asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they accept the dicta of the World Court in June that (a) the use of force other than as authorised by the UN Security Council is forbidden; (b) the UN Security Council alone is responsible for peacekeeping and international security; and (c) all relevant humanitarian conventions must be observed at all times. [HL3756]

The noble Lord's references to the cases brought by the FRY against 10 NATO states do not exactly reflect the orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 2 June 1999. The ICJ emphasised that all parties appearing before it must act in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law, including humanitarian law. The Court also stressed that where a dispute gives rise to a threat to the peace, a breach of the peace, or an act of aggression, the Security Council has special responsibilities under Chapter VII of the Charter. The Government do, of course, accept these statements by the Court.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they expect the "comprehensive report, including an assessment, on the events dating from the establishment of the safe area of Srebrenica on 16 April 1993 under Security Council Resolution 819 (1993) of 16 April 1993, which was followed by the establishment of other safe areas, until endorsement of the peace agreement by the Security Council under Resolution 1031 (1995) of 15 December 1995", called for by the United Nations General Assembly in paragraph 18 of its Resolution 53/35 of 13 January 1999, to be submitted in accordance with the resolution by 1 September; and what arrangements are being made for its publication. [HL3773]

We understand that the UN Secretariat is working to submit its comprehensive report to the General Assembly by 1 September, and that the report will be issued as a General Assembly document.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will refrain from accepting any outcome in the United Nations Security Council which would give Saddam Hussein control of Iraq's oil revenues, for as long as he is in defiance of the Security Council Resolutions; and [HL3764]Since the United States Administration has said it has "some problems with parts" of the Anglo-Dutch draft resolution on Iraq currently under consideration by the Security Council, whether agreement is being reached with the United States over the improvements which it would require to be made to the draft resolution; and [HL3823]Whether, in the absence of the required confirmation that Iraq has been disarmed and is being monitored, they will refrain from supporting any proposal during the discussions on a new United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq to implement the work of the three United Nations panels which would leap-frog previous Security Council resolutions and lift the sanctions on Iraq; and [HL3766]Whether, in light of the fact that the report of the United Nations panel on disarmament concluded that Iraq has not fulfilled its obligations as set out in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, they will give an assurance that the draft resolutions on Iraq seeks to secure a more, rather than less, intrusive monitoring system for disarmament; and what consensus on this has been reached within the United Nations Security Council; and [HL3767]What is the progress of the expansion and streamlining of the oil-for-food programme. [HL3768]

Iraq has still failed to comply with its obligations under Security Council resolutions. UN expert panels have confirmed that there are serious disarmament questions unanswered and that Iraq had failed to come clean about the fate of over 600 Kuwaitis and other nationals detained in 1991. The Government believe that in these circumstances sanctions cannot be lifted. Iraq's oil revenues must be controlled, in particular to ensure that they are not diverted for rearmament and that Iraq meets its obligation to compensate those who suffered during the invasion of Kuwait.The draft resolution which we and six other members of the Security Council are co-sponsoring reflects this. It proposes a new disarmament organisation which would attempt to answer the outstanding questions. This would need to be more intrusive in some ways than UNSCOM has been in the past. Our draft resolution also removes the ceiling on Iraqi oil exports while maintaining close control over the use of those revenues. Discussions continue on the resolution, especially with the other permanent members of the Security Council, with the shared aim of reaching consensus on the best way forward.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the Prime Minister's speech to the Romanian Parliament in Bucharest on 4 May, in which he said that the United Kingdom will support an invitation to Romania at the Helsinki European Council in December to begin negotiations to accede to the European Union, this support extends to the Republics of Latvia and Lithuania. [HL3799]

Yes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any hereditary Peers have been offered life peerages following the passing of the House of Lords Bill. [HL3884]

As I told the House on 20 April (col. 1114), as foreshadowed in the White Paper Modernising Parliament: Reforming the House of Lords (Cm 4183), the hereditary Peers of first creation have all been offered life peerages. This was in recognition of their unique position as both created and hereditary peers in relation to the House of Lords Bill. As I also told the House on 11 May (col. 1174), it would not be appropriate to comment on the question of whether any further such offers had been made to Peers who are not in such a unique position.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of the delay in the publication of the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education report

The consultation on the national curriculum review ended on 23 July and cannot be extended. The National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education report was published on 14 May and from that date was available to the public and all schools via the internet. This allowed ample time for both documents to be considered and comments submitted within the consultation period. Over 6,000 copies of the committee's report have been sent out in this period.The committee's recommendations on the curriculum have already informed proposals for the revised curriculum for 2000. In his introduction to the proposals, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State said that a strength of our education system is its ability to develop creativity. Literacy, numeracy and key skills are the foundation on which our ability to exploit creativity is based. Effective teaching of other subjects is also vital to the development of well-rounded individuals. Each subject makes a distinctive contribution to pupils' learning and development; for example, music and art are important for the cultural and spiritual development of young people. For this reason the requirement for primary schools to follow the full programmes of study and for all non-core subjects will be reinstated from September 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many members of (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Army were (i) 16 years of age and (ii) 17 years of age on 1 July; which units they are serving with; and what percentage of force numbers this represent in each service. [HL3761]

At 1 June 1999, the latest date for which information is available centrally on all three services: 151 naval service personnel, Royal Navy and Royal Marines, were 16 years of age and 841 were 17 years of age, 0.3 per cent. and 1.9 per cent. of the total strength respectively; 959 Army personnel were 16 years of age and 4,032 were 17 years of age, 0.9 per cent. and 3.7 per cent. of the total strength respectively; 45 RAF personnel were 16 years of age and 393 were 17 years of age, 0.1 per cent. and 0.7 per cent. of the total strength respectively.The list of units they are serving with is provided in the tables below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many young people on the New Deal scheme have been taken on by the Ministry of Defence since April 1998. [HL3828]

As at 1 July 1999, the MoD has employed 18 people from the New Deal initiative. There are currently 17 New Deal candidates in post, and a further four awaiting pre-employment checks. The Employment Service is attempting to fill another 37 posts identified as suitable for New Deal candidates.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will clarify the statement made by the Minister for Defence Procurement on 20 July 1999 (

I thank my noble friend for giving me the opportunity to clarify this matter. The Minister for the Armed Forces is not making an announcement on the subject of former prisoners of war of the Japanese and I very much regret any confusion and concern which my inadvertent statement may have caused.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the 1999 budget for limb provision within the National Health Service; and how this is split between components and overheads; and [HL3891]What was the budget for limb provision within the National Health Service in 1997; and [HL3892]By how much the budget for overhead costs in limb provision for the National Health Service has been increased or decreased between 1997 and 1999; and [HL3893]By how much the budget for limb component provision within the National Health Service has been increased or decreased between 1997 and 1999; and what this is as a percentage; and [HL3894]Whether they will break down the costs between clinical care, service accommodation and administrative costs for limb provision within the National Health Service for each of the years from 1979 to 1999. [HL3895]

The total cost of artificial limb services, extrapolated from sample service costs for 1998–99, is currently £65 million. Having reviewed Disablement Service Centre contracts and predicted levels of annual uprating, the NHS Supplies Authority estimates that prosthetic company contracts now amount to around £36 million which includes around £9.7 million for components. The balance covers the NHS costs of clinical care (including multidisciplinary teams), service accommodation and administrative costs.The budget for prosthetic company contracts in 1997 was £32.7 million. Information on NHS budgets for artificial limb services during 1997 is not available.In the absence of data on the 1997 NHS budget the variation cannot be provided.Between 1997 and 1999 the budgets for prosthetic company contracts have increased from £32.7 million to £36 million, representing an approximate 10 per cent. increase. Component costs remain consistent at around £9.7 million.We are unable to provide data or the breakdown as requested between 1979 and 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the supply company providing the new range of silicone covering materials currently being developed for the National Health Service. [HL3896]

"RSL Steeper" has developed a new range of silicone materials for artificial limbs for potential supply to the National Health Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a chairman and board members will be recruited for the Food Standards Agency in preparation of the agency's vesting day. [HL4034]

This work is in hand. Parliamentary approval for the recruitment and current year fee and accommodation costs of the chairman and members of the Food Standards Agency will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Health Class II, Vote 2. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £600,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether slaughterhouse owners and operators are entitled to have access to the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual for the purpose of study and verification; and whether it will cause one copy of the manual to be supplied to each licensed premises for the exclusive use of slaughterhouse operators. [HL3100]

Slaughterhouse owners and operators have access to the Meat Hygiene Service Operations Manual via the official veterinary surgeon designated to their plant. Additional copies and subsequent updates can be purchased from the MHS should slaughterhouse owners or operators wish to have copies of their own.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants they expect to close as a direct result of the increase in veterinary hours imposed on their operators; and whether this will represent, overall, an improvement in the hygiene of the meat supply. [HL3103]

It is not known how many, if any, slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants will close as a direct result of the increase in veterinary hours. Plants close for a number of reasons dependent upon the circumstances pertaining at each plant. As we do not know which, if any, plants will close, it is not possible to identify whether this will represent an improvement in the hygiene of the meat supply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether slaughterhouses owners and operators are entitled to ask for verbal directions and advice given to them or their staff by official veterinary surgeons to be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable after they have been given; and whether they will instruct the Meat Hygiene Service to make arrangements to ensure that such directions and advice are so confirmed. [HL3104]

Where appropriate and necessary, slaughterhouse owners and operators are entitled to ask for verbal directions and advice given to them or their staff by official veterinary surgeons to be confirmed in writing as soon as is practicable. However, it would be impractical for OVSs to confirm in writing every instruction or piece of advice that they impart during their day-to-day work in slaughterhouses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What formal system is in place for meat hygiene inspectors employed by the Meat Hygiene Service to complain about the competence and performance of official veterinary surgeons in slaughterhouses and poultry processing plants; and what measures exist to prevent inspectors who complain from being victimised; and [HL3192]Whether they will set up a telephone help-line to enable meat hygiene inspectors to make complaints about the performance and competence of official veterinary surgeons. [HL3193]

Meat Hygiene Service staff have access to both a formal grievance procedure and a procedure for dealing with violence and intimidation in the workplace. These are considered to be sufficient.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is appropriate for an experienced meat hygiene inspector to take instructions from a junior veterinary surgeon who holds the post of official veterinary surgeon as to the judgment of meat fitness during post-mortem inspections. [HL3206]

Yes, it is. This is because the ultimate decision and responsibility as to the fitness of a carcass for human consumption rests with the official veterinary surgeon.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much the meat industry has contributed to the pension fund for Meat Hygiene Service staff in the last financial year; and how much it is estimated that it will contribute in the current financial year. [HL3227]

The meat industry does not make any contribution to the MHS pension fund.The total pension fund contributions made by the Meat Hygiene Service during 1998–99 were approximately £1.9 million.Under the Treasury Fees and Charges Guide and the legislation which sets out the costs that can be recovered through meat hygiene inspection charges, staff pension costs are included as permissible costs. Approximately £1.1 million of the MHS pension costs were recovered through industry charges in 1998–99 and a broadly equivalent figure will be recovered in 1999–2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Donoughue on 16 June (

Slaughterhouse owners and operators have access to the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual via the official veterinary surgeon designated to their plant. Additional copies and subsequent updates can be purchased from the MHS should slaughterhouse owners or operators wish to have copies of their own.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance indicators are used to measure the performance of the Meat Hygiene Service. [HL3261]

The Meat Hygiene Service is set performance targets each year by Ministers. These targets, and the MHS performance against them, are published in the MHS annual report and accounts, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Meat Hygiene Service requires any records to be kept as to the number of carcasses in slaughterhouses which have been recommended for condemnation by meat hygiene inspectors, following post-mortem inspections, where those recommendations have been rejected by official veterinary surgeons. [HL3321]

The Meat Hygiene Service does not keep a record of the number of times official veterinary surgeons overrule meat hygiene inspectors on recommendations for carcass condemnations. However, the MHS does record the reasons for rejection of any meat that is condemned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:To whom, and in what manner, a meat hygiene inspector may appeal in the event that his recommendation to condemn a carcass in a slaughterhouse, following his post-mortem inspection, is rejected by his official veterinary surgeon; and what arrangements are in force for the retention of such a carcass pending the determination of any appeal; and [HL3322]In the event that a meat hygiene inspector determines, following a post-mortem inspection in a slaughterhouse, that a carcass should be condemned, and his recommendation is rejected by his official veterinary surgeon, whether the meat hygiene inspector is obliged to apply his personal stamp; and who takes responsibility for the condition of the carcass in the event that the meat derived from it is subsequently found to be unfit. [HL3323]

The ultimate decision and responsibility as to the fitness of a carcass for human consumption rests with an official veterinary surgeon. A meat hygiene inspector can therefore be instructed by an OVS to apply a health mark to any carcass.If a meat hygiene inspector is aggrieved with an OVS's professional judgment, those concerns can be raised through the Meat Hygiene Service's grievance procedure.No arrangements are in force for the retention of a carcass pending the determination of any appeal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many letters to slaughterhouse owners and operators were written and signed by the chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service in the financial years 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99; and how many letters sent by slaughterhouse owners and operators, addressed to the chief executive, were received by the Meat Hygiene Service in the same periods. [HL3327]

The chief executive of the Meat Hygiene Service has written to slaughterhouse owners and operators on numerous occasions in the period 1995 to 1999 and has also received many letters from slaughterhouse owners and operators. Information relating to the exact number of letters sent and received is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish in the

The following table shows the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain during each week of 1999 up to 23 July, together with the moving annual total of cases reported for each 52-week period.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the United Kingdom is alone among European Union members excluded from the United States trade sanctions in the hormone-treated beef and cows dispute. [HL3869]

The decision was taken by the United States on the basis of member states' voting records on the European Union ban on the import of meat and meat products derived from animals treated with hormonal growth promoters.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the possibility that hormone-treated beef and milk from hormone-treated cows contributes to human obesity and to human milk production disorders has not been studied by the Department of Health. [HL3870]

There is no evidence that the ingestion of small amounts of unmetabolised growth promoting hormones from cattle influences metabolism or growth in human beings. Even if there were some effect, one of the main reasons for treating animals with growth promoting hormones is to increase the muscle content of the carcass and decrease the fat content.The European Commission has not included a study of obesity in its assessment of potential risks to human health from growth promoting hormones used in cattle. Furthermore, the recent report of the Scientific. Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to Public Health (SCVPH) made as part of that risk assessment has made a thorough review of the latest science in this area and makes no reference to growth promoting hormones in cattle leading to overweight in humans.So far as bovine somatotropin is concerned, it occurs naturally in all cows' milk and is not biologically active in humans. There is a continuing moratorium on the use of the bovine milk enhancer, recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), in the European Union. The Veterinary Products Committee has been asked to review the latest scientific evidence on human and animal health effects of the use of rBST and is expected to offer advice shortly. It is our intention to put the VPC's report into the public domain.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will request the World Trade Organisation (a) to review the use made by its panels of claims originating in the United States regarding the safety of biotechnologically-modified crops and animals, and (b), if necessary, to review any fines or other penalties imposed by the WTO as a result of the judgments of these panels. [HL3877]

There have been no World Trade Organisation panel cases involving biotechnologically-modified crops and animals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide an update on the future of the Cattle Health Scheme. [HL3979]

Under new animal health trade rules agreed during the last UK Presidency of the EU Council, a case requesting designation of Great Britain as officially EBL-free was submitted to the EU Commission in May. The Standing Veterinary Committee voted in favour of a Commission decision granting the status to Great Britain on 2 July. It came into effect on 1 July. The decision also retained EBL-free status for Northern Ireland. From 1 July 1999 all herds in Great Britain are to be regarded as officially EBL-free unless the presence of the disease is suspected in a particular herd.The Cattle Health Scheme attests herds as being individually free of EBL, so may not be needed now that Great Britain's freedom is achieved. Officials are writing to all members of the scheme and to the cattle industry to consult them on the future of the scheme. The formal acknowledgement of our EBL-free status from the EU is good news for farmers and will reduce bureaucracy. We will of course maintain controls on cattle imports in accordance with EU rules.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has made in meeting the service delivery targets set out in the paper

The table below sets out the performance achieved by the regional service centres during 1998–99 against the targets published in the charter document Commitment to Service, second edition.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there have been any recent cases of spinal cord discovered in imported beef. [HL3981]

Since the beginning of June, a number of imported beef forequarters containing small sections of spinal cord have been discovered by Meat Hygiene Service and State Veterinary Service staff at a cutting plant in Great Britain. These forequarters all originated from slaughterhouses in the Republic of Ireland and have been destroyed.In response to the Chief Veterinary Officer's request for urgent action by the authorities in the Republic of Ireland, the veterinary authorities there have undertaken to penalise the veterinary inspectors responsible for certifying the beef. They have also told the Irish Meat Association that any failure by a member company to implement the specified risk material controls will result in the withdrawal of the supplementary certification for export to the UK. Their unannounced inspections will also be stepped up. Meat Hygiene Service staff at licensed cutting plants and local authorities are being asked to pay particular attention to beef carcasses imported from the Republic of Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to receive a report from the Veterinary Products Committee on the safety of veterinary medicines other than sheep dips which have an organophosphorus compound as the active ingredient. [HL3982]

We have now received a report from the Veterinary Products Committee and have placed a copy in the Library of the House.The Government have accepted the VPC's advice that, although there is no evidence that the products concerned are harmful if used in accordance with recommended precautions, marketing authorisation holders should provide additional data to demonstrate the safety of their products. If they are unable to provide such data, the Government will take further advice from the VPC on appropriate regulatory action.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What further progress the Environment Agency has made in implementing its action plan in response to the independent report on the Easter 1998 floods. [HL3913]

The chairman of the agency has provided my honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary with a report of progress up to the end of June 1999. Copies have been placed in the House Libraries.We were pleased to note that the agency remains on course for completing the substantial work programme set out in the action plan. In line with the priorities that we set out last October, the agency has received an independent report on its management structures and skills base and the recommendations will be implemented by next April. An elaboration of the Environment Agency's flood defence supervisory duty was published in May, along with interim high level targets for the agency and other flood and coastal defence operating authorities. The agency is now working with others to ensure that flood and coastal defences are identified and inspected; the results recorded and assessed; and appropriate action to remedy defects put in hand. Consultation on further development of high level targets and the supervisory duty is in hand.The agency has reported that indicative maps of floodplains have been produced ahead of the September target and are currently being distributed to local authorities for use in both development control and emergency planning. These maps are being used to review the agency's database of properties at risk of flooding. Further work has been done on flood warning, with an extension to the number of properties now able to receive direct automatic voice messages through the telephone system. Flood warning messages have been reviewed and a new system to replace the present colour coded warnings is planned from September 2000. The agency is embarking on a significant: programme of work, both internally and with partners such as local authorities and the emergency services, to ensure that the necessary preparations are made. We have agreed with the agency that it is important to ensure that these arrangements are introduced successfully and are coupled with a campaign to increase public awareness.The programme of improvements to the agency's telemetry network is starting following MAFF agreement to grant aid work in England. The National Assembly for Wales is separately considering the telemetry programme in Wales.The agency continues to make good progress in implementing the Easter floods report and I will ensure that the House is updated on future progress.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the 1998–99 annual report and accounts for the Veterinary Laboratory Agency. [HL3910]

We are pleased to announce that the 1998–99 annual report and accounts for the Veterinary Laboratory Agency were laid before Parliament on 26 July 1999. Copies are available in the Library of the House.I should like to congratulate all staff on their achievements during the year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will be consulting the farming industry on the proposals to implement the discretionary aspects of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy. [HL3911]

The reform of the CAP decided at the Berlin European Council introduced a number of policy areas where member states were given discretion as to whether and/or how they would be applied. In the information notes my right honourable friend the Minister circulated to the farming industry and other interested parties following that agreement he undertook to consult widely on the Government's plans in relation to these areas of discretion. He made clear that these plans would be set in the context of an overall strategy for agriculture which takes into account the need for a competitive, flexible and environmentally friendly industry which is responsive to consumer wishes and which contributes to the social and economic strengths of rural areas.My right honourable friend intends accordingly to write to interested parties, including farming industry representatives, in the coming weeks setting out my ideas for such a strategy and how the discretionary aspects of the reformed CAP should be applied in this country to help set a new direction for the industry. The department will also be conducting a series of regional consultations. Copies of the consultation documents will be placed in the Library of the House. We will consider responses carefully and announce final decisions during the autumn.Comparable action is being taken in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have received to the submission on recommendation 69 on tuberculosis and badgers which they made to the standing committee to the Bern Convention. [HL3912]

Following submission of the document in April, the UK Government have responded to a number of subsequent questions from the Secretariat to the Bern Convention and have supplied additional technical information. At the request of the secretariat, the information has been consolidated into a single document, which has been forwarded to the secretariat and is now being sent to delegates of the standing committee. A copy of this latest document, which supersedes the earlier one, has been placed in the Library of the House.