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Tuberculosis: Tests
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
What communications they have had with representatives of Statens Serum Institut in the past year; and whether those discussions included the licensing arrangements for the purified protein derivative currently used without a licence in National Health Service skin testing for tuberculosis. [HL5881]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): Officials from the Department of Health, together with the NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency, have held meetings with Statens Serum Institut to consider the viability of an application for a marketing authorisation for purified protein derivative solutions, for use in testing for tuberculosis.
Ulster-Scots Agency
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 May (WA 51) concerning funding for the Ulster-Scots Agency, whether the agency has been informed about a possible increase in its budget in 2007; if so, by how much it will increase; and on what basis the increase will be made. [HL5941]
Lord Rooker: The 2007 budget for the Ulster-Scots Agency will be determined in accordance with normal budgeting procedures on the basis of its draft business plan as set out in the North/South Language Body financial memorandum. This will include consultation between the Ulster-Scots Agency and its sponsor departments, and with the finance departments north and south.
Waste Management
Lord Vinson asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 2 May (WA 62), how they would define the "quantity of concentrations" and pollution that would trigger a £5,000 penalty under the European Union waste directive for those households who burn plastic waste. [HL5610]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Section 29(5) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 defines "harm" caused by the "quantity or concentrations" of substances or articles constituting or resulting from waste as,
"harm to the health of living organisms or other interference with the ecological systems of which they form part and in the case of man includes offence to any of his senses or harm to his property".
The unlawful disposal of waste, including burning plastic waste illegally, is a serious offence. The Government are encouraging waste producers to focus on more pro-active measures such as waste minimisation and recycling.
Householders that burn household plastic waste within the curtilage of their dwelling may be committing an offence under Section 33 of the 1990 Act. The local authority would decide whether to prosecute under this section, and if a householder was convicted it would be for the court to decide the level of fine, depending on the severity of the offence, up to a maximum of £5,000.
Water Supply
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the answers by the Lord Bach on 2 May (HL col. 396), what is the total sum so far spent on the various European water purification directives; and what is their estimate of the total sum necessary to repair the problems with water infrastructure and supply in (a) Thames Water, and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom. [HL5657]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Water supply is a devolved matter, so I will confine my reply to England and Wales, which use the same regulatory frameworks.
Since privatisation the water industry has continued to invest at high levels. This has totalled more than £55 billion (between 1990 and 2004–05) on capital investment in water and wastewater services. Around £26.5 billion of this is directly attributable to water quality improvements. However, because expenditure often meets multiple objectives it is not possible to distinguish expenditure needed to meet EU directives on quality of drinking water and wastewater from that needed to meet other national requirements.
Ofwat has assumed in its determination of price limits that Thames Water will spend £1.6 billion on maintenance and repair of the water supply network and security of supply, over the five years between 2005 and 2010. This compares with a total of £4.7 billion assumed for the other water companies in England and Wales.
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Waterways Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 22 March (WA 70) regarding the bulk purchase of chocolates by Waterways Ireland, how the discrepancy between the Answers of 1 March 2006 (WA 82) and 6 December 2005 (WA 98) can be accounted for against the record of the original minutes of the senior management group meeting. [HL5743]
Lord Rooker: I understand that my honourable friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland (David Hanson) has written to you on this matter.
All the papers relating to the purchase of chocolates at Waterways Ireland in 2002 and 2003 have been
7 Jun 2006 : Column WA202
placed in the Library, and I have nothing further to add.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many of the employees in Waterways Ireland who claim no religious background came from employment in the Republic of Ireland. [HL5799]
Lord Rooker: I understand from Waterways Ireland that as at 8 May 2006 the body has 88 employees based in Northern Ireland. Of these 30 have a Protestant community background, 52 a Roman Catholic background and six have provided no community background information. This represents 59 per cent Roman Catholic, 34 per cent Protestant and 7 per cent others. Of the six employees who provided no community background one came from employment in the Republic of Ireland.
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