asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Ministry of Defence intends to install the Bowman combat infrastructure platform programme in the Apache fleet in the future.[HL3200]

The Apache has an effective communications capability, including some connectivity with the Bowman network, allowing secure communication with key force elements. Decisions on full integration of this platform into the Bowman network will be made in time for Apache's mid-life upgrade.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Ministry of Defence envisages a future operational capability being developed beyond, or in conjunction with, the Bowman combat infrastructure platform programme 5 as a result of the coalition blue force situational awareness demonstrator. [HL3201]

Following the success of the coalition blue force situational awareness demonstrator in showing it was technically possible to exchange tactical situational awareness data generated by the Bowman combat infrastructure platform system with United States systems, we expect that future enhancements of Bowman CIP capability will address the requirement to exchange coalition blue force situational awareness information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many personnel and units have been through the full Bowman conversion and training programme to date; and how many of these personnel and units are presently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. [HL3202]

The Bowman radio system will only be received by units that require it for overseas operations or training purposes.

Some 35,500 personnel and 137 units have gone through the full Bowman conversion package to date. In addition, 17 units have received Bowman urgent operational requirement (UOR) training. Bowman UOR training is specific Bowman training provided to units that are due to deploy to a Bowman-equipped theatre prior to their programmed full conversion to Bowman. The course provides units with the relevant training and expertise for deployment on that specific operation.

12 Mechanised Brigade are currently deployed to Afghanistan and all its units have completed the full Bowman conversion and training programme; 19 Light Brigade, which is currently deployed to Iraq, has received Bowman UOR training with the exception of the Second Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and 1 Squadron from the Queen's Royal Lancers, both of which have received full Bowman conversion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have responded to the suggestion of Mikhail Gorbachev on 8 March that a final decision on maritime nuclear weapons replacements should not be made until after the next review conference of the non-proliferation treaty in 2010. [HL3291]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, replied to the letter on 10 March.

On 14 March, the House of Commons voted to endorse the Government's plans for the future deterrent as set out in the White Paper The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994), published December 2006.

The timing of these decisions is driven by the expected lives of the Vanguard-class submarines and the estimated time it will take to design and build new boats.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will permit letters and packages to British forces personnel in Afghanistan and the Gulf region to be posted free of charge. [HL3226]

The Government have never charged to carry postal packets up to 2 kilogrammes through the British Forces Post Office system to personnel serving on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cost payable is that charged by Royal Mail Group to carry postal packets from local post offices to the British Forces Post Office depot at Mill Hill, London. This means that the overall cost of postage to operational theatres is fixed at the standard UK inland rate for packages up to 2 kilogrammes (currently £5.31 for a 2 kilogramme packet), which are dispatched by surface mail; an air mail service is also available. However, for operational reasons an airmail-only service is operated to Iraq and Afghanistan. The cost of this service is currently £6.50 for a 2 kilogramme packet, which represents only 38 per cent of the Royal Mail Group airmail rate for those countries of £19.58. The prices charged by Royal Mail Group are a commercial decision for that organisation.

A scheme whereby the Government paid Royal Mail Group's charges was introduced on 17 April 2003, as a temporary measure unique to Iraq, at a time when service personnel did not have access to the welfare facilities now available in theatre. When the provision of goods and services in Iraq reached the required standard, the decision was taken to end the scheme on 8 April 2004. It was later reintroduced for a period of one month before Christmas 2004, and subsequently confirmed by the then Secretary of State for Defence, prior to Christmas 2005, that the government payment of Royal Mail Group charges in the pre-Christmas period was to become a standard element of the operational welfare package. The centrally funded posting dates for Christmas 2006 were 10 November to 8 December inclusive, for which Royal Mail Group charged the Government £577,000; this sum does not include the costs for additional air transport and onward distribution that were also paid for by the Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they estimate that the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) receives in payment for packages and letters sent to British forces personnel in Afghanistan and the Gulf region on a monthly basis; and what are the operating costs of the BFPO to deliver such items to these destinations over the same period. [HL3227]

The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) does not receive payment for letters and packets sent to HM forces deployed to operational theatres in Afghanistan and the Gulf.

The distribution of mail to BFPOs overseas is heavily subsidised by the Ministry of Defence. The net operating cost of the BFPO for the year ended 31 March 2006 was £30,235,000. This figure does not include the cost of providing RAF transport, which delivers the majority of BFPO mail to operational theatres and permanent bases by air, or the costs incurred in distributing the mail to the individual addressees in theatre. To attempt to allocate these costs specifically to the mail being handled would involve disproportionate effort.

The BFPO does receive a limited contribution from Royal Mail Group (RMG) towards the cost of its UK operations, to reflect the work it does in collecting BFPO mail in bulk from a central RMG sorting office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Triesman on 19 April (HL3022), whether legislation in Austria provides for the exercise of freedom of speech on the circumstances in which (a) Armenians lost their lives in 1915-16, and (b) Jews lost their lives in Germany during the Second World War; and whether this legislation is compatible with membership of the European Union. [HL3338]

We are not aware of legislation in Austria preventing free discussion of the events in the then Ottoman Empire in 1915-16. Denial of the Holocaust is an offence in Austria and a number of other European states.

As well as their undertakings under other international human rights law, all members of the EU are obliged to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 10 of the convention covers the right of freedom of expression, although that right may be subject to restrictions in certain circumstances specified in the convention. An individual prosecuted under national law in a member state of the EU may challenge the legislation in the European Court of Human Rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why, in the 2007 census test questions published by National Statistics, English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and Irish are provided as options for the national identity question when English, Irish and Other British are the options for the ethnic-group question; and why Irish is the only non-United Kingdom nationality given a specific option in the national identity question. [HL3237]

The information requested falls within the responsibilities of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl, Director of Macroeconomics and Labour Market, to Lord Laird dated 27 April 2007, replying in the absence of the National Statistician.

The questions for the 2007 test were developed based on consultation with users of census data. The census test provides the opportunity to test new and updated questions and the test questions are not necessarily those which will be included in the census in 2011. It is apparent that demands for information from the census are greater than are likely to be able to be accommodated and difficult trade-offs will need to be made.

After the 2001 census there was strong demand for information, especially on Welsh identification—and a national identity question was introduced into government surveys such as the labour force survey from 2001 onwards. National identity information is used to measure identification with different countries of the UK, as well as nations outside the UK. The question being used for the 2007 census test specifically lists the national identities of the UK and Ireland in order to meet specific user requirements and also to harmonise with proposals for the question to be asked in the Northern Ireland census. Other national identities are able to be recorded using a write-in box. We know that the question requires more development before it can be included in the 2011 census. However we need to know now that it would meet the user requirements before carrying out further question testing.

Another reason for measuring national identity is to separate it from ethnic group, to make it possible to record national identity as “British” at the same time as recording ethnic group as, for example, “Pakistani”. There was criticism of the 2001 ethnic group question because the only category for British was listed under the heading “White”.

A question on ethnic group was first asked in the 1991 census for the prime purpose of identifying areas with high levels of ethnic minority groups in order to help provide valuable information for planning and provision of services and monitoring racial disadvantage and social exclusion.

The categories identified in the current ethnic group question being used in the test have been developed from the frame of the 2001 census question which itself had resulted from an extensive programme of research and development. The question has adopted that mix of geographic origin and colour characteristics that testing had shown to be publicly most acceptable and from which the most useable statistics could be obtained. A separate “Irish” response category was included in the 2001 census ethnic group question as a result of representations made by census users, particularly from Irish community groups, for information to help monitor discrimination and measure health inequalities among the “Irish” population. Whilst ethnicity is clearly a dynamic characteristic when considered nationally—and the census must seek to reflect this as much as possible—an equally important criterion is the ability to compare the results from one census to another—and to that end the question must retain a degree of comparability over time.

We have recently conducted further consultation on user needs for information on ethnicity, national identity, and also language and religion from the 2011 census in England and Wales. This has focused in particular on assessing public acceptability of the descriptions of the ethnic categories. The relevant documents are available on the National Statistics website (see www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/cn_ 155.asp).

It is likely that the ethnicity classification will be updated for the 2011 census but it is not possible to confirm what questions and response categories are to be included until the consultation and testing programme is complete and formal approval is given by Parliament in 2010. A White Paper setting out the Government's proposals including the wording of any questions about ethnicity and identity is scheduled to be published in 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much time children spend outdoors on average each week in the past 12 months in (a) young offender institutions; (b) secure training centres; and (c) local authority secure children's homes in England and Wales.[HL2673]

The information requested is not collected centrally, but young people under 18 in custody should spend an average of at least seven hours a week in the open air. For young offender institutions, this requirement is contained in Prison Service Order 4950 (“Care and Management of Young People”) and for secure training centres and secure children homes in the Youth Justice Board's national standards for youth justice services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking through the European Union Council of Ministers to persuade the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, and its United Kingdom section, to accept the European Council's target of 120 grams per kilometre for carbon dioxide emissions by 2012. [HL3290]

The European Commission currently has voluntary agreements in place with the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) and the two industry associations for Japanese and Korean manufacturers (together covering most cars sold in the EU), to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from new cars to 140g/km by 2008-09.

This target is unlikely to be met. In a recent communication, the Commission announced its intention to require industry to meet an efficiency target for 2012 through legislation. This would entail a target of 130g/km through improvements to the main structure of the car itself, and several other measures (for example, tyres with lower rolling resistance, and use of biofuels) contributing further savings, to make the target an equivalent of 120g/km.

We welcome the Commission's intention to introduce mandatory proposals. The Commission's proposal is still in its early stages: further detail on the mechanism of the target and how it would be implemented is yet to be decided. While we believe that the target is at around the right level, clearly this is a matter that will need careful thought and will involve much discussion with stakeholders. We have already started engaging with the key industry body in the UK, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and will continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people in the United Kingdom live in towns and villages on the sea coast. [HL3168]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Jil Matheson, Census Demography and Regional Statistics, to Lord Howell dated 30 April 2007, replying in the absence of the National Statistician.

There is no standard definition of “towns” and “villages” and so I am unable to provide a figure to answer your specific question.

You may, however, find it helpful to know that at the time of the last census in 2001, a total of 12,896,487 people lived in urban areas in England and Wales near the coastline. This represents 24.78 per cent of the total resident population (52,041,916).

For the purposes of this Question we have applied the definition of “urban areas” used in the census. This includes major urban agglomerations, cities and smaller towns defined in terms of their physical extent rather than by administrative boundaries. The “coast” (as defined by Ordnance Survey) includes tidal estuaries and rivers and so the figure includes people living in some urban areas that might more usually be regarded as being inland. The definition of “near the coastline” we have used is those “urban areas” whose boundaries fell wholly or partially within 500 metres of the “coast (mean high water)”.

If you wish to discuss this further the contact within ONS on this topic is Alistair Calder, ONS Geography, tel: 01329 813562 e-mail: Alistair.Calder @ons.gsi.gov.uk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the light of concerns expressed by members of the Judges' Council, they will ensure that the cost of responsibilities, such as the Prison Service and offender management, will not put at risk the proper funding of the court service. [HL3145]

The Lord Chancellor has a statutory duty under Section 1 of the Courts Act 2003 to,

“ensure that there is an efficient and effective system to support the carrying on of the business of the Supreme Court, county courts and magistrates' courts, and that appropriate services are provided for those courts”.

There are no plans to change legislation regarding the duties of the Lord Chancellor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who is responsible for ensuring that all sentencers understand the availability, effectiveness and limitations of non-custodial sentences. [HL3174]

The Criminal Justice Act 2003 amended Section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to require the Secretary of State to publish information enabling those engaged in the administration of justice to become aware of the relative effectiveness of different sentences in preventing reoffending and in promoting public confidence in the criminal justice system. The Research Development and Statistics Directorate within the National Offender Management Service publishes research on the effectiveness of sentences and interventions in reducing reoffending.

The Judicial Studies Board conducts training for judges and magistrates. The National Offender Management Service provides input to this training about the options available to sentencers for punishment in the community and evidence about relative effectiveness.

Liaison meetings are held regularly between probation and sentencers at a local level. These provide an opportunity for probation to provide up-to-date information about the availability within its area of different programmes and other provision which can form part of non-custodial sentences.

In their pre-sentence reports for the courts in individual cases, probation officers make clear when they consider that a non-custodial sentence is appropriate. They will explain why this is the case and deal with the availability of potential components of the sentence such as drug or alcohol treatment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What statistics on suicide arising out of domestic violence are collected either nationally or locally; and whether such statistics identify the gender of such suicide cases. [HL3247]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl, Director of Macroeconomics and Labour Market, to Lord Campbell-Savours, dated 27 April 2007, replying in the absence of the National Statistician.

Statistics based on death registration identify the method of suicide and the age, gender, marital status and occupation of the deceased, but not the circumstances of or background to the event.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration has been given to proposals for ending compensation in rape cases and introducing victim support and counselling services for post-experience trauma. [HL3246]

The Government have no plans to change the current arrangements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What contribution they intend to make from public funds to ensure the completion of Crossrail; and when they envisage that Crossrail will become operative. [HL3075]

Crossrail funding and financing issues will be considered further in the context of Sir Michael Lyons's recommendations and wider spending pressures and priorities. However, the affordability challenge represented by the scheme remains significant.

Subject to funding decisions and progress on the Bill, we would expect Crossrail to be constructed over the period to 2016 and for services to begin thereafter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in light of the decision by the Government of the Republic of Ireland to buy out, on a compulsory basis, all licences to take salmon and sea trout in drift nets off its coast, they will take steps to accelerate the closure of mixed-stock net fisheries for salmon and sea trout in England. [HL3295]

A policy has been in place since 1993 to phase out salmon fisheries in England and Wales that predominantly exploit mixed salmon stocks. In 2003, the Environment Agency confirmed that this policy also extends to sea trout.

Reduction in fishing has generally been by natural wastage as fishermen have retired, except where more urgent action has been required to conserve stocks or where arrangements could be made to compensate fishermen who were prepared to retire early.

We currently have no plans to modify this policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which mixed-stock net fisheries in England for salmon and sea trout are expected to operate in 2007; which river stocks these fisheries predominantly exploit; and, in the case of salmon, which of these river stocks (a) are currently failing to meet their conservation limits; and (b) are expected to fail their conservation limits in 2010. [HL3296]

The following fisheries are described under the heading, “Stocks exploited by Mixed Stock Fisheries in England and Wales” in the EC report, Review of Mixed Stock Fisheries for Atlantic Salmon in European Community Waters Excluding the Baltic Sea¹ , and will be operating in 2007:

North-east drift net and T&J net fishery—exploit Aln, Coquet, Tyne, Wear, Tees, Yorkshire Esk and eastern Scottish river stocks.

Anglian coastal (mainly drift) net fishery—exploits mostly sea trout; only 15 salmon declared for 2006. Stocks derive from rivers in the north-east of England (as listed for the north-east fishery above) and the River Tweed in Scotland.

The Severn estuary fishery (seine nets, lave nets and putchers)—exploits stocks from the Wye, Usk, Severn, Taff, Ely, Rhymney, Ebbw and Parrett.

The table below indicates which of the river stocks mentioned above (a) are currently failing to meet their conservation limits; and (b) are expected to fail their conservation limits in 2011.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On which rivers in England licensed net fisheries for salmon and sea trout are expected to operate in 2007; and which of these rivers (a) are currently failing to meet their conservation limits; and (b) are expected to fail their conservation limits in 2010. [HL3297]

The information requested is set out in the table below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is (a) the number of scientists, and (b) the total allocation of public and private funds currently allocated in the United Kingdom for the development of embryonic stem cells and to work on adult stem cells. [HL3274]

Statistics on the allocation of private funds available for the number of scientists involved in embryonic or adult stem cell research are not collected centrally.

In the March 2005 Budget, the Chancellor announced the establishment of the UK Stem Cell Initiative (UKSCI). A task force led by Sir John Pattison developed a vision and costed strategy, covering the period 2006 to 2015, to make the United Kingdom a global leader in stem cell research. The UKSCI report was published in December 2005 and made 11 recommendations. In their response, the Government accepted the recommendations in full. As a result, the Government have allocated an additional £50 million, bringing total investment up to £100 million, for stem cell research between 2006 and 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What hazards to health have been identified in connection with the use of embryonic stem cell therapies; and what therapies are currently available in which embryonic stem cells are being used; and [HL3276]

What hazards to health have been identified in connection with the use of adult stem cells; and what therapies are currently available in which adult stem cells are used. [HL3277]

The UK Stem Cell Initiative report in 2005 summarised experience with the clinical application of stem cell knowledge in areas such as bone marrow transplantation, skin grafting and eye surgery. It also noted the potential concerns over the safety and efficacy of other types of stem cell therapies and recommended specialist research ethics committee oversight of pioneering trials of stem cells. Some stem cell clinical trials will already fall under the remit of the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee. Its membership has been strengthened to provide oversight of other relevant stem cell clinical trials and to act as a source of expert advice to researchers and other research ethics committees.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 23 April (WA 118), whether they will now answer Question for Written Answer HL3073 by Lord Jopling. [HL3422]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 23 April (WA 118).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What energy efficiency measures and fuel poverty prevention measures they plan to include in future (a) building regulations, and (b) decent homes standards in the social housing sector. [HL3154]

The building regulations apply whenever work is carried out and the current energy efficiency requirements came into effect in April 2006. In the consultation document Building a Greener Future issued on 13 December 2006, the Government proposed improvements in the requirements by 25 per cent in 2010 and of 44 per cent in 2013 leading to a zero-carbon standard in 2016. The response is still being analysed. Before any amendment is made the detailed proposals will be subject to formal consultations, and they will include a review of the provision for works on existing homes as well as new construction. The building regulations do not address fuel poverty.

The decent homes standard has done much to address fuel poverty by increasing the energy efficiency of social housing stock and the homes of vulnerable people in the private sector. We have no plans to change the decent homes standard at this time.

Using the Government's standard assessment procedure for the energy rating of homes (SAP ratings) the average score for new dwellings built to 2006 standards is around 80. For social housing in 2003 the average is around 57, compared to 48 in 2001, whereas the average SAP rating for private housing was 50, up from 45. The SAP rating performance scale extends from 1 (poor) to 100 (excellent).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they allow officials from their embassies to interview foreign national asylum seekers for the purpose of documenting them only after the asylum seekers have exhausted their rights of appeal. [HL3243]

No application for a travel document will be submitted to any foreign Government until any application for asylum has been refused. If the application has been refused, but an appeal is pending, then we would not delay applying for the travel document. For the purpose of satisfactorily establishing the nationality and identity of an individual, foreign government officials may interview the individual. However, Her Majesty's Government do not disclose information about the individual's asylum claim to other Governments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they propose to take to regularise the status of asylum seekers, particularly with regard to the right to work. [HL3335]

The Government will continue to consider asylum applications in accordance with current policy. We have no plans to allow those awaiting a decision on their asylum applications to work. However, asylum seekers may seek permission to take employment if their asylum claim remains outstanding for longer than 12 months without the Border and Immigration Agency making a decision on it, provided the reason for the delay cannot be attributed to them. Asylum seekers who are destitute are eligible to apply for asylum support.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Evans of Temple Guiting on 26 February (WA 292), what is the range of the number of cases held by each caseholder in the Immigration and Nationality Department. [HL2322]

It is not possible to provide these data.

The Border and Immigration Agency is formed of many teams where differing priorities result in quotas and targets being set locally. The number of cases that any caseholder has at any time is affected by the intake, available resources and the individuality of each case, which can be complex and require further information.

Management data track cases individually rather than by caseholder.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Evans of Temple Guiting on 26 February (WA 292), what instructions or advice are available to an Immigration and Nationality Department caseworker who receives a report from a medical practitioner expressing concern that a detained asylum applicant may have suffered torture; and what steps the caseworker is expected to take. [HL3096]

The current asylum policy instruction and the asylum process manual instruction dealing with the involvement of the medical foundation are available to caseworkers and case owners on the Border and Immigration Agency's internal asylum website. These documents set out the steps that caseworkers and case owners need to follow. They are published on the external website at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/asylumpolicyinstructions/and www.ind.home office.gov.uk/documents /chapter2/.

Work is under way to draw up a combined policy and process instruction for asylum caseworkers and case owners on medical evidence, including allegations of torture.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What revenue is gained by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency from interest gained on fees paid by pharmaceutical companies and held by the agency pending (a) assessment work being completed, and (b) refunds of fees made to applicants. [HL3150]

As Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) funds from all its various sources of revenue are co-mingled and used to cover all its expenditures, it is not possible to identify which funds earning interest come from fees paid by pharmaceutical companies and held by the agency pending assessment work being completed and refunds of fees made to applicants.

The most recent published accounts for the MHRA show that in 2005-06 the agency received £463,000 in interest that year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What information they have received from their diplomatic missions in south-east Asia about North Korean refugees, including some children, reaching that region; and whether they have received representations from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on that issue and on the treatment of North Koreans in China. [HL3224]

We are aware of recent media reports of North Korean refugees arriving in south-east Asia. Where appropriate, we will continue to lobby against the forcible expatriation to North Korea of people who do not wish to return.

Our missions in the region have so far not received representations from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We continue to lobby for the UNHCR to have a role in the handling of North Korean refugees in China, as elsewhere.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish the addresses of the passport interview offices in Wales; how many staff there are at each office; and what has been the total expenditure on premises, equipment and staff to 1 February 2007. [HL2268]

There will be four interview offices located in Wales and the information is in the table.

The Identity and Passport Service is unable to separately identify the expenditure on these offices within the total 2006-07 costs of the whole office network.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will withdraw their derogation from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child before Parliament ratifies the European convention on action against trafficking. [HL2377]

The Council of Europe convention on trafficking deals with particular activities that we are also seeking to combat. It defines those activities and sets out procedures to combat them that are practical, in such a way that signatories are aware when they are achieving compliance. It requires parties who sign to accept back a victim of trafficking who is a national, and that children will not be returned if there is an indication, following a risk and security assessment, that such a return would not be in the “best interests” of the child.

The UN convention does not contain such definitions. It is written in terms of broad statements rather than precise legal language and it is possible for signatory countries to interpret it in different ways. Notwithstanding the reservation, we consider that we have sufficient protection for children and safeguards for their welfare in our own domestic laws.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made representations to the Government of Chile in support of Peru's request for the extradition from Chile of former President Alberto Fujimori, to face charges related to human rights violations, corruption and money laundering.[HL3375]

The Government have not made representations to the Government of Chile in support of Peru's request for the extradition from Chile of former President Alberto Fujimori. This is a matter for the Peruvian and Chilean authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the replies by the Attorney-General on 12 March (Official Report, cols. 441-43), whether they will review the rules governing parole for prisoners convicted of a sexual offence who continue to protest their innocence; and [HL3323]

What consideration is being given to the case of Karl Smith, a prisoner at HM Prison Littlehey, who protests his innocence and has received legal advice that for that reason he may not be eligible for parole. [HL3324]

Applications for release on parole licence are considered by the independent Parole Board and it would not be appropriate to comment upon consideration being given to individual cases.

There is no requirement for an offender to admit guilt prior to making an application for parole, nor is denial of guilt a bar to release on parole. Whether an offender denies the offence or not, the Parole Board must always satisfy itself that the risk of reoffending is sufficiently reduced not to jeopardise the safety of the public before it directs release. In doing so its starting point will always be that the offender was properly convicted by the courts. The Government are satisfied that this is appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 27 March 2002 (WA 72), why HM Revenue and Customs Notice 701/39, VAT Liability Law (August 2004) limits to 2,300 litres the amount of fuel oil, gas oil and kerosene which are deemed to be for domestic use at the reduced rate of VAT; and whether two deliveries, each under 2,300 litres, which together exceed 2,300 litres, made on the same day to the same premises qualify for the reduced rate of VAT. [HL3195]

The reduced rate of VAT for fuel and power applies to supplies for “qualifying use”, which the VAT Act 1994 specifies as meaning domestic and charity non-business use. All other supplies of fuel and power have been subject to the standard rate of VAT since 1990.

“Domestic use” includes supplies for use in dwellings and certain other residential accommodation, regardless of the quantity supplied. As a simplification measure, the law deems certain supplies within specified limits as always being for domestic use.

For supplies of fuel oil, gas oil or kerosene the specified limit is,

“a supply of not more than 2,300 litres”.

To guard against any possible abuse of the reduced rate, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) regards “a supply” as comprising all deliveries to one site on one day, even if there are separate delivery notes or invoices.

HMRC Notice 701/19, VAT Fuel and Power, contains detailed guidance on the VAT liability of supplies of fuel and power in particular circumstances.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many non-geographic telephone numbers are in use by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its agencies; what services can be accessed by calling each of them; and what revenue has been received from them between September 2004 and September 2006. [HL3303]

There are three non-geographic telephone numbers in use by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its agencies in the UK. Two are used for consular and visa inquiries, and one is for use by internal staff in the event of an emergency. No revenue was accrued by the FCO during the period September 2004-September 2006 in relation to these numbers.

It would incur disproportionate cost to compile the information requested by the noble Lord in relation to FCO missions overseas.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many non-geographic telephone numbers are in use by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies; what services can be accessed by calling each of them; and what revenue has been received from them between September 2004 and September 2006. [HL3302]

The use of 0800, 0845 or 0870 numbers in the department and its agencies is determined at local level in accordance with individual business requirements and ordered directly from the supplier. Records of these numbers are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many non-geographic telephone numbers are in use by HM Treasury and its agencies; what services can be accessed by calling each of them; and what revenue has been received from them between September 2004 and September 2006. [HL3266]

The information requested is not readily available, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assistance they are providing to the Government of the Ukraine, through European institutions or bilaterally, towards the resolution of current constitutional and political issues in that country. [HL3281]

The UK and EU are urging Ukraine's leaders to act peacefully, responsibly and democratically, to respect the rule of law and to work together in support of the national interest. EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso have spoken regularly to the main political players. Our embassy in Kiev has been closely engaged with all the parties. There has been no formal invitation for foreign mediation in the crisis and the onus for now is on Ukraine's political leaders to find a democratic solution. The UK is ready to help underpin a compromise deal when it emerges.

My right honourable friend the Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, made clear during his visit to Kiev on 26 and 27 February that the UK firmly supports Ukraine's commitment to political and economic reform. The EU is supporting Ukraine's programme of reform through the European Neighbourhood Policy, which offers deeper EU-Ukraine relations in return for progress on key reforms. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's global opportunities fund currently disperses around half a million pounds under its Reuniting Europe programme in Ukraine, including to projects that support Ukraine's policy of EU integration, particularly in the field of improved governance. The Council of Europe supports Ukraine's democratic development through regular monitoring of its obligations and commitments. Secretary-General Terry Davis has confirmed that the Council of Europe stands ready to offer further help to Ukraine in the context of a political settlement to the current crisis, particularly in the field of elections and any possible future constitutional commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What estimate they have made of the cost of the proposed pilot of voice risk analysis technology for reviews of housing benefit and council tax benefit claims in Harrow Council. [HL3254]

The estimate for the cost to the department of the pilot of voice risk analysis for reviews of housing benefit and council tax benefit claims by Harrow Council is £62,800.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they estimate that they will pay to Capita and DigiLog UK for their assistance in the development and implementation of the pilot of voice risk analysis technology for Harrow Council. [HL3255]

So far, the department has agreed to pay Harrow Council £62,800 to conduct the pilot. In this instance no payments will be made by the department direct to any contractor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they intend to assess the results of the pilot of voice risk analysis technology in Harrow Council. [HL3256]

The pilot will be evaluated by the department in conjunction with Harrow Council. A range of statistical and other methods will be used to determine the effectiveness of the technology and ensure that it represents value for money.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they will ensure that the normal voice of an individual, as measured by the voice risk analysis, is the usual voice of the individual. [HL3257]

Voice risk analysis enables a risk score to be produced based on the changes in voice frequency made during a telephone call, which should not be affected by the caller adopting an unusual voice. However, the accuracy of the technology will be tested as part of the pilot.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the length of the contract given to Harrow Council to pilot voice risk analysis technology. [HL3258]

The department does not have a contract with Harrow Council but is making funding available to the council for a contract to pilot voice risk analysis scheduled to last for one year from 21 May 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they plan to roll out voice risk analysis technology on Jobcentre Plus systems; and how much they estimate spending on this. [HL3283]

Jobcentre Plus will test how voice risk analysis technology works with its systems later this year. Any decision concerning plans to roll out on a wider scale and estimates of the cost will be made once a full evaluation of this test has been carried out.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many parts per million of Aroclor 1254 in water would affect the immune, neurological, reproductive and endocrine systems of fish, rats, sheep, cattle and humans; what levels would cause death; for how long the chemical remains active in the environment; and for how long these effects have been known. [HL3346]

Aroclor 1254 is a mixture of more than 80 different polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) chemicals. PCBs are practically insoluble in water. Available data for aquatic life indicate effects on mortality, growth and reproduction at concentrations of 8 micrograms/litre. There is little information on the effects on sheep or cattle, nor on the endocrine-disrupting effects of PCBs on aquatic life. A single oral dose of 1 to 1.3 grams of Aroclor 1254 per kilogram of bodyweight has been reported as sufficient to kill half a group of treated rats.

The UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) issued a statement on PCBs in 1997, and recommended that, where humans are exposed to a mixture of PCBs, the risk to health can be assessed by reference to the tolerable daily intake (TDI) rather than concentration. The TDI is based on the most sensitive end-point and will protect against the risk of other adverse effects.

After reviewing the animal toxicity data on commercial PCB mixtures, COT concluded that the most critical effects—that is, those seen at the lowest level of exposure—are those on the skin, the immune system, reproduction and postnatal behavioural development. It was not possible to derive no adverse effect levels (NOAELs) for these effects from the available data but it is possible to derive lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) by means of tests on animals. A LOAEL of 5 micrograms (micrograms)/kg bw/day for Aroclor 1254 was identified for effects on the skin and on the immune system, while the effect on the reproductive system was considered to lie in the range from 5 to 30 micrograms/kg bw/day.

In the UK, the sale of PCBs for use in open applications was prohibited in 1972 and their manufacture and use in new plant and equipment prohibited in 1986. Since then, the phase-out of any remaining uses has been of PCBs sealed in older equipment and phase-out by 2010 is required by EU legislation. Action has been taken at both national and global level; the UK is a signatory to the Stockholm convention, a global treaty signed by 151 countries with the objective to protect human health and the environment from a range of 12 chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants including PCBs. Under the convention the use, manufacture, import and export of the 12 listed substances including PCBs is banned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the most recent situation at Brinsford young offender institution as regards (a) open air exercise, and (b) showers or baths for inmates; and whether there have been improvements since December 2006. [HL2756]

Young people at Brinsford currently have 1.5 hours of outdoor physical education each week. A staff re-profile is due to take place shortly, which will provide daily time in the fresh air.

Approximately 90 per cent of young people have daily access to showers. In exceptional circumstances where operational pressures require it, showers may not be offered to all young people at the weekend. A programme of shower room refurbishment is in progress on the main accommodation blocks, providing improved decoration and modesty screens.