Lords Hansard text for 6 May 200806 May 2008 (pt 0001)

6 May 2008 : Column WA41

Written Answers

Tuesday 6 May 2008

Agriculture: Bluetongue

Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr Jonathan Shaw, on 19 March (Official Report, Commons, 1123W), whether the movement of animals susceptible to bluetongue from a restricted zone in one European Union country to a free zone in another is matched by an ability to move such animals under similar veterinary oversight from a restricted zone in the United Kingdom to a free area in the United Kingdom. [HL3353]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Yes. The EU Commission Regulation 1266/2007 on bluetongue allows the movement of ruminant animals, including camelids, out of a protection or surveillance zone under certain conditions. This applies across the EU (including from UK zones to free areas in the UK and other member states).

Agriculture: Cross-compliance Rules

Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to introduce legislation to assist farmers in ensuring that new occupants of land disposed of after 15 May in any year maintain it for the rest of that year, in line with cross-compliance rules. [HL3349]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): No. Council Regulation 146/2008 makes it clear that liability with regard to fulfilling cross-compliance requirements rests with the farmer who submitted the aid application. Ensuring maintenance of land for the rest of the calendar year following a land transfer should be dealt with by private law arrangements between the parties concerned, as envisaged in the Council regulation.

Airports: Heathrow

Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether bedding, beds and showers are available for those held for longer than 12 hours in the short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport. [HL3319]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Pillows and disposable blankets are currently available for all detainees in immigration holding rooms.

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We are currently looking at the feasibility of installing showers into the holding room at Terminal 5 and into the facility which will replace the removals room in Queen's Building at Heathrow.

There are currently no plans to provide beds in any of the holding rooms, but we are investigating the provision of reclining seats in the replacement facility for Queen's Building.

Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the implementation of Operating Standard No 2, “Holding Room Care”, by the contractor in the short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport is satisfactory. [HL3322]

Lord West of Spithead: Each of the key policies in the escorting contractor's Operational Policy Standard and Procedures No 2, entitled “Holding Room Care”, is implemented to a satisfactory standard.

The UK Border Agency acknowledges that detainee welfare is of prime importance and works closely with the contractor to ensure continuous improvement in this area.

Alcohol

Lord Monson asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 1 April (WA 145), whether their policy of imposing excise duty on strong cider (7 per cent alcohol by volume) at less than 29 per cent of the rate imposed on beer of a similar strength is consistent with their desire to curb alcohol abuse. [HL3199]

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government take seriously the problems associated with alcohol misuse. The Government published their alcohol strategy, Safe. Sensible. Social in June 2007. This commits all departments to work together to address what is a society-wide problem.

The increases in alcohol duty announced in the Budget will raise revenue to ensure we can continue to tackle child poverty and help pensioners.