Lords Hansard text for 29 Sep 200829 Sep 2008 (pt 0025)

Health: Herbal Products

Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 July (cols. WA 254—255), (a) what estimate they have made of the cost of commissioning chromatographic fingerprinting tests for multi-ingredient herbal remedies; and (b) when Ministers last met representatives of the European Commission to discuss the impact of the traditional herbal medicines directive (2004/24/EC); and what was the outcome.[HL5309]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): In its regulatory impact assessment of the traditional herbal registration (THR) scheme, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) estimated that typically the overall costs of registering a product under the scheme, including the cost associated with chromatographic testing, could be several tens of thousand pounds. It was anticipated that this figure would vary widely according to specific circumstances, not least depending on whether companies already had systematic quality control systems in place. This assessment has not changed.

Ministers have not met representatives of the European Commission to discuss the impact of the traditional herbal medicines directive. However, the Government do take the issue of regulatory impact very seriously and continue to seek ways of minimising its impact. In

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its response to the Commission's 2007 review of the early operation of the directive, the MHRA stressed the need to carefully manage and minimise regulatory impact while not compromising public health. MHRA's response to the Commission is available on its website at: www.mhra.gov.uk/Publications/Consultations/CON2031524.

Heritage: Historic Ships

Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to secure the future of historic ships in the forthcoming Heritage Protection Bill.[HL5275]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The draft Heritage Protection Bill will continue the level of protection provided by current legislation for ships fixed to land and lying wrecked on the sea bed. There are no provisions in the draft Bill specifically for the protection or management of historic ships in use.

House of Lords: Reform

Lord Carlile of Berriew asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent, in considering House of Lords reform, they have taken into account the value the House attaches to the participation of the senior judiciary in debates and on committees.[HL5226]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Under the Government's proposals for a reformed second Chamber, retired judges would be able to stand for election or be appointed, if it is decided that appointments are to be made.

The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 set out clearly the separation of the judiciary from the legislature, including that judges serving in the Supreme Court will not take part in the work of the House of Lords.

Licensing

Baroness Coussins asked Her Majesty's Government:

What mechanisms are used to inform local authorities of their powers and duties under the Licensing Act 2003; what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of such methods; and what resources are available for informing local authorities of their powers and duties under that Act.[HL5263]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The principal mechanism for informing local authorities of their powers and duties under the Licensing Act 2003 is the guidance issued under Section 182 to licensing authorities, the police and other agencies. Revised guidance was issued in June 2007, following extensive consultation with stakeholders including the Local Government Association (LGA) and Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory

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Services (LACORS) to ensure it remains effective. In addition, DCMS officials attend meetings of LACORS local and regional licensing groups, as well as other events such as the recent national enforcement summit with senior police and local authority representatives, which will be followed up with a series of similar regional events later this year.

Baroness Coussins asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are considering amending the Licensing Act 2003 to include the protection and promotion of public health as one of its objectives. [HL5268]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government currently have no plans to amend the Licensing Act 2003 to add any additional licensing objectives.

Licensing: Music

Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 22 July (WA 242), with which representatives of the music sector they are discussing draft exemptions to the Licensing Act 2003. [HL5272]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is at an early stage of the development of exemptions for low-impact licensable activities, including small-scale live music.

Officials have discussed the draft live music exemptions with the Musicians' Union and with individual live music providers. We will continue to discuss all of the exemptions with a variety of stakeholders, particularly those on our licensing advisory group, which includes the Arts Council representing all the arts, including music.

Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 22 July (WA 272), what is their definition of the phrase “de minimis” in that context; whether low-impact licensing activities are already exempt from the scope of the Licensing Act 2003 by virtue of being de minimis; and, if so, whether the proposed consultation will be based on activities which are not de minimis but may nonetheless be suitable for exemption.[HL5273]

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is at an early stage of the development of exemptions for low-impact licensable activities, including small-scale live music. The term that has been used to describe these proposals during their development is “de minimis”. This term is not intended to define the exemptions but is merely a short-hand way of referring to activities that may, subject to further analysis and consultation, be appropriate for exemption from the scope of the Act in view of their likely low impact on the licensing objectives.

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Northern Ireland Office: Bonuses

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 22 July (WA 274—5) concerning bonuses paid to civil servants, what are the overall limits set by HM Treasury for each department; and how much was allocated as bonuses.[HL5292]

Lord Bach: The 2008-09 Civil Service pay guidance does not set a limit on the proportion of pay that can be devoted to rewarding performance. The amount allocated as performance pay for each department below the SCS is not held centrally.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what basis the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland was instructed by a Northern Ireland Office Minister to participate in recent negotiations with the Ulster Defence Association; and whether they will clarify the circumstances. [HL5223]

Lord Rooker: The Government are not engaged in negotiations with the Ulster Defence Association. The chief constable of the PSNI was invited by Paul Goggins to attend a meeting with the Ulster Political Research Group and other prominent loyalists on 28 July 2008. The issues addressed included the interface between local community representatives and district police commanders.

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their policy to involve senior police commanders in confidential negotiations with terrorists and criminals; and, if so, how such negotiations facilitate the administration of justice. [HL5224]

Lord Rooker: The Government have no policy of this sort.

Political Parties: Funding

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 14 July (WA 125) concerning donations to political parties, why there are different rules for Irish citizens living in the United Kingdom and for British citizens living in the Republic of Ireland.[HL5297]

Lord Rooker: An individual's nationality and country of residence can affect his or her eligibility to make political donations in several ways. As I explained in my Answer of 14 July, individuals can donate to political parties in the United Kingdom if they are on a United Kingdom electoral register. Nationality and

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country of residence are relevant in determining whether an individual is eligible to register to vote in the UK; for example, British citizens living outside the UK can apply to be on the register in certain circumstances, whilst non-British citizens cannot. There are also specific additional arrangements enabling Irish citizens to donate to Northern Ireland political parties but not parties in the rest of the UK.