asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the modified Brussels Treaty:

Article XII of the Brussels Treaty states that:"[The Treaty] shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of the last instrument of ratification and shall remain in force for fifty years.After the expiry of the period of fifty years, each of the High Contracting Parties shall have the right to cease to be a party thereto provided that he shall have previously given one year's notice of denunciation to the Belgian Government".As the text of this Article was not amended by the modification to the Brussels Treaty in 1954, the Government consider that the period of fifty years is to be measured from the date of entry into force of the original Treaty (25th August 1948).It may be misleading to suggest that the Treaty has a deadline of 1998; it is not a deadline for termination. Instead, from 25th August 1998, each of the High Contracting Parties may denounce the Treaty individually. It has always been possible for the High Contracting Parties to agree collectively to amend or terminate it. The expiry of the period of 50 years does not affect this right in any way. The Treaty will remain in force, unamended, until such time as the Parties collectively decide otherwise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose to take up the Mexican Government's proposal for a global summit to tackle the issue of the drug market that would pay as much attention to the consumer end of the trade as to the producer end.

Discussions on the Mexican proposal for a World Drugs Conference are currently taking place at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna. A number of alternative proposals will be discussed, including a Special Session on drugs at the UN General Assembly. Strong support for the three UN Drugs Conventions, the Global Plan of Action and the System Wide Action Plan to tackle drugs already exists in the General Assembly and among member states. We therefore do not believe that a further high-level meeting is necessary, but if a consensus emerges that more needs to be done we will seek to ensure that the outcome is as effective as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the status under the Chemical Weapons Convention of the 3.6 million United States chemical weapons, some of which will not be destroyed until 2004, and whether any international control is to be expected over these chemical weapons or those also as yet undestroyed in the Soviet Union.

The Chemical Weapons Convention has not yet entered into force. We expect it to do so in late 1996 or early 1997. States Parties will have to declare any stocks of chemical weapons they hold, and destroy them within a maximum of 15 years. Declarations and destructions will be verified by inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The United States and the countries of the former Soviet Union will be subject to these international controls once they have ratified the convention.The United States and Russia are also negotiating a bilateral agreement, complementary to the Chemical Weapons Convention which would provide for mutual verification of destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any progress has been made on the updating of the 1987 Gibraltar Airport Agreement mentioned by Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish on 16th June 1994 in a Written Answer (H.L. Deb., col.

The British Government's position on the 1987 Joint Declaration concerning Gibraltar Airport is unchanged. We believe an airport agreement would benefit Gibraltar, but we will not impose it. We believe a satisfactory solution can still be found and remain willing to work to that end.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the principle of the separation of powers applies to the European Court of Human Rights and to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Yes, in the sense that each is given its respective functions by the relevant agreements. In particular, the Government fully respect the independence of the Court. That does not, however, prevent governments expressing their views, including within the Committee of Ministers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the creation of a permanent international criminal court of adjudication on gross abuses of human rights, such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Government support the establishment of an International Criminal Court to try certain of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community; our support for the establishment of such a court is dependent, among other things, upon its being a court of last resort in cases where states are unable or unwilling to act. A court should only be established if it is generally accepted by the international community.The Government will take a final decision as to whether to become party to the statute establishing such a court once the statute is finalised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will translate and place in the Library of the House copies of the following three documents placed before the court in the Mykonos trial in Berlin: a report by the German Chancellor's office, released on 13th April 1994; a report by the German internal intelligence organisation BfV (Federal Department for the Protection of the Constitution); and a report by the German interior security organisation presented to the court on 19th December 1995; and whether they will also translate and place in the Library of the House transcripts of the evidence given by Herr Klaus Grunewald, Director-General of the "foreign extremism section" of the BfV.

The German authorities have informed us that they are not able to release the documents in question while the trial is still pending and the documents remain sub judice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they are taking to implement the recommendations of the Ministers of the Council of Europe concerning extra-territorial jurisdiction, adopted on 9th September 1991 (Document R (91)11, in particular part 11, 2 to 4).

We are taking positive steps to assist those countries where child prostitution exists and to strengthen action against those in the UK who organise sex tours or who encourage others to travel abroad for the purposes of sexually exploiting children. In this context, the Government are supporting a Sexual Offences (Conspiracy and Incitement) Bill, the purpose of which is to make it an offence for persons in the UK to conspire with or incite others to commit sexual acts against children abroad which would be offences if committed in the UK.An interdepartmental review is considering the general issues of extra territorial jurisdiction. But the UK police already provide assistance to local police forces directly and through participation in training sessions arranged by Interpol. The National Criminal Intelligence Service also provides assistance through Interpol to police in countries receiving sex tourists in order to help identify British sex tourists.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the refusal of the export licence for de Troy's "Reading of Moliere" in favour of purchase by a private individual, (a) whether the purchaser is a United Kingdom subject; (b) what undertakings were received from the purchaser that the picture would be properly conserved and made available for public enjoyment; and (c) whether the purchaser is in any way inhibited from selling the picture to a foreign buyer and applying for an export licence at a higher price.

A decision on the export licence application for de Troy's La Lecture de Moliè;re was deferred until after 11th January 1996 to give the opportunity for an offer to purchase to be made at or above the fair market price of £4,497,672. The primary purpose of the deferral was to allow time for a potential purchaser to come forward to keep the painting in the UK. An offer to purchase was accepted by the owner and, as a consequence, the licence application lapsed, the painting became the property of the purchaser and was consequently retained in the United Kingdom in accordance with the prime objective of the Waverley system. My department did not refuse the export licence. No written undertakings were required from the purchaser and my department has no knowledge of whether the purchaser is a UK subject. If the purchaser wishes to export the painting, then any new export licence application would be subject to the normal procedures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conditions the Secretary of State for National Heritage will impose to ensure proper public benefit and to discourage private profit if she refuses to grant an export licence for Fra Bartolommeo's "Holy Family", now stopped while a private offer is considered.

A decision on the export licence application for Fra Bartolommeo's "Holy Family" has been deferred until after 8 May 1996 to give the opportunity for an offer to purchase to be made at or above the fair market price of £14,000,000. The primary purpose of the deferral is to allow time for a potential purchaser to come forward to keep the painting in the UK, and my department is aware of a serious intention to make a purchase offer. Under the Waverley system, it is for the present owner to decide whether to accept any forthcoming purchase offer. If such an offer were made and accepted, then the licence application would lapse. If such an offer were refused, then my department would take into account the existence of the purchase offer in determining the licence application. The primary objective of the Waverley system is to ensure that objects which fall within the criteria are kept within the United Kingdom. I have no plans to impose further conditions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the residents of the Vale of Clwyd cannot receive Channel 4 programmes, even though the television mast at Moel-y-Parc is within sight, and when they are likely to be able to receive the same channels as other residents in the United Kingdom.

Any viewers with line-of-sight to the Moel-y-Parc transmitter who experience difficulty in receiving S4C or any of the other services which it transmits, should consult their local television dealer for advice. The Broadcasting Act 1990 requires that the fourth channel should be used in Wales for S4C and not for Channel 4.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to accept the advice of the Royal Parks Review Group on the membership of the Advisory Board.

The Government has only just received the review group's revised report. We are now giving detailed consideration to all the report's recommendations. We hope to make a formal response before the Summer Recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will secure from the Treasury greater flexibility for the Royal Parks Agency to manage its own expenditure, as recommended in the Final Conclusions of the Royal Parks Review (paragraph XV, page 11).

The Royal Parks are already included in the arrangements which allow the department, with the Treasury's approval, to carry forward from one year to the next a portion of eligible funds not spent fully on capital and running costs. There are no plans to seek additional flexibilities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the reorganisation of the management of the Royal Parks now being examined by the Royal Parks Agency is to be in full accord with the recommendations in the final conclusions of the Royal Parks Review Group, particularly as regards the inadmissibility of any commercialisation of the parks which has recently been proposed to the Agency by one of its consultants.

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to their Written Answer of 8th March concerning the cost of delivering electro-shock treatment (ECT) (col.

Information on the costs of individual treatments is held within each hospital.

asked Her Majesty's Government:To explain in more detail what is meant by a "gross IS footing", as referred to by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in his third report (Investigation of

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the noble Lord.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to introduce legislative measures to give effect to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in

The Government's present view is that amending legislation is unnecessary to give effect to this judgment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Lord Chancellor's Answer of 28th March (col.

It is for the Metropolitan Police to decide, as an operational matter, the point at which to conclude investigations. They act in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will discuss with the Chairman of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority ways of formally assessing students studying GCSE subjects in the medium of a foreign language.

The arrangements established for the approval of GCSE syllabuses already allow for the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA) to recommend to Ministers the exceptional approval of syllabuses where assessment is made through the medium of a foreign language. At least one such syllabus has been approved. It is a matter for the GCSE examining groups in the first instance to decide whether they wish to put forward for approval such syllabuses to SCAA.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they intend to assess whether bilingual projects promote high standards in the curriculum subjects involved; and in particular, whether they intend to use normal GCSEs in the assessment process.

Ofsted registered inspectors evaluate and report on the ways in which modern foreign languages and other subjects are taught in schools. In so doing they may refer specifically to bilingual projects, where they encounter them in the normal course of school inspections, but we have no plans to assess them otherwise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to Lord Henley's Written Answers on 2nd April (H.L. Deb., col.

Of the 16 schools so far approved as Language Colleges, two have bilingual sections. Goff s School, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire offers Geography through French to Year 8 pupils. From September 1997 the school intends to extend its bilingual teaching to offer Geographical and Cultural studies through German to Year 9 pupils. Arrangements have yet to be finalised.Presdale's School, Ware, Hertfordshire intends to offer IT through French to Year 7 pupils from September 1996.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in commissioning Sir Ron Dearing's report on education for 16 to 19 year-olds, they asked him to consider the Continental practice of there being separate institutions and examinations for academic and vocational courses for students over the age of 16.

Sir Ron Dearing was invited by the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment and for Wales to consider and advise on ways to strengthen, consolidate and improve the framework of 16–19 qualifications. The full terms of reference for Sir Ron's review were to:Maintain the rigour of General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced (A) levels;Continue to build on the current development of General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQs) and National Vocational Qualifications;Increase participation and achievement in education and training and minimise wastage;Prepare young people for work and higher education; andSecure maximum value for money.Sir Ron's final report was published on 27th March and copies are available in the House of Lords Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What they are funding for (a) polar research, (b) Antarctic research and (c) Arctic polar research and how these allocations have changed over the last 10 years.

Most research specific to the polar regions is undertaken by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The table below shows the council's expenditure for Arctic, Antarctic and polar research over the past 10 years.A number of other departments and agencies (including the Ministry of Defence, the Department of the Environment, and the Economic and Social Research Council) undertake or support polar research. However, much of this overlaps with research carried out in other scientific and geographical areas and the expenditure details could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will now rescind the ban on the sale of capsules and tablets consisting of ground dried comfrey leaf or root used as a food supplement, on the grounds that comfrey is a whole food whose ingredient should not have been assessed in isolation.

No. The voluntary withdrawal from sale of comfrey products applies only to the most concentrated forms, which are tablets and capsules. The whole food approach was not therefore considered appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What types of freight transport—e.g. lorry, trailer, semi-trailer (with or without tractor unit), swap body or container of 20 feet length or more—are covered by EC Directive 92/106; andWhat freight journeys are covered by EC Directive 92/106.

As described in Article 1, the directive applies to the types of unit listed in the noble Lord's Question where they travel by road for the initial or final leg of a journey and, on the other leg, by rail, inland waterway or maritime services where the latter exceeds 100 kms. Road journeys must be to or from the nearest suitable rail terminal and road journeys to or from a seaport must not exceed 150 kms.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for implementing EC Directive 92/106—Establishment of common rules for combined transport of goods between member states—for traffic operating in the UK for part of its journey; andWhether they consider it obligatory to implement EC Directive 92/106.

Implementation of EC Directive 92/106 is obligatory and all the articles have been implemented except Article 6. Article 6.1 can only be implemented when it is possible to carry taxed goods vehicles by rail in the UK. We do not consider it practical to implement the permissive provisions of Article 6.2 in a cost effective way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their view of the European Commission's working paper on the creation of a specific European Aviation Authority, which was published in December 1995; and whether they have submitted a written response to the paper.

The Government responded in writing to the European Commission's working paper on 27th February 1996. I have arranged for a copy of the response to be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in preparation for elections in Northern Ireland leading to all-party negotiations on 10th June.

My right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has today published the draft of a Northern Ireland (Entry into Negotiations, Etc.) Bill, to be introduced in another place tomorrow. In parallel, following consultations with the political parties on the proposals in the consultation paper of 15th March, he has published as Command Paper 3232 the best judgment of the British and Irish Governments on the most suitable and broadly acceptable ground rules for the negotiations starting on 10th June 1996.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will either organise a World Wide Web page of their own for Prison Standing Orders or provide the material by e-mail to

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 25th–26th April 1996 to make a statement on the sexual exploitation of children, and if so whether they will place copies of the statement in the Libraries of Parliament.

The meeting at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 25th–26th April is a planning meeting for the World Congress against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, which will be held in Stockholm on 27th–31st August. The April meeting will not therefore be an occasion for national statements as such. There is, of course, no question but that the sexual exploitation of children is utterly deplorable, no matter where it occurs, and the Government share the widespread concern to see an end to the use of children in prostitution and pornography.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer given by Baroness Blatch on 2nd April 1996 (

Information is not available on the total number of persons who have applied for entry clearance to, or leave to remain in, the United Kingdom as spouses or fiancé(e)s and who have been refused on primary purpose grounds. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the proportions requested.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the average period spent by defendants aged under 17 on remand in custody in each year from 1990 to 1995; andWhat was the average population of defendants aged under 17 on remand in custody in each year from 1990 to 1995 inclusive; andWhat were the end-of-month figures for defendants aged under 17 held on remand in custody in each month during the years 1990 to 1995.

Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.