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Science and Innovation White Paper
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to publish a White Paper on science and innovation.[HL3619]
The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): I am today publishing the White Paper Excellence and Opportunity, a science and innovation policy for the 21st century. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Circle Line Suspensions
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list those days during the year 2000 to date when services on the Circle Line of London Underground have been interrupted or suspended for more than a one-hour period, indicating the cause of the interruption, or suspended for more than a one-hour period, indicating the cause of the interruption or suspension in each case.[HL3541]
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): This is an operational matter for London Underground which has supplied details of suspensions due to recordable incidents of more than one hour on the Circle Line as set out in the table below.
| Date | Location | Cause |
| 19.1.00 | Edgware Road sidings | Train derailment |
| 20.1.00 | Aldgate East/Tower Hill | Blockjoint earthing on track |
| 20.1.00 | Baker Street/Edgware Road | Asset damaged |
| 26.1.00 | Baker Street | Computer system failure |
| 7.2.00 | Edgware Road/Paddington | Infrastructure damaged |
| 10.2.00 | Edgware Road | Train derailment |
| 13.2.00 | Aldgate | Train derailment |
| 8.3.00 | Aldgate | Train derailment |
| 10.3.00 | Aldgate/Liverpool St. | Computer system failure |
| 21.3.00 | Aldgate/Liverpool St. | Points failure |
| 23.3.00 | Blackfriars/Temple | Flooding |
| 29.3.00 | Aldgate/Liverpool St. | Track circuit failure |
| 30.3.00 | S. Ken/Gloucester Road | Track circuit failure |
| 1.4.00 | Gloucester Road | Signal problems |
| 7.4.00 | Gt. Portland St. | Train stalled |
| 9.4.00 | Aldgate/Liverpool St. | Points failure |
| 13.4.00 | Aldgate/Liverpool St. | Points failure |
| 4.5.00 | Moorgate/Barbican | Track circuit failure |
| 15.5.00 | Aldgate | Track circuit failure |
| 17.5.00 | Edgware Rd. | Possession overrun |
| 4.6.00 | Edgware Rd. | Police request |
| 26.6.00 | Westminster/St. James's Park | Track circuit failure |
Note: Recorded incidents exclude suspensions when a decision has been made to withdraw services to enable through services to keep running.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Circle Line, like other parts of the Underground, has suffered historic under-investment. We are aware that the service provided on the Circle Line has encountered problems arising from this under-investment but are satisfied that these problems are in the process of being rectified in the short term. In the medium and long term problems such as this will be resolved by the large-scale investment that will be drawn into the system by the public/private partnership.
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty): As a result of existing levels of emissions, all countries will need to adapt to the effects of climate change. The UK is playing an active part in discussions about adaptation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. At present, the priority for most countries is to assess their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and to begin preparing for adaptation. Funding is available for these purposes through the Global Environment Facility. Further funds for adaptation will become available from the clean development mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol. The Government are also encouraging developing countries to take into account climate change impacts when considering their future development needs.
The Government believe that developed countries should take the lead in taking action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Programmes are likely to provide for more sustainable use of energy resources, research and investment into low carbon technologies, development of renewable sources of energy and the introduction of fiscal incentives that encourage people and organisations to be more energy efficient. Policies like these will have a significant role to play in any long-term response to climate change and were included in the UK's draft climate change programme which was published in March 2000. The final programme will be published later this year.
Lord Carlile of Berriew asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: The Government have been investigating concerns about access to water for canoeists and others. We expect to make an announcement shortly on the next steps following a meeting in May with a range of interest groups, including boaters, anglers and landowners.
We are already promoting greater voluntary access for canoeists. The Environment Agency, in consultation with the angling and canoeing liaison group, has published a guide to developing voluntary agreements. We have issued a code of practice on conservation, access and recreation for the Environment Agency and for water and sewerage companies.
Viscount Simon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: The Highways Agency is keen to ensure that any changes to abnormal load movement procedures on the trunk road network do not disadvantage the safety and free flow of traffic on the network. The agency responded to the Home Office's consultation in January 1999 concerning the use of private escorts, supporting the principle. However it pointed out that suitable arrangements would need to be made where it would be necessary to switch from private to police escorts, most noticeably at motorway interchanges.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: The application of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to farm scale evaluation of genetically modified crops would depend upon whether the use of agricultural land for such evaluations would involve a "material change of use" constituting development for the purpose of that legislation. This would involve the consideration of a
The Government are unable to give an authoritative interpretation of the legislation, this being a matter for the courts.
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government;
Lord Whitty: I refer my noble friend to the reply given by my noble and learned friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton) on Monday 24 July, (Official Report, Col. WA 16).
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: I refer my noble friend to the reply given by my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 July at Cols. WA 15-16. The Government Car and Despatch Agency is operated by the Cabinet Office on behalf of all government departments.
Whether they are satisfied that London Underground is providing a satisfactory service on the Circle Line; and, if not, what action they propose to take to see that it is improved. [HL3542]
What are their long-term plans for a co-ordinated approach to combating the globally adverse economic and social effects of existing levels of carbon emissions; and whether taxation policies, investment in energy conservation, effective encouragement of renewable energy resources and support for research into the conversion of solar radiation into electricity will be part of such plans. [HL3373]
Whether they have any proposals to improve and define the availability of access to rivers and canals for bona fide canoeists, including members of canoeing clubs and of educational courses.[HL3509]
What progress the Highways Agency has made in its study to identify the legal, fiscal and institutional issues involved in making changes to abnormal load movement procedures on the trunk road network.[HL3532]
Whether there are any circumstances in which the use of agricultural land for farm scale evaluation would require planning permission from the relevant local authority.[HL3497]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6 July (WA 148) which cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency are for the use of Ministers and senior officials in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; and what is the number, type and make of each vehicle.[HL3384]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 19 June (WA 11-14), which cars are supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency for the use of Ministers and senior officials; and whether they will list them by number, type and make.[HL3313]
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