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Iran: UK Exports
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What was the total value of (a) annual United Kingdom exports to Iran; and (b) annual United Kingdom imports from Iran, in each of the past 10 years.[HL4833]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Jones of Birmingham): The data requested are shown in the following table:
| Year | UK exports of goods and services to Iran | UK imports of goods and services from Iran |
| Balance of payments basis, source: Pink Book 2007, Table 9.3 | ||
Data for 2007 on a balance of payments basis are due to be published at the end of October. Using a slightly different definition, HM Revenue and Customs overseas trade statistics covering trade in goods show:
| UK exports of goods to Iran | UK imports of goods from Iran | |
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IT: Smart Computer Usage
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What reduction in carbon emissions could be achieved through the Government’s smart computer usage campaign in (a) five, and (b) 10 years’ time; and how this could contribute to achieving carbon neutrality in the public sector by 2020. [HL5070]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Cabinet Office Minister, my honourable friend for West Bromwich East, launched HMG’s Strategy for Greening Government ICT on Thursday 17 July. See http://www.cio.gov.uk/greening_government_ict/index.asp. This sets out clear targets and milestones for departments and their chief information officers to reduce the energy consumed by each department in its use of ICT and thereby reduce the attributed C02 emissions. The key first target is to achieve carbon neutrality for ICT in use by 2012 and for the ICT life cycle by 2020.
Libraries and Archives
Lord Howarth of Newport asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether they plan to extend to designated collections in libraries and archives the funding opportunities that the Designation Challenge Fund provides for designated collections in museums. [HL5054]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Designation Challenge Fund is administered by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). It is funded through Renaissance funding, which is ring-fenced for museums. Designation Challenge Fund funding is therefore available only to designated library or archive collections that form an integral part of a designated museum collection. There are no plans at present to extend the scheme, but the MLA is considering options for additional funding to extend support for designated collections in archives and libraries.
Non-emergency Number
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty’s Government:
How many instances of litter and fly-tipping have been reported to the 101 non-emergency number in each service area since the service was launched. [HL5048]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Defra does not hold data on the number of instances of litter and fly-tipping reported to the 101 non-emergency number.
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Playing Fields
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty’s Government:
How many playing fields were sold in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007; what the acreage of those playing fields was in each of those years; and what replacement provision was made in each of those years. [HL5028]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Sport England collects information on its planning role relating to playing fields and not on the sale of playing fields. Sport England data, held by financial year, are as follows:
2005-06The most recently available data from Sport England reveal that 1,176 (97 per cent) out of 1,216 concluded planning applications affecting playing fields in 2005-06 resulted in improved or protected sports provision. Sport England statistics also show that only 40 applications (3 per cent) resulted in a detrimental impact to sport. However, none of these cases resulted in a complete loss of a playing field.
2004-05In 2004-05, the statistics show that 464 cases out of 1,087 concluded planning applications affecting playing fields resulted in improved sports provision. In 576 cases sports provision was protected while 47 cases resulted in a detrimental impact on sport.
2003-04In 2003-04, the statistics show that 458 cases out of 1,081 concluded planning applications affecting playing fields resulted in improved sports provision. In 571 cases sports provision was protected while 52 cases resulted in a detrimental impact on sport.
Replacement playing pitches—further detail2005-06In addition, in 2005-06 there were 115 cases where new-for-old replacement playing pitches were built, 14 of which provided increased space for sport.
2004-05In 2004-05, there were 107 cases where new playing pitches were built. From this there were 62 cases where new pitches were built on existing sites, 19 cases where pitches were built on new like-for-like replacement sites and 26 cases where pitches were built on new replacement sites with increased space for sport.
2003-04In 2003-04, there were 102 cases where new playing pitches were built. From this there were 63 cases where new pitches were built on existing sites, 26 cases where pitches were built on new like-for-like replacement sites and 13 cases where pitches were built on new replacement sites with increased space for sport.
Railways: St Pancras Train Shed
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether the St Pancras train shed is a listed building under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990; and what prosecution
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Lord Davies of Oldham: We can confirm that the St Pancras train shed is a listed building under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Section 9 of the 1990 Act creates the offence of carrying out unauthorised work on a listed building but does not confer powers of prosecution. Enforcement action where there has been a breach of Section 9 may be taken by local planning authorities in the form of an enforcement notice issued under Section 38. The notice will specify the alleged contravention and the steps required to remedy it.
Solar and Photovoltaic Installations
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether the funding available for the Rural Development Programme for 2007-13 for the east Midlands will cover solar or photovoltaic installations; and, if not, why they are excluded. [HL4948]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Solar or photovoltaic installations can potentially be supported as part of a justified project proposal that will follow the normal appraisal and approval process carried out by the East Midlands Development Agency.
Waste Management: Brofiscin Quarry
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin on 17 December 2007 (WA 109) and the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 22 April (WA 295), how a copy of a 1970 memorandum by the chief counsel of Monsanto appeared in documents sent to Mr Gowan by the Environment Agency Wales as the result of a data protection request; and why a letter was sent to Mr Gowan on 29 June 2006 by a member of staff of the Environment Agency Wales to thank him for sending a copy of the February 1972 remediation agreement to the Environment Agency Wales. [HL4583]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): I have been informed by the Environment Agency Wales that the only memorandum provided and dating from 1970 was from Dr Papageorge, Monsanto’s former chief scientist. This has been returned to Mr Gowan following his subject access requests under the Data Protection Act.
The Environment Agency has no record of the letter referred to by Mr Gowan dated 29 June 2006 confirming receipt of a remediation agreement.
29 Sep 2008 : Column WA302
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether access to the environs of Brofiscin Quarry is prohibited to humans; and, if not, whether it is considered safe for children to play there. [HL4808]
Lord Rooker: I have been informed by the Environment Agency Wales that Brofiscin Quarry is in private ownership and as such securing the land from trespass is the responsibility of the landowner. However, the agency has discussed such issues with the landowner and he has prohibited access to the quarry so far as is reasonably practicable. Access to the landowner’s site is via single track road with a secure lockable gate. The quarry itself is isolated by fencing within the secured site area and signage is present at the quarry entrance.
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 9 July (WA 90), when and in what form Mr Gowan instructed the Environment Agency Wales to destroy all copies of his original documents. [HL4838]
Lord Rooker: I have been informed by the Environment Agency Wales that in an undated letter e-mailed to Brabners Chaffe Street LLP and received on 2 November 2007 Mr Gowan requested that all copies of his original documents be “shredded”. This request was passed to the Environment Agency and complied with. It has not destroyed any original documents or evidentiary proofs belonging to Mr Gowan. Where original documents and evidentiary proofs had been received by the Environment Agency from Mr Gowan, these have been returned to him.
Waste Management: Packaging
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether they will issue guidance on the packaging of central and local government reports to ensure they do not use excess cardboard or paper. [HL4949]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): There are no plans to issue any specific guidance on the subject, but Her Majesty’s Government will adhere to the key objectives set out in the waste strategy for England 2007 of less waste and more reuse and recycling.
Answers received between Tuesday 29 July and Monday 4 August 2008
Afghanistan: Objectives
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
29 Sep 2008 : Column WA303
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): On 12 December 2007 (Official Report, cols. 303-07) my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced in another place a long-term and comprehensive framework for security, political, social and economic development for Afghanistan, setting out our strategy and objectives. Further detail on my right honourable friend the Prime Minister's Statement and the UK's involvement in Afghanistan can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at: www.fco.gov.uk/ukandafghanistan.
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