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Railways: RIDDOR
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated cost to the railway industry of compliance with the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). [HL2782]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: I am not aware of any estimate of the cost to the railway industry of compliance with the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Sudan: Darfur
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action the United Kingdom ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, had in mind when he indicated that, in relation to the Government of Sudan's actions in Darfur, the United Nations Security Council should respond to continued provocation and that the council should consider further sanctions. [HL2872]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The situation in Darfur remains appalling. There are continued attacks on civilians, peacekeepers and the humanitarian agencies. The arms embargo on Darfur continues to be violated. No side is making a serious effort to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict and President Bashir has gone back on his Government's commitments at Addis Ababa, in particular with regard to the UN support package for the African Union Mission in Sudan.
We believe that the UN Security Council should impose further measures on those responsible for violating UN Security Council Resolution 1591 and we will be taking this forward with our Security Council partners in the coming days.
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Triesman: No reliable figures exist for the total number of persons who have died or been injured across Darfur as a result of the conflict there. However, a frequently quoted, and plausible, figure for the number of deaths is 200,000.
The UN estimates that there are currently 2,060,000 displaced people in Darfur and a further 220,000 living as refugees in neighbouring Chad.
Every death, injury, displacement or rape in Sudan is a tragedy. That is why we are pressing the Government of Sudan and the rebel groups to stop the fighting, to agree to the deployment of the UN-African Union hybrid force in Darfur, to commit to and implement the Darfur peace agreement, and to ensure full humanitarian access for the UN and non-governmental organisations in Darfur.
Sudan: International Criminal Court
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Government of Sudan about their decision to suspend co-operation with the International Criminal Court. [HL2871]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The Government welcome the fact that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor's investigation has got to the point at which he is able to ask for the issuing of summonses against two individuals. It is now for the ICC judges to decide whether to approve this request.
The UK has made clear to the Government of Sudan that, as required by UN Security Council Resolution 1593, they must co-operate fully with the ICC in any action the court decides to take. We will monitor the actions of the Government of Sudan extremely carefully. My right honourable friend the
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Taxation: VAT Carousel Fraud
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate they have made of the number of criminal groups involved in missing trader and carousel fraud. [HL2651]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Unfortunately the requested information cannot be disclosed as to do so would undermine the measures introduced by HM Revenue and Customs to counter Missing Trader Intra-Community fraud and as such prejudice the assessment and collection of tax.
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
What estimate they have of the total funds being investigated in current prosecutions of mobile phone operators in missing trader and carousel fraud. [HL2652]
Lord Davies of Oldham: HMRC has a duty to protect tax revenues and does so through a multi-faceted strategy using a range of interventions. The investigation of MTIC fraud is directed on the basis of perceived risk and not limited by specific products or sectors. Although the majority of all MTIC fraud seen so far has been perpetrated using mobile phones and computer chips, a wide range of other goods have been, and continue to be, used.
Ongoing prosecutions, resulting from HMRC's criminal investigations, involve some £2.5 billion of VAT. However, this figure is dynamic and changes as further evidence comes to light, and new cases are adopted and current ones completed.
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Serious Fraud Office and the police are involved in tracking down missing trader fraud and carousel fraud; and how many companies are currently under investigation. [HL2653]
Lord Davies of Oldham: MTIC fraud is an attack on the taxation system and, as such, is an assigned matter to HM Revenue and Customs. However, the police have conducted investigations that touch on MTIC fraud—for example, into money laundering—and have worked with HM Revenue and Customs in support of their investigations. HM Revenue and Customs also works closely with the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Details of the investigations and prosecutions conducted each year by HM Revenue and Customs are published in the departmental annual report and, prior to the creation of HM Revenue and Customs, were published each year in the annual reports of both the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.
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Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 16 March (WA 160) on the introduction of the UNECE Regulation 48, whether they will provide a breakdown of the time from the agreement by the European Community to the drafting of the regulatory impact assessment, the statutory public consultation and
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Lord Bassam of Brighton: The UNECE Regulation 48 amendment was adopted in March 2006. Work on a public consultation document and regulatory impact assessment is underway and instructions about draft amendments to the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations are currently in hand. Statutory consultation, once issued, will be open for three months. The amending instrument will then need to be approved by Parliament.
The current timetable of work will ensure that, pending parliamentary approval, regulations are ready to enter into force from 10 October 2009, the earliest date we are permitted to refuse to register heavy vehicles not fitted with reflective tape.
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