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5 Oct 2009 : Column WA457
Answers received between Monday 14 September and Monday 21 September 2009
Abortion
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in file MH 55/2377 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill 1961: drafts and papers; later Parliamentary questions. [HL5412]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in file MH 156/19 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill: correspondence with Home Office and other bodies. [HL5413]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in file MH 55/1631 Abortion Bills 1952 and 1954. [HL5414]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in file HO 291/1594 Abortion Bill introduced by Lord Silkin: consideration of policy. [HL5415]
Baroness Thornton: These files have been selected for retention at the National Archives. Information on how to view the files can be found at: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in (a) file MH 156/16 Abortion Bill: correspondence with Home Office; (b) file MH 156/17 Abortion Bill: correspondence with Home Office; and (c) file 156/18 Abortion Bill: correspondence with Home Office. [HL5416]
Baroness Thornton: These files have been selected for retention at the National Archives. Information on how to view the files can be found at: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Afghanistan: Fatalities
Question
Asked by Lord Wright of Richmond
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 16 July (WA 245), what are the statistics, as at 13 July, of the fatalities suffered by the United Kingdom's allies and partners in Afghanistan. [HL5231]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): We do not comment on fatalities and casualties suffered by other nations, which are matters for the countries concerned.
5 Oct 2009 : Column WA458
Afghanistan: Interpreters
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many interpreters have been (a) killed, and (b) seriously wounded, while working with United Kingdom forces in Afghanistan. [HL5391]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Since 2007, 12 interpreters have been killed while working with United Kingdom forces in Afghanistan.
Information on interpreters who have been seriously wounded while working with United Kingdom forces in Afghanistan is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Agriculture: Disinfectant Tests
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 June (WA 101), whether the rise in the charge for disinfectant tests for foot and mouth disease and swine vesicular disease reflects an anticipated increase in the number of those tests that will be required in 2009 and 2010; and whether any part of the rise represents an element of cost recovery from the outbreak at Pirbright laboratory in 2007. [HL5398]
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 June (WA 101), whether, if the number of disinfectant tests for foot and mouth disease and swine vesicular disease in 2009 and 2010 does not reach the level estimated by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Institute of Animal Health, the charge for the tests will be reduced. [HL5399]
Lord Tunnicliffe: Disinfectants testing carried out at the Institute for Animal Health for foot and mouth disease and swine vesicular disease must operate at full cost recovery. Each year estimates of costs are made using the average actual throughput from previous years in order to be able to work out the cost for individual tests. The disinfectants test charges do not contain any element of cost recovery from the outbreak at Pirbright laboratory in 2007.
The costs of disinfectants testing operate on an economy of scale, so the costs could only be reduced in the future if there were more, not less, tests requested.
Air Quality
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they are seeking a time extension from the European Union for complying with European Union limiting values for particulate matter 10 and nitrogen dioxide in London. [HL5354]
5 Oct 2009 : Column WA459
Lord Tunnicliffe: EU air quality limits are already met across 99 per cent of the UK (land area). For the very small parts of the UK where limit values are not yet met, roadside locations in our most densely populated urban areas, including London, present the greatest challenge. Right across the EU, new vehicle engine standards have not delivered improvements as quickly as was anticipated. Furthermore, our understanding of the way in which emissions relate to measured concentrations of air pollutants has developed, showing that earlier projections for improvement were over estimated. For these, and other possible reasons which are currently being investigated, ambient air quality concentrations have not fallen in line with emission reductions.
Therefore, the UK, like most other member states, is using the provisions under Directive 2008/50/EC on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe to secure from the European Commission the additional time available to meet the limit values for particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The additional time will enable current and planned measures to take effect. Subject to agreement by the European Commission, the directive permits an extension for PM10 to 2011, and for NO2 postponement of the attainment date to 2015.
To ask Her Majesty's Government which local authorities in Greater London are in breach of the requirement to declare an Air Quality Management Area for all places within their area where European Union limit values for any particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide or other named regulated air pollutants are not likely to be achieved. [HL5358]
Lord Tunnicliffe: Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 requires local authorities to review and assess the current, and likely future, air quality in their areas. Where a local authority considers that one or more of the air quality objectives, as prescribed in regulations, is unlikely to be met by the required date, it must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) covering the area where the problem is expected. It must then draw up an action plan setting out the measures it intends to take in pursuit of the air quality objectives in the area.
A list of those Greater London boroughs that have declared an AQMA, including details of the pollutants concerned, is shown below. A full list of UK AQMAs is available from the UK Air Quality Archive at www.airquality.co.uk.
Alternative Investment Fund Managers
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have conducted an impact assessment on the implications for the British pensions industry and British pensioners of the European Commission's proposed Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers. [HL5448]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners):The Financial Services Authority has commissioned research on the proposed directive from an external consultancy. Their aim is to quantify the impact, the implications for markets and investors, and the potential costs and benefits across the EU. This report should be published later this year.
However, the actual costs will depend on the final legislation, which is likely to differ substantially from the Commission's draft. The Government will take into account this and other information on the potential impact of the directive in our negotiations.
Armed Forces: War Pensions
Question
Asked by Lord Morris of Manchester
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people over the age of retirement are in receipt of the Unemployability Supplement from the War Pension Scheme; and how many such people were in receipt of it on 31 March 2006. [HL5367]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): As at 30 June 2009 there were 4,400 disablement pensioners over retirement age (65 for men and 60 for women) receiving an ongoing war pension and unemployability supplement under the War Pension Scheme. Of these 3,825 were also receiving an ongoing war pension and unemployability supplement as at 31 March 2006. These figures are rounded to the nearest five.
Table 1: Disablement Pensioners receiving an ongoing war pension and unemployability supplement as at 30 June 2009 and 31 March 2006
| Age Group | In receipt 30/06/09 | In receipt 31/03/06 and 30/06/09 |
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