asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any of the appointees to the proposed new Independent Expert Advisory Group on Cloning will be expert in non-embryonic cell duplication techniques which may be used as alternatives in therapeutic cloning; and, if not, why not. [HL3701]

We hope to be able to announce the terms of reference and membership of the Chief Medical Officer's expert advisory group on cloning shortly.The Government's response to the Human Genetics Advisory Commission and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority report on cloning, published on 24 June, included a statement that the Chief Medical Officer's expert group would, among other considerations, provide an opportunity to obtain views on alternatives to cloning embryonic cells.Copies of the documents mentioned are available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, apart from the section on water fluoridation, the absence of any reference to dental and oral health in the White Paper,

We made particular mention of the fluoridation of water because this has been shown to be the most effective method of reducing tooth decay. We do, however, recognise the contribution that other oral health promotion measures can make and have allocated £500,000 for funding exemplar projects in the current financial year. These include two projects aimed at encouraging families from ethnic communities to register with dental practices in order that they may benefit from both the treatment and preventive measures provided by the dental team. We are working on a dental strategy in which we will develop our policy on oral and dental health.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of their statement in the White Paper,

We wish the local authority, as the locally elected representative body, to be involved in the assessment of public opinion, but the main change required to remedy the flaw in the present legislation is for the water companies to be put under a statutory obligation to accede to requests to fluoridate where there is strong local support for doing so. As the White Paper indicated, we will introduce amending legislation to this effect provided the scientific review we have commissioned confirms that there are benefits to dental health and no significant risks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the 1998–99 Annual Report and Accounts of the Medical Devices Agency. [HL3813]

The Report and Accounts of the Medical Devices Agency have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the Corporate Plan 1999/2000–2001/02, Key Tasks and Targets for 1999/2000 and Business Plan 1999/2000 for the NHS Estate Agency. [HL3810]

We have agreed the Agency's Corporate Plan 1999/2000–2001/02, Key Tasks and Targets for 1999/2000 and Business Plan 1999/2000 and have placed copies in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the Annual Report and Accounts 1998–99 for the NHS Estates Executive Agency. [HL3812]

The report and accounts have today been laid in accordance with the requirements of Section 5 of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the Annual Report and Accounts of the NHS Pensions Agency. [HL3811]

The Report and Accounts have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much British taxpayers are contributing to the Government campaign against smoking. [HL3648]

Measures set out in the White Paper Smoking Kills set out the Government's tobacco control strategy and promised more than £100 million over the next three years. This will include up to £60 million for smoking cessation services and up to £50 million on a programme of public information and education. Eight million pounds over three years in Scotland will be devoted to tackling reduction in smoking. Equivalent funding in Wales is subject to the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review for Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the current estimated costs to the National Health Service and Social Security of smoking-related illnesses. [HL3649]

The annual cost to the National Health Service of treating smoking-related disease caused by smoking is estimated to be between £1.4 billion and £1.7 billion for England. Spending on social security benefits is affected by very many factors and it is not possible to isolate the benefit cost of smoking-related illnesses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 2 March (

The legislation allowing the exchange of certain South African driving licences for British ones came into force on 2 July.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why traffic islands on the A.2 on Blackheath have remained unlit for many weeks. [HL3707]

This is a matter for the London Borough of Greenwich as highway authority for this length of the A.2. We understand from the council that they were not aware of any problem with the lighting on the traffic islands but they will carry out a night-time inspection as soon as possible and put in hand any remedial action necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) What was the average time taken for a bus to travel between Junction 4 and Junction 2 of the M.4 at weekday peak times before the introduction of the bus lane; and what is now the average time; and(b) How many buses, coaches and taxis travel on the M.4 between Junctions 4 and 2 on an average weekday; and how that number is spread over the day. [HL3000]

Before the introduction of the bus lane, the average time for a vehicle joining the M.4 at Junction 4 and travelling in lane 2 before leaving at Junction 2, during the peak periods 06.30 to 09.30 and 17.30 to 20.30 hours, was calculated from measurements of vehicle speeds as 12.4 minutes. Information is not available for different classes of vehicle.On the assumption that buses now travel in the middle lane between Junctions 4 and 3 and in the outside lane between Junctions 3 and 2, their average journey time during weekday peak times is 9.1 minutes. This represents a saving on average of over three minutes. Monitoring has shown that cars are also making savings over the same distance of one minute during the morning peak and two and half minutes during the evening peak periods. It will be some time before we can be confident this information is directly comparable with that obtained before the bus lane was opened, as it refers to measurements at different times of the year.It is not possible to give precise figures for the number of buses, coaches or taxis on the M.4 before the bus lane opened. The numbers now using this section of the motorway can only be determined by measuring the numbers using the bus lane between Junctions 3 and 2. After the first month of operation, on average 550 buses and coaches, 100 minibuses and 3,150 taxis used the bus lane each day. About 220 taxis per hour use the bus lane in peak periods and 150 per hour at other times. Bus, coach and minibus use is relatively uniform through the day, typically about 45 per hour for buses and coaches together and 10 per hour for minibuses. There has been an increase of more than 5 per cent. in the number of vehicles using the bus lane since it was opened.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 6 May (

Figures on the mortality of mallard were derived from Mudge G. P. 1983. The incidence and significance of ingested lead pellet poisoning in British wildfowl, Biological Conservation, 27, 333–372. The work was carried out in the late 1970s in a number of locations in Great Britain. The findings were based on a sample of 2,683 birds from 24 species of which mallard formed a significant number.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 6 May (

Mortality figures of 2–3 per cent. for the United States, were based on a research paper by G. C. Sanderson, Lead poisoning mortality published in 1992.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a correlation has been made in government research between an individual's level of education and the likelihood of them claiming social security benefits to which they may be entitled. [HL3714]

The department has not looked at the relationship between levels of education and take-up directly but qualitative research has indicated that many customers have difficulty completing claim forms. In addition, analysis of the 1996 British Adult Literacy survey shows that a large number of benefit recipients have low literacy skills (see DSS research yearbook 1997–98—Chapter 4).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the statement by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 6 July that, "It is well known that the possession of a diplomatic passport is not proof in itself of immunity." (H.L. Deb., col. 809), whether they will outline those requirements necessary to provide proof of diplomatic immunity. [HL3572]

The principal requirement is evidence that the claimant is a member of a diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom. In case of doubt, it is for the courts to decide whether the claimant is entitled to immunity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they will take with regard to the future of East Timor if a positive security assessment cannot be made ahead of next month's United Nations consultation process. [HL3653]

The security situation in East Timor remains a cause for concern. Our focus now is on working with all involved to help secure real improvements so that a positive assessment can be made and so that UNAMET, whose work we have been actively supporting, can conduct a free and fair consultation of the East Timorese people.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the terms and conditions of service, including remuneration, of the past two chairmen of the British Council and the present holder of that office. [HL3657]

The terms and conditions offered for the Chairmanship of the British Council when it was advertised in December 1997 were as follows:"The British Council offers an honorarium of c. £35,000 per annum for an average time commitment of two days per week, involving UK based work and overseas travel in equal measure.The appointment, which is only open to British citizens, will be for three years, with the possibility of extension or renewal. Board Members do not normally serve beyond the age of 70."The present chair was appointed after national advertisement and selection from over 150 applicants. This procedure was instituted to comply with Nolan principles. The honorarium offered was to attract a person of the highest professional standing and was based on comparable remuneration in the public sector. So far the honorarium has not been paid because a question on the payment of any honorarium to a trustee of a body with charity status has been raised by the Charity Commissioners.In 1992 Sir Martin Jacomb was appointed on the payment of an honorarium of £9,215. Details of the terms and conditions of previous chairmen are not readily available. The new arrangement of public appointment and published honorarium was to comply with the Nolan principles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What help is being given to Uganda to prevent armed incursions and the abduction of children from the northern region by the so-called Lord's Resistance Army; and whether they have any evidence that this organisation is assisted by the Government of Sudan. [HL3660]

We are appalled at the reports of atrocities committed by the Lord's Resistance Army in Northern Uganda. With our partners at the UN we have strongly condemned their tactics. We believe there cannot be a purely military solution to the problems of Northern Uganda. We continue to urge the Ugandan Government and all other parties involved in the conflict to pursue all opportunities for a peaceful settlement, and are encouraging conflict resolution activities. This message was reinforced most recently by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development when she visited Uganda in May. She also reaffirmed that Britain would substantially increase its development assistance to the region if sustainable peace were achieved. We welcome President Museveni's offer of an amnesty to the LRA. An amnesty will be a key element to an eventual resolution of the conflict. There are persistent reports that the LRA receives assistance from the Government of Sudan. We will continue to raise this issue with the Sudanese authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether contributions to the reconstruction envisaged in the Security Pact for the Balkans should be roughly proportional to the quantity of ordinance expended by each state which participated in the recent NATO action in and around the Former Yugoslavia. [HL3723]

The Stability Pact will be a forum for discussing and co-ordinating on a wide range of issues with countries of the region. It will not be a spending organisation running reconstruction programmes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the Annual Report on Human Rights. [HL3814]

The second Annual Report on Human Rights has been laid before the House as Command Paper 4404 today. Copies of the report have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for August and the major European Union events for the next six months. [HL3816]

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they plan to publish the fifth of the reports to Parliament on Hong Kong and the implementation of the Joint Declaration. [HL3815]

The fifth report in this series, covering the period January—June 1999, was published today and a copy of the report has been placed in the Library. The report includes a foreword written by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary. I commend the report to the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 5 July 9 (

I understand from Lord Levy that he had never met President Asad before 7 June. Our Ambassador has met President Asad six times.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 5 July (

The guests at the Ambassador's lunch for Lord Levy on 6 June were senior members of parliament, a deputy prime minister and senior Jordanian officials. No business people were invited.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list those members of the Cabinet whose departmental responsibilities extend to Scotland. [HL3533]

The UK Government retains responsibility in Scotland for those matters which have not been devolved to Scottish Ministers. Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 sets out which matters are not devolved, though certain ministerial functions may be the subject of executive devolution under Section 63 of the Act. UK Ministers also share certain devolved functions with Scottish Ministers by virtue of Section 56 of the Act.The following members of the Cabinet have departmental responsibilities which extend to Scotland:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to prevent ageism in politics. [HL3548]

Politics in the UK already benefits from the participation of people of all ages. The law sets down some minimum ages for participation in the political process but no maxima. Freedom of speech is an important element of that process. It is not clear that government action is either necessary or likely to be effective in this undefined and unquantified area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Charles Guthrie, visited Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; and whether, as a result of the visit, additional resources will be made available to assist the Baltic States in their quest to improve their defence capability and to join NATO. [HL3591]

In response to invitations from their Chiefs of Defence, the UK Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Charles Guthrie, visited Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, from 6 to 8 July. The main aims of the visit were: to demonstrate the UK's continuing support for each country's programme of reform and reorganisation of its defence structures; to convey our support for the preparations they are making to implement the NATO Membership Action Plan, and to discuss developments in Kosovo.The UK has well developed bilateral programmes of assistance in the defence field with each of the Baltic States. These are tailored to each country's own priorities and are designed to aid implementation of the Membership Action Plan. The UK is also committed to involvement in a range of multilateral defence projects with the Baltic States. We have no specific plans to make additional resources available as a direct result of General Guthrie's visit. We will, however, continue to keep our defence assistance programmes under review and will give positive consideration to specific requests for further help.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will specify the damage inflicted by NATO on Serbian military vehicles, including tanks and trucks, and artillery within Kosovo in recent months. [HL3667]

A full assessment of the damage inflicted on Serbian military vehicles is under way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Kosovar civilians have lost their lives as a result of attacks by Serbian armed forces or paramilitary personnel; and, if official figures are not available, what is their estimate of the numbers concerned. [HL3666]

Now that NATO forces are in Kosovo, a thorough investigation in support of the International War Crimes Tribunal is under way to establish the full extent of civilian deaths in Kosovo as a result of Serbian attacks. We had previously estimated that about 10,000 Kosovar Albanian civilians had been killed by Serb forces since 24 March 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much each LEA in England is receiving, or will receive, from government sources in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000 in aggregate revenue grants for school-related purposes, excluding revenue support g rant, specifying the amount received from each funding source; and whether such amounts are included in that authority's Local Schools Budget or Individual Schools Budget. [HL3689]

Details of revenue grants for school-related purposes, excluding school revenue support grant, received by each local education authority in England for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are given in tables that have been placed in the Library. For the Standards Fund the figures include the Government's contribution only. In general, expenditure supported by specific grants falls within an authority's Local Schools Budget (LSB) if it relates to primary or secondary education. Capital expenditure, however, is excluded from the LSB, as is recurrent expenditure on nursery school and non-school provision for under five's. Under the Financing of Maintained Schools Regulations 1999, specific grant-supported expenditure may be deducted by an LEA from its LSB in arriving at the amount to be delegated to schools through the Individual Schools Budget (ISB); authorities may, however, delegate specific grant funding via the ISB if this is compatible with the conditions attaching to the grant in question. Under the Local Management of School (LMS) legislation in force in 1998–99, delegation via the Aggregated Schools Budget was prohibited in the case of most specific grants, and capital expenditure fell within the General Schools Budget. The comparative table of local education authority expenditure published by the Department for Education and Employment on 24 June showed what percentage of each authority's Local Schools Budget is being delegated to schools in 1999–2000. For this purpose, delegated funding comprised the Individual Schools Budget, together with that part of the Standards Fund programme each authority is devolving to its schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much each local education authority in England is receiving, or will receive, from government sources in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000 in the form of capital grants for school-related purposes, excluding capital payments and debt charges met from revenue support grant, and specifying the amount received from each funding source. [HL3690]

The information requested is contained in a number of tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much each local education authority in England is permitted to borrow in (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000 for school-related purposes, specifying the amounts for each specific purpose. [HL3691]

The attached two tables show each Authority's Annual Capital Guideline (ACG). The ACG is a notional sum which forms pan of each Authority's Basic Credit Approval which it is free to deploy as it wishes in accordance with local needs and priorities. The tables also show the amounts of Supplementary Credit Approval, which are issued through the Schools Access Initiative, the Specialist Schools Programme, and for other more general building projects. Copies of the tables have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will lay before Parliament the Annual Report for the Forensic Science Service (FSS). [HL3838]

Today my right honourable friend the Home Secretary laid before Parliament copies of the Forensic Science Service's (FSS) Annual Report and Accounts for 1998–99.The FSS met its financial target to recover its full costs and widened its accreditation through external bodies. However, it did fail to achieve the efficiency gain target and service delivery target. This was a challenging year for the FSS—expanding its workforce by 400 and absorbing the associated recruitment and training costs. This is part of a two-year strategy to increase the capacity of the FSS to meet demand and eliminate backlogs of certain types of scientific work. The targets and plans agreed for 1998–99 were ambitious, and whilst the FSS failed to achieve two key targets, mentioned above, it has already demonstrated a rapid improvement in quality of service during the latter part of 1998–99 and early 1999–2000. We are confident that this, and the move to Trading Fund from 1 April 1999, should be the springboard for further successes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish changes in the membership of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate Complaints Audit Committee. [HL3836]

Ms Mercy Jeyasingham has been appointed as a new Member of the Complaints Audit Committee to replace Blair Greaves, whose five-year appointment has come to an end. Ms Jeyasingham is the Chief Executive of the Association for All Speech Impaired Children. She was formerly the Director of Education and Information at the National Eczema Society and the Head of Care Standards at Hammersmith and Fulham Social Services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they plan to take forward the provision of juvenile secure accommodation. [HL3837]

We set out our programme of reform of juvenile secure accommodation on 29 July 1998 (Official Report, WA 112) and 8 March 1999 (Official Report, WA 5–6). We had decided in principle that the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales should from April 2000 become the commissioning and purchasing body for secure accommodation for children and young people on remand or under sentence. This should help to achieve the appropriate volume, type and spread of accommodation in the longer term, so that individual needs can be met more effectively.The board has provided advice on how to operate this. A copy has been placed in the Library. We endorse its approach as the basis for implementing commissioning and purchasing next April. The board will now consult local authorities and other relevant bodies on its proposals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which national museums and galleries do not allow readmission to temporary exhibitions which carry an entrance fee. [HL3643]

The British Museum. Tate Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, and the National Museum of Science and Industry do not generally allow readmission to temporary exhibitions which carry an entrance fee.The National Gallery will not allow readmission only if an exhibition is particularly popular, when a timed entry system is used to maintain visitor flow.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their view that acts of adultery, fornication, sex between juveniles, perverted sex, violence within marriage, theft, trespass, or use of drugs by fictional characters in popular television soap operas, such as "Coronation Street" and "EastEnders", are likely to cause young people to emulate such behaviour. [HL3631]

Successive governments have acknowledged the sensitivity of broadcast output and its possible adverse effect on young people. Under broadcasting legislation and the BBC Charter, it is the duty of regulators to produce codes and guidelines which address the need to protect vulnerable members of society from inappropriate material.In producing guidance the regulators have to reflect the codes of guidance produced by the Broadcasting Standards Commission, which are underpinned by research, including research on the impact of certain material on children and young people. The Government believe that, in general, the current arrangements are working well.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions Ministers have had with the Football Association or football clubs in relation to Manchester United's participation in next year's FA Cup; and whether, and for what reason, they made any request or expressed any view about whether the club should participate in the competition. [HL3644]

Last month Football Association and FA Premier League representatives, together with my honourable friend the Minister for Sport, held detailed discussions with Sir Roland Smith, Martin Edwards, and Peter Kenyon of Manchester United concerning the fixture congestion problems arising from the club's involvement in the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship next January.The Government recognise that Manchester United's involvement in the Club World Championship will help the Football Association to develop further its ties with FIFA, its support for the game worldwide, and its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup in this country. We also accept, however, that the club's exemption from next season's FA Cup was ultimately something which only the FA could offer and only the Manchester United Board could decide to accept. Naturally, we would prefer Manchester United to play in both the FA Cup and the Club World Championship if at all possible. Even at this late stage, we very much hope that a way can be found to achieve this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the costs of maintaining the European Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including:

Precise comparisons between the cost of the European Parliament and the Houses of Parliament are difficult. The latest information is as follows: