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9 July 2008 : Column WA83
Written Answers
Wednesday 9 July 2008
Asylum Seekers: Military Deserters
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Following BE (Iran) v Secretary of State for the Home Department ([2008] EWCA Civ 540), whether they will issue an asylum policy instruction stating that when an asylum seeker has deserted the Armed Forces of a state rather than committed abuse of human rights under orders, a fear of persecution for holding political opinions is established, regardless of the punishment that faces him. [HL4529]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The UK Border Agency is considering the effect of the Court of Appeal's judgment and the guidance to be issued to decision-makers as a result.
Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will make an announcement on the control of bovine tuberculosis and a possible badger cull. [HL4628]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): My right honourable friend the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) announced on 7 July that Defra’s policy will be not to issue any licences to farmers to cull badgers to prevent bovine TB.
Beaches
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Eighty-two English beaches received the Blue Flag award for 2008. No beaches from the north west-region applied for the award.
Bees
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): I refer the noble Baroness to the reply given to the honourable Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 3 June, (Official Report, col. 855W.)
9 July 2008 : Column WA84
British Citizenship
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 30 June (WA 2) concerning the cost of naturalisation as a British citizen, whether there were any instances in which the fee for naturalisation was not levied in the past 10 years. [HL4597]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): No. Prior to its amendment by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the British Nationality Act 1981 provided that a certificate of naturalisation could not be granted to any person who had not paid the prescribed fee. The current law renders invalid any application for a certificate of naturalisation that is not at the outset accompanied by the appropriate fee.
Crime: Fuel Laundering
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 23 June (WA 204—5) concerning revenue lost due to fuel laundering in Northern Ireland, why the report was lodged only in the House of Commons Library; why the figures requested were not published in the Official Report; and what “PBR” stands for. [HL4508]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The document concerned was provided to the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament and was also made available to Members of the House of Lords through the Printed Paper Office at the time of the October 2007 Pre-Budget Report (PBR).
The most recent published figures for both the petrol and diesel revenue not collected in Northern Ireland are given in the tables below. The revenue not collected relates to both illicit consumption and legitimate cross-border shopping. It is not currently possible to distinguish between these two elements.
| Northern Ireland: Diesel: Revenue Not Collected and Market Shares: Non-UK Duty Paid Market1,2 | |||||
| 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
| Northern Ireland: Petrol: Revenue Not Collected and Market Shares: Non-UK Duty Paid Market 1,2 | |||||
| 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
9 July 2008 : Column WA85
Cycling: Hyde Park
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why cyclists were banned from cycling through the car park at the west end of Serpentine Road in Hyde Park on 2 July unless they were in possession of a disabled driver's badge. [HL4592]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Triangle car park to the west of the Serpentine Road is reserved for disabled badge holders on days when there are major events in Hyde Park. This is to allow good accessibility for people with disabilities. The car park remains open to cyclists.
A steward is employed at the car park on events days to control access of non-badge holders. Cyclists should not be stopped and the Royal Parks Agency will remind those stewards on duty at the car park of this.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Research Section
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs research sections have been closed in each of the past 10 years; and when. [HL4629]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): None of Defra’s research teams or divisions has been closed. Inevitably there has been reorganisation of science management over the past 10 years, not least due to the formation of Defra in 2001 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and part of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR). More recently, there have been some significant changes within Defra, which have led to the formation of policy groups for food and farming, the natural environment, and climate change.
Additionally, in line with recommendations from the 2004 Gershon review, there have been reductions in the total number of Defra staff, including specialist staff. Defra's research and development budget has also fallen over recent years.
These changes will obviously have an impact on the number and type of research projects that Defra is able to commission.
Our focus will continue to be on ensuring that the science the department procures and uses is both fully relevant to our needs and of the highest quality.
The Defra chief scientific adviser, Professor Bob Watson, is leading efforts to improve how Defra strategically manages and uses evidence, including scientific research and development.
9 July 2008 : Column WA86
Environmental Protection: Access to Justice
Lord Redesdale asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Which department has responsibility for ensuring compliance with Article 9 (access to justice) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, ratified by the United Kingdom in February 2005. [HL4576]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Defra has overall responsibility for related legislation and compliance with the convention.
Flooding: Recovery Funding
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 4 June (WA 57—8), whether the extra funding for flood recovery will be available only for damage to public sector buildings. [HL4456]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Government have been able to make available an additional £31 million to assist flood-affected areas following a successful bid to the European Union Solidarity Fund. Local authorities that receive a restoration fund grant will have the discretion to spend their allocation as they see fit, according to their local priorities. They may well choose to make payments to third parties, but this will be a decision made at a local level.
The Government will make announcements shortly on how the fund is to be allocated.
Foreign Nations: Exclusions
Baroness Neville-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many foreign nationals have been excluded from entering the United Kingdom on grounds of (a) national security, and (b) unacceptable behaviour in each year since July 2006. [HL4543]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2007, 105 foreign nationals were excluded from the United Kingdom on national security grounds and a further 23 were excluded on unacceptable behaviour grounds.
Between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008, 18 foreign nationals were excluded on national security grounds and a further 18 were excluded on unacceptable behaviour grounds.
9 July 2008 : Column WA87
Fuel Duty
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much revenue was generated for the Exchequer from vehicle fuel duty in each year from 1997—98 to 2007—08; and how much revenue they estimate will be generated in each year from 2008—09 to 2010—11. [HL4309]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Historic excise duty from road fuels revenues in previous years are published in the Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin. The full bulletin can be found at: www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulloil.
The forecast revenue from fuel duty for 2008-09 is £25.7 billion. This is published in table C.6 of the 2008 financial statement and Budget report. The full table can be found at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_08/report/bud_bud08_repindex.cfm.
Forecast receipts from road fuel duty are £27.1 billion in 2009-10 and £28.7 billion in 2010-11.
Health: Training
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer from Lord Darzi of Denham on 2 June (WA 14) concerning strategic health authorities and the objectives in the service-level agreements attached to the multi-professional education and training levy for 2007—08, whether the information requested is now available. [HL4556]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The information requested is still not available but should be available at the end of July. This information will be placed in the Library in due course.
Justice
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 25 June (WA 253) concerning 34 Questions on human rights, whether the letter containing the Answers will be printed in the Official Report; if not, why not; and when they will answer the Questions. [HL4507]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): I refer the noble Lord to my previous Answer on 25 June 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 253). I shall write to him before the House rises for the summer.
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