asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action is proposed for restructuring the Eurofighter/Typhoon four-nation partnership; and what effect such changes will have on the date of introduction into service of a variant optimised in the air-to-ground role. [HL379]

The four Typhoon partner nations are at the final stages of agreeing a future capability programme with industry which will introduce a full air-to-surface capability. The contractual terms and conditions for this programme will drive improvements to the Typhoon programme through:

greater empowerment of Eurofighter GmbH;

risk sharing across the four Eurofighter partner companies; and

incentivised performance objectives.

We are also working with our partner nations to establish a new through-life capability management model across all nations to assist industry's future planning.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In light of the Enabling Acquisition Change study and the decision by the Defence Academy Policy Board to develop the role of the Defence College of Management and Technology, what progress has been made towards ensuring the coherent delivery of acquisition training across the Ministry of Defence. [HL1129]

In response to the Enabling Acquisition Change study and the Defence industrial strategy, the Defence College of Management of Technology (DCMT), within the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, has been designated as the lead establishment for acquisition education and training. Accordingly, the DCMT is taking an active role in helping to develop new training and education as part of the people skills and behaviours workstream of the defence acquisition change programme.

In order to bring greater coherence to acquisition training and education delivery, the Defence Procurement Agency and Defence Logistics Organisation training delivery organisations, to be known together as Defence Acquisition Learning, will join the DCMT with effect from 1 April 2007. Governance arrangements are being established, including an acquisition learning customer board, with a view to ensuring that the training and education provided is coherent and meets the needs of the MoD in the most efficient and effective manner. Furthermore, the DCMT is engaged with industry in the provision of education and training in areas of common interest, including acquisition.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the recommendations in the published findings of the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in March 2003, whether changes have now been made in the annual individual training of members of the Armed Forces to ensure that they are aware of the ballistic qualities of high-velocity ballistic plates issued as part of enhanced combat body armour; and [HL1011]

Further to the recommendations in the published findings of the board of inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts in March 2003, what steps have been taken to ensure that training establishments and units of the Armed Forces are educated in the importance of issuing to troops correctly fitting enhanced combat body armour. [HL1016]

Service personnel and those manning unit quartermasters' departments are frequently reminded of the need to ensure that that all issued equipment and clothing is correctly fitted, sized and serviceable in order to maintain the operational effectiveness of the individual wearing it, including enhanced combat body armour (ECBA) and other forms of body armour.

All soldiers deploying on operations to Iraq and Afghanistan are provided with ECBA, as a minimum level of protection. As a consequence, all Army personnel will utilise ECBA during the various phases of their pre-operational training, a part of which ensures that soldiers are educated in the ballistic capability of the high-velocity plates as well as the importance of the correct sizing and fitting of ECBA.

In addition, it is mandated that ECBA is worn by all personnel undertaking live fire tactical training exercises. During this training the ballistic capabilities of ECBA and requirement for its correct fitting are again emphasised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What number and percentage of those in receipt of incapacity benefit, but not middle or higher rate disability living allowance, are estimated to receive care for 20 hours or more a week; and what is the estimated net annual cost of awarding a credit to the carers of such people in (a) 2020, and (b) 2030; and [HL604]

What number and percentage of those on lower rate disability living allowance are estimated to receive care for more than 20 hours a week; and what is the estimated net annual cost of awarding a credit to the carers of such people in (a) 2020, and (b) 2030; and [HL605]

What number and percentage of those in receipt of incapacity benefit and lower rate disability living allowance, but not middle or higher rate disability living allowance, and who receive care for 20 hours or more a week receive those benefits because they suffer from mental ill health. [HL606]

The information is not available in the format requested. The information available is set out below.

Estimates from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) 2004-05 indicate that approximately 100,000 people are in receipt of incapacity benefit, but not the middle or higher rate care component of disability living allowance, and are receiving care for 20 hours or more a week.

These data also suggest that approximately 300,000 people are receiving the lower rate of disability living allowance and are receiving care for 20 hours or more a week.

The FRS does not allow all these people to be matched to the people providing care, some of whom will qualify for the basic state pension and state second pension.

Further, the FRS does not allow us to identify reasons for the receipt of benefits.

Information from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) shows the number and proportion of people who are receiving incapacity benefit and the lower rate of disability living allowance because they suffer from mental ill health. There are around 366,000 people in receipt of incapacity benefits with the lower rate of disability living allowance. Of these, around 108,000 are receiving incapacity benefits due to mental and behavioural disorders (at May 2006). The WPLS does not hold information about people receiving care for 20 hours or more a week.

(The Pensions Bill, introduced on 28 November 2006, will help more people build up better state pensions. Around three-quarters of women reaching state pension age in 2010 will get full basic state pension under the Bill, rising to over 90 per cent by 2025. The Bill will also allow around 1 million extra people (over 90 per cent of whom are women) to accrue entitlement to the state second pension.)

Notes for information from the Family Resources Survey

1. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 100,000, and are based on self-reported information.

2. Information from the Family Resources Survey relates to a point in time, so may not be representative of activity during the year.

3. People who are receiving incapacity benefit and lower rate disability allowance and receive care for 20 or more hours a week may appear in both estimates from the FRS.

4. The Family Resources Survey does not record information on individuals in retirement homes or nursing homes.

Notes for information from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

2. DLA cases are defined as cases in payment.

3. Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, published by the World Health Organisation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 8 January (WA 13–14) concerning British overseas citizens of Nepalese origin, why the British consulate-general in Hong Kong requires each applicant to obtain an individual letter stating whether the person has ever held Nepalese nationality when (i) they are aware that the Nepalese consul-general in Hong Kong is unwilling or unable to issue such letters, and (ii) the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have already had discussions and correspondence with the Nepalese authorities in Kathmandu, the outcome of which would enable them to determine, to the standard of proof required for civil matters, whether or not a person was a citizen of Nepal. [HL1168]

Regardless of ethnicity, an individual applying for their first British overseas citizen passport, or to register as a British citizen under Section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981, must prove that they are otherwise stateless. At a recent informal meeting between British consular staff and their Nepalese counterparts in Hong Kong, the Nepalese took the view that those with Nepalese passports and holding Nepalese citizenship cards were Nepalese citizens. Letters stating otherwise could not, therefore, be issued. However, once the provisions of the British Nationality Act and their implications under Nepalese law in relation to dual nationality were explained further, the Nepalese undertook to revert to Kathmandu for further advice.

We are still awaiting confirmation from the Nepalese authorities that a note of the recent meeting in Kathmandu prepared by us accurately records the Nepalese position.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make available to United Kingdom secondary schools copies of the audio-visual presentations made by former United States Vice-President Al Gore on climate change. [HL1187]

Al Gore's audio-visual presentation on climate change is available to all secondary schools via the sustainable schools area of the Teachernet website (www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools).

The department's aim is for all schools in England to be sustainable schools by 2020. One of the aims of the sustainable schools programme is to embed sustainable development and associated issues like climate change throughout the curriculum. This academic year is a year of action to help schools become sustainable. The department is working with partners to develop a range of resources such as a pupil detective kit and teacher resource pack. This follows on from the sustainable schools consultation of May 2005 and the government response published in December 2005.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What increase they expect in the production of renewable electricity as a result of paragraph 8 of their Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy. [HL1020]

The Written Ministerial Statement of 8 June 2006 on planning policy statement 22 (PPS22) encouraged local planning authorities to take account fully of the positive approach to renewables set out in PPS22, including in paragraph 8. In doing so, the Government made clear that all planning authorities are expected to include policies in their development plans that require a percentage of the energy in new developments to come from on-site renewables where it is viable. Appropriate technologies and their potential will, however, vary from place to place and with the type and scale of development envisaged. Actual production of renewable energy will vary according to the level of energy need arsing in the developments in question. It is, therefore, extremely hard to forecast with any accuracy the production of renewable energy to be expected from paragraph 8of PPS22.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is within the public sector continuing expenditure in respect of the Outline National Changeover Plan in preparation for entry into European monetary union. [HL1198]

The third Outline National Changeover Plan (oNCP3) was published in June 2003 and provides a comprehensive statement of how the Government would manage a UK changeover. This document and other central planning documents for a possible euro changeover are available on the Treasury's euro website (www.euro.gov.uk). The Euro Preparations Unit in the Treasury focuses on maintaining these documents and a network of expert stakeholders from all sectors. Costs are met from within the Treasury's departmental expenditure limit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to alleviate flooding in Queen Elizabeth Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. [HL1142]

The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated January 2007.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about what proposals they have to alleviate flooding in Queen Elizabeth Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

As you may be aware, the Department for Social Development funded a scheme to provide a new boulevard along Queen Elizabeth Road in 2006. During construction, improved drainage was incorporated into the scheme and a new surface on the road was provided by Roads Service at the conclusion of the works.

I am advised that since completion of the scheme, there have been some isolated incidents of water ponding on the roadway caused by leaves covering gulley gratings. However, I have been informed that the problem was resolved by clearing the obstructing leaves and that no further remedial measures are considered necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Truscott on 30 November (WA 79), whether they propose to withdraw the statement that the minutes of the Royal British Legion's Gulf group meeting held on 5 September misrecorded the group's discussion and were in error, given that the group's members have confirmed that the minutes were a correct record; and whether they will now respond to the original Question; and [HL836]

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Truscott on 30 November (WA 79), what precedents there are for a Minister of the Crown to inform the Royal British Legion (RBL) of an error in the minutes of a meeting of the RBL, or that of another voluntary organisation, without having consulted the organisation, when the minutes were confirmed as a correct record by those who attended; and whether they intend to apologise to the Royal British Legion in this instance. [HL1061]

Officials did not consider that the minutes accurately reflected their statement at the 5 September meeting of the Gulf War Group, but this was remedied under matters arising at the subsequent meeting on 7 December when a further statement was made clarifying any misunderstanding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many qualified student doctors are unable to obtain a position within hospitals. [HL1078]

The department is not aware that any graduates from English medical schools in 2006 who applied for a place on a foundation programme have not been offered training at that level.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment has been made of birth rate trends in London, including the proportion of premature births; and what provision (a) exists, and (b) is planned for improving access to treatment for premature births.[HL509]

It is for primary care trusts and specialised service commissioners to assess the current and likely future health needs of premature babies in their local area and commission appropriate services to meet those needs.

There has been additional investment in neonatal care over the last few years. In London, five neonatal managed clinical networks have been established to provide safe and effective services for mothers and babies. This investment has also helped increase capacity, with the opening of 77 additional neonatal intensive care cots since 2002, and establish a neonatal transfer service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prescriptions have been issued for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for (a) children, and (b) adults in each year since 2000. [HL1081]

The information requested is in the table. Data for 2000 are not available on a comparative basis.

Prescription cost analysis data cover all prescription items that were dispensed in the community in England. They do not include items dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

Due to rounding, the sum of the components may not equal the total items.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations the Department of Health's Voluntary and Community Sector Partnership Team have received from the chair of the National Information Forum on Section 64 core funding; and whether the partnership team is now in consultation with the forum about the misunderstanding implicit in their statement that its application appeared “not to be cross-cutting and focused on a specific client group”.[HL752]

We have received a single representation from the National Information Forum appealing the department's rejection of its Section 64 grant application. Under the rules of the Section 64 grant scheme, we are unable to consider individual appeals and have invited the forum to apply again to future grant programmes.

We are responding directly to the National Information Forum to offer it detailed feedback on the reasons for our decision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 19 December (WA 292), whether the lack of provision to meet the needs of persons with severe mental and physical impairment in the Northern Ireland draft planning policy statement of 16 March (PPS14) amounts to discrimination. [HL1113]

While draft planning policy statement 14 does not have any specific policies for persons with severe mental and physical impairment, it is felt that their needs are largely addressed by policy HOU16 (House Extensions) in A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland. This allows for house extensions to provide partially self-contained accommodation for elderly or dependent relatives. Draft PPS14 and its equality impact assessment have been subject to consultation and this issue will be reconsidered in the preparation of the final policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 19 December (WA 292), whether exclusive reliance on policy HOU16 (House Extensions) of A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland inhibits persons with severe mental or physical impairment from achieving maximum potential independence. [HL1114]

Policy HOU16 (House Extensions) allows for house extensions to provide partially self-contained accommodation for elderly or dependent relatives. Exclusive reliance is not placed on this policy as the Planning Service is required to assess planning applications fully against all relevant plans and policies. This issue has been raised in the consultation on draft PPS14 and will be reconsidered in the preparation of the final policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the Government of Israel's denial of any plans to launch a nuclear strike on Iran, in the context of the negotiations sponsored by the EU3 (France, Germany and the United Kingdom) and the United Nations Security Council, which rules out military action. [HL1250]

We, along with the rest of the international community, are deeply concerned by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737, adopted by consensus on 23 December 2006, makes clear that Security Council members support a negotiated solution. We are working hard to achieve this. A spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed on 6 January that Israel too, “prefers this issue to be resolved through diplomatic channels”.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

On what basis and on whose authority the terms under which former civil servants of the Republic of Ireland who work in the United Kingdom in implementation bodies are decided; and whether details of such terms will be placed in the Library of the House. [HL922]

Former civil servants of the Republic of Ireland employed in north/south implementation bodies are either (i) those who were designated and transferred on the basis and under the terms provided for in Part 7, paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3, of the international agreement done on 8 March 1999 establishing the bodies and the relevant enabling legislation (the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 in the Republic of Ireland and the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999), or (ii) those who were recruited directly to the body and to whom the normal terms and conditions of the body, as approved by the NSMC, apply, as they would to any applicant who is employed through open competition. On this latter point, the relevant NSMC approval was given on 26 September 2000 and terms are attached in the following table.

Terms applying to direct recruits to bodies in Northern Ireland.

The terms (including remuneration) which apply to staff of the bodies are based on those pertaining within the civil services, north and south, depending on the jurisdiction where the post is located.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they propose to take to tackle obesity in young people. [HL1230]

Childhood obesity is a serious issue, both in terms of the range of health problems it is associated with and the cost burden it places on the NHS and the UK economy.

To tackle this problem, the Government have set a public service agreement target,

“to halt, by 2010, the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as whole”.

This target is the joint responsibility of the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

There is no single cause of obesity but at its core is an imbalance between calories in and calories out. As such, there is no one intervention for obesity and a wide variety of government programmes make a valuable contribution to tackling it. Joint cross-departmental programme management arrangements have been established to drive action to meet this target which will be delivered using a three-tiered approach:

universal programmes aimed at prevention;

early intervention for those at risk of being overweight/obese; and

targeted health interventions for those already obese.

The first tier comprises universal programmes aimed at reversing obesity trends and creating a positive environment for healthy eating and physical activity. Policy initiatives within this tier include the Healthy Schools programme, the “5 a Day” campaign, the Healthy Start scheme, the school fruit and vegetable scheme, statutory nutritional standards for food in schools, restrictions on the advertising and food promotion to children of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, increasing the amount of time pupils spend on high-quality PE and school sport, and encouraging walking and cycling to school through school travel plans and walking-bus schemes.

The second tier comprises early interventions targeted at groups of children (and their parents) at higher risk of being overweight and obese. For example, we will be working with school sports partnerships in areas of higher obesity prevalence to engage overweight/obese children in physical activity, and we have agreed in principle an objective with the School Food Trust to similarly target some of their activity.

The third tier comprises public health treatment interventions specifically aimed at helping obese children and families to lose weight and become healthier. We will be working with PCTs, local authorities, schools and other delivery partners to ensure that recommendations from the new clinical guidance on the treatment of obesity, published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in December last year, are developed and incorporated in our approach.

In the spring we will be launching a social marketing campaign aimed at influencing behaviour change in parents and encouraging them to build healthier lifestyles for their children and families.

Fundamental to the success of the programme will be the need to work in partnership with public bodies, the private sector, individuals and families (notably children and parents), and ensure obesity interventions are based on the best available evidence using an action-learning approach.

Obesity is now included as a performance management indicator within the performance management framework for PCTs, and we are encouraging local authorities to include measures to reduce childhood obesity in their local area agreements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they propose to add Opus Dei to the notifiable membership list under Section 51(5) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, within the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [HL1008]

The notifiable membership list is a matter for the chief constable. The list is renewable annually and does not currently specify Opus Dei.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussion they had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland about the proposal to extend the railway line from Coleraine to Londonderry to Letterkenny in Donegal. [HL1277]

There has been no discussion with the Government of the Republic of Ireland about any proposal to extend the railway line from Coleraine to Londonderry to Letterkenny in Donegal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent abnormal loads on motorways are restricted to night-time travel only; and what night-time movement of abnormal loads on motorways has taken place during 2005 and 2006; and [HL1182]

What proportion of abnormal loads on motorways are escorted by the police; and, of these, what proportion took place in (a) daylight, and (b) at night. [HL1183]

Information about the proportion of abnormal loads on motorways that are escorted by the police is not available.

The number of abnormal loads escorted by the police has reduced significantly since the introduction of self-escorting in 2004, following recommendations by the Policing Bureaucracy Taskforce. The police continue to provide escorting services for a relatively small number of the largest and heaviest abnormal loads in circumstances when traffic control is required.

Information relating to the number of night-time abnormal load moves that have taken place in 2005 and 2006 is not available.

The Highways Agency grants permission for the largest and heaviest loads to move after consultation with the police, highway authorities and other appropriate bodies. In these cases, consideration is given to the movement of abnormal loads at night provided it is safe to do so and where possible to minimise congestion. Network conditions and planned roadworks are considered alongside other relevant factors.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to introduce traffic-calming measures on the connecting roads between the Belmont and the Upper Newtownards roads in Belfast. [HL1144]

The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated January 2007.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about what plans they have to introduce traffic-calming measures on the connecting roads between the Belmont and Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

I can advise that in recent years Roads Service has carried out assessments on the following roads, which run between Belmont Road and Upper Newtownards Road, to help determine the need to introduce traffic-calming measures: Wandsworth Road; Earlswood Road; Belmont Church Road; and Ormiston Crescent.

At Wandsworth Road, the assessment produced a score sufficient to warrant the inclusion of a scheme in the 2004-05 traffic-calming programme of works. However, Roads Service received a petition, representing a significant number of residents of the road, objecting to the proposed measures. Given the level of opposition, it was considered unlikely that the legislative process could be completed without recourse to a public inquiry, which, as you will appreciate, would require considerable input from Roads Service staff and would compromise the ability to deliver traffic-calming schemes in other areas. In these circumstances, it was decided to target our limited resources for this type of work to sites where the greatest benefits could be achieved in terms of the successful implementation of a traffic-calming scheme.

In Earlswood Road and Belmont Church Road, scores from assessments were sufficient to merit the inclusion of schemes in the current traffic-calming programme of works and I am informed that initial residents' consultation has been completed and the legislative process has commenced. However, I understand that a number of objections to the proposals have been received and that these are currently being addressed.

An initial assessment of Ormiston Crescent has indicated that a traffic-calming scheme at this location would not be highly placed compared with other sites on the traffic-calming programme and other sites waiting to be treated. While Roads Service has no plans to construct traffic-calming measures at this site at present, it will continue to be considered for possible inclusion in future programmes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to improve traffic flow through Dungiven in County Londonderry. [HL1227]

The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated January 2007.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question regarding what plans they have to improve traffic flow through Dungiven in County Londonderry. As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

As you may be aware, on 13 December 2005, the Secretary of State announced that a £250 million scheme to dual the A6 between Londonderry and Dungiven was being added to the major roadworks forward planning schedule. This 30 kilometre dualling scheme, which will include a bypass of Dungiven, will be the biggest single road scheme ever built in Northern Ireland.

Roads Service had already commissioned consultants to identify a corridor for the future dualling of the A6 between Castledawson and Londonderry and it is envisaged that this study, which will be completed shortly, will inform the development of the A6 Londonderry to Dungiven section.

The bypass of Dungiven will greatly improve journey times on this route and will undoubtedly improve traffic flow through the town. While it will be several years before all the statutory procedures are completed, it is hoped that construction of the scheme will commence in the latter half of the regional strategic transport network transport plan 2015 period, ie between 2010 and 2015.

In the mean time, Roads Service will enforce parking restrictions in Dungiven to improve traffic flow and will continue to consider other methods of safely improving traffic flow.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have proposals to build a bypass around Enniskillen in County Fermanagh; and, if so, what they are. [HL1226]

The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated January 2007.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about whether they have proposals to build a bypass around Enniskillen in County Fermanagh; and, if so, what they are. As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

I am pleased to advise that a proposal for a 3.2 kilometre-long single carriageway bypass to the south of Enniskillen was included in the consultation document Expanding the Strategic Road Improvement Programme (ESRIP). The consultation period for this £400 million package of major road upgrades ran for a nine-week period, closing on 29 September 2006. In excess of 80 responses were received and, while analysis of the feedback is ongoing, I can advise that it included support for the A4 Enniskillen southern bypass.

The expanded programme is part of the investment strategy for Northern Ireland, which envisages the additional funding to be available towards the end of the period between now and 2015. Once the ESRIP is finalised, each scheme will be progressed on a measure-by-measure basis, subject to detailed economic appraisal, clearing the relevant statutory procedures and the availability of funds through the normal budgetary processes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the South Eastern Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland adopted a statement of special educational needs originally prepared by a local education authority in England or Wales; if so, when it was adopted; and what is that statement. [HL778]

The Department of Education has been advised by the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) that it has not adopted a statement of special educational needs originally prepared by a local education authority in England or Wales.

The SEELB would, however, take account of individual circumstances and use its discretion in individual cases to ensure that appropriate provision is made for children with acute needs pending the outcome of a statutory assessment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to enhance and extend the sewerage arrangements at Springfield, County Fermanagh. [HL1141]

The chief executive of Water Service (Mrs Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.

Letter from Mrs Katharine Bryan to Lord Laird dated January 2007.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about what plans they have to enhance and extend the sewerage arrangements at Springfield, County Fermanagh (NIO) HL1141. I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Water Service.

An assessment of the cost of a scheme to extend the sewerage system in Springfield to cater for residents not currently served was carried out in October 2002. This indicated that such a scheme would not be economically feasible given the limited number of residents that would benefit. The position remains unchanged and Water Service has currently no plans to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment works or to extend the sewerage network at Springfield. Water Service will reconsider the position in the light of any proposals for significant development in the area. However, to date, no firm development proposals have been received.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will implement undertakings given in their response to recommendation 20 of the ninth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life by investigating the statements regarding Members of Parliament made by HM Treasury special adviser Damian McBride. [HL1257]

Both the Ministerial Code and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers have been amended to incorporate commitments given by the Government in their response to the ninth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. All Treasury members of staff are expected to follow the relevant codes of conduct for their employment, but it would not be appropriate to discuss individual cases.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people committed suicide while in legal custody in Northern Ireland during 1981. [HL1063]

The number of suicides in police custody in Northern Ireland in 1981 cannot be provided because to do so could be done only at disproportionate cost. This is because to collate this information would involve making a request to each of the 29 district command units asking for a trawl of any manual records held. Therefore we are unable to supply the information requested.

The PSNI now records “deaths in custody” electronically. However, a verdict of suicide can be determined only at an inquest.

For the figure of suicides in prison custody each year since 1980, I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I provided on 31 October 2006. In addition, 10 individuals died in custody following a hunger strike in 1981.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is a conflict of interest between Mr Michael Grade's continuing duties as former chairman of the BBC and his new duties as chairman of ITV, notably in relation to the negotiation of the BBC's licence fee. [HL555]

Mr Grade resigned as chairman of the BBC with immediate effect. Since then he has not played, and will not play, any further role in relation to the licence fee settlement. Whether his new role at ITV gives rise to concern about compliance with residual duties he may owe to the BBC, and if so how it should be addressed, is a matter for the BBC.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much the Department for Transport has given to each local transport authority in England in one-off grants in each of the last five years. [HL1309]

Most support for transport is provided to local authorities in England through revenue support grant, although the Department for Transport also provides a few specific grants. The main grant determinations are posted on the department's website.

Several of these grants, for example rural bus grant, provide continuing rather than single-year support. Some support for specific major investments is made by allowing sufficient provision within revenue support grant to enable the authority to borrow. There is thus no clear category of one-off grants.

The department's annual reports summarise the support it has provided to local authorities: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/page/dft_about_611668.hcsp.

Substantial grants, together with provisions affecting revenue support grant, include:

the local transport capital settlement

(www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/divisionhomepage/032393.hcsp). These are listed by authority in the Answer to an earlier Question tabled by the noble Lord and a document was placed in the Libraries of the House on 18 January 2006 (PQ2957 05/06)

road safety grant

(www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_614061.pdf)

rural bus subsidy grant

(www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/paqe/dft_localtrans_610994.hcsp)

Kickstart

(www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/page/dft_localtrans_610191.hcsp)

maintenance of detrunked roads

(www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_611492.hcsp)

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Rooker on 19 December (WA 310), whether, in light of the one prosecution in response to 41 infringements of tree preservation orders in a three-year period, they remain committed to environmental protection. [HL1115]

My department is committed to environmental protection and while only one prosecution arose from the 41 tree preservation order enforcement cases opened, in the majority of cases resolution was achieved by appropriate replacement planting, thus achieving the objectives of the original orders, and a number of other reported breaches turned out to be routine permitted maintenance.