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Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of the products promoted by Food from Britain are composed from primary ingredients that are grown or raised in Britain. [HL2916]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Bach): Food from Britain provides support for exports of food and drink produced or processed only in the UK and for quality English regional food and drink. It is not required to, nor does it, collate information on ingredients used in the UK food and drink it promotes.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 18 November (WA 175), what did the "in kind" public relations support given to British Food Fortnight consist of; to which other organisations promoting solely British food Food from Britain contributed in kind or directly by grant aid; and how much is contributed to each organisation. [HL2917]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Bach): Food from Britain agreed with the organiser of British Food Fortnight (BFF) that the "in kind" public relations support given to BFF would
 
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consist of FFB's communications manager promoting, where appropriate, BFF in conjunction with FFB sponsored activities supporting the quality regional food sector, and use of FFB's media database. In particular, FFB facilitated reference to the event in discussions with the media in the run up to and during BFF; in liaison with British Baker magazine, a reference to BFF in an interview on the Harrod's "Truly British" promotion; references in the Daily Telegraph "Taste of Britain" promotions; briefings with FFB's international public relations network; discussions with Defra's press office on providing information to journalists; the creation of up to date regional media lists; drafting of a press release for the launch of BFF and its distribution and promotion to UK trade and consumer media; distribution of 1,500 copies of the FFB sponsored Guides for Retailers and Caterers to locations specified by the organisers of BFF; and sourcing of photographs and recipes from regional food groups.

Other organisations which FFB has funded to-support the quality regional food sector in the current financial year are:

the eight English regional food groups which received, under contract with FFB, funds to deliver services in support of FFB's national programme of activity in support of the quality regional food sector. Funding ranged from £53,000 to £96,000 per group;

the English Wine Producers Association which received £25,000 for English Wine Week. This is a celebration of English wine and is aimed at increasing awareness of English wines of buyers, consumers and tourists from the UK and overseas;

the British Cheese Festival which received £65,000 to hold a three day festival focusing on British cheese and other quality regional food and drink;

the Guild of Fine Food Retailers which received £30,000 to work with more than 300 delicatessens to carry out tastings to promote quality regional food and drink;

the organisers of the Trafalgar Weekend were granted a £5,000 contribution to promote local sourcing of quality regional food and drink for the Trafalgar Weekend celebrations.

Government Buildings: Disposal

Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McKenzie of Luton on 9 November (WA 79), how many government buildings in Northern Ireland are currently for sale; and how many of these will subsequently be rented by a government department. [HL2256]
 

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The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): There are no Northern Ireland Civil Service buildings at present for sale. However, the NIO currently has eight residential houses on the market for sale, which will not be leased back to government departments.

Heavy Goods Vehicles: Hours of Work

Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 26 October (WA 184–85), how many prosecutions have been initiated by (a) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, and (b) the police, against drivers found to be in breach of drivers' hours regulations while driving in Wales. [HL2833]

Lord Davies of Oldham: The number of prosecutions taken by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) against drivers in breach of drivers' hours regulations while driving in Wales for 2003–04 and 2004–05.

	2003–04	2004–05
	Offences	Offences
Drivers Hours	156	111
Tachographs and records	457	437
Total	613	548

Information obtained for 2003 (the latest available) from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database shows that there were 307 proceedings at magistrates' courts throughout Wales for "Failing to observe limits on hours of driving and duty or rest requirements" Offence under the Transport Act 1968 s. 96 (11) (a)".

Identity Cards: Child Support Agency

Baroness Seccombe asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that the Child Support Agency may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by the Child Support Agency in connection with such use. [HL2867]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): For the Child Support Agency, the only value is likely to be realised once ID cards become compulsory and if the CSA has free and unrestricted access to the register.

The Child Support Agency has not yet estimated the costs of using the ID cards scheme to support the service it oversees
 
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Identity Cards: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in connection with such use. [HL2859]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Bach): The department has not estimated the benefits or costs of the ID cards scheme. On 28 June, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary placed in the Library a paper containing the latest estimates of benefits of the identity cards scheme which shows that the benefits outweigh the costs once the scheme is fully operational. As the design of the scheme matures so will our understanding of where the scheme will be of most benefit.

Identity Cards: HM Revenue and Customs

Baroness Seccombe asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish (a) any analysis they have made of the potential use that HM Revenue and Customs may make of the National Identity Register or identity cards introduced following enactment of the Identity Cards Bill; and (b) their estimate of the costs that will or may be incurred by HM Revenue and Customs in connection with such use. [HL2866]

Lord McKenzie of Luton: HMRC contributed to the benefits overview document that was published by the identity cards programme in June 2005. This can be found at www.identitycards.gov.uk/library/2005-06-27–Identity–Cards–Scheme–Benefits–Overview.pdf. HMRC has, in consultation with the identity cards programme, developed its current best estimate of the costs and benefits of using the ID cards scheme to enhance its services and these have been incorporated into the business case. The department is represented on the Ministerial Committee on Identity Cards that oversees the work on benefits planning and realisation.

We cannot release the detailed estimated costs for using the ID card scheme as some elements may be acquired from the market. The estimates are therefore commercially sensitive and to release them may prejudice the procurement process and the department's ability to obtain value for money from potential suppliers.
 
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