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Somalia
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any evidence that either Eritrea or Ethiopia is supplying arms and equipment to Somalia.[HL8073]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We are aware of reports that various countries in the region have sent military support to the opposing sides in Somalia in breach of the UN arms embargo on that country. With our partners on the UN Security Council, we continue to urge all parties inside and outside Somalia to refrain from action that could provoke violence, to respect the UN arms embargo on Somalia and to pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
Turkey: Cypriot Ships and Aircraft
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their assessment of the prospect of Turkey acceding to the official European Union request to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and aircraft.[HL8006]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The European Community and its member states made clear on 21 September 2005 that they,
- “expect full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol, and the removal of all obstacles to the free movement of goods”,
This evaluation is yet to be published. The Government continue to urge the Turkish authorities to implement the protocol.
Venice Biennale: British Pavilion
Lord Carlile of Berriew asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much public money was spent on the funding of the British Pavilion at the current Venice architectural biennale; and what is their assessment of its effectiveness as a showcase for contemporary British architecture.[HL8035]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The British Council has owned and managed the
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The Venice biennale of architecture is the world's most important discussion platform for contemporary architecture and urban design and is a highly effective way of showcasing the best of UK architecture. This is reflected in the growing numbers of visitors and international media coverage received. In 2004, 115,000 people visited the architecture biennale—an increase of 11 per cent on the previous event in 2002. We expect this will rise to 140,000 people in 2006.
Water Management: S&T Report
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to paragraph 8.52 of their response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee report, Water Management (8th Report, HL Paper 191—I), whether the consultation on the United Kingdom Technical Advisory Group's proposals has been completed; and when they will respond to the consultation.[HL7800]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The UK Technical Advisory Group on the Water Framework Directive (UKTAG) has completed the stakeholder review of the first tranche of standards referred to in the government response to the Science and Technology Select Committee report, and published its final report and response to stakeholders on its website (www.wfduk.org/).
Defra is in the process of preparing a public consultation on the standards and conditions recommended by UKTAG. Defra is also preparing a partial regulatory impact assessment on the potential benefits and costs of these standards if they were used by the Environment Agency in assessing the status of bodies of water and setting environmental objectives in England.
Water Supply: Catchment Abstraction Management
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 25 July (WA 256), how many further catchment abstraction management strategies have now been completed; and whether the analysis by assessment points supports the earlier finding concerning over-licensing and over-abstracting.[HL7972]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Environment Agency had completed 74 out of a total of 119 catchment
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Waterways: Rivers
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will include the whole of the river network in England and Wales within the catchment boundaries under the European Union Water Framework Directive; and [HL7888]
Whether they support the recommendation from Natural England that an additional 129 sites of special scientific interest and 149 biodiversity action plan sites should be characterised as “water bodies” under the European Union Water Framework Directive.[HL7889]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Environment Agency identified water bodies in accordance with the European Union Water Framework Directive and these were described within the Article 5 characterisation reports relating to England and Wales, which were submitted to the European Commission in March 2005.
To coincide with the publication of those reports, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government undertook to consider further whether additional waters of biodiversity significance should be identified as water bodies under the directive.
The department is currently considering a paper submitted, in August, jointly by Natural England and the Environment Agency containing recommendations relating to waters of biodiversity significance and the identification of the entire river network in England.
In Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government set out their policy on the consideration of small water bodies within the river basin planning guidance they gave to the Environment Agency in August, under Regulation 20 of The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003. The guidance sought to encourage a collaborative approach between the agency and Countryside Council for Wales to ensure a joined-up approach to conservation.
The department also set out within its river basin planning guidance to the Environment Agency, in August, that the river basin planning process in England should take into account the objectives of relevant nature conservation designations and plans, for example, sites of special scientific interest and UK biodiversity action plan (UKBAP) habitat and species plans.
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