asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has withheld details of bluetongue cases from the relevant local authority where recent outbreaks have occurred; if so, whether this is in accordance with government policy; and whether, in light of the enforcement responsibilities of local authorities, the withholding of this information is consistent with tackling the disease in a multi-agency approach. [HL5465]

The divisional offices of Animal Health that have dealt with all the confirmed bluetongue cases so far have kept the relevant local authorities informed of all cases, and plans have been agreed to maintain such a flow of information. There is no question of withholding information from such important operational partners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will provide a record of the contingency exercises carried out by agencies of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to a potential outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the current calendar year in (a) England and Wales, and (b) Scotland; and how the distribution of those exercises was determined. [HL5431]

Animal Health (AH), an executive agency of Defra, has a programme of co-ordinated exotic animal disease exercises being undertaken by Animal Health divisional offices (AHDOs) throughout Great Britain. This is in addition to the Defra/Animal Health national exercise which is held approximately every two years.

The aim of the exercises is to demonstrate the AH's emergency preparedness to deal effectively with outbreaks of exotic animal disease and identify lessons for the future. Each AHDO is required to take part in one full-scale exercise each year and AH strategically ensures that it tests plans for the exotic diseases that are deemed to be a high priority for contingency planning. The distribution of exercises is based on a mixture of the most likely diseases to be encountered and the national strategic objective of ensuring that plans for all high-priority diseases are tested.

During the last financial year (April 2006 to April 2007) there were a total of seven British exercises undertaken (involving 16 AHDOs). Of these, two (involving four AHDOs) were for foot and mouth disease. In Scotland, there was one exercise (involving three AHDOs) with none for foot and mouth disease. In Wales, there was one exercise (involving two AHDOs) with none for foot and mouth disease. In addition, during this period, six AHDOs (including one in Wales) were involved in Exercise Hawthorn, the national avian influenza exercise. The last national exercise for foot and mouth disease, Exercise Hornbeam, was in 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many sorties, involving how many aircraft, on how many of the past 60 days have been launched to monitor Russian aircraft approaching United Kingdom airspace; and whether consideration is being given to the number of future Tornado fighters based at RAF Leeming. [HL5361]

Quick Reaction Alert aircraft were launched to intercept Russian aircraft on four separate days during August and September 2007. I am withholding information on the number of sorties and the number of intercepting aircraft as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our Armed Forces.

Tornado F3 aircraft are being gradually withdrawn from service as they are replaced by Typhoon aircraft. The remaining Tornado F3 unit based at RAF Leeming is due to disband in 2008. We keep our air defence capability under constant review to ensure that we meet our commitment to protect the UK and its airspace.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they are giving to large-scale geo-engineering schemes as ways of tackling problems caused by global warming; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which such schemes may contribute to a solution to climate change. [HL5438]

Defra keeps in view potential geo-engineering options for mitigating climate change as they are presented, but does not currently support any research into the development of such large-scale geo-engineering schemes.

Some large-scale geo-engineering schemes may have limited potential as a means of reducing future global warming. However, I understand there are significant scientific and technical concerns over all the currently high-profile geo-engineering ideas. There are also grave concerns about the risks of environmentally damaging side effects and considerable debate over the practicability and costs of such schemes.

Our assessments are informed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment, whose latest report was published in 2007, by Defra-funded science undertaken at the Met Office Hadley Centre, and by UK Research Council scientists.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will set out the timetable for considering the replies to the consultation on coastal access and preparing and publishing their response. [HL5442]

On 27 September, we announced our intention to introduce legislation to give the public, for the first time, the right to walk around the English coast.

We are currently analysing the responses to a recent public consultation on ways to improve coastal access and will publish a report later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Jonathan Shaw, on 25 July (Official Report, 1079W), whether they have statistics available to indicate the number of farmers in each band for whom the single payment scheme provides (a) less than 25 per cent; (b) 25 per cent to 50 per cent; (c) 50 per cent to 80 per cent; and (d) over 80 per cent of their income; and, if so, what are those statistics. [HL5500]

The department does not hold information on farmers' income.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the 10-yearly review of access land under Part 1 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 will commence; and what is the timetable for the review. [HL5397]

Section 10 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 requires the conclusive maps of open country and registered common land to be reviewed not more than 10 years after they were issued. The eight conclusive maps in England were issued between May 2004 and August 2005. We will ensure the review is completed to meet the statutory deadline.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the latest estimate of when North Sea oil reserves will run out. [HL5422]

Even without further discoveries, production of oil from the UK sector of the North Sea is expected to continue to around 2035. With continued exploration success, production should continue beyond then.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the electrical energy from currently proposed Scottish renewables will be delivered to the southern English markets; and at what extra cost to the distribution system and to consumers. [HL5368]

Ofgem has already authorised some £560 million for network reinforcements related to Scottish renewable development. However, there is currently some 12GW of renewable generation projects with offers of connection to the electricity grid in Scotland, which is considerably in excess of existing network capability.

Delivering these network developments will take time and the Government have encouraged National Grid and Ofgem to develop measures to ensure that the utilisation of existing grid capacity is maximised and renewable projects are connected as quickly as possible. Ofgem will report on the progress of this work later this month.

In addition, a fundamental review of the arrangements for allocating access to the GB transmission system was initiated by the Energy White Paper and is being taken forward jointly with Ofgem. The review will publish interim findings in December, with the final report expected in May 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have recently agreed arrangements with private sector contractors for the future provision of large-scale information technology services to the Department for Work and Pensions. [HL5328]

The Department for Work and Pensions has a portfolio of commercial arrangements through which it secures the current, and future, provision of information technology (IT) services. This portfolio comprises department-specific arrangements, as well as wider public sector agreements available via the Office of Government Commerce.

Contracts awarded under those arrangements covered the provision of: the Customer Information System (2003), the Pensions Transformation Project (2003), the Resource Management System (Development-2003 and Operation-2004), and the Central Payments System (2006). All of these provide an element of future services; for example, to meet new business requirements. We are currently agreeing contracts to cover the IT services required to support the delivery of the new employment and support allowance.

Additionally, in 2005, the department realigned its existing contracts to deliver IT support and telephony services with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and BT until 2010. The contract re-alignment simplified the complex structure of separate contracts inherited by the department when it was created out of the former Department of Social Security and the Department for Education and Employment. Benefits to the department include upgraded IT systems, improved system performance at highly competitive prices and a modernised voice over internet protocol (VOIP) communications network with new contact centre technology, to provide the department, and its customers, with a more reliable, better-performing service.

The department periodically reviews its commercial arrangements to ensure that they continue to meet the business need and deliver appropriate value for money.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When it will be possible for Members of the House of Lords to file their tax returns online. [HL5472]

HMRC is looking at possible enhancements to its online services to enable the very small minority of self-assessment taxpayers, including some Members of the House of Lords, currently unable to file their tax returns online, to do so. However, these will take time to develop and it is not currently possible to say when those Members will be able to file online.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received recent representations from the United Kingdom manufacturing industry about the effect of higher interest rates and the rise of the value of sterling on the export market; and, if so, how many representations they have received. [HL5132]

Ministers and officials receive a wide range of representations on a variety of issues as part of the process of policy development and analysis.

Interest rate decisions are made by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, which is independent from the Government, based on rigorous analysis and taking into account all relevant information, to meet the Government's inflation target.

This Government believe it would be inappropriate to use artificial measures to reduce the level of sterling. This would risk a return to the economic instability, which did so much to damage UK manufacturing in the past.

Going forwards, global economic recovery is expected to underpin strengthening external demand for UK manufactures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many (a) charges, and (b) convictions there have been for offences under the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860 in each of the years 1997 to 2006 inclusive. [HL5246]

In England and Wales, charging data are not collected by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, but prosecution and conviction data from 1997 to 2005 for offences under the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860 are shown in the attached table. Data for 2006 will be available in November 2007.

In Northern Ireland, there were no prosecutions or convictions between 1997 and 2005 under the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860.

The Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860 does not cover Scotland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to enhance the United Kingdom's high-value manufacturing base. [HL5331]

The Government will continue to progress the manufacturing strategy put in place in 2002 which is designed to make the UK a world leader in modern manufacturing. The strategy includes a range of support including strong investment in science, financial support for technological innovation and R&D, support to encourage investment and for the application of design and best practice. The R&D tax credit has provided more than £1.8 billion of support to business since its introduction and the Manufacturing Advisory Service has generated over £411 million for manufacturing firms since 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to publicise the threat to the environment from the mercury contained in low-energy light bulbs. [HL5393]

Low-energy light bulbs contain a small dose of mercury and should be disposed of responsibly. Recent legislation which implements two EC directives on electrical and electronic equipment limits the amount of mercury which such bulbs may contain and sets up a framework for disposing of them in an environmentally safe manner.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (WEEE) require all distributors of low-energy light bulbs—referred to in the legislation as “compact fluorescent lamps”—to provide information to consumers and other users on the requirement not to dispose of such bulbs and a wide range of other electrical and electronic equipment as unsorted municipal waste; the return and collection systems available to them; their role in contributing to reuse, recovery and recycling; the potential effects on the environment and human health of any hazardous substances in this equipment; and the meaning of the wheeled bin symbol which is placed on products.

The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (RoHS) prohibited the placing on the market of such bulbs that contain more than 5mg of mercury per bulb from 1 July 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements are in place to facilitate the safe recycling of low-energy light bulbs. [HL5394]

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (WEEE) place a responsibility on the manufacturers to ensure that low-energy light bulbs, referred to in the legislation as “compact fluorescent lamps”, are disposed of in a safe manner.

How this is done in any given part of the country will depend on arrangements made by the local authority. Since 1 July this year, a collection network is in place allowing final holders to return household lamps free of charge to designated collection facilities, (generally civic amenity sites).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to inform the public of the need for the safe recycling of the mercury contained in low-energy light bulbs. [HL5395]

Following the introduction of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (WEEE), local authorities are working together with the retailers of electrical and electronic equipment in their local area to ensure that householders know where they can deposit old equipment (including low-energy light bulbs) for treatment and recycling.

These regulations require all distributors (retailers, mail-order companies and internet sellers) of low-energy light bulbs—referred to in the legislation as “compact fluorescent lamps”—to provide information to consumers and other users on the requirement not to dispose of such bulbs as unsorted municipal waste; the return and collection systems available to them; their role in contributing to reuse, recovery and recycling; the potential effects on the environment and human health of any hazardous substances in this equipment; and the meaning of the wheeled bin symbol which is placed on products.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who is currently responsible for ensuring the safe recycling of the mercury contained in low-energy light bulbs. [HL5396]

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (WEEE) established a collection network allowing the final holders of low-energy light bulbs—referred to in the legislation as “compact fluorescent lamps”—to return them and other electrical equipment free of charge to designated collection facilities (generally civic amenity sites for householders, with other facilities for business-to-business waste) at end of life.

Producer compliance schemes, (acting on behalf of those that originally placed the product on the market), must collect deposited bulbs from these facilities and ensure that they are treated and recycled to the treatment standards laid down in the regulations and guidance documents.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals there are to open an office of the United Kingdom Passport Agency in Armagh city; and whether persons resident in the Republic of Ireland will be able to apply for British passports at this office. [HL5418]

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) is in the course of establishing 69 offices in the UK to interview adult first-time passport applicants. There will be interview offices in Belfast, Coleraine, Omagh and Armagh. The Armagh interview office will open in November 2007 at First Floor (level 3), 17-21 Market Street, Armagh, BT61 7BW.

It will not be possible to apply for a passport in the Armagh office. Passport applications cannot be lodged directly at any interview office but must continue to be made to the existing regional passport offices. Adult first-time passport applicants will be invited to make an appointment at an interview office of their choice after their application has been checked. British nationals resident in the Republic of Ireland can renew their passports in person at the regional passport office in Belfast but must send postal applications to the British Embassy in Dublin.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to cancel the Watford-Gatwick Airport service via the West London Line south of Clapham Junction. [HL5449]

The Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy, published in February 2006, recommended that the West London Line passenger service should not run on the fast lines south of Clapham Junction, for reasons of performance reliability, although there may be opportunities to route these trains via the slow lines. The recommendations of the RUS will be implemented at the timetable change date in December 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made on the Discovering Lost Ways project; whether changes have been made in its objectives and methods of working; and what is the programme and timetable for progress on the project. [HL5401]

To date, the Discovering Lost Ways project has concentrated on the development of research procedures and has focused primarily on Cheshire and Shropshire. It is expected that research in these counties will be completed shortly.

Natural England is currently undertaking a review of Discovering Lost Ways. This review aims to define the most cost-effective approach to the project. A report on this will go to my Defra ministerial colleagues and me at the end of 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether an assessment has been made of the impact of the summer flooding on footpaths, bridleways and other recreational rights of way; what estimates have been made of the costs of necessary repair and restoration works; and how such work will be funded. [HL5400]

Local highway authorities have been carrying out assessments of the impact of recent flooding on their rights of way and estimating the costs of repair and restoration. These estimates are not collected centrally. The funding for the repair of flood-damaged rights of way is a matter for local highway authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will now introduce the necessary arrangements to enable the Monarch or heir to the throne to marry a Roman Catholic. [HL5379]

The Government have always stood firmly against discrimination in all its forms, including against Roman Catholics, and they will continue to do so. To bring about change to the law on succession would be a complex undertaking involving amendment or repeal of a number of items of related legislation, as well as requiring the consent of legislatures of member nations of the Commonwealth. The Government have no immediate plans to legislate in this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the annual amount raised by the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the cost of repairs to historic houses; and what consideration they are giving to removing VAT on such repairs or providing a tax allowance to offset the cost of such repairs. [HL5435]

Approved alteration work to listed houses is already VAT zero-rated. Under our VAT agreements with our European partners, we may not extend our existing zero rates or introduce any new ones. It is therefore not possible to extend this zero rate to cover all repair work to all historic houses.

A direct tax allowance for repairs and other running expenses is already available for owners of historic properties that are open to the public as a trading activity.

As regards further measures, all taxes are kept under review and any changes are considered by the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT from individual goods and services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what date, in respect of which boat and to whom enforcement in the form of a letter was sent to the boat owner responsible for pollution of the River Thames at Maidenhead in the week of 10 September. [HL5458]

The Environment Agency is currently investigating the incident and is yet to issue a warning letter. For a warning letter to be issued, the Environment Agency has to confirm, beyond any reasonable doubt, the owner of the boat and the address at which they reside.