| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
22 Nov 2006 : Column WA7
Written Answers
Wednesday 22 November 2006
Agriculture: Agri-environment Schemes
The Duke of Montrose asked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the total funding by (a) the European Union, and (b) the Government for the agri-environment schemes for each of the past five years. [HL78]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The information for the UK is not held centrally. However, the expenditure on agri-environment schemes operated under the England Rural Development Programme was:
| 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
| £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| Note: The figures represent actual cash expenditure in each financial year. | |||||
Euro
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Kingdom will adopt the euro as its currency, in light of the decision by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to join the Eurozone on 1 January 2008; and, if so, when.[HL112]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Government’s policy on membership of the single currency remains as set out by the Chancellor in his Statement to the House of Commons in October 1997, and again in the Chancellor’s Statement on the five tests assessment in June 2003.
Gypsies and Travellers
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What statistics are available from the Planning Inspectorate of planning appeals in respect of Gypsy and Traveller sites, indicating the number and proportion of appeals which were successful in equivalent periods before and after the coming into force of Circular 1/2006; and, in each case, (a) how many pitches were granted and refused respectively; (b) whether in the cases where permission was granted it was temporary or permanent; and (c) where the permission granted was temporary, for what period it was granted. [HL14]
22 Nov 2006 : Column WA8
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given to Julie Morgan MP by my honourable friend Meg Munn in the other place on 6 November (Official Report, col. 899W).
In addition, on privately owned sites, planning permission is granted for caravans not pitches. However, the number of caravans for which permission has been granted and the information requested in parts (b) and (c) are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Health: Hospitals
Baroness Thomas of Winchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, bearing in mind their stated policy of encouraging more choice of healthcare providers, they issue planning policy guidance to local planning authorities for the development of new hospitals. [HL77]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): There is no specific planning policy guidance on the development of hospitals. Planning Policy Statement 1, issued in 2005, sets out the general principles for the preparation of regional spatial strategies and local development documents. Making proper provision for health and ensuring high design standards of new hospital buildings are fundamental requirements of planning for sustainable development.
Imports: Non-EU Countries
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 March 2004 (WA 192), for each of the financial years 2003—04, 2004—05 and 2005—06, how much the United Kingdom collected (gross, before deduction of the 25 per cent handling charge) in import or customs duties on goods, excluding agricultural, fishing, hunting, forestry and aquaculture produce, which were imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union. [HL148]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: The total net receipts of customs duties collected by the UK on goods, excluding agriculture, hunting, fishing, forestry and aquaculture produce during the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are shown in the table below.
22 Nov 2006 : Column WA9
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 March 2004 (WA 192), for each of the financial years 2003—04, 2004—05 and 2005—06, how much the United Kingdom collected (gross, before deduction of the 25 per cent handling charge) in import or customs duties on goods on agricultural, fishing, hunting, forestry and aquaculture produce, which were imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union. [HL149]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: The total net receipts of agricultural duties collected by the UK on agriculture, hunting, fishing, forestry and aquaculture produce during the financial years 2003—04, 2004—05 and 2005—06 are shown in the table below.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 March 2004 (WA 193), for each of the financial years 2003—04, 2004—05 and 2005—06, what was the value of agriculture, fishing, hunting and aquaculture produce imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union; and[HL150]
For each of the financial years 2003—04, 2004—05 and 2005—06, what was the value of goods, excluding agriculture, fishing, hunting and aquaculture produce, imported into the United Kingdom from countries which were not members of the European Union. [HL152]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: UK imports of agriculture, fishing, hunting and aquaculture produce from non-EU countries for the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, together with total non-EU imports excluding agriculture, fishing, hunting and aquaculture produce from non-EU countries, are shown in the table.
22 Nov 2006 : Column WA10
Israel and Palestine: Settlement Products
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will propose to the European Union in December a review of the technical arrangements for settlement products made in Israel which come under the European Union-Israel Association Agreement. [HL39]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: The European Union is already undertaking periodic reviews of the operation of the technical arrangements which have applied since 1 February 2005.
Railways: Community Rail Awards
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 3 November (WA 78), how much sponsorship will be provided by the Department for Transport in respect of the Community Rail Awards this year. [HL73]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The cost of sponsoring an award in the Community Rail Awards in 2006 was £500. Details of sponsorship for the 2007 awards are not yet available.
Railways: North-west
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 7 November (WA 144), why, bearing in mind that passenger numbers are increasing at 7 per cent per annum, their forecasted increase for the use of trains in the north-west region in the period between 2002—03 and 2031—32 is 2.1 per cent per annum. [HL76]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The figure of 2.1 per cent per annum refers to growth in gross domestic product (GDP), which, along with changes in population, employment and fares, influences demand for rail.
Rural Payments Agency
Lord Willoughby de Broke asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Rural Payments Agency has satisfactorily tested information technology systems for a partial payments system. [HL114]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The system is undergoing rigorous testing now. There are three phases to the testing: unit testing, which tests the individual programs; system testing, which
22 Nov 2006 : Column WA11
Schools: Sport
Baroness Verma asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many additional specialist physical education staff are to be employed for each of the years 2006 to 2010 to meet the commitment to ensure that all United Kingdom school children have at least four hours sport inside the school curriculum each week. [HL47]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): Initial teacher training places allocated for physical education in England in 2006-07 are 1,310 and in 2007-08 are 1,180, reflecting the continuing decline in pupil numbers over this period. Allocations for later years have not yet been decided, but our supply modelling will take account of schools’ needs and the national school sport strategy.
Baroness Verma asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which subjects are to be dropped from the national curriculum to make way for their commitment of 25 October to raise the number of hours of sport offered to children within the curriculum to at least four hours by 2010: and [HL191]
What estimates they have made of the additional cost to the public purse of their commitment to offer children within the curriculum at least four hours of sport by 2010 over the years between now and the hosting of the London Olympic Games in 2012; and [HL193]
Whether they held negotiations with the relevant trade unions regarding the additional staffing and skills required to achieve their target of providing all school children with at least four hours of sport within the curriculum by 2010. [HL194]
Lord Adonis: The Government announced their long-term ambition for PE and school sport in December 2004. The main aim is that by 2010 all children will be offered at least four hours of sport a week. This will comprise two hours of high-quality
22 Nov 2006 : Column WA12
No national curriculum subjects will be dropped from the curriculum in order to deliver the 2010 ambition.
We have held no negotiations with the teachers’ unions specifically about the 2010 ambition. Any demand for additional teachers to deliver the school elements of the 2010 ambition will be taken into account, as normal, by the teacher supply modelling exercise. The PE and school sport professional development programme will ensure that teachers have the skills and expertise they need to continue to deliver high-quality PE and school sport for young people.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |