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A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.
Northern Ireland: Equality
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 11 March (WA 247) concerning the concept of equality in the Republic of Ireland, whether equality is an issue monitored by them when assessing and deciding their foreign policy. [HL2207]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): Whether equality is monitored in relation to Irish foreign policy is a matter for the Government of Ireland.
Open Moorland: Fencing
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have monitored the number and extent of fences that have been erected in recent years on open moorland in the northern Peak District National Park and adjacent areas; and whether they have assessed the reasons for the erection of such fences. [HL2246]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Peak District National Park moors have suffered very significant damage e.g. wildfires, overgrazing and pollution. To enable vegetation recovery it is necessary in places to exclude stock through fencing, funded through agri-environment agreements. Routes are agreed with the National Park Authority and chosen to minimise impacts on accessibility and landscape. From 1987 to the present, an estimated 127.7km1 of fencing has been erected. Fences are being removed as soon as restoration allows e.g. 23km1 have recently been removed.
- 1Peak District National Park—Northern moorland fencing extent and location. Compiled by Richard Pollitt and Jon Stewart, Natural England, 2513/09.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government whether fencing of open moorland in the Peak District National Park and similar areas in England is supported by funding from the common agricultural policy or other government or public sources. [HL2247]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The costs of fencing of open moorland in the Peak District National Park are supported under agri-environment agreements such as environmental stewardship and the environmentally sensitive areas scheme. These are funded through Natural England by European common agricultural policy monies supported by matched funding from the UK Government.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they or Natural England encourage the fencing of open moorland for conservation, farming (including under cross-compliance requirements of single farm payments) or other land management; and what impact such fences have on the provisions of access to open country under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and other legislation, and on the landscape objectives of national parks. [HL2248]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: In some circumstances Natural England does support fencing of open moorland, where this is regarded as essential to meet nature conservation or land management objectives. Where this is the case, Natural England promotes prior consultation with stakeholders, and actively considers how impacts on the landscape and on access can be minimised.
The public access provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 do not prevent the erection of fences on or around moorland or any other type of open country. Natural England would expect the access authority and the occupier to work together to ensure that suitable crossing points are included at appropriate locations along any new fences—and that where the requirement is temporary, arrangements are put in place for removal of the fencing once it has served its purpose.
In the case of open moorland which is registered common land, approval is normally required from the Secretary of State prior to the erection of any new fences.
Prisons: Kitchens
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they propose to replace the kitchen at HM Prison Liverpool. [HL2464]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The current status is that the kitchen refurbishment is being developed and work is programmed to commence on site in August 2009 and be completed around June 2010.
1 Apr 2009 : Column WA248
Railways: Franchises
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the safety of passengers and staff has been considered in the development and awarding of rail franchises. [HL2551]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Adonis): In order to achieve accredited bidder status, companies must provide satisfactory corporate safety policies, occupational health and safety policies, and health and safety policies specifically relating to the operation and maintenance of transport systems. Accreditation also includes consideration of any relevant Health and Safety Executive convictions over the previous three years.
Franchise bidders provide security plans which cover both staff and passenger safety, which are assessed as part of the franchise award. Recent franchises have included specific requirements that impact on passenger safety, including on-train CCTV, secure station accreditation, car park accreditation, new help points and increased station staffing.
Recycling
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce measures to enable the United Kingdom to replicate the waste recycling and renewables ratios in Germany. [HL2298]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): We are keen to learn from examples of approaches that have worked in other countries. However, there are some important differences between the way our recycling systems and those in other countries operate, and not all approaches will be appropriate.
Household recycling rates in England have more than quadrupled in the last 10 years to 35 per cent. This performance is on a par with many other European countries, but we recognise the need to do more to match the best performers.
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will delay the rollout of interception-based online advertising until its compatibility with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 has been established. [HL2157]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The Government strongly support the use of technology that supports and enhances the privacy of users' data. Both the Information Commissioner and the Home Office have offered
1 Apr 2009 : Column WA249
Online advertising technology providers will have to be able to satisfy the appropriate regulatory authorities, in this case the Information Commissioner's Office, whenever such technology is in a position to be commercially offered to users. One of the criteria will be to establish the technology's adherence to the conditions laid down in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Rochester Bridge
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of arrangements for maintaining Rochester Bridge. [HL2672]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Adonis): Maintenance of Rochester Bridge is a matter for the Rochester Bridge Trust.
Rural Payments Agency
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government what interval is allowed by Rural Payments Agency inspectors between a cross-compliance event and the required resultant action; whether the interval is the same for all events; whether the interval allows for illness, holiday or bereavement affecting the farmer or a key employee; and whether the interval allows for the breakdown and repair of computerised equipment, telephone and power cables. [HL2294]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Rural Payments Agency (RPA), as the competent control authority for a number of cross-compliance requirements and standards, has set a number of such deadlines for remedial action, which differ depending on the circumstances of the requirement or standard. If a farmer is unable to meet these deadlines owing to circumstances beyond their control, the RPA does consider amending the deadline. Such an extension would not absolve the farmer of their obligations and responsibilities in respect of any other area of cross-compliance or any other legislative requirements. In all cases, however, European Union regulations require that the deadline cannot be extended beyond the end of the year following the one in which the finding was made.
Syria and Iran
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to further relations with Syria and Iran following recent ministerial visits. [HL2595]
1 Apr 2009 : Column WA250
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): My honourable friend, Bill Rammell, the Minister of State for the Middle East, will visit Damascus on 1 and 2 April 2009. He will reiterate our support for inter-Arab reconciliation, encouraging Syria to recognise that its own stability and prosperity are dependent on playing a constructive role in the region, including support for engagement along all tracks in the search for a comprehensive Middle East peace.
There has not been a ministerial visit to Iran since 2003, although we continue to have contact at ministerial level. We have said consistently that we would like to have a constructive relationship with Iran, based on mutual respect, but Iran must take action to address the international community's legitimate concerns about its nuclear and regional activity and its internal repression.
Thames Barrier
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they monitor the height of the Thames Barrier as a measurement of climate change; and how many times the barrier has been closed in each month of the past five years. [HL2455]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Thames Barrier has been closed 114 times in the 25 years that it has been operational. Twenty two of those have taken place in the past five years, with an additional five closures taking place in February this year. The table below indicates the distribution of these per month.
The Environment Agency's Thames Estuary 2100 project, which will be entering a public consultation document shortly, will indicate what actions may be needed to manage increasing tidal flood risk through to the end of the century. In understanding the effect of climate change, sea levels associated with Thames Barrier closures have been taken into account, together with the latest climate change science provided by the Met Office Hadley Centre.
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1 Apr 2009 : Column WA251
Tourism
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist the hotel and restaurant industries to improve the quality of the services and products they offer in response to the current economic climate and the fall in the value of sterling. [HL2412]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are making additional resources available for marketing initiatives promoting the United Kingdom as a tourism destination in eurozone countries and other markets where currencies have strengthened against the pound. [HL2413]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist the tourism industry in capitalising on the opportunities offered by a potential increase in hotel bookings in United Kingdom cities and tourism resorts as a result of the fall in the value of the pound. [HL2415]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): As part of an ongoing process of support for the tourism and hospitality industries, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has worked closely with partners across government, business, and industry to help maximise any opportunities related to the relative value of sterling.
DCMS is providing £130 million to VisitBritain between 2008 and 2012 to market Britain overseas and to the domestic market. VisitBritain has recently launched a £6.5 million marketing campaign, running in the domestic and overseas markets, highlighting the country as a value-for-money destination.
This marketing investment works in tandem with investments focused on upgrading facilities—from the £3.5 million allocation to regional development agencies for tourism support through to the £45 million DCMS sea change initiative upgrading coastal towns. We are also working with other partners to improve the visitor hospitality package by investment in services at regional, sub-regional and local level, which can be seen in work on the National Quality Accreditation Scheme, operated by Visit Britain, the Automobile Association (AA), Visit Scotland and Visit Wales.
In addition, we have been working across government and with the Sector Skills Council and the industry on initiatives to improve professional skills—such as the development of new customer service qualifications, the development of the new National Skills Academy for Hospitality and the delivery of the National Skills Strategy.
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