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Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what communication the Northern Ireland Office had with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission during January 2010; and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of any correspondence between them. [HL2113]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: All ministerial and official letters between the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) in January 2010 will be placed in the Library of the House.
letter dated 2 January 2010 from Paul Goggins to the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) in relation to concerns about taking forward plans for the building of a new women's prison and budgetary provision in respect of women offenders;letter dated 6 January 2010 from Paul Goggins to the Chief Commissioner of the NIHRC responding to an invitation to attend a seminar on human trafficking in Northern Ireland;4 Mar 2010 : Column WA383
Oyster Farming: Licences
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government who is responsible for ensuring that an environmental impact assessment is obtained before a licence can be granted for the cultivation of pacific oysters on underwater trestles in a special area of conservation at Tremerlin Cove, in the Helford River, Cornwall; whether such a licence is required before such a development can take place; and how many licences for that purpose have been granted in that area in the last ten years. [HL2342]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): In addition to any permission needed from the landowner, the placement of trestles for oyster cultivation in Tremerlin Cove in the Helford River would need the consent of Natural England, if the trestles were to be situated in that area of the cove notified as a site of special scientific interest. Such consent would be needed under the provisions of Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. NE has not granted any such consent in the past 10 years, but has taken action to ensure the removal of trestles (for the cultivation of oysters) which were placed within the SSSI without consent.
The Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) also exercises controls which may apply to works associated with shellfish cultivation. The MFA's consent is required, pursuant to Section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949 (CPA), for the deposit of objects or materials on any part of the seashore within the SAC lying below mean high water springs and the removal of objects or materials on any part of the seashore lying below mean low water springs, if the operation causes or is likely to result in obstruction or danger to navigation. Section 35 of the CPA contains exceptions to these requirements. The MFA has not granted any consent for the placement of trestles at Tremerlin Cove in the past 10 years. It is currently considering an application under the CPA for the placement of sub-tidal cages in a different area of the river.
It is for the consenting authority to consider whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required for any development proposal, under domestic legislation implementing the EIA directive, where that legislation is applicable. It is also for the consenting authority to consider whether to undertake any appropriate assessment required under the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 (as amended), which implement the EU Habitats Directive in Great Britain.
4 Mar 2010 : Column WA384
Palestine
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what conclusions they draw from the recent closure by the Palestinian Authority of the Jerusalem Centre for Photography in Jenin, the Zakat Hospital in Tulkarem, the Prosthesis Factory in Qalqilia, the Islamic Relief for Care of Orphans in Tubas and Salfeit, the Nafha Society for Defence of Prisoners and Human Rights in Naablus, the School for Deaf Children in Ramullah, the Christian Wafa Charity Society in Bethlehem, and the Al-Aqsa School for Orphans in Hebron; whether they are making representations to the Palestinian Authority, to Israel as the occupying power, and to the Government of the United States on these matters; and what have been the consequences of the closures for Palestinian employment. [HL2178]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): We are not aware of such recent closures. Since the take-over of Gaza by Hamas in 2007, there have been a number of closures of politically affiliated civil society organisations in both Gaza and the West Bank. We are concerned where such closures have a direct impact on services provided to vulnerable members of the community and no alternative is provided. We continue to encourage Palestinian national reconciliation on terms acceptable to the international community.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received evidence that teachers and other state employees have been dismissed by the Palestinian Authority because of suspicions provided by the General Intelligence Agency and the Preventive Security Force. [HL2181]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We are aware that some state employees have been dismissed by the Palestinian Authority following the take-over of Gaza by Hamas. Some of these cases are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings in the Palestinian courts.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received evidence of the use of excessive force when the Palestinian Authority recently closed many charitable and voluntary organisations in the West Bank; what was the consequent damage to property and premises; and what is to happen to the assets of closed organisations. [HL2182]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We have not received any evidence of excessive force used by the Palestinian Authority towards non-governmental organisations in the West Bank.
4 Mar 2010 : Column WA385
Passports
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be a co-ordinated European Union demarche to the government of Israel concerning the six British, five Irish, one French and one German passports alleged to have been stolen, forged and otherwise abused in relation to Dubai in January. [HL2227]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The UK fully supports the EU statement, issued on 20 January, which strongly condemns the use of EU member states' passports and credit cards acquired through the theft of EU citizens' identities. We welcome the investigation by the Dubai authorities and call on all countries to cooperate with it. We, along with the other countries concerned, are carrying out full investigations into the fraudulent use of their passports.
Primary Care Trusts: Finance
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money was allocated to each primary care trust in Greater Manchester for carers' breaks in the financial year 2008-09; and how much each primary care trust spent from this allocation on carers' breaks. [HL2258]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Thornton): The National Carers Strategy, Carers at the Heart of 21st Century Families and Communities, identified the funding that was available within primary care trust (PCT) baselines to improve support for carers. It announced that £150 million would be given to PCTs to provide carers' breaks (£50 million in 2009-10 and £100 million in 2010-11). Although this is new money, it is part of PCT baseline allocations and PCTs have not been advised of individual sums for carers' breaks. It is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally, taking into account their local circumstances and priorities as set out in the National Health Service operating framework.
Department directors of NHS Performance and Adult Social Care Performance have written to strategic health authorities to identify where PCTs have agreed with their local authority to prioritise carers' support for the current year, and those that are likely to prioritise it for the next year. This information will help ensure that the department has a rounded picture when considering the priority afforded to carers in future planning rounds. The department has ensured that the NHS operating framework for 2010-11 brings out the role carers can make as expert partners in care, as well as the need to provide support for them. This includes the provision of carers' breaks.
4 Mar 2010 : Column WA386
Prisoners: Foreign Nationals
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foreign national prisoners are currently serving sentences in United Kingdom prisons. [HL2141]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average length of sentence for foreign national prisoners currently serving sentences in United Kingdom prisons. [HL2142]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): At the end of June 2009 there were 7,502 foreign national prisoners (FNPs) serving sentences in all prison establishments in England and Wales.
The following table gives the average sentence length by sentence length band for all FNPs serving determinate sentences within prison establishments in England and Wales as at the end of June 2009:
| Sentence length bands | Average length in months |
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009
Questions
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government with regard to Schedule 4 to the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/3103), which local authorities are expected to have to register (a) more than 1,000, (b) 500 to 1,000, (c) 201 to 500, and (d) 101 to 200 private supplies of water. [HL2267]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Historical summary information provided to the Drinking Water Inspectorate by local authorities in relation to their duties under the Private Water Supply Regulations 1991 was published in July 2009 in Drinking Water 2008, the inspectorate's annual report. This summary information is the best available indication at the present time of the number of private supplies in England that are expected to fall within the scope of the Schedule 4 records of the Private Supply Regulations 2009.
| Number of private water supplies | Number of local authorities |
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government with regard to the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/3103), whether the regulations cover the constituents of slug pellets, for instance metaldehydes. [HL2268]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Private Water Supplies Regulations transpose into national law European drinking water standards laid down in the 1998 Drinking Water Directive. This includes two pesticide standards: individual and total pesticides. Metaldehyde is the active ingredient in some of the products sold as slug pellets. Therefore it falls within the scope of Schedule 2 Part 2 Audit Monitoring.
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government with regard to Schedule 2 to the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/3103), how many private sources of water supply there are of (a) more than 16,000, (b) 10,000 to 15,999, and (c) 6,000 to 9999 cubic metres a day. [HL2269]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Historical summary information provided to the Drinking Water Inspectorate by local authorities in England in relation to their duties under the Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991 was published in July 2009 in Drinking Water 2008, the inspectorate's annual report. This summary information is the best available indication at the present time of the number of private supplies that are expected to fall within the scope of the Schedule 4 records of the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009.
| Local authority | Number of supplies supplying >1000m per day |
Rwanda
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2 February (WA 30-1) stating that Rwanda's bid to join the Commonwealth had been discussed publicly, whether any of those discussions took place in either House of Parliament. [HL2101]
4 Mar 2010 : Column WA388
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): UK support for Rwanda's accession has been discussed in Parliament, including by former Foreign and Commonwealth Minister Meg Munn on 20 March 2008. My previous Answers to the noble Lord have stated that it is not the practice to ratify decisions taken unanimously by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in national parliaments, including that of the UK.
UN: Treaties
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Dublin Statement on the process of strengthening the United Nations treaty body system; and whether they will take steps to implement its proposals. [HL2121]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The Government welcome the Dublin Statement and commend the initiative of those current and former members of treaty bodies for having produced it. We have long recognised that the treaty body system would profit from strengthening to render it more efficient and effective. This has become more important as the work of the treaty bodies has grown with new instruments and increased ratifications. We are looking at how to follow up on this valuable initiative and have discussed it with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasising our support for the continued work of the treaty bodies and their independence.
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