asked Her Majesty's Government:

What efforts they are making to enhance the profile of British Armed Forces as peacekeepers in Afghanistan, especially in the southern and eastern regions. [HL2410]

From the start of operations in southern Afghanistan, the Government have made it clear that our overriding aim is to deliver reconstruction and development. All military activity seeks to support this aim. That message is delivered at every level in Afghanistan, whether on diplomatic channels, through troops on the ground or by interlocutors with provincial government, NGOs and the citizens of the country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will provide leaflets and posters for primary care trusts to distribute to hospital outpatient and general practitioner waiting rooms calling attention to the health risks of alcohol misuse and offering contacts for those seeking treatment or wishing to give up alcohol. [HL2109]

A range of literature has been produced in support of the Government's current Know Your Limits alcohol awareness campaign for young people under 25. This includes leaflets and posters, which are available for order from the department publications orderline, by phone, fax or via the dedicated campaign website at www.knowyourlimits.gov.uk. The literature has been promoted widely across National Health Service health promotion networks and other dedicated stakeholder networks; demand has been very high so far.

The need for material relating to a wider population will be considered as part of work on the review of the cross-government alcohol strategy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What additional measures they will take, in light of the survey published in the Independent on Sunday on 18 February, to prevent the sale of alcohol to children and to educate parents on the danger to the health of their children from alcohol consumption. [HL2108]

Regular alcohol misuse enforcement campaigns led by the Home Office, in partnership with local trading standards departments, have targeted irresponsible retailers who sell alcohol to under-18s. They have demonstrated that enforcement can be effective. The Government also work with the alcohol industry to encourage it to fulfil its responsibilities and to carry out commitments not to sell alcohol to under-18s in industry codes of practice.

Protecting young people from alcohol misuse and educating children and their parents about the harms that alcohol may cause will be significant issues in the review of the Government’s alcohol strategy during 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress they have made since October 2006 in addressing breaches of individual harmony guidelines across the services. [HL2328]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave him on 18 September 2006 (Official Report, col. WA 9). In all cases, the measures take some time to have a measurable effect on average rates of individual harmony breaches, although they have direct benefits for particular individuals; therefore, there has not yet been a significant change to the position since October 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many South African servicemen are serving in the British Armed Forces, broken down by service. [HL2345]

The most recently available data for the number of South Africans serving in each of the services are shown in the following table.

Naval Service data are at 6 October 2006.

Army data are at 1 January 2007.

RAF data are at 6 March 2006.

Figures for Naval Service and RAF do not include UK/South African dual nationals. The Army figure includes personnel whose first nationality is shown as South African.

Figures are for UK regular forces and therefore include nursing services and exclude full-time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. They include trained and untrained personnel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department for Trade and Industry and its solicitors, Nabarro Nathanson, have lodged any formal complaints with the Law Society against solicitors in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation since 1 January 2004; if so, what is the name of each such solicitor; when each complaint was made; what was the nature of the complaint; and what was the outcome of each complaint. [HL2513]

Complaints to the Law Society are confidential, and it would be inappropriate for me to divulge this information. When individual cases are referred to the department they are considered and, if appropriate, passed to the Law Society.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the reason why the Solicitors Regulation Authority remains unable to state the number of cases in the British Coal litigation sold to solicitors by either claims farmers or trade unions. [HL2514]

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has collected data from firms of solicitors which it has investigated. However, it is reliant on being informed of these practices; therefore, it is unlikely that an accurate total could ever be calculated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the reasons why neither the Solicitors Regulation Authority nor its predecessors have conducted an audit to establish the number of solicitors operating in the British Coal litigation with financial ties to claims farmers or trade unions; and whether such an audit is now necessary for consumer protection. [HL2516]

No such assessment has been made. Going forward, consumer protection in this area has been enhanced by the Compensation Act 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have assessed the cases of those retired miners who successfully pursued industrial deafness claims against the former British Coal Corporation and who have had the compensation, awarded to them by the Department for Trade and Industry, withheld by their solicitors by reference to the case of Myatt and Others (Petitioners) v National Coal Board (Respondents); and what action is proposed to provide redress for these miners, particularly with regard to the intervening report issued by the Legal Services Ombudsman. [HL2517]

Following the decision in Myatt, all outstanding noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) costs claims have been reviewed. In many cases the department has compromised the claimants’ solicitors’ costs, which should have removed any impediment to the claimants receiving their damages. However in other cases the department has concluded that there remains an issue as to the reasonableness of the costs being claimed. Those cases are being progressed through the courts in the usual way.

Where a claimant has had his costs settled but has had moneys withheld by his solicitor, and he is dissatisfied with his solicitor’s conduct, he should either seek independent legal advice or refer the matter to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will respond to requests made of the Department for Trade and Industry by the Board of the Legal Complaints Service seeking disclosure of contact details in respect of past claimants in the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, British Coal respiratory disease litigation and British Coal industrial disease litigation; or whether they will instruct the department's claims handlers, Capita, to relay communications from the Law Society to such claimants. [HL2518]

The department and the Legal Complaints Service (LCS) are working together to find the best way to publicise the work that the LCS is undertaking on this issue. However, the Data Protection Act prevents the department passing claimants' details to the LCS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the number of home care places available in England in each of the last ten years. [HL2031]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many representations they have received from (a) local authorities; (b) charities; (c) individuals; and (d) all other organisations in regard to the current funding pressures within adult social care. [HL2029]

Representations will have been received across government from a number of groups, but this information is not held centrally.

The Government have provided significant investment in local services, including social care, since taking office. The total government grant has increased by 39 per cent in real terms since 1997.

We are working with local government to identify future pressures on local authorities and the ways in which they can be mitigated as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress is being made in the United Kingdom contribution to the International Polar Year investigations, conducted by the Cambridge British Antarctic Survey; and whether these studies are being co-ordinated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. [HL2449]

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), a wholly owned research centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is the major UK research contributor to International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-08. BAS is involved in 25 per cent of the 170 endorsed IPY science projects. In addition, all the data emerging from the BAS core research programme “Global Science in the Antarctic Context” (2005-10) can be mapped on to the science framework of the polar year. The BAS programme is explicitly addressing major concerns highlighted in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, such as ozone depletion, shrinking ice sheets and future sea-level changes. BAS scientists are major contributors to relevant chapters of IPCC reports and are expert reviewers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many consultants the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs employed for each of the years 2001 to 2006. [HL2398]

The department does not record centrally the number of consultants engaged for each of the years 2001 to 2006. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The guiding criterion has been, and remains, value for money from the use of consultants where it is appropriate and necessary to utilise them as an alternative to building in-house capacity in supporting the department's strategies and objectives, together with front-line service delivery.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What estimate they have made of the proportion of renewable energy, measured in kilowatts per hour, that could be contributed over the next five years by microrenewable installations on (a) existing buildings, and (b) new buildings.[HL2463]

The Energy Saving Trust undertook a study on behalf of the DTI, Potential for Microgeneration: Study and Analysis, that examines possible scenarios for microgeneration uptake up to 2050. The long-term focus of the study means that the figures it provides are for 2030 and 2050 rather than for five years’ time.

We will be undertaking research this year, jointly with representatives of the microgeneration industry and other interested stakeholders, to build on the EST study and look at the potential contribution that microgeneration technologies could make to our energy needs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to ensure that there are consistent and high targets for microgeneration in the local development frameworks and regional spatial strategies currently being developed. [HL2480]

My officials sent all English planning authorities a copy of the Written Ministerial Statement of 8 June 2006 on planning policy statement 22 (PPS22), which encouraged them to take account fully of the positive approach to renewables that it sets out. In doing so they emphasised that the Government expected authorities that had not yet taken steps to include such policies in their plans to do so at the next available opportunity. Government Offices are active in their regions in encouraging regional planning bodies and planning authorities to bring forward regional spatial strategies and local development documents in line with national policies.

All inspectors who will examine development plan documents have had the Statement drawn to their attention and been made aware of the importance placed by government on the use of renewable energy. An inspector will check that the planning authority has prepared a development plan document legally and test whether it is sound. In doing so, the inspector will consider whether the document is consistent with national planning policy. After the examination, the inspector will produce a report, with recommendations that will be binding on the authority. Where necessary, the report will set out precise recommendations on how the document must be changed.

We have recently consulted on a draft planning policy statement (PPS), Planning and Climate Change, which sets out our proposals on how planning should contribute to reducing emissions and stabilising climate change. Planning is expected to make a full contribution to delivering the Government's Climate Change Programme and energy policies. That includes giving greater emphasis to local renewable sources for supplying the energy needs of new developments. At the local level, development plan documents are expected to set policies on the provision of low-carbon and renewable sources of energy to provide the platform necessary for securing and complementing the increasingly high levels of energy and carbon performance required by building regulations. This provision is expected to be “significant” to reflect the full potential of local opportunities consistent with securing the new development needed in communities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What estimate they have made of the amount by which the rateable value of properties will rise following the installation of microgeneration technologies; and what impact this will have on the total amount of council tax collected. [HL2483]

The Government have made no estimate of the amount by which the value of domestic properties might rise following the installation of microgeneration equipment. There will, however, be no council tax consequences.

Any change or improvement to a property which increases its value cannot result in a higher council tax band until the property is sold or any future revaluation of properties takes place. Even then, the banding system means that only an improvement that significantly increases the value of the property would be likely to push it into a higher band.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What circulars they have issued or have in preparation to ensure that magistrates and judges are well versed in emerging environmental law, especially in the light of the Aarhus convention. [HL2390]

Judges and the legal advisers to magistrates are professionals in their field and are well placed to keep themselves up to date with changing legislation and case law. In court, representatives of the relevant prosecuting authority and the defence will raise any points of law to substantiate their case. It has not been government practice to issue information on emerging environmental law to the courts, but rather to provide public information generally when legislation is proposed and when it is being made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements are being made to ensure that, after the expenditure of the European Union fund of £25 million for compensation, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas and the Irish Salmon Review Group have stopped the Irish drift-net fishery at the start of the present salmon season. [HL2341]

Enforcement of the closure of Irish drift-net fisheries is a matter for the Irish authorities. It is unlikely that the Irish Salmon Review Group will be involved, and the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) has no role in the management of the fisheries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When plans to produce the series of National Health Service documents, Occupational Aspects of the Management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A National Guideline were first proposed; by whom they were proposed; by whom they were drafted; whether the authors were aware of the imminent production of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on this illness; to whom the documents have been distributed; and what was the cost of their production and distribution. [HL2005]

Occupational Aspects of the Management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A National Guideline was proposed by the department’s NHS Plus project as part of its evidence-based guidelines work. A committee of stakeholders external to the project approves the scope and draft proposals for all the project guidelines. Each guideline is produced by a guideline development group and scrutinised by two external assessors. All members of the CFS guideline development group and the external assessors are listed in the published guideline, which is available on the NHS Plus website at www.nhsplus.nhs.uk.

NHS Plus worked closely with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the development of the above guideline, which is specifically focused on occupational issues. NICE is looking at clinical aspects of management of the condition.

The guideline was distributed in printed copy to all NHS Plus occupational health departments and the faculty of occupational medicine. A full scientific review and accompanying summary leaflets are freely available on the NHS Plus website. The guideline cost less than £15,000 to produce and distribute.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will be the status of the series of National Health Service documents, Occupational Aspects of the Management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A National Guideline after the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) are published. [HL2006]

The NHS Plus guideline deals with the occupational aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and will complement the forthcoming National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guideline on CFS, or myalgic encephalomyelitis, which deals with the clinical aspects of the management of the condition.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many cases of malnutrition were recorded for those aged (a) below 60, and (b) above 60 by each National Health Service trust in England in each of the last five years. [HL1990]

Finished in-year admission episodes for 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 are shown in tables which have been placed in the Library.

To minimise the risk of individual patients being identified, figures of five or less need to be suppressed where the data are geographically specific. Figures have been provided by strategic health authority of residence, as providing details at a lower organisational level would have involved heavy suppression of data.

The figures are for admission episodes where malnutrition was recorded as either a primary or secondary diagnosis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the reduction in the number of secure mental health beds available in the East of England region since 1996. [HL1139]

In 1996-97, there were daily on average 118 secure mental health beds available in the East of England area. In 2006-07, there were daily on average 203 secure mental health beds available in the same area. That represents an increase of 85 beds.

The East of England area is defined by the new East of England strategic health authorities (SHA). Note that these beds are from mental health providers in the East of England area, so they may not all be available for residents within the SHA boundary and there may be beds outside the East of England area that are used for residents within the SHA boundary. That can be due to the placement needs of individuals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures are being taken to ensure the restoration in 2007-08 of the financial cuts made in nursing and allied health professions in 2006-07 allocations to education establishments. [HL2379]

I am pleased to announce that the multi-professional education and training budgets will be issued shortly to strategic health authorities (SHAs) and represent a 3.6 per cent increase on 2006-07 allocations. The year 2006-07 was exceptional and we had to give SHAs the maximum flexibility to manage their financial position to address the deficits in their area. SHAs are aware of the need to secure the future workforce of the National Health Service and to invest in education and training. This will be reinforced by a service-level agreement setting out the key priorities for them to address.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What impact their decision to reduce the eligible rent levels for housing benefit by 14.5 per cent in London will have on councils' ability to provide housing for homeless families. [HL2237]

The eligible rents for housing benefit (HB) have not been reduced by 14.5 per cent.

The HB subsidy for temporary accommodation has more than doubled between 2002-03 and 2005-06, with approximately 80 per cent of the increase occurring in London authorities. Such an increase in expenditure is unsustainable and therefore the subsidy thresholds and caps have been reduced by 5 per cent for London authorities from April 2007. Outside London the subsidy thresholds and caps have been frozen.

We are confident that local authorities in London will be able to continue to secure good-quality leased temporary accommodation and meet all their reasonable costs within the limits of the subsidy system.

Local authorities in London will be able to claim full subsidy on rents up to at least £337.55 per week when they house a homeless person in short-term leased accommodation, and 15 authorities in London will be able to claim more than that.

The Government are also keen to ensure that local authorities provide a settled housing solution for households placed into temporary accommodation as soon as they are realistically able to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Andrews on 8 February (WA 160), whether in conjunction with Westminster City Council they have approached those providing nightly soup runs in Howick Place in order to ask them to desist; if so, when those discussions took place and with whom; and whether any target date has been set for the cessation of this practice. [HL2467]

The Government have made no approach to the voluntary sector organisations that undertake soup runs in Howick Place. I understand that Westminster City Council is in discussion with those providers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the financial savings they will make by cutting provision for English for speakers of other languages courses for refugees and asylum seekers. [HL1921]

From Department for Education and Skills analysis of Learning and Skills Council (LSC) data, spend on asylum-seeker English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses for learners aged 19-plus was £20.2 million in 2004-05, the last year for which data are available. The changes announced in October to ESOL funding are not intended to result in savings but to reprioritise existing provision. The adult learning budget is expected to increase next year by approximately 7 per cent.

We will shortly publish the results of the race equality impact assessment and any changes to our proposals that Ministers will make as a result.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Cabinet Office, (a) on how many occasions in the last year malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems; and, for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what was the impact on the department's activities; (b) what penetration tests have been carried out of information systems over the last year and what were the results, indicating in each instance, whether the tests were carried out independently of the providers of the system concerned; and (c) on how many occasions in the last year the departmental management team has considered information risk. [HL2403]

In the Cabinet Office over the past year:

(a) There have been no recorded instances of malicious programs having compromised departmental computer systems.

(b) In accordance with accreditation requirements, penetration tests have been carried out on departmental information systems. These were undertaken by approved IT health-check service (CHECK) organisations working independently of the system providers. It is not government policy to make public the nature and results of these tests.

(c) Four meetings of the departmental audit and risk committee have been held. An important part of the committee’s remit is to discuss, review and manage risks to departmental information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, (a) on how many occasions in the last year malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems; and, for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what was the impact on the department's activities; (b) what penetration tests have been carried out of information systems over the last year and what were the results, indicating in each instance, whether the tests were carried out independently of the providers of the system concerned; and (c) on how many occasions in the last year the departmental management team has considered information risk. [HL2404]

(a) In the past year computer equipment at the Department for Constitutional Affairs was compromised on seven occasions by malicious programs, such as worms, viruses etc. In six of these incidents only a single machine was affected; in the other incident 16 machines were affected. The programs were removed as soon as discovered and had minimal impact on the department's activities.

(b) We do not provide detail on such security matters where it could compromise the security of our information systems.

(c) We follow standard advice on risk management.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) on how many occasions in the last year malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems; and, for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what was the impact on the department's activities; (b) what penetration tests have been carried out of information systems over the last year and what were the results, indicating in each instance, whether the tests were carried out independently of the providers of the system concerned; and (c) on how many occasions in the last year the departmental management team has considered information risk. [HL2407]

(a) In the past year no malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems, as all potential infections were trapped by the AV software and there were no reported outbreaks.

(b) The only penetration test performed in the past year was on the BlackBerry pilot and was performed by QinetiQ at Defra’s request. Eight issues were found, and these were either mitigated or taken into account in the subsequent solution for production. Release of the results might highlight vulnerabilities and compromise security.

(c) The departmental management board considered information assurance and risk in December 2006 but the management team has also considered information risk in other ways: as part of its consideration of overall departmental performance and delivery and through its oversight of major IT-enabled change programmes and local programmes, all of which have risk management processes that include information risk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Department of Health, (a) on how many occasions in the last year malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems; and, for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what was the impact on the department's activities; (b) what penetration tests have been carried out of information systems over the last year and what were the results, indicating in each instance whether the tests were carried out independently of the providers of the system concerned; and (c) on how many occasions in the last year the departmental management team has considered information risk. [HL2439]

In the past year there have been no reported instances of malicious programs, such as computer viruses and worms, compromising the department's computer systems.

The department does not normally comment on security matters.

The department follows Treasury advice on risk management, and the departmental board regularly considers the high-level risk register.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Ministry of Defence, (a) on how many occasions in the last year malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems; and, for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what was the impact on the department's activities; (b) what penetration tests of information systems have been carried out over the last year and what were the results, indicating in each instance whether the tests were carried out independently of the providers of the system concerned; and (c) on how many occasions in the last year the departmental management team has considered information risk. [HL2473]

The Ministry of Defence has deployed a comprehensive suite of safeguards to protect its departmental computer systems. However, in the past year (to February 2007) there have been 35 incidents reported in which malicious programs have compromised these safeguards. The department categorises—there are five levels, from very low to very high—all incident impacts. The following table provides the requested details.

A total of 104 independent penetration tests were completed in the past year, in addition to those commissioned internally by system-operating authorities for which centralised records are not maintained. Invariably such testing identifies a range of issues that require subsequent rectification and/or risk acceptance. Specific details are classified; however, as a measure of the results, all systems tested last year retained their security-accredited status.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any member state of the European Union, other than the United Kingdom, has failed to accept the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights enabling individual complaints to be made of alleged breaches of covenant rights and freedoms. [HL2303]

The United Kingdom is the only member of the European Union not to have signed the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by Lord Drayson on 20 February (Official Report col. 1006), what aircraft, including helicopters, have been found by boards of inquiry to have been lost from enemy action since March 2003; whether there was an application to HM Treasury to the reserve for replacement funding in each case; how much such funding was provided; what replacement aircraft have been ordered; and when each is expected to be available for operational service. [HL2144]

Since March 2003 nine aircraft have been lost while on operations.

One board of inquiry has concluded that a Hercules C130K aircraft XV179 which crashed in Iraq on 30 January 2005 was lost as a result of hostile action. Consequently, an application for £46 million from the reserve was approved by Her Majesty's Treasury in June 2006 and the funding was used to part-fund the procurement of an additional Globemaster C17. The aircraft will enter service next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Government of Iraq have provided the Government with an update on attempts to remove “ghost” employees from police payrolls, and to dismiss those police with criminal records or links to known militia, in provinces within Multinational Division (South East). [HL2134]

Any hiring or removal of Iraqi police officers from the MND(SE) region is performed centrally by the Ministry of the Interior in Baghdad. The Government of Iraq provide reports on progress in the Iraqi police service through various channels rather than directly, on a Government-to-Government basis. Latest reports suggest that nationally several thousand police have been removed over the past six months.

Our strategy to remove any police officers with known militia links in southern Iraq was highlighted during the operation to disband the corrupt Serious Crime Unit (SCU) in Basra on Christmas Day 2006. A new unit has now been established to carry out a similar special investigation role as the SCU and its members are fully screened and closely supervised to ensure their trustworthiness.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To whom the non-British European nationals holding executive or administrative posts in the Ministry of Defence owe their first duty of allegiance. [HL2363]

Non-British European nationals do not have to swear allegiance to the Queen. However, they can only serve in non-reserved posts. Where security and sensitivity issues apply, posts are designated as reserved and can be filled only by UK nationals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will convene a national conference on excess consumer packaging to secure a manufacturer-distributor agreement on early reductions in such packaging. [HL2488]

Discussions on reducing packaging waste are being led by my honourable friend the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with the support of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) through the medium of the Courtauld commitment. The commitment, which now has as signatories 13 major retailers, responsible for 92 per cent of the grocery market in the UK, together with eight of the largest suppliers to the grocery sector, has the objective of stopping the growth of packaging waste by 2008 and securing an absolute reduction by 2010. WRAP is also working closely with industry players across the supply chain on initiatives to reduce the volume of packaging, including looking at the design and light-weighting of packaging, and to increase the recyclable content of packaging material. With these developments in mind, it is my view that there is no need for a specific national conference at the moment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How soon they will make good the £150,000 shortfall of funding for mental health in-reach to HMP Grendon that has arisen due to the suspension of agreed payments from Buckinghamshire National Health Service Primary Care Trust. [HL2203]

The same criteria are used to determine the healthcare funding allocation for all prison establishments in England, including operational capacity and prison type. Funds are allocated as a global sum to the local primary care trust (PCT) and it is the responsibility of a prison's partnership board to ensure that its healthcare provision is of an equivalent quality and range to that which the public receives from the National Health Service.

The healthcare allocation for HMP Grendon in 2006-07 was £770,000, including mental health in-reach funding. That represents an increase of 25 per cent on the 2003-04 figure of £615,000.

The PCT has confirmed that no payments have been suspended. HMP Grendon runs a unique regime, with therapeutic personnel employed as part of a specialised custodial service funded by the Prison Service. During 2006, the PCT has worked with the prison to draw up a service specification and tender for supplementary mental health in-reach services. Funding to provide this service has been estimated at £150,000 to £200,000 per annum and is being considered as part of the local delivery plan process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Question for Written Answer HL2003, tabled by Lord James of Blackheath on 8 February, was not answered by 22 February; and when an Answer can be expected. [HL2295]

A reply was given to the noble Lord on 23 February. I regret the delay.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which towns, villages or cities within the United Kingdom the Secretary of State for Transport has visited since 1 October 2006; and when each visit took place. [HL1858]

In addition to official visits in London, the Secretary of State for Transport has visited the following towns and cities in his official capacity since 1 October 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the trading gap between the value of food and drink imported and exported by the United Kingdom for each of the years 1997 to 2006. [HL2399]

Figures for trade in food, animals and beverages are shown in the following table:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether householders in Northern Ireland may purchase water-metering equipment; and, if so, whether there are any limitations to the circumstances in which they may do so. [HL2425]

The chief executive of Water Service has written to the noble Lord and gave the following response:

Letter from Mrs Katharine Bryan to Lord Laird dated 9 March 2007.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government whether householders in Northern Ireland may purchase water-metering equipment and, if so, whether there are any limitations to the circumstances in which they may do so (HL2425). I have been asked to reply, as this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Water Service.

Our intention is to manage the transition to metering in a way that maximises the overall fairness of the charging regime for all customers, with particular focus on affordability. This includes managing the rebalancing effects that result from a metering regime. Allowing customers to carry out their own installation would be like an optional scheme for those who can afford a meter. Pending ministerial approval, it is the intention, however, to move as quickly as possible to the situation where all customers have the option of moving to a metered tariff.

Under the new domestic charging arrangements to be introduced on 1 April 2007, Water Service will be installing water meters on all new-build properties and first-time connections, and will begin to install meters for pensioner households who have formally requested them. There will be no up-front charge to the householder; costs will be recovered through annual metered customer bills. There will be no other opportunity for householders to purchase water-metering equipment.

I trust that you find this satisfactory.