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- (d) Depreciation costs in 2006-07 include the write-off of the remaining net book value of the old Rathgael Juvenile Justice Centre building in that year upon the closure of that site.
- (e) Total operating costs in 2006-07 include an impairment of £1.3 million reflecting the difference between the capitalised cost of building the new Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre and the valuation by Land and Property Services (LPS) at 31 March 2007. This impairment is partially reversed in the provisional 2007-08 figures following an upward revaluation of the new centre by LPS at 31 March 2008.
Office of Fair Trading: Milk and Cheese
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
Where the penalties levied by the Office of Fair Trading for colluding on the price of milk for cheese will go; what they will be used for; and whether they will be ring-fenced for agricultural purposes additional to existing Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs budgets. [HL3407]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government are committed to a strong competition regime and recognise the importance of competitive markets for driving growth, innovation and better value for consumers.
Fines, such as those levied by the OFT, are paid into the Consolidated Fund and are then allocated according to government spending priorities as part of the spending review process. The fines are therefore spent on providing services to the public. The Treasury's Comprehensive Spending Review and Pre-Budget Report (published in October 2007), available in the Library of the House and at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pbr _csr/pbr_csr07_index.cfm, provides details of how departments' budgets have been set for the next three years. The fines levied by the OFT are intended to be a punitive measure to deter anti-competitive behaviour and are not designed as a means of compensation. However, in general where consumers or businesses have suffered as a result of anti-competitive behaviour, they can seek redress for their losses through private action. The Government recognise that, in some instances, there may be barriers to redress and will be consulting shortly on measures to address this.
Revenue and Customs
Lord Campbell-Savours asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether file numbered 1211076548K reported to be held by HM Revenue and Customs is to be preserved; and [HL3323]
Whether file numbered 1211076548K reported to be held by HM Revenue and Customs can be made available to the taxpayers concerned. [HL3324]
Lord Davies of Oldham: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not comment on matters relating to individual taxpayers.
12 May 2008 : Column WA116
Any request from an individual for their personal data would be dealt with in accordance with their rights under Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Roads: Advertisements
Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they will take to enforce the law in regard to unauthorised commercial advertisements abutting motorways, in the light of research on the risk of distraction of drivers. [HL3451]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Reports of new unauthorised advertisements beside motorways are sent by the Highways Agency to local planning authorities, which have the responsibility for enforcement against unlawful outdoor advertisements. The Government have, however, provided local planning authorities with a database which, since March 2007, enables them to share information on prosecutions and convictions for unauthorised advertisements and fly-posting.
Shipping: Stricken Vessels
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what circumstances a stricken vessel in French or Irish waters would be directed into a United Kingdom port; and [HL3449]
Under what circumstances a stricken vessel in United Kingdom waters would be directed to a French or an Irish port. [HL3450]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: When a ship is in need of assistance and there is the potential that a deterioration in its condition could result in pollution affecting the seas and coasts of two neighbouring states, then it is good practice for the authorities of both states to co-operate with one another in addressing the situation. The formal basis for this in respect of the UK and France is the Anglo-French Joint Maritime Contingency Plan (Mancheplan). In addition the UK, France and Ireland are contracting parties to the Bonn agreement. This agreement provides bilateral and multilateral co-operation with regards to pollution at sea.
In practice, the Secretary of State's representative for maritime salvage and intervention and the equivalent official or authority in the neighbouring state would work together to assess the condition of the ship and identify the most suitable place of refuge in the specific circumstances. In so doing, they would take account of all relevant factors, including the weather, the location of the ship, the type of threat posed by the ship and its cargo, the distance to potential places of refuge and factors specific to those potential places of refuge (such as available depth of water, alignment to the prevailing wind, proximity to populated areas). The choice of the most suitable
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Trees
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
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The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Forestry Commission is the lead department responsible for the protection of trees against oak processionary moth. In June 2007 it formed an outbreak management team comprising officials from Defra, Ealing and Richmond upon Thames Borough Councils, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Health Protection Agency, London. An action plan was agreed and implemented with immediate effect.
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