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Economic Partnership Agreements
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make representations to the European Union on its demand for reciprocal trade arrangements under the new economic partnership agreements with the poorest developing countries. [HL370]
Baroness Amos: Both the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the EU signed the Cotonou agreement, which lays the foundations for the negotiation of economic partnership agreements (EPAs). These foundations include the progressive removal of barriers to trade between the parties; making EPAs reciprocal trade agreements. Reciprocity is also required under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules for regional trading agreements.
However, EPAs will not be traditional regional trade agreements. Although they are reciprocal, the WTO rules governing regional trading agreements allow flexibility for developing countries. Compared to the EU, the ACP countries will have less stringent market opening commitments, and a longer period of time in which to implement them. This will allow the ACP economies time fully to prepare for the impact of trade liberalisation on their economies. Additional instruments in EPAs, such as safeguard mechanisms, will help protect ACP countries from any potential adverse effects of trade liberalisation.
The European Commission has also stated that it has no offensive interests in the EPA negotiations. The 2004 government White Paper on trade and investment makes a commitment to hold our EU partners to this: to ensure that the developmental needs of the ACP are at the forefront of the EPA negotiations.
Least Developed Countries
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
What forms of assistance they will recommend for the least developed countries during the transitional period between the generalised system of preferences and the new economic partnership agreements; and whether this assistance will come out of the European Union aid budget. [HL371]
Baroness Amos: Economic partnership agreements (EPAs) are intended to support African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries' integration into the global economy in a more sustainable way than by continuing dependence on eroding trade preferences. The need to change the existing EU-ACP trading relationship arose because the existing non-reciprocal Lomé preferences failed to boost standards of living in the ACP countries. These preferences also do not conform to global trading rules, as established by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which threatened their future viability.
Under the the EU's generalised system of preferences (GSP), the least developed countries (LDC) in the ACP group have access to the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, which grants them duty-and quota-free access to the EU market. This option will remain open to LDCs. However, most ACP-LDCs continue to use Cotonou preferences rather than EBA.
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EPAs are intended to go beyond traditional regional trade agreements to be genuine tools for trade and development. This means that assistance in areas such as building supply-side capacity and facilitating trade will be a core element of EPAs, and vital to their success. During the transition period between Cotonou preferences and an EPA, all ACP countries will receive assistance to help their economies adjust to and take advantage of a more liberal trade agreement with the EU. This assistance will come in the form of development aid and technical assistance, from the EU budget and from individual member states. Efforts will be made to ensure this assistance is co-ordinated and consistent with the national development priorities of the recipient countries.
Fuel-related Fraud
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he proposed to increase the rate of duty on "red diesel" by one pence a litre because of the prevalence of fraud amongst its users, what evidence they have of diesel fuel-related fraud among rail freight operators. [HL334]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey): The UK oils strategy was launched in September 2002 to address the misuse of duty-privileged fuels such as red diesel and kerosene in the road fuel sector. Narrowing the differential between the duty rate for road fuel and that for red diesel reduces the incentive for misuse and eats into the profits that can be made by the organised criminal gangs behind the large-scale supply of the illicit market.
Of more concern is the security of rebated fuel storage at these operators' sites. With red diesel and kerosene now being harder for fraudsters to source, due to the Registered Dealers in Controlled Oils (RDCO) scheme, they are increasingly turning to theft of product. Through discussions with traders we are trying to increase their awareness of this risk.
Smuggling of Products of Animal Origin
Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 16 November (WA 149) regarding the four people convicted of smuggling products of animal origin since April 2003, what were the quantities of illegal meats smuggled; and what were the sentences given in each case; and [HL438]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 16 November (WA 149), how many people have been prosecuted for, but not convicted of, smuggling products of animal origin since April 2003. [HL439]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The quantities and sentences relating to the four people convicted of smuggling offences under the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England)
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Regulations 2003 and the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2004 are detailed below.
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There have been no prosecutions to date.
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Higher Rate Tax Band
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposals contained in the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report will result in more people paying tax at the top rate band; and, if so, how many. [HL452]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Estimates of the number of higher rate tax payers for 2005–06 depend on the level of the basic rate limit. This will be announced in the usual manner in Budget 2005.
Olympic Games 2012: London Bid
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the elements of the transport statement in the London Olympic bid 2012 which combine to represent "one of the largest transport investment programmes in the world", as described in the statement. [HL401]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The London 2012 candidature file, submitted to the International Olympic Committee on 15 November, sets out London's plans for the 2012 Olympic Games. Table 14.1 of that document sets out the main elements of transport infrastructure which support the bid.
Most of this infrastructure is already built, under construction or planned regardless of the Olympics. The main elements of the planned investment programme are the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link between St Pancras and Stratford, which will open in 2007; and the London Underground PPP will see more than £1 billion a year invested in maintenance and modernisation of the Tube until at least 2010.
In addition, following the summer spending review, the Mayor has said that he will take forward schemes including the East London Line Extension, the DLR extension to Woolwich and a 50 per cent capacity improvement on other sections of the DLR; and East London and Greenwich transit schemes.
Activity Co-ordination Team
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made on the cross-government Activity Co-ordination Team; when it was established, what its costs are to date; and what it has achieved. [HL416]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Activity Co-ordination Team (ACT) was established in July 2003 to co-ordinate government action on measures to increase participation levels in sport and physical activity. It has made significant progress.
Cross-government physical activity measures agreed via ACT formed a specific element of the public health consultation in the summer and were contained in a separate Choosing Health? Choosing Activity consultation document. Responses to that and the wider consultation enabled ACT to inform the new physical activity commitments set out in Choosing Health Making Healthier Choices Easier published last month, including the commitment to publish a physical activity plan.
ACT is not a funding body and its incidental secretarial and meeting costs are met from within the departmental running costs of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Health and are not identified separately.
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