asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many civilian casualties are known tohave resulted directly from NATO activities in Afghanistan this year; how many incidents have been or are currently being investigated; and how these figures compare with those publicised by the Taliban.[HL7996]

Precise figures are unavailable for civilian casualties that may be attributable to action by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Two incidents in which Afghan civilians may have died as a resultof NATO close air support missions remain under investigation. I am also aware of a further four Afghan civilian deaths over the course of 2006 that were the result of accidents involving ISAF troops.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What new and significant economic opportunities they and other NATO members have identified in Afghanistan; and what steps they are taking to assist in their exploitation.[HL8090]

Mining of Afghanistan's natural resources such as coal, gas and minerals represents a significant economic opportunity over the medium and long term. DfID, the US and the World Bank have provided support to help the Government of Afghanistan develop this sector. DfID provides £3.85 million in technical assistance to the Ministry of Mines and the Afghan Geological Survey to help build institutional capacity to manage these resources and attract foreign investment.

DfID provides £1 million to the Afghanistan Investment Guarantee Fund (AIGF)—a World Bank- administered trust fund that pools funding from the Asian Development Bank and Germany. This is an innovative mechanism which seeks to help entrepreneurs overcome the risks involved in investing in fragile and post-conflict states. To date, $18 million in foreign investment has been leveraged for an agri-business project in northern Afghanistan.

DfID also provides funding for research on other economic opportunities that create jobs andwealth. For example, the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) has explored the prospects for trade and enterprise in sectors such as carpets, raisins, and construction materials.

DfID is providing £3 million for research into potential agricultural livelihood options for rural Afghans. The fund helps identify local, national and international market opportunities for high-value alternative crops, including an organic export feasibility study. DfID also provides £3.7 million for new and innovative ways for farmers to make a living in Eastern Hazarajat (one of the poorest areas in Afghanistan), including apricot drying, poultry, honey bee keeping, tailoring and weaving, silk and cashmere wool production and the introduction of fruit tree nurseries and greenhouses for vegetable production.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Bearing in mind that the World Bank’s drug replacement strategy in Afghanistan includes support for the growth of a formal, modern and competitive private sector, what action they have taken through their aid programme and their co-operation with international partners to assist the Afghan private sector.[HL8089]

DfID provides £3.9 million in technical assistance to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This aims to help the Government of Afghanistan (GoA) identify and remove barriers to private sector development, and create an investment climate conducive to economic growth. DfID also provides £3.85 million to the Ministry of Mines to help the GoA manage its natural resources and attract foreign investment. This will tap into resources such as coal, gas and minerals and generate jobs and enterprise wealth and government revenues over the long term.

In collaboration with international partners such as the Asian Development Bank and Germany, DfID has contributed £1 million towards an innovative World Bank trust fund—the Afghanistan Investment Guarantee Fund (AIGF)—which attracts foreign investments. In 2006, this catalysed $18 million of foreign investment for the cotton sector in northern Afghanistan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the quality of the study on electric shock collars by Matthijs B H Schilder and Joanne A M van der Borg; if so, what is that assessment; and whether further research on electric shock collars is necessary.[HL8027]

I understand that the study to which the noble Baroness refers is entitled Training dogs with the help of the shock collar: short and long term behavioural effects. Defra has considered the results of this study but found thatthey do not provide a sufficient basis to underpin government policy.

We consider that further research in this area is necessary as a matter of priority to enable a decision to be made on whether there is a need for regulation.

I also refer the noble Baroness to the Answer given in the other place on 25 July 2006 (Official Reportcol. 1482W).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the number of studies that have already been undertaken, they have made an assessment of the extent to which the further testing of electric shock collars on dogs is ethical.[HL8061]

I refer the noble Baroness to the response I gave during the debate on the Animal Welfare Bill on 23 May 2006, Official Report col. GC189. In it, I explained that my department was considering advertising a revised call for research in the light of concerns raised about the unsuccessful open competition in 2005.

We subsequently circulated a limited tender callin July, which encouraged proposals for an epidemiological study to assess the effect of specific electronic pet training collars on the welfare of dogs; in other words, a study based on observation of collars already in use. We will take account of ethical considerations when assessing the proposals we have received in response.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the relevance of the effects of electric shock stimulion mice and rats to determining the welfare implications for electric shock collars worn around the neck of a dog.[HL8062]

We have made no such assessment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the reasons for the delay in the publication of the anti-social behaviour orders statistics for 2003–04 and 2004–05.[HL8112]

The latest data on anti-social behaviour orders issued, as reported by the courts, cover the period up to September 2005 and have already been published on the crime reduction website. Data for the March 2006 quarter will be ready later in the year, but data for the December 2005 quarter are currently prepared for publication, and we hope that they will be ready soon. This publication will include data about the breach rate for the period up to December 2005.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a recent review of procedures for family members and colleagues to report concerns about the health of serving Armed Forces personnel has been undertaken.[HL7833]

A review of the Army post-operational stress management (POSM) policy was undertaken in September 2005. No substantive changes were made to the section of the policy relating to the role of families and colleagues in detecting mental ill health, since it already recognised that friends and family, colleagues, and those in the chain of command all have a part to play in detecting and managing operational stress. The policy recognises that they are often the first to notice changes of mood, behaviour or work performance in someone who has returned from an operational tour.

We emphasise the importance of families being made fully aware of the warning signs and symptoms, what they can do and who can help them, and we offer presentations and leaflets as part of this educational process.

Efforts are also made to arrange a “decompression period” for personnel immediately prior to returning from deployment. The exact form of the decompression period varies between the services and depends on the individual unit's circumstances, but in general it allows personnel mentally and physically to unwind after their operational tour and provides them with the opportunity to talk to friends, colleagues and superiors about their experiences.

The individual unit's chain of command uses the decompression period to monitor and identify those personnel who are apparently most vulnerable to any form of post-operational stress or stress-related condition. During this time, all personnel are offered a briefing on post-operational stress.

Once back at their home base, if treatment is required for a mental health condition this is provided either as out-patient treatment in one of our 15 regional departments of community mental health (DCMHs) in the UK or satellite centres overseas, or as in-patient treatment at regional facilities run by the Priory Group. The regional locations of the DCMHs and the Priory facilities mean that treatment can be provided close to an individual's unit, base or home, thus allowing the vital support from families to continue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the methodology used by United Kingdom and other coalition forces in calculating the number of deaths among insurgents in military combat actions, including the Taliban in Afghanistan; whether these figures are taken from independent sources; and what steps they will take to explain this methodology.[HL8071]

We do not formally track the number of insurgents killed, as this would not be an accurate measure of our progress.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current trained strength of (a) regular; and (b) reserve personnel in (i) the Army; (ii) the Royal Navy; and (iii) the Royal Air Force; and how many in each category are planned to be abroad on 15 December 2006.[HL8140]

Figures for the trained strength can be found in Tri Service Publication 1 (TSP 1 ).

TSP 1 is a monthly publication and copies are held in the Library of the House and can also be found at www.dasa.mod.uk. The most recent publication shows data as at 1 September 2006.

Regular Reserve	34,610	33,100	360
Volunteer Reserve	2,120	36,100	1,400
Source:DASA
1 Source of Naval Service data is Fleet—CMR
2 Figures for Naval Service are trained personnel only
3 Army Volunteer Reserve figures include Group A & B, Mobilised TA and Officer Training Corps, but excludes non-regular permanent staff and full-time reserve service (FTRS).
4 RAF Reserve (RAFR) figure is for active RAFR only, and does not include those who have left the service and have reserve liability.
5 RAF figures include personnel serving on FTRS.
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
P denotes provisional

Due to the deployment and movement of personnel changing continuously, it is not possibleto say how many personnel will be abroad on15 December.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have estimated the annual cost of implementing an Irish Language Bill for Northern Ireland as envisaged in the 1998 Belfast agreement.[HL8077]

Information on the cost implications of implementing an Irish Language Act is currently being compiled for the purposes of a consultation paper which the Government plan to publish.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of the United Kingdom population by (a) age, and (b) gender are in receipt of incapacity benefit.[HL8123]

The information is in the table:

Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance claimants in Great Britain by age-group and gender, as at February 2006.

	All	Percentage of population	Female	Percentage of female population	Male	Percentage of male population
All	2,747,490	5.8%	1,158,500	4.8%	1,588,990	6.9%
Unknown age	70	-	20	-	40	-
16-17	8,550	0.6%	4,150	0.6%	4,400	0.6%
18-24	160,400	3.0%	74,130	2.8%	86,270	3.2%
25-34	352,360	4.6%	147,530	3.8%	204,840	5.4%
35-44	591,690	6.6%	263,740	5.8%	327,950	7.4%
45-49	346,700	8.8%	168,660	8.5%	178,030	9.2%
50-54	393,000	11.0%	196,770	10.9%	196,220	11.1%
55-59	540,840	14.2%	268,400	13.9%	272,440	14.5%
60-64	324,710	10.7%	12,720	0.8%	311,980	21.1%
65 and over	29,190	0.3%	22,380	0.4%	6,810	0.2%

Notes:1. “-” denotes nil or negligible.2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Percentages given are those for each age-group. 4. Percentages rounded to one decimal place.Sources:Information Directorate 100 per cent WPLS; ONS population estimates.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage and number of those on incapacity benefit are in receipt of: (a) lower rate disability living allowance; (b) middle rate disability living allowance; and (c) higher rate disability living allowance; and [HL8124]

What percentage and number of those on incapacity benefit are: (a) not in receipt of disability living allowance; (b) in receipt of lower rate disability living allowance; (c) in receipt of middle rate disability living allowance; (d) in receipt of higher rate disability living allowance; and (e) estimated to receive care of between 20 and 35 hours per week.[HL8125]

The informationis in the table; no estimates are availablefor the number of incapacity benefit anddisability living allowance claimants who receivecare.

Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants by whether they are also in receipt of disability living allowance care components; in Great Britain as at February 2006.

	Number	Proportion of IB/SDA recipients
Not in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA).	1,470,910	53.5%
Receiving DLA higher rate care component.	274,630	10.0%
Receiving DLA middle rate care component.	407,560	14.8%
Receiving DLA lower rate care component.	365,380	13.3%
Receiving DLA with no care component.	229,000	8.3%
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
2. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
3. DLA cases are only those where an amount is in payment, and do not include cases where payment has been suspended.
Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, before announcing the recent successive changes in methods of social security payment, they made any assessments of the potential effects of such changes on the post offices network and of the cost to the public purse in support of post offices; and whether they undertook any surveysof the attitude of pensioners towards theproposed changes in methods of social security payment.[HL7491]

Since May 1999 the Government's policy has consistently been that benefits and pensions should be paid into bank accounts wherever possible. In research undertaken in September 2004 more than90 per cent of pensioners said that they were happy having their pension paid into an account.

The existing Post Office card account contract ends in March 2010 as we have always made clear. The full range of accounts which will be available beyond then is not yet settled—discussions between the Government and Post Office Ltd are continuing.

Around 25 bank accounts can also be used at the post office generating income and other business for the sub-postmaster. There are around 20 million people who could access their bank account at a post office, but only around 10 per cent (2 million) per week actually do so. DWP will be happy to work with the Post Office to try to increase this number, which will give post office branches new income. Post Office Ltd has already introduced one new savings account and is developing other savings and banking products.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much the Bloody Sunday inquiry has cost to date.[HL8000]

The cost of the Bloody Sunday inquiry was calculated in July 2006 at £172 million. It has not been possible to provide a more up-to-date answer to the noble Lord’s Question in this parliamentary Session. I will write to the noble Lord.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the concerns raised in the letter “BN(O) limbo”, published in the South China Morning Post on 25 September, highlighting the continuing difficulties faced by British Nationals (Overseas) of Indian origin waiting for British citizenship certificates; and whether they will place a copy of the letter and their response in the Library of the House.[HL7531]

There have been some technical difficulties surrounding the processing of applications for citizenship from Hong Kong, which have now been resolved, and the Home Office is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that all such applications and requests are processed quickly.

Neither the Home Office nor the British Consulate General in Hong Kong has replied to the noble Lord's open letter which appeared in the South China Morning Post on 25 September 2006. We do not feel it appropriate to respond to letters using the open letters page of local newspapers, which are subject to the editors unencumbered right to edit the contents of any letter forwarded for publication. We will always respond to letters sent direct to the Home Office or Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 October (WA 187),what is the basis for their assertion that a person who acquired British Overseas citizenship under Article 6(1) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 as a result of being a Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizen under Section 16 of the British NationalityAct 1981 did so by birth; and whether they will make the relevant updates to the B(OS) application form and guidance notes.[HL7837]

I said in my previous Answer that a person who was a British Overseas citizen under Article 6(1) of the 1986 Order “will be so effectively by birth”—the implication being that it would suffice for the purpose of his or her application under Section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981 to indicate that such was the derivation of his or her British Overseas citizenship. I acknowledged inthat reply that some changes were needed so that references to Section 4B applications gave clear guidance to those who had acquired British Overseas citizenship on that basis. We shall at the same time ensure that the form and guide B(OS) appropriately cater for those who are British Overseas citizens under Article 6(2) of the 1986 order.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18 October (WA 186-7), whether they will also update section 8 of the British citizenship application form B(OS) and part 8 of guide B(OS) to explain how an applicant who became a British overseas citizen ipso jure under Article 6(2) of the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986 should complete the application form.[HL7838]

I refer the noble Lord to my Answer to his Question (HL7837).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have responded to the matters raised in the letter published in the South China Morning Post on 23 October, highlighting the issues which continue to face British nationals (overseas) of Indian origin waiting for British citizenship certificates; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the letter and their response.[HL7932]

I draw the noble Lord's attention to my Answer to his Question (HL7531).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To whom a person resident in Hong Kong should write asking for recompense if he or she has suffered financial loss as a result of an erroneous refusal of an application for British citizenship by the Home Office; what details that person should include with her request; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the criteria or guidelines against which any such application is assessed.[HL8102]

Customers seeking recompense in such circumstances should write to:

IND Customer Focus Team

11th Floor West Wing

Block C, Whitgift Centre

Wellesley Road

Croydon CR9 1 AT

Full details should be provided of the financialloss incurred. When deciding whether a payment of compensation should be made, reference is made to the Government Accounting manual, which exists to ensure the proper handling of public funds. The general principle is that where there has been maladministration on the part of the IND redress will be provided, which is fair and reasonable, in light of all the facts and circumstances of the case. Any payment of compensation is not a legal entitlement and may be subject to approval by the Treasury. Each application for compensation is considered on its merits. A hard copy of the Government Accounting manual is published by The Stationery Office. It can also be accessed online via www.government-accounting.gov.uk or through the HM Treasury website www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service are entitled to annual sick leave without a doctor's certificate; if so, how much sick leave they are entitled to; and what are the reasons for this entitlement. [HL8132]

Within the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) terms and conditions, there is no entitlement to annual sick leave.

Under a Cabinet Office review, doctors are not required to provide a sickness absence certificate for an absence of less than eight calendar days. Therefore, to comply with this, the NICS terms and conditions make provision for absences of up to seven calendar days to be self-certified by staff.

While there is no maximum limit as such onthe total number of self-certified days, all sickness absence levels are closely monitored. Where departments believe that the facility is being abused, or used excessively, there is discretion to withdraw it. In the event of any future absences, staff would be required to provide at their own expense a doctor’s statement as evidence of incapacity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the circumstances which led to the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) being allowed to wait until 2009 before becoming a part of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights have changed; if so, when they expect the CRE to join; and what are the reasons for any changed circumstances.[HL8119]

Following the appointment of Trevor Phillips as chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government sought his advice and that of the CRE on the principle and practicalities of the CRE joining the CEHR in October 2007 at the same time as the Equal Opportunities and Disability Rights Commissions. In response to that request, he has informed her thathe and the CRE support this proposal. It is the unanimous view of the CRE commissioners that the needs of race equality work and the status of race and community relations would be best served by a simultaneous transition process for all three existing commissions. The Secretary of State has accepted this advice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What changes have occurred since the appointment of the chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) in the arrangements for the transition of existing commissions into the CEHR; and whether the CEHR will be operational by October 2007.[HL8120]

Since the appointment of Trevor Phillips as the chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) there have been no changes in the arrangements for the transition of the existing commissions into the CEHR, apart from the date of incorporation of the CRE which is now October 2007. The detailed plans for transition will be dependent on the commissioners’ decisions on the structure of the CEHR.

The plan remains for CEHR to be operational by October 2007.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Northern Ireland Office has arranged in each year since 1999; what form such consultations took; and what groups they consulted; and [HL7544]

Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consultedby Northern Ireland Office responded to any consultation; if so, to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.[HL7545]

The NIO equality scheme, approved by the Equality Commission in November 2001, set out how the department proposed to fulfil the duties of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, with regard to all of its policies and functions. In 2006, the NIO conducted a comprehensive review of the operation of the scheme during its first five years,and this report was submitted to the Equality Commission in July 2006.

Information on consultations prior to 2001 is not available. However, as part of the equality screening and equality impact assessment processes set out in the equality scheme, the Northern Ireland Office provides an opportunity for consultation groups, stakeholders and the wider public to contribute to NIO polices and legislation including, where appropriate, written consultation exercises, focus groups and public meetings. The aim is to increase the involvement of people and groups in public consultation and to seek their views. Obtaining views from across the community in the form of public consultations is considered an important part of policy-making and development.

Consultations are carried out in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultation, and the consultation period will normally last for a minimum of 12 weeks to give the public time to respond. The Northern Ireland Office consults with the list of consultees named in the Northern Ireland Equality Commission’s guide to the statutory duties, and since 2001 this list has been updated annually and on request throughout the year. Further details on equality-related consultation exercises may be found in the five-year review of the NIO equality scheme on the Northern Ireland Office website at www.nio.gov.uk.

There would be disproportionate costs associated with the collation of information on responses toall consultations. However, the Northern Ireland Office website at www.nio.gov.uk provides a libraryof consultations and, where available, the summary of responses and any associated revision to the policy or legislation, although, as equality is mainstreamed effectively into decision making, it can be difficult to identify changes to a policy made as a result of consultation alone.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; and what groups the office consulted; and [HL7546]

Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consulted by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland responded to any consultation; if so, to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.[HL7547]

Equality-related consultations arising from Section 75 of the Northern IrelandAct 1998 began after equality schemes were approved by the Equality Commission in 2001. Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, there were15 equality-related consultations. Further details can be found in the department’s statutory five-year review of its equality scheme which is publicly available on its website at http://www.ofmd fmni.gov.uk/index/equality. For each consultation, the department consults groups and individuals who have requested that they be included on the Section 75 consultation list (this is also available on the OFMDFM website as noted above), which was established as part of the department’s equality scheme for these purposes. This list is updated every year.

In relation to whether and how groups respond to consultation, this information is not readily available in the form requested and could only be obtainedat disproportionate cost. However, the noble Lord may wish to note that for every equality-related consultation issued, officials record to whom consultations were issued, who responded and what was said. A summary of consultation responses is published (usually on the department’s website).

In relation to policy changes arising from consultation, when equality is mainstreamed effectively into decision-making throughout the policy development process, there may be no changes to the policy per se at a later stage.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; what those consultations were; and what groups they consulted.[HL7558]

The Department for Employment and Learning has carried out a total of 39 consultations since 1999. A list of these consultations has been placed in the Library.

A current list of all people and organisations consulted in line with the department’s statutory equality duty has also been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; what those consultations were; and what groups they consulted; and [HL7636]

Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consulted by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland responded to any consultation; to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.[HL7637]

As Section 75 did not come into force until 1 January 2000, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety did not carry out any consultations under the terms of Section 75 before then.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has not maintained a central comprehensive register with details of all consultations that have taken place with Section 75 groups since 1 January 2000. It is therefore not possible to provide a comprehensive Answer to these Questions without incurring disproportionate costs. However, records have been maintained showing that 20 equality impact assessments (EQIAs) have been carried out since January 2000 under Section 75. Details of these EQIAs can be found on the department’s website at www.dhsspsni.gov. uk/index/hss/equality/eq-completed-eqias.htm.

The groups consulted as part of the 20 EQIAs will have been drawn from the department’s consultation list which is updated on an ongoing basis. The current list has been placed in the Library.

While there is little evidence in the EQIA reports to indicate that the outcome of the consultations alone resulted in any significant changes to the 20 policies concerned, there are examples of the EQIA process having prompted changes and improvements to better promote equality of opportunity. Details, including examples, can be found at the department’s report of its five-year review of its equality scheme at www.d hsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/equality/eq-section75/equality-review-of-equality-scheme.htm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the first review of the conclusive maps of access land in each area will commence before 10 years have elapsed from the date of issue of the maps; and whether the 10-year period within which the review must be undertaken is a target date for the commencement of the reviews or for their completion.[HL8101]

We take the view that Section 10 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 means that a review must be completed not more than 10 years after the issue of the conclusive map that is being reviewed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any advice has been provided under the provisions of Section 26(4) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and, if so, whether the advice has been published.[HL8100]

English Nature—now Natural England—as the relevant advisory body for nature conservation purposes in England, has provided the relevant authorities with formal advice for sites of potential concern in the light of the introduction of the right of access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Natural England has not published this advice and is under no statutory duty to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people in each police authority area were convicted of alcohol and drug offences in 1980; 1985; 1990; 1995; 2000; and 2005; and what are these figures as a percentage of the population in each police authority area.[HL7900]

Available information on drug convictions relate to persons found guilty at court and are given in the first tables. Population data for 1980 and 1985 are not available centrally.

Data on convictions for alcohol offences broken down by police force area are available from 1985 onwards. The available information is given in the second tables.

Data for 2004 has been provided instead of 2005; 2005 data will be available in late November.

Number of defendants found guilty at all courts for alcohol offences (1) and the percentage of the population, by police force area, England and Wales, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004(2)(3)

	1985	1990	1995
Force	Defendants found guilty	Defendants found guilty	Mid-year population figures	Percentage of population convicted	Defendants found guilty	Mid-year population figures	Percentage of population convicted
Avon and Somerset	899	490	1,413,740	0.03%	232	1,463,384	0.02%
Bedfordshire	421	160	531,168	0.03%	111	545,660	0.02%
Cambridgeshire	396	43	655,047	0.01%	94	693,871	0.01%
Cheshire	679	590	958,562	0.06%	451	978,089	0.05%
Cleveland	993	689	552,836	0.12%	299	559,160	0.05%
Cumbria	755	671	491,627	0.14%	436	490,279	0.09%
Derbyshire	733	234	929,401	0.03%	171	957,856	0.02%
Devon and Cornwall	1,011	725	1,493,970	0.05%	566	1,541,467	0.04%
Dorset	313	367	656,827	0.06%	226	678,668	0.03%
Durham	799	381	596,928	0.06%	209	607,670	0.03%
Essex	495	202	1,464,129	0.01%	167	1,505,725	0.01%
Gloucestershire	239	77	529,494	0.01%	113	552,731	0.02%
Greater Manchester	3,855	2,776	2,582,384	0.11%	1,351	2,578,300	0.05%
Hampshire	2,036	981	1,676,412	0.06%	927	1,741,785	0.05%
Hertfordshire	591	256	840,560	0.03%	137	858,496	0.02%
Humberside	682	319	856,250	0.04%	150	889,191	0.02%
Kent	737	406	1,523,673	0.03%	428	1,551,261	0.03%
Lancashire	2,491	1,446	1,390,794	0.10%	924	1,426,037	0.06%
Leicestershire	117	53	891,926	0.01%	33	923,001	0.00%
Lincolnshire	314	167	586,855	0.03%	25	611,846	0.00%
Merseyside	3,917	3,696	1,447,983	0.26%	1,667	1,427,195	0.12%
Greater London(5)	4,150	6,318	7,227,344	0.09%	1208	7,495,527	0.02%
Norfolk	218	95	748,501	0.01%	175	772,365	0.02%
North Yorkshire	240	61	576,059	0.01%	281	599,284	0.05%
Northamptonshire	3,874	3,485	1,431,721	0.24%	36	1,438,311	0.00%
Northumbria	250	418	722,305	0.06%	1,580	730,636	0.22%
Nottinghamshire	637	511	1,014,822	0.05%	346	1,031,939	0.03%
South Yorkshire	2,932	2,600	1,295,191	0.20%	874	1,303,857	0.07%
Staffordshire(4)	719	865	1,038,990	0.08%	339	1,056,448	0.03%
Suffolk	283	169	641,029	0.03%	191	656,809	0.03%
Surrey	218	144	743,803	0.02%	101	775,226	0.01%
Sussex	925	457	1,416,690	0.03%	560	1,462,346	0.04%
Thames Valley	1,516	1,161	1,960,401	0.06%	887	2,047,463	0.04%
Warwickshire	336	68	483,060	0.01%	119	498,662	0.02%
West Mercia	762	561	1,078,501	0.05%	409	1,114,158	0.04%
West Midlands	3,953	1,882	2,615,409	0.07%	584	2,637,154	0.02%
West Yorkshire	3,580	2,467	2,066,609	0.12%	1,080	2,105,772	0.05%
Wiltshire	256	275	558,395	0.05%	258	590,610	0.04%
Dyfed-Powys	622	342	469,378	0.07%	196	473,988	0.04%
Gwent	1,429	987	446,843	0.22%	685	452,564	0.15%
North Wales	512	754	651,846	0.12%	724	658,668	0.11%
South Wales	2,103	1,651	1,305,014	0.13%	1,154	1,331,562	0.09%
England and Wales	51,988	40,000	50,562,477	0.08%	20,504	51,815,021	0.04%

20002004

Force	Defendants found guilty	Mid-year population figures	Percentage of population convicted	Defendants found guilty	Mid-year population figures	Percentage of population convicted
Avon and Somerset	394	1,511,778	0.03%	433	1,519,119	0.03%
Bedfordshire	218	565,748	0.04%	135	576,218	0.02%
Cambridgeshire	186	730,183	0.03%	205	737,890	0.03%
Cheshire	561	984,311	0.06%	485	992,642	0.05%
Cleveland	531	556,693	0.10%	499	553,311	0.09%
Cumbria	472	491,040	0.10%	450	494,782	0.09%
Derbyshire	309	977,779	0.03%	358	979,226	0.04%
Devon and Cornwall	856	1,586,655	0.05%	541	1,619,062	0.03%
Dorset	380	698,330	0.05%	158	700,419	0.02%
Durham	463	606,683	0.08%	359	595,388	0.06%
Essex	600	1,628,962	0.04%	213	1,635,605	0.01%
Gloucestershire	187	564,841	0.03%	144	572,791	0.03%
Greater Manchester	1,082	2,585,750	0.04%	606	2,539,043	0.02%
Hampshire	1,253	1,785,986	0.07%	620	1,801,442	0.03%
Hertfordshire	380	1,050,828	0.04%	345	1,041,319	0.03%
Humberside	215	880,985	0.02%	134	887,521	0.02%
Kent	917	1,598,032	0.06%	1,078	1,610,310	0.07%
Lancashire	1,937	1,429,450	0.14%	736	1,434,871	0.05%
Leicestershire	31	938,693	0.00%	24	945,480	0.00%
Lincolnshire	416	634,348	0.07%	418	673,531	0.06%
Merseyside	1,609	1,403,381	0.11%	1,184	1,365,832	0.09%
Greater London(5)	1294	7,375,065	0.02%	1390	7,429,222	0.02%
Norfolk	200	803,970	0.02%	136	816,525	0.02%
North Yorkshire	535	625,895	0.09%	244	764,866	0.03%
Northamptonshire	33	1,413,970	0.00%	28	646,731	0.00%
Northumbria	3,473	753,946	0.46%	3,741	1,396,374	0.27%
Nottinghamshire	396	1,031,210	0.04%	227	1,034,739	0.02%
South Yorkshire	1,001	1,301,532	0.08%	878	1,278,434	0.07%
Staffordshire(4)	306	1,059,711	0.03%	234	1,050,609	0.02%
Suffolk	276	679,915	0.04%	381	683,736	0.06%
Surrey	423	1,080,647	0.04%	355	1,067,186	0.03%
Sussex	494	1,522,401	0.03%	469	1,510,445	0.03%
Thames Valley	934	2,127,782	0.04%	737	2,120,859	0.03%
Warwickshire	198	509,959	0.04%	135	525,481	0.03%
West Mercia	428	1,146,670	0.04%	389	1,178,763	0.03%
West Midlands	407	2,619,021	0.02%	600	2,579,153	0.02%
West Yorkshire	1,267	2,121,452	0.06%	594	2,108,028	0.03%
Wiltshire	320	613,487	0.05%	329	626,809	0.05%
Dyfed-Powys	264	482,827	0.05%	287	503,663	0.06%
Gwent	343	557,368	0.06%	248	556,641	0.04%
North Wales	699	660,263	0.11%	400	674,498	0.06%
South Wales	1,256	1,245,737	0.10%	1,052	1,217,660	0.09%
England and Wales	27,544	52,943,284	0.10%	21,979	53,046,224	0.04%
(1) Includes offences of drunkenness, drunkenness with aggravation and offences related to alcohol licensing etc
(2) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.
(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.
(4) Staffordshire Police Force were only able to supply a sample of data for magistrates' courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on this sample are included in the figures, as they are considered sufficiently robust at this high level of analysis.
(5) Includes city of London and Metropolitan Police
Source: RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Persons found guilty for drug offences⁽¹⁾ and percentage of the population convicted, by police force area, England and Wales, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004.

	1980	1985	1990	1995
Force	Defendants found guilty	Defendants found guilty	Defendants found guilty	Mid-year population figures	Percentage of population convicted	Defendants found guilty	Mid-year population figures	Percentage of population convicted
Avon and Somerset	383	358	164	1,413,740	0.01%	890	1,463,384	0.06%
Bedfordshire	76	110	137	531,168	0.03%	370	545,660	0.07%
Cambridgeshire	293	151	234	655,047	0.04%	336	693,871	0.05%
Cheshire	170	223	324	958,562	0.03%	997	978,089	0.10%
Cleveland	115	98	93	552,836	0.02%	249	559,160	0.04%
Cumbria	174	335	326	491,627	0.07%	559	490,279	0.11%
Derbyshire	101	167	219	929,401	0.02%	571	957,856	0.06%
Devon and Cornwall	414	696	689	1,493,970	0.05%	1,003	1,541,467	0.07%
Dorset	151	197	165	656,827	0.03%	480	678,668	0.07%
Durham	59	62	61	596,928	0.01%	395	607,670	0.07%
Essex	240	344	400	1,464,129	0.03%	786	1,505,725	0.05%
Gloucestershire	199	194	154	529,494	0.03%	342	552,731	0.06%
Greater Manchester	519	1,019	1,356	2,582,384	0.05%	2,375	2,578,300	0.09%
Hampshire	317	315	214	1,676,412	0.01%	1,232	1,741,785	0.07%
Hertfordshire	193	313	336	840,560	0.04%	532	858,496	0.06%
Humberside	145	260	264	856,250	0.03%	595	889,191	0.07%
Kent	234	308	96	1,523,673	0.01%	828	1,551,261	0.05%
Lancashire	357	425	585	1,390,794	0.04%	1,199	1,426,037	0.08%
Leicestershire	249	211	192	891,926	0.02%	393	923,001	0.04%
Lincolnshire	72	51	186	586,855	0.03%	406	611,846	0.07%
Merseyside	267	1,059	1,399	1,447,983	0.10%	1,753	1,427,195	0.12%
City of London & Met Police	5,587	6,678	6,329	7,227,344	0.09%	7,784	7,490,326	0.10%
Norfolk	260	176	391	748,501	0.05%	597	772,365	0.08%
Northamptonshire	115	77	105	576,059	0.02%	267	599,284	0.04%
Northumbria	120	221	289	1,431,721	0.02%	756	1,438,311	0.05%
North Yorkshire	76	162	109	722,305	0.02%	484	730,636	0.07%
Nottinghamshire	146	147	145	1,014,822	0.01%	749	1,031,939	0.07%
South Yorkshire	145	298	351	1,295,191	0.03%	1,010	1,303,857	0.08%
Staffordshire	83	220	235	1,038,990	0.02%	661	1,056,448	0.06%
Suffolk	222	157	244	641,029	0.04%	410	656,809	0.06%
Surrey	270	406	361	743,803	0.05%	425	775,226	0.05%
Sussex	497	458	860	1,416,690	0.06%	839	1,462,346	0.06%
Thames Valley	472	608	911	1,960,401	0.05%	1,357	2,047,463	0.07%
Warwickshire	78	86	171	483,060	0.04%	185	498,662	0.04%
West Mercia	262	156	376	1,078,501	0.03%	596	1,114,158	0.05%
West Midlands	280	663	1,148	2,615,409	0.04%	1,255	2,637,154	0.05%
West Yorkshire	341	395	942	2,066,609	0.05%	2,228	2,105,772	0.11%
Wiltshire	120	147	102	558,395	0.02%	205	590,610	0.03%
Dyfed-Powys	199	212	186	469,378	0.04%	509	473,988	0.11%
Gwent	122	134	144	446,843	0.03%	284	452,564	0.06%
North Wales	195	276	375	651,846	0.06%	1043	658,668	0.16%
South Wales	278	597	578	1,305,014	0.04%	924	1,331,562	0.07%

20002004

Force	Defendants found guilty	Mid-year population figures	Percentage of population convicted	Defendants found guilty	Mid-year population figures	Percentage of population convicted
Avon and Somerset	1,040	1,511,778	0.07%	805	1,519,119	0.05%
Bedfordshire	500	565,748	0.09%	226	576,218	0.04%
Cambridgeshire	410	730,183	0.06%	380	737,890	0.05%
Cheshire	1,053	984,311	0.11%	644	992,642	0.06%
Cleveland	681	556,693	0.12%	780	553,311	0.14%
Cumbria	460	491,040	0.09%	538	494,782	0.11%
Derbyshire	734	977,779	0.08%	732	979,226	0.07%
Devon and Cornwall	1,350	1,586,655	0.09%	1,389	1,619,062	0.09%
Dorset	775	698,330	0.11%	736	700,419	0.11%
Durham	564	606,683	0.09%	476	595,388	0.08%
Essex	1,229	1,628,962	0.08%	945	1,635,605	0.06%
Gloucestershire	513	564,841	0.09%	398	572,791	0.07%
Greater Manchester	2,629	2,585,750	0.10%	2,631	2,539,043	0.10%
Hampshire	1,710	1,785,986	0.10%	1,333	1,801,442	0.07%
Hertfordshire	561	1,050,828	0.05%	690	1,041,319	0.07%
Humberside	748	880,985	0.08%	904	887,521	0.10%
Kent	1,626	1,598,032	0.10%	1,049	1,610,310	0.07%
Lancashire	1,728	1,429,450	0.12%	1,331	1,434,871	0.09%
Leicestershire	756	938,693	0.08%	892	945,480	0.09%
Lincolnshire	382	634,348	0.06%	470	673,531	0.07%
Merseyside	2,216	1,403,381	0.16%	1,939	1,365,832	0.14%
City of London & Met Police	10,358	7,375,065	0.14%	9,338	7,429,222	0.13%
Norfolk	690	803,970	0.09%	9,338	816,525	1.14%
Northamptonshire	446	625,895	0.07%	243	764,866	0.03%
Northumbria	2031	1,413,970	0.14%	1,943	646,731	0.30%
North Yorkshire	527	753,946	0.07%	368	1,396,374	0.03%
Nottinghamshire	1291	1,031,210	0.13%	1,245	1,034,739	0.12%
South Yorkshire	1945	1,301,532	0.15%	1,260	1,278,434	0.10%
Staffordshire	809	1,059,711	0.08%	857	1,050,609	0.08%
Suffolk	560	679,915	0.08%	614	683,736	0.09%
Surrey	677	1,080,647	0.06%	445	1,067,186	0.04%
Sussex	750	1,522,401	0.05%	1,068	1,510,445	0.07%
Thames Valley	1,527	2,127,782	0.07%	1,284	2,120,859	0.06%
Warwickshire	293	509,959	0.06%	207	525,481	0.04%
West Mercia	861	1,146,670	0.08%	677	1,178,763	0.06%
West Midlands	3,523	2,619,021	0.13%	3,359	2,579,153	0.13%
West Yorkshire	3,203	2,121,452	0.15%	2,200	2,108,028	0.10%
Wiltshire	588	613,487	0.10%	454	626,809	0.07%
Dyfed-Powys	887	482,827	0.18%	582	503,663	0.12%
Gwent	895	557,368	0.16%	574	556,641	0.10%
North Wales	679	660,263	0.10%	605	674,498	0.09%
South Wales	1,782	1,245,737	0.14%	2,086	1217660	0.17%
1. Offenders dealt with following joint operations involving HM Customs and Revenue and the police are generally recorded against HM Customs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many successful prosecutions were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the past 10 years against individuals for crimes committed while detained or sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983.[HL8041]

Data on the number of prosecutions for crimes committed while detained or sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 is not centrally held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Information for Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Office and that for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 October (HL Deb, col. 868), whether cases of alleged rape are recorded onthe basis of uncorroborated evidence of the complainant that they were subject to a sexual act without having given consent.[HL7959]

The recording of crime is governed by the National Crime Recording Standard which states:

“All reports of incidents, whether from victims, witnesses or third parties and whether crime related or not, will result in the registration of an incident report by the police. Following the initial registration, an incident will be recorded as a crime (notifiable offence) if, on the balance of probability: (a) the circumstances, as reported, amount to a crime defined by law (the police will determine this, based on their knowledge of the law and counting rules), and (b) there is no credible evidence to the contrary”.

Once recorded, a crime would remain recorded unless there was additional verifiable information to disprove that a crime had occurred. Specifically for offences of rape, if someone reports having been raped and the circumstances as reported amount to an offence of rape as defined by law but the alleged offender insists that she or he consented, a crime of rape will be recorded.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 October (HL Deb, col. 9), whether other sections of service have also been affected by “a switch of funding” within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.[HL8096]

Other sections of Defra service have been affected by switches of funding between budget categories. Like all large organisations, Defra faces new financial pressures each year which require us constantly to review and adjust our spending plans. We conducted a rigorous review of financial allocations during the summer of 2006 which included detailed discussions with our agencies and other external bodies to agree where spending might best be reduced. This review was comprehensive in nature and has ensured that Defra's funding for the current year is placed where it can have the greatest impact. Switches of funding between budget categories result where the review identifies that priorities are best served by transferring allocation between them and estimate and budgetary rules allow.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 October—Official Report, col. 9—on Natural England, what cuts in the resource area were made in terms of the amount of money involved and the projects affected.[HL8097]

We are working with Natural England to ensure that the impacts on key areas are minimised. David Miliband has advised the chair of Natural England of the department’s priorities—for example, to minimise impact on delivery of the SSSI and farmland birds PSA targets. It is the responsibility of Natural England’s board to ensure that the organisation fulfils the aims and objectives set by the Secretary of State, including the efficient and effective use of its staff and resources. Natural England chooses how best to deploy its available resources to those ends. My department is not involved in setting budgets for individual projects.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by the Lord Rooker on 30 October (HL Deb, cols. 5–6), whether the budgets for flood defences will not be cut in view of the evidence from the Environment Agency that the reduction of £23.7 million in its budget would increase the risk of flooding.[HL8104]

The capital budget, which delivers improved flood defences, has not been cut and we believe that the programme to deliver schemes should be unaffected.

We remain on course to meet our spending review 2004 target of better protecting 100,000 households in the period 2005-08.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by the Lord Rooker on30 October—Official Report, col. 6—on Natural England, to which budget category the remaining £7 million of the total of £200 million has been allocated.[HL8105]

The pressures facing Defra have always been described as being more than£200 million.

In addition to those I identified to the House on30 October are a range of other pressures, with varying probabilities that they will impact on Defra in 2006-07. These are part of the normal in-year monitoring of budgets that Defra has and continues to successfully manage against the estimate and budgetary controls. Given the uncertainty of the scope and likelihood of these other pressures actually crystallising, it would not be appropriate for me to provide details other than that these are current pressures in 2006-07.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What formula they are using to calculate contributions to their carbon offsetting fund.[HL8025]

An initial assessment of departmental aviation emissions was carried out using air travel data from 2005-06 and the conversion factors published in Defra's Guidelines for Company Reporting on Greenhouse Gas Emissions. These factors are currently 0.11 kg CO₂ per passenger kilometre for long-haul travel, and 0.15kg CO₂ per passenger kilometre for short-haul. For the purposes of the government carbon offsetting fund, a multiplier of x2 has been applied to the estimated totals to take into account the additional climate impact of non-CO₂ emissions at altitude.

To apply an offsetting cost figure to departments, the initial assessment emissions totals were multiplied by £10. This is based upon the price agreed per tonne CO₂ for the offsetting of the UK's G8 presidency.

The actual cost per tonne to be paid will depend on the conclusion of the offsetting fund procurement process, due at the start of December. The initial assessment emissions figures will be updated using actual departmental air travel data for the opening year of the scheme, 2006-07. Final calculations of CO₂ tonnage and associated offsetting costs will be carried out in April 2007.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

On how many days during the past six months one or more fisheries patrol boats were on duty on Lough Neagh; and what were the hours spent on patrol on the lough on each of those days.[HL8082]

In the past six months the Fisheries Conservancy Board has carried out 12 boat patrols on Lough Neagh. The hours for each patrol are as follows:

Date	Hours
04/05/06	7
07/05/06	6
08/05/06	8
09/05/06	7
12/05/06	7
21/5/06	6
30/05/06	5.5
13/06/06	4.5
27/06/06	9
30/6/06	8
01/07/06	6
03/10/06	5
Total	79

Other boat patrols are carried out on Lough Neagh by various private water bailiffs. However, details of these patrols are not recorded by Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total project value of the flood risk management schemes started in England in each of the years 2002–03; 2003–04 and 2004–05, and projected for 2005–06 and 2006–07.[HL8139]

The Environment Agency (EA) is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk in England, and is primarily funded through Defra grant in aid. For information on the amount of Defra funding to the EA for flood risk management from 2002-03 to 2005-06 I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer given in the other place, Official Report of9 Oct 2006 at col. 200W.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total cost to public funds of the vaccines interactions research programme at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down.[HL8032]

I refer my noble friend to the Answer I gave on 22 June 2006 (Official Report, col. WA 99).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8), for how long possible adverse effects on the health of staff at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories, Porton Down, reported to have received the combination of vaccines and tablets administered to United Kingdom forces deployed to the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, will be monitored.[HL8033]

The study of sick absence in multi-vaccinated staff at DSTL Porton Down, which examined records covering periods of employment from two to 38 years, was completed in 2001. The study examined vaccinations only. The vaccines administered were those required by the staff in the course of their duties. These included anti-biological warfare and health and hygiene vaccinations which, while not the same regimens as used at the time of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, were considered to provide a comparison that was relevant to our considerationof the possible health effects of the vaccination programme for veterans of that conflict.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 October (WA 47), whether they have made an assessment of the analysis published in June 2004 of atmospheric plume studies by the Accountability Office of the Government of the United States; and, if so, whether they have revised their conclusions about the number of British troops exposed to the fall-out of the demolition at Khamisiyah.[HL8055]

The Ministry of Defence paper Review of Modelling of the Demolitions at Khamisiyah in March 1991 and implications for UK personnel, published in January 2005, took full account of the United States Government Accountability (formerly General Accounting) Office June 2004 review. This followed an assessment by Ministry of Defence experts. A copy, of the paper is available in the Library of the House and on the Ministry of Defence website at www.mod.uk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8) on Gulf War illness, for how long the studies referred to lasted; and whether the marmosets were exposed to the same range of vaccines and insults, such as uncontrolled spraying or organophosphate pesticides, DEET, low-level sarin, oil well fire residues and depleted uranium, as service personnel; and [HL8056]

Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8) on Gulf War illness, whether they will take steps to ensure that future studies into illnesses of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War take into account to the fullest extent possible factors or combinations of factors to which service personnel were subject.[HL8057]

The monitoring period of the marmoset study was 18 months. This represents some 11 per cent of the animals’ expected lifespan and was considered an appropriate period in relation to the timescale for the emergence of ill-health among veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict. As my noble friend Lord Bach indicated in a Written Answer on18 November 2003 (Official Report, col. WA 280), the range of vaccines used represented the “worst case” scenario. Environmental and other conditions to which some individuals may have been exposed during the 1990-91 Gulf conflict were not part of the vaccines interactions research programme. The possible adverse health effects of other potential exposures are either already well understood or have been the subject of other research programmes. The wider evidence currently available makes clear that the ill health reported among Gulf veterans also affects individuals who have not experienced such other exposures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 9 October (WA 67-8) and the Written Statement by the Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8), whether the Written Answer was drawn to the attention of those who conducted the studies referred to in the Written Statement.[HL8058]

I refer my noble friend to the Answer given to him on 17 November 2003 (Official Report, col. WA 255-6).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made any assessment of the conclusions of studies conducted in France that the whooping cough vaccine, used as an adjuvant to the anthrax vaccine and administered to United Kingdom troops in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, was not suitable for adults; and of its health effects on the troops involved.[HL8059]

The Ministry of Defence is aware of a paper published in 2002 by Dr J N Tournier and colleagues: Gulf War Syndrome: could it be triggered by biological warfare vaccines using pertussis as an adjuvant?. The paper presents a hypothesis rather than a demonstrated finding and we are aware of no work to prove/disprove the hypothesis. The department's vaccines interaction research using marmosets found no evidence of such an effect.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is any government-funded organisation, other than the Medical Research Council, which is currently reviewing findings of international (particularly United States) medical and scientific researchers into Gulf War illnesses.[HL8107]

The Ministry of Defence, as the lead government department on Gulf veterans’ illnesses (GVI), takes independent advice on the programme of GVI research principally from the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MoD has also established the independent Depleted Uranium Oversight Board and Independent Panel on Vaccines Interactions to provide specific advice on depleted uranium and multiple immunisations. These consider wider international findings as appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any proposals relating to the cultivation and uses of hemp in the United Kingdom.[HL8048]

Hemp is grown under licence in the UK for both non-food and food uses.

The Government encourage the sustainable development of the renewables sector, including hemp, through the strategy for non-food crops, launchedin 2004. Industrial uses for hemp include fibres, biocomposites, construction materials and horse bedding. Special varieties are used for pharmaceutical applications. A two-year progress report on the strategy for non-food crops, discussing impacts and future priorities, will be published on 16 November 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the benefits and disadvantages of the cultivation of hemp as a cash crop in developing countries.[HL8049]

DfID has in the past funded research in Tanzania into the use of a form of hemp (sunhemp) as green manure to promote increased yields from a variety of cash crops. We do not currently provide direct funding for research into the use of hemp as a cash crop, but we do fund the agriculture research programmes of a number of regional and national institutes in Africa. These programmes reflect the priorities of the countries and regions concerned and they would include research to promote cash crops appropriate to these areas.

DfID recognises the importance of agriculture to the reduction of poverty and that cash crops can play a significant role in this—as part of wider strategies for sustainable agriculture.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people are currently detained in Northern Ireland for immigration offences.[HL8015]

Two male prisoners are currently held in HMP Maghaberry for immigration offences.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What helicopter activity they are funding in their international development programme; and through which agencies.[HL7797]

DfID uses helicopters only where it is considered essential—either when they are needed for immediate emergency humanitarian response to disasters or when the security situation makes this necessary. Where possible, this is from civilian sources but, if necessary, from the UK military. The most recent humanitarian example was the Government’s response to the earthquake in Pakistan. Our immediate response included providing three helicopters through the Ministry of Defence for a month (for which DfID funded the marginal costs and the MoD the standing costs).

DfID has contributed more than £7 million to the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) for helicopter operations and logistical support during the humanitarian response to the Pakistan earthquake. This included the costs of chartering helicopters, the provision of technical personnel and vehicles, and co-ordination activities. DfID provided further funds towards wider relief activities of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which included the use of helicopters and logistical support as a component.

In Iraq, we are using military helicopters to transfer staff from Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) to the International Zone (IZ). This helicopter air bridge is run by UK and US coalition forces. DfID makes a financial contribution to this operation, along with other Whitehall government departments, based on the number of people that we have working in Baghdad.

DfID Uganda helped to hire a helicopter during late 2004 and early 2005 to ferry a peace negotiator to and from rebel positions to help secure peace between the Ugandan Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army. This was the only safe way to travel in a dangerous environment in northern Uganda. The helicopter was hired from a commercial company in Kenya as the cheapest option available at the time and cost £126,347 (funds used were from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool). For safety reasons, DfID Sierra Leone also uses helicopters to transfer aid workers from Freetown to the local airport.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support the interpreting profession's initiative to bring forward proposals for a national call centre for interpreters, similar to that used by police for duty solicitors; and [HL7814]

What guidelines have been or are being established to ensure that, as far as possible, only qualified interpreters are used within the criminal justice system; what percentage usage of qualified interpreters would be regarded as good practice; and how the guidelines set up in the new interpreter's working agreement will be monitored.[HL7815]

The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) is currently leading a cross-agency review of the 2002 national agreement on arrangements for the attendance of interpreters in investigations and proceedings within the criminal justice system.

The guidance contained in that agreement already makes clear that interpreters working in a court or a police station should, wherever possible, be registered with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) or the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People.

If, in an individual case, it is not possible to select an interpreter from these registers, checks should be carried out to ensure that the interpreter selected meets standards at least equal to those required for registration. This is the recommended good practice standard.

However, we are aware that there are shortages of interpreters in some languages and in some parts of the country. Rural areas may face particular difficulties in finding qualified interpreters compared with metropolitan areas, which usually have a more cosmopolitan population. These are difficult issues which the review is looking into.

Monitoring of interpreter usage is one of the issues being considered in the current review. However, a national call centre for interpreters is not one of the options under consideration. We believe there are other ways of addressing current problems in interpreter provision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the capacity of United Kingdom military forces to contribute sufficient numbers of combat troops for peacekeeping duties in both Iraq and Afghanistan.[HL8039]

The assessment of the requirements for military forces in overseas theatres is kept under constant review, as is the capacity of the Armed Forces to meet that requirement. The current requirement is assessed as challenging but manageable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What weapons they have supplied to the Government of Iraq for the use of Iraqi security forces; and on what terms the weapons were supplied.[HL8074]

The following weapons have been supplied by HMG to the Iraqi Government for use by the Iraqi security forces following Operation TELIC:

6,500 x AK47 assault rifle

438 x Underslung grenade launchers for AK47

5,666 x 9mm pistols

774 x Medium machine guns (PKMs)

1,150 x Light machine guns (RPKs)

The following weapons are awaiting delivery but have been approved to be supplied to the Iraqi Government for use by the Iraqi security forces:

90 x Dshka machine guns

6,300 x 9mm pistols

85 x PKC machine guns

12 x Dragunov sniper rifles

These weapons have been gifted to the Iraqi Government. Prior to gifting, a minute was laid before Parliament to inform Parliament of HMG’s intention to supply these weapons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have recorded and retained the serial numbers or other identification information in respect of any weapons or other military material supplied to the Government of Iraq.[HL8075]

Identification information for most military equipment supplied to the Iraqi Government by HMG following Operation TELIC has been recorded and retained. This includes the serial numbers of the weapons supplied. However no specific identifiers have been retained for equipment such as individual helmets and individual pairs of boots that have been supplied to the Iraqi security forces.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What evidence they have to support the statement by the Lord Drayson on 1 November that morale among British forces in Iraq has improved by 14 per cent since March; and, if the statement was based on a survey or opinion poll, whether they will place the full questionnaire, sample selection, data and results in the Library of the House.[HL8093]

I welcome this opportunity to correct a data point in my answer to Lord Craig of Radley in the Question on Iraq on1 November. The percentage increase of 14 per cent in soldiers' morale that I quoted from information briefed to me by the department was not correct. The correct figure is 16.7 per cent. The percentage of soldiers in the Army who recorded their moraleas “high or very high” in the 2006 attitude survey is 49 per cent, a 16.7 per cent increase on the 2005 figure of 42 per cent.

These figures are derived from the single-services' continuous attitude surveys which are available in the Library of the House and are also available on the MoD FoI website. The latest versions were released on 31 October 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Gaddafi Development Foundation is sufficiently independent to qualify as a monitoring body in relation to the memorandum of understanding signed with Libya.[HL8113]

The Government believe that the Gaddafi Development Foundation (GDF) will carry out its functions as a monitoring body independently and effectively. Both the Libyan and British Governments have undertaken to support the monitoring body's full and unrestricted implementation of its terms of reference.

The GDF is the largest and most experienced non-governmental organisation in Libya. It has been operating since 1998. It frequently adopts public positions which are distinct from those of the Libyan authorities; for example, in its work on the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff accused in 1999 of deliberately spreading HIV in a children's hospital in Benghazi. The British Government have undertaken to provide capacity-building assistance which the GDF may request in preparation for carrying out its monitoring role. The GDF has so far identified a need for training in forensic medicine and on the application of international human rights law. The Government are making arrangements for such training to take place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the independence and suitability of the Gaddafi Foundation for Development as an independent monitor for the memorandum of understanding signed with Libya.[HL8114]

The Government believe that the Gaddafi Development Foundation (GDF) will carry out its functions as a monitoring body independently and effectively. Both the Libyan and British Governments have undertaken to support the monitoring body's full and unrestricted implementation of its terms of reference.

The GDF is the largest and most experienced non-governmental organisation in Libya. It has been operating since 1998. It frequently adopts public positions which are distinct from those of the Libyan authorities, for example in its work on the case of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medical staff accused in 1999 of deliberately spreading HN in a children's hospital in Benghazi. The British Government have undertaken to provide capacity-building assistance which the GDF may request in preparation for carrying out its monitoring role. The GDF has so far identified a need for training in forensic medicine and on the application of international human rights law; the Government are making arrangements for such training to take place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by the Lord Rooker on31 October (HL Deb, col. 153), how his statement that English Nature requested closure because of the pink sea fan is compatible with the indication given to the Minister by English Nature that the purpose of the closure would be to prevent damage from towed fishing gear to seabed habitats and communities.[HL8108]