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Satellite Terminals: Planning Regulations

Baroness Pitkeathley asked Her Majesty's Government:

What they are doing to honour the commitment made in the UK Online Annual Report 2001 to review the planning regulations for satellite terminals.[HL2459]

Lord Rooker: Today the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is publishing a consultation document on proposed changes to the general permitted planning order (GPDO) pertaining to the treatment of satellite dishes and other antennae. The three-month public consultation looking at the siting of satellite dishes and antennae will offer communities five choices, ranging from no change to full deregulation, except in particularly sensitive areas such as national parks and conservation areas. The Government are committed to delivering equality of access to broadband and digital TV across the country and this document is an important step in that direction. However, we must ensure that whatever changes are made provide proper protection for the environment, particularly in sensitive areas such as national parks and conservation areas.

Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Fire Authorities: Risk Management

Lord Tomlinson asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to publish the Fire Service circular on fire authority integrated risk management plans and commence the consultation on the guidance.[HL2460]

Lord Rooker: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services, Sir Graham Meldrum, published Fire Service Circular 7/2003 on "Fire Authority Integrated Risk Management Planning" on 2 April 2003. On 3 April, he issued for consultation two guidance notes on developing integrated risk management plans and on consultation arrangements fire authorities should undertake in developing these plans. Consultation on these guidance notes closes on 3 May 2003.

7 Apr 2003 : Column WA8

Copies of these documents are available on the ODPM website http://www.safety.odpm.gov.uk/fire/consult/irmp/index.htm and have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Prison Service Budget: Young Offenders

Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who is responsible for the administration of the budget given to the Prison Service for young offenders aged 18 to 21.[HL2276]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The director-general of the Prison Service is responsible for the administration of the budget for the whole Prison Service and this includes funding for young offenders aged 18 to 21. clean jenny

Destitute Asylum Seekers: Support

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the new levels of support to be provided by the National Asylum Support Service to destitute asylum seekers will come into effect.[HL2455]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin): Regulations were laid before Parliament on 18 March 2003 amending the Asylum Support Regulations 2000. The amendments, which come into effect today, increase the levels of support provided to destitute asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). The changes in the support rates are detailed here:

	Levels of NASS cash support from 11 November 2002	Levels of NASS cash support from 7 April 2003
Single Person
Aged 18–24	£29.89	£30.28
Aged 25 or over	£37.77	£38.26
Qualifying couples
At least one member of the couple is aged 18 or over	£59.26	£60.03
Lone parent aged 18 or over	£37.77	£38.26
Allowances for dependent children
Person aged under 16	£37.00	£38.50
Person aged at least 16 but under 18 (except a member of a qualifying couple)	£32.50	£32.90

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002

Lord Milner of Leeds asked Her Majesty's Government:

When Section 4 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 will come into effect. [HL2456]

7 Apr 2003 : Column WA9

Lord Filkin: Section 4 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, which amends Section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, came into force on 1 April. The law now provides that a person can be deprived of his British nationality—provided that he has another nationality—if he has done anything seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the United Kingdom.

I can now confirm that the Home Secretary has commenced action under the new provision by giving written notice to Mr Abu Hamza of the decision to make a deprivation order in respect of him. We are satisfied that his activities have been seriously prejudicial to this country's vital interests. It will be open to Mr Hamza to appeal against the Home Secretary's decision. Any appeal will in the first instance be heard by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. bern

Asylum Induction Centres

Lord Burlison asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Coniston Hotel and the Grand Ocean Hotel will be used as induction centres for asylum seekers.[HL2457]

Lord Filkin: On 3 March my honourable friend Beverley Hughes confirmed that, after the consultation period was completed, she would make a decision on whether or not we would use the Coniston Hotel, Sittingbourne, as accommodation to support an induction centre. We have also been considering whether to proceed with contract negotiations in respect of the Grand Ocean Hotel in Saltdean. I can now confirm how we intend to proceed with induction centre arrangements nationally.

In light of a thorough review of all the facts, we have decided not to proceed with an induction centre at the Coniston Hotel, Sittingbourne, and not to proceed with negotiations at the proposed site in Brighton.

These decisions reflect the facts of the two cases, and the arguments put forward, and do not diminish in any way our commitment to having a national network of induction centres. In creating such a network, we intend to build on existing arrangements by proceeding in partnership with regional consortia and voluntary groups. Induction centres bring about obvious benefits in helping us to process asylum applications quickly and efficiently and allowing us to tell asylum seekers what is expected of them and to give them health screening. At Dover the induction centre is working well and we will build on this to develop the good practices that will be subsequently implemented at other centres. bern

Life Satisfaction

Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:

Following the conclusion of the Strategy Unit in its report Life Satisfaction: the state of knowledge and implications for government, published in

7 Apr 2003 : Column WA10

December 2002, whether they now intend to appoint a minister for life satisfaction.[HL2411]

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): As stated in my previous Answers to the noble Lord, the report is an analytical discussion paper and not a statement of government policy.

I have nothing further to add to the previous Answers given to the noble Lord.

Motorway Driving

Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are considering action against the practice of drivers on motorways with carriageways cutting in from the right hand lane, overtaking one or more vehicles on the left, and cutting back into the right hand lane.[HL2352]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Although the Highway Code states that overtaking should always be carried out on the right, overtaking on the left is not a specific offence. Use of the motorway network is governed by the motorway regulations. Enforcement of the law is of course a matter for the police who will make their decisions on whether to prosecute in the circumstances of each individual case. Police have the power to prosecute for dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without reasonable consideration.

Leeds to Glasgow Railway Service

The Earl of Mar and Kellie asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they oppose the proposal to withdraw the direct Leeds to Glasgow limited passenger railway service and to replace it with a Leeds to Carlisle stopping service.[HL2355]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The directions and guidance which we have issued to the Strategic Rail Authority require the authority to work with the rail industry to achieve substantial, lasting improvements in performance. The changes to the service you mention are part of a package designed to provide such improvements in performance.

EU: Forthcoming Business

Lord Milner of Leeds asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for April: and what are the major European Union events for the period between 1 May and 31 October 2003.[HL2390]

7 Apr 2003 : Column WA11

The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:

Date	Location	Event
April
2	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
3–4	Brussels	Convention Plenary
4	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs
4–6	Hania (Crete)	Informal ECOFIN (Ministerial)
5	Lisbon	Europe-Africa Summit
10	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
14–15	Luxembourg	General Affairs & External Relations
14	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries
16	Athens	Signature of the Accession Treaty
17	Athens	European Conference
23	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
24–25	Brussels	Convention Plenary
May
2–4	Olympia	Gymnich (Informal Foreign Ministers)
3–4	Athens	Informal Environment (Ministerial Informal)
5–6	Brussels	Education, Youth & Culture Council (To be confirmed)
8	Brussels Corfu	Meeting of the Presidium Agriculture (Ministerial Informal)
12–13	Brussels	Competitiveness
12	Brussels	EUROGROUP
13	Brussels	ECOFIN
14	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
14	Brussels	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
15–16	Brussels	Convention Plenary
16	Brussels	EU-ACP Ministerial
16–17	Halkidiki	Informal Regional Policy (Ministerial)
16–18	Cruise off Greece	Informal Transport & Merchant Marine (Ministerial)
17	Brussels	EU–W. Balkans (Zagreb Process)
19	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations (+ Defence)
20	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
22	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
24	Thessaloniki	Informal Culture (Ministerial)
26–27	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
26–27	Crete	EUROMED Conference (Mid Term Ministerial)
27	Brussels	Environmental Council
28	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
30–31	Brussels	Convention Plenary
31	St Petersburg	EU-Russia Summit
June
2	Brussels	EUROGROUP
2–3	Brussels	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
3	Brussels	ECOFIN
4	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
5–6	Brussels	Convention Plenary
5–6	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
5–6	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
6	Rhodes	Public Administration (Ministerial Informal)
11	Brussels	Meeting of the Presidium
11–12	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
12–13	Alexandroupoli	Development-Co-operation (Ministerial Informal)
12–13	Brussels	Convention Plenary
13	Brussels	Environment Council
17–18	Luxembourg	General Affairs & External
20	Halkidiki	EUROPEAN COUNCIL
21	Halkidiki	Zagreb II Summit
22	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
24	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
July
2–3	Rome	Research (Ministerial Informal)
4–5	Naples	Transport Infrastructure (Ministerial Informal)
6	Brussels	Trade (Ministerial Informal)
10	Varese Varese	Informal Council/Troika Informal Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs
15–16	Brussels	ECOFIN
10	Varese	Informal Council/Troika
11–12	Varese	Ministers of Labour & Social Affairs
15–16	Brussels	ECOFIN
17–18	Treviso	EU Employment Committee (Informal)
18–20	Montecatini	Energy & Environment (Ministerial Informal)
22–23	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
22	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
24–25	Milan	European Conference on Discrimination
25–26	Verona	Education (Ministerial Informal)
August
	No Meetings Planned
September
	Viterbo	Telecommunications (Ministerial Informal)
	Stresa	ECOFIN (Informal Council)
19–20	Rome	Justice & Internal Affairs (Informal Council)
22–23	Brussels	Competition ( Internal Market, Industry & Research)
29–30	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
29–30	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
October
2–3	Brussels	Justice & Internal Affairs
7	Brussels	ECOFIN
9–10	Brussels	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
13–14	Brussels	General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC)
13–14	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
16–17	Brussels	European Council
20–21	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs
27	Brussels	Environment Council

7 Apr 2003 : Column WA12

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