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5 Dec 2007 : Column WA185
5 Dec 2007 : Column WA185
5 Dec 2007 : Column WA185
Wednesday 5 December 2007
Abortion
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to the compatibility of legislative provisions permitting abortion of disabled babies up to birth with the Human Rights Act 1998 and other provisions dealing with equality and discrimination. [HL590]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The European Court of Human Rights has recognised that it is for member states to determine when life begins for the purposes of the European convention, in the absence of a consensus on the matter. We therefore consider that the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, is not in breach of any laws on equality or prohibiting discrimination.
Airports: Capacity
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is still government policy to support the creation of a second runway at Stansted Airport; and [HL491]
Whether the Secretary of State for Transport's comments regarding airport capacity, as reported in the Times newspaper of 22 November, represent a change of existing government aviation policy; and [HL492]
What are the implications of the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport on 22 November for the policies set out in the White Paper The Future of Air Transport, published in December 2003, regarding the creation of a third runway at Heathrow Airport; and whether they will highlight each resulting change in policy accordingly; and [HL493]
Whether they will outline the proposed timetable for the creation of a second runway at Stansted Airport. [HL494]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government outlined their policy support for a second runway at Stansted in the 2003 Future of Air Transport White Paper. The Government’s position on this has not changed, and the airport operator expects to be in a position to submit a planning application around the turn of the year.
The Government recently published a consultation on proposals for a third runway at Heathrow. The proposed development of Heathrow does not affect the Government’s support for new capacity at Stansted. The White Paper supported two new runways in the south-east by 2030, the first to be at Stansted.
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Airports: Stansted
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the Secretary of State for Transport last discussed the development of a second runway at Stansted Airport with representatives of BAA or Ferrovial; on what date such discussions occurred; who was present at the meeting or participated in the discussion; and whether they will place a copy of the minutes of the meeting or conversation in the Library of the House. [HL495]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Secretary of State has regular meetings with Stephen Nelson, chief executive of BAA, to discuss a range of issues relating to BAA airports, including Stansted. These meetings are usually attended by senior officials from the department's aviation directorate.
The last meeting took place on 10 October. As the meeting note contains information which is commercially sensitive, I am not able to place a copy in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces: Manpower
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 30 October (WA 176), what is the current long-term plan database assumption for the planned trained manpower requirement for (a) the Royal Navy; (b) the Army; and (c) the Royal Air Force for each financial year from 2008—09 to 2010—11. [HL365]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The long-term trained manpower requirement for the Armed Forces beyond 2008 has not been set formally.
Asylum Seekers: Driving Licences
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what circumstances persons applying for asylum in the United Kingdom are entitled to apply for United Kingdom driving licences. [HL526]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Persons applying for asylum in the United Kingdom are entitled to apply for a United Kingdom driving licence. If they are able to meet the relevant identity and residency requirements, they will be issued with a driving licence. In most instances, this will be a provisional licence.
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British Citizenship
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what dates, between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2007, the British consulate-general in Hong Kong sent to the consulate-general of Nepal in Hong Kong the Nepalese passports and Nepalese citizenship certificates of British nationals of Nepalese origin who were successfully registered as British citizens under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997; and whether they will place in the Library of the House anonymised copies of the covering letters that were sent in each case. [HL527]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): On 10 May 2006 our consulate-general in Hong Kong sent to the consulate-general of Nepal in Hong Kong the Nepalese passports and Nepalese citizenship certificates of 45 British nationals of Nepalese origin, who were successfully registered as British citizens under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997. This is the only occasion that this occurred within the dates specified. An anonymised copy of the covering letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Buses
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 21 November (WA 74), how many local authorities have made representations to the Department for Transport about the insufficiency of funding for concessionary bus travel. [HL531]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Out of the 336 representations received, 34 said they did not have enough funding available. The Department for Transport is confident that the existing statutory minimum—free off-peak bus travel for older and disabled people in their local authority area—is sufficiently funded in aggregate. Local authorities were fully consulted on how the extra funding—£350 million for 2006-07 and £367.5 million for 2007-08—would be distributed as part of the local government finance settlement consultation.
We are confident that the extra funding for the national bus concession will be sufficient in aggregate as it is based on generous assumptions about the probable cost impact of the new concession. The department's consultation on the formula basis for the distribution of the special grant closed on 23 November. A summary of the responses will be published in due course.
Children: Fostering
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether an independent review mechanism already exists in relation to foster care; and, if so, whether it consists of one or more panels; who are their members; and whether they have powers to consider and resolve allegations against foster parents. [HL637]
5 Dec 2007 : Column WA188
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Lord Adonis): There is currently no independent review mechanism for foster carers. However, Clause 29 of the Children and Young Persons Bill currently being considered by Parliament, amends Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989, to allow for the independent review of decisions by fostering service providers on the suitability of foster parents. This mechanism will allow all prospective and existing carers whose approval has been turned down or removed the option of having the decision reviewed by an independent panel.
Under the Bill, the panel will not have the power to consider or resolve allegations against foster parents; this function will remain with the fostering service provider. However, the DCSF has funded the publication of a range of information and training materials relating to improving the way in which allegations against foster carers are handled and to support foster carers through that process. In addition, a review of the implementation of guidance on handling allegations is currently under way and the outcome of this review is due to be published in early 2008.
Crossrail
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of optimism bias uplift is included in the current estimate of the total cost of the Crossrail project; and [HL15]
What is the breakdown of funding sources for the construction of Crossrail between (a) central government; (b) Transport for London; (c) other public sector funding; (d) each individual company which has committed funding. [HL17]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Statement on Crossrail made by the Secretary of State for Transport on Monday 26 November (Official Report, cols. WS 133-34).
Cultural Olympiad
Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposal to divert lottery funds to pay for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will have an adverse effect on the ability of voluntary groups and organisations to participate in the Cultural Olympiad. [HL60]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Voluntary groups and organisations will continue to benefit from lottery funding in the run-up to 2012 and there will be many opportunities for them to participate in the Cultural Olympiad. Although there will be a lottery contribution towards the Olympics, the arts, heritage and sport sectors can each still expect to receive around £900 million of new lottery money between 2007 and 2012. The Big Lottery Fund will honour its commitment to give 60 to 70 per cent of its funding to the voluntary and community sector, and has extended this beyond the Olympic period.
5 Dec 2007 : Column WA189
Driving: Penalty Points
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many holders of a current driving licence have three, six and nine points, respectively, on their licences; and how many drivers are currently disqualified from driving. [HL524]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Although the DVLA records details of driving convictions on its driving licence records, it does not have available a statistical breakdown of the numbers of current licence holders who have three, six and nine points or how many drivers are currently disqualified from driving.
Driving: TV Interviews
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is against the law for a person to be interviewed on television while driving a vehicle on a public road; and, if so, whether television companies have been made aware of the law.[HL627]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: There is no specific offence. However, it is an offence if a person drives or causes or permits any other person to drive,
- “if he is in such a position that he cannot have proper control of the vehicle or have a full view of the road and traffic ahead”,
under Regulation 104 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
The police use that to deal with cases of poor driving where the driver has been distracted for any reason (eg, eating, drinking, using a hands-free phone, speaking to camera, et cetera). Should there be a crash or incident, depending upon the circumstances, there might be a prosecution on the more serious charges of driving without due care and attention or dangerous driving.
Advice for all road users on distractions is set down in Rules 148 to 150 of the Highway Code (available from www.direct.gov.uk). Specific advice for broadcasters is in the booklet Presenting Road Safety: A Guide for the Media, published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents with support from the department—that is available online at www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/roadmedia.pdf. Under the heading “Bad Practice” it includes, “Drivers having long conversations with a passenger, or speaking to camera, without watching the road ahead”.
Driving: Zimbabwe Licences
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why Zimbabwe is one of only two countries in Africa whose driving licences are recognised as valid in the United Kingdom; and whether the standards for the issue of driving licences in Zimbabwe make it appropriate to recognise these licences in the United Kingdom. [HL525]
5 Dec 2007 : Column WA190
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Providing they hold a full driving licence or driving permit, visitors to this country are able to drive for up to 12 months from the date of entry. A visitor may drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and with up to eight passenger seats.
The arrangements which allow holders of foreign licences from certain designated countries, such as Zimbabwe, to exchange their licences for the British equivalent are based on statutory provisions. The designation of a country for licence-exchange purposes depends on it having satisfactory arrangements in place for the issue of driving licences; the driving test and licensing procedures must be comparable to those in this country.
Drug Tariff
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the prolonged price freeze arising from the review of Part IX of the Drug Tariff and movements in raw materials will be taken into account when determining future reimbursement of products. [HL545]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): Reimbursement proposals are currently contained within the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related services to primary care consultation.
We are unable to prejudge the outcome of this consultation before its completion and welcome all comments on the proposals.
Egypt: Human Rights
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the Human Rights Watch report Prohibited Identities: State Interference with Religious Freedom, published in November 2007, they will raise with the Government of Egypt, as well as proposing to the European Union that it should do so via the Egypt—European Union Association Agreement, the matters dealt with in the chapter entitled “Egypt's Baha'is and the Policy of Erasure”. [HL569]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We are concerned about issues identified in the joint Human Rights Watch/Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights report, including the problems arising from Egyptian identity cards that allow one of only three religions to be listed on them.
We raise this regularly with the Egyptian Government, both through the European Union and bilaterally, the last occasion being in September 2007. We will continue to raise this matter and encourage the Egyptian Government to resolve it.
5 Dec 2007 : Column WA191
EU: Diplomatic Service
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
How an enlarged European Union diplomatic service will affect the size and influence of the United Kingdom diplomatic service. [HL622]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The EU reform treaty makes provision for an European External Action Service, drawn from relevant departments of the General Secretariat of the Council and of the Commission as well as staff seconded from member states' diplomatic services. It will assist the high representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy, and simplify the existing arrangements for support to the high representative for the common foreign and security policy and the Commissioner for External Relations. It will not replace the UK diplomatic service.
The declarations covering the common foreign and security policy accompanying the treaty clearly state that the treaty's provisions,
- “will not affect the existing legal basis, responsibilities, and powers of each member state in relation to the formulation and conduct of its foreign policy, its national diplomatic service, relations with third countries and participation in international organisations, including a member state's membership of the Security Council of the UN”.
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