asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the recently-released viewing figures for the BBC Wales programme, "The Point", represent an endorsement of their devolutionary settlement for Wales. [HL1438]

In general, programmes covering National Assembly business have good audiences. I assume that the low viewing figures for "The Point" on 17 February were a comment on the content and possibly the timing of that particular programme rather than on the devolution settlement in Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is considered necessary or desirable to seek variation of the terms of the Trust for Bute House, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, now that it is being used exclusively as the residence for the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament. [HL1336]

All rights, liabilities and interests in Bute House which belonged to a Minister of the Crown were transferred to Scottish Ministers on 1 July 1999 by virtue of paragraph 3 of the Transfer of Property etc (Scottish Ministers) Order 1999 (SI 1999 1104). All matters relating to the terms under which Bute House is held and contact with the Bute House Trustees and the National Trust for Scotland are, therefore, for Scottish Ministers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish Civil Service advice to Ministers on mergers in the same way that they propose that there should be full disclosure of the main points of Office of Fair Trading advice on whether cases should be referred for a full investigation by the Competition Commission. [HL1349]

The Government are fully committed to a policy of openness. In pursuing this, the Competition Commission has been looking at ways of increasing transparency. In addition, the Director-General of Fair Trading is considering ways of publishing his advice to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on key mergers. In many cases Ministers already make public the reasons for their decisions on merger cases.However, the Government do not anticipate publishing advice from officials to Ministers on mergers. Disclosure might prejudice the free and frank provision of advice, as well as the free and frank discussion of it within government. Such advice is exempt from disclosure under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, and the Freedom of Information Bill proposes similar protection.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the outcome measures for the success of the 10 United Kingdom Territorial Employment Pacts agreed at the Dublin European Council are in relation to ethnic minority targets; and how far they have been achieved. [HL1346]

The Government are not involved in Territorial Employment Pacts (TEPs). The areas concerned deal directly with the European Commission. The Commission publishes regular progress reports on the pacts. The most recent report was SEC (1999) 1932, dated 26 November 1999, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. However, it does not appear to contain the information requested. Further information on this matter can be obtained directly from the Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:After the closure of the two reactors in April 1999, what advice they have received from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency with regard to the long-term future of Hinkley "A" Nuclear Power Station. [HL1427]

The Government have been briefed on a number of occasions in relation to the circumstances surrounding the shut-down of reactors of Hinkley Point "A" in April and December 1999. As long as Hinkley Point "A" continues to meet essential safety and environmental standards, its future operation is a matter for the operator. However, the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will not allow either reactor to start up unless it is satisfied that an adequate safety case has been provided by Magnox Electric, the licensee of the site.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the stockpiles of intermediate level waste and splitter fin residues accumulating at Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station are stored according to safety guidelines. [HL1428]

Yes. In 1999, the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate published its review of intermediate level radioactive waste (ILW) storage in the UK. This review concluded that there were no immediate safety problems for the storage of ILW at Hinkley Point "A" power station.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How long a temporary store for nuclear waste can exist before its operator is required to apply for a permanent consent. [HL1429]

There is no defined time limit for storage of nuclear waste at a licensed nuclear installation. All waste stored on a licensed site is regulated and controlled by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate under the conditions which attach to the nuclear site licence. The conditions require the preparation of an adequate safety case by the licensee for all operations which may affect nuclear safety. These operations include the storage of radioactive waste.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any treaty provisions have been broken by any of the other member states of the European Union which sought to impose sanctions against Austria; if so, which treaty provisions were broken; and by whom. [HL1208]

The European Court of Justice has from time to time found that member states have breached the EC Treaties. Details are contained in the European Commisson's 16th Annual Report on monitoring the application of Community law 1998. A copy of the report, which was submitted to Parliament on 20 September 1999, is available in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the contract for a mobile telephone network in Kosovo was properly awarded; and whether the network will be compatible with those in neighbouring countries. [HL1324]

The award of the mobile telephone contract was a decision for UNMIK and was taken following extensive consideration of the various offers. The new GSM mobile telephone network will provide Kosovo with links to the outside world which are both cheaper and more efficient than those presently available through the BK group in Belgrade.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have evidence that Serbian State security forces have been fomenting disorder and intransigence in Kosovska Mitrovica; and, if so, what is their response and that of UNMIK and KFOR. [HL1327]

Extremist elements on both sides have been involved in the recent disturbances in Mitrovica. Part of the strategy agreed by UNMIK and KFOR has been to tighten control on the boundary between Kosovo and the rest of Serbia to prevent Serb extremists entering northern Kosovo.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will raise issues concerning the reported killing of non-combatants, torture and rape, by Russian armed forces and police in and near Chechnya at the session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights starting on 20th March. [HL1328]

Her Majesty's Government will raise its concern about reports of human rights abuses in Chechnya at the 56th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are being taken to identify and arrest those responsible for (a) the destruction or severe damaging of 209 mosques in Kosovo; (b) the burning on 24 March 1999 of the library of Hadum Suleiman Aga in Dakovica; (c) the destruction of the Bektashi tekke of Axhize Baba in Dakovica and its library in May 1999; (d) the destruction of Atik Medrese and its library in Pec/Peja; and (e) the destruction of Atik Medrese in Urosevac/Ferizay. [HL1326]

The UN international police (UN1P) have responsibility for criminal investigations. Given their limited resources, they have to prioritise, which means concentrating on investigations relating to current criminal activity. The protection of religious and patrimonial sites in Kosovo is seen as important by KFOR and UNMIK. KFOR provide armed guards to protect churches and monasteries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have received a letter from Mrs Diana Mawdsley concerning the captivity of her son, James, in Burma; and when they anticipate acknowledging and replying to this correspondence. [HL1333]

A letter dated 17 February from Mrs Diana Mawdsley, was received on 23 February and a reply was sent from our Consular Division on 29 February. A copy of the letter was faxed to Mr & Mrs Mawdsley on 1 March.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) whether they have obtained a transcript of James Mawdsley's trial in Burma; (b) whether they have obtained details of who was present at the trial; (c) whether the Burmese authorities have agreed to an appeal being held in public; and (d) what arrangements will be made to ensure that James Mawdsley is properly represented at the appeal. [HL1334]

Our Ambassador in Rangoon met Deputy Foreign Minister, lain Mating Win on 1 March and requested the trial transcript. The Embassy sent a written reminder on 3 March. We will not know who was present at the trial until we receive the transcript.The Ambassador also raised the issue of a public appeal hearing and the other conditions James wants met with the Deputy Foreign Minister during their meeting. The Minister took note and will inform the Embassy when a decision has been reached.We will do everything we can to ensure that James receives legal representation if he chooses to appeal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What changes have been made to measures in place against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [HL1508]

The European Union's EcoFin Council on 28 February adopted a Common Position and Council Decision implementing changes to the EU sanctions regime on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which had been agreed at the General Affairs Council on 14 February. Council Decision 2000/177/CFSP introduced, with immediate effect, a revised and expanded list of FRY citizens (representing an increase to a total of 794 names) against whom the EU visa ban applies, and Common Position 2000/176/CFSP suspended the EU flight ban on the FRY for a period of six months. The suspension of the flight ban will come into effect when the necessary amendments have been made to the relevant Council regulations. In parallel, we are working with our partners to tighten up the implementation of financial sanctions targeted against the regime.Further to the Written Answer given by my honourable Friend the Member for Manchester Central—the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs—on 13 July 1999 (

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the debate on asylum seekers on 1 March, whether the cost arising in the current year to Kent County Council from unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, in excess of that provided for in central Government funding, was £1.7 million; and whether they propose to leave the council taxpayers of Kent to meet that cost. [HL1399]

Local authority circular LAC (2000)2 dated 10 February invited LAs to submit claims under the 1999–2000 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children's Special Grant by 29 February. The proposed terms of the grant allowed authorities to claim up to a maximum of £400 per week for each child aged 15 years and under, and a maximum of £200 per week for each child aged 16 or 17, less any Housing Benefit in payment, based on actual expenditure incurred in the provision of accommodation for the child to 28 January 2000 and estimated expenditure to 31 March 2000. Subsequently, Directors of Social Services were advised that the 12 LAs which provided for the greatest number of UASCs would be able to claim up to an additional £100 per week per child. On this basis, Kent has claimed £7.35 million, and has been advised that the claim will be met in full. An externally commissioned report submitted by Kent County Council to the Department in December indicated that the total costs incurred by the Council in looking after unaccompanied asylum seeking children was £8.1 million in this financial year.It is a matter for Kent County Council to decide how to meet any costs outside the terms of the grant.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What financial arrangements are being made in respect of the National Health Service trusts dissolved on 1 April 1999, 1 May 1999 and 1 October 1999 and in connection with new National Health Service trusts established on those dates. [HL1507]

Pursuant to the dissolution of 48 National Health Service trusts on 1 April 1999, 1 May 1999 and 1 October 1999. and their reconfiguration through the establishment of 23 new trusts on those dates, we propose to create originating capital for the new trusts equal to the net assets transferred to them and therefore to remit the outstanding debt of the dissolved trusts.Those operations will involve no overall loss to the Exchequer. Her Majesty's Treasury has presented a minute to the House on 10 March giving particulars and circumstances of the proposed remission, which it has approved in principle. The dissolution of a further eight NHS trusts involved the transfer of their net assets to existing NHS trusts and so no significant remission of debt is required in these cases.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is being taken to address the shortage of dentists working in the National Health Service. [HL1475]

There were 17,746 dentists in the General Dental Service in England at 31st December 1999, a record high, and an increase of 480 when compared with the position 12 months earlier. From 1 April the remuneration of dentists will increase by 3.3 per cent, which is in line with the recommendation of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB).The DDRB also recommended an additional £20 million for general dental practitioners in Great Britain to reward them for past and present commitment to the National Health Service as well as to reflect their experience and the quality of service they provide. One of the aims of the new scheme will be to encourage dentists to stay within the NHS. Negotiations are presently taking place with the profession on how the new scheme will be implemented.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

The General Dental Council has made wide-ranging proposals for strengthening the self-regulation of dentists, dental hygienists and therapists and bringing other professions complementary to dentistry within a regulatory framework. I will shortly be meeting the President and Registrar of the General Dental Council to discuss priorities and more precise timing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions they have had with the British Dental Association on how to implement the Review Body's recommendation to pay for National Health Service dentists for the extra time required to take part in (a) the Government's quality improvement initiative and (b) the General Dental Council's re-certification proposals. [HL1478]

As yet, no mandatory requirements have placed additional demands upon dentists. As our plans for clinical governance develop, we will discuss with the profession what, if any, additional funding is required. When we know more about the detail of the General Dental Council's requirements for continuing professional development, we will discuss with the profession what postgraduate education allowance is fair to dentists committed to the National Health Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the results of the scientific review of water fluoridation are to be published. [HL1479]

The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York is expected to provide its report to Ministers in the spring. It is intended that this report will be published shortly thereafter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they received the report on the schemes which provide wheelchairs under the National Health Service; whether they will now summarise its findings; and when they will publish the report. [HL1330]

The York Health Economics Consortium prepared an evaluation study of the implementation and operation of the National Health Service powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair scheme and the wheelchair voucher scheme. Their report was received in September 1999.We have undertaken to make the report publicly available and shall do so in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their recent policy announcement on breaking down the demarcation between the medical profession and other professions and maximising the use of skills within them is applicable to podiatric surgery. [HL1368]

We have recently announced that we intend to modernise the National Health Service by introducing fundamental reforms to the ways in which services are delivered. Podiatric surgery is undertaken by a small number of additionally qualified chiropodists and plays a useful role in the overall provision of orthopaedic care. The development of podiatric surgery is consistent with the Government's desire to end traditional demarcations which may inhibit the modernisation of services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of their intention to maximise the use of the skills of the medical profession and other professions, they will reconsider the extension of prescribing rights to chiropodists and podiatrists; and [HL1369]Whether they have considered the findings of the Crown Report on the Review of the prescribing, supply and administration of medicines and what is the time-scale for consultation with interested parties on that report. [HL1370]

Consultation on the Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines took place from 8 March 1999. Following this consultation, the Government have decided to implement the main recommendations of the review. This decision was announced in a press statement on 13 March 2000, copies of which are available in the Library.As part of the implementation process, we will consider legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows to permit supplementary prescribing by other health professionals, such as pharmacists, chiropodists and podiatrists—for example for repeat prescriptions and dose adjustments—and to move to full independent prescribing subject to the successful development of supplementary prescribing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, when the Carers and Disabled Children Bill becomes law, advice to statutory services will make it clear that it is not only the number of hours of contact but also the burden of care which needs to be taken into consideration in determining the ability of carers to have their needs assessed. [HL1385]

If the Carers and Disabled Children Bill achieves Royal Assent, the Department of Health will issue policy and practice guidance on its implementation. No decisions have yet been made about the content of such guidance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their target for the percentage of bed occupancy in the National Health Service in the medical and surgical specialisms. [HL1460]

The National Beds Inquiry, published for consultation on 10 February, considered a number of issues relating to hospital beds including occupancy. It found that the downward trend in beds mainly reflects the reduction in average length of stay, the growing importance of day case treatments, and also the rise in the average level of bed occupancy. Its bed projections assume that occupancy rates will remain at current levels—that is about 84 per cent.The Government's Emergency Services Action Team report in 1997 included analyses showing that in acute hospitals average bed occupancy rates over 85 per cent are associated with rapidly growing problems in handling emergency admissions. Subsequent analysis by the University of York has confirmed this conclusion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 14 February (

The Inland Revenue examines a proportion of tax returns every year to ensure that individual and corporate taxpayers pay the correct amount of tax. Most of the returns that are examined in detail are selected after a risk assessment, which identifies those cases where errors are most likely, and where the amount at stake is greatest. Tax inspectors are trained to discover evasion, avoidance and technical errors by establishing the full facts and applying the correct interpretation of tax law. As part of this process they will, where appropriate, make enquiries about claims for expenditure on business sponsorship, including sponsorship of government activity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have made to the recent cyclone in Orissa; in what form; and with the help of which United Kingdom and Indian nongovernmental organisations. [HL1157]

In the immediate aftermath of the cyclones which devastated Orissa in October 1999, the British Government provided more than £3 million as emergency assistance. This was channelled through non-governmental and UN organisations and used primarily for the purchase of food, clothing and shelter materials. Details of the emergency assistance are listed below: