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Written Answers
Tuesday, 16th October 2001.
Police Complaints Authority
Lord Clark of Windermere asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When will they announce new appointments to the Police Complaints Authority.[HL812]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): My right honourable friend the Minister of State,
Mr Denham, has appointed five new full-time members to the Police Complaints Authority. Their appointments will be for three years. The five new members are:
| Name | Start Date | Previous Position |
| Jennifer Rogers | 3 September 2001 | Mental Health Act Commissioner, Mental Health Review Tribunal, ICIS (Independent Consultants in Health and Social Services) Associate |
| Nicola Williams | 3 September 2001 | Barrister |
| Elaine Rassaby (part time) | 3 September 2001 | Mental Health Act Commissioner, OFSTED Complaints Adjudicator, Member of Criminal Injuries Compensation Panel |
| Sally Hawkins (part time) | 3 September 2001 | Freelance writer and broadcaster, council ombudsman, Director of Banking Codes Standards Board, Non Executive Director of University College Hospital Lewisham, Justice of the Police |
| Ann Barker | 3 December 2001 | Historian, Member of the Parole Board, Justice of the Peace |
Limited Liability Partnerships
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why a limited partnership whose registered office is in England must declare that it is in "England and Wales", whereas limited partnerships whose registered office is in Wales or Scotland merely have to declare that they are in Wales or Scotland respectively.[HL751]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): A limited partnership (formed under the Limited Partnerships Act 1907) is a partnership and is not required by statute to have a registered office. A limited liability partnership (LLP) (formed under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000) is a body
corporate and is required by statute to have a registered office. As part of the incorporation process, a limited liability partnership must declare that it has a registered office in either England and Wales, Wales or Scotland. This requirement reflects that imposed upon companies by the Companies Act 1985.Historically, a company should choose to incorporate either in England and Wales or in Scotland. The Welsh Language Act 1993 enabled a company to submit its documentation in Welsh alone if it declared that its registered office was to be in Wales. The practical significance of this is that a company registered in Wales cannot move its registered office to England. A company with its registered office in England and Wales may move its registered office to any location in England or Wales but not to Scotland. The requirements for an LLP simply follow this.
Opposition Parties: Costing of Policies
Lord Newby asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why completed costings of policies of opposition parties are filed on the Cabinet Office's Panagon system under folders relating to special advisers.[HL701]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Panagon, an electronic document management system for filing corporate information electronically, is not used by the Cabinet Office, though it is by the Treasury. The Treasury, in common with other government departments, files paper and electronic documents in a variety of places.
The arrangements whereby departments make costings of Opposition policies are of long standing and are conducted in accordance with the guidelines set out by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 11 December 2000 (House of Commons Official Report, cols 45-46W).
Northern Ireland: Illegal Sale of Diesel and Petrol
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much of their revenue is lost annually by the illegal selling of diesel and petrol in Northern Ireland; and how many people have been charged during the last 12 months in connection with such trade.[HL737]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Customs has no estimate of the specific revenue loss from the illegal sale of diesel and petrol in Northern Ireland. In September 2000 Customs increased fourfold the resources devoted to tackling oils fraud in Northern Ireland. In the year to end September 2001 Customs charged one individual in connection with the illegal selling of diesel and petrol. During 2000-01 Customs, through its enhanced enforcement efforts doubled the volume of illicit fuel seized; tripled the number of vehicles seized; and increased fivefold the number of laundering plants broken up.
Foot and Mouth: Assistance to the Countryside
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What allocations have been made from the Social Fund Contingency Reserve to meet costs arising from the epidemic of foot and mouth disease.[HL773]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Treasury does not maintain a Social Fund Contingency Reserve. However, in addition to aid in excess of £1 billion paid to farmers affected by the outbreak so far, the Government have put in place several measures to help the countryside recover from foot and mouth disease including deferral of tax, VAT and national insurance contributions, which has helped over 20,000 businesses; establishment of a £50 million Business Recovery Fund; establishment of a rate relief scheme covering affected areas; and establishment of a matched funding scheme for charitable donations.
The Government have also made additional lending available through the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme.
Snaefell Mountain: Suspected Light Aircraft Crash
Lord Hill-Norton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their response to the allegation that on 14 January 2001 an unidentified object struck the communications mast at the summit of Snaefell Mountain on the Isle of Man.[HL731]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): In the early hours of 14 January, and in daylight on 15 January 2001, a military search and rescue helicopter from RAF Valley conducted a comprehensive search of the area around Snaefell Mountain following a report of a suspected light aircraft crash. However, nothing was found as a result of the search.
Northern Ireland: UFO Crash Report
Lord Hill-Norton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What search operation took place following reports of the crash of an unidentified object in Northern Ireland on 13 February 2001.[HL732]
Lord Bach: Following reports of smoke being seen on Benaughlin Mountain, near Kinawley, on the afternoon of 13 February 2001, police and troops conducted a search of the area, assisted by a helicopter, but nothing was found. A further search was carried out the following morning but nothing was found to indicate either a downed aircraft or a fire and the incident was closed.
Sonic Boom Report, North East of England
Lord Hill-Norton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their response to the incident on 21 February 2001 when a sonic boom was reported in the north east of England.[HL733]
Lord Bach: Following a report of an incident on 21 February 2001 from a member of the public, the RAF Police undertook an investigation. In the course of their inquiries the British Geographical Society was contacted and confirmed that its equipment gave no indication of either a sonic event or an earthquake occurring in the north east of England on that date. The RAF Police were unable to verify the cause of this reported event.
Rendlesham Forest Incident
Lord Hill-Norton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the United States Air Force investigated and photographed a site in Rendlesham Forest where it was alleged that an unidentified flying object had landed in December 1980; whether the photographs depicted an indentation where the object might have landed; and whether they have a copy of the report and photographs arising from the investigation; and[HL743]
Whether, following an allegation contained in a memorandum dated 13 January 1981 by Lieutenant Colonel Halt of the United States Air Forces that a glowing metallic triangular object had landed in Rendlesham Forest in December 1980, Lieutenant Colonel Halt was questioned about the incident; if not, why not; and whether military radar indicated that a structured craft was involved.[HL744]
Lord Bach: The only USAF material held by the Ministry of Defence is that written by Lieutenant Colonel Halt on 13 January 1981 consequent upon his investigation of the incident in Rendlesham Forest. The MoD has no evidence of any other official investigation or documentation.
There is no indication from the papers held on file that MoD raised any further questions with Lieutenant Colonel Halt following receipt of his memorandum in 1981 and I am unaware of the reason for this. MoD records from the same period document no evidence of unusual radar returns.
Bow Street Police Station Site
Viscount Simon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On what date planning permission was granted to develop the site of the former Bow Street Police Station.[HL534]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): I understand that a planning application to redevelop the former Bow Street Police Station was
submitted to Westminster City Council in April this year. As it is currently in the process of considering the proposal for conversion of the existing building for use as a Police Museum and erection of a five-storey building for retail and office uses, no decision on it has yet been taken.
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