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Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): The requirements of the Directorate of Civil Aviation for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States were clarified at a meeting in Antigua earlier this month. The Government of Montserrat's project consultants have been asked to modify their designs accordingly.
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Amos: The progress of the proposed airport development was discussed when Montserrat's Chief Minister called on the DfID Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 10 July.
There are no further ministerial meetings currently planned.
Baroness Billingham asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The Government accept in principle the Law Commission's recommendations on limitation of actions, subject to further consideration of certain aspects of its report, and will legislate when a suitable opportunity arises.
Baroness Wilkins asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Lord Chancellor: I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her Question. I am pleased to inform your Lordships' House that I have today published
guidance for central government and non-departmental public bodies on publication schemes under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the House Library.
The Earl of Mar and Kellie asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which aspects of railway activity in Scotland are reserved matters.[HL4846]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Head E.2 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 defines the following as reserved railway activities affecting Scotland: provision and regulation of railway services; rail transport security, including the on-railways activities of the British Transport Police; the subject matter of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987; and the subject matter of the Railway Heritage Act 1996; with exceptions to the above as follows:
Grants so far as relating to railway services; but this exception does not apply in relation to:
By virtue of the terms of the Scotland Act, all other matters relating to railway activities in or affecting Scotland are devolved. In addition, the following are devolved by virtue of orders made under the Scotland Act: administration of freight facilities and freight track access grants within Scotland; appointment of chairman of Rail Passengers Council (RPC) for Scotland and the tabling of the reports of the RPC before the Scottish Parliament; directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority for Scottish passenger services, directions and guidance for Scottish sleeper services, and advice to the Strategic Rail Authority for cross Border services; legislative competence over the rail responsibilities of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive/Authority and any new such bodies; transfer of funding for the ScotRail franchise; legislative competence over the promotion and construction of new railways in Scotland; and local transport strategies.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There are no such plans. The exemption from air passenger duty for flights from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands was introduced in recognition of the importance of air transport given the low density of population in the region. Population density in Northern Ireland is greater.
Lord Lea of Crondall asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Any business that believes it has been wrongly treated by Customs and Excise should follow the procedures set out in its code of practice Complaints and putting things right (Notice 1000), which is available on its website or through its national advice service. The code of practice includes arrangements for providing redress when a mistake has been made in dealing with a business's tax affairs.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 1 July 2002 (WA 7).
Lord Carter asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to evaluate the relative environmental and economic merits of biofuels and road gas fuels in relation to current fuel duty rebates.[HL5238]
The Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The current duty rates are 9p. per kilogram for gas used as road fuel (including liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas and liquid natural gas). Biodiesel and bioethanol are currently taxed at the rate of 45.82p. per litre but we shall shortly be introducing a new, lower rate of duty on biodiesel of 25.82p. per litre. We have also given a commitment that duty on road fuel gases will be frozen in real terms until at least 2004.
Taxation of road fuel, including biofuels and road fuel gases, is reviewed Budget by Budget. In making his judgement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer takes into account a range of economic, social and environmental factors.
Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): As my noble friend Lord Filkin has previously indicated, the new Correctional Services Board may consider this proposal. The Correctional Services Board will set the overarching strategy for the correctional services, monitor performance, review allocation of resources and encourage joint working.
The initial focus of the board is likely to be on improving services in relation to 18 to 20 year-olds, with a view to expanding this focus to other groups, which could include women. However, we have no plans at present to establish a separate board with specific responsibility for women.
Lord Gregson asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Copies of the Forensic Science Service's (FSS) annual report and accounts for 200102 have today been laid before Parliament.
Performance against agency targets 200102:
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