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House of Lords
Thursday, 2 March 2006.
The House met at eleven of the clock: the CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES on the Woolsack.
Prayers—Read by the Lord Bishop of Newcastle.
Roads: A1
Lord Walton of Detchant asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will reconsider their decision to postpone dualling of the A1 road from Adderstone to Belford and from Morpeth to Felton beyond 2008–09 when the schemes were to have begun.
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, decisions on these schemes have yet to be taken. They have been considered by the north-east region as part of the regional funding allocation prioritisation. The north-east region advised Ministers in January 2006 of its priorities across housing, regeneration and transport. It could not allocate priority for the A1 improvements within the 10-year allocation period. The Government will announce their initial response to the region's proposals when they have been fully assessed.
Lord Walton of Detchant: My Lords, I thank the Minister for a deeply disappointing reply. This road in north Northumberland is known locally as the "Little North Lane", and stands in striking contrast to the major improvements that have been introduced north of the Scottish border. Is the Minister aware that, 14 years ago, in response to a Question that I tabled in your Lordships' House, the then Minister said that the possibility of dualling the whole of the A1 was being carefully examined and that nine schemes were being considered? Of those, only two have been completed. Is he further aware that a major public consultation was held last year, as a result of which the routes for these two schemes were chosen with a due start date of 2008? In the interests of road safety and the economic regeneration of the north-east, that postponement is regarded locally as scandalous.
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, I appreciate the noble Lord's strong representation on the advantages that would accrue from improvement to the road. He will recognise that, of course, the Government's major priority has been the national route from London to Newcastle, and we are on the brink of ensuring that the whole of that route is of motorway standard. There is the issue of the stretch of road north of Newcastle. I do not think that that would be expected to have the same priority as the link from London to Newcastle—obviously, there is much less traffic north of Newcastle. I appreciate that the noble Lord has presented the issue to government for many years, but
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the interim regional transport board did not allocate this section the priority that perhaps he would have wished.
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: My Lords, why is the Minister hiding behind the regional transport board? Surely everyone realises that the reason that this programme and others have been cancelled is that the Deputy Prime Minister took a decision to axe the roads programme because he thought that he would get the volume of traffic down. He has failed to do so, and roads such as this are therefore even bigger killers and more of a problem. Surely the Government should change their policy.
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, we have no apology to make about the emphasis that we are putting on housing, as far as the Deputy Prime Minister is concerned. However, this scheme was not in a programme that was subsequently slashed. As the noble Lord, Lord Walton, indicated, it has been in conception for a considerable period. The reason is straightforward: although the stretch of road north of Berwick to Edinburgh has been improved to a degree in recent years, it is not a dual carriageway for its whole length either. That is because the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive and the Government recognise that traffic between England and Scotland is more limited on the eastern side of the country than on the western side.
Lord Berkeley: My Lords, given that my noble friend has just said that there is much less traffic on the east coast than on the west coast, surely it is right not to upgrade these roads. If anybody wants to go fast between Newcastle, intermediate places and Scotland, is not there a very good train service?
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, my noble friend is right that the east coast main line is one of our premier train services—the House will know of its record in the past. Investment in roads can improve road safety. To introduce dual carriageway throughout the length of the road would improve road safety, but, of course, it must fit into an order of priorities.
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, does the Minister understand the deep disappointment and regret of so many people in the north-east that the only trunk road between Newcastle and Edinburgh is for a large chunk of its section in Northumberland still a single carriageway? Does he agree that, for the economic and social well-being of what is still one of the most disadvantaged regions in the country, this work should be made an urgent priority?
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, I am grateful to the right reverend Prelate. He reflects concerns about the road, as does the noble Lord, Lord Walton. In due course we would expect it to be a dual carriageway throughout its length. I have been accused of placing too much weight on the views of the North East
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Regional Transport Board, but the board allocates priorities against a background of the limited resources of the Department for Transport. It has not allocated those two sections as a major priority.
Baroness Maddock: My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of Northumberland County Council and a resident of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Is the Minister aware that across the political spectrum on the council we are united in the view that this is a strategic road and should not be competing with local money? There has been considerable confusion. The Minister said that the local board made a decision around which there was considerable confusion. In Northumberland County Council we are trying to regenerate the area to ensure that the communities are sustainable. The route is vital and must be improved if we are to achieve those objectives.
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, once again I recognise the noble Baroness's representation. When she talks about strategic roads, is she saying that they should fit within the category of national roads? I merely reiterate what I said to the House a moment ago: the weight of traffic from London to Newcastle and all places in between is obviously considerably greater than the weight of traffic north of Newcastle up to Edinburgh; and that is why the road does not have the same classification that it has further south.
Stilton Cheese
11.14 am
Lord Kimball asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Food Standards Agency supports the manufacture of Stilton cheese in the traditional manner; and whether the agency plans to require a reduction in the salt level in this cheese.
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): My Lords, it is important for public health reasons that we reduce levels of salt in our diet. That is why the Food Standards Agency has been working on voluntary targets for salt reduction with food producers and retailers. Traditional products, such as Stilton, are part of that process, but any targets affecting Stilton will take account of the views of the Stilton Cheesemakers' Association as well as technical quality and food safety implications. A further announcement on targets will be made shortly.
Lord Kimball: My Lords, I must declare an interest. I am chairman of the Melton museum. One third of our exhibition deals with Stilton cheese. Does the Minister realise that deep offence is felt throughout the Vale of Belvoir at the Food Standards Agency's investigation of the level of salt in Stilton cheese, which is an age-old recipe, when it should be dealing with the amount of salt and fat in junk foods? Does the Minister realise also that salt is added to Stilton to
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drive down the moisture content and slow the development of the bacteria? Of all blue cheeses, Stilton has the least salt in it.
Lord Warner: My Lords, I must put the record straight: the Food Standards Agency is developing a range of voluntary salt targets for different food categories, 88 in total, following extensive consultation with stakeholders, including the food industry. So it is not picking on Stilton or the Vale of Belvoir. It is looking at people's salt intake across the board to protect public health. Stilton is a small part of that exercise. As a keen consumer of it, I have as much interest as the noble Lord in ensuring that its flavour and quality are maintained. The FSA is in contact with the cheesemakers' association and, as I understand it, has been co-operating with it.
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