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We have repeatedly raised our concerns about the continued access restrictions with the Israeli Government in public and in private. We continue to call for the full implementation of the 2005 agreement on movement and access.
The quartet representative, Tony Blair, is also pressing for movement and access restrictions to be eased. The UK has contributed £400,000 and seconded four members of government staff to his office.
Prison: Knife Crime
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is sufficient prison accommodation to detain all individuals convicted of knife-related crimes in England and Wales. [HL5027]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Government will always ensure that there are sufficient prison places for those offenders whom the courts decide to send to custody, including those given a custodial sentence for an offence involving a knife.
Schools: Teachers
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many teacher training institutions are instructing student teachers that they should not touch children in their charge; whether they approve of this advice; and whether such advice is based on any law. [HL5146]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Lord Adonis): Information about the advice teacher training establishments give trainee teachers on physical contact with pupils is not collected centrally. Trainee teachers should not be advised that they should never have any physical contact with pupils because there are circumstances in which physical contact is entirely appropriate; for example, to prevent injury. Advice should be based on the DCSF guidance on use of force to control or restrain pupils, which also includes advice on physical contact in other circumstances. This is available at www.teachernet.qov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=12187.
Smoking
Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): There is a commitment comprehensively to review the impact of smoke-free legislation within three years of its implementation on 1 July 2007.
The department has just published the report Smoke free England—One Year On, which indicates that in its first year the smoke-free law has received growing public support as well as very high levels of compliance and that it has achieved its objective of reducing exposure to second-hand smoke in enclosed workplaces and public places. This report has already been placed in the Library.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to alter young people's perceptions of the social acceptability of smoking among adults; and [HL5105]
In the light of the British Medical Association's recent report Forever Cool: The Influence of Smoking Imagery on Young People, what consideration they are giving to limiting pro-smoking imagery in the entertainment media, and to increasing pro-health imagery; and [HL5107]
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Whether they will require all film and television programmes which portray positive images of smoking to be preceded by an anti-smoking advertisement; and [HL5108]
What consideration they have given to establishing an independent body to develop and deliver a population-wide communications programme promoting anti-smoking messages and imagery. [HL5109]
Lord Darzi of Denham: Reducing smoking among young people is a priority for the Government. Much has already been achieved in this area, including raising the age of sale of tobacco products, legislation to strengthen sanctions available against retailers who persistently sell tobacco to children and young people and smoking is addressed in the national curriculum and through the Healthy Schools Programme.
Protecting children and young people from smoking is one of four key aspects of the department's Consultation on the Future of Tobacco control published on 31 May 2008. Responses to the consultation will inform the development of a new strategy on tobacco control, which will include action to continue to tackle the uptake of smoking by young people.
Sudan: Oil Revenues
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What mechanisms exist to ensure that oil revenues in Sudan are distributed in accordance with the comprehensive peace agreement. [HL4043]
Baroness Crawley: Under the wealth sharing protocol of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA), a National Petroleum Commission (NPC) has been created to formulate and monitor policies and guidelines for the development of the petroleum sector in Sudan, including the approval of oil exploration and production contracts. The NPC is co-chaired by the presidents of the national Government and the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and contains four permanent members each from the national Government and GOSS and up to three non-permanent members from oil producing states or regions. A separate technical committee comprising of officials from the national Government and GOSS ministries of finance also exists to determine the monthly distribution of oil revenues between the national Government, GOSS and oil producing state governments on a monthly basis, in line with the agreed CPA revenue sharing formulae.
The CPA assessment and evaluation commission (AEC), which includes members from the National Congress Party (NCP), Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the international community, also monitors progress on overall CPA implementation. The AEC has a wealth sharing group, chaired by the United States Government, which has a specific focus on oil and other CPA wealth sharing issues, and meets regularly.
While there were some delays in establishing the NPC, and it has met only on a few occasions, the technical committee works well and oil revenue sharing since 2005 has largely been in accordance with the CPA formulae. The main exception has been oil produced
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Tribunals
Lord Bramall asked Her Majesty's Government:
When Sir Robert Carnwath's term of office as senior president of tribunals is due to expire. [HL5132]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The right honourable Lord Justice (Robert John Anderson) Carnwath was appointed as senior president of tribunals for three years from 12 November 2007.
Waste Management
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 21 June 2007 (WA 71), which European Union legislation contributed to current waste disposal requirements in the United Kingdom; whether such requirements would be in force in the absence of such legislation, and if so, on what grounds. [HL5185]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Government’s Waste Strategy for England, published in May 2007, summarises the Government’s waste policies. Chapter 3 of the strategy covers the main legislation on waste disposal requirements and explains that most waste regulation in the UK is derived from EU legislation on waste. The principal EU directives controlling waste disposal are the waste framework directive, which was first adopted in 1975 and which is about to be revised and updated, and the landfill directive, agreed in 1999, which sets targets for the diversion of municipal waste from landfill. There are a number of other directives; for example, on waste incineration and hazardous waste.
The principal objectives of EU waste legislation, which the Government fully endorse, are that waste be managed in a way that does not harm the environment or endanger human health, and that waste policies should contribute to action against climate change. It is therefore likely that, in the absence of any EU requirements, successive UK Governments would have put similar legislation in place.
West Papua
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they, and international organisations, are taking in respect of West Papua to improve education, to protect the rainforest and to prevent damage from mining and hydrocarbon extraction. [HL3111]
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Baroness Crawley: Since 2003, the UK has provided £3 million to improve natural resource management and strengthen local government in Papua. This includes £1 million to Papuan civil society organisations and local government to protect poor communities’ rights to forests and to monitor illegal logging; and £2 million to strengthen Papuan local government to protect natural resources and improve services.
The United Nations Development Programme has provided £3 million since 2006 to help Papua meet the millennium development goals.
Answers received between Wednesday 27 August and Monday 1 September 2008
Afghanistan: Bagram Airbase Prisoners
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether British intelligence officers are involved in the interrogation of prisoners at the United States-controlled Bagram airbase. [HL5133]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): I am withholding the information requested as its release would be prejudicial to national security. Wherever they are deployed, British forces carry out their duties in accordance with UK legal obligations.
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the identity and nationality of prisoner number 650 at Bagram airbase, known as the grey lady of Bagram; and [HL5135]
What is their response to the alleged sexual and physical abuse of prison number 650 at Bagram airbase; and whether she is forced to use communal toilet and shower facilities in full view of the guards; and [HL5136]
Whether there is a psychiatric and medical report on prisoner number 650 at Bagram airbase, known as the grey lady of Bagram; and whether they have made any representations to the Government of the United States in relation to her psychiatric and physical condition. [HL5137]
Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Bagram airbase is a US facility. We do not have any information on whether male and female prisoners are held together on the airbase; nor do we hold information on the identity, nationality or treatment of any prisoner known as prisoner number 650 or the grey lady of Bagram.
We have not, therefore, made any representation to the US Government.
Armed Forces: Complex Weapons
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Statement on complex weapons by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 15 July (WS 58), what material contracts have been entered into in relation to the formation and work of Team CW;
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Further to my Answer to the noble Lord of 25 July 2008, the two enabling contracts for the assessment phase for complex weapons were entered into with MBDA (UK) Ltd and Thales UK on 27 June 2008. The Team CW teaming agreement between the Ministry of Defence, MBDA (UK) Ltd, Thales UK, Roxel (UK Rocket Motors) Ltd and QinetiQ Ltd was concluded on 4 July 2008. The value of the first year of the assessment phase is some £74 million including VAT. Some £69 million is associated with these three contracts.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Statement on complex weapons by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 15 July (WS 58), what steps they are taking to ensure their unfettered access to the source codes for all software used in the projects listed in the Statement; and [HL5139]
Further to the Written Statement on complex weapons by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 15 July (WS 58), what provisions have been embodied in arrangements for the work of Team CW to achieve and protect the United Kingdom's sovereign interests, given that shareholdings in the companies in Team CW are substantially in the hands of non-United Kingdom entities. [HL5142]
Baroness Taylor of Bolton: In addition to providing effective military capability and value for money, the Team CW concept being tested through the assessment phase is predicated on the delivery of operational sovereignty of future UK weapon systems, including those listed in the Written Statement, in a more sustainable fashion than is expected through other means. Delivery of such operational sovereignty is based on the UK retaining essential sovereign industrial and technical skills onshore, including access to relevant technologies and software.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Statement on complex weapons by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 15 July (WS 58), what are the key user requirements of each project assigned to Team CW. [HL5143]
Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Performance requirements are not set until the completion of the assessment phase. Decisions on key user requirements will therefore be made at the main gate point for the six projects within the complex weapons sector assessment phase. This is not expected to be before 2010-11.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
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