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Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will pay compensation to those suffering significant loss as a result of the destruction of plants or trees infected with oak death virus (Phytophtora ramorum).[HL1124]
Lord Whitty: Plant disease campaigns over many years have not incorporated compensation for the destruction of affected plants. Our judgment is that the
limited resources of the plant health service are better deployed in detecting and, as necessary, controlling outbreaks, and in carrying out research on risks and risk management measures. However, we have recently received an approach from the industry wishing to discuss possible risk-sharing mechanisms to avoid disproportionate losses to individual enterprises when action has to be taken against plant pests or diseases and we are currently considering our response to this approach.State Veterinary Service
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many state veterinary surgeons were employed in each of the years 1998 to 2003.[HL1206]
Lord Whitty: The number of permanent veterinary surgeons (full-time equivalent) employed by the State Veterinary Service at 1 January each year since 1998, is given in the table below. The figures do not include state veterinary surgeons employed in other areas of Defra and its agencies. The statistics for 2002 and 2003 do not include headquarters veterinary surgeons responsible for policy development in the Animal Health and Welfare Directorate General. In addition, as at 1 January 2003 there were 58 casual and fixed-term appointee veterinary staff.
| Year | Number of Vets |
| 1998 | 302.0 |
| 1999 | 283.0 |
| 2000 | 284.0 |
| 2001 | 286.0 |
| 2002 | 252.3 |
| 2003 | 257.4 |
Bovine Tuberculosis
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many new cases of bovine tuberculosis were recorded in 2002 and 2003.[HL1209]
Lord Whitty: The data requested are provided in the table below.
| Year | 2002 | 2003 |
| Total New Herd TB Incidents(2) | 3,319 | 3,150 |
| . . . of which are considered Confirmed New TB Incidents(3) | 1,902 | 1,555 |
| . . . of which are still Unclassified TB Incidents(4) | 20 | 180 |
(2) One or more reactor(s) disclosed at herd test.
(3) Confirmed by post-mortem analysis and/or culture testing.
(4) Pending results of post-mortem analysis and/or culture testing.
Note: Provisional data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on 26-27 January 2004. Subject to change as more data becomes available.
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Davies of Oldham: The changes relate to the flammability of the fuel. Gas oil with a flash point of not more than 61C is currently regulated by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 1996 as a class 3 flammable liquid. Proposed new Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 will deem gas oil with a flash point not more than 100C to be a substance of class 3 flammable liquid.
Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:
(2) Whether SPECS speed cameras that are installed on electronic motorway signs comply with the guidance issued by the Department of Transport.[HL1046]
Lord Davies of Oldham: There are no SPECS speed cameras permanently installed on the motorway network. Temporary SPECS cameras are used at some roadworks on the motorway network. The number varies according to the roadworks in place at any one time.
Electronic message signs on motorways are not fitted with speed cameras. CCTV cameras are fitted to a number of electronic signs to assist the Highways Agency in assessing the effectiveness of the signs in altering driver behaviour in response to the messages.
Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Davies of Oldham: Time and distance enforcement cameras, of which the SPECS system is one, deployed by safety camera partnerships must comply with the conspicuity and visibility rules.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposed changes to the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations affecting gas oil are required by reason of the flammability or the toxicity of the fuel.[HL1042]
(1) How many SPECS speed cameras have been installed on the motorway network; and[HL1045]
Whether Department for Transport guidance specifies that SPECS speed cameras should be visible.[HL1047]
In light of their announcement of a review of ownership, operation, maintenance and finance of the railways in the United Kingdom, whether
11 Feb 2004 : Column WA167
- they will place in the Library of the House a summary of the principal arrangements made in these areas in each of the member states of the European Union, together with a list of any aspect of railway operation, finance and management subject to European Union legislative requirements.[HL1068]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government do not themselves collect the information requested. However, the European Commission recently commissioned from NERA Consultants a Study of the Financing of and Public Budget Contributions to Railways which includes, as background, a comparison of the arrangements on ownership, operation, maintenance and finance of the railways in the EU member states. The European Commission expects to publish the full report on its website in the near future. As soon as it does so, I shall place a copy in the Library of the House.
An overview of Community legislation covering railway operations, finance and management is available on the Commission website at: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/transport/rail/index–en.html. Rebo
West Coast Main Line
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 3 February (HL985), what is the base year against which the 15–25 per cent increase in passenger journeys between London and Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow has been measured in the Strategic Rail Authority's West Coast Main Line strategy; and in which year these growth levels are likely to be achieved.[HL1141]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The base year is 2002. The Strategic Rail Authority estimates that an increase in passenger journeys within the range quoted might be achieved in some five years, though this will depend in part on such factors as the rate of national economic growth.
Heathrow Airport: Lifts
The Duke of Montrose asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they can take to expedite the reintroduction of the lifts between the underground station and Terminal One at Heathrow, which have been out of commission for several months.[HL1142]
Lord Davies of Oldham: This is an operational matter for Heathrow Airport Limited, a subsidiary of BAA plc, who own the lifts in question. I understand that the lift replacement programme was extended following the discovery last November of asbestos on the site. New lift units have now been delivered and are expected to be in service by the end of March.
Port Waste Management Plans
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether all harbours and terminals have now submitted waste management plans under the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 1809/2003)[HL1150]
Lord Davies of Oldham: After extensive consultation with representatives of the UK ports industry, it was agreed that port waste management plans conforming to the new regulations would be submitted to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency by 31 December 2003. Currently, Maritime and Coastguard Agency marine offices are reviewing the submitted port waste management plans, and any harbours or terminals with outstanding or non-compliant plans are being contacted. They are being requested to submit revised plans as soon as possible.
Driving Standards Agency
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the Driving Standards Agency's target for responding to inquiries made by e-mail.[HL1216]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Driving Standards Agency has a target to answer 97 per cent of letters and e-mails within 10 working days and is currently answering 98 per cent within that target.
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