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Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria are used to determine how many trees per hectare qualify as a traditional orchard. [HL4464]
Lord Whitty: Current Commission guidance allows member states a degree of flexibility in determining what criteria orchards might need to meet (which might include tree density) in order to be eligible to claim against CAP subsidy claims. While this guidance is in need of updating, the Commission has confirmed that the substance will not change. We have asked the Central Science Laboratory to undertake a project to draw up criteria we might use in future to determine eligibility of dual use orchards for subsidy and plan to publish its report shortly.
Fly-tipping
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many convictions have been brought against illegal fly-tippers for each of the years 1999 to 2003. [HL4482]
Lord Whitty: No national data are currently available. However, the Environment Agency records incidents with which it deals. The figures for Section 33 (illegal disposal of waste or fly-tipping) are detailed below.
| 1999 | 142 (1 April–31 December) |
| 2000 | 205 |
| 2001 | 232 |
| 2002 | 258 |
| 2003 | 247 |
| 2004 | 157 (1 January–30 September) |
The Government have been working with the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association to develop the Flycapture database, which will allow better national data to be collected in future on levels of fly-tipping. These first results from these data should be available shortly.
26 Oct 2004 : Column WA121
Scrapie: Defra-funded Research
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which six Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-funded research projects into scrapie were started prior to 1999; and what were the start dates. [HL4536]
Lord Whitty: The following six research projects were those referred to as being funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs prior to 1999, in the response drafted to Baroness Byford, following the debate on the TSE (England) (Amendment) Regulation 2004 on 8 September.
Scottish Parliament Building
Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Kingdom Government have made a contribution to the additional cost of the Scottish Parliament building; and, if so, how much. [HL4487]
Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: Responsibility for the construction of the Scottish Parliament is a devolved matter. Its cost has therefore been met from the Scottish assigned budget. The Government have made no additional contribution.
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
Lord Palmer asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they intend to implement the provisions of the Energy Act 2004 in respect of the introduction of a renewable transport fuel obligation; and [HL4474]
Whether the opposition of certain oil companies will deter them from introducing a renewable transport fuel obligation; and [HL4475]
Whether they expect United Kingdom road transport emissions to exceed the 1990 Kyoto base levels by at least 12 per cent in 2006 and 18 per cent by 2010 in the event of a renewable fuel transport obligation not being introduced soon. [HL4476]
Lord Davies of Oldham: No decision has yet been taken on whether the Government should introduce any form of renewable transport fuels obligation. It is one of a number of policy options which the Government are currently considering as a way of supporting the development and use of biofuels in the UK. Before introducing any obligation, the Government would consult extensively on how it might operate.
The Government are considering greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, including transport, in the context of the climate change review announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September. The review will include an update of greenhouse gas emissions projections and an assessment of the costs and benefits to the UK of further measures to reduce emissions.
Railways: Colne-Preston Line
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the cuts in services on the east Lancashire line in the new autumn timetable (which mean that many trains do not stop at some stations) accord with the franchise agreement which covers this line. [HL4508]
Lord Davies of Oldham: First North Western is operating a reduced service from some stations on the Colne-Preston line in order to combat the performance problems caused by leaf-fall. The changes have been approved by the Strategic Rail Authority and derogations from the Passenger Service Requirement granted, as allowed by the franchise agreement. The stops will be reintroduced from December 12.
Scooters on Trains
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a ban on four-wheel motability scooters on trains has recently been introduced or otherwise exists; and, if so, what are the reasons for such a ban. [HL4511]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The decision on whether to carry scooters on trains is a matter for individual train operating companies (TOCs). There is no legislation that either prohibits them from carrying scooters or requires them to do so.
There is a wide and growing range of scooter models available, each with its own capabilities and characteristics. However, scooters are generally not considered to be suitable for carriage on public transport, including trains because of concerns over size, weight, manoeuvrability and stability. Both the Department for Transport and the Department of Health have published guides explaining this. These are available in the Library.
26 Oct 2004 : Column WA123
We believe that operators are best placed to decide whether to carry scooters, according to the rolling stock they use and the local operating environment. The majority of TOCs will not carry them. Both the Government and TOCs are aware, however, that smaller, lighter, more manoeuvrable models are now available. In light of this, some train companies have been re-examining their current policies, with some relaxing their complete bans and permitting the carriage of smaller models.
Officials recently observed a trial by South West Trains, during which a range of scooter models attempted to board and park safely on the different types of train that SWT uses. The results showed the difficulty of having a single policy, and confirmed that TOCs are best placed to decide their own procedures, according to their own particular operation.
Individual companies' policy should be available as part of their disabled persons' protection policies,
26 Oct 2004 : Column WA124
which they are required to produce by the Strategic Rail Authority. Copies of these policies are available from stations or from the TOCs' websites.
A27
Lord Baker of Dorking asked Her Majesty's Government:
What proposals they have received from the Highways Agency to improve the A27 between Brighton and Chichester. [HL4517]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Highways Agency is currently preparing for a public consultation on proposals to upgrade the A27 at Chichester. This is due to commence on 29 November 2004. The agency has also completed its studies of options for improvement to the A27 at Arundel and Worthing/Lancing and a report is nearing completion.
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