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Foot and Mouth Disease

Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): During the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 the Government were able to call upon additional veterinarians as below:


    (a) 60 foreign government veterinary surgeons who received "additional temporary registrations for the foot and mouth outbreak" between 20 February and 31 March 2001.


    (b) None of the 16 veterinary surgeons listed on the "supplementary veterinary register" who are registered under Section 8 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Under the terms of registration, these veterinarians are restricted to specific acts of veterinary surgery. Consequently, none was employed as a veterinary surgeon on the eradication of FMD.


    (c) None of the 20 veterinary surgeons on the "temporary list" who are registered under Section 7 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Under the terms of registration, these veterinarians are restricted to specific acts of veterinary surgery. Consequently, none was employed as a veterinary surgeon on the eradication of FMD.


    (d) Three out of a total of 118 veterinary surgeons in the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture Veterinary Service assisted in the eradication of FMD in Great Britain.

11 Jul 2002 : Column WA106

Livestock Movement: Camelids

Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they intend to amend the current rules on movements of camelids. [HL5210]

Lord Whitty: Orders made today will simplify the current rules on livestock movements from 31 July. Camelids (including llamas) and zoo animals will no longer require movement licences or be subject to biosecurity requirements for livestock shows and sales. In addition, sheep dipping, tagging and scanning will no longer require a licence. The rules for multiple pick-ups and multiple drops-offs of livestock will also be simplifed.

Civil Service

Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they remain in favour of a Civil Service Act to bring the Civil Service more directly under the oversight of Parliament; if not, why not; and if so, what are the reasons for the continuing delay in publishing a discussion paper on the proposal; and [HL4197]

    Whether they consider that it would be desirable to introduce a Civil Service Bill on the lines proposed by the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Richard Wilson, in his speech of 26 March. [HL4198]

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): The Government's position on legislation for the Civil Service is as set out in their submission to the Committee on Standards in Public Life, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Doncaster: Airport Station Proposal

Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What European state aids approvals are required in respect of a new station at the proposed Doncaster airport station on the Doncaster-Lincoln line. [HL5018]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Proposals for a Doncaster airport station are at a very early stage. The need, or otherwise, for state aids approvals would depend on the funding arrangements for the station.

Driving Licences

Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What are the criteria for designation for the purposes of exchangeable driving licences under Section 108(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.[HL5037]

11 Jul 2002 : Column WA107

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Before making a designation order under Section 108 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the Secretary of State must be satisfied that the country making the request for designation has in place satisfactory provision for the granting of driving licences. This involves an assessment by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Driving Standards Agency of the arrangements for driver testing and licensing, as well as the standard of the driving test, the arrangements for the withdrawal of licences for road traffic offences and a road safety analysis.

Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What countries have had their designation for the purposes of exchangeable driving licences under Section 108(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 removed (a) from 1992 to 1997; and (b) from1997 to date; and for what reasons; and[HL5038]

    On what basis they are no longer satisfied that Kenya does not qualify to be designated for the purposes of exchangeable driving licences under Section 108(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.[HL5036]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: From 1992 to 1997, no countries had their designation removed. From 1997 to date, only Kenya has been de-designated.

Doubts about the authenticity of some Kenyan licences presented for exchange first arose in 1991. Discussions with the Kenyan authorities, including a visit to Nairobi in 1999 to establish verification procedures, failed to resolve continuing difficulties. Finally, following due notice and a period of consultation, the exchange arrangement was rescinded.

11 Jul 2002 : Column WA108

Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Which Commonwealth countries are not designated for the purposes of the definition of exchangeable driving licences under Section 108(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.[HL5039]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The following Commonwealth countries are not designated for the purposes of the definition of exchangeable licences under Section 108(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988:


    Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Dominica, Fiji Islands, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What the problems were and are that have prevented them from answering the two Questions for Written Answer regarding the Civil Service, which were tabled on 7 May, and remain on the Order Paper nine weeks later.[HL5131]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: I replied on 11 July. I am sorry for the delay in answering these Questions.

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