asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many medical and logistics troops are deployed in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. [HL744]

I am withholding information regarding the number of troops deployed in specific units as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our Armed Forces.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many United Kingdom military units deployed to the Helmand province of Afghanistan are composite. [HL746]

Force composition is dictated by the specific military requirements of the operational environment. All UK military units above company level deployed to Helmand province are composed of a number of different sub-units and/or supplemented by augmentees during the course of their deployment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the cost both to farmers and to the Government of the national fallen stock scheme in the past 12 months. [HL823]

By 24 November 2006 more than 40,000 farmers had chosen to join the voluntary national fallen stock scheme, each paying a £28 annual fee for membership. This equates to around £1 million per annum in subscription fees. However, farmers may choose to dispose of their fallen stock outside of the scheme, provided that they comply with the Animal By-Products Regulations (EC) No. 1774/2002.

From November 2005 to November 2006, more than £7 million of funding was provided by the Government to the farming industry via the national fallen stock scheme to assist with the cost of complying with the regulations. Farmers who are members of the scheme contributed just over £8.5 million towards the collection and disposal costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What additional levels of carbon dioxide have been generated by incineration of carcasses that would hitherto have been buried; and what additional carbon dioxide was generated by the vehicles collecting fallen stock in the past 12 months. [HL824]

No assessment of this kind has been made. However, even before the complete ban on burial of fallen stock in 2003 there were very limited circumstances when burial of fallen stock was permitted because of the potential risk to animal and public health from doing so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will seek a derogation under the European Union subsidiarity arrangements to enable the United Kingdom to dispose of fallen sheep by traditional burial; and [HL825]

Whether, in view of the fact that farmers can currently be licensed to incinerate fallen stock, they will license the burial of sheep where there is no danger of water pollution and a potential reduction of energy costs and pollution caused by incineration. [HL826]

There is no provision under the European Union animal by-products regulation (which bans on-farm burial of fallen stock) for seeking a derogation to permit the burial of sheep. The only derogations which permit burial are in the event of an outbreak of a notifiable disease and for certain designated remote areas. In the case of a disease outbreak, the derogation would apply if there were a lack of capacity at rendering plants and incinerators, or if transport of the carcases would spread disease.

Pollution control is not the main aim of this regulation. The regulation is there to protect public and animal health from any potential risks associated with the burial of fallen stock. Rendering and incineration provide safe, controlled routes of disposal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total area of farmland allocated as set-aside in the latest year for which statistics are available for (a) England as a whole, and (b) each county in England; and what proportion of set-aside land in each case was used for growing permitted crops. [HL897]

The information requested is detailed and will take more time to compile. I will write to the noble Lord with the information when this is available later this month and place a copy in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made or intend to commission an assessment of the plant and wildlife value of set-aside. [HL1001]

The department published two reports (Change in the Area and Distribution of Set-aside in England in 2005 and its Environmental Impact and Project to Assess Future Options for Set-Aside) in February 2006. These looked at the environmental benefits that set-aside has delivered and at the potential environmental impact of set-aside policy options for the future. The reports are available on the Defra website at http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/evaluation/futuresetaside/ and www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/observatory/research/pdf/observatory01.pdf.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many cormorants have been killed under licence since the licensing regime began. [HL910]

Centralised and electronic recording of wildlife applications and licences began in this department in 2001. Since then 3,768 cormorants have been reported as killed under licence. The breakdown by calendar year is shown below.

Figures for the period between August and December 2006 are currently unavailable. The mid-season licensee returns for this period are due in mid-January 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the report of the investigation by the League Against Cruel Sports into snares entitled The Silent Killer: Can the Code of Practice Stop Cruelty, and in particular whether its findings on compliance with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs code of practice indicate that the operation of the code needs to be reconsidered.[HL898]

When Defra published its Code of Good Practice on the Use of Snares in Fox and Rabbit Control in October 2005 it also published the Defra Snares Action Plan. A copy of the action plan can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/snares/pdf/snares-actionplan.pdf. The action plan clearly sets out Defra's commitment for research to be undertaken to monitor the voluntary uptake of the code, its practical application and impact. A research project will be procured in the near future. Defra will aim to review the code of good practice by the end of 2008 in the light of research findings and of its impact on snaring practices and results. Following the review of the code, Defra will consider giving it a higher legal status if appropriate. Nothing within the League Against Cruel Sports report changes that position.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs code of practice on the use of snares includes advice on their use on rights of way and on access land. [HL899]

The Defra Code of Good Practice on the Use of Snares in Fox and Rabbit Control includes the following advice:

“Snares must not be set on or near public footpaths, rights of way, near housing and areas regularly used for exercising domestic animals to avoid capturing pets”.

The full code is available from the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/snares/pdf/snares-cop.pdf.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why there was a delay of more than eight weeks between 13 September and 13 November 2002 in ordering essential sets of enhanced combat body armour for troops deployed to Iraq with the result that 2,200 troops were not fully protected, including Sergeant Steven Roberts. [HL1058]

At that time the United Kingdom was deeply involved in diplomatic activity endeavouring to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Iraq and no decision to commit a UK land force to any potential operation had been taken. The judgment was that to place orders for equipment which would have indicated preparations for the deployment of a large land force would have risked undermining this diplomatic effort. In September 2002, early planning suggested that the number of sets of enhanced combat body armour in stock would be sufficient to equip the fighting elements, of which Sergeant Roberts was part.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether principal United Kingdom contractors in the Joint Strike Fighter project have confirmed to them that the arrangements now in place on a government-to-government basis will ensure all necessary access on the part of such contractors to the source codes for the avionics of the aircraft. [HL856]

The UK Government have obtained the required assurances that our operational sovereignty requirements will be met. These assurances are contained in a classified bilateral supplement to the production, sustainment and follow-on development memorandum of understanding which not only covers arrangements for UK Government but provides appropriate access for UK industry in order to execute those elements of the Joint Strike Fighter programme for which they are responsible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many offenders have been released as a result of the provisions of the Belfast agreement 1998; how many of those are loyalist; and how many are republican. [HL1009]

Since 10 April 1998 a total of 450 persons have been released on licence in accordance with the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. Of these, 242 were affiliated to republican organisations, 196 to loyalist organisations and 12 had no particular affiliation.

Important safeguards were built into the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act. Those released under the Act were released on licence conditional on them not supporting a specified organisation; not becoming involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism; and, in the case of a life sentence prisoner, not becoming a danger to the public. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland may suspend a licence and a licensee be returned to prison if he/she is believed to have, or is likely to have, broken all or any of his/her licence conditions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What income support benefits are available for United Kingdom citizens who are (a) under 25; (b) over 25; and (c) married couples; and what income support benefits are available for each child of parents claiming income support benefit. [HL945]

The following are the main income maintenance benefits available to UK citizens:

Under 25—Jobseeker's allowance, income support; incapacity benefit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, and working tax credit if the customer is responsible for a child or is disabled. The appropriate benefit will depend on the individual's circumstances.

Over 25—Jobseeker's allowance, income support, incapacity benefit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, and working tax credit. If the customer is over retirement age they will have access to state pension, pension credit: housing benefit, and council tax benefit. The appropriate benefit will depend on the individual's circumstances.

Married couples—There is no benefit available only to married couples.

Children—Child benefit and child tax credit

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What income support benefits are available for asylum seekers who are (a) under 25; (b) over 25; and (c) married couples; and what income support benefits are available for each child of parents claiming income support benefit. [HL946]

No income support benefits are available to asylum seekers through the Department for Work and Pensions. The 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act provides for a support scheme outside of the social security system for asylum seekers, administered by the Home Office's National Asylum Support Service. The arrangements were introduced from 3 April 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the job description of Mr Phil Taylor, a political adviser in the Northern Ireland Office; and whether he is authorised to issue instructions to senior civil servants including the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. [HL568]

Special advisers in the NIO act in accordance with the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have issued guidance in relation to allegations of bullying of members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service by political advisers.[HL569]

No. Special advisers in the NIO are required to abide by the conduct provisions of the NIO Home Civil Service Staff Handbook and the Civil Service Code.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many political advisers are attached to the Northern Ireland Office; what are the job title and salary of each post; whether the posts are eligible for the award of bonuses; and, if so, how bonuses are calculated. [HL614]

Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall cost of special advisers and the numbers in each pay band. For the most recent information, I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister on Monday 24 July 2006 (Official Report, cols. 87-91 WS).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What detailed information on the locations of BL755 cluster munition strikes, undertaken in Serbia as part of Operation Allied Force, they have made available to the Government of Serbia or to any international humanitarian agencies. [HL963]

I am unaware of any detailed information on BL755 cluster munition strikes, carried out during Operation Allied Force, being passed directly to the Serb Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many appeals have been received under the single farm payment review procedure in 2005 and 2006 respectively; and, of those appeals, (a) how many were dealt with at each stage and what proportion of them was allowed; (b) how many reviews are still outstanding; and (c) what was the average time taken to deal with an appeal. [HL1042]

The figures shown below are as at 3 January 2007 and include only those appeals received in connection with the single payment scheme claims for the 2005-06 scheme year.

The appeal procedure has two stages:

Stage 1: A review by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) customer relations unit.

Stage 2: A review by an independent panel. The panel makes a recommendation to Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, who then decide whether to accept or reject an appeal.

RPA aims to respond to all stage 1 appeals within its published target deadline of 90 days. The figure shown for the average number of days to deal with a stage 1 appeal is based upon the number of days from receipt of the appeal to dispatch of the final response. RPA aims to submit all panel recommendations to Ministers within a published target deadline of 60 days of receiving the stage 2 appeal. The figure shown for the average number of days to deal with a stage 2 appeal is based on the number of days from receipt of the appeal to the date of the Minister's decision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have abandoned their decision set out in paragraph 18 of the Home Office Consultation Paper of December 2005, Reform of the Prevention of Corruption Acts and Serious Fraud Office (SFO) Powers in Cases of Bribery of Foreign Officials, to replace the requirement of the Attorney-General's consent to a prosecution by a power for the Director of the SFO to do so, in view of the SFO's lead role in foreign bribery cases. [HL983]

No, the Government's position concerning the consent for prosecution in corruption cases remains that stated in the Home Office's consultation paper of December 2005. When we reform our corruption laws, we intend to replace this requirement with a requirement for consent to be given by the Director of Public Prosecutions or a nominated deputy and to add a power for consent to be given by the director of the Serious Fraud Office.

Under our existing law, a prosecution under either the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 or Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 requires the consent of the Attorney-General.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures have been introduced to comply with the obligations undertaken by the United Kingdom on ratification of the European Criminal Law Convention on Corruption to grant specialised authorities fighting corruption the necessary independence in order for them to carry out their functions effectively and free from any undue pressure. [HL984]

The UK is fully compliant with its obligations under the Council of Europe's Criminal Law Convention on Corruption. Article 20 of that convention requires each party to the convention to ensure that specialised authorities in the fight against corruption have the necessary independence to carry out their functions effectively and free from any undue pressure. The objectives of this provision are also replicated in the Guiding Principles on the Fight against Corruption agreed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. No specific new measures were required for the UK to comply with these provisions. Police and prosecution authorities already possess the necessary independence to carry out their functions effectively and free from undue pressure. While under our existing law a prosecution under either the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 or Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 requires the consent of the Attorney-General, the Attorney-General does not exercise his prosecution functions as a member of the Government but as an impartial guardian of the public interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consultation they carried out with industry before deciding to remove the following groups of engineering occupations from the shortage occupation list (a) structural engineers; (b) bridge or highway engineers; (c) transport modeller or transport economist; (d) traffic signal engineer; (e) highways maintenance engineer; and (f) railway planner or engineer. [HL989]

Work Permits (UK) consulted key independent industry stakeholders before making a decision to remove the occupations stated from the national shortage occupation list. The stakeholders, all members of the Engineering Sector Advisory Panel, meet on a quarterly basis to advise Work Permits (UK) on skills shortages in the sector, and make recommendations on changes to the national shortage occupation list on the basis of labour market research.

In July 2006, the panel agreed that there was no evidence of continuing national skills shortages in any of the occupations stated and endorsed the removal of these occupations from the national shortage occupation list. Work Permits (UK) also consulted the Department for Transport before a final decision was taken.

The following organisations were consulted, as members of the Engineering Sector Advisory Panel:

Association for Consultancy and Engineering

CITB Construction Skills

Cogent

Department of Trade and Industry

Energy & Utility Skills

Engineering and Technology Board

Engineering Construction Industry Training Board

Engineering Council UK

Hyder Consulting Ltd

Institution of Chemical Engineers

Institution of Civil Engineers

Institution of Highways and Transportation

Institution of Railway Signal Engineers

Professional Contractors Group

Railway Civil Engineers Association

SEMTA

SummitSkills

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What support the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has given to the Northern Ireland football team in each of the past five years. [HL877]

The Irish Football Association (IFA) is the governing body of soccer in Northern Ireland and responsible for supporting the Northern Ireland football team. The Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI), which is responsible for the development of sport, including the distribution of funding, has provided the following Exchequer funding to the IFA in each of the past five years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many applications under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 have been made to the Northern Ireland Office; how many applications resulted in information; how many applications were refused; and in how many cases a fee was required. [HL670]

Since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into operation on 1 January 2005, until 30 June 2006 the Northern Ireland Office has received a total of 284 requests.

The following information applies for the Northern Ireland Office until 30 June 2006.

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has committed to publishing quarterly updates in relation to departmental performance under FoI, including information on both the volume and outcome of requests. The bulletins up to the 2006 second quarter can be found on the DCA website at www.foi.gov.uk/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm and in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to recent statements about harm to human health from alpha radiation from polonium 210, whether assurances given to sick veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War that alpha radiation from depleted uranium used in the conflict was not harmful to their health are now being reviewed; and what information they have on the extent to which depleted uranium (U238) contains traces of the more dangerous isotopes U235 and U233. [HL807]

The advice that the Government have given to 1990-91 Gulf veterans is consistent with the advice issued by the Royal Society and many other independent expert groups and there are no plans to review this. To address the health concerns of veterans, the independent Depleted Uranium Oversight Board was established to develop a retrospective testing programme for depleted uranium (DU) in the urine of veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict and the Balkans operations. Tests involving several hundred UK veterans have revealed no traces of DU in their urine.

The very low levels of radioactivity of DU are not comparable with the high levels found in polonium 210. Information on the isotopes contained in DU munitions used during the 1990-91 Gulf conflict was set out in another place by the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces (John Spellar) on 7 February 2001 (Official Report, col. 521W). Further information about DU munitions is available on the Ministry of Defence website at www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Healthand Safety/Depleted +Uranium.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who are the external assessors sampling the quality of asylum decisions; and how many cases they examined in each of the past two years. [HL1023]

Samples of asylum decisions are externally assessed by the Treasury Solicitor's Department: 363 decisions were assessed in 2004-05 and 325 decisions were assessed in 2005-06. Additionally, UNHCR assesses a sample of asylum decisions under the Quality Initiative Project. The latest available information is contained in the UNHCR report Quality Initiative—Third Report to the Minister (March 2006) which can be found on the Home Office website at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/unhcr.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In how many cases since 1 May 2006 the Home Office has accepted liability or offered to pay damages to settle a claim for unlawful detention by a person against whom a decision to deport had been made. [HL235]

The Director General of IND, Lin Homer, will be providing both Houses with an update early in the new year on the deportation of foreign national prisoners. This update will include the use of detention and the payment of damages.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assistance is available for asylum applicants whose applications have failed. [HL947]

The International Organisation for Migration provides return and reintegration assistance under the voluntary-assisted returns and reintegration programme for failed asylum seekers making a voluntary return. The Immigration and Nationality Department makes available support and accommodation under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to failed asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute and for whom there is a temporary barrier to leaving the UK. Families who were in receipt of asylum support under Section 95 at the time appeal rights were exhausted normally continue to receive support, while they remain in the UK, until the youngest dependant reaches 18 years of age. Failed asylum seekers who have a need for care and attention due to age, illness or disability and not solely because of destitution may be eligible for support from the local authority under Section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On the latest date for which figures are available, how many of the people detained under immigration legislation in Harmondsworth immigration removal centre for removal or deportation at the time of the disturbances had previously served a sentence for a criminal offence; and whether they will provide for each of those persons their nationality and the length of their detention on the date of the disturbance. [HL647]

The number of people detained in Harmondsworth at the time of the disturbance who had previously served a sentence for a criminal offence was 177. It would be at disproportionate cost to look at each individual case in order to provide the information requested relating to nationality and length of detention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to grant further exceptional and temporary leaves to remain, in respect of asylum applicants in the backlog of cases and for current cases, when it appears that there is no reasonable prospect of return to the country of origin.[HL1025]

Asylum applicants who qualify to enter or remain in the United Kingdom are granted permission to do so. Those who do not qualify have had the benefit of consideration by specialist decision makers and access to the courts. They are expected to leave and are otherwise liable to removal. Applicants who, through no fault of their own, cannot return to their countries of origin have access to support and accommodation until the obstacles to return are removed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they will make to support those in Northern Ireland who have as a native tongue (a) Polish; (b) a Chinese language; (c) Irish; and (d) Ulster-Scots.[HL502]

In respect of those in Northern Ireland who have either Polish or Chinese as their native tongue, all government departments adhere to the Guide to Making Information Accessible, a government-wide document which advises officials on how information should be provided to the public to meet the needs of all those who wish to access services. Northern Ireland government departments will continue to comply fully with the provisions in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which the Government have undertaken to pursue in respect of Irish and Ulster-Scots.

In the St Andrews agreement the Government are committed to introducing an Irish Language Bill reflecting on the experience in Wales and Ireland and to work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the Irish language. A consultation paper on proposed Irish language legislation was published on 13 December.

In the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 the Government have put duties on the Executive of a devolved Government as follows:

the Executive Committee shall adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language; and

the Executive Committee shall adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and develop the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the recent report by the Council of National Parks on the economic significance of national parks in the Yorkshire and Humber region; what is their estimate of additional resources for the national parks identified by this report; and whether they will undertake their own full examination of the economic value of these and other similar sites. [HL857]

I welcome this report as it should reassure those who have suggested that the enormous pleasure our national parks have given to so many people has been at the expense of businesses within them. It shows that, on the contrary, national parks help businesses to prosper, locally and regionally.

We have just announced an increase of £1.12 million in the level of funding Defra provides to the national park authorities and we are currently discussing the forthcoming spending review with the park authorities and stakeholders.

Defra is working towards a more strategic approach to decision and policy making on the natural environment which involves formulating an ecosystems approach for England's terrestrial ecosystems. Research is under way to develop tools and methodologies for valuation of ecosystem services (the broad range of benefits that healthy ecosystems provide to humans), so that their true value can be taken into account in decision-making. This work will help in assessing the overall value of national parks and other protected areas.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is possible for the vote of a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly who has died to be exercised; if so, how; and since when this has been possible. [HL833]

Section 17 of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 provides that the Standing Orders of the Northern Ireland Assembly may include provision enabling a right to vote in the Assembly which could have been exercised but for a vacancy in the membership of the Assembly to be exercisable in such a manner as is so provided.

In relation to the transitional Assembly established by Section 1 of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, Standing Order 17(h) of the Transitional Assembly Standing Orders, provides that where a right to vote could have been exercised but for a vacancy in the membership of the transitional Assembly, the nominating officer (as defined in Standing Order 22(a)) of the party of the member that held the seat on the vacancy occurring shall be entitled to exercise that vote.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What would be the likely size of the final pot in today's terms, including tax relief, with prudent assumptions about investment growth, for a man on median male earnings if he and his employer over 40 years were each to contribute (a) 4 per cent; (b) 5 per cent; (c) 6 per cent; (d) 7 per cent; and (e) 8 per cent into (i) a contracted-in money purchase scheme, and (ii) a contracted-out money purchase scheme; and [HL673]

What would be the likely size of the final pot in today's terms, including tax relief, with prudent assumptions about investment growth, for a woman on median female earnings if she and her employer over 40 years were each to contribute (a) 4 per cent; (b) 5 per cent; (c) 6 per cent; (d) 7 per cent; and (e) 8 per cent into (i) a contracted-in money purchase scheme, and (ii) a contracted-out money purchase scheme. [HL674]

The information is in the tables.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the extent to which the implementation of the cross-regional information sharing project is stalling the final implementation of the IMPACT programme recommended by the Bichard inquiry. [HL258]

The cross-regional information sharing project (IMPACT CRISP) is an important step in the modular and incremental approach we are taking to the delivery of new information sharing services to the police and partner agencies. It will provide the police service with a new capability to access information held in other forces' local systems much more quickly than would otherwise have been possible. It will also assist in the delivery of the police national database (PND) by introducing a new common data schema, enabling forces to contribute their data for sharing and helping forces identify the business process changes they need to introduce in order to make the best use of the new information- sharing capabilities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of all guidance, circulars or instructions issued during 2006 concerning (a) the release of foreign prisoners on completion of the custodial part of their sentence or on licence; (b) the redetention under immigration laws of foreign nationals who had previously been released from prison; and (c) the identification of prisoners who are foreign or liable to be deported. [HL234]

The following guidance has been published concerning the release and detention of foreign national prisoners and is accessible via the internet:

Prison Service Order 4630: Immigration and Foreign Nationals in Prisons (http://pso.hmprisonservice .gov.uk/PSO_4630_immigration_and_foreign_ nationals.doc)

Chapter 13 of the Immigration Directorate Instructions (http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/idischapter13/)

The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20061003.htm).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether in the interim period before the letting of a new franchise for the east coast main line there will be any significant changes to the timetable and services to passengers; and whether the programme of refurbishment and upgrading of the InterCity 125 diesel trains which operate on that service will continue as planned. [HL997]

The only significant changes to the timetable and services to passengers in the interim period before the letting of the new franchise for the east coast main line will be, subject to Office of the Rail Regulator approval, the introduction of a new half hourly Leeds-London service from May 2007.

For passengers and staff, this means that services will continue to operate as usual, tickets will be valid and passengers can book and reserve tickets in exactly the same way they do today.

The HST (high-speed train, Class 125) refurbishment programme is ongoing and will continue under the management contract.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the average expenditure per pupil in age groups four to seven, eight to 11, 12 to 16, and 16 plus in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. [HL762]

The department is unable to provide the information requested for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as the figures are not comparable. Expenditure on pupils by age is not collected but the table below provides the available information for England:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether education and library boards in Northern Ireland are entitled to adopt statements assessed by local education authorities in England and Wales. [HL779]

Education and library boards in Northern Ireland are not entitled to adopt statements assessed by local education authorities in England and Wales when considering a statutory assessment for a child resident in Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Oakhill secure training centre in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL1027]

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Hassockfield secure training centre in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL1028]

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Medway secure training centre in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL1029]

On how many occasions strip searching involving physical restraint occurred at Ravensbrook secure training centre in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. [HL1030]

The Youth Justice Board informs me that no strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at any of the secure training centres during this period.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can demonstrate with proven statistics that the current use of Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time produces better conditions in winter for athletes in training and for the reduction of obesity in children than would the lighter afternoons and evenings which would be created by single/double summer time. [HL972]

The Government are not aware of any proven statistics which show that the use of Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour produces better conditions in winter for athletes in training and for the reduction of childhood obesity than by a move to single/double summer time.

However, changing to single/double summer time would create lighter evenings throughout the year and increase the opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can demonstrate with proven statistics from the national grid that the current use of Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time during the winter months generates less carbon emissions than would be generated if the country switched to the lighter afternoons and evenings regime of single/double summer time. [HL973]

Work undertaken by the Building Research Establishment for Defra indicates that putting clocks in the UK forward an additional one hour in winter and summer (ie summer time in winter and double summer time in summer to match Central European Time) would lead to a net increase in carbon dioxide emissions corresponding to around 1 per cent of total UK emissions of carbon dioxide, as a result of increased energy consumption in UK buildings for lighting, space heating and cooling. The study also shows that a switch to British Summer Time all the year round would increase emissions by just under 0.5 per cent. The study was based on modelling patterns of energy use in the UK building stock. The Government have not commissioned any study on this subject based on national grid statistics.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 13 December (WA 213) concerning a police presence at Stormont Parliament buildings, who took the decision not to have police at the current sittings of the transitional Northern Ireland Assembly. [HL920]

Arrangements for a police presence at Parliament Buildings on sitting days of the transitional Assembly have been agreed between the Speaker and the Chief Constable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will discuss with the Government of the Republic of Ireland and Tourism Ireland changes in visa regulations to end the requirement for separate visas issued in the country of origin so that visitors to the United Kingdom from nations such as India may also visit the Republic of Ireland, and vice versa. [HL428]

HMG regularly discuss means of improving the operation of the common travel area with Ireland, including greater co-operation on visas.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Lancaster Farm young offender institution in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL965]

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Stoke Heath young offender institution in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL966]

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Thorn Cross young offender institution in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL967]

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Warren Hill young offender institution in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL968]

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Werrington young offender institution in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November; and [HL969]

On how many occasions strip-searching involving physical restraint occurred at Wetherby young offender institution in relation to, respectively, male and female clients during each of the 12 months prior to 1 November. [HL970]

The available information is set out in the table below and shows the number of times strip-searches were undertaken using approved control and restraint techniques in the 12 months prior to 1 November. All the establishments hold male young offenders only.