asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the lives of British troops in Afghanistan or Iraq have been put at risk by defective ammunition.[HL458]

No. All ammunition is bought to NATO standards and is subject to stringent testing and quality procedures, both when it is bought and at periods through its service life.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether British troops in Afghanistan or Iraq have obtained ammunition from United States or Canadian troops because of concerns about the quality of the ammunition with which they have been issued by the Ministry of Defence.[HL459]

No. The MoD did purchase 0.5 calibre heavy machine gun ammunition from its Canadian allies in Afghanistan, in June this year to overcome a weapons system issue that has now been resolved. This issue did not relate to the quality of the ammunition, however.

In August 2006, 81 mm mortars were purchased from the US in order to meet an urgent re-supply need. There were sufficient stocks in theatre but, on this occasion, supply from a US base was quicker and safer in the circumstances.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, bearing in mind that detailed cost variation data since approval for Typhoon remain commercially sensitive, the financial position of the Typhoon project has grown worse, remained static or improved over the past 12 months. [HL383]

I am withholding the details of the current financial position of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme as it is commercially sensitive. The Committee of Public Accounts, which is responsible for examination of public expenditure, is fully aware of the project’s financial position as it was reported to it by the department in its Major Projects Report 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many ex-gratia pension payments under the attributable benefits for reservists scheme for veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War remain outstanding. [HL333]

All claims received under the ex-gratia scheme have been considered and determined, with the exception of one case which is currently with the department’s second-tier decision making authority (the Discretionary Awards Appeals Panel).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have received from the Government of Saudi Arabia concerning the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office of possible corruption in relation to the Al Yamamah arms deals; and what was their response. [HL538]

The Government are in frequent and regular contact with the Government of Saudi Arabia as part of the normal conduct of our close bilateral relationship across a wide range of issues of mutual concern.

In view of the ongoing nature of the Serious Fraud Office investigations, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the chairman and other governors of the BBC are under continuing and legally enforceable duties, under the terms of their appointment or under the law of equity, not improperly to disclose confidential information obtained by them in that capacity when they cease to be governors. [HL554]

The chairman and other governors of the BBC are appointed by the Queen by Order in Council made under the BBC's royal charter, which does not contain an explicit duty of confidentiality. The interpretation and application of the law is a matter for the courts, but the Government consider that the general principles of the law of confidentiality impose an enforceable duty on a person not to disclose to a third party, in circumstances which would be regarded in law as improper, any information which he had acquired in his former capacity as a governor and which is recognised in law as confidential information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the number of journeys by foot and bicycle which are made on average by primary and secondary schoolchildren in England each week; and how this compares with previous generations of children for which they have information. [HL866]

The table below gives the percentage of trips to and from school by children aged five to 10 years and 11 to 16 years in England for which the main mode was walking or cycling. Figures are taken from the National Travel Survey in 2005 and 1995-97, the earliest year for which comparable data are available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the extent to which their proposals for fuel duty increases, announced on 6 December, will meet global warming and pollution targets. [HL678]

The Chancellor announced in his Pre-Budget Report statement an inflation-based rise in fuel duty, of 1.25 pence per litre. This was implemented from midnight on 6 December. Inflation increases are already factored into government forecasts for global warming and pollution targets and therefore this increase does not impact on these. However, if rates had been frozen, we forecast that carbon emissions would have been 0.16MtC higher in 2010-11 (or 0.15MtC higher on average over the next five years).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many permanent Rural Payments Agency staff were involved in the setting up and running of the information technology computer systems; how many external computer systems specialists were employed since the single farm payments scheme was established; and what is the cost to date.[HL480]

The information technology computer systems for administering the single payment scheme (SPS) were delivered as part of the RPA change programme. The primary focus of the programme from January 2004 through to completion in May 2006 was delivery of the SPS scheme and associated IT. The average number of permanent RPA staff engaged on the overall change programme during this period was 184.

The RPA contracted Accenture to develop the IT systems required under the change programme. This covers development, support and ongoing maintenance of the systems. The total cost of the Accenture contract is expected to be £55.04 million over seven years (the contract ends on 31 December 2009). We do not have a figure for the total number of consultants who have been deployed by Accenture on the contract to date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the impact of the establishment of Sharia courts in the United Kingdom. [HL590]

Sharia law has no jurisdiction in England and Wales. There are, however, a number of Sharia councils in England and Wales that, on a private basis where the parties consent, deal with the mediation and resolution of personal and contractual disputes. These councils are not part of the court system. In all cases, parties will always have recourse to the UK courts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the alleged crime committed in Worsley, Greater Manchester, in late September which resulted in a 14 year-old schoolgirl being arrested more than a week after an incident, and being fingerprinted, searched and detained for 3½ hours before being released without charge. [HL529]

This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester Police.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What research they have carried out relating to the number of homicides committed by people with mental illness; what are the trends in this number; what lessons they have learnt from these cases; and whether they have any plans to publish this research. [HL414]

The Government have commissioned the national confidential inquiry into suicide and homicide by people with mental illness to examine all incidences of suicide and homicide by people in contact with mental health services in the United Kingdom. The inquiry’s latest report covering England and Wales, which was published on 4 December 2006, shows no clear evidence of either a rise or a fall in the number of homicides by people with mental illness. The report is available in the library and can be downloaded from http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/suicideprevention/nci/.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What method of killing was employed in each of the 35 homicides perpetrated in England and Wales in 2002-03 by individuals with a mental illness; and how this pattern compares with that of the other 838 homicides perpetrated in the same period. [HL471]

The Question appears to relate to Home Office data collected from police forces and the courts. The most recently available figures were published in table 2.06 of Violent Crime Overview, Homicide and Gun Crime 2004/05 (HOSB 02/06). As of 28 November 2005, there were 953 offences currently recorded as homicide in England and Wales during the financial year 2002-03.

In 42 of these cases the apparent circumstance of the offence was classed as being an

“irrational act carried out by an apparently insane or disturbed subject”,

included in the above publication as “suspect mentally disturbed”. However, as only one circumstance can be recorded per case, these figures do not include all those homicides committed by a suspect with mental health problems.

The Home Office also publishes annual data about persons managed under Mental Health Act powers, including those convicted of homicide. Latest published figures are in Statistics of Mentally Disordered Offenders 2004 (HOSB 22/05). In 2004 there were 99 homicide convictions resulting in suspects being detained under Part III of the Mental Health Act 1983. These figures cannot, however, be broken down to show the method of killing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In how many of the 35 homicides perpetrated in England and Wales in 2002–03 by individuals with a mental illness the victim was known to the perpetrator; and how this pattern compares with that of the other 838 homicides perpetrated in the same period.[HL472]

The Question appears to relate to Home Office data collected from police forces and the courts and the most recently available figures were published in table 2.06 of Violent Crime Overview, Homicide and Gun Crime 2004/05 (HOSB 02/06). As of 28 November 2005, there were 953 offences currently recorded as homicide in England and Wales during the financial year 2002-03.

In 42 of these cases the apparent circumstance of the offence was classed as being an “irrational act carried out by an apparently insane or disturbed subject”. The victim and principal suspect were acquainted in 29 of these cases (69 per cent). It is important to note that data on the homicide index include only one circumstance per case and so these figures do not include all those homicides where a suspect has mental health problems. Other circumstances were recorded in the remaining 911 cases, including 399 where the victim and principal suspect were acquainted (44 per cent).

The Home Office also publishes annual data about persons managed under Mental Health Act powers, including those convicted of homicide. Latest published figures are in Statistics of Mentally Disordered Offenders 2004 (HOSB 22/05). In 2004 there were 99 homicide convictions resulting in suspects being detained under Part III of the Mental Health Act 1983.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What study data are kept on rape cases which draw a distinction between rape by a stranger as against rape by a person known to the accuser. [HL527]

The British Crime Survey (BCS) systematically collects information on rape, although due to the sensitivity of such questions in a face-to-face crime survey it is recognised that the subsequent results may be an unreliable indicator. For this reason, they are not routinely published.

However, a number of BCS questionnaires have included a self-completion part on sexual victimisation designed to improve reliability and confidentiality. The BCS questionnaires on sexual victimisation also collect information about the relationship between offenders and victims. The latest published results are reported in Home Office Online Report 12/06 (Finney, 2006). According to the 2004-05 BCS most women and men who had been victims of serious sexual assaults had been assaulted by people who they know rather than strangers. Altogether 11 per cent of females and 17 per cent of male victims of serious sexual assaults had been assaulted by a stranger.

A research study, commissioned by the Home Office (Home Office Research Study 293, Kelly, et al (2005)), also provides information on the victim's relationship to the offender. Analysis of incidents of rape which had been reported to a sexual assault referral centre (SARC) from 1987 to 2002 revealed that over half of the assaults were committed by a perpetrator who was known to the victim compared with about a quarter of assaults which were committed by strangers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they hold statistics that identify the nature of the criminal allegations when remand was ordered by the court.[HL528]

Information on court remands is contained in chapter four of Criminal Statistics 2005 which can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimstats05.html.

Table 4.4, on page 78, gives estimated figures for the numbers of defendants remanded in custody by magistrates’ courts in England and Wales by broad category of offence. The remand data are not sufficiently robust to permit a more detailed breakdown of the offences involved. Information for Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Statement by the Lord Rooker on 7 November (HL Deb, cols. 678–79), what accounting changes have resulted in a loss to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' budget of £65 million; whether these changes will continue to have an adverse effect; and how the £65 million can be accounted for. [HL655]

The accounting changes have not resulted in a loss to the department. Rather, these changes arose from clarification and application of Treasury consolidated budgeting guidance rules. This guidance set out constraints over movements between sub-control totals within departmental resource budgets. This heightened existing pressures on those programmes requiring cash expenditure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs, Mr Barry Gardiner, on 6 November (HC Deb, 705W) and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Care Services, Mr Ivan Lewis, on 8 November (HC Deb, 1877W), on what basis bonuses are awarded to staff in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; why the average award has risen from £350 in November 2004 to £1,746 in November; how often the formulae used have resulted in bonuses over £9,999; and why the department has a highest award of £34,000 compared with maxima in the Department of Health of £22,500 in 2004–05 and £30,000 in 2005–06. [HL652]

For the basis of bonuses awarded to staff in Defra, I refer the noble Baroness to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Barry Gardiner, to my honourable friend Keith Vaz on 27 November, (Official Report, Commons, col. 286W).

The average award is lower within the statistics provided for the period November 2004 to March 2005 for two reasons. For staff at grade 6 and below, the data for this period only include in-year performance bonuses. Annual performance bonuses—which have a higher individual value—would have been paid prior to this date within the financial year. For the period April 2006 to November 2006, for staff at grade 6 and below, the number of staff receiving the annual performance bonus reduced from 25 per cent of staff to the top 10 per cent of performers. The amount of funds allocated for the annual bonus remained constant and individual bonus amounts therefore increased.

There were no bonuses above £9,999 paid to staff at grade 6 or below.

There were a total of 45 bonuses over and above £9,999 paid to SCS staff in 2005 and 2006. One bonus of £34,040 was paid to a specialist employed on a fixed-term contract to manage a specific project. The bonus amount was a condition of the contract and was dependent on successful delivery of targets. For permanent SCS staff, the highest bonus paid was £15,000 which was paid to three staff. The remaining 41 received £10,500.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will oblige local authorities to enforce rules of use for all discretionary disabled parking places. [HL828]

While local authorities are able to introduce discretionary disabled parking bays, it is not possible to regulate or enforce the use of discretionary bays.

Local authorities have the power under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 to make traffic regulation orders to introduce designated disabled parking bays that can be enforced by the police service or local authority parking attendants, depending on who is responsible for parking enforcement in the area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the proposals for electors to provide a signature at polling stations will be introduced for the elections in May 2007; and, if not, what are the reasons. [HL788]

The Government have recently become aware of growing concern among electoral administrators about whether polling station officials would have the right to withhold a ballot paper from an elector who refused to provide a signature.

After careful consideration of the relevant provision in the Electoral Administration Act 2006, the Government agree that the lack of a clear sanction for a polling station official to withhold a ballot paper in these circumstances may give rise to confusion, inconsistency of practice, and potential legal challenge. Accordingly, the Government have decided not to commence signing at a polling station until such a sanction can be brought forward. As such a sanction will require primary legislation, it will not be practicable to commence signing at a polling station for elections scheduled for May 2007.

The Electoral Commission, which has a key role in providing returning officers and electoral administrators with advice and guidance has been formally advised that legislation for signing at a polling station will not be commenced for 3 May 2007 and, therefore, no request of signatures from electors in polling stations should be made until further notice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare, Mr Ben Bradshaw, on 6 November (HC Deb, 715W), why it is not currently possible to obtain reliable information from the European Union-wide system for export certification; when the system will be fully operational; and whether, when it is fully operational, it will be possible to make retrospective enquiries; and [HL653]

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare, Mr Ben Bradshaw, on 6 November (HC Deb, 715W), whether the failure of the European Union-wide system for export certification predates the Written Answer by the Minister on 7 November 2005 (HC Deb, 13W); and, if so, whether the figures quoted in that answer showing that over 90 per cent of the captive birds imported into Europe come to the United Kingdom is correct. [HL654]

TRACES is operating effectively with regard to notifying member states of trade activity, providing certification for trade where health certification is required and allowing traders to apply electronically for the documentation that must physically accompany consignments being traded. The Commission's expectations for the system are much farther reaching than this and TRACES is continually being developed and enhanced. We expect this to be the case for some time.

Extracting reliable statistics from TRACES remains problematic and especially so for cattle exports. However, two fairly recent developments should improve the situation in the future. First, TRACES now distinguishes between breeding cattle and production cattle. This was not possible with the previous versions of the system. Secondly, the Commission has this year delivered an enhancement to TRACES called the Data Warehouse. This allows us to extract more detailed trade activity data from TRACES.

The system of codes for recording the import of wild birds is now fully operational. The information provided in the Written Answer on 7 November 2005 highlighted there were discrepancies between the TRACES and CITES data and that officials were investigating the discrepancies. A ministerial colleague in the other place is writing to the Member in that place who asked the original Question, to provide him with recently published data on the bird trade. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the other place. The recently published European Food Safety Authority report has the most reliable figures for 2005: 521,906 captive birds were imported to the EU, of which 61,450 were to the UK.

The EFSA report does not have figures for 2004, but CITES figures are available and indicate that around 695,000 birds were imported into all member states with 18,897 birds imported into the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to provide the agreed monthly update on progress in the establishment of the national firearms licensing management system, required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [HL708]

Further to the update sent to the noble Lord on 23 October, good progress with the roll-out programme is being maintained. A total of 24 forces have been migrated to the system which now contains records relating to 500,000 people.

It is still the aim to complete the roll-out process by March 2007. We will send a further update on the position at the end of January.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many police firearms licensing staff are involved in processing applications to vary or add conditions to firearm certificates; and [HL709]

How many prosecutions there have been in the past 10 years for breaches of extra conditions placed on firearms certificates by chief officers of police, under the Firearms Act 1968. [HL710]

The offence under Section 1(2) of the Firearms Act 1968 relates to a failure to comply with any condition on the certificate; prosecution statistics do not differentiate between prescribed conditions and those imposed by the chief officer of police. No information is kept centrally regarding the amount of time spent by police licensing staff in processing applications to vary or add conditions to firearms certificates.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 27 November (WA 26), where they keep details relating to internal reviews under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/3391) and the nature and subject matter of the information requested; and how such data are made available to the public.[HL516]

Details relating to internal reviews under the Environmental Information Regulations are held separately by each individual government department. The Government do not hold information centrally on the nature and subject matter of the information requested and to collate such information would result in disproportionate costs. I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer I gave on 5 December, which sets out how data relating to internal reviews under the Freedom of Information Act and the Environmental Information Regulations are made available to the public.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the number of online gambling sites identified in the research carried out by the children's charity NCH in 2005 which have now put in place robust systems to prevent under-age persons from gambling on their websites. [HL651]

The Government have not conducted an assessment of this nature. The Government are, however, aware that since the study, many operators have sought to improve their age verification procedures.

We have included robust provisions within the Gambling Act 2005 to protect children and young persons from gambling. These include a specific requirement on remote gambling operators to implement effective age verification procedures, which, if breached, could mean the loss of that operator's gambling licence and/or a financial penalty, as well as the return of stakes by the operator to any player found to be under age, among other protections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of the marmosets involved in the studies referred to in the Written Statement by Lord Drayson on 19 October (WS 87-8) on the findings of the Vaccines Interactions Research Programme, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence at Porton Down, were exposed to the range of insults, including uncontrolled spraying of organophosphate pesticides, DEET, low-level sarin, oil-well fire residues and depleted uranium which were experienced by 1990-91 Gulf War service men and women in addition to vaccines and pyridostigmine bromide. [HL400]

As I indicated on 8 November (Official Report, cols. WA 184-5), environmental and other exposures which may have been experienced by some individuals during the 1990-91 Gulf conflict were not part of the Vaccines Interactions Research Programme. The latter was designed to address specific concerns at the time of commissioning—not least among veterans and their representatives—that the vaccines and pyridostigmine bromide which were received by the overwhelming majority of those prepared for deployment to the Gulf might be the cause of the ill health. The possible adverse health effects of the wider exposures mentioned in the question are 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 had not experienced these exposures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have received on the future of Alfred Morris House as a rehabilitation unit at Taunton; and what steps they are taking to implement a review. [HL189]

The department is aware of 13 letters received since June 2006 about Alfred Morris House.

On 5 July, the honourable Member for Taunton (Jeremy Browne) asked a question of the Prime Minister.

On 18 October 2006, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State had a meeting with Lord Morris of Manchester and the honourable Member for Taunton (Jeremy Browne) to discuss their concerns about the future of Alfred Morris House.

This is a local matter for Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust. It is the responsibility of local NHS organisations in conjunction with their strategic health authorities (SHAs) where necessary. The south-west SHA has advised officials that the service redesign also fits in with the stated aim of the hospital, of improving patients’ experience and making the hospital system more efficient. It is felt that the neurological rehabilitation service will benefit from being closer to other key hospital facilities and from greater integration of services overall. The SHA provides assurances that the trust will continue to provide a specialist comprehensive neurological rehabilitation service, which will continue to be delivered by staff with the appropriate skill, knowledge and experience.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the statement by Lord Warner on 25 July (HL Deb, col 1642) regarding procurement of an additional 300,000 audiology service pathways from the independent sector, whether this initiative will result in additional capacity; and whether service commissioners could opt to use this scheme to transfer existing resources from the National Health Service to the independent sector. [HL123]

The audiology procurement is designed to complement National Health Service capacity to tackle long waits for audiology services. It represents additional capacity as part of the Government’s commitment to tackle audiology waits. We expect to publish an action plan, of which this procurement will be a key part, early next year.

Locally, it is for PCTs to decide how much audiology capacity to commission from providers of NHS services, consistent with overall local development plans.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consultations they held with professional bodies and representatives of patient groups before setting up the independent sector programme for audiology services.[HL473]

The procurement of extra audiology capacity by the National Health Service will be a key part of the action plan to deal with unacceptably long waits for adult hearing services in the context of the 18-week target. This follows concerns expressed over many months by representatives of patient groups and professional bodies about shortages in NHS-commissioned capacity.

The action plan will be informed by the views of a broad range of stakeholders including professional bodies and representatives of patient groups, and will I hope command broad support. A working group has been established to develop proposals, although for reasons of size has not been designed to be representative of the various groups. A forum will be held before publication to ensure that stakeholder groups and others have an opportunity to consider possible proposals and contribute their views. In the mean time, we have already had submissions from a number of professional organisations, and others are welcome to write with theirs. Whether or not there is formal consultation on the action plan or elements of it will depend on the nature of the measures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any civil servants attended the meeting between Ministers from the Department of Health and representatives of the Labour Party which took place on 3 July to discuss policy on community hospitals. [HL179]

No civil servants attended the meeting between Ministers from the department and representatives of the Labour Party on 3 July.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they have given to the report Diabetes and the Disadvantaged—reducing health inequalities in the United Kingdom from Diabetes UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes; and whether they will take any action as a result of its recommendations. [HL173]

The Government are aware of the report from Diabetes UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes: Diabetes and the Disadvantaged—reducing health inequalities in the United Kingdom. The Government fully acknowledge that diabetes has a disproportionate impact in areas suffering from deprivation, and that tackling both the condition and its associated complications pose special challenges for those communities. To tackle this, we have established a number of spearhead areas focusing on specific areas of high deprivation, where additional resources to improve healthcare have been provided.

The introduction of primary care commissioning, with its focus on developing a comprehensive needs assessment for all groups within a local healthcare community, will also reinforce the need to recognise the diverse needs of differing groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have acknowledged the contribution that specialist nurses make to the treatment and care of people with epilepsy; and whether they will take steps to reverse the trend of redundancies and reduced hours for specialist epilepsy nurses who work in the National Health Service; and [HL748]

What encouragement they are giving to local health trusts to reverse the trend of redundancies and reduced hours for specialist epilepsy nurses who work in the National Health Service, bearing in mind that 70 per cent of those with epilepsy could be seizure-free with optimal treatment. [HL749]

It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs) to analyse their local workforce needs and develop plans, in liaison with the providers, to deliver high quality services, including those for epilepsy, and take action to secure the appropriate staff and skills to deliver these services.

The chief executive of the NHS, David Nicholson, wrote to all chief executives of SHAs, NHS trusts and PCTs on 30 October 2006, encouraging NHS organisations to work together to manage workforce change and minimise the need for redundancies. Mr Nicholson's letter launched a new framework from NHS Employers, Securing and Retaining Staff for Health and Social Care—A partnership approach, which outlines good practice and promotes local partnership working for the benefit of displaced staff. A copy of the framework is available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the present chief executive of the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust was appointed; at what salary; and what compensation was paid to the previous chief executive on his departure. [HL705]

The National Health Service for the East of England has advised that the chief executive at Ipswich hospital NHS trust was appointed on 1 July 2005 at a salary of £130,000 per annum. The previous chief executive at the Ipswich hospital NHS trust had left to take up a secondment as chief executive at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, and was subsequently appointed permanently following open competition. I am advised that no compensation was paid to the departing chief executive of Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Warner on 9 October (WA 71) on mixed-sex wards, whether they will define the construction of a single-sex bay. [HL707]

The National Health Service data dictionary does not give a definition for a bay. Its smallest unit is a ward. However, there have been several statements that move towards a working description. The first of these was in 1997, when the Department of Health issued guidance on eliminating mixed-sex accommodation. This stated:

“at a point where a ward has been divided into separate areas to segregate the sexes, there should be screening which is adequate to ensure privacy is maintained, eg which will prevent patients being overheard and overseen by others where this is not desirable”.

In 2002, NHS Estates issued Enhancing Privacy and Dignity—Achieving Single Sex Accommodation. This offered a number of design solutions using various arrangements of bays, single rooms and open areas, and demonstrated the wide range of acceptable solutions.

Also in 2002, in response to a Parliamentary Question, the following advice was given on how wards could be separated into bays:

“Partitioning can be used to divide wards into bays as a means of achieving an acceptable method of protecting patients’ privacy and dignity. To ensure that they provide adequate physical separation, sound reduction and visual privacy the partition must be permanent, rigid and fixed to the building structure. A mobile privacy screen alone is not an acceptable solution to enhancing privacy and dignity for the patient”.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the minimum ratios of nurses to patients for (a) neonatal intensive care; (b) neonatal high dependency care; and (c) special care. [HL618]

Nursing ratios are a matter for local clinical judgment. The exact nurse-to-patient ratio will depend on the number and criticality of the infants on the unit. The British Association of Perinatal Medicine recommends a nurse-to-infant ratio of one to one for neonatal intensive care, one to two for high-dependency care and one to four for special care.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many training places were available each year in England since 1997 for post-registration specialist qualifications in neonatal nursing. [HL620]

This information is not collected centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many full-time equivalent advanced neonatal nurse practitioners were employed by hospital trusts in England in the latest year for which figures are available. [HL621]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their policy that all hospital National Health Service trusts have their websites in eight languages; what estimate they have made of the cost of this service; and what is its justification in relation to other priorities of the hospitals. [HL706]

The Government do not require National Health Service bodies to present information on their websites in eight different languages. Rather, NHS bodies, like other public bodies, are required under law to ensure that all sections of the communities that they serve are aware of services they provide, and how to access and comment on them. Each NHS body should assess the most appropriate way of making this information available and should decide, on the basis of local needs and circumstance, the languages into which the information may be translated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their latest estimate of the national annual cost of pathology testing carried out (a) for National Health Service primary care trusts; and (b), so far as the cost is not included in (a), in National Health Service hospitals. [HL805]

The report of the independent review of National Health Service pathology services in England estimated that the total cost of NHS pathology services is £2.5 billion per annum. The department does not collect information centrally about the national annual cost of pathology testing carried out for National Health Service primary care trusts.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Further to his Written Answer on 4 December (WA 98), when the review of fair trade products is due to take place; what further items are under discussion; and what is the timetable. [HL640]

Suitable fair trade items are selected according to their cost and whether they are regularly available. This ensures that supplies are cost-effective for the consumer and that wastage is kept to a minimum. The fair trade products provided by the Refreshment Department are subject to the same ongoing review as all other products.

Staff in the department are investigating a number of other fair trade products including fresh fruit, fruit juices, sugar and a wider range of confectionary bars. The Refreshment Committee is briefed on developments regarding the range of fair trade products, and its views are taken into consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many detainees remained in Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre at the latest convenient date, with separate totals of the number of fast-track cases, foreign national former prisoners, and removal cases. [HL641]

The number of detainees remaining in Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre on the morning of 7 December was 56. Of those, 34 were fast-track cases, none was a foreign national former prisoner, and 22 were removal cases.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people were removed from Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre after the recent disturbances there; and to which establishments each person was moved. [HL642]

The number of detainees removed from Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre after the recent disturbance there was 422. The detainees have been relocated to other removal centres in the immigration detention estate and to prisons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What legal and social visits, health care and detention duty are available to detainees still in Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre. [HL645]

Legal visits are available to all detainees located at Harmondsworth on seven days a week between the hours of 09.00 and 21.00 and take place in a dedicated legal visits area. Social visits are available from 14.00 until 21.00, again seven days a week in a purpose-built social visits area. Both of those facilities were unaffected by the recent disturbance.

Harmondsworth provides nursing facilities 24 hours a day as well as a surgery by a GP seven days a week and an on-call doctor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many immigration detainees were bailed with restrictions as a result of the relocation of detainees from Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre after the disturbances at the end of November; what those restrictions are; and whether any have been breached. [HL664]

None of the detainees in Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre has been released as a result of the disturbances.

Following relocation throughout the detention estate, a total of 50 immigration detainees were granted bail. All of these detainees were placed on individual reporting restrictions and no breaches of conditions have been advised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why qualified persons need to hold requisite licences under the Licensing Act 2003 in order to run education courses on wines and spirits. [HL553]

Where such courses require an authorisation under the Licensing Act 2003, it is because they include licensable activities such as the sale by retail of alcohol as defined in that Act. Other than those who benefited from the transitional provisions of the Act, persons authorising sales of alcohol are required to hold a personal licence qualification. This confirms that they have successfully completed a course on the requirements of current licensing law and social responsibility relating to the supply of alcohol.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What functions they envisage for the delivery of mental health services by a local health body under Clause 36 of the Mental Health Bill. [HL702]

We do not envisage any new functions for the delivery of mental health services by a local health board under Clause 36 of the Mental Health Bill, as this clause is intended to make it clear, for the purposes of the Mental Health Act 1983, who the managers are in respect of a local health board.

The current definition of managers of hospitals, which is contained in Section 145 of the 1983 Act, does not include a reference to local health boards. Hospital managers have a variety of functions under the Act and the definition of managers identifies the body or people who are managers of each hospital, depending on who owns or runs it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What Ministry of Defence stores from the Banja Luka metal factory have been (a) sold, or (b) gifted to commercial entities in (i) the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and (ii) the Republic of Srpska.[HL497]

Sales from the Banja Luka metal factory between May 2001 and March 2006 are listed as follows:

Non-warlike surplus stores are sold directly from the Banja Luka metal factory site and to determine if purchasers (often individuals) are from the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina or the Republika Srpska would incur disproportionate cost. Ministry of Defence policy is not to gift to commercial entities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support the United Nations proposal for an independent, high-level Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Nepal as a means of addressing continuing human rights violations and of providing compensation for families affected. [HL668]

If Nepal is to move forward it is important that impunity is tackled and that there must be an immediate end to widespread human rights violations. As such, we welcome the agreement of both sides to the establishment of a high-level Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It will be important that, following their commitment to setting up such a commission, both the Government and Maoists fully co-operate to allow comprehensive investigations of serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.

Until such a commission is actively investigating previous accusations of human rights violations, we will continue to provide robust political support to the efforts of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal to highlight previous allegations of human rights abuses by both sides.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much of the £100 million targeted sponsorship money UK Sport has raised for the preparation of the British team for the 2012 Olympic Games since this objective was announced during the 2006 Budget speech. [HL648]

The Government, supported by UK Sport, are currently exploring a number of options to raise £100 million from the private sector to help support our most talented athletes, and therefore no money has yet been raised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to record the passport details of all persons departing from the United Kingdom; and, if so, when the facility to do so will be complete. [HL591]

Intelligence-led targeted embarkation controls are currently in place at Heathrow and Gatwick to focus on identifying failed asylum seekers and other immigration offenders who are leaving the UK. Those identified as immigration offenders can be served with appropriate notices and their embarkation recorded in the event that they should seek to return to the UK. The e-Borders programme, scheduled to commence in 2008, will strengthen and modernise our border control and provide an electronic record of those entering and leaving the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Given the history of problems faced when completing large-scale information technology projects, what consideration has been given to using off-the-shelf solutions to the problems raised in the Bichard inquiry. [HL256]

The IMPACT programme has made use of an existing application in the Criminal Records Bureau (i-PLX) in developing the IMPACT nominal index. For the next stage in the technology development the programme is building upon the Cross-Regional Information-Sharing Project (CRISP), which was already under development by a consortium of police forces. The Police National Database will be subject to a competitive procurement during which potential suppliers will be able to propose the use of off-the-shelf solutions where these meet the requirements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the costs incurred by each local partnership between police and local authorities that submitted proposals for wave 2 of the 101-single non-emergency number programme in developing and submitting those proposals, as estimated (a) by the Government, and (b) by each partnership; and [HL510]

Whether the costs incurred by each local partnership between police and local authorities in developing and submitting proposals for wave 2 of the 101-single non-emergency number programme have been, or will be, reimbursed; and, if so, on what basis.[HL511]

At the start of the single non-emergency number 101 programme wave 2 development phase, expressions of interest were submitted and funding agreements signed by prospective wave 2 partnerships on the basis that the Home Office would provide up to £100,000 of funding to support the preparation of delivery proposals in each partnership area, with the exceptions of London which would be allocated up to £400,000, Wales up to £200,000 and Leicestershire up to £40,000, reflecting the differing circumstances in these particular partnerships. The costs incurred by each partnership in the preparation of their delivery proposals will therefore be reimbursed accordingly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many times police cars have been detected by speed cameras exceeding limits over the past five years; and what proportion resulted in (a) a prosecution; (b) a caution; or (c) no further action. [HL639]

The information is not collected centrally in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 6 December (HL Deb, col. 1157) on the Channel Tunnel, whether they have anything further to add on the subject of Government support for Channel Tunnel rail freight. [HL895]

Under the terms of the Channel Tunnel rail usage contract (RUC) and in line with the access charge provisions of the first European rail package, we have agreed that the British Railways Board (BRB) should continue to bear the UK freight allocation of Eurotunnel's operational expenses charges payable under the terms of the rail usage contract, as these represent overhead infrastructure costs not directly incurred as a result of operating the railway service.

To enable BRB to do this, we have made changes to the UK arrangements whereby those rights and obligations of BRB previously delegated exclusively to English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWSI) are now delegated on a non-exclusive basis and apply to any international freight train operator.

For the first year these charges will equate to approximately £6.5 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the fastest, average and slowest journey times on through services between Manchester and Glasgow in the current railway timetable; and what the equivalent times will be when the services are taken over by Trans-Pennine Express. [HL789]

Existing train times can be found in the current National Rail timetable, which is publicly available. The timetable to apply when Trans-Pennine Express operates services between Manchester and Glasgow has yet to be finalised; journey times between Manchester Piccadilly and Glasgow Central of between three and a quarter and three and a half hours are expected.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the level of litter on the eastbound layby on the A14 adjacent to the M6 is satisfactory; and what steps they will take with a view to the cost-effectiveness of the contractors responsible. [HL827]

Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 code of practice on litter and refuse, sweeping and clearing the majority of the trunk road network is the responsibility of the district and borough councils through which they pass.

Litter clearance of the layby on the A14 trunk road eastbound, adjacent to the M6, is the responsibility of Harborough District Council.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What factors caused the deficit in Royal Air Force personnel strength to increase from 350 to 2,720 over the six months to 1 October. [HL381]

As announced in another place on 21 July 2004, (Official Report, col. 348) the trained strength of the Royal Air Force is being reduced to meet the 41,000 target by April 2008. This is being achieved through a balance of normal outflow, intake reductions and targeted redundancy. As a planned consequence of the strategy and the pace of the redundancy programme, the trained strength is falling faster than the reduction in requirement, which is resulting in a period of increased manning deficit. One significant contributing factor is that most of the 1,200 applicants selected for redundancy under tranche 2 left the service on 10 April 2006. Work is ongoing to reduce the requirement for manpower to minimise the deficit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Royal Air Force personnel, broken down by rank and specialisation, applied for redundancy under tranche 3 of the redundancy scheme; and how many will be allowed to leave under redundancy terms. [HL380]

The tables below give the details of officers and ground trades personnel who applied and were selected under tranche 3 of the RAF redundancy scheme.

Non-commissioned Aircrew

Nil.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Filkin on 21 February 2005 (WA 173), whether the Answer remains valid; and whether they adhere to the view that the scientific theory of intelligent design could be discussed in schools, being one of a range of views on evolution that students might consider or evaluate against the evidence. [HL713]

To meet the requirements of the national curriculum for science, teachers have to teach about scientific theories. Intelligent design is not a recognised scientific theory; therefore, it is not included in the science curriculum.

The science programme of study sets out the legal requirements of the national curriculum. It clearly states that pupils should be taught: how uncertainties in scientific knowledge and scientific ideas change over time; the role of the scientific community in validating these changes; that variation within species can lead to evolutionary changes; and that similarities and differences between species can be measured and classified.

Intelligent design can be explored in religious education as part of developing an understanding of different beliefs. It is up to the local SACREs (standing advisory councils on religious education) to set the syllabus for how this should be done. The department is currently working with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to communicate this message to schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions physical restraint was used at Hassockfield Secure Training Centre on, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL560]

On how many occasions physical restraint was used at Medway Secure Training Centre on, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL561]

On how many occasions physical restraint was used at Oakhill Secure Training Centre on, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL562]

On how many occasions physical restraint was used at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre on, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. [HL563]

The information requested, which has been supplied by the Youth Justice Board, is in the following table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much money, over and above the £600 million package of financial support announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Budget Day 2006, will be devoted to meet his pledge of 25 October that “every talented young sports star should have extra support to help them train and develop”. [HL649]

The £600 million package of financial support for high-performance sport, managed and allocated by UK Sport, is the primary route of support for talented young athletes in Olympic and Paralympic sports who have the potential to compete and win in international competition. Government and UK Sport assess that there are now sufficient levels of funding in the performance system to 2012 to ensure that genuine world class talent is not lost to summer Olympic and Paralympic sports.

The national governing bodies (NGBs) of English non-Olympic sports receive funding from Sport England through their whole sport plans and will use a proportion of this to identify and support talented athletes. In addition, the Government's school sport strategy provides access to a range of non-Olympic sports, and talent in particular is supported through the gifted and talented scheme. Since 2003, over £6.5 million has been invested in this scheme.

The talented athlete scholarship scheme (TASS) enables talented athletes to continue in their sport beyond the age of 16 while pursuing further or higher education. TASS 2012, a strand of the TASS programme, supports our most talented 12 to 18 year-olds in a variety of Olympic, Paralympic, non-Olympic and non-Paralympic sports. Between 2004 and 2008, the Government will have committed £ 17 million to TASS and TASS 2012.

Lastly, government funding extends to the advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence programme, which is a structured national training and development route across all sports for young people who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and perform at the highest level. Up to £15 million is being invested into this two-year programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether their policy to ensure that every talented young sports star should have extra support to assist in training and development extends to non-Olympic sports; and, if so, whether they will ask the central council for sport and recreation to provide a list of such talented sports stars for additional grant funding. [HL650]

The national governing bodies (NGBs) of English non-Olympic sports receive funding from Sport England through their whole sport plans and will use a proportion of this to identify and support talented athletes.

For those sports that run high-performance programmes, Sport England and UK Sport are discussing how UK Sport's expertise could add value to these programmes. UK Sport also provides funding directly to the UK non-Olympic sports of waterskiing and orienteering.

The Government's school sport strategy provides access to a range of non-Olympic sports, and talent is supported through the gifted and talented scheme. Since 2003, over £6.5 million has been invested in this scheme. The talented athlete scholarship scheme (TASS) enables talented athletes to continue in their sport beyond the age of 16 while pursuing further or higher education. TASS 2012, a strand of the TASS programme, supports our most talented 12 to 18 year-olds in a variety of Olympic, Paralympic, non-Olympic and non-Paralympic sports. Between 2004 and 2008, the Government will have committed £17 million to TASS and TASS 2012.

Government funding also extends to the advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence programme, which is a structured national training and development route across all sports for young people who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport and perform at the highest level. Up to £15 million is being invested into this two-year programme.

The Government do not intend to ask the Central Council of Physical Recreation for a list of talented athletes, but would encourage it to share any information it has directly with the NGBs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have proposals to use the term “apostate terrorists” rather than the term “Islamic terrorists” in all government statements and publications. [HL484]

The Government do not use the term “Islamic terrorists” in all their statements and publications. The CONTEST strategy to counter terrorism does refer to “Islamist terrorists”. There are no plans to use the term “apostate terrorists”.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 16 November 2005 (WA 152-3), what are the latest available figures for convictions and range of sentences under the Terrorism Act 2000; and what are the equivalent figures for convictions under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 and the Terrorism Act 2006.[HL609]

Statistics compiled from police records show that between 11 September 2001 and 30 September 2006, 38 people have been convicted under the Terrorism Act 2000. A further 176 individuals were convicted under different legislation where the police investigation was conducted as a terrorist investigation.

Data held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform court proceedings database for the number of persons found guilty at all courts for certain terrorism offences in England and Wales from 2001 to 2005 can be found in the table attached. The information also covers the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989. Because the figures do not relate to the same period the available tables will not reflect all 38 convictions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the likely impact of the resignation of John Bolton, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, on (a) actions at the United Nations towards other member states, and (b) relations between the United Kingdom and the United States. [HL628]

The resignation of John Bolton, US ambassador to the United Nations, is a matter for the US Government, and it would not be appropriate for the UK to comment. The UK and US Governments work closely together across the range of issues at the United Nations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have plans to bring forward a new Veterinary Surgeons Bill. [HL703]

While there are some strong arguments for modernising the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA), Defra has a wide-ranging agenda that it needs to take forward, both for animal health and welfare and our wider environmental objectives.

We do not currently have a firm timetable for modernising the VSA but we will work with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the wider veterinary profession to develop ideas for a new regulatory framework.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions physical restraint was used at Warrington Young Offender Institution on, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL558]

On how many occasions physical restraint was used at Wetherby Young Offenders Institution on, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. [HL559]

The following table shows the number of times approved control and restraint techniques were used at Werrington and Wetherby Young Offender Institutions, in addition to other incidents where use of force was applied in the 12 months prior to 1 November. Werrington and Wetherby hold male young offenders only.