asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many children in England, Scotland and Wales are currently in local authority care as a result of their parent or other principal carer being labelled as a sufferer of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, or of fabricated or induced illness by carers syndrome. [HL1634]

This information is not held centrally by the department.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many children are estimated to have entered England and Wales from those countries that joined the European Union in 2004, broken down by local authority area. [HL1310]

The noble Lord’s Question was transferred to the Treasury on 30 January. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the rationale for senior civil servants' retirement age being set at 65, while for most staff below those grades there is no default retirement age. [HL1571]

Unlike retirement age policies for staff below the senior Civil Service, retirement age for the members of the senior Civil Service (SCS) is not delegated to individual departments to decide but is managed centrally.

Careful consideration was given to the impact on SCS management policies in light of the age regulations before the decision to adopt the national default age of 65 was taken. Departments and agencies and the Council of Civil Service Unions were consulted.

It is important for the Civil Service to have the flexibility to manage talent in the SCS through, for example, promotion, deployment and recruitment. The decision to adopt a retirement age of 65 for the SCS enables the Civil Service to manage the SCS so that it has the right skills, experience and behaviours to meet the challenges faced by the 21st century Civil Service in delivering the Government's agenda. Having a retirement age of 65 does not mean that members of the SCS cannot request to work beyond that age.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the promoters of the Crossrail Bill will submit a draft option agreement to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in respect of its proposed services on the great western and great eastern main lines; and whether the promoters' timetable for the passage of the Crossrail Bill through the House of Lords will allow for the ORR to have made a decision on the option agreement before the Bill is deposited there. [HL1790]

The Crossrail access option is being negotiated with Network Rail with the aim of submitting it to the ORR for approval within a few weeks. The intention continues to be that the ORR’s decision will be in time to inform affected petitioners for their appearances before the House of Lords Select Committee. Whether the decision can be at an earlier stage of the Bill depends on the time the ORR needs and progress with the Bill in the House of Commons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people have been prosecuted under Section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in England and Wales for each year since 1992; and [HL1625]

How many people have been prosecuted in England and Wales under Sections 1(2)(a), 1(2)(d), 1(2)(e) and 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for each year since 1992. [HL1626]

Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts for the requested offences are shown in the attached table.

Figures for 2006 will be available in the autumn.

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

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of the funding of United Kingdom development-related non-governmental organisations comes from the Department for International Development. [HL1583]

DfID does not hold information on what proportion of the funding of UK development-related non-governmental organisations comes from DfID. However, in 2005-06, DfID provided grants to UK civil society organisations (CSO) for international development purposes amounting to £261 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 January (WA 203-04), why human embryos rather than those of other species are used for basic research; whether such basic research necessarily requires the creation of additional human embryos; and whether they will now provide an Answer to the Question for Written Answer tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool (HL1046). [HL1646]

The Government have proposed, as part of their review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, that the law will make clear that basic research involving human embryos is permissible, subject to controls.

Schedule 2 to the Act sets out the activities for which licences may be granted. As specified in paragraph 3 of that schedule, licences for the purposes of a project of research involving human embryos cannot authorise any activity unless it appears to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to be research necessary or desirable for one or more of the purposes specified. Further, the law makes clear that no licence shall be granted unless the authority is satisfied that any proposed use of the embryos is necessary for the purposes of the particular research project.

The Question for Written Answer tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool (HL1046) was answered on 22 January (WA 203-04), together with HL1043, 1044 and 1045.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the commitment by the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety, Mr Tony McNulty, on 30 October 2006 (HC Deb, cols 49-50) that the Government would provide a defence from prosecution to those taking part in airsoft activities, and that the defence would be provided within regulations to be issued as a consequence of the provisions of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, what progress has been made in drafting those regulations; and what meetings they have had with organisations representing airsoft since October 2006 so that they may assist with the drafting of the regulations. [HL1718]

Officials are working closely with representatives of airsoft organisations on the drafting of the regulations and met with them most recently on 10 January. Good progress is being made in defining the defence in such a way that it will apply only to bona fide airsoft activities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which police forces have now migrated to the National Firearms Licensing Management System, indicating the date on which each force went live and the dates on which the remaining forces are expected to join the system. [HL1791]

The information requested is given in the attached list.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to link the National Firearms Licensing Management System to the police national computer. [HL1792]

A data-cleansing exercise is needed before an interface with PNC can be successfully made. This is being carried out on a force by force basis after each has been migrated to NFLMS. Technical and financial assistance is being given. All forces expect to have completed this work by June 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements are in place to link police forces in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to the National Firearms Licensing Management System. [HL1794]

The current NFLMS implementation programme covers all forces in England and Wales. So far, Scotland has not opted to join NFLMS but has augmented the existing firearms field on its criminal history system to include all the categories of information required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. They are considering how best to facilitate the exchange of information. Northern Ireland has its own separate firearms legislation and is not covered by these provisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the main operational-use problems which have emerged with the roll-out of the National Firearms Licensing Management System. [HL1795]

Of the 31 forces so far implementing NFLMS, six have reported intermittent slow running of the system. Each of these forces is being assisted in investigating the problem and identifying a permanent solution. At the local level, work is going on in each force after migration to NFLMS to ensure that locally held data are cleansed. Technical and financial assistance is being given for this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why it was necessary for Mr Derek Aldridge of the Gaming Board to be present at a meeting of Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials on 12 September 2003 at which plans for a “high profit casino” at the Millennium Dome were discussed. [HL1627]

Derek Aldridge was a member of the Gaming Board secretariat which administered applications for certificates of consent under the Gaming Act 1968. It was entirely proper for him to answer factual questions on the process and timetable in respect of a pending application for a certificate of consent. These questions were relevant to the Dome Sale Unit's ongoing risk appraisal of the Dome sale.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House broad details of what the Gaming Board had scrutinised in relation to Mr Sol Kerzner's application for a casino licence, as agreed by Mr Derek Aldridge of the Gaming Board at his meeting with Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials on 12 September 2003. [HL1628]

The application by Kerzner Northampton Ltd was subject to the same level of scrutiny and investigation as any other certificate of consent application. This would have included detailed inquiries into the probity, integrity and financial standing of the applicants.

Broad details of what inquiries are made in respect of applications for certificates of consent, along with the relevant application and declaration forms, are available on the Gambling Commission website (www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk). I am arranging for copies of these to be placed in the Library of the House.

The Gaming Board's successor body the Gambling Commission has confirmed that it has no record of any specific information relating to the application from Kerzner Northampton Ltd being made available to officials from either the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In connection with the application by Kerzner International for a casino licence in Northampton which was approved by the Gaming Board on 30 March 2004, whether any disclosures were made by Mr Sol Kerzner, Mr Jerry Horsea or Mr Tobin Prior of findings of guilt, including juvenile convictions, formal police reprimands, warnings and cautions no matter how long ago; and in checking the probity of Mr Sol Kerzner, how the Gaming Board investigated his alleged payment to the Prime Minister of Transkei. [HL1629]

The application satisfied the requirements of the Gaming Board in terms of personal information provided. It was subject to the same level of scrutiny and investigation as other certificate of consent applications. The Gaming Board's successor body the Gambling Commission has confirmed that it is unable to make public any personal details that have been provided to it as part of the licensing process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which pieces of police estate in Northern Ireland have been disposed of since 1994; whether they will provide details of each property; and, in the case of each piece (a) how long the police service owned it; (b) from whom and at what cost it was acquired, if acquired since 1970; (c) how the disposal was conducted; (d) who purchased it from the police service; (e) what were the sale price and selling costs; and (f) where the resulting assets were placed. [HL165]

All PSNI disposals are conducted through the Valuation and Lands Agency (VLA) in accordance with the central advisory unit disposal process. The information requested is set out in the table below. Vender and vendee details are omitted, given security and commercial considerations. Estate agents’ costs, where applicable, are included under “selling costs”. Selling costs exclude internal charges for PSNI, legal services and VLA.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the number of National Health Service hospital consultants in England in each year since 2001; and[HL1597]

What assessment they have made of how the number of National Health Service hospital consultants in England compares with numbers of equivalent status in other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries[HL1598]

The number of the National Health Service hospital consultants in England in each year since 2001 is shown in the table.

There are no equivalent data from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries to make a valid comparison to the number of hospital consultants in England.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the then Minister of Health, Hazel Blears, on 11 March 2002 (HC Deb, 847W), whether the compliance for privacy in mixed-sex wards, as set out in the Table of Mixed Sex Hospital Accommodation (Objective One) on the Department of Health’s website, requires partitions which are permanent, rigid and fixed to the building structure. [HL1520]

Objective 1 requires that,

“appropriate organisational arrangements are in place to secure good standards of privacy and dignity for hospital patients”.

Good standards can be achieved in wards that are partitioned into bays, as long as screening is adequate to ensure that privacy is maintained. Partitions in this case should be permanent, rigid and fixed to the building structure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will issue a Green Paper on the proposed reorganisation and splitting of the Home Office, and allow for a period of public debate and consultation and the issuing of a White Paper before any Bill to implement such reorganisation is presented to Parliament. [HL1648]

Questions of changes to the machinery of government are decided by the Prime Minister. I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by the Prime Minister in another place on Wednesday 24 January:

“There are proposals that the Home Secretary has made, and we will make an announcement on those in the next few weeks”.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Further to his Written Answer on 22 January (WA 204-05), what steps are being taken to find other suppliers of fair trade bananas; and what liaison has taken place with the House of Commons Refreshment Department on this matter. [HL1821]

The House of Lords Refreshment Department is unable to purchase fair trade bananas at the required quantity of 5 kilogrammes or less from current suppliers. Research is being carried out to identify suppliers that may be able to provide quantities of this size. The House of Commons Refreshment Department purchases fair trade bananas in quantities of 18 kilogrammes per case which are sold in the Commons’ cafeterias and restaurants. Discussions have begun into the possible purchase of fair trade bananas from the House of Commons in the event that a supplier for the House of Lords cannot be found.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Whether guidance is available to Members of the House on the appropriate wage for interns employed by Members for parliamentary work; and, if so, whether such guidance draws attention to the current minimum wage. [HL1958]

The administration does not produce guidance for Members on the appropriate wage to be paid to interns employed by Members for parliamentary work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has been the weekly cost per head of supporting unaccompanied young asylum seekers in the London Borough of Hillingdon over the past three years; how many were in the care of Hillingdon social services; and to what extent they were supported by central government in each of those years. [HL1523]

Data on the weekly cost per head of supporting unaccompanied young asylum seekers in individual councils are not collected centrally. The number of unaccompanied asylum seekers who were looked after by the London Borough of Hillingdon at 31 March in each of the past three years is given below:

Local authorities, and not central government, provide support to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, in accordance with their legal responsibilities under the Children Act 1989.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the funding pressures facing local authorities in regard to the delivery of adult social care. [HL1728]

The Government looked carefully with local government at the cost pressures facing local authorities in both 2006-07 and 2007-08, including those in the area of adult social care, and the ways that those pressures can be managed. The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2007-08, being the second year of a two-year settlement, provides an increase in government grant of £3.1 billion or 4.9 per cent on the previous year. This includes an extra £508 million above existing spending plans following the joint work with local government. It will allow authorities to provide effective services without the need to impose excessive council tax increases, and ensures that every individual authority with social services responsibilities gets an increase in grant of at least 2.7 per cent.

The Government are again working with local authorities in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 to assess the pressures councils face from 2008-09 onwards, including those that arise in the delivery of adult social care.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current total balance of the national insurance reserve fund. [HL1776]

I refer the noble Lord to Section 4 Table 2 of the report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2007 and the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2007 (Cm 7021).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 10 January (WA 101) concerning the votes of deceased Members in the Northern Ireland Assembly, who can exercise such a vote where the deceased Member was the only representative of his or her party. [HL1345]

In relation to the Transitional Assembly established by Section 1 of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, Standing Orders 17(h) and 17(i) provide that the nominating officer of the party of the member that held the seat on the vacancy occurring shall be entitled to exercise that vote. “Nominating Officer” is defined in Standing Order 22 (a) as

“(i) The person registered as nominating officer under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 as the party's nominating officer; or (ii) a Member of the Assembly nominated by him for the purposes of this Standing Order.”

In cases where the nominating officer is not an MLA himself/herself, it is assumed that the nominating officer shall exercise that vote by nominating a serving MLA under Standing Order 22 (a)(ii) to act as nominating officer for that purpose. Standing Orders will be amended shortly to make this clearer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What presents, gifts or mementoes purchased with public funds any official from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister's private office has given to Mr Philip Anschutz or any of his associates during the course of their meetings, including the Deputy Prime Minister's visit to Mr Anschutz's ranch in July 2005.[HL1692]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble friend Lord Davies of Oldham on 1 February (Official Report, col. WA 77).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What sums have so far been spent for the benefit of the Palestinian people as a result of the International Interim Mechanism. [HL1526]

To date over €152 million has been spent through the Temporary International Mechanism to provide direct assistance to the Palestinian people. The UK has made available up to £12 million. So far, we have spent £9.7 million. These funds are being used to provide essential health supplies, allowances for the poorest Palestinian government workers, and to help sustain water, sanitation and electricity services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a United Kingdom passport holder who has changed his or her name may continue to use the passport in his or her previous name. [HL1739]

As stated in my reply of 19 January 2007 to a previous Question, there is no legal obligation for a person who has changed their name to surrender their existing passport until they apply for a replacement. However, airlines and other international passenger carriers would be unlikely to allow boarding where a name in a person's passport differed from that on their ticket.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will sign the Council of Europe convention against human trafficking within the next few months. [HL1285]

The Prime Minister announced on 22 January the Government's intention to sign this convention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What, on appointment, was the investigative or judicial experience of the present Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.[HL1682]

The detailed information requested by the noble Lord is exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. However I can confirm that, on appointment, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland did comply with the requirements stipulated in the job specification.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What work they have undertaken regarding the health impact of the Dartford Crossing on those communities living close by. [HL1781]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer that I gave him on 30 January (Official Report, col. WA 40).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to improve traffic flow in Londonderry. [HL1279]

The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the noble Lord in response to this Question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question regarding what proposals they have to improve traffic flow in 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, the regional development strategy (RDS) for Northern Ireland contains a policy to strengthen the role of Londonderry as the regional city and hub for the north-west. The regional transportation strategy proposed two transport plans, the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTNTP) and the Sub-Regional Transport Plan (SRTP), as the mechanism for implementation of the RDS outside the Belfast Metropolitan Area with regard to all modes of transport.

The RSTNTP deals with the main strategic routes into and through Londonderry and this plan was published in March 2005. An enhanced list of schemes for inclusion in the RSTNTP was published for consultation on 31 July 2006 with a response date of 29 September 2006. The full details of the major works schemes included in the plan can be viewed on our website at www.roadsni.gov.uk/consultation/docs/ConsultationDoc_SRI_Prog.pdf or copies are also available in both the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries. The responses are currently being considered and it is hoped that an announcement of the final proposals will be made later this year. The schemes included in the current RSTNTP and draft proposals would upgrade sections of all the major routes approaching the city.

The SRTP deals with the whole of Northern Ireland, excluding the Belfast Metropolitan Area and the routes included in RSTNTP. A section has been developed for Londonderry and includes a detailed study of all modes of transport (walking, cycling, public transport and traffic) within the city. The draft document was issued for public consultation in March 2006 with a reply date of 23 June 2006. Full details of the draft plan can be viewed on our website at www.roadsni.gov.uk/consultation/docs/ExecSummary.pdf or copies are also available in both Libraries. It is planned to publish the SRTP at the end of March 2007.

These two transport plans will contain the main proposals for improving traffic flows and addressing other transportation issues for the city and its environs for the period to 2015.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What significance they give to an understanding of global citizenship in the school curriculum; and what progress is being made in ensuring that this significance is adequately reflected in the curriculum. [HL1862]

The Government give great significance to the role of citizenship education in preparing young people to become global citizens. Through the compulsory secondary curriculum for citizenship, pupils are taught about the world as a global community and the wider issues and challenges of global interdependence and responsibility. Sir Keith Ajegbo’s recent Diversity and Citizenship Curriculum report highlighted the fact that global citizenship is an “increasing imperative”. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has been undertaking a review of the secondary national curriculum, including citizenship education. The draft programmes of study will be subject to a public consultation from 5 February 2007 until 30 April 2007 and views on the issue of global citizenship can be expressed as part of this consultation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 21 November 2006 (WA 3) on training places allocated for physical education teachers in England, what is their assessment of the extent to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposal of 24 October 2006 that the number of curriculum hours allocated to sport for all United Kingdom school children will increase to at least four hours per week by 2010 is achievable.[HL1448]

The Government announced their long-term ambition for PE and school sport in December 2004. The main aim is that, by 2010, all children will be offered at least four hours of sport a week. This will comprise two hours of high-quality PE and sport at school, and the opportunity for at least a further two to three hours beyond the school day, delivered by a range of school, community and club providers.

This ambition will be delivered through the network of school sport partnerships set up as part of the national Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links strategy. Further details of the delivery of this ambition will be announced following the outcome of the next Comprehensive Spending Review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What evidence they have to support the statement by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Support to the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport on 21 November 2006 that two-thirds of primary school children in this country will be expecting to take part in the Olympic Games and half of them are expecting to be medal winners; and whether there is adequate access to coaching and facilities in British schools in order to achieve these aspirations.[HL1449]

The statement made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport on 21 November was based on her experience of visiting primary schools up and down the country. The joint DfES/DCMS national strategy for PE and school sport is already addressing the aspirations of young people regarding the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Government are investing heavily to provide adequate access to coaching and sports facilities in schools. Between 2003-04 and 2007-08, the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport and for Education and Skills will have invested £70 million in sports coaching.

The Building Schools for the Future programme, which aims to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school over the next 15 years, and the Primary Capital Programme starting in 2008, both provide funding to build well designed PE and sport facilities where they are needed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When designating a site under Section 128(3)(c) of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, what criteria they use to assess whether the level of threat to national security is sufficient to justify designation. [HL1743]

National security is not defined in law. To do so would hinder flexibility in dealing with new and emerging threats. It is recognised by domestic and European courts that, within a wide margin of discretion, it is for the Secretary of State to decide matters of national security.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will hold a public inquiry into the beaching of the cargo ship “Napoli” and the preceding decisions not to tow the stricken ship to closer ports of refuge either in the United Kingdom or in France. [HL1696]

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Transport, the Minister with responsibility for shipping, made it clear on 21 January that he considered there was no need for a public inquiry.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will go beyond the recent statement of regret made by the Prime Minister for the country's involvement in the slave trade prior to the abolition of the slave trade in 1807. [HL1121]

In addition to the Statement made by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister on 28 November 2006 (Official Report, col. WS 103-4), my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced on 22 January 2007 the Government's intention to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. Signature of the convention will strengthen support for victims and introduce measures to prevent trafficking. He also announced a series of events over the coming months to commemorate the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to prevent the harassment and intimidation of international personnel in Darfur, including attacks on United Nations' and non-governmental organisations' compounds, and to stop the spread of communicable diseases both in Western Sudan and its immediate neighbours. [HL1653]

Humanitarian agencies are struggling in exceptionally and increasingly difficult circumstances to deliver vital aid to those in need in Darfur. The Secretary of State for International Development issued a statement on 26 January 2007 condemning the abuse UN and NGO humanitarian staff were subjected to in Nyala, south Darfur by the Sudanese security forces and calling on the Government of Sudan to bring those responsible to account.

We are working with all sides to the conflict to ensure the ability of humanitarian agencies to operate freely, securely and without constraint. We are calling on all sides to cease the violence immediately, renew the ceasefire and political process, and accept the AU/UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.

Sporadic outbreaks of communicable diseases, such as meningitis and cholera, have taken place in Darfur in recent years. Due to the presence of so many international aid agencies, however, the response has been swifter and more effective than in many other parts of Sudan. A concern is outbreaks in areas now too insecure for aid agencies to operate.

DfID channels most of its humanitarian funds through the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), which was key in tackling a cholera outbreak in 2006. In 2007, 10 per cent of the CHF (approximately £70 million, of which DfID's contribution is £40 million) will be set aside for emergency response.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the total tax take in each county in England in the past financial year, broken down by different forms of taxation; and [HL1724]

What proportion of money is spent by the public sector in Essex compared to the overall level of money collected in taxation within Essex in the past financial year; and [HL1726]

What is the estimated total public spend per head of population in each county in England in the past financial year. [HL1780]

The available information on income tax is published by HMRC in table 3.13 “Income and tax, by county and region”, available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income distribution/menu-by-year.htm. Regional stamp duty receipts attributable to residential property are also published by HMRC, available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp duty/tablel5-2.pdf. The Government have made no estimates of aggregate taxes at county level. Neither total nor per capita public spending estimates are available at the county level.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 26 January (WA 271-72), whether new trucks, which are 7.5 tonnes and over and are intended for use only within the United Kingdom, will be required to be fitted with retro-reflective tape, as set down in United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 48. [HL1786]

Yes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On whose authority the special adviser to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland expressed critical remarks to the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Consumer Council concerning the council's call for water charges legislation to be left to the Assembly. [HL776]

All activities of the NIO special advisers are in accordance with the code of conduct and under the authority of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

In relation to water charges legislation, there has already been a one-year delay in the introduction of these long overdue reforms. Any additional delay would mean:

there would be an immediate public expenditure shortfall of £80 million to £90 million as a result of the loss of anticipated revenue;

that Northern Ireland is likely to lose the RRI borrowing power which is currently contributing £200 million of investment in Northern Ireland's infrastructure earning year;

that we would continue to ask taxpayers in GB to pay more in taxes while people in NI continue to contribute only around half what people in England, Scotland and Wales pay;

there would be increased risk of costly infraction if Crown immunity is not removed; and

there would be a loss of the wider benefits which water reform will bring to customers and the environment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals Waterways Ireland have as capital projects this year; and when each will be completed. [HL1278]

The table below details Waterways Ireland capital projects in 2007.

Feasibility Studies: During 2007 there are also a number of smaller projects at feasibility study and planning stage.

HQ Building: In 2007 it is anticipated that works on the new Waterways Ireland headquarters building will commence.