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Written Answers
Monday, 29th July 2002.
Military Maritime Graves: Protection
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made in offering protection to military maritime graves.[HL5583]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): I refer my noble friend to the answer given on 9 November 2001 by my honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Moonie) (Official Report, col. 435W) to the honourable Member for Hendon (Mr Dismore) in another place. A statutory instrument (SI) was made on 9 July 2002 which prohibits intrusive activity without licence on 11 vessels: HMS Bulwark, HMS Dasher, HMS Formidable, HMS Hampshire, HMS Natal, HMS A7, HMS Vanguard, HMS Affray, HMS Exmouth, HMS Royal Oak and H5, and in addition the U-boat U12, as representative of all U-boats lost in United Kingdom territorial waters. The SI prohibits intrusive activity without licence by UK nationals on a further five vessels. HMS Hood, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, HMS Gloucester and RFA Sir Galahad which lie in international waters. These regulations come into force on 30 September 2002.
Army Headquarters
Lord Hughes of Woodside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have completed the final assessment of the decision to locate the Army's headquarters in the North in Edinburgh.[HL5597]
Lord Bach: A post project evaluation into this decision has been completed and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
House Price Increases
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they agree with the view of Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England, stated at paragraph 20 of the Minutes of its July meeting, that the current rate of increase in house prices is clearly unsustainable.[HL5580]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Yes. The rate of increase in house prices over the past year is clearly unsustainable.
Dome and Greenwich Peninsula: Planning Applications
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which Minister will be responsible for taking decisions relating to planning applications in respect of the Dome and surrounding developments on the Greenwich peninsula.[HL5642]
The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker): Taking account of the constituency interests and other policy responsibilities of Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), and in order to ensure that the advice set out in the Guidance on Property Issues in the Handling of Planning Casework is followed, the Deputy Prime Minister has decided that any planning matters arising in respect of the Dome and related developments should be dealt with by Mr Christopher Leslie MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State).
I will be responsible within ODPM for policy issues relating to the Dome.
Office of Deputy Prime Minister
Baroness Serota asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the allocation of responsibilities among Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be settled.[HL5673]
Lord Rooker: My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister has now allocated responsibilities among Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, as shown in the table below.
| Responsibilities | |
| The Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP—Minister of State for Local Government and Regions | Will lead on local government, regional governance, the fire service, fire safety, building regulations and London resilience issues. |
| The Rt Hon Barbara Roche MP—Minister of State for Social Exclusion and Deputy Minister for Women | Will lead on social exclusion, homelessness and rough sleepers issues and the work of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, the Regional Co-ordination Unit and the Government Offices. She also continues with her responsibilities for women and equality issues as Deputy Minister for Women. |
| The Rt Hon Lord Rooker—Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Regeneration | Will lead on housing, planning, urban policy and regulatory reform issues; and work of the Office in the House of Lords and will support the Deputy Prime Minister in the promotion of the Dome-based regeneration proposals. |
| Chris Leslie MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State | Will support Nick Raynsford generally, with particular responsibility for the fire service, building regulations and e-local government. He will also support Barbara Roche on social exclusion and the work of the Regional Co-ordination Unit and the Government Offices. He will lead on public appointments issues, the work of the Business Co-ordination Unit and the QEII Conference Centre. He will also act as Planning Minister for the Dome, and Green Minister, Corporate Minister and Ministerial e-Champion for the Office. |
| Tony McNulty MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State | Will support Jeff Rooker generally on housing, planning and urban policy issues, with particular responsibility for the Rent Service and the Planning Inspectorate. He will also provide support on the Dome-based regeneration proposals. He will support Barbara Roche on the work of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, and on homelessness and rough sleepers issues. He will be Minister for London. He will lead on the work of the Ordnance Survey and on diversity issues as they relate to the responsibilities and operation of the Office. |
Vibration White Finger: Claims
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether claimants are cancelling their services claims in mineworkers' vibration white finger (VWF) due to delays in the tendering process for their second medicals; and, if so, what action they propose to take to remedy this.[HL5335]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): To date, just over 13,800 claims have been received for VWF services—compensation for household tasks where additional assistance is required such as DIY or gardening. Out of these, nearly 2,400 have been preliminary processed and 109 claims are no longer being pursued. This is mostly in response to a denial.
No figures are available for the number of claimants (if any) who have withdrawn a services claim whilst waiting for the services medical contract to be tendered.
Clergy: Employment Rights
Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Given that the Ecclesiastical Committee is unable under its term of reference to receive representatives from the union to which members of the clergy belong, they will reconsider the position of the clergy and their rights as employees.[HL5102]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The functions and powers of the Ecclesiastical Committee are set out in the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, as amended, and relate to the consideration of measures approved by the General Synod. We are considering the employment status of the clergy in our review of employment status in relation to statutory employment rights. As part of this review, we published a discussion document on 11 July 2002.
Adoption Proceedings
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What directions are to be issued to judges on the conduct of care and adoption proceedings in the light of the judgment delivered by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of P C and S v The United Kingdom.[HL5409]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The judgment in the case of P C and S v The United Kingdom was delivered on 16 July 2002. We are carefully considering its implications in partnership with the senior judiciary.
Crumlin Road Courthouse
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 17 July (WA 155-56) concerning Crumlin Road Courthouse, what was the nominal sum for which the property was sold in July 1999. [HL5439]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Crumlin Road Courthouse was sold for a nominal sum of £1. This formed part of the public private partnership scheme to build a modern courts complex situated at Langanside, Belfast.
Defra Budget
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs departmental report 2002, whether the decline in spending on animal health and welfare planned for 2002–03 reflects an anticipated fall in BSE compensation; and whether its budget will cope with a bovine tuberculosis increase. [HL4810]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): Further to the written reply provided to my noble friend Lady David on 23 July (HL Deb. WA 58), subsequently, extra funds have been obtained for DEFRA from the reserve for the current financial year. We are considering how best to use the additional funding; to take forward work on areas such as bovine tuberculosis.
Prions Testing Capacity in UK
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the capacity in the United Kingdom for testing for prions in 2000; and whether in the past six months there has been any alteration in that capacity. [HL5153]
Lord Whitty: In 2000, UK TSE testing capacity was sufficient to meet diagnostic and research requirements and to carry out ad hoc surveys of cattle entering the over thirty months scheme (OTMS). Since then, major EU-wide cattle and sheep testing programmes have been introduced and capacity has greatly increased. In the past six months, new facilities have come on stream at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency laboratory at Shrewsbury.
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