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Zimbabwe: Visa Ban List
Lord Blaker asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the statement by the Minister of Trade, Mr Ian McCartney, on 26 March (HC Deb, col. 1164) that the Government expect there to be progress on the addition of extra names to the European Union visa ban list, what steps they are taking to encourage the European Union to strengthen its targeted resources against leading figures in Zimbabwe. [HL5284]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The EU common position, which consists of a travel ban, an assets freeze list and an arms embargo, was extended for another year on 19 February 2007. At that time the list comprised 125 names. Five names were added on 16 April following a Zimbabwe Government Cabinet reshuffle in late February. As a consequence of the serious incidents of state-sponsored violence on 11 March and the subsequent abuse of human rights of those detained, the EU agreed on 25 June to add two further names to the EU visa ban list. Both of those were responsible for directing that abuse. We continue to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe
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Answers received between Monday 17 September and Friday 21 September 2007
Afghanistan: Opium Production
Lord Blaker asked Her Majesty's Government:
What they are doing to mitigate the problem of opium production in Afghanistan; and how their efforts differ from the policy of the Government of the United States. [HL5281]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): As Afghanistan's G8 “partner” nation on counter narcotics, the UK is helping the Afghan Government to improve the implementation of their national drug control strategy, spending £290 million over three years on counter narcotics and rule of law measures. On 9 August, I announced a new package of counter narcotics activities, designed to help accelerate the implementation of the Afghan Government's narcotics strategy in the north and centre of the country, while responding to the situation in Helmand and the south. It includes: enhanced interdiction; a greater focus on military support to counter narcotics; more support for counter narcotics criminal justice; improving the performance of eradication forces; expanding the Good Performers Initiative; and an extensive Afghan Government information campaign designed to convince farmers not to plant poppy.
We work very closely with the US on Afghan counter narcotics issues. In parallel to our new package of activities, the US announced plans to spend US$500 million on a comprehensive package to support the Afghan Government's efforts. And approaches to eradication and other matters are under constant review and discussion between the two Governments. However, the UK and the US both fully support the Afghan strategy and agree that it is the Afghan Government who should lead on counter narcotics policy.
Africa: Peacekeeping Brigade
Lord Blaker asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their assessment of (a) the proposal of the countries of the Southern African Development Community to create a peacekeeping brigade; and (b) the proposed functions of the brigade. [HL5282]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We warmly welcomed the launch of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) regional standby brigade at the SADC summit in Lusaka on 17 August. This was a strong public commitment by SADC member states to fulfil the region's contribution to the African Union's (AU) African Standby Force (ASF). The SADC brigade will be one of five regional forces that will collectively form the ASF. The ASF is a key
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The ASF is intended to be fully operational by 2010 to undertake a range of peacekeeping roles in Africa, from observation missions to intervention in extreme circumstances such as genocide. The ASF will provide a permanent, structured approach, building on the AU's current peacekeeping operations, such as in Darfur and Somalia.
Agriculture: Defra Leaflets
Lord Bradley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which government bodies and non-governmental bodies are issuing Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs leaflets, Do you know what's happening in your feed store? and, Bovine TB: Do you know how to reduce your risk?; and how many farmers have received each of these leaflets since their publication. [HL5176]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Since publication earlier this year, these leaflets have been made available free of charge via those organisations involved in drawing up the advice—the National Farmers’ Union, the British Cattle Veterinary Association, the Soil Association, the Wildlife Trusts, the Central Science Laboratory, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government. The leaflets were also made available at Defra’s “Give Disease the Boot” roadshows at livestock markets around England in the spring and are available to download from Defra’s website.
It is not possible accurately to identify how many farmers have received the leaflets. However, we do know that, as of 31 July 2007, over 3,700 copies of Do you know what’s happening in your feed store? and over 1,950 copies of Bovine TB: Do you know how to reduce your risk? have been distributed, largely via the organisations listed above.
Bees
Baroness Thomas of Winchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether funding will be available for the development of sustainable approaches for the control of non-statutory bee pests, such as varroa mite; and [HL5205]
Whether the budget for bee health extends further than statutory pest and disease threats to honey bees. [HL5206]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Funding across Defra and the devolved administrations on bee health in 2007-08 is around £1.9 million, including £200,000 for research and development. This overall funding
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Government investment in research on varroa exceeds £2.2 million over the past 12 years. It is proven that the best way of tackling varroa is by means of a careful programme of integrated pest management, and beekeepers need to learn to control it to protect their bee colonies. The National Bee Unit assists beekeepers in improved bee husbandry, and has produced a comprehensive advisory leaflet on the subject.
The priorities for future funding will be determined in the context of developing a bee health strategy in liaison with stakeholders.
Baroness Thomas of Winchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the control of non-statutory pests, such as varroa, will be included in the new bee health strategy currently under development; and, if so, whether additional funding will be available for this research. [HL5207]
Lord Rooker: Defra is currently working to develop a strategy for bee health to clarify the extent of Government involvement in the bee health area and the role of external stakeholders and future funding arrangements. The strategy, including the scope of any further research work, will be developed with representatives of industry and subject to a detailed consultation procedure. Defra funding for bee health in future years is not yet decided and is subject to the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Baroness Thomas of Winchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether United Kingdom bee researchers, under the new bee health strategy, will be able to make applications in open competition for research funding. [HL5208]
Lord Rooker: Defra commissions bee health research at a number of organisations depending on the nature of the research priorities, the expertise of the relevant organisations and their track record of delivery. Open competition will be used when appropriate.
Bracken
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total hectarage of bracken cover in England, Wales and Scotland; and how this compares with the total for 1997 and 1987. [HL5135]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Using results from the national Countryside Survey, the table below
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| Geographical Area | 1998 | 1990 |
Chagos Islands
Lord Steel of Aikwood asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total cost, from 2000 to date, of their legal actions concerning the right of the Chagos people to return, including the anticipated cost of the most recent appeal to the House of Lords. [HL5236]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in another place by my right honourable friend the then Minister for Europe, Mr Douglas Alexander, to the honourable Member for St Ives, Andrew George, on 1 December 2005—Official Report, cols. 733-734W—which lists the sums the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has paid in respect of legal fees, principally to the Treasury Solicitor’s Department and outside counsel, incurred in defending these cases. The amount for the 2006-07 case has been updated since that Answer was given—R (Bancoult) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, 2006-07; £716, 000 including VAT, Secretary of State’s legal fees.
We are still awaiting news on whether the House of Lords will grant my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary's request for leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s May 2007 ruling. It would not therefore be appropriate to comment on the legal costs of any appeal.
Children
Baroness Corston asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated total number of children who would have been in poverty in the United Kingdom, according to the European Union standard of less than 60 per cent of the median household income, in 2006, if the level of child benefit had been raised, in relation to its 1997 level, (a) by 25 per cent, and (b) by 33 per cent more than the rise equivalent to the rise in earnings; and what would have been the cost (i) in £ billion, and (ii) as a percentage of gross domestic product, including and not including estimated savings accruing from consequential reduced costs in other family and child allowances. [HL5079]
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Lord Davies of Oldham: Between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s, relative child poverty more than doubled. This Government have committed to halve child poverty by 2010-11 and to eradicate it by 2020. In 2005-06, there were 600,000 fewer children in relative poverty than in 1997-98. First rate child benefit has increased by 25 per cent in real terms since 1997, and the Government are committed to increasing it to £20 by 2010.
Trying to model changes to the rate of child benefit on the level of children in poverty will always involve considerable uncertainty and is sensitive to factors such as the precise definition of household income, income equivalisation scales and other modelling choices. However, estimates of the impact of increasing the level of child benefit, in relation to its 1997 level, (a) by 25 per cent, and (b) by 33 per cent more than the rise equivalent to the rise in earnings are set out in the table below, together with the costs of these measures (in £ billion and as a percentage of GDP).
The increase in child benefit between 1997-98 and 2006-07 was derived using the average earnings index (AEI), and increasing the AEI each year by either 25 per cent or 33 per cent.
Estimates were derived using the 2004-05 family resources survey and are on a before housing costs basis, using OECD equivalisation factors.
Climate Change: Peat Bogs
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have prepared for the rehabilitation of peat bogs in the United Kingdom, as part of their strategy to combat global warming; and what priority they are giving to the implementation of such plans. [HL5053]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Peat bogs are a significant store of carbon which needs to be protected. We are looking at rehabilitating peat bogs as one possible way of protecting existing carbon stores and biodiversity. However, this is technically challenging due to the presence of naturally occurring underground water channels which develop in response to artificial drainage.
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In terms of offsetting carbon emissions through increasing this store, the potential is somewhat limited due to the slow accumulation rates of active bogs. In addition, some healthy peat bogs can be a significant source of methane. It is important to see the potential contribution of peat bog restoration in proportion to many other ways we are seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We are now developing a programme of work to co-ordinate peat protection activities across government. We are also undertaking research to improve our understanding of the main mechanisms by which carbon is lost from peats; the impacts of land use and land management; and to develop practical methods for mitigating losses. This will form a key part of the forthcoming soil strategy for England. In addition, the current review of environmental stewardship will examine how the scheme can further help to address climate change, including halting the decline of upland carbon stores.
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