it would be "appropriate for the studies to examine the contribution that charging on selected corridors and sections of the trunk road network might make to the delivery of the Government's transport objectives".
In addition, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Goverment
and the Regions wrote to the chairs of regional planning bodies on 24 May 2002. Among other things, his letter said that multi-modal study recommendations "should build in flexibility as to what should be done now given that we do not believe that a system of road user charging for cars could be introduced this decade and that no decisions have been made about the longer term introduction of road user charging". The same advice was conveyed to the study teams.Nepal
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress they have made in securing international support and assistance to the Government of Nepal during its current national emergency; and.[HL4842]
What immediate bilateral response they are making to the request of the Government of Nepal for urgent material assistance, in the form of both military aid and rural development, following the latest Maoist incursions; and[HL4843]
What has been the nature of their latest conversations with the Indian Government about the need for an immediate response to the crisis in Nepal; and with what result.[HL4844]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): We are committed to continuing our developmental, political and military assistance to Nepal.
We are working closely with our international colleagues in identifying ways to resolve Nepal's problems. It was in this context that the UK hosted an international meeting in London on 19-20 June. We invited representatives from the Nepalese Government and from other countries who share our concerns, including India, the US and China.
The meeting resulted in an agreed statement reconfirming support for the Nepalese Government, while also stressing the need for them to match this with internal reform.
We have recently approved a package of measures for Nepal totalling £6.7 million as part of our strategy towards South Asia for this financial year. The project will be aimed at short-term development and reinforcing Nepal's developmental, military and police capacity.
My honourable friend the Member for North Warwickshire spoke to the New Indian High Commissioner, Ranendra Sen, recently during which he passed on HMG's appreciation of the efforts India has made in assisting the Nepalese Government. Like the UK, India has expressed support for the Nepalese Government in dealing with the current crisis. I hope that this support will continue both bilaterally and within an integrated international approach.
Sudan
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What reports of civilian casualties from government air raids in southern Sudan they have received in the first six months of 2002; and what response they have made.[HL4990]
Baroness Amos: There have been many reports of government air raids in southern Sudan in the first six months of this year. In most cases it has not been possible to verify the details of the number of civilian casualties. We have urged the Sudanese Government not to carry out such raids and to respect their agreement with the SPLA to refrain from attacks against civilian targets. We expect an international verification mechanism to be set up soon to confirm compliance.
British Nationals Imprisoned Overseas
Baroness Hayman asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When it is their policy to support a plea for clemency on compassionate grounds from a British national imprisoned overseas.[HL5070]
Baroness Amos: Decisions on whether to support an application for clemency are taken at ministerial level. When considering an application for clemency on compassionate grounds, Ministers will as a general rule mirror the policy applied by the UK prison services when considering applications for early release on compassionate grounds submitted by prisoners in the UK. Each application for support will be considered on its merits on a case-by-case basis.
Ministers would not normally support a plea for clemency on compassionate grounds if a prisoner transfer agreement exists between the UK and the sentencing state and a transfer to the UK could be completed within a reasonable time frame. In such circumstances, any request for early or temporary release on compassionate grounds could then be made to the appropriate UK prison authority.
Three Counties Mink Hounds Meet: Disruption
Lord Elton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- By what organisation or persons the group of up to 80 masked individuals who assaulted a group of sportsmen and women and their hounds near Bidford in Warwickshire on 16 June were assemblied: and from which counties they came. [HL4865]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): I understand from Staffordshire police that a group of 25 to 30 protestors disrupted the meeting of the Three Counties Mink Hounds near Bidford in Warwickshire on 16 June. It is not known whether they belonged to any organisations or group.
Lord Elton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps are being taken to prevent violent assaults similar to that carried out on 16 June by a group of up to 80 masked individuals on a group of sportsmen and women and their hounds in Warwickshire being perpetrated in that county or elsewhere in the future. [HL4867]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Police forces are working closely with hunts to enable them to gain intelligence on events where violence may occur. In addition, the police are working with the Crown Prosecution Service across force areas to ensure that crimes committed by animal rights extremists are investigated and prosecuted as effectively as possible.
Lord Elton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any of the hounds accompanying the group of sportsmen and women who suffered a violent attack by up to 80 masked individuals in Warwickshire on 16 June were injured by them. [HL4868]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I understand from Staffordshire police that they have no reports of hounds being injured by protesters at the meeting of the Three Counties Mink Hounds in Warwickshire on 16 June.
Carriers' Liability: Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
In respect of data which they may require under proposed regulations under paragraph 17 of Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000, as amended, from every person entering the United Kingdom per year:
(a) what would be the cost of obtaining and processing these data;
(b) who would be responsible for obtaining the data;
(c) who would be responsible for processing the data; and
(d) what estimate has been made of the time taken for each passenger to provide the information requested, and any consequent delay to journeys into the United Kingdom.[HL4833]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin): Paragraph 17 of Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000, as amended by the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001, gives an examining officer the power to make a written request to an air or sea carrier for them to provide information or a type specified by order of the Secretary of State about passengers, crew and goods carried by the craft.
Responsibility for processing the data will lie with the enforcement agencies. The enforcement agencies will work with the carriers to help costs and keep any delays to a minimum.
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