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Taxation: Evasion Hotline
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the cost of establishing and running the national tax evasion hotline since 2006. [HL4222]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The National Audit Office carried out a full review of the tax evasion hotline in its report Tackling the Hidden Economy (HC 341). A copy of this report is available in the House of Commons Library.
The report states that the department spends around £700,000 a year on staffing the hotline and that each call costs the department about £6 on average to handle.
Terrorism: Promotion and Glorification
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate have they made of the number of websites used by United Kingdom-based Islamic extremists to circulate extremist material; and how many of these they consider to be in contravention of the Terrorism Act 2006. [HL4193]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): We do not keep statistics on the number of websites used by Islamist extremists to circulate extremist material, neither do we keep statistics on which of these contravene the Terrorism Act 2006.
Section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 allows for the service of a notice by a constable where he or she is of the opinion that unlawfully terrorism-related material is available on an electronic service such as a website, on the person(s) responsible for that material. The notice requires that the unlawfully terrorism-related material is removed or modified within two working days. To date, no Section 3 notices have been issued, as the preferred route for removing such material from the internet is informal contact between the police and the ISP and this has so far always been effective.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many individuals have been prosecuted under Sections 1 to 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 for the online encouragement of Islamic extremism, for the dissemination of Islamic extremist material online or for running websites that facilitate such distribution. [HL4194]
Lord West of Spithead: We do not currently hold statistics on the number of individuals prosecuted under Sections 1 to 3 of the Terrorism Act 2006 for the online encouragement of Islamic extremism. The Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General's Office are currently working with the National Co-ordinator for Terrorist Investigations to improve
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Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many websites accessible in the United Kingdom contain recordings by Islamic extremist preachers who have been imprisoned in this country for inciting extremism or supporting terrorism; and whether they consider that the dissemination of such material constitutes the glorification of terrorism; and [HL4196]
Whether they consider that websites which disseminate extremist messages from members of al-Qaeda are engaging in the glorification of terrorism; and whether they consider that other sites which advertise, or allow for the advertisement of, those sites are also participating in the glorification of terrorism; and [HL4197]
Whether they consider that the dissemination of Nasheeds which promote violence and extremism constitutes glorification of terrorism. [HL4198]
Lord West of Spithead: It would be inappropriate to comment on particular examples of websites that either do or do not constitute glorification of terrorism. Any prosecutions are a matter for the police and the prosecuting authorities and much will depend on the specific circumstances of each individual case.
We do not keep statistics on the number of websites accessible in the United Kingdom that contain recordings by Islamic extremist preachers who have been imprisoned in this country for inciting extremism or supporting terrorism.
Toxic Chemicals
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether reed beds provide a method for concentrating or eliminating toxic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxin from soil and surface water in a manner that is effective and safe for wildlife which access the beds. [HL4089]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Reed bed systems have been found to be effective in reducing levels of suspended solids, metals and organic pollutants from wastewaters. They also provide a habitat for wildlife that might not otherwise be present, and can support a diverse ecosystem including microbes, invertebrates, mammals and birds.
Reed beds reduce the emission of contaminants to watercourses by allowing particulates to settle out, by adsorption of contaminants to sediment and organic matter, the microbial degradation of chemicals and uptake of contaminants by plant roots.
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While these processes reduce emissions to the wider environment, some of the contaminants will accumulate within the reed bed system. Research shows that levels of metals increase in the sediment in reed beds, and also within the reeds. We are unaware of similar studies with polychlorinated biphenyls or dioxins, but would also expect these substances to accumulate.
Uganda: Peace Process
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their assessment of the sustainability of the peace process in northern Uganda following the recent talks in Juba. [HL4009]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government and other international partners consider that the Juba peace process was a success, resulting in agreement between the Lord's Resistance Army and Ugandan Government delegations on a number of important issues. Despite the failure of the two sides to sign a final peace agreement, it is important that the gains made by the Juba process are not lost. The UK and its partners in the international community are committed to improving the situation in the north through continued financial assistance and support to the Ugandan Government's Peace, Recovery and Development Plan.
Vehicles: Disposal
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they have taken to ensure vehicle manufacturers make available all necessary technical information to enable authorised treatment facilities to recycle safely and efficiently all types of motor vehicle. [HL4217]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Baroness Vadera): The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 place an obligation on vehicle manufacturers and professional importers to provide dismantling and other environmental information for each type of new vehicle put on the market. The regulations apply to passenger cars and light vans, and are enforced on behalf of BERR by the Vehicle Certification Agency. No such obligation applies in respect of other vehicles. However, I understand that the International Dismantling Information System (IDIS), established by manufacturers, is prepared to consider any approach from the dismantling sector to include treatment data on heavy commercial vehicles in its database.
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Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many vehicles are disposed of using a scrap metal shredding machine rather than first being depolluted at an authorised treatment facility; and [HL4219]
Whether a vehicle may be disposed of by processing it in a scrap metal shredding machine without it first being depolluted at an authorised treatment facility. [HL4220]
Baroness Vadera: The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 require all vehicles to be treated at authorised treatment facilities (ATFs) and to be depolluted prior to further treatment, whether at the same facility or elsewhere. The majority of shredder operators are also ATFs. Shredding of undepolluted vehicles is not permissible under the regulations.
Vehicles: Repairs
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support the objectives of the Retail Motor Industry Federation's “Right to Repair Campaign” when negotiating changes to the block exemption regulations as they apply to the motor industry. [HL4216]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Baroness Vadera): Yes we do. Now that the Commission's assessment of the block exemption is public, officials have been in discussion with representative groups from all areas of the industry, including the aftermarket. We recognise the potential difficulties highlighted by the “Right to Repair Campaign” and will address these with the Commission. These meetings are very helpful in forming our final policy position.
Wildlife: Brofiscin Farm
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any longitudinal studies have been conducted into the presence and health of all wildlife expected to be in the vicinity of the site of Brofiscin Farm; and, if so, with what results. [HL4090]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): I am informed by the Environment Agency that when designating the site as contaminated land, the local authority did not identify any significant pollutant linkages relating to wildlife. As a consequence, the Environment Agency has not conducted a longitudinal wildlife study in the vicinity of Brofiscin Farm.
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