asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will update the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit's £20 billion estimate of the cost of alcohol harm in 2001, published as an interim analytical report in September 2003.[HL1401]

There are currently no plans to update this figure. The Cabinet Office's interim analytical report involved detailed analysis which would not be practical or useful to replicate on an annual basis. Analysis of local harm-related data is of more practical value in helping local services to determine priorities and develop an effective strategic response. The Government are committed to reviewing the alcohol harm reduction strategy in 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have undertaken any assessment of the likely impact of changes brought about as a result of the Defence Industrial Strategy on current procurement programmes; and what measures have been put in place to reduce any identified impacts. [HL1128]

The aim of the defence industrial strategy (DIS) is to improve the MoD's procurement activity and ensure that the capability requirements of our Armed Forces are met. We continue to monitor the implementation of the DIS and are confident that it will have a positive impact on current procurement programmes as well as future programmes.

Examples of where the DIS is already having a positive impact include: a strategic partnership with AgustaWestland which will ensure greater availability of helicopters; the formation of the Defence Equipment & Support organisation which will deliver through-life capability management within the MoD's acquisition community; and the appointment of the defence commercial director, who will shape MoD relationships with industry.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will withdraw their reservation to Article 22 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child affecting immigration and nationality law. [HL1562]

As the Government have said on previous occasions, we believe that without this reservation the interpretation of the UNCRC might come into conflict with the UK's own domestic legislation on immigration. For this reason we think that it is right to retain the reservation as presently worded. The retention of the reservation, however, does not mean that vulnerable children do not have the protection of the UK's own laws. We are satisfied that asylum-seeking children in the UK receive adequate care, protection and support. In addition, domestic legislation also provides protection under the Human Rights Act and the Children Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received an invitation from the Government of Norway to a meeting in Oslo on 22 and 23 February to discuss the prohibition of cluster munitions; and, if so, what is their response to the invitation.[HL1416]

The UK has received an invitation from the Norwegian Government to a meeting in Oslo on cluster munitions and we will participate. The UK's permanent representative to the Conference on Disarmament will lead a team of senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Scottish Executive have the power to require Scottish civil servants to draw up a White Paper on any change of the current constitutional arrangements within the United Kingdom; and, if so, under what statutory provision.[HL1447]

Scottish Ministers may act only in accordance with the powers devolved to them by the Scotland Act 1998. Any matter affecting the constitutional framework of the United Kingdom is a reserved policy area in terms of paragraph 1 in Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the 1998 Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Sinn Fein was consulted about the decision to disband the Asset Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland; if so; when and what was the result. [HL1382]

No political party was consulted about the Government's plans to merge the Assets Recovery Agency and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in advance of the Written Statement on 11 January (Official Report, Commons 11/01/07, col. 21WS).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people have died since 1963 at the hands of persons previously convicted of homicide. [HL1197]

Between 1963 and 2004-05 a total of 111 persons in England and Wales are known to have been killed by persons who have been previously convicted of homicide.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Triesman on 8 January (WA 17–8), whether, in light of the continued isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community, the United Kingdom is meeting its obligations as a signatory of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. [HL1582]

As a guarantor power, an EU partner, and UN Security Council member, the UK continues to work for progress towards a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus which would be of benefit to all Cypriots. We continue to support the EU initiatives aimed at ending the isolation described in the reply I gave to the noble Lord on 4 December 2006 (Official Report, cols. WA92-93). Our efforts in support of a settlement and those in pursuit of lifting the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots are mutually reinforcing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the number of Turkish Cypriots who have been forced from their home as economic migrants since 1974. [HL1581]

We have not made such an assessment. The economic situation of ordinary Turkish Cypriots has improved significantly over the past five years. However, as the World Bank report on north Cyprus recognises, the economy of north Cyprus remains underdeveloped, with only very limited opportunities to trade with the outside world. This lack of legitimate economic outlets encourages an unhealthy focus on uncontrolled construction, much of it on Greek Cypriot property, and closer integration with the Turkish economy. We therefore support the German presidency's efforts with all concerned to enable preferential trade between north Cyprus and the EU. This will facilitate a settlement by promoting convergence of living standards on the island and by bringing the Turkish Cypriots closer to the EU.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current status of the proposed European Union battlegroups.[HL1407]

EU battlegroups have been on standby since January 2005. Since January 2007, EU battlegroups have been at full operational capability. This means that two battlegroups will be on standby for each six-month period of the battlegroup roster, which currently runs until 2010. Offers are already being received for the period beyond the current roster.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many times they have over-ridden the scrutiny reserve of (a) the House of Commons European Scrutiny Select Committee; and (b) the House of Lords European Union Select Committee; and whether they will provide a list of the proposals thus enacted in each case.[HL1409]

The table below provides information on the number of over-rides in each House since the Government began sending twice-yearly lists to the chairmen of the House of Lords European Union Committee and the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee. The House of Lords European Union Committee has commented on the lists in each of its three annual reports since 2004. Figures for the second half of 2006 are currently being compiled and will be sent to the committees shortly.

I am unable to provide a list of the proposals enacted in each case as this would incur disproportionate cost because officials would need to consult the correspondence between the lead Minister and the chairman of the committee to supply the noble Lord with this information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assistance is available to people wishing to buy homes on the basis of shared ownership.[HL1438]

The Government expect more than 160,000 households to access home ownership through private or public shared equity schemes by 2010—doubling original plans.

There are currently three shared equity ownership products:

Open Market HomeBuy—allows the purchaser to choose a home on the open market, which they purchase with the help of an equity loan, alongside a conventional mortgage. Half of the equity loan is provided by their mortgage provider and half by Government. Both equity loans are free from all charges for the first five years;

New Build HomeBuy (including the first time buyers initiative)—helps the purchaser to buy a share in a new build property, while paying rent on the unowned share; and

Social HomeBuy—enabling local authority and housing association tenants to buy a share in the property in which they currently live, starting at 25 per cent.

New Build and Open Market HomeBuy are open to social tenants, those on housing waiting lists, key workers, and other first time buyers identified as priorities by regional housing boards (RHBs).

Since October 2006, four mortgage lenders (Halifax, Nationwide and Yorkshire Building Societies and Advantage) have jointly funded equity loans for Open Market HomeBuy. This will enable government funding to help twice as many households.

Across the country, 23 new “HomeBuy Agents” are providing a one-stop shop on low-cost home ownership opportunities in their area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many detainees at immigration detention centres have been moved more than once between centres since 2004. [HL1573]

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only by examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many cases of mental illnesses have been diagnosed among detainees at the Immigration Service removal centres since 2002. [HL1572]

Records of cases where mental illness has been diagnosed are not held centrally. Under the terms of the detention centre rules 2001, detainees are required to be assessed by a doctor with a view to identifying significant mental and physical health needs. The doctor is required to bring to the attention of the centre manager those cases where the doctor's view is that detention should not continue. Such information is brought to the attention of the relevant case holder, who would make a decision on whether detention should cease.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they plan to review their visa policy for business people and students with S1 visas for entry to Iraq. [HL388]

There are no plans to review the policy on acceptance of Iraqi S-series passports for travel to the United Kingdom, including where these are held by business people or students.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made any recent representations to the Government of Israel concerning the detained Palestinian parliamentarians. [HL1593]

We support the call at the 22 January General Affairs and External Relations Council for the immediate release of Palestinian Ministers and legislators detained in Israel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel on issues concerning permanent family reunification, both within the recognised frontiers of Israel and within the West Bank and Gaza; and what impact progress on such issues would have on the wider peace process. [HL1595]

We are concerned at the effect the Citizenship and. Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) 2003. The law prevents the granting of residency status in Israel to most Palestinians from the Occupied Territories. The emergency order on which the current law is based expired on 16 January, but it has been extended for a further two months. In January 2007, an Israeli non-governmental organisation filed a petition to the Israeli High Court against the order. We also understand that the Government of Israel are considering new legislation dealing with this issue. We will continue to monitor events.

We are also concerned at Israeli practices which restrict entry into Israel for Palestinians who live outside Israel and the Occupied Territories and are married to Israeli citizens. We will raise our concerns with the Israeli Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made any recent assessment of the expansion of illegal settlements by Israel in the West Bank. [HL1591]

We are concerned about the announcement of new housing units in Ma'aleh Adumim. We share the EU's concern noted in the 22 January General Affairs and External Relations Council about Israel's settlement activities in and around east Jerusalem as well as in the Jordan Valley and support the call for Israel to desist from any action that threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution. The EU will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed by both parties. Settlements are illegal under international law and settlement construction is an obstacle to peace. The road map is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction including the “natural growth” of existing settlements and dismantle all outposts built since 2001. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about settlement activity in the West Bank with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 2 January. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv raised our concerns about Ma'aleh Adumim with the Israeli Government on 17 January.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made any recent representations to the Government of Israel to sign up to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. [HL1592]

I refer the noble Baroness to the answer my noble friend Lady Royall of Blaisdon gave her on 8 January (Official Report, col. WA 30).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the additional costs incurred by the police and ambulance services in areas of high concentration of licensed premises during the first year of operation of the Licensing Act 2003, and of the diversion of funding for these services from other areas of the cities in question.[HL1403]

It is too early to draw any firm conclusions about the impact of licensing reform on crime and disorder and additional demands on the emergency services. The Government plan towards the end of this year to report on their assessment of the impact of the new regime on incidents of crime and disorder.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there are any procedures whereby the United Kingdom and London could withdraw the invitation to host the 2012 Olympic Games; and, if so, what penalties, if any, the International Olympic Committee may impose in such circumstances. [HL1495]

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to London on the basis of the terms of the host city contract signed by the IOC, the Mayor of London (on behalf of the city) and the British Olympic Association, and in reliance on the terms of guarantees given by individuals or bodies who are not parties to the host city contract in support of London's bid. Once a host city is selected and the host city contract is signed, the IOC expects the commitments in the host city contract and those given by third parties by way of guarantee to be honoured.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to meet the costs of the 2012 Olympic Games with money generated by the National Lottery in addition to the £1.5 billion the National Lottery is already contributing. [HL1356]

Discussions are taking place within Government on how to fund the approximately £900 million cost increase identified in evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in another place on 21 November 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consultations they have had with the Big Lottery Fund concerning the meeting of costs of the 2012 Olympic Games with money generated by the National Lottery in addition to the £1.5 billion the National Lottery is already contributing. [HL1357]

There has been no decision at this point to make an additional contribution to the costs of the 2012 Olympic Games and therefore no consultation with the Big Lottery Fund about it. However, Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials regularly meet colleagues at the Big Lottery Fund to discuss financial projections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they will address the loss in funding for voluntary and community groups likely to result from money generated by the National Lottery, in addition to the £1.5 billion it is already contributing, being used instead to meet the costs of the 2012 Olympic Games.[HL1393]

There has been no decision at this point to make an additional contribution to the costs of the 2012 Olympic Games.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many passports were reported lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed in 2006; and how many replacement passports were issued. [HL1350]

In 2006 the Identity and Passport Service processed 290,996 reports of lost and stolen passports. There were 237,879 reports of lost passports, 41,830 stolen, with the balance of 11,287 in the “other” category. Other includes passports reported as damaged or destroyed.

The IPS issued 298,172 replacement passports in 2006. The figure for replacement passports includes those issued to replace lost or stolen documents, but also replacements following a change of name and replacements where the original passport has been damaged but the holder submits the damaged document with the replacement application.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the publicity techniques used by Operation Pentameter have led to a greater flow of information about prostitutes thought to have been trafficked from overseas; and, if not, how they consider that intelligence on this subject should be improved. [HL1235]

As a result of Operation Pentameter, the information flows regarding this type of criminality increased substantially. Monitoring of internet chatrooms revealed concern about trafficking on the part of men who use prostitutes.

The UK Human Trafficking Centre is working with its partners to maintain and increase these information flows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many trafficked children, given leave to remain in the United Kingdom, have been deported on reaching the age of 18 years in each of the past three years; whether efforts were made to ascertain their subsequent well-being; and, if so, with what result. [HL1237]

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) does not hold central records of the number of trafficked children given leave to remain in the United Kingdom (UK) and who have been repatriated/removed on reaching the age of 18.

However the UK operates a system whereby each case is considered on its own individual merits, and it is recognised that some individuals who may have experienced exploitation at the hands of traffickers will need time to recover and reflect on their position and this is why IND will only take a decision to pursue the repatriation of an individual where it is deemed appropriate to do so. In reaching such a decision consideration will be given to our obligations under the immigration laws and European Convention on Human Rights and the unique circumstances of each case including any outstanding applications or appeals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 29 November (WA 63), what discussions they have had with current providers of intelligence systems regarding the delivery of shared police intelligence; and what plans they have for further such consultation; and [HL1435]

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 29 November (WA 63), what assessment they have made of the availability of system providers able to provide the systems necessary for the police national database at a lower cost and shorter timescale than was previously budgeted for; and whether they will review the deadline and budget for the database in the light of this assessment; and [HL1436]

Whether they are aware that the British Transport Police already shares intelligence with 14 organisations including 12 police forces; and whether they have considered expanding their shared intelligence system to meet the recommendations of the Bichard inquiry report.[HL1437]

The IMPACT programme has engaged regularly with potential providers of systems for sharing information between police forces and with partner agencies. This includes firms that have provided intelligence systems. The programme is currently in competitive dialogue under the EU procurement procedures with six suppliers which have been shortlisted for hosting and supporting the IMPACT CRISP solution. The programme plans to hold informal discussions with a selection of potential suppliers of the police national database (PND) in March.

In consultation with a wide range of serving police officers, the programme has been developing a comprehensive, business-led requirements specification for the PND and plans, subject to approval of the project business case, to tender for suppliers under the EU procurement rules. The procurement process will identify the supplier capable of providing best value for money in delivering the PND. The programme is currently reviewing the scope for delivering the PND services incrementally and according to prioritisation criteria in order to deliver functionality as early as possible. The forthcoming engagements with suppliers will allow us to review budget estimates and procurement timescales. We are not aware of any systems currently in operation which would meet the full functional specifications of the PND. However, the specification for the PND will take full account of the need to re-use existing products and services to the greatest extent, consistent with meeting the specification and delivering value for money.

The British Transport Police is a member of the joint operational authority established by the IMPACT programme to bring together police forces and other relevant agencies outside the police service in England and Wales, which have an interest in the programme. By the end of March this year the British Transport Police will have access to the IMPACT Nominal Index (INI), giving it access to the names index of 44 million police records provided by the INI and contributing some 800,000 items of data from its own systems. This will assist both the BTP and UK police forces in their work to protect vulnerable children and in investigating serious crime.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prisoners currently serving a custodial sentence have been served with a notice of eviction from their usual place of residence during their custodial sentence; and [HL1579]

What assistance or advice is available to those serving a custodial sentence who are served with a notice of eviction from their place of residence and whose possessions are sold with or without their permission. [HL1580]

Information on the number of prisoners currently serving a custodial sentence who have been served with a notice of eviction is not recorded in prisons.

There is a substantial agenda of action in hand to help deliver suitable housing for released prisoners, including the development of prison-based housing advice and support services. Access to accommodation advice is now available in all prisons and it is recognised that sustaining, transferring or appropriately closing down existing accommodation is crucial in helping offenders to either return to their homes or increase the opportunity of finding alternative accommodation on release from custody.

As part of routine induction procedures, all new offenders received into custody are assessed for accommodation need and referred to prison housing advice teams where necessary. If, during a custodial sentence, an offender receives an eviction notice, advice is available from prison housing teams who will either directly assist the offender on the appropriate course of action to take or, where formal advocacy or legal services are required, refer the offender to a recognised housing organisation for assistance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 9 October (WA 52), what recommendations were made by the end of October regarding the legal requirement for prisoners to provide evidence of their nationality; what is the timetable for implementing these proposals; and what effect the proposals will have on the average length of time a foreign prisoner is held in custody following the end of his sentence. [HL541]

An announcement will be made shortly on how this area of work is being taken forward.

The Home Secretary made it clear that by spring of 2007 we will reach the position where the consideration of deportation for all foreign nationals will begin six months before the end of their sentences. We are making steady progress towards that as we deal with the backlog and the director-general of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate confirmed in December that deportation is now considered around two months before release in many cases. As progress is made in this area, we will be able to complete consideration and make arrangements for deportation in appropriate cases without the need to detain foreign national prisoners beyond their normal release date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to install modesty screens around the toilets in the shared cells in HM Prison Chelmsford where prisoners also have to eat their meals. [HL1683]

The senior management team at Chelmsford prison is considering the best way to proceed with the installation of privacy screens. It is intended that work will begin in April 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will indicate, broken down by prison, the acts of concerted indiscipline that have taken place over the past five-year period. [HL1664]

The information requested is contained in the following table. The working definition of an act of concerted indiscipline is an incident in which two or more prisoners act together in defiance of a lawful instruction or against the requirements of the regime of the establishment. The indiscipline may be active or passive and those involved may not necessarily be acting in a common cause.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give the number of prisoners who had escaped or absconded and who were still at large on 1 January 2007 and on the same date in each of the previous five years, showing separately the number who were category A prisoners. [HL1153]

Accurate figures for recaptured prisoners are available only at a disproportionate cost. However, validation of management information has shown that around three-quarters of all absconders are returned to prison within 12 months of absconding. There have been no category A escapes since 1995.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many First Great Western Trains have been cancelled since the new timetable was introduced on 6 December 2006. [HL1545]

This is an operational matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The noble Lord should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his Question: John Armitt, Chief Executive, Network Rail, 40 Melton Street, London NW1 2EE.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What performance measures they use when assessing the performance of franchises; and how this is applied to First Great Western. [HL1546]

Franchise agreements contain contractual minimum performance requirements, and in the case of sustained poor performance by a train operator below this level, an agreement can be terminated.

For First Great Western, the contractual performance measures used are delay minutes and cancellations (measured on a moving annual average basis) compared with the benchmarks in the franchise agreement; the non-contractual measures are the public performance measure and progress against the non-contractual joint performance improvement plan targets.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the specification of train services set for those who bid for the First Great Western franchise was designed to cater for passenger numbers at the start of the franchise period. [HL1564]

In its invitation to tender for the Greater Western franchise, the former Strategic Rail Authority specified a minimum train service pattern. Bidders were required to form their own views of existing and future demand, and to respond with proposals, including rolling stock deployment, to meet this demand.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the maximum time for which a train passenger should be expected to stand; and whether this figure is different for various service types. [HL1548]

The Department for Transport has set limits for passengers in excess of capacity (that is, those passengers having to stand) at 4.5 per cent on one peak (morning or afternoon) and 3 per cent across both peaks. This applies only to London commuter services. There are no separate standards set for other regional and intercity services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made any assessment of the current morale of officials in the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) compared to the level prior to the Government’s intervention into the SFO’s investigation of BAE Systems.[HL1422]

The Government did not intervene into the Serious Fraud Office investigation of BAE Systems.

The SFO Statement published on 14 December 2006 made it clear that the decision to discontinue the investigation into the affairs of BAE Systems in connection to the Al Yamamah defence contract had been taken by the director of the SFO, following representations made both to the Attorney-General and the director concerning the need to safeguard national and international security.

Morale within the SFO remains high. The SFO has a heavy and continuing case load across a wide variety of investigations apart from those relating to overseas corruption. SFO staff members are professionals and are well used to ongoing assessment of the various factors that may affect the continuance of an investigation. They recognise that not all investigations result in prosecution.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What diplomatic response they have made to the use by China of a ballistic missile to disable a Chinese satellite. [HL1632]

On 18 January officials from our embassy in Beijing made representations to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the missile test, expressing concern about the lack of international consultation before the test was conducted and the possible impact of debris from the test on other objects in space.

The Government have also expressed concern that the development of this technology and the manner in which this test was conducted is inconsistent with the spirit of China's statements to the UN and other bodies on the military use of space. As part of our regular bilateral dialogue on international issues, we will continue to work to encourage China to play a constructive role in the international community.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people have been recruited to the UK Sport performance programme consultants team; how many of the team have competed in the Olympic Games for Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what expertise each brings to assist the Olympic governing bodies of sport. [HL1508]

There are currently eight members of the performance programme consultants team in UK Sport. Two members of the team have competed in the Olympic Games for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, while a further member has competed representing Australia. In addition, the team is supported by UK Sport's performance adviser, a former gold medal winning coach and performance director for a multi-medal winning Olympic governing body of sport.

Each performance programme consultant has a thorough understanding of the requirements of high performance sport and knowledge and experience of the needs of world class athletes and coaches, together with high level experience as an athlete, a coach, in sports management, sports science or administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much UK Sport paid to each leading British athlete in receipt of payment to promote its programmes in 2005 and 2006. [HL1506]

UK Sport made no payments to British athletes to promote its programmes in 2005 and 2006. Under the terms of its funding agreement with national governing bodies, UK Sport is entitled to the right to mutually agreed promotion and appearances by individual members of the world class pathway. This commitment is for a minimum of three days per athlete in any one calendar year and is primarily geared towards ensuring effective promotion of the National Lottery.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made any representations to African Union member states concerning the scheduled Sudanese presidency of the African Union. [HL1618]

The African Union (AU) is an important partner for the UK and the wider international community on key issues that affect African development. It has a major role to play in helping to prevent and resolve conflict in conjunction with the United Nations and others.

The choice of the next AU chairperson is a matter for AU member states. We expect the AU to ensure that whoever is chosen will be in a position to continue to build the capacity and credibility of the organisation across the range of its activities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the likely impact of a Sudan-led African Union on the conflict in Darfur and of the comments of the Greater Sudanese Liberation Movement on this issue. [HL1619]

The African Union (AU) has a major role to play in Darfur. On 29 January the AU decided that Ghana would assume its chair for the coming year.

We continue to urge all sides in Sudan to implement the agreements of Addis and Abuja. This includes the need for an immediate and strengthened ceasefire, a renewed political process to bring in the non-signatory rebel groups, and a hybrid AU-UN peacekeeping force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the remarks of Jan Pronk, the former United Nations Special Representative to Darfur, on the further deterioration of the situation in Darfur in the past two months of 2006 and the increasing strength of the Government of Sudan. [HL1622]

We share Jan Pronk's concerns about the situation in Darfur. UN humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organisations are increasingly being targeted. We utterly condemn these appalling actions against those seeking to assist the victims of the conflict in Darfur. All attacks on humanitarian agencies must cease immediately.

The Government of Sudan continue to conduct aerial bombings in Darfur. We have protested to them about this and made clear that they are in breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1591, the Abuja Security Protocol and the ceasefire. We will continue to consider all measures, including those specified in Resolution 1591, in order to bring an end to these unacceptable attacks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the Government of Sudan following the police raid of the International Non-Governmental Organisations compound in Nyala, which led to the arrest and assault of 20 people who had gathered for a social function. [HL1620]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development issued a statement on 26 January condemning the very serious abuse that UN and non-governmental organisations humanitarian agencies were subjected to in Nyala by the Sudanese police and security forces and calling on the Government of Sudan to bring those responsible to account. Our embassy in Khartoum delivered a protest about the incident to the Government of Sudan on 29 January.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements they propose to make to meet the Prime Minister's standards for joined-up government to ensure their effective participation in the European Union proposal to initiate during 2007 a revision of the 2002 framework decision on combating terrorism. [HL1519]

The Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are working with the UK representative in Brussels. The UK is proud to be at the forefront of promoting international conventions and treaties that combat terrorism. It is important to update the framework decision to reflect the current climate and our own priorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will propose to the United Nations a study of the potential savings of both annual carbon emissions and cost which could be achieved if the United Nations and its agencies purchase vehicles costing less than a specified sum and with a specified minimum fuel performance. [HL1539]

The UK seeks to encourage best practice with international organisations in integrating sustainable development in their procurement policies, including in the UN. The UN takes into account fuel efficiency, emission standards, noise level and use of recycled materials in procurement of its transport fleet but needs to balance this with other factors such as cost and requirement for specialised terrain vehicles.

The Government's aim is to lead by example. We are committed to transforming and delivering a step-change improvement in the way that we manage our business sustainably. Sustainable operations are wholly consistent with good value for money and efficiency and are part of building a modern and resource efficient public sector. In the 2005 sustainable development strategy, the Government stated their ambitious goal to be among the leaders in the EU on sustainable procurement by 2009. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister launched new targets in June 2006 for sustainable operations on the government estate. These include reducing carbon emissions from road vehicles used for government administrative operations by 15 per cent by 2010-11, relative to 2005-06 levels.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the forthcoming European Union Commission average target of 120 grams of carbon emission per kilometre by 2012 will affect the market in four-by-four people carriers; and, if so, to what extent. [HL1535]

The EU currently has voluntary agreements with European, Japanese and Korean car manufacturer associations, to decrease average carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by around 25 per cent to 140g/km, over the period 1995 to 2008-9. These agreements set industry targets without regard to the type of car produced but, in so far as they are stretching targets, they encourage the sale of small cars at the expense of larger ones.

The European Commission is undertaking a review of what might replace these agreements when they expire. The figure of 120g/km average of CO₂ per car by 2012 is given in the voluntary agreements as a potential future target. However, we do not yet know whether the forthcoming communication will reconfirm this figure or how it will propose reaching it. We cannot at this stage assess any impacts on the market for vehicles.