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29 Mar 2010 : Column WA331
29 Mar 2010 : Column WA331
29 Mar 2010 : Column WA331
Monday 29 March 2010
Agriculture: Cattle Emissions
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government why it took 15 months to publish the data for 2007 in Indicator 6.1.2 (greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture) in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' autumn performance report 2009; and why the data for 2008 will not be available before April 2010. [HL3051]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Indicator 6.1.2 on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture is compiled using statistics from the set of environmental accounts published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which in turn use statistics from the greenhouse gas inventory now published by DECC. The 2007 environmental accounts were published by the ONS in July 2009 and these were then used to update indicator 6.1.2 published in the 2009 autumn performance report in line with previous years. The 2008 data are expected to be available in the summer of 2010 and will be used to update the indicator within the 2010 autumn performance report.
The complex nature of the calculations for both the inventory and the environmental accounts and the timing by which the variety of data sources used in their compilation become available leads to an inevitable delay before indicator 6.1.2 can be published. But we will continue to look for ways to improve the timeliness of the publication of this indicator without compromising its accuracy.
Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government which genetically modified products approved and marketed bring benefits to consumers in terms of taste, nutrition, cost and shelf life; and what assessment they have made of the effect of marketed genetically modified crops on production costs, choice of seeds for growers, yields, pesticide use and weed resistance. [HL2865]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): Current genetically modified (GM) products approved for food and feed use in the European Union (EU) are not intended to provide benefits directly for consumers. They are mainly products made from GM crops which are designed to make
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Defra is aware of various published reports on the impact of GM crop cultivation in other countries. The reported impacts can vary according to the specific type of crop involved and the country or region of use. In addition, outcomes may fluctuate over time, and the range of evidence available on a given impact may not cover a consistent period.
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 8 March (WA 12), whether there was discussion about the scientific evidence of proposed authorisations for genetically modified products in the Council of Ministers. [HL2899]
Lord Davies of Oldham: There is not normally a substantive discussion when votes are taken in the Council of Ministers on proposed authorisations for genetically modified (GM) products. Any issues about the scientific evidence relating to a specific product are usually raised at an earlier stage in the EU assessment process, before a decision is referred to the council. Scientific questions concerning GM food and feed applications under Regulation (EC) No.1829/2003 can be raised at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, and for applications made under the GMO Deliberate Release Directive 2001/18/EC, at the associated Regulatory Committee. The position taken by the UK on GM applications is informed by the expert scientific advice provided by the European Food Safety Authority and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.
Agriculture: Maps
Questions
Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many original maps were submitted in each month for the Rural Payments Agency's (RPA) remapping exercise; how many maps have been confirmed by the RPA in each month; how many maps have been amended; how many have been returned in each month; and how many have yet to be returned from each month of submission. [HL2913]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): The number of maps that the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed, amended and returned and those still outstanding, are shown in the table below.
| Week Ending | 4/9/2009 | 21/10/2009 | 30/10/2009 | 27/11/2009 | 18/12/2009 | 29/1/2010 | 26/2/2010 | 19/13/2010 |
* The number of maps accepted by customers includes customers who did not respond after several reminders and were therefore deemed to have accepted by default.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are taken, when the Rural Payments Agency reduces a farmer's landholding, having sent him a final map, to compare the new map with the old map. [HL3007]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Rural Land Register has been using base data from Ordnance Survey 2001 Mastermap. The Rural Payments Agency has been updating this with the 2008 version and using this information, along with aerial photography, to identify changes to land and features ineligible for the single payment scheme.
The maps sent to farmers show field parcel sizes so farmers can compare the new map information with the old maps they held previously and can see any increase or decrease in field size.
Anglo-US Defence Trade Treaty
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (a) the government of the United States, and (b) members of the United States Congress, about the ratification in the United States of the United Kingdom-United States Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty which was ratified in the United Kingdom in early 2008. [HL2995]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Her Majesty's Government discusses the UK-US Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty frequently with all levels of the US Government. Ratification of the treaty still awaits the approval of the US Senate, and the UK has also ensured that Members of the Senate are aware of the benefits the treaty brings to both nations in operational and industrial terms.
Armed Forces: Aircraft
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they have spent on developing and procuring all confirmed orders for Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the Royal Air Force; and how much they have committed to spend on those orders. [HL2939]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): As published in the Major Projects Report 2009 (MPR09), the cost of the Typhoon demonstration and manufacture phase is £17.526 billion. This covers the main development contract, tranche 1 and tranche 2. The tranche 3A cost is subject to validation by the National Audit Office and will be reported formally in MPR 10.
Armed Forces: Medals
Question
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to adding a bar to service medals to recognise repeated tours of duty in an area of conflict for which a medal is awarded. [HL2986]
The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The accumulated campaign service medal was instituted for aggregated service and repeat tours of duty for those locations anywhere where a campaign medal is awarded.
We believe this is the most appropriate way to recognise repeat tours of duty, and so there are no plans to consider adding a bar to service medals.
Armed Forces: Reserve Forces
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what training obligations there are on members of Her Majesty's reserve forces; and how many have undertaken them in the past 12 months. [HL2731]
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The Minister for International Defence and Security (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): In order to qualify for an annual bounty, a tax-free, lump-sum bonus of up to £1,621 for meeting the training commitment, volunteer reservists are required to undertake a minimum 27 days training per annum, or 19 days for some specialist units.
Between 1 March 2009 and 1 March 2010, 20,470 volunteer reservists, excluding members of university units, received an annual bounty. This represents 61 per cent of all volunteer reservists, excluding members of university units-a level that has been stable for the past 20 years.
Members of the regular reserve currently have various training obligations according to service and status under the Reserve Forces Act 1996. In practice, these have not been applied since the end of the Cold War, although voluntary training may be undertaken. In 2009, 30 individuals received the ex-regular and other ranks training bounty of £369 for undertaking annual specialist military training of 5-10 days.
Asylum Seekers
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Case Resolution Directorate of the UK Border Agency is processing asylum cases in order of the person's arrival in the United Kingdom; and, if not, how the directorate decides on their priority. [HL2909]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Case Resolution Directorate (CRD) does not process outstanding asylum legacy cases in order of the person's arrival in the United Kingdom. As set out in the Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate review of July 2006, command paper reference 275921, CRD prioritises those individuals who may pose a risk to the public, are receiving support from the agency, and those who can more easily be removed or where it is likely that the decision will be made to allow them to remain in the United Kingdom.
All cases will be dealt with on their own individual merits and in accordance with these priorities.
To ask Her Majesty's Government following the recent Human Rights Watch report Fast-Tracked Unfairness: Detention and Denial of Women Asylum Seekers in the UK, whether they will ensure that people with complex claims are not included in the fast-track asylum procedure; and whether complex gender-related persecution claims will be excluded from that procedure. [HL3047]
Lord West of Spithead: No asylum seeker whose case is considered to be complex would be processed in the detained fast-track procedure, irrespective of the basis of their claim.
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Benefits
Questions
Asked by Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the percentage of new employment and support allowance applicants expected to fail to qualify for supported benefit who we status under the work capability assessment and who will be directed to claim jobseeker's allowance instead. [HL2880]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of current employment and support allowance claimants who fail to qualify for supported benefit status under the work capability assessment are being advised to claim jobseeker's allowance instead. [HL2881]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The department estimated that around 50 per cent of people found fit for work by the work capability assessment for employment and support allowance claims would subsequently move to jobseeker's allowance. Information on the percentage of current employment and support allowance claimants who fail to qualify for supported benefit status and are being advised to claim jobseeker's allowance not and currently available.
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