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15 May 2008 : Column WA147
15 May 2008 : Column WA147
15 May 2008 : Column WA147
Thursday 15 May 2008
Bees
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
What would be the projected loss to the United Kingdom economy of the death of (a) 25 per cent, (b) 50 per cent, and (c) 75 per cent of the honey bee population in the United Kingdom. [HL3524]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): There is no specific information on the impact that the large-scale loss of honey bees would have on the economy although it could be significant. The level and nature of the impact would, for example, need to take into account the geographic distribution of the losses, which crops were affected, what measures were taken by beekeepers and crop producers in mitigation, and the result of any interactions with other pollinators.
Farriers' Qualification (European Recognition) Regulations 2008
Lord Willoughby de Broke asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 6 May (WA 50) concerning the Farriers' Qualification (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/646), whether they consulted the United Kingdom farriers industry before introducing the regulations; and, if so, what were the results of that consultation. [HL3508]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): A written consultation on these regulations was launched on 7 November 2007 and closed on 19 December 2007 with the Farriers Registration Council (FRC), the Worshipful Company of Farriers, the UK Horse Shoers Union (UKHSU) and the National Association of Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers. Responses were received from the FRC and the UKHSU. We also consulted regularly during the previous 18 months with the FRC as the regulator and competent authority as concerns farriery.
The consultation paper made it clear that we were not consulting on the principles underlying directive 2005/36/EC. Its main provisions had already been transposed by the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2781) (“the DIUS regulations”) and came into force on 19 October 2007.
The Farriers' Qualification (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/646) amend the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 to give full effect to the DIUS regulations and to provide for registration of providers of temporary farriery services so that the Farriers Registration Council can regulate them.
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Concerns were raised during the consultation exercise that the directive's provisions, as concerns the freedom to provide services on a temporary and occasional basis, undermine the standards of farriery in the UK and threaten animal welfare. However, the provisions that determine whether a farrier from another EU member state is eligible to provide temporary services are covered by the DIUS regulations. DIUS consulted with the Farriers Registration Council on these regulations.
Regarding the Farriers Qualifications (European Recognition) Regulations, some concern was expressed about the value of registering temporary services providers because it was thought they could escape disciplinary proceedings in this country by returning to their home country or another EU country. However, the directive imposes an obligation on competent authorities to exchange information about disciplinary action taken with each other, which provides a safeguard against this. The Farriers Registration Council agreed that registration of temporary providers of farriery was the most appropriate way of managing them.
In response to concerns raised, Defra explained that anything that stems from the wording of the directive is not amenable to mitigation, and cannot be changed. We also explained that the UK must transpose the directive in a way which is compatible with principles of EU law as derived from the treaty and case law of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Lord Willoughby de Broke asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they were required by European Union law to introduce the Farriers' Qualification (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/646). [HL3509]
Lord Rooker: These regulations are necessary in order to fully implement directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. Article 63 of directive 2005/36/EC imposes an obligation on EU member states to bring into force laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive.
The purpose of directive 2005/36/EC is to make it easier for qualified professionals to practise their professions in European countries other than their own by simplifying the recognition procedures. It is a consolidation of a number of existing directives relating to the recognition of professional qualifications including directive 1999/42/EC which previously dealt with farriers and gave rise to amendments to the Farriers (Registration) Act under SI 2002/1597.
The main provisions of the directive were transposed by the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2781) (“the DIUS regulations”) including provisions concerning farriers, and came into force on 19 October 2007. The DIUS regulations set out the formalities to be followed for access to a wide range of professions in the UK on either a temporary or a permanent basis.
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The Farriers' Qualification (European Recognition) Regulations 2008 amend the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975 to give full effect to the DIUS regulations and to provide for registration of providers of temporary farriery services so that the Farriers Registration Council can regulate them.
Food
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to reduce the meat content in public sector food procurement initiative programmes to promote healthy eating. [HL3486]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): One of the key objectives under the public sector food procurement initiative (PSFPI) is to increase the consumption of healthy and nutritious food. The Government advise that a healthy balanced diet has plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions of a variety every day); plenty of starchy foods, such as bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta, choosing wholegrain varieties whenever possible; some milk and dairy foods; some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein; and just a small amount of foods and drinks high in fat and/or sugar.
The Food Standards Agency has recently published guidance on food served to adults in major institutions and this can be found at www.food.gov.uk /healthiereating/nutritioncommunity/pubinstguide.
More information on the PSFPI is available on Defra's website at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/index.htm.
Marine Environment
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to extend the existing special conservation areas and marine conservation zones in order to improve marine protection in United Kingdom territorial waters. [HL3384]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The proposed Marine Bill will provide the necessary mechanisms to complete our network of marine protected areas, by allowing marine conservation zones to be designated for features of national importance. These sites, together with existing and new European sites (special areas of conservation and special protection areas), will form a network of marine protected areas in UK waters.
Our nature conservation agencies are in the process of identifying additional inshore special areas of conservation (SAC) in United Kingdom territorial waters. It is expected that their recommendations for possible inshore sites will be made this year. We are committed to completing an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas by 2012.
15 May 2008 : Column WA150
Northern Rock
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received legal advice regarding possible claims on behalf of the taxpayer against the directors and auditors of Northern Rock plc in respect of the 30 June 2007 interim accounts; and, if not, whether they will commission such advice. [HL3030]
Lord Davies of Oldham: It is for the board of Northern Rock to consider any causes of action that may be open to it.
Pensions: Telephone Costs
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Pensions Reform, Mr Mike O'Brien, on 11 March (Official Report, Commons, 207W), whether the cessation of the rebate on 0845 numbers from 14 December 2007 has reduced the cost of calls from Pension Service customers; and, if not, who is benefiting from it. [HL3352]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): 0845 numbers are intended to enable customers to contact a centralised service for no more than the cost of a local call when using a landline (although the cost to mobile users does depend on the terms of the package individual users have with their service provider).
The decision to cease the rebate on 0845 numbers from 14 December 2007 has not reduced the cost of calls for our customers as their personal contracts with their respective telecom provider will still apply. The monetary remuneration that the department received from the rebate is with BT. However, the loss of this rebate has been partly offset by other price negotiations with BT to reduce the cost to public funds.
Poverty
Lord Roberts of Conwy asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many (a) children and (b) households are below the poverty line of 40 per cent of average earnings; and what were the figures for 1997. [HL3367]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): Our policies are not designed only for those who fall “just below the poverty threshold”. We have pledged to eradicate child poverty by 2020; this requires us to tackle child poverty, whatever its depth, in all countries of the UK.
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Poverty is a complex and multidimensional issue and, as such, there are many possible measures of poverty. While income alone does not provide a wide enough measure of poverty, it is generally accepted that low income is central to any poverty measurement.
The most common and internationally recognised threshold to measure poverty is income below 60 per cent of median. We do not present information covering 40 per cent of median income in our Households Below Average Income series as it is not a sound measure of poverty. This is because households stating the lowest incomes to the Family Resources Survey may not actually have the lowest living standards. Many people who report very low incomes appear to have high spending; hence any statistics on numbers in this group may be misleading.
Specific information regarding low income for the UK is available in Households Below Average Income 1994-95 to 2005-06. This annual report, which is a National Statistics publication, includes the numbers and proportions of individuals, children, working-age adults and pensioners with incomes below 50 per cent, 60 per cent and 70 per cent of median income, and the proportions in persistent poverty.
Information on the number of children and households below 40 per cent of median income is in the tables.
| Number (millions) of children in households below 40 per cent of median income, 1997-98 and 2005-06 | ||
| Year | Before Housing Costs | After Housing Costs |
| Source: Family Resources Survey 1997-98, 2005-06 | ||
| Number (millions) of households below 40 per cent of median income 1997-98 and 2005-06 | ||
| Year | Before Housing Costs | After Housing Costs |
| Source: Family Resources Survey 1997-98, 2005-06 | ||
1. Figures in the tables correspond to Great Britain for 1997-98 and to the United Kingdom for 2005-06.
3. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, equivalised for household size and composition, as a proxy for standard of living. This uses the OECD equivalence scale for all years in the series.
4. The Government's preferred measure of relative low-income poverty is defined as being in a household with a household income of less than 60 per cent of the contemporary median income. This is an internationally recognised measure.
5. This response includes a lower income threshold of 40 per cent of the contemporary median income. The data for
15 May 2008 : Column WA152
6. Figures have been presented on both a “before housing cost” and “after housing cost” basis. For “before housing cost”, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage-interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for “after housing cost” they are. This means that “after housing cost” incomes will generally be lower than “before housing cost”.
7. Numbers in the tables have been presented in millions, rounded to the nearest 100,000 children or households as appropriate.
Railways: Franchises
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they levy any charge when a railway franchise is taken over by another operator; and, if so, on what legal basis. [HL3507]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: It is a condition of franchise agreements that a change of operator can be made only with the consent of the Secretary of State for Transport.
It is open to the Secretary of State to charge a fee in return for granting her consent. The circumstances in which she will expect to do so are set out in the rail franchise change of control policy statement. A copy of the statement is available on the department's website at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/franchises/statement.
Roads: A13
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Highways Agency is concerned with the amount of litter on the A13 trunk road; and whether they will make representations to the local authority responsible for keeping that road clean. [HL3531]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Highways Agency takes litter issues very seriously and continues to monitor the trunk road section of the A13 for litter as part of its route stewardship.
Following its monthly route inspections the agency passes on information about litter accumulation to Thurrock Council. The agency also meets regularly with it where it makes representations about litter on the A13. The last such meeting was on 8 February 2008. The next meeting is scheduled for June 2008.
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