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Money Laundering
Lord Wakeham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 3 June (HL Deb, col. 1161), what steps they propose to take to encourage the Financial Services Authority to ensure that the financial institutions continue to pursue illegal money laundering but at the same time lessen the bureaucratic burdens that have been placed on their clients.[HL3197]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Financial institutions are required by the Money Laundering Regulations (which implement an EU directive) and rules by the Financial Services Authority to take reasonable steps to identify their customers The UK's anti-money laundering regime is designed to be flexible and proportionate to risk in order to minimise the burden on customers. Neither the regulations nor the rules prescribe detailed requirements as to how identification should be done. Detailed guidance is provided in the Guidance Notes issued by the industry's Joint Money Laundering Steering Group. Both the Treasury and the FSA encourage the industry not to take an unduly bureaucratic approach to the identification requirements.
Biomass Energy
Lord Palmer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What estimate has been made of biomass production in the United Kingdom in 2010, the net reduction in greenhouse gas production arising from biomass production on a year-by-year basis between now and December 2010, and the total cost (including writing off research) per tonne of the carbon saved.[HL2958]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): It is estimated that biomass production in the UK in 2010 could reach around 3.5 million oven-dried tonnes. Of this total, around 2 million tonnes will be used for the production of heat, with the remaining 1.5 million tonnes for the production of electricity.
The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the total cost per tonne of carbon saved depend on the type of biomass, the technology used, and the fossil fuel displaced. A general guideline is that one tonne of biomass used for heat or electricity will result in a net saving of one tonne of carbon dioxide. Higher savings are achieved where coal is the displaced fuel or where combined heat and power technology is used. The cost of reduced greenhouse gas emissions from biomass energy is estimated to be about between £128 and £256 per tonne of carbon (£35–£70 per tonne carbon dioxide). Research costs are excluded from this calculation as the Government's biomass research programme underpins long-term development and it is unrealistic to write-off the cost by a set date.
Council Tax and Rent Debt: Enforcement
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have plans to change current arrangements for the enforcement of debts against poverty level incomes and the penalties that can be imposed or threatened for rent and council tax arrears.[HL3098]
The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker): There are no plans to change the current arrangements for the enforcement of council tax and rent debt.
Local authorities have a range of enforcement options which include the rescheduling of payments, attachment of earnings orders, taking a charge on the property or levying distress. For those debtors who have the means to pay but do not, local authorities can seek committal to prison.
The method of enforcement used is at the discretion of each local authority but we would expect them to act sensibly and sensitively with persons who are in financial difficulties. However, local authorities do have a duty to collect council tax and rent. If they do not act diligently it will have serious consequences to their revenue flows which could lead to higher council
tax bills and rents, a reduction in services or both. This would not be fair on those who pay their bills regularly and on time.For those people on low income help is available through the means-tested council and housing benefit systems. These can meet up to the full cost of their bills.
Light Pollution
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What representations they have received from the Council for the Protection of Rural England and the British Astronomical Association about light pollution; and whether they will consult these bodies as well as local authorities, lighting manufacturers and the Institute of Lighting Engineers about measures needed to reduce the problem.[HL3109]
Lord Rooker: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a number of representations from the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) about its joint campaign with the British Astronomical Association against light pollution—"Night Blight". Officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have met representatives from CPRE to discuss the campaign and its proposals.
In October 2002 the Government issued a consultation paper entitled Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities. One of the issues the paper addresses is dealing with nuisance lighting, which it notes is a general contributor to light pollution. The paper sought opinions as to whether the Government should introduce new regulations for positioning of external lighting (other than street lights) and the powers to extend the statutory nuisance regime to include lighting. The Council for the Protection of Rural England and the British Astronomical Association (Campaign for Dark Skies) both responded to the consultation. These responses, along with the others received, are being considered carefully before any of the options set out in the consultation are taken further.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would, of course, undertake a full consultation, including all the bodies listed, if it was proposed to introduce any additional measures to mitigate light pollution.
Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency: Performance Targets
Lord Peston asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What performance targets they have set the Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency for 2003–04.[HL3297]
Lord Rooker: I am pleased to announce today the targets I have set this year for the Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency.
We are reforming the planning system to make it faster, fairer and more efficient. I need to ensure that
the Planning Inspectorate is well placed to respond robustly to the increasing demands for its services and to the changes we are introducing. We have set in hand a business process "end to end" review 1 of the Planning Inspectorate which will be completed by the autumn and there are implications for the Inspectorate in the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill which is currently before Parliament.Against this background I have decided to maintain most of the existing targets in place for this year. These are set out below. The exceptions are the targets for the completion of inspectors' reports on called-in planning applications and recovered appeals and that for appeals going to hearings.
In line with the office's PSA6 target, by March 2004, 80 per cent of planning inspectors' reports to the Secretary of State on called-in and recovered appeal cases must be delivered within seven weeks of the close of the inquiry.
The only other change involves the timeliness target for planning appeals going to hearings which, in order to deal with a backlog of cases, is now the same as for planning appeals going to inquiry.
These targets are not just about speed: they are about reaching the right decision and providing the community with a quality service. The Planning Inspectorate is responding well to the challenge this presents.
80 per cent of all planning appeals decided by written representations to be determined within 16 weeks;
80 per cent of all planning appeals decided by hearings to be determined within 30 weeks;
80 per cent of all planning appeals decided by inquiries to be determined within 30 weeks.
80 per cent of all enforcement appeals decided by written representation to be determined within 32 weeks;
80 per cent of all enforcement appeals decided by hearings to be determined within 33 weeks;
80 per cent of all enforcement appeals to be decided by inquiries to be determined within 43 weeks.
(c) Called In and Recovered Appeals
By March 2004, 80 per cent of inspectors' reports to the Secretary of State on called-in and recovered appeal cases to be delivered within seven weeks of the close of the inquiry.
(d) Development Plan inquiries
To provide an inspector for development plan inquiries in 90 per cent of cases on the date requested by the local authority, provided that the objection period has ended and at least six months' notice has been given.
To deliver 90 per cent of inspectors' reports on development plan inquiries to local authorities according to timescales agreed under service agreements.
To satisfy the Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate, and thus the Secretary of State and the first Minister of the National Assembly for Wales, annually and following rigorous monitoring, that the quality of all the inspectorate's work is being maintained at a high standard, with 99 per cent of its casework free from justified complaint.
To undertake a time series customer satisfaction survey of the inspectorate's performance and to act upon the results.
- 1 This review, whose conclusions will feed into the 2004 spending review round, was announced in Parliament by Mr Tony McNulty, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, on 4 February, 2003: Hansard Column 9WS.
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