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Lord Dixon-Smith asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the estimated additional cost to the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 to businesses licensed to dispose of asbestos; and[HL4137]
What is the estimated additional cost of the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work
- Regulations 2002 to businesses licensed to remove asbestos from buildings and other installations for disposal.[HL4138]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Changes in the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 and the supporting approved codes of practice (ACoP) will place some additional cost on asbestos removal contractors. Better control measures, clearance procedures and training are estimated to cost a total of £4 million but will have benefits of about £8 million in reduction of risks to workers. The regulations and ACoPs do not place any new costs on businesses licensed to dispose of asbestos.
Lord Dixon-Smith asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In the light of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, what is the estimated percentage annual increase in the cost of insurance premiums to businesses licensed to dispose of asbestos for the years 2001 to 2002, 2002 to 2003 and 2003 to 2004; and[HL4193]
In the light of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, what is the estimated percentge annual increase in the cost of insurance premiums to businesses licensed to remove asbestos from buildings and other installations for disposal for the years 2001 to 2002, 2002 to 2003 and 2003 to 2004; and[HL4194]
In the light of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, how many businesses have ceased removing asbestos for disposal in the years 2001 to 2002, 2002 to 2003 and 2003 to 2004; and[HL4195]
In the light of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, how many firms now provide insurance to businesses that either remove for disposal, or dipose of, asbestos.[HL4196]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: There is no direct connection between the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 and insurance issues for those companies involved in asbestos removal and disposal; nor is there any relationship between the making of these regulations and the numbers of contractors who fail to renew their licence.
Currently three insurance underwriters provide employer liability cover for asbestos removal contractors. The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association has said that premiums have risen 200 per cent for removal contractors between 2001 and 2003. There is no reason to believe that this increase is related to the making of the regulations. There is no information available on insurance of licensed asbestos waste carriers who dispose of asbestos.
In 2001–02, 109, and in 2002–03, 105 removal contractors have not renewed their HSE licence for asbestos work. Over 730 contractors still hold licences and the number of licence holders has remained virtually unchanged for the past four years.
Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force: Appointment of Head of Secretariat
Baroness Whitaker asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have appointed the Head of the Task Force Secretariat for Ethnic Minorities and the labour market; and what the postholder's objectives and terms of reference will be.[HL4185]
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Ms Afsana Shukur has been appointed Head of the Secretariat to the Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force. She was appointed following an open competition and she has a wide range of relevant experience, particularly in housing, equal opportunites and local government.
As Head of Secretariat, Ms Shukur will lead a team centred within the Department for Work and Pensions. This team will support the task force in implementing the cross-government strategy, over the next 10 years, to remove the disproportionate barriers that ethnic minority groups face in realising their employment potential. This is in response to the recommendations of the Strategy Unit report on ethnic minorities in the labour market. In addition, the secretariat will be responsible for maintaining links between the key departments, reporting to stakeholders, and handling briefing, speeches, and media issues.
Referendums
Lord Inglewood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Filkin on 26 June (WA 36), what are the range of factors and circumstances in which they believe it is appropriate for a referendum to be called.[HL3906]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin): The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) provides the generic statutory framework for the conduct of referendums in the United Kingdom, or a referendum held in Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland, but does not stipulate criteria for determining when it is appropriate to hold a referendum on a particular issue. The Government believe that decisions on whether or not to hold a referendum are best taken on an individual basis taking account of the matters relevant to each specific case.
ECHR Incorporation: Special Advisers
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer on 8 July (WA 22), whether any adviser or advisers from outside the Civil Service were responsible for briefing or advising them about the incorporation of the European Convention on the Human Rights into
- United Kingdom law after the general election of May 1997; and if so, who were they.[HL3995]
Lord Filkin: Yes. The Government appointed the Human Rights Task Force in January 1999, some of whose members were from outside the Civil Service.
Divorce (Religious Marriages) Act 2002
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- (a) how they will monitor the application of the requirements set out in the Divorce (Religious Marriages) Act 2002; and
(b) how such statisics will be collated and made available.[HL4106]
Lord Filkin: The Government will consider reports of cases and seek information from organisations supporting the Jewish community concerning the operation of the provisions of the Act and then consider what statistics or other information should be published.
Northern Ireland: Legal Aid
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much has been paid out in Northern Ireland in legal aid in each year since 1994.[HL4199]
Lord Filkin: The following table sets out expenditure on legal aid in Northern Ireland since 1994.
| Year | Criminal £ million | Civil £ million | Sub Total £ million | Administration £ million | Total £ million |
| 1993–94 | 6.66 | 10.31 | 16.97 | 1.90 | 18.87 |
| 1994–95 | 9.59 | 10.34 | 19.93 | 1.92 | 21.85 |
| 1995–96 | 14.18 | 11.60 | 25.78 | 1.99 | 27.77 |
| 1996–97 | 14.33 | 11.77 | 26.10 | 2.03 | 28.13 |
| 1997–98 | 17.55 | 11.30 | 28.85 | 2.23 | 31.08 |
| 1998–99 | 15.93 | 14.16 | 30.09 | 2.58 | 32.67 |
| 1999–2000 | 23.25 | 11.40 | 34.65 | 2.69 | 37.34 |
| 2000–01 | 21.88 | 15.82 | 37.70 | 2.87 | 40.57 |
| 2001–02 | 24.57 | 16.96 | 41.53 | 3.26 | 44.79 |
| 2002–03 | 26.77 | 18.21 | 44.98 | 3.58 | 48.56 |
Civil Partnerships
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there are legitimate reasons why some opposite-sex cohabiting couples may be unable or unwilling to marry; and if so, how they propose that such couples should be given equal protection under law to that proposed for same-sex couples.[HL4129]
Lord Filkin: Individual opposite-sex couples, who are not prevented by law from marriage, are free to determine for themselves whether or not to marry, whether through religious or civil ceremonies. Those opposite-sex couples who choose not to marry cannot
obtain the legal provisions that accrue to those who are married.However, in recognition of the extent of public misapprehension about the status of "common law" marriage, I intend to explore, on a cross-government basis, how to improve public awareness of the risks and legal position of unmarried, opposite-sex couples.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will introduce legislation to reform the law on cohabiting opposite-sex couples along the lines of reforms made in other common law countries such as Canada.[HL4130]
Lord Filkin: The Government currently have no plans to introduce legislation to reform the law relating to opposite-sex cohabitees.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to paragraph 4.21 of Civil Partnership: A framework for the legal recognition of same-sex couples, whether they will ensure that same-sex marriages lawfully entered into in Canada and elsewhere, are recognised in England and Wales; and, if not, why not.[HL3823]
Baroness Crawley: Paragraph 4.21 of the consultation paper Civil Partnership deals with the recognition of civil partnership registration schemes in operation in other countries and the Government have not come to any decisions in this area. As part of the consultation process, the Government invite members of the public to comment on any possible arrangements in this field.
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