| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Computers: Viruses
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will hold talks with representatives of computer manufacturing and sales companies to combat the rise in household computers affected by virus invasion. [HL5129]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Drayson): The Government recognise that security issues such as the risk of viruses can undermine user confidence. The department has regular dialogue with the IT industry through forums such as the Information Age Partnership. We are actively involved in a range of activities to improve the security of electronic transactions, including close involvement of government specialists in identifying software and hardware vulnerabilities and how they are exploited by virus writers and others. This work with software and information security product suppliers has improved the ability of consumers to respond to the threat of viruses and nearly all home computing products now come pre-installed with appropriate software to prevent infection by viruses.
Energy: Micro-generation
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average price of electricity sold from the grid per kilowatt/hour; and what is the average price of electricity paid to operators of microgenerators who sell electricity back to the grid. [HL5104]
1 Oct 2007 : Column WA205
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Drayson): The average retail price of UK electricity in 2006 was 10.24 pence per kilowatt hour (p/kWh). Comparable data regarding the average price of electricity produced and “exported” by microgenerators are not available.
Microgenerators can sell any excess electricity generated to supplier companies (provided an export meter is installed). The amount offered will vary, as in the case of import. All six major energy suppliers have now committed to publishing easily accessible export tariffs in future. In Budget 2007 the Government asked the independent energy regulator, Ofgem, to examine how households can benefit more from the prices paid to them when they sell their excess electricity; it will report in the autumn.
Government: Advisers
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will amend the ministerial code to regulate the role of Members of the House of Lords who are named as advisers to the Government; and whether there will be any restrictions on remunerated employment undertaken by such advisers during and after their term of office in areas relating to their responsibilities in advising the Government; and [HL4783]
Whether Members of the House of Lords who have an official status as advisers to the Government will be required to register publicly all earnings relating to the subjects on which they are advising the Government; and [HL4784]
Whether, in their role as advisers to the Government, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, Baroness Neuberger, Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington and Baroness Williams of Crosby will be entitled to receive (a) secretarial assistance above their current entitlement as Members of the House of Lords; (b) expenses above their current entitlement as Members of the House of Lords; (c) use of office space on government premises; (d) courier services; (e) access to the government car service; and (f) access to confidential Cabinet and departmental papers; and [HL4785]
Whether, in their role as advisers to the Government, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, Baroness Neuberger, Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington and Baroness Williams of Crosby will be bound by the Official Secrets Act 1989. [HL4786]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The advisers will have access to relevant departmental papers as appropriate. The Official Secrets Act and the normal rules on confidentiality when working with the Government will apply. Should they wish, they will have use of office space in the relevant government departments and access to secretarial assistance as appropriate. They will be able to claim out-of-pocket expenses associated with their role.
1 Oct 2007 : Column WA206
In addition, they are covered by the rules of the House, including the requirements of the Register of Lords’ Interests.
Government: Salaries
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 12 July (WA 242), why some Ministers have had their salaries reduced or removed; and what the reasons are in each case; and [HL4915]
Whether the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 12 July (WA 242) on members of the Government who serve in the House of Lords and their salaries complies with the guidance set out in the Ministerial Code; and [HL4916]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 12 July (WA 242), whether they will provide details of the individual salaries paid to each member of the Government. [HL4917]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): Within the limits set out in the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, the appointment of Ministers is at the discretion of the Prime Minister.
As my noble friend stated in his previous answer to the noble Lord [col. 242], the salaries payable to Ministers are publicly available at www.civilservice. gov.uk/other/parliamentary/pay/ministerial/index.asp and are available in the House Library for the reference of noble Lords. The list of Government also referred to in the previous answer to the noble Lord, and which is also available in the House Library, notes the level of each appointment and which members of the Government are unpaid.
Gulf War Veterans
Lord Tyler asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 23 July (WA 69) about the text of the letter sent to Gulf War veterans by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Ministry of Defence and copied to Lord Craig of Radley, Lord Lloyd of Berwick and Lord Morris of Manchester, what consultation took place between the Ministry and the Pensions Appeal Tribunal about the text; and whether the Tribunal, as the duly appointed legal authority for deciding war pension appeals, has accepted the Ministry's use of the term Gulf War Syndrome. [HL5121]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Drayson): No consultation took place with the three Pension Appeal Tribunal (PAT) jurisdictions concerning the text of the letter to Gulf War veterans. The letter explains the Ministry of
1 Oct 2007 : Column WA207
House of Lords: Reform
Lord Lucas asked the Leader of the House:
Whether she will provide further details before the Summer Recess on how she proposes that Back-Bench Members should be involved in evolving proposals for a wholly or mainly elected House of Lords. [HL4985]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): I refer the noble Lord to my letter of 19 July.
Iraq: Military Accommodation
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the Army's sleeping accommodation in Iraq has roofs capable of withstanding a direct hit from a mortar or small arms fire; and [HL5122]
How many soldiers are accommodated under canvas on United Kingdom military bases in Iraq; and [HL5123]
What proportion of United Kingdom personnel at Basra airport will be accommodated in areas without roofs capable of withstanding a direct hit from a mortar or small arms fire; and [HL5124]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Drayson): Protection of our forces in Iraq is an extremely high priority and a number of improvements have been, and continue to be, made to enhance our layered approach to force protection. However, I will not disclose information on the force protection capability of accommodation or indeed any buildings and structures at our bases in Iraq as it would be, or would likely be, prejudicial to the safety and security of our Armed Forces.
NATO: Reserve Battlegroups
Lord Sheikh asked Her Majesty's Government:
In light of the Secretary of State for Defence's announcement in February that NATO has made a request for two manoeuvre reserve battlegroups, one of which the United Kingdom is providing, what progress has been made in discussions with NATO allies about providing the second battlegroup. [HL5098]
1 Oct 2007 : Column WA208
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Drayson): The NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan currently consists of approximately 36,000 troops. The UK announced an increased deployment to Afghanistan in February in response to a NATO request for additional forces. We continue to work with other partners to encourage effective contributions to the international commitment to Afghanistan. Since February, several allies have increased the size of their deployments in the country and NATO Force Generation efforts continue, although the battlegroup referred to has still to be found.
Olympic Games 2012: Scrutiny
Baroness Valentine asked the Leader of the House:
Whether specific arrangements have been made for Members of the House of Lords to scrutinise the Government on developments for the London Olympics in a similar arrangement to that put in place for Members of the House of Commons.[HL5146]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): No specific arrangements have been put in place by which Members of the House of Lords are able to scrutinise the Government on developments for the London Olympics.
Waste Management
Lord Baker of Dorking asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will invite the Waste and Resources Action Programme to publish the amounts they have provided by way of grants, loans, investments, joint ventures and trials to each of the projects they have funded over the past three years together with an assessment of the effectiveness of the projects. [HL5217]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) already publishes an annual report and accounts at the end of each funding year, as well as an achievements report, which assesses the headline impacts of its projects.
Reports are available from 2000 from WRAP's website: www.wrap.org.uk.
WRAP’s latest (2006-07) annual report and accounts was published on 3 August 2007. Its achievements report will be published in October 2007.
Waste Management: Recycled Aggregate
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment has been made of the impact of the Waste and Resources Action Programme's promotional campaign encouraging local authorities to use recycled aggregate. [HL5020]
1 Oct 2007 : Column WA209
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme's (WRAP) Achievements Report 2005/6 details the progress so far in encouraging the use of recycled aggregate by local authorities. WRAP's recycled roads campaign, combined with tailored procurement guidance (including standard contract clauses) has helped to more than double the number of councils directly specifying recycled aggregates in their highway contracts. A survey carried out by WRAP found that 21 per cent of local authorities specified recycled and secondary aggregates in their street maintenance contracts, compared with only 10 per cent in the pre-campaign survey. This exceeded WRAP's 20 per cent target for 2006.
In the same period, WRAP also secured an additional 3.14 million tonnes a year of reprocessing capacity for aggregates, against their target of 3 million tonnes.
Through its advocacy campaigns, WRAP continues to offer bespoke advice and guidance to local authorities to encourage and enable them to use more recycled content in their highways projects.
Answers received between Monday 10 September and Friday 14 September 2007
Afghanistan: Rules of Engagement
Lord Sheikh asked Her Majesty's Government:
What recent efforts they have made to persuade other NATO members to reduce the number of caveats in some countries' rules of engagement in Afghanistan. [HL5097]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): My right honourable friends the Foreign Secretary, the Defence Secretary and other Ministers are in regular contact with NATO members to discuss all aspects of Allied contributions to Afghanistan, including national caveats. The UK has also fully supported efforts made by NATO itself to keep these caveats to a minimum in order to give commanders on the ground greater operational flexibility. It is noteworthy that France and Germany reduced the caveats on their Afghanistan deployments following the NATO summit in Riga on 28 and 29 November 2006.
Armed Forces: Compensation Scheme
Lord Morris of Aberavon asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much the Armed Forces compensation scheme has paid out in each year since its inception; what were the highest and lowest amounts the scheme paid; and what was the average payment made to individuals under the scheme. [HL5301]
1 Oct 2007 : Column WA210
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence & Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Lord Drayson): The Armed Forces compensation scheme came into effect on 6 August 2005, since when the following compensation has been awarded. Awards under the scheme can be in the form of a one-off lump sum payment and/or regular monthly payments.
The highest lump sum awarded was approximately £202,000; the lowest lump sum awarded was approximately £1,000; and the average (median) lump sum awarded was approximately £5,000.
Aviation: Air Quality
Lord Tyler asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the Cockpit Fumes—Fault Finding Instruction INFO 010/07 issued by the freight company DHL to all pilots on 26 January. [HL4952]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The DHL instruction referred to has been assessed by a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) flight operations inspector as part of the full range of company instructions relating to smoke, fumes and air contamination. The instruction was promulgated as follow-up information additional to the relevant normal, abnormal and emergency procedures. These include company guidance for the use of oxygen and masks. The inspector found the instruction acceptable in that context and the operator has taken steps to ensure in training sessions that it must not be interpreted as a dilution of the company's safety policy with regard to the reporting of incidents of this type.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |