asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the House of Lords Appointments Commission. [HL2231]

The Appointments Commission brought new standards of transparency, professionalism and rigour into the selection of independent Peers. The commission has, as required, published criteria for appointing Peers on the basis that individuals should have a record of outstanding achievement, political independence, integrity and the ability to contribute to the House.The 15 new independent Peers were appointed because they have skills and qualities that will benefit the legislative scrutiny and revising work of the second Chamber. They included a world authority on palliative care, an expert on youth and social exclusion, a top British businessman and a leading educationalist. Their expertise is already contributing to debates in the House.The White Paper on Lords Reform published last year proposes a statutory Appointments Commission to appoint independent Members and to continue an open and transparent process of appointing independent Members to the House of Lords. In the mean time the Appointments Commission will continue its role.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 3 December (

As at 19 December, there are two medical appeals that remain to be dealt with. Those candidates who have been unsuccessful in appealing the decisions of the medical examiner have not proceeded further in the competition.Also at 19 December, there are 28 candidates who have successfully appealed the decision of the medical examiner and are awaiting their physical competence assessment. Of those, four have declared themselves to be Roman Catholic and 24 have declared themselves to be Protestants or are non-determined. No candidate who successfully appealed the decision of the medical examiner has proceeded without a physical competence assessment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 December (

The identity of the designers commissioned to produce draft designs is confidential, in accordance with a commitment given to them at the outset.There were a number of reasons why no competitive tendering process was undertaken, including the comparative costs involved and the nature of the work. The Permanent Under-Secretary for the Northern Ireland Office is the departmental accounting officer. On the issue of costs, these details were set out in the answer I gave to Lord Kilclooney (

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they expect further IRA decommissioning to take place before the end of February 2002; and how they will respond if further decommissioning does not take place. [HL2190]

I am sure we all would have hoped that the IRA and loyalist groups would have decommissioned by February. It is now extremely unlikely that this will be accomplished.The Government have every confidence in General de Chastelain and his colleagues and we should all respect their wishes on how best to proceed to fulfil their mandate. To this end the process must continue, and the Government will continue to support the commission in its work, including providing the legislative framework for decommissioning.

asked the Chairman of Committees:How the pilot project to "webcast" parliamentary proceedings on the Internet may be viewed within the parliamentary estate. [HL2230]

The House of Commons and House of Lords are starting to "webcast" coverage of some debates on the Internet. This is a pilot project, to be assessed at the end of 2002, aimed at making the work of Parliament more accessible to people unable to visit Westminster. The webcasts largely duplicate the coverage already available on the internal Annunciator system and in this test environment, during the pilot project, they will not be accessible via the Parliamentary Data and Video Network (PDVN). However, from next week viewing facilities will be available in the Queen's Room in the Library and, I understand, in the e-library of the House of Commons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to introduce a Bill to set out and clarify the role and functions of governmental special advisers. [HL1966]

In their response to the Sixth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, the Government committed themselves to introducing legislation on the Civil Service when parliamentary time allowed. The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and a limit on the number of special advisers will be included in the legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 26 November (

A detailed list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas, and information on expenditure by all Ministers on travel overseas for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002, will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. It is reasonable that, in response to a Parliamentary Question seeking information similar to that which will be published, the noble Lord was informed that he would have to wait for the published list. I will, of course, send the noble Lord a copy of the list when it is published. The Government do not comment on media speculation about the costs of Ministers' travel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they keep records of the number and causes of deaths of asylum seekers (a) while held in detention centres and prisons; (b) while in National Asylum Support Service accommodation; and (c) otherwise; if so, what are the figures for the past 12 months; and, if not, what are the reasons for not collecting such information. [HL1631]

Records are kept of the number of causes of death of asylum seekers while held in detention centres and prisons. No deaths have been recorded in the 12 months up to 30 September 2001.The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) does not keep records of the number and causes of death of asylum seekers it is supporting. It is not considered necessary to collect this information since the cause of death is unlikely to be directly linked to the provision of support. NASS would be informed if the person died as a result of an accident in the home, which was believed to be as a result of a failure on the part of the contractor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What person/organisation is responsible for auditing prison standards; who they will consult in ascertaining whether the standards are observed; and what action the Prison Service has the power to take against a prison or the governor when the audit shows that a standard or standards have not been complied with. [HL2047]

All Prison Service Standards contain audit baselines against which compliance can be checked, through observation, documentation and interview. These audits are conducted within the management line in each prison and headquarters group. Non-compliance must be addressed and failure to do so reported to the relevant area manager (i.e. operational manager) or director. The process was developed by the Standards Audit Unit and provides for local audit itself to be audited by the unit independently.Additionally, the Standards Audit Unit programmes a visit to each establishment and group at least once in a two-year cycle to audit the most critical standards identified by the Prison Service Management Board. The resulting report forms the basis of a remedial plan, delivery of which is overseen by the area manager or director. The results of any audit are taken alongside other indicators of performance to measure the success of any establishment/group and its management team.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 December (

The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) Protocol on the trafficking of human beings and is fully committed to implementing its measures.Information concerning the number of signatories to the protocol is the responsibility of the United Nations. Full details of signatories can be found on the official website at

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 December (

The adoption of the European Union Framework Decision on trafficking in human beings is now a matter for the Spanish Presidency. The Spanish Presidency have indicated that they will be seeking adoption of the Framework Decision at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28 February.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 December (

Forming an accurate estimate of the levels of trafficking in people is problematic due to the hidden nature of the act and there is currently no accurate, reliable data in existence within the UK or the European Union. A Home Office research study Stopping Traffic (Police Research Series 125), published in 2000, indicated that although there was intelligence to suggest that some women and children are trafficked into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation, it was impossible to make an accurate assessment of numbers, but there was no evidence to suggest that this was on a large scale compared with other European countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 December (

The STOP Programme which ran from 1996–2000 and STOP II that has superseded it are funded by the European Community budget based on Council decision [14740/00].It is open to any public or private organisation to submit bids for the co-financing of projects within the scope of the STOP II Programme, which normally amounts to a maximum of 70 per cent of the total cost of the project. Of the 39 projects submitted for funding under the Year 2001 round, 15 had United Kingdom involvement. Of these, 12 organisations were successful in their bids for funding. The United Kingdom takes the lead with five of these successful bids via the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), Forensic Science Service (FSS), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and the University of North London and CHANGE.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 December (

The Government are working with the United Nations, national governments and non-government organisations to address the problem of human trafficking and to provide support for the victims of this serious crime.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has supported a number of programmes designed to tackle the trafficking of human beings in the Western Balkans region and has provided a total of £200,000 to fund various anti-trafficking projects implemented under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's democratisation arm, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The figure of £75,000 has also been paid to the non-governmental organisation (NGO) CHANGE, for a project aimed at identifying, collecting and analysing information on NGOs and governmental organisations (globally) which are working with women who are trafficked for the purposes of prostitution, marriage or domestic service.Support to International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Kosovo totalling £10,000 has been provided for a shelter for trafficked women.This assistance complements proactive projects working with law enforcement and government agencies in south-eastern Europe to identify and disrupt trafficking networks. The United Kingdom-led EU initiative in Bosnia (Project Immpact) has led to indentification of trafficked women in Bosnia with EU experts working closely with local officials.In addition, we are funding a project by the United Kingdom police adviser in Romania to identify trafficking routes in the region.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 December (

Since the establishment of Project Reflex in March 2000, the National Crime Squad has to date led 19 investigations into organised immigration crime. To date there have been 15 United Kingdom and 22 overseas arrests of trafficking facilitators, with seven convictions in the United Kingdom and six overseas. Some of these investigations are still ongoing or awaiting trial. The international and complex nature of investigations means that they can take many months to complete.In addition, intelligence leads from Project Reflex have supported other overseas investigations, helping to dismantle significant organised criminal syndicates in other jurisdictions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they are promoting joint cultural, sporting and adventure activities among faith schools of different religions. [HL2121]

We recognise the importance of promoting a range of joint activities between children from different faiths and cultures to encourage tolerance, respect and understanding. However, our policies are not specific to faith schools. All schools with predominance of one ethnic or religious group have a responsibility to reach out to other schools.Specialist and beacon schools are required to form partnerships with other schools and the wider community; and Excellence in Cities is a programme delivered by local partnerships of schools to give deprived inner-city pupils the same opportunities as their peers elsewhere.We are also preparing guidance for school organisation committees so that in future, when decisions are made on proposals for new schools, including faith schools, their potential for inclusiveness and partnership working with other faith-based and non-faith schools will be taken into account. We will give promoters of new schools examples of possible partnership arrangements, including the promotion of joint cultural and sporting activities.The department is funding the educational strand of the Spirit of Friendship Festival that aims, in 2002, to draw together children and young people in shared sporting activites, and in active engagement in the celebration of cultural diversity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What types of military aircraft are available to NATO from the Greek air force. [HL2130]

The Greek Government have provided this information to NATO in confidence. We are therefore withholding the information in accordance with Exemption 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to information received in confidence from foreign governments, foreign courts or international organisations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) which railway stations within Greater London, owned by Railtrack or any of the companies formerly constituting Railtrack, and (b) which adjoining or neighbouring sites or air-rights, are available for future development; and [HL2107](a) which railway stations in the metropolitan counties of England (outside Greater London), owned by Railtrack or any of the companies formerly constituting Railtrack, and (b) which adjoining or neighbouring sites or air-rights, are available for future development. [HL2108]

The Government do not hold such information. Major stations are owned and operated by Railtrack plc. It is in the company's commercial interest to encourage development. The Government's planning policies support development that promotes a high quality urban environment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the resignation of Mike Grant as chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority, and the announcement that Richard Bowker will take on the role of chairman and chief executive, who will be nominated accounting officer. [HL2109]

Peter Trewin has been appointed as interim accounting officer pending the nomination of a permanent successor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For how long Richard Bowker will be excluded from any involvement in the negotiations between Virgin, other train operators, Railtrack (in administration) and the Strategic Rail Authority on the future of the West Coast Main Line because of his former employment with Virgin; and who in the Strategic Rail Authority will lead the negotiations in Mr Bowker's place. [HL2110]

Richard Bowker will not be involved in the current negotiations on the future of the West Coast Main Line. Chris Kinchin-Smith, executive director for strategic routes, is currently leading for the SRA in these negotiations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they expect the Silverstone village bypass on the A43 to be finished in time for the British Grand Prix weekend of 5 to 7 July 2002; and whether they will ensure that the Highways Agency uses all its powers to assist Octagon Motorsports in completing the expansion to four lanes of the main Dadford Road access into the Silverstone circuit before that weekend. [HL2144]

The bypass is programmed to be open in July 2002. The exact time will depend upon the severity of the winter's weather. If it is not open as a public highway in time for the Grand Prix, much of it will be completed and, subject to certain conditions, could be made available for access to the circuit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What recent studies have been conducted to assess the relationship between traffic-calming measures and emissions of pollutants from motor vehicles; and whether such a study in relation to the effects of congestion charging on areas outside zones where such charges are levied or proposed to be levied is being conducted. [HL2156]

My department has commissioned a number of studies. They show that traffic calming results in an increase in emissions from individual vehicles, but that it generally also leads to a reduction in traffic, the net outcome being that traffic calming is frequently neutral as far as air quality is concerned. They also show that in traffic-calmed areas background pollution and meteorologial conditions are more significant influences on air quality than vehicle emissions.As to congestion charging, we expect that every local authority that introduces a scheme will carry out a range of qualitative and quantitative monitoring of the scheme's impacts, both before it has begun and during its operation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any recent studies have established a link between increased pollution and slowing of traffic due to street works or traffic calming measures. [HL2157]

There have been no recent studies of the pollution effects of traffic being slowed because of street works. As to traffic calming, I refer the noble Baroness to my answer to her previous Question.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment they conducted to determine the value of the Dome site without the Dome; and what the projected value was. [HL2162]

A pre-sale valuation of the Dome site has been undertaken in the context of the process to secure a sustainable long-term use for the Dome. This valuation and government appraisals of the financial value of the site are commercially confidential.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the maximum and minimum amounts they project that English Partnerships will receive from the joint venture with Meridian Delta Limited. [HL2164]

Through the proposed deal between English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Limited, English Partnerships expects to receive hundreds of millions of pounds, over the lifetime of the project. The amount to be received by English Partnerships will be determined further during negotiations with Meridian Delta Limited, and will also be dependent on timing and quantum of future development.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the total costs of the Dome are projected to be, including costs borne by the taxpayer and lottery funding bodies. [HL2165]

Expenditure by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) on the Dome and the costs of the associated programme of events and activities are expected to total £794 million. This sum also includes expenditure on the London New Year's Eve Riverside Event of 31 December 1999 which NMEC co-ordinated for the Millennium Commission. All of these costs are being met from income, including National Lottery grant from the Millennium Commission of £630 million (£2 million of which was for the London Riverside Event specifically) although it is expected that £25 million of this grant will not be used by NMEC and will therefore be retained by the Millennium Commission.In addition, English Partnerships, the Government's urban regeneration agency, has incurred a total cost of £16.8 million so far, up to the end of 2001. These costs will be recovered from sale proceeds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their development plans for the Dome site are acceptable to, and have been agreed by, the local authority and the Mayor of London. [HL2166]

The London Borough of Greenwich and the Mayor of London have been regularly kept informed about the progress of Meridian Delta Limited's proposals for the Dome and the regeneration of the Greenwich peninsula. While the detailed negotiations continue, English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Limited will work closely with them to develop the proposals, to respond to local concerns and requirements and to start preparations for taking the proposals through the planning process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What outside advisers they are using to advise on the proposed deal with Meridian Delta Limited regarding the Dome. [HL2167]

English Partnerships, the Government's urban regeneration agency, is handling the negotiations with Meridian Delta Limited. Its main external advisors are Jones LangLasalle and Berwin Leighton Paisner. In addition, WS Atkins, JMP Consultants Ltd and Gardiner & Theobald have been used to advise on specific aspects.