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28 Oct 2009 : Column WA145
28 Oct 2009 : Column WA145
28 Oct 2009 : Column WA145
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Africa and Asia: Consular Services
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes are planned to consular services in countries in (a) Africa, and (b) Asia; and when those changes will be implemented. [HL5658]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s Passport Network Rationalisation Project was set up in May 2008 to deliver a more streamlined and efficient passport operation for British nationals abroad, to achieve immediate financial benefits to the FCO and to establish a sustainable operating platform for the future. In their 2006 report on consular services the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee recommended limiting passport production to fewer locations to increase security and reduce expenditure on new passport issuing systems and processes.
As part of this global initiative to rationalise passport services and reduce administration costs while ensuring that the quality of service to customers remains high we have rationalised our passport network in Southern Africa. Since July 2009, our High Commission in Pretoria has been issuing passports for British nationals in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In the majority of cases, passport applicants send their applications direct to our High Commission in Pretoria where the application is processed and returned via a courier company. As part of the Passport Network Rationalisation Project, we will be looking to create regional processing centres in other parts of Africa and in Asia in due course.
In both Asia and Africa we will continue to provide consular assistance to British nationals who face difficulties overseas, including the provision of emergency travel documentation. This continues to be a high priority for the FCO.
More generally, the distribution of consular resources is always subject to review in the light of changes in demand and financial constraints. However, we have no current plans to reduce our network of consular offices in Africa or Asia. Our longer term consular objectives will be set out in our 2010-13 strategy due to be published next year.
Agriculture: Higher Level Stewardship Scheme
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent higher-level stewardship schemes in relevant areas must or may require the maintenance or enhancement of public access to access land. [HL5790]
28 Oct 2009 : Column WA146
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): It is a requirement of environmental stewardship, a voluntary scheme, that all agreement holders must maintain public rights of way on their land and abide by relevant legislation. In addition, the higher level strand of environmental stewardship makes available a range of options for the provision of new permissive, linear, open and educational access. These options will be targeted according to local needs. No payments are made to provide open access on land designated as open access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. However, the scheme makes funding available for access on this land by users other than those on foot, for instance horse riders and the less mobile, and for providing links to areas of open access land where this land might be otherwise inaccessible.
Air Quality
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will produce estimates of deaths in 2009 due to poor air quality during summer smog episodes, as they did for 2003 and 2006. [HL5755]
Baroness Thornton: Estimates were done in 2003 and 2006 because there were major heat waves and associated large increases in air pollution in each of these years. These calculations are not routinely done in ordinary summers, so are not available for 2009.
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what dates in 2009 a Government minister has met the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, or his representatives, to discuss air quality related matters; and who was present at each meeting. [HL5814]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): There have been two meetings this year so far. The first, between Lord Hunt and the mayor on 22 January; the second, between Jim Fitzpatrick and the mayor on 3 August. Officials from Defra and the GLA were present at both meetings.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what new measures to improve air quality in Greater London have been agreed between the Government and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, in 2009; by how much each new measure agreed is expected to improve air quality; and in which year it is expected to do so. [HL5815]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Defra has not agreed new measures with the mayor but are pleased to see the publication of his draft air quality strategy. We are in discussion with the Greater London Authority to review the measures proposed in the draft.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to issuing legal directions to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to improve air quality in London under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2007 or other legal instruments. [HL5816]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Powers of direction exist, which are contained in Section 363 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, and allow Ministers to reverse a mayoral decision where policies for the devolved Government clash with national decision-making. The Secretary of State also has powers under Section 30 of the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2007, which allow him to direct the Mayor of London and the boroughs for the purposes of meeting the ambient air quality directive's air quality limit values in London.
The Government, however, would prefer to make progress through dialogue. To this end, we are working closely with the Greater London Authority to review the measures contained in the mayor's air quality strategy.
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to put the new European Union directive for ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe into legal effect in the United Kingdom; and how they intend to transpose it. [HL5859]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Directive 2008/501EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe must be transposed into national legislation by 10 June 2010.
Within the UK, air quality is a devolved matter. Defra is working with the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and with the Government of Gibraltar, to meet the transposition deadline.
We expect to consult shortly on draft regulations to transpose the directive in England. The devolved Administrations will be carrying out similar consultations in their respective countries.
Bats
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 5 October (WA 392), which Government department paid the £300,000 for the construction of two bridges for bats over the Dobwalls bypass in Cornwall; and what cost-benefit analysis was made of that project before it was undertaken. [HL5867]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): The Highways Agency paid for the two bat bridges over Dobwalls bypass as they are legally bound to protect endangered species such as bats.
Dobwalls bypass was subject to the department's normal cost benefit analyses at various stages throughout its design, preparation and construction. The benefit-cost ratio indicates that the project is high value for money.
28 Oct 2009 : Column WA148
Botswana: Clean Coal Technology
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in order to minimise greenhouse gas emissions, they will assist the Government of Botswana with clean coal technology expertise in its plan to become a net exporter of energy throughout southern Africa by exploiting the country's reserves of coal and coal methane gas. [HL5810]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has the potential to offer the only serious means of substantially reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel power and industrial sources.
This is why the UK Government have supported capacity building efforts in developing countries that will continue to rely on significant reserves of fossil fuels to meet their energy needs. These countries include China, India, Indonesia and South Africa. We are not at this stage looking to extend our support to Botswana, but hope it is able to draw on the expertise that is being built through the recently opened South Africa CCS Centre, to which the UK Government have contributed funding.
British Overseas Territories
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what rules and limitations they apply to British Overseas Territories wishing to borrow money to stimulate their domestic economies. [HL5612]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The Overseas Territories are responsible for their own public finances. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not accept any legal liability for borrowing undertaken by the Overseas Territories. However, we continue to seek involvement in Overseas Territories Governments' borrowing decisions in order to ensure the good governance of the territories. Explicit permission is required for borrowing when certain public finance guidelines have been breached. These guidelines relate to levels of debt and cash reserves.
Broadcasting: Equality
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they gave to the exclusion of the BBC from complying with the equality duties in the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Equality Act 2006. [HL5875]
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The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): In Government's opinion the output of the public sector broadcasters is not a public function and is therefore not subject to the equality duties in the Race Relations Act 1976 or the Sex Discrimination Act 1976, as amended by the Equality Act 2006.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration the Government Equalities Office took account of in excluding broadcasters from having to comply with the new single equality duty in respect of their broadcasting functions. [HL5876]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: In the Government's opinion, the output of the public sector broadcasters is not a public function.
In the interests of clarity we will ensure that the equality duty will not apply to the public sector broadcasters in respect of their broadcasting functions. It is long-standing government policy to respect the editorial independence of the broadcasters.
Buses
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority will have the powers under the Local Transport Act 2008 to introduce quality bus contracts. [HL5873]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): I refer my noble friend to the Answer given by Lord Faulkner of Worcester on 21 October 2009 (Official Report, col. 704).
Courts: Magistracy
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Lord Bach on 13 October (WS 21-22) concerning the possible closure of magistrates' courts, whether it is their long-term aim to abolish local magistrates' courts and the magistracy. [HL5709]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The Government are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to justice and that justice is provided locally. We need to ensure that we have a modern court estate that is properly aligned to where services are needed, that the estate is efficiently utilised and that courts have the necessary facilities for victims and witnesses and to allow proper access for court users with disabilities.
The Written Statement I made on 13 October was to announce consultations on the proposal to close 20 magistrates' courts that are underused and in many cases do not have adequate facilities for victims and witnesses; in addition a number of the buildings do not allow adequate access for disabled court users.
The Government have no ambition to abolish local magistrates' courts or the magistracy.
28 Oct 2009 : Column WA150
Cyprus: Property
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of Northern Cyprus having paid £32 million compensation to Greek Cypriots for their abandoned property in the North, whereas the government of Cyprus has paid no compensation to Turkish Cypriots for their abandoned property in the south which has since been compulsorily acquired; and what representations they have made to the government of Cyprus to pay reciprocal compensation in order to help reconciliation between the communities. [HL5902]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The Government have not made any assessment on representations to the Government of Cyprus about this matter, and maintain that only a comprehensive Cyprus settlement can fully address the complicated issue of property.
Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 8 May 2008 (WA 89-90), what information is provided to women who provide eggs that will be used in cloning research regarding the purposes of the research (as distinct from risks of ovarian hyperstimulation); whether specific consent is always obtained for that purpose; and whether the same information regarding the use to which donated cells may be put is always provided to those who donate tissue for research that may subsequently be used for cloning by nuclear transfer. [HL5715]
Baroness Thornton: It is a requirement of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended) that consent be obtained from gamete (egg and sperm) or cell donors before their egg, sperm or other cell may be used to create an embryo.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) sets minimum standards in the licence conditions R19 and R20 within Guidance Note 22 of the Code of Practice (8th ed.) with regard to the information which must be provided prior to consent being given. Compliance is monitored as part of the HFEA's regular, ongoing monitoring of clinics.
The Human Tissue Authority also sets out good practice in obtaining consent for the storage and use of human tissue for research purposes-including guidance on the provision of appropriate information-in its Code of Practice on Consent.
The actual information provided to individuals donating eggs or cells for research purposes varies according to the individual research project concerned.
28 Oct 2009 : Column WA151
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 21 January 2008 (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 46-47), what steps have been taken by UK Biobank to re-consent its participants regarding the creation of cloned human embryos and human admixed embryos where it is not considered by the UK Biobank Ethics and Governance Council to be clearly ruled out in the broad consent model; and what information is provided to UK Biobank participants regarding the potential use of their donated tissue to create cloned human embryos and human admixed embryos. [HL5716]
Baroness Thornton: UK Biobank has not received and does not at present expect to receive any application to use the samples it holds for the purpose of creating cloned human embryos or human admix embryos.
UK Biobank participants provide blood and urine samples for long-term storage and analysis. They give their consent for analyses of their data and samples that will meet the goals of UK Biobank to improve the health of future generations. A robust system is in place to ensure that the resource is used only for its stated goals and only in ways that meet with the consent given by participants.
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