asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the cost so far of the inquiry into "Bloody Sunday". [HL946]

The total costs incurred by the Bloody Sunday Inquiry up to the 31 December 1999 are £13,320,976.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By how much the national insurance fund is currently in surplus; what proportion of the social security budget is now funded by national insurance; and whether they have any plans for using any of the fund's current surplus to increase the basic state retirement pension by more than 75 pence a week. [HL879]

The Government Actuary recommends a minimum balance in the National Insurance Fund of 16.7 per cent of benefit expenditure or £7.75 billion for 1999–2000. He estimates that the actual balance at 31 March 2000 will be £13.786 billion. The proportion of the Social Security budget funded by national insurance contributions for 1999–2000 is expected to be 50 per cent. We have already announced the increase for basic state retirement pension for April 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of the United Kingdom's total visible exports and imports and, separately, of the United Kingdom's invisible exports and imports, were accounted for by trade with the United States in 1978, 1988 and the last complete year; and what measures are being taken by HM Government to increase the United Kingdom's exports to the United States. [HL854]

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asked the Leader of the House:Whether it is in accordance with parliamentary practice not to discuss and debate individual applications for asylum when these are not currently before the courts. [HL907]

The Home Office undertakes to keep all applications for asylum confidential, whatever stage they have reached. Provided that the appellant has not himself made the fact of his application public, it is essential that this undertaking be observed, both for the protection of the applicant and to avoid any risk of compromising the decision-making process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy towards the Geneva negotiations for a verification protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention; and what is their assessment of the risks should such a protocol fail to be agreed. [HL886]

Completion of a legally-binding protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention is an important arms control objective for the United Kingdom as it will fill the last remaining gap in provisions covering weapons of mass destruction. The UK is playing a leading role in the Ad Hoc Group negotiations in Geneva, where we chair the sessions on compliance measures. We hope to see substantive progress towards the successful conclusion of a protocol during 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they endorse the agreements recently negotiated in Geneva designed to help end the use of child soldiers in armed conflict; and what is now their position on ratification of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, which requires governments to take "all feasible measures" to end the deployment of under 18s in conflict situations. [HL887]

We welcome the consensus achieved by the UN Working Group on an optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict. This is a strong, practical text which clearly establishes that young people under 18 have a right to special safeguards.The UK has argued that to stop children as young as 7 or 8 being used as child soldiers, we need standards that will be widely ratified and implemented. We believe that the optional protocol achieves this. We are now looking to see what measures we would need to take to allow the UK to ratify.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many meetings of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe there have been in the year to 31 January 2000; and how many were attended by British Ministers. [HL888]

There have been two meetings of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers in the year to 31 January 2000, one of which was attended by a British Minister. (Lord Williams of Mostyn, then Minister of State at the Home Office, attended the meeting in May 1999.)

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the priority they accord to relations with Russia and other former communist countries is reflected in the attendance record of British Ministers at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. [HL889]

The high priority which the Government attach to their relations with Russia and other former communist countries does not necessarily affect decisions on ministerial attendance at Council of Europe meetings. Decisions on Ministers' attendance at such meetings depend on the priorities of the various calls on their time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their plans for bringing the aviation industry within the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [HL903]

We are currently working with the aviation industry—airlines and airports—and with our disability advisers—the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee—to draw up a voluntary code of practice for the aviation industry covering the transport needs of disabled people. We will be consulting on the draft this summer.We are also considering a proposal from the Disability Rights Task Force which recommends that we take a reserve regulation making power to require the aviation industry to comply with the code of practice if the voluntary approach fails.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given that on inspection the tanker

The Government, with the International Maritime Organisation and other EU member states, are considering what additional measures might help prevent a repetition of the "Erika" incident. If we find that additional regulations are necessary, we will pursue them actively through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the UN specialist agency responsible for the promotion of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution, and the European Union as appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for reviewing the legislation affecting common land and town and village greens. [HL1009]

We have published a consultation paper on common land—Greater Protection and Better Management of Common Land in England and Wales. 'The paper looks at three key areas: issues concerning the registration of common land and village greens; the consent regime for fencing and other works; and wider management issues. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. We have invited comments on the paper by 10 April.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether an extension of the powers of entry for the enforcement of Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2170) from the police to officials of the Environment Agency or English Nature has to be authorised personally by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions or whether the decision to extend the powers can be delegated to an official of his department; and what documentary authorisation would need to be shown to the owners of premises by anyone other than a police officer seeking to enter the premises for the purpose of enforcing the regulation. [HL861]

The issuing of authorisation notices for enforcement of Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2170) has been delegated to an official of my department.An individual seeking to enter the premises for the purpose of enforcing the regulation Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2170) would be required to show the authorisation notice from the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that Parliament is notified as soon as practicable after the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions authorises anyone other than a police officer to exercise powers of entry into private premises for the purpose of enforcing the Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2170).[HL862]

As we have previously stated, there may be very rare occasions where another competent organisation such as the Environment Agency or English Nature is better placed to enforce the regulation, and the regulation needs to contain this element of flexibility.If circumstances arise that the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions authorises another competent organisation other than a police officer to exercise powers of entry into private premises for the purpose of enforcing the Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2170), a copy of that authorisation notice will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as is practicable after that notice has been issued.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their criteria for imposing consistency throughout the United Kingdom in environmental and health regulations, given that the protection of wildfowl from lead poisoning applies only in England. [HL864]

It is inherent in the principle of devolution that there will not necessarily be consistency of regulation throughout the United Kingdom and that measures will not necessarily be implemented on a consistent timetable.All the devolved administrations are responsible for various matters concerning environmental protection, though in many cases the framework provided by Community law, or by other international organisations, will provide a consistency of effect and of timing between the regulations.As regards legislation and the Environmental Protection (Restriction on the Use of Lead Shot) (England) Regulations 1999 (S.I 1999/2170), the decision on whether to implement similar legislation in Wales and Scotland is a matter for the devolved authorities. The devolved authorities are currently considering the implementation of lead shot legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will confirm that the new rules concerning 2 metre boundary limits under Part I of the Arable Area Payments Scheme will not be retrospective. [HL803]

We would not expect to make adjustments to previous years' claims in cases where a field margin which was found on inspection in 2000 to be over 2 metres wide would previously have been considered eligible under the Arable Area Payments Scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the motto of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate "Assuring the Safety, Quality and Efficacy of Veterinary Medicines" is consistent with the performance of that organisation in establishing the safety, quality and effectiveness of CS Disinfectant as an additive to the organophosphate sheep dip Top Clip Gold Shield before the disinfectant was withdrawn by the manufacturers. [HL817]

All veterinary medicinal products must satisfy the criteria of safety, quality and efficacy established by the Medicines Act 1968 and which are now central to the authorisation procedure laid down in Directive 81/851/EEC. This product, which had a licence of right, was included in the review of sheep dip licences in 1992 and CS Disinfectant was voluntarily removed from the product, in common with phenolic compounds in other sheep dips.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many patients in National Health Service hospitals are aged (a) over 90; (b) over 80; and (c) over 70; and how these figures compare with 1990, 1980, 1970 and 1960. [HL897]

The information is given in the table. Data for 1960 are not available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many new regulations have been made by the Treasury since May 1997; and how many have been repealed. [HL653]

It is not possible to tell which of the statutory instruments that have been made since May 1997 amend existing regulations, repeal existing regulations or are deregulatory in their effect, except at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How commercial sponsorship of government activity is treated in tax terms by the Inland Revenue. [HL858]

If expenditure on business sponsorship is revenue expenditure incurred wholly and exclusively for business purposes, the expense is deductible when calculating the sponsor's business profit for tax purposes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Cumulatively, over the six year period 1993–98 inclusive, which 10 countries were the leading inward investors into the United Kingdom; and what percentage of total cumulative inward investment did each country provide over that period (in both cases excluding investment in real estate). [HL891]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Cumulatively, over the six-year period 1993–98 inclusive, what proportion did total inward investment from overseas (excluding investment in real estate) bear to total Gross Domestic Fixed Capital Formation (excluding dwellings and transfer costs on land and buildings). [HL892]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Cumulatively, over the six-year period 1993–98 inclusive, what proportion did total inward investment from overseas (excluding investment in real estate) bear to United Kingdom gross domestic product. [HL893]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What meetings have been held by the Minister for Women with the Minister for Film since 7 December 1999 to discuss how conditions in the film and broadcasting industries affect women in particular; and what action will be taken by the Government as a result of those meetings. [HL715]

The two Ministers have not met since 7 December to discuss these issues. My honourable friend the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting attended the annual awards ceremony of the Women in Film and Television organisation on 7 December, when their report on working conditions was launched, and discussed the implications with its authors on 25 January. She is taking these issues forward with the film and broadcasting industries and in consultation with my noble friend the Minister for Women, and with Women in Film and Television.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the evidence in the report,

This is an issue we are watching closely and which we have asked the English Tourism Council to address when developing its strategy to help plan for the longer-term success of the attractions sector. ETC will be working in partnership with the attractions industry and proposes to deliver the strategy to government by September 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give in tabular form the values of the pound sterling against the United States dollar, the Japanese yen and the Euro since 1 January 1999. [HL933]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to reply.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Who are "the House authorities". [HL959]

Depending on the context, the House authorities include the Chairman of Committees, the Clerk of the Parliaments, Black Rod and the members of the Usual Channels.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, when homeless prisoners are given the higher rate of discharge grant, prison governors are required to fund this out of their prison's previously agreed budget or whether this expenditure is funded separately from a central source. [HL914]

Discharge grant is paid to help prisoners meet their immediate needs on release. Whether the grant is paid at the standard rate for those with a settled home to return to, or at the higher rate to those who have no settled home, the funds are taken from each prison governor's agreed annual budget. Governors do not have recourse to a separate central source of funding for this purpose.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What targets they are setting for the employment of women in the operational fire service. [HL1045]

My honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office (Mr O'Brien) announced on 11 February targets for the recruitment, retention and career progression of women in the fire service. By 2009, the Government expect 15 per cent of the operational fire service (whole-time and retained firefighters and their officers) in England and Wales to be women and for them to remain in the service and be promoted at the same rate as their male colleagues.At present, the number of women in the whole-time operational fire service is only 1 per cent. A recent report from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services has confirmed that there is no possible justification for such low numbers. The target is deliberately challenging and will require brigades to take steps to encourage a more open inclusive culture and to revise procedures and practices which the Chief Inspector's thematic review found to be potentially discriminatory.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will make a decision on the case of Senator Pinochet. [HL1047]

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary will do so as soon as possible, but not before the High Court gives judgment in the current judicial review proceedings. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary proposes to give notice to the parties to the case on the day before he expects to make his decision, and will notify the parties and another place immediately when the decision has been taken. It also remains his intention to make a full oral statement in another place when he is clear that it is appropriate to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to review the work of the Parole Board. [HL1048]

The Parole Board is an executive Non-Departmental Public Body, established on 1 July 1996. The Government are committed to regular review of Non-Departmental Public Bodies, and have decided to conduct a review of the board during the current year. The review will incorporate the requirements of the "Quinquennial Review" process. The review will also look at the scope for improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Parole Board and the wider parole process (for both determinate and life sentenced prisoners).The review has the following terms of reference:Within the context of a required Quinquennial Review of Parole Board functions, and the requirements of Better Quality Services and the Civil Service modernisation programme:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What crime reduction targets police authorities will be expected to set over the next five years under the Best Value regime. [HL1046]

All police authorities and police forces have been told that statutory guidance under the Best Value regime (Section 5(7) of the Local Government Act 1999) will indicate that specific targets should be set by all police authorities for domesitc burglary and for vehicle crime. In addition, five forces are being asked to set a target for robbery.The table shows the five-year targets for each force area, based on our latest information. It will be for each police authority to decide what targets should finally be set and published.