asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of the total budget of the Crown Prosecution Service has been accounted for by the case of General Pinochet. [HL1173]

The final figures are not yet available. At this stage, the actual CPS expenditure on counsels' fees, interpreters, and travel and subsistence costs, plus an estimate of its internal costs, totals £417,257 in the year 1998–99. This equates to 0.13 per cent of the CPS's budget for that year.For 1999–2000, figures for actual CPS expenditure, plus an estimate of internal costs, suggests that, as at 18 February 2000, the CPS had spent a total of £181,232 on this case. This figure equates to 0.05 per cent of the CPS's budget for this financial year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Crown Prosecution Service has had meetings with Salvador Allende's political secretary, Joan Garcès, about General Pinochet; and whether the CPS is meant to act simply as an agent of the Kingdom of Spain. [HL1174]

The Crown Prosecution Service acted as agent for the Kingdom of Spain in the proceedings against Senator Pinochet. In that capacity, a CPS lawyer and counsel attended in Madrid to receive instructions from Judge Baltasar Garzon Réal, to inspect documentation and to advise on the extradition proceedings. In the course of so doing, the CPS lawyer and counsel attended meetings with Judge Garzon Réal at which Dr Joan Garcès was present. Dr Garcès was present in his capacity of a lawyer acting for victims and families of victims interested in the Spanish proceedings. Representatives of other victims were also present.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the recommended period of time between dipping sheep in organophosphorus or synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips and "crutching" of the animals by professional shearers prior to slaughter. [HL1307]

There is no specific recommended period of time between dipping sheep and "crutching" (removing the fleece around the posterior) prior to slaughter. However, the Sheep Dipping Leaflet AS29 rev2 recommends that:

"in the weeks that follow dipping, dip residues remain on the sheep. If you have to handle them, wear coveralls and wellington boots. It is also good practice to wear good quality synthetic rubber disposable gloves. If the sheep are wet you should also wear waterproof trousers and coat."

The Health and Safety Executive advise that the use of such personal protective equipment would be feasible for an operation such as crutching.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for taking forward work on the modernisation of public services. [HL1315]

Like all members of this Government, we are committed to delivering efficient and responsive modern public services that provide excellence for the many, and not just the few. This department has published a booklet on what it has done and is planning to do to take forward the Government's long-term programme of reform to modernise the public service. These plans, which will evolve over the coming months, will lead to changes in the way MAFF does its business. Copies of this booklet, MAFF's Part in Modernising Government, have been placed in the Library of the House.Modernising Government gives MAFF an opportunity to deliver better services to our many customers. We will make the most of this opportunity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have resolved the issue of acceptable distances between genetically modified and organic crops. [HL1244]

Separation distances between GM and other crops have been set out by the industry group SCIMAC in the light of scientific knowledge and longstanding experience in maintaining the purity of certified seed. The organic sector have expressed concern that these distances will be insufficient to protect their interests. My department has promoted a dialogue between the organic and GM sectors to try to resolve this issue. A series of discussions has taken place already and further meetings, including an examination of technical issues, will take place shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:If they decide at the end of February to place genetically modified seed on the National Seed List, what account they must take of representations following such a decision. [HL1247]

The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (as amended).—the National List regulations—require Ministers to publish proposed National List decisions. Proposals are published in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette, usually at the end of each calendar month. The Gazette may be obtained from Tactica Solutions at London Digital Print Centre, 11 Steedman Street, London SE17 3AF. Telephone 0171 740 4019. The National List regulations prescribe the representations procedures that apply to such proposed decisions. Regulation 22 requires that Ministers give notice of proposed decisions in the Gazette and that a period of not less than 14 days be allowed for affected persons to submit written representations and/or apply for a hearing conducted by a person appointed by Ministers. In practice, to cater for postal delays, a period of 18 days is generally allowed for the submission of written representations and/or a request for a hearing. Ministers may not make a final decision about the addition of a variety to the National List until they have considered the evidence submitted to a hearing and any written representations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many local authority council dwellings there were in the housing stock in England at 1 April 1997, 1998 and 1999. [HL1229]

Information reported by local authorities in their annual Housing Investment Programme returns about housing stock in their ownership is as follows:

	Number of dwellings at 1 April
1997	3,400,600
1998	3,309,200
1999	3,177,500

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the terms of reference of the recently announced Road Haulage Forum [HL1231]

The Road Haulage Forum was set up at the end of March 1999 to look into the competitivement of the UK haulage industry. While competitiveness issues remain at the heart of its work, I have expanded its remit in recent months and it is now also looking at other matters of importance to the industry, including better enforcement, improving business professionalism, and lorry track and environmental costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What would be the value of the Christmas bonus paid to pensioners if it had been uprated annually since introduction by (a) prices, (b) earnings and (c) the higher of prices or earnings; and how much it would cost to uprate it to these levels. [HL1224]

The information is in the table.

Christmas bonus annually uprated by	Value	Additional cost
Prices	£77.35	£927m
Earnings	£120.30	£1,517m
The higher of prices or earnings	£128.15	£1,625m

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much was spent on the Christmas bonus for pensioners in 1999. [HL1225]

The estimated total expenditure on the Christman Bonus in 1999 was £137 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the report from Mr J J Rowe on the operation in 1999 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989. [HL1348]

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today, arranged for copies of Mr Rowe's report to be placed in the Library. Mr Rowe recommends that the legislation should be renewed. A draft order is being laid before the House today which continues all those provisions of the Act which are currently in force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will announce the outcome to date of the policy of dispersal of refugees. [HL1413]

Further to the reply of my right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mrs Roche, in another place, (House of Commons Official Report, cols. 379–380W, on 6 December 1999), we propose to bring in the new support arrangements on Monday 3 April 2000 for asylum seekers who make their applications at a port of entry from that date. The entitlement of new port applicants to cash, social security and housing benefits will thereupon cease; in-country applicants do not have this entitlement.Those who apply for asylum from that date and who are then detained at Oakington reception centre whether their application is port or in-country will go onto the new support arrangements.My right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mrs Roche, will also make arrangements for asylum seekers who claim asylum and support from 3 April in Scotland or Northern Ireland and who are eligible for support to come on to the new support arrangements.It is her intention to bring the new support arrangements on stream as soon as possible for other asylum seekers who make in-country applications for asylum in England and Wales and for those in England and Wales who claim asylum at their port of entry prior to 3 April 2000 who receive a negative decision and who then go on to appeal. Until then, responsibility for providing support will continue under the terms of Schedule 9 to the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.The new support arrangements comprehensively change the system by which asylum seekers are supported. A phased implementation of the kind described in this Answer is the sensible course, drawing on the lessons from previous experience in implementing major change. The arrangements have been tested in simulated trials. Bringing port applicants on to the scheme first will enable the National Asylum Support Service to deal with any teething difficulties before rolling out the scheme fully.The new support arrangements provide that asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute may be supported by the National Asylum Support Service. Support will consist of the provision of accommodation on a no-choice basis in cluster areas in the United Kingdom. Essential living needs will be met either in kind or by the provision of vouchers. There will also be a cash voucher valued at £10 per person per week which can be exchanged for cash.The scheme is intended fully to meet the United Kingdom's international obligations in relation to those who are genuinely fleeing persecution while at the same time deterring those who are seeking to evade immigration control by using the asylum process.During the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, we gave an undertaking that new asylum applications from families with children would not be brought on to the new support arrangements in April 2000 unless we were satisfied that the targets of delivering most initial asylum decisions within two months and most appeals in a further four months could be met in such cases.We have put in place arrangements to identify and deal promptly with new asylum applications from families with children: the arrangements are being closely monitored. As a result, provisional figures show that, of the new family applications made in the eight weeks after 1 November, over 70 per cent have received an initial decision within two months of receipt. At the end of January, the average waiting time for all asylum appeals to be dealt with by an adjudicator was 13 weeks. On this basis, my right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mrs Roche, has decided that from 3 April, the new asylum support arrangements should apply to new applications from families with children as they apply to other applicants.My right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mrs Roche, has also decided that some modification of the targets is necessary for applications which might be the responsibility of another European Union member state under the Dublin Convention. In these cases, the process of consulting other member states normally takes more than two months, but there is then no suspensive right of appeal if another country accepts responsibility for consideration of the substantive claim. For that reason, the target for reaching an initial decision in potential Dublin cases will be to resolve most cases within four months of receipt. The normal further four-month target for dealing with an appeal will apply in the event that the case is not transferred and there is a substantive refusal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will announce the outcome of the Prison Service's Quantum project. [HL1414]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mr Boateng, announced in another place (House of Commons Official Report, cols. 139–40W, on 14 December), that Martin Narey, the Director General of the Prison Service, had selected Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as the preferred supplier for the Quantum project and that negotiations would be held with a view to award of contract. My right honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mr Boateng, is pleased to say that the preferred supplier negotiations with EDS have concluded successfully. Martin Narey has decided to award a contract to EDS for the provision of Information Technology services for the Prison Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the terms of reference for the review which they have asked Gurbux Singh to conduct on the Global Cultural Diversity Congress. [HL1415]

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, Mr O'Brien, has asked Gurbux Singh to conduct a review with the following terms of reference;

"To review the events leading up to the cancellation of the Global Cultural Diversity Congress, including possible implications for corporate governance of the Commission for Racial Equality, and to make recommendations."

The findings of the review will be laid in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why there are no ticket concessions for disabled visitors to the Millennium Dome unless they are accompanied by carers. [HL1137]

The New Millennium Experience Company is committed to ensuring that all those who wish to visit the Dome at Greenwich are able to do so. While there are no pricing concessions specifically for disabled visitors other than the concessions applicable to all qualifying visitors—e.g. the Family 5 ticket for £57—those visitors who may need personal help or care during their visit to the Dome can bring a companion, who is given free entry. To further encourage visitors, a free wheelchair loan service and free Orange Badge car parking, both of which can be booked in advance, are available to any guest who requires them. The whole site is fully accessible via lifts, ramps, stairs and escalators and this, coupled with ticket concessions, provides an excellent and accessible day out.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the future status of the NHS Pensions Agency. [HL1416]

A quinquennial review of the NHS Pensions Agency completed in 1998 concluded that the agency had performed well since it was established and in particular had successfully implemented a major programme of change to improve efficiency and the quality of service to all its customers. We are placing a copy of the report in the Library today.In the first instance we have decided to leave administration of the core NHS Superannuation Scheme within the agency but we have committed them to outsource, under one facilities management contract, the agency's support and ancillary services. This contract will cover at least 55 per cent of the agency's current running costs. We have tasked the agency in partnership with the supplier to secure further improvements in efficiency that approach the best returns forecast by the review for full contractorisation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 16 February (

Authorisation has been granted variously to Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and the UK (on behalf of the Isle of Man only) to apply the experimental reduced rate of VAT to certain labour intensive services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they will take in response to the publication in the Appraisal of Annual Library Plans 1999 of a list of 10 authorities (Hackney, Haringey, Dudley, Sefton, Bracknell Forest, Poole, Thurrock, West Berkshire, Dorset, Warwickshire) whose plan assessments are graded as "poor". [HL1138]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is adopting the procedure set out in Recommendation 10.2 of the Appraisal of Annual Library Plans 1999. His Chief Library Adviser has therefore written to all 10 authorities asking them to address the weaknesses identified in the individual feedback about their plan, and to present the redrafted version to their local committee or Cabinet member to ensure that they have a sound basis for their 2000 plans, and to report back to the department on their action.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list by county the number of magistrates' courts in England 10 years ago, five years ago and today; and how many it is planned that there should be in each county after the current amalgamation and closure programme is complete. [HL1177]

The table below shows the number of courthouses in each current Magistrates' Courts Committee area in England and Wales, as reported by the MCCs in surveys conducted by my department in 1995 and 1999. Information prior to 1995 is not available. The current amalgamation programme will reduce the number of MCCs to 42 in 2001. There is no national courthouse closure programme, since the number and location of courthouses within MCC areas remain decisions for each MCC, after consultation locally. I have no role to play in the closure of magistrates' courts, unless there is an appeal against proposed closure.

Number of Magistrates' Courthourses by MCC Area
Magistrates' Courts Committee area, as at 1/4/99	Courthouses open as at 30/9/95	Courthouses open as at 31/3/99
Avon	5	5
Barking and Dagenham	2	2
Barnet	2	2
Barnsley	1	1
Bedfordshire	6	6
Bexley	1	1
Brent	1	1
Bromley	1	1
Calderdale	1	1
Cambridgeshire	6	6
Cheshire	10	9
City of London	1	1
Cleveland	3	3
Croydon	1	1
Cumbria	10	6
Derbyshire	13	13
Devon & Cornwall	25	25
Doncastcr	2	1
Dorset	11	10
Durham	9	7
Dyfed	10	9
Ealing	2	2
East Sussex	4	4
Enfield	1	1
Essex	14	10
Gateshead	2	2
Gloucestershire	9	8
Gwent	13	9
Hampshire	10	10
Haringey	2	2
Harrow	1	1
Havering	1	1
Hereford & Worcester	9	7
Hertfordshire	9	6
Hillingdon	1	1
Hounslow	2	1
Humberside	13	10
Inner London	20	15

asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria should determine the number of magistrates' courts in English counties. [HL1178]

There are no specific criteria.Under the Justice of the Peace Act 1997, Magistrates' Courts Committees are responsible for the provision of an effective service to court users. It is for each committee to determine its own criteria for the number and location of magistrates' courts in its area.The Government do encourage each committee to take account of new legislation and administrative initiatives.