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To bring the respective area and regional offender management organisations of the prison and probation services together effectively the Regional Restructure Project was commissioned and implementation of the model began in April 2009. It provides a framework upon which every new regional office will operate around a core structure, with similar roles being carried out nationally by individuals of the same grade. A
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| Director of Offender Management-Proposed Staffing Levels | |
| Full Time Equivalent Staffing (core and non-core) | |
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Directors of Offender Management in England and Wales will have (a) a prisons background, and (b) a probation background. [HL4627]
Lord Bach: There are 10 Director of Offender Management (DOM) posts. Of these, three have a predominantly Prison Service background and a further two have experience in the Prison Service alongside other Civil Service roles. One of the DOMs has a predominantly Probation Service background. One of the DOMs trialled the role in a pathfinder in Wales and the other three DOMs have no previous experience in prisons or probation.
Organophosphates
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether commercial formulations for Roundup are safe for developing embryos in the light of recent research by Gilles-Eric Seralini et al of the University of Caen that polyethoxylated tallow amine (POEA), used as a surfactant, amplified the toxic effects on human cells at concentrations more diluted than those used on farms and lawns, supported by other research from Argentina that reported a high incidence of birth defects and cancer in people, and genetic malformations in amphibians, living near crop spraying areas. [HL4563]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The chairs of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) and its Medical and Toxicological Panel have considered the paper by Benachour and Seralini, Chem.Res.Toxicol 2009, 22, 97-105. This paper reports on in vitro work examining the effects of glyphosate, the glyphosate metabolite AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid), a co-formulant POEA
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The Chemicals Regulation Directorate of the Health and Safety Executive has considered some information on a study in Argentina that may be the work mentioned. The methodology used in this study means that the results are not relevant to mammals, including humans.
Passports
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of passports can be read electronically at United Kingdom ports and airports; and what steps are they taking to increase that percentage. [HL4549]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): In order for passports to be read electronically at United Kingdom ports and airports the page containing the biographical data of the holder must be constructed in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Document 9303.
The UK Government do not collect data on the percentage of passports that can be read electronically. Research completed earlier this year by the Migration Experts Sub Group of the G8 Lyon/Roma Group suggests that 82 per cent of the countries in the world issue passports which comply with the ICAO Document 9303 and can thus be read electronically. The majority of those countries which do not comply issue comparatively few passports. Therefore the overall percentage of passports presented at UK ports of entry which can be read electronically is in fact significantly higher than the above figure.
The UK continues in international meetings including of the International Civil Aviation Organisation to press for greater use of and enhanced standards in machine-readable travel documents.
Planning
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many extant planning permissions there are for sites on which the developer has yet to begin building homes. [HL4502]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): This information in not held centrally. Figures are published in individual regional planning annual monitoring reports.
Planning: Eco-towns
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for the publication of successful eco-town bids. [HL4500]
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To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with eco-town promoters over the past six months; and what assessment have they made as to the viability of the bidders' proposals. [HL4501]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): Proposals put forward by eco-town promoters have been assessed in the sustainability appraisal and habitats regulations assessment and the financial viability study of the eco-towns programme, which were published as part of the eco-towns consultation. This ran from 4 November 2008 to 30 April 2009, and promoters and other parties have responded to this. As part of this the Government have had contact with promoters to update them on the eco-towns programme and to clarify issues related to proposals where necessary.
Responses to the consultation are currently being considered by the Government, and they expect to publish the final eco-towns planning policy statement and list of locations with potential to be an eco-town in the summer.
Presbyterian Mutual Society
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that any resolution of the situation of depositors in the Presbyterian Mutual Society is not linked to the transfer of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Executive. [HL4774]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The two issues are not linked.
Retirement Age
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will raise the retirement age to 70 for those born after 1960. [HL4646]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): Under the Pensions Act 2007 the State Pension age will gradually increase from 65 to 68 between 2024 and 2046 for men and women born after 5 April 1959.
Sir Alan Sugar
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government to which Minister the Enterprise Champion, Sir Alan Sugar, will report. [HL4150]
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To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Enterprise Champion, Sir Alan Sugar, will be required to consult the Minister for Economic Competitiveness and Small Business, Baroness Vadera, on the exercise of his responsibilities. [HL4153]
The Minister for Economic Competitiveness and Small Business (Baroness Vadera): The Enterprise Champion will offer independent advice to government from a business perspective drawing on his own experience and on consultations around the country. He will raise awareness among entrepreneurs and businesses about the practical help that is available from Government and other sources. He will also champion the cause of viable small companies with banks, encouraging lending to continue during the recession.
As Minister for Economic Competitiveness, Small Business and Enterprise, I expect to be the champion's main ministerial contact point for the advice he provides.
Sufi Muslim Council
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding (a) Communities and Local Government, (b) each of its agencies, and (c) non-departmental public bodies, have given to the Sufi Muslim Council in each of the past five years. [HL4481]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The Sufi Muslim Council has received the following funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government in each of the past five years:
This group has not received funding from any of the department's agencies or non-departmental public bodies during the past five years.
Taxation: Income Tax
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Myners on 19 June (WA 238-9), whether they will review their policy of not disclosing the contents of discussions with other Governments. [HL4491]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): As I said in my response to the noble Lord on 12 May (Official Report, House of Lords, WA 180), it is a long-standing practice that the Government do not normally publish details of the
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Tourism: Holiday Lettings
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will meet representatives of the Holiday Cottages Group and Tourism Alliance to discuss the proposed changes to the furnished holiday lettings rules announced in the Budget in April. [HL4602]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The Government will be publishing draft legislation at the Pre-Budget report in the autumn, and will be happy to receive comments at that time.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposed changes to the furnished holiday lettings rules announced in the Budget in April will be revenue-neutral once the economic impact on rural tourism is taken into account. [HL4603]
Lord Myners: The net impact of the changes to the furnished holiday lettings rules on rural areas will be set out in the impact assessment, to be published alongside draft legislation at the Pre-Budget Report.
Transport: Pet Travel
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the operation of the Pet Travel Scheme to take account of animal welfare issues and in the light of any risk of the introduction of animal diseases not endemic in the United Kingdom. [HL4520]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Taking your pet abroad is a serious business and should not be undertaken lightly. Pet owners should always consult their vet before they think about taking their pet abroad so that they can get advice about how best to protect its health and welfare when it is travelling.
The Pet Travel Scheme does not lay down specific welfare requirements. However, the Animal Welfare Act (2006) does put a duty of care on pet owners. As part of that duty of care, animals should be given protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Pets travelling under the Pet Travel Scheme are required to be vaccinated against rabies and treated against ticks and tapeworms before they can enter or re-enter the UK. This protects the country against rabies and certain other non-endemic diseases of dogs and cats. These measures are designed to protect public as well as animal health.
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UK Independence Party
Questions
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 10 June (WA 151), whether the Security Service has been or is active inside or towards the United Kingdom Independence Party or any of its members. [HL4590]
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 10 June (WA 151), whether the security services or the police have collaborated or are collaborating with the European Anti-Fraud Office or any other organ of the European Union in relation to the United Kingdom Independence Party or any of its members. [HL4591]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Security Service has investigated or is engaged with the United Kingdom Independence Party. [HL4592]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The established policy of successive Governments is not to comment on questions about Security Service investigations.
The Security Service Act 1989 sets out its functions and prohibits it doing anything in furtherance of the interests of a political party. It does not investigate anyone for being a member of a campaigning organisation.
Police operations are a matter for the relevant chief officer who is under no duty to report such matters to the Government.
Waste Management: Refuse Collection
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the use of recycled plastics in the construction of wheeled bins for the collection of household, commercial and industrial waste. [HL4396]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Local Authorities are responsible for the procurement of wheeled bins and it is for them to specify the amount of recycled content used in the production, if appropriate.
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