asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to tackle drug related crime. [HL3645]

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary will be making an announcement tomorrow and copies will be made available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that proper arrangements exist for the care of the mentally ill asylum seekers in the light of the story

Asylum seekers and their dependants have the same entitlement to free consultation with, and treatment by, a general practitioner and free treatment at a National Health Service hospital as the general population. They are also entitled to free prescriptions, some dental treatment and eye tests. It is not proposed to alter these entitlements under the new provisions in the Immigration and Asylum Bill.Under these new arrangements, written information will be provided at an early stage to asylum seekers about the medical care available to them on the National Health Service. We are exploring ways of supplementing that information with the aid of the British Medical Association and the Medical Foundation. I regret that I am unable to provide details of the case quoted in the annual report of the Medical Foundation for reasons of confidentiality.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the number of court convictions of:

Data for England and Wales and Northern Ireland are given in the following table:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the age of criminal responsibility in each Council of Europe country. [HL3419]

Research in 1996 showed that the age of criminal responsibility in the them members of the Council of Europe was as listed below:

Country	Age
Andorra	16
Austria	14
Belgium	18
Bulgaria	14
Cyprus	7
Czech Republic	15
Denmark	15
Estonia	15
Finland	15
France	13
Germany	14
Greece	12
Hungary	14
Iceland	15
Ireland	7
Italy	14
Latvia	14
Liechtenstein	7
Lithuania	14
Luxembourg	18
Malta	9
Netherlands	12
Norway	15
Poland	16
Portugal	16
Romania	14
San Marino	12
Slovakia	15
Slovenia	14
Spain	16
Sweden	15
Switzerland	7
Turkey	12
England/Wales	10
Scotland	8
Northern Ireland	8

The survey did not cover Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, Russia or Ukraine, who have joined the Council more recently.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When was the last occasion upon which there was an independent inquiry into the provision of psychiatric medical services in prisons. [HL3483]

The former independent standing Health Advisory Committee for the Prison Service conducted the last such independent review. Its report, The Provision of Mental Health Care in Prisons, was published in the autumn of 1997.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 17 May (

Home Office publications, including those under Section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, are available on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/publf.htm. The annual summary of financial information, which I referred to in my previous Answer, will be available on the website when it is published. Future summaries will also be available on the website.The most recent publication under Section 95,

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they are making towards implementing the Data Protection Act 1998. [HL3626]

The work on the essential subordinate legislation is well advanced but it will not be completed before the summer recess. We intend to lay the instruments before Parliament in the autumn. To allow business and others adequate time to prepare, we intend to bring the 1998 Act into force on 1 March 2000. Meanwhile, drafts of three further statutory instruments will be published on the Internet at www.homeoffice.gov.uk on Tuesday, 13 July 1999. Copies will also be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What research has been done in the United Kingdom and by whom, and where, into the health and happiness of people born through medically-assisted procreation and into their awareness of their origins; and [HL3520]What conclusions for public policy they draw from research into the health and happiness of people born through medically-assisted procreation and their awareness of their origins. [HL3521]

The Government are aware that research has been conducted into these issues, although details of such research are not held centrally. The Report of the Review for Health Ministers of Current Arrangements for Payments and Regulation in Surrogacy (Cm 4068 TSO London October 1998), copies of which are available in the Library, refers to the growing body of research on the psychological development of children conceived by assisted reproduction. Susan Golombok, Professor of Psychology at City University, London, was a member of the review team that produced the report and is involved in research in this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Forms CRU100 (Certificates of Recoverable Benefits) issued to commercial insurers by the compensation recovery unit of the Benefits Agency prior to 5 April 1999 preclude the recovery of NHS fees, where these have been incurred, under the terms of the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999. [HL3538]

The Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 came into effect on 5 April 1999. Any relevant payment of compensation made on or after that date will attract National Health Service charges irrespective of any benefit recovery which may have been in progress. Legislation does not allow for joint certificates to be issued. The two recoveries will always be notified on separate certificates.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether National Health Service trusts and commercial insurers are experiencing any difficulties with the interpretation and operation of the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 in the context of their dealings with the compensation recovery unit of the Benefits Agency. [HL3537]

Both National Health Service trusts and commercial insurers have received written guidance on the operation of the new system introduced on 5 April 1999. Those involved are also able to access guidance through telephone inquiries. We are not aware of any major difficulties having arisen.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the compensation recovery unit of the Benefits Agency has a complement of staff sufficient to meet its full responsibilities under the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999; and whether all such staff have been fully trained to operate the system for recovering charges on behalf of National Health Service Trusts. [HL3536]

The compensation recovery unit has confirmed that it has sufficient staff in post who are fully trained to enable them to undertake recovery of National Health Service charges.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the computer system commissioned for use by the compensation recovery unit of the Benefits Agency under the remit conferred by the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 is fully operational; and, if so, on what date it was deemed to be so. [HL3535]

A new computer system supporting not only the collection of National Health Service charges following road traffic accidents but also the system of recovery of state benefits at the compensation recovery unit was brought into operation on 6 April 1999. It is operational but not yet at full capacity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many payments to National Health Service trusts were made by the compensation recovery unit of the Benefits Agency under the terms of the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 during the three months to 30 June; and what was the aggregate value of those payments. [HL3534]

The Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 came into operation on 5 April 1999. Payments to National Health Service trusts under the new scheme for central collection of NHS charges following road traffic accidents will be made monthly in arrears. NHS trusts have been advised that first payments will be made at the end of July 1999.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Whether he will publish detailed income and expenditure accounts in relation to the performance, by the Law Lords, of the judicial functions of the House of Lords, covering all categories of expenditure other than the salaries of the Law Lords themselves. [HL3356]

The House of Lords Judicial Office administers the judicial proceedings of" the House and provides secretarial and administrative services to the Lords of Appeal. The Office has its own budget and its income and expenditure for the year ending 31 March 1999 was as follows:

Income	Judicial Fees	£376.614
	Taxations1	£110,481
	Opinions2	£7,340
	Total	£494,435
Expenditure	Staff Salaries and Wages	£409,535
	Outside Assistance3	£35,696
	Publications	£84,634
	Travel4	£33,208
	Office Supplies	£21,445
	Computers	£15,530
	Training (of staff)	£9,146
	Printing	£3,012
	Electronic Publishing	£2,540
	Official Entertainment	£100
	Courier Service	£65
	Total (gross)	£614,911
Less:	VAT refunds on contracted out services	(£7,174)
	Total (net)	£607,737
1 A fee is received each time the Clerk of the Parliaments certifies the amount of a bill of costs when the parties cannot agree the amount.
2 Copies of the Law Lords' Opinions are provided free to the parties and to those in the Chamber when judgment is given. Otherwise a charge of £5 is levied. Opinions are published free on the Internet.
3 Largely attributable to the transcription and amplification of the Pinochet hearings.
4 The senior and second senior Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are entitled to use the Government Car Service; other Law Lords have limited entitlement.

Certain services, including postage, telecommunications, accommodation and heating, are provided centrally to the House and the costs of these services cannot be broken down between offices. Similarly, the costs incurred by the Parliamentary Works Directorate in respect of the fabric of the Palace of Westminster and its maintenance cannot be broken down by office. Other costs which cannot be identified include the use made by the Law Lords of the services of the House of Lords Library, and the services of Doorkeepers whose costs fall on the budget of Black Rod's Office.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Further to his Written Answer on 27 May (

The text of the necessary amendment has now been agreed among all those concerned. The website will be amended in the next day or so to make it clear that foreign language guides can be arranged if they are requested.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Further to his Written Answer on 22 June (

The answers to these questions are as follows:

(a) £105,000 of the expenditure is non-recoverable. Approximately £17,750 is recoverable in respect of the value added tax paid on this contracted-out service;

(b) Approximately £4,500 of the £123,649.23 has been spent on consultants' out of pocket expenses; the rest has been spent on consultants' fees;

(c) Only the House of Lords contribution of £49,441.69 was paid for by underspend on security;

(d) and (e) No advertisement was published. The Serjeant at Arms' Department in the House of Commons solicited contractors' names from the Historic Royal Palaces Agency and invited tenders. Two firms responded with detailed submissions;

(f) The Serjeant at Arms and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod chose the successful applicant.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Official Veterinary Surgeons are required to submit copies of improvement notices to their superior officers for checking and approval before those notices are served. [HL3121]

No they are not.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Official Veterinary Surgeons who themselves breach hygiene rules are expected to report those breaches; to whom they should report; in what manner; and what action is taken in respect of those breaches. [HL2880]

In the unlikely event that an Official Veterinary Surgeon (OVS) was to be in breach of meat hygiene rules, his or her Principal Official Veterinary Surgeon (POVS) acting as his or her manager would be required to take appropriate action.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether plant operators who allow Meat Hygiene Service staff access to telephones on their premises are required to bear the cost of personal telephone calls made by those staff or to pay for time spent on this activity; whether the calls are paid for by the plant or not; and whether plant operators are entitled to monitor telephone calls made by Meat Hygiene Service staff to ensure that they are confined to Meat Hygiene Service business. [HL3029]

In the unusual circumstances that a member of staff from the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) needed to make a personal telephone call, they would be expected to reimburse the plant operator for it. However, as the vast majority of day-to-day telephone calls made by MHS staff are made to assist them in carrying out their statutory responsibilities, it would be clearly inappropriate, and could possibly compromise their position, if plant operators were to monitor their calls.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the report by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh into the effects of exposure to organophosphorus sheep dips will be published. [HL3476]

On 1 July 1999 the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) published its report on the effects of exposure to organophosphorus sheep dips. The report identifies handling of OP sheep dip concentrates as the main source of potential exposure. It suggests that the identified exposure to concentrates was associated with an increased likelihood of ill-health in the groups studied. The report is being submitted immediately for consideration by the OP Working Group of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) which is reviewing the evidence on the possible ill-health effects of OPs. We expect to receive advice from COT, and from the other independent expert advisory committees on the implications of the COT advice, by the end of the year. In addition, we have asked the Veterinary Products Committee and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides to consider urgently, in advance of the COT advice, whether the report has any immediate implications for approvals of OPs or whether further measures are necessary.On 1 July my honourable friend the Minister of State also wrote to representatives of manufacturers seeking an early meeting to discuss what action they will be proposing in response to the report. We have placed copies of the report in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With which consumer and environmental pressure groups the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Ministers or officials have held meetings since June 1998, indicating in how many of these meetings genetically-modified organisms or biotechnology were discussed. [HL3582]

MAFF Ministers and/or officials have had more than 360 meetings with the consumer/environmental/pressure groups listed below since June 1998. Genetically Modified Organisms/biotechnology were discussed during approximately 40 of these meetings.

• Game Conservancy Trust
• Scottish National Heritage
• World Wildlife Fund
• Organic Farms & Growers
• Organic Food Federation
• Marine Conservation Society
• Parnham Trust
• National Food Alliance
• Wildlife & Wetlands Trust
• Humane Slaughter Association
• Horror Out Of Farming
• Joint National Conservation Council
• Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
• Soil Association
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• National Trust
• British Deer Society
• Wildlife Trust
• Woodland Trust
• Butterfly Conservation Trust
• Linking Environment And Farming
• SAFE Alliance
• British Trust for Ornithology
• Council for the Protection of Rural England
• Climate Action Network
• Plant Life
• National Conservation Council
• English Nature
• Consumers' Association
• National Federation of Conservation Groups
• Croydon Conservation Group
• Consumers in Europe Group
• Women's Institutes
• Consultative Farm of Whaling
• Salmon & Trout Association
• Campaign for Protection of Shechita
• National Housewives Association
• Friends of the Earth
• Anaphylaxis Campaign
• Latex Allergy Support Group
• Welsh Consumers Council
• British Trust for Ornithology
• Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• UK Arctic Conservation Forum
• London Conservation Working Group
• Free Radicals
• Consumers International
• Pesticides Trust
• Townswomen's Guild
• Cornish Guild of Smallholders
• Small Farms Association
• Devon Smallholders Association
• North Cornwall Smallholders
• Family Farmers Association
• Council for the Protection of Rural England
• Ramblers Association
• Devon Wildlife Trust
• Compassion in World Farming
• Gaia Foundation
• Wildlife & Countryside Link
• Scottish Consumers Council
• National Federation of Badgers Group
• Sherwood Forest Trust
• English Heritage
• Wildlife Trust
• Cotswold & Gloucestershire Farm Attraction Group
• Wiltshire Rural Forum
• Wiltshire Woodland Forum
• Great Western Community Forest
• Dorset Rural Forum
• The Rare Breeds Survival Trust
• Greenpeace
• Green Alliance
• Gene Watch
• Women's Environmental Network & Genetics Forum
• World Society for the Protection of Animals
• International Federation for Animal Welfare.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for consultation on the proposed level of fees for cattle passports. [HL3584]

The Cattle Tracing System (CTS) was launched by the Government in September 1998. The system is run by a new organisation, the British Cattle Movement Service, (BCMS). The new system enables a full record to be kept of cattle and where they have been throughout their lives, helping the livestock industry to provide assurance to its customers.Since its launch and until 5 July 1999, 2,330,113 passports for cattle have been issued by BCMS, at an average rate of 11,650 per day. It is expected that between 2½ and 3 million cattle passports will be issued annually. At the current time, 90 per cent. of passports are issued within three working days of an application being received. In addition, since last September, 1,446,993 movements of cattle have been recorded on the new system; and 221,506 calls from farmers have been handled by the BCMS call centre since it opened in July 1998.The Government announced in February 1998 that they would pay for setting up the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) and for running it during its first full year of operation. This represented a benefit of some £36 million to the livestock industry. The Government believe that as the main beneficiaries, the livestock industry should now take over the costs of running the CTS from 27 September 1999. In a consultation document, issued on 8 July 1999, interested organisations are being consulted on the level of charges, what they cover and the methods of payment. We propose that the fee should be £7 per cattle passport. This is in the lower half of the £5 to £10 range indicated in November 1997. This proposed fee does not include the cost of time spent checking the eartags and passports of animals handled by the Meat Hygiene Service, (MHS). Instead it is proposed that the MHS should recover these costs directly from abattoirs. The cost to the abattoir sector is likely to be around £2 million per annum.The Government propose not to charge for temporary passports, known also as calf passports. Calves are less valuable than older animals. The passport fee will be payable, however, if a temporary passport is submitted for conversion to a full cattle passport.A copy of the consultation package, including a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment, has been placed in the Library of the House. Comments are sought by 9 August. There will be separate consultations by the administrations in Scotland and Wales, but it is expected that the fee will be at the same rate in all three countries of Great Britain.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has provided to farmers on ways they can reduce the risk of diseases spreading to their cattle. [HL3583]

On 8 July we published two leaflets on this issue. The first, Farm Biosecurity: Protecting Herd Health, covers general disease prevention and the second TB in Cattle: Reducing the Risk is aimed more specifically at reducing the threat of tuberculosis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, for each employee of the Veterinary Public Health Unit of the Joint Food Standards and Safety Group within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who has visited countries outside the European Union in 1998 or 1999, they will list (a) the countries; (b) the date of the visit and its duration; (c) the grade of the employee; (d) the total cost of each visit; and (e) the purpose of the visit. [HL3453]

The information requested is given in the table below.

Country Visited	Date/Duration	Employee Grade	Approximate Total Cost (Excluding Salary)	Purpose of Visit
Australia	February 98 13 days	Veterinary Advisor (7)	£4,500	Attend Codex Committee on Food Import and Export inspection and Certification Systems.
USA	February 98 23 days	Veterinary Meat Hygiene Adviser (7)	£5,900	Attend USDA Foreign Inspector Training Course (to facilitate exports to USA)
Hungary	March 98 6 days	Veterinary Advisor (7)	Paid by EC	Member State expert on EC visit to review veterinary controls in Third Country
Czech Republic	March 98 9 days	Veterinary Meat Hygiene Adviser (7)	Paid by EC	Member State expert on EC visit to review veterinary controls in Third Country
Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania	June 98 9 days	Veterinary Meat Hygiene Adviser (7)	Paid by EC	Member State expert on EC visit to review veterinary controls in Third Country
Latvia	November 98 5 days	Veterinary Advisor (7)	Paid by EC	Member State expert on EC visit to review veterinary controls in Third Country

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total tonnage of poultry and poultrymeat imported to the United Kingdom from each European Union country for each month since June 1998. [HL3335]

The latest UK Overseas Trade Statistics available are for March 1999. The tables below show the total tonnage of poultry and poultrymeat imported from European Union countries between June 1998 and March 1999 as recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics.The data are subject to a degree of statistical error. The overall level of errors is low, but these errors have a much greater proportional effect on countries with small values or volumes of trade. Therefore care: is needed when interpreting the data.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the pupil-teacher ratio of all secondary schools in Hammersmith and Fulham local education authority. [HL3461]

Provisional figures show that the pupil-teacher ratio in maintained secondary schools in the Hammersmith and Fulham local education authority area in January 1999 is 17.5.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When it is expected that a decision will be taken about the future of the William Morris Academy in

The legal situation will be considered by the Secretary of State in the light of the proposed changes to post-16 education arising from the publication of the White Paper, Learning to Succeed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the pupil-teacher ratio at William Morris Academy in Hammersmith and Fulham local education authority. [HL3460]

Information on pupil-teacher ratios for individual schools is not published centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who is responsible for inspecting William Morris Academy in Hammersmith and Fulham local education authority; and whether it is inspected as a school, a sixth form college or a further education college. [HL3462]

The Academy is not currently subject to inspection by Ofsted, as it is not a school for the purposes of the School Inspections Act 1996, or by the Further Education and Funding Council, as it is not a FEFC-funded institution. The White Paper Learning to Succeed anticipated that, in future, Ofsted will be responsible for the inspection of all publicly funded 16–19 provision, except work based training for that age group.

GCE A/AS/Advanced GNVQ and other post-16 achievements of candidates aged 16 to 18 at start of academic year 1997–98
	Entered for less than 2 GCE		A/AS Entered for 2 or more GCE		A/AS Entered for AGNVQ		Entered for Intermediate VQ1
	Number of candidates	Average points per candidate	Number of candidates	Average points per candidate	Number of candidates	Average points for candidate	Number	% Pass
Henry Compton School*	4	3.8	9	16.1	3	12.0	14	71%
Phoenix High School*	7	2.3	19	11.9	5	13.2	18	81%
Fulham Cross Secondary School*	10	3.5	16	14.0	4	13.5	36	67%
Hurlingham and Chelsea School*	5	1.8	8	14.6	3	6.0	23	65%
Burlington Danes C of E School*	5	2.4	15	12.8	7	12.0	20	45%
William Morris Academy	31	2.8	67	13.5	22	11.7	111	62%
Lady Margaret School	3	4.7	55	19.2	—	—	—	—
The London Oratory School	7	7.7	156	23.2	—	—	—	—
Notes:
* These are feeder schools for the William Morris Academy.
The average point score is based on:
GCE A level—grade A = 10, grade B = 8, grade C = 6, grade D = 4, grade E = 2.
GCE AS level—grade A = 5, grade B = 4, grade C = 3, grade D = 2, grade E = 1.
AGNVQ—Distinction = 18, merit = 12 and pass = 6.
1 All candidates in a final year of study for Intermediate GNVQ, BTEC first or City & Guilds Intermediate Diploma.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they have given to the recommendations of the Snowdon Survey in relation to the centralisation of information on sources of funds for disabled students and the "geographical lottery" involved in applying for these funds; and what action they will be taking. [HL3546]

We will consider the case for the centralisation of information on sources of funds for disabled higher education students in the context of the Government's review of options for administering student support in the long term. The review is considering the option for a single agency and is due to report next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total sum of money allocated directly to schools by Sheffield local education authority in the years 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [HL3509]

asked Her Majesty's Government:What "A" level and post-16 qualifications have been achieved by pupils at each secondary school and the William Morris Academy in Hammersmith and Fulham local education authority. [HL3463]

The GCE A level and post 16 qualifications achieved by pupils at each secondary school and the William Morris Academy in Hammersmith and Fulham are shown in the attached table.

Sheffield local education authority delegated £127,823,000 to their schools through the Aggregated Schools Budget for 1998–99 and £144,125,000 through the Individual Schools. Budget for 1999–2000. In addition, the amount of Standards Fund grant the local education authority devolved to their schools was £2,136,000 in 1998–99 and £5,993,000 in 1999–2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total amount of money available to Sheffield local education authority for education in the year 1998–99 and in 1999–2000 from central government; and what was the total sum spent by Sheffield local education authority on education in the last two periods. [HL3508]

The total amount of money expected to be available to Sheffield local education authority to spend on education is best indicated by the level of the Education Standard Spending Assessment to which may be added amounts available for capital spending and grants including Standards Fund expected to be received.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many times the Committee set up to look into the impact of the decision to charge English, Welsh and Northern Irish students attending Scottish Universities four years of fees for an Honours Degree has met; and when it is likely to report. [HL3527]

The Committee, chaired by Sir George Quigley, has met six times. There is a statutory requirement that the report of the Committee should be laid before each House of Parliament not later than 1 April 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress is being made in the case of Judge Gee, who has been suspended since November 1995 on full pay. [HL3373]

Police investigations, over the progress of which I have no control, continue. Meanwhile, I am considering whether the evidence disclosed in Judge Gee's criminal trial would justify me in concluding, on the civil standard of proof, that Judge Gee had been guilty of misbehaviour sufficient to allow me to remove him from office under my statutory powers to dismiss a Circuit Judge for misbehaviour.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they plan to make known their views on proposals set out in the Green Paper,

The Government received over 4000 responses to Who Decides? on the Law Commission's recommendations about decision-making for mentally incapacitated adults. Respondents included many charities working on behalf of incapacitated people; local authorities; doctors; professional organisations; and those working with the law. We also received a large number of contributions from members of the public. There was much support for the key principles: the functional approach to assessing capacity; the factors to be taken into account when assessing best interests; and the General Authority. There was wide-ranging support for Continuing Powers of Attorney. Many respondents also supported the proposals for Managers appointed by the court to replace the current system of Receivers, with appropriate safeguards. Since consultation closed in March 1998 we have been giving very careful consideration to all the issues involved. I have decided to publish a Policy Statement in October 1999 which will set out the Government's thinking on a number of the issues raised in the consultation paper.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to improve the links the Department for International Development has established between themselves and the Commercial Attaches in British embassies in central and eastern Europe. [HL3515]

The Department for International Development works closely with our embassies in all countries in the promotion of its objectives. This includes contact with the Commercial Attaches where appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the business management programmes in which the Department for International Development commissions the British Council to act as manager or contractor; and what is the value of each contract to the British Council. [HL3513]

The table below lists details of contracts let by the Department for International Development to the British Council in 1998–99:

Project title	Country	Value
Palestinian legislative council—library	West Bank and Gaza	220,755
Support to education sector: book procurement	Ghana	47,066
Pakistan—Northern education project	Pakistan	3,385,276
English language teaching project	Philippines	35,836
Local DFID project support unit	Brazil	345,102
British council division: IT audit project	India	13,875
Project support services	Mexico	519,772

asked Her Majesty's Government:What programmes will replace the Joint Industrial and Commercial Attachments programme. [HL3512]

Support for management training will in future be driven by individual country need. In Russia the Department for International Development is already supporting the Russian President's Management Training Initiative. In other countries we will continue to look for opportunities which fit in with our agenda and our country strategies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the priority areas in which British aid can be deployed to assist the Russian Federation and nations formerly under the control of the Soviet Union; and what importance they place on co-operation within those nations' commercial sectors. [HL3514]

There are five broad priority areas for assistance to the countries of the former Soviet Union: supporting the enabling framework: for economic growth; an inclusive approach to economic management allowing benefits to be shared as widely as possible; empowerment of people through access to rights, skills, security and information; protection and restoration of the environment; and the global dimension—deepening integration into the international community.The distribution of British assistance between these priorities varies in each country, including the extent to which it supports the private sector. Our assistance recognises, however, the crucial role of countries' private sectors in the transition to a market economy and pluralist democracy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, considering that the evaluation report of the European Union's Sustainable Development in the Paraguayan Chaco project shows that indigenous peoples' land claims in the area of the project have not been satisfactorily resolved, they will move to suspend the project for two years when it comes before the Asia and Latin America Committee on 13 July pending a further analysis of the land claims situation in eighteen months' time. [HL3481]

We continue to be concerned about the progress on the settlement of land claims, and I can assure the noble Lord that we will be insisting that the evaluation report of the European Union's Sustainable Development in the Paraguayan Chaco project be discussed at the ALA meeting this month. In advance of this meeting, we are asking other member states for their views on this report and what, in their considered opinion, the next course of action should be. Our efforts will be directed towards the best outcome for the indigenous peoples. The possibility of a suspension will be looked at in this light.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 23 June

The economic and political effects of the air campaign were that Serb military and paramilitary forces were forced to withdraw from Kosovo. The health effects of the conflict in Kosovo are to be assessed by a joint task force set up by the UN Environment Programme and the UN Commission on Human Settlements. The UK stands ready to co-operate with that task force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any limit to the "field of common concern" for which NATO is deemed to be "an essential transatlantic forum for allied consultations" (as stated in the Government's Observations on the House of Commons Defence Committee Report on the Future of NATO and the Washington Summit); whether there are any limits to NATO's "wider role beyond collective defence"; and, if so, where these various limits may lie. [HL3465]

The Alliance's commitment to consultation is encapsulated in Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, 4 April 1949, which states that: "The Parties (to the Treaty) will consult together, whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of the Parties is threatened."

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the statements in paragraph 16 of their Observations on the House of Commons Defence Committee Report on the Future of NATO and the Washington Summit (which quoted from paragraph 31 of NATO's New Strategic Concept) indicate that NATO accepts that the "primordial responsibility for peace keeping and international security" lies with the United Nations Security Council, as declared in the Toulouse Declaration from the Franco-German Summit held on 29 May. [HL3467]

Paragraph 15 of the Strategic Concept, agreed by Allied Heads of State and Government at the Washington Summit, 23–25 April 1999, states: "The United Nations Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and, as such, plays a crucial role in contributing to security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area". Paragraph 31 of the Concept reaffirms the willingness expressed by all Allies at the NATO Summit in Brussels in 1994 to participate, on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with NATO's own procedures, in peacekeeping and other operations under the authority of the UN Security Council or the responsibility of the OSCE.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the reference to "militarily effective and defensively structured armed forces that are firmly controlled by democratic civilian authority," in their Observations on the House of Commons Defence Committee Report on the Future of NATO and the Washington Summit indicates that NATO is encouraging the British Government to subject their military activities to the control of the British Parliament, or alternatively that NATO is content with the British system whereby the Government do not refer the activities of the armed forces to Parliament. [HL3468]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence and other Defence Ministers are fully accountable to Parliament for the actions of the Ministry of Defence, including those of the armed forces.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by the Lord Whitty on 29 June (H.L. Deb., cols 174–176), what are (a) the characteristics of the PPP contract and (b) the special position of Railtrack which make the exclusive negotiations with Railtrack for the London Transport contract escape the competitive biding requirements of the European Union Utilities Directive; [HL3477]Which principal aspects of the proposed London Transport-Railtrack contract place it within the description of Part B (services) under the European Union Utilities Directive; and within which specific service does it fall; and [HL3478]Why the contract does not fall in the category of "works" contract of the European Union Utilities Directive for which full competition is required, if it is, in the words of the 15 June statement, for "maintenance and upgrading" of the sub-surface Underground lines and to "build links between the Underground and the national rail lines". [HL3479]

Following the creation of the London Underground public private partnership, private sector infrastructure companies will provide access to the public sector operating company, using assets and employing personnel currently employed by London Underground. The new partnership will involve putting in place contracts setting out the terms on which the use of those assets will transfer to the infrastructure companies and the terms on which the infrastructure companies will provide access to LUL as the train operator. If it were considered that this constitutes the award of a contract for services they would fall within Part B of Annex XVI of the Utilities Directive as supporting and auxiliary transport services. The Directive does not require competition for Part B services and the incidental undertaking of engineering, construction or maintenance does not mean the contracts are works contracts within the meaning of the Utilities Directive.The special position of Railtrack in relation to the sub-surface infrastructure is that it can offer integration with the national rail network using similar technology. London Underground has therefore decided to explore in negotiations whether Railtrack should be the PPP partner for the sub-surface lines. These proposals will only be pursued if they deliver real benefits on terms that offer value for money. If not, London Underground will proceed by way of competition, as it proposes to do for the deep tube lines.In the meantime, in order to facilitate a full competition in relation to the public private partnership for the deep tube lines, London Transport has placed notices in the Official Journal of the European Communities, on a voluntary basis, inviting expressions of interest by the private sector.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ask English Heritage lo produce illustrations of the Stonehenge landscape during the multi-year period of construction of the two kilometre cut-and-cover tunnel they propose, and of the landscape with the scar of the cut-and-cover tunnel, similar to the airbrushed illustrations of the Stonehenge landscape in the long term, that is, when the tunnel has been completed and the scar mitigated by the passage of time, which they publish in their documentation for the Visitors Centre, or associated developments, and including illustrations of the various portals of the tunnel and of the approach cuts for it, and of the landscaping proposed in Stonehenge Bottom, all within the World Heritage Site. [HL3516]

We have no plans at this present time to ask English Heritage to produce illustrations of the Stonehenge landscape during the period of construction of the scheme. This element of work will be developed by the Highways Agency in consultation with English Heritage, the National Trust, English Nature and the Countryside Agency. The details of the tunnel portals, its approach cuttings and landscaping will all be established during that phase of the scheme. The intention will be to keep the impact of the construction work to an absolute minimum. Proposals will be included in the Environmental Statement that will be published to coincide with publication of the draft statutory orders.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a non-European Union driving licence holder can drive a European Union registered light goods vehicle or public carriage vehicle in the United Kingdom. [HL3502]

It depends on whether or not the non-EU licence holder is resident in the country in which the vehicle in question is registered, and whether or not the non-EU licence is recognised there for driving those vehicles. The holder of a non-European Union driving licence may drive a European Union registered light goods or public carriage vehicle in the UK as a visitor only if he is resident in the EU member state in which the vehicle is registered and his driving licence for the purpose of driving such vehicles is recognised there. A non-EU licence holder resident in the UK could not drive such UK-registered vehicles here because our legislation does not permit this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the West Coast Main Line Upgrade Project will require orders under the Transport and Works Act 1992; if so, whether such orders have been applied for; and if so, how long it is envisaged before they can be granted. [HL3498]

We understand that Railtrack are preparing to apply for an Order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in early 2000 to authorise all those aspects of the West Coast Main Line Upgrade Project in England for which they consider that they need to obtain statutory powers. The timescale for a decision on such an application will depend largely on the extent of objections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who advised them that a 20-metre safe zone between genetically modified crops and other crops was sufficient; and whether these advisers remain in their employment. [HL3382]

There has been no such advice. Each application for the release of genetically modified (GM) plants for research purposes is supported by a risk assessment which is evaluated by government experts and independent scientists on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). Their consideration will include the possible spread of GM pollen by all means and its likely consequences. Based on the type of GM plant, how it has been modified and the circumstances of the proposed release, it may be judged necessary to minimise the potential for cross-pollination of neighbouring sexually compatible crops or wild relatives by the GM plants. The precautions taken to prevent or reduce cross-pollination include the removal of flowers, specific isolation distances between GM and non-GM plants or borders of non-GM plants around the plots of GM plants. Where isolation distances are set between genetically modified crops and conventional crops these are not intended to prevent pollen spread but to reduce pollen spread as far as is practically possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will give financial assistance to independent museums with designated status. [HL3272]

The Designated Museums Challenge Fund, established by the Government, will award a total of £15 million over the next three years. The first round of grants for 1999/2000 has just been announced. These will promote excellence in research and planning, and the raising of standards in the care and presentation of designated collections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will give financial assistance to the Jewish Museum when the London Borough Grants Committee's grant comes to an end in December 2000. [HL3271]

The Jewish Museum, as a designated museum, will receive a grant of £50,000 as part of the first round of awards made by the Designated Museums Challenge Fund for 1999/2000. This fund, established by the Government, will award a total of £15 million to designated museums over the next three years. The grant will assist with documentation, catalogue preparation and photography of the collections, which will together form a high quality database. The Jewish Museum can expect to receive further grants in the next two years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps have been taken to give effect to the decision by the General Affairs Council on 26 April to impose additional restrictive measures against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [HL3628]

The additional measures against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia agreed by the Council of Ministers on 26 April included:

• a travel ban on President Milosevic, his family, all Ministers/senior officials of the FRY and Serbian governments, and on persons, included in a specific list, close to the regime whose activities support President Milosevic;
• a comprehensive flight ban between the European Community and the FRY;
• extension of the scope of the freeze of funds held abroad by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbian governments to cover individuals associated with President Milosevic and companies controlled by, or acting on behalf of, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbian governments;
• prohibition of provision of export finance by the private sector further to the existing moratorium on government-financed export credits set out in Common Position 98/240 of 19 March 1998;
• extension of the investment ban set out in Council Regulation (EC) no. 1607/98;
• widening the scope of the prohibition on the export of equipment for international repression and its extension to include goods, services, technology and equipment for the purpose of restoring/repairing assets damaged in airstrikes;

Member States also agreed to discourage the participation of the FRY in international sporting events.A Common Position (1999/318/CFSP) confirming these measures was adopted and came into force on 10 May. A Council Decision (1999/319/CFSP) listing those individuals to be covered by the travel ban was adopted and came into force the same day. Immediate steps were taken to implement the ban in the UK.The Council adopted a Regulation (1064/1999) imposing a ban on flights between the European Community and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 21 May 1999. This entered into force the following day and repealed and replaced the provisions of Regulation No. 1901/98, as amended. The ban allows for exemptions, subject to a consultation procedure, for strictly humanitarian purposes.On 15 June the Council of the European Union adopted a further Regulation (1294.99) concerning a freeze of funds and a ban on investment in relation to the FRY. The Regulation came into force on 19 June. The regulation provides that: