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Written Answers
Thursday, 6th May 1999.
Sudan
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What proportion of the European Union's humanitarian aid budget has been directed to Sudan annually since 1996.[HL2209]
Baroness Amos: The European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) humanitarian aid budget for Sudan as a percentage of this particular ECHO budget is as follows:
- 1996: 5.75 per cent.
- 1997: 3.72 per cent.
- 1998: 5.38 per cent.
- 1999 (to date): 6.75 per cent.
- How many food distribution points within southern Sudan have been operated by Operation Lifeline in each year since 1990.[HL2208]
Baroness Amos: According to the World Food Programme (WFO), the only readily available information on the number of food distribution points in Southern Sudan operated by Operation Lifeline is as follows:
- 1992-96: varying between 15-30
- 1997: approximately 25
- 1998: varying between 60-80
- 1999 to date: up to 50.
Fluoride Intake for Bottle-fed Infants
Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why the figure for safe intakes of fluoride for bottle-fed infants in areas with fluoridated water has been changed from 0.05 mg/kg/day in the 1991 Department of Health Report on Health and Social Subjects 41 (at paragraph 36.2) to 0.22 mg/kg/day in the 1996 version (36.8.1); and in particular whether this change is dependent on the finding in 36.8.1 that this is what some infants are in fact ingesting; and[HL2180]
Whether they still believe that the 0.05 mg/kg/day figure for safe intakes of fluoride in bottle-fed infants in areas with fluoridated water represents 50 per cent. of the amount likely to cause dental fluorosis, as stated in the 1991 Department of Health Report on Health and Social Subjects 41 at paragraph 36.2; and, if they do not, what evidence has caused them to change their minds.[HL2181]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman): It has never been the government view that 0.05 mg/kg/d represented 50 per cent. of the intake likely to cause dental fluorosis among infants. The 1991 edition of the Department of Health Report on Health and Social Subjects No. 41 (36.2) wrongly quoted a level of 0.05 mg/kg/d for all infants and children when, in fact, that was the level appropriate for children over six years and adults. This was corrected in 1994 (6th impression) when the chapter on fluoride (Chapter 36) was rewritten to ensure that accurate information was available.
General Osteopathic Council
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the General Osteopathic Council is sufficiently representative of the various institutions of osteopathy; and whether osteopaths who have practised safely and competently for at least five out of the last seven years are being sufficiently encouraged to register under the provisions of the Osteopaths Act 1993.[HL2258]
Baroness Hayman: The members of the General Osteopathic Council do not represent any particular osteopathic institutions but have been appointed on the basis of individual merit and for their ability to secure and maintain the highest standards of training, clinical practice and professional conduct.
In order to encourage existing osteopaths to apply for registration, the General Osteopathic Council has contacted all known United Kingdom osteopaths (3,244 in total), offering them support and encouragement. The Council's aim is to enable as many osteopaths as possible, who can fulfil the statutory requirements, to achieve registration, whatever their former practice background or chosen way into the profession. As of 30 April 1999, 1,043 osteopaths had done so and a further 434 had completed applications.
Residential and Nursing Home Standards: Report
Lord Rea asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will publish the report by the Centre for Policy on Ageing on National Required Standards for Residential and Nursing Homes, which was commissioned by the Department of Health and presented to them and the Welsh Office on 19 January.[HL2288]
Baroness Hayman: We intend to publish the Centre for Policy on Ageing report shortly for full and extensive consultation.
Working Time Directive: HGV Owner Drivers
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they support the European Commission's draft announcement to the Working Time Directive which, while including within its scope all other transport workers, specifically excludes HGV owner drivers; and[HL2082]
Whether the exclusion of HGV owner drivers from the draft amendment to the EC Working Time Directive is acceptable in terms of (a) road safety; and (b) fair competition with larger HGV firms and rail freight.[HL2083]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The European Commission published proposals on 18 November 1998 to extend the provisions of the Working Time Directive to cover workers who were excluded. This included a draft directive for road transport which applied to both employed and self employed drivers. The Government believe that the Commission's proposals should provide minimum standards of protection against workers being forced to work long hours. The Government do not believe that the proposals need apply to the self employed, as they can determine their own hours of work.
The existing drivers' hours regulations protect road safety.
Badger Cull Trial Areas
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the next areas to be brought into the randomised badger culling trial.[HL2343]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue): Using the criteria set out in their report of last July, the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB has now identified the fourth triplet of trial areas. It is located in East Herefordshire, and work will begin there shortly.
GM Crop Farm-scale Evaluations
Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will specify, for each of the plantings of genetically-modified crops participating in the recently-announced farm-scale evaluations,
(a) the tests and trials which have been, are being and are planned to be, carried out for the purpose of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended); and (b) the date they expect a proposed listing decision to be made under those regulations.[HL2195]
Lord Donoughue: The genetically modified crops included in the farm-scale evaluations are forage maize,
spring oilseed rape and winter oilseed rape. The industry body SCIMAC (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops) is providing seed for the plantings. I understand that SCIMAC have provided seed of two plant varieties (a forage maize and a spring oilseed rape) which are in National List tests and trials for inclusion in plantings of the farm-scale evaluations of genetically modified crops. Tests and trials are carried out on forage maize and spring oilseed rape for the purpose of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended), to establish whether varieties are distinct, uniform and stable and have value for cultivation and use.The two varieties which I understand SCIMAC have provided for the field-scale evaluations have both completed one year of tests and trials. The spring oilseed rape has recently been planted in National List tests and trials for a second year. It is expected that the forage maize variety will be planted in National List tests and trials for a second year during this planting season. The earliest date at which a decision might be proposed on whether to add these varieties to the UK National List is November 1999 for the spring oilseed rape and February 2000 for the forage maize.
Winter oilseed rape will not be planted in the farm-scale evaluations until the autumn.
Multilateral Agreement on Investment
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any further negotiation is going on within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or elsewhere on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment which was agreed last year; and, if so, where, and who are the participants.[HL2221]
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Simon of Highbury): Negotiations in the OECD on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) ceased last year without being concluded. There are no negotiations on the MAI in the OECD or elsewhere.
Discussions and analysis, but not negotiations, continue in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Working Group on Trade and Investment and in parallel in the UNCTAD Expert Meetings on International Investment Agreements. It remains the aim of the UK and the EC to include a multilateral framework for investment in the new round of trade negotiations in the WTO but this will be a new framework based on new objectives established by consensus.
Mobile Phone Masts: Siting
Lord Wise asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What recommendations they have made to local authorities regarding the siting of mobile phone communication pylons within designated green belt areas.[HL2256]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty): The Government's general policy on telecommunications development is to facilitate the growth of a national telecommunications network whilst protecting the environment, including designated areas such as the green belts. The Government has issued planning policy guidance on both telecommunications development and development in green belts. This should be taken into account by local planning authorities in formulating their development plan policies and proposals and in reaching decisions on individual developments.
It is important that the environmental impact of telecommunications development is minimised wherever it occurs. Operators are encouraged to consult local planning authorities before making any application to erect a mobile phone mast to facilitate consideration of its siting and appearance.
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