asked Her Majesty's Government:

What checks they are carrying out to ascertain whether the problem of melamine fillers in animal feed imported from China applies to the United Kingdom as well as the United States. [HL3510]

The Food Standards Agency is putting in place a monitoring programme, including sampling and analysis, for relevant imports. It has also contacted relevant industry interests alerting them to the importance of conducting their own appropriate checks and controls, and reminding them of their obligations to report details of products which may not satisfy food and feed safety requirements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements are in place for approval by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the contents of publications of the Crop Protection Association, a trade association of the pesticide industry, when such publications are part-funded by the department. [HL3558]

Trade associations, such as the Crop Protection Association (CPA), are free to produce their own publications without specific departmental approval, unless the department is providing funding for a specific publication which carries the department's logo or other endorsement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider appointing an individual on a five-year contract with total overall responsibility for the Bowman military radio system; and whether this individual might be made directly responsible to the Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support. [HL3361]

Bowman CIP is one of the networks that underpin the aim of achieving network-enabled capability in defence. Management arrangements take account of the need to integrate Bowman CIP with other networks and systems. We recently clarified and strengthened the higher-level management arrangements for the Bowman CIP programme and we are reviewing how we could improve the governance arrangements for network-enabled capability to ensure that programmes such as Bowman CIP deliver the maximum benefit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures are being taken to ensure that military doctors who are returning from operational tours with the Armed Forces and therefore have been out of hospital medicine for several years will not be disadvantaged compared to National Health Service colleagues when applying for training posts under the medical training application service. [HL3608]

The recruitment and selection into specialty training in 2007 is a fair and open competitive process based on competencies as required by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board. In order to score adequately, the applicant must provide evidence of competence relating to the skills and competencies required. The applicant must cite relevant clinical experience as part of their evidence; however, this clinical experience does not have to have been gained in a hospital.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the extent to which the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union is causing improvements in the transparency and control of arms exports from both states. [HL3528]

All EU member states, including Romania and Bulgaria, are required to operate effective export controls in line with the EU code of conduct. Member states are committed to transparency in the conduct of the arms trade and provide detailed information as part of the EU's annual report on arms exports. If cases arise where we have concerns over the application of export controls, the UK raises them with the Government of the EU member state concerned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they most recently discussed the worldwide effects of arms exports with the Government of Russia and the possible impact of these exports on cross-border wars and terrorism; and whether they plan to continue such dialogue bilaterally and though international fora. [HL3578]

The most recent UK/Russia senior official level talks on export controls were held in London on 3 May. This was part of an ongoing dialogue with Russia on export control issues. The meeting covered a range of issues, including the initiative for a global treaty on the trade in conventional arms. The UK will continue to engage with all international partners, including Russia, to improve international standards of arms exports and to continue to highlight the devastating effect of poorly regulated arms exports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to prevent smokers from congregating in the doorways of buildings belonging to the Northern Ireland Civil Service. [HL3483]

This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who currently handles complaints of a consumer nature concerning young disabled people and the transport systems in Northern Ireland. [HL3482]

This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 17 April (WA 42–43), whether they will explain the feasibility of proposals to allow research activities that involve alteration of the genetic structure of human embryos in order to understand how specific gene defects lead to failure of embryo implantation, whilst maintaining a specific prohibition against transferral of such embryos to the womb of either a woman or an animal; and [HL3401]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 17 April (WA 42–43), bearing in mind that the other suggested aims of research on embryos might include understanding how specific gene defects lead to symptoms of disease, why embryonic stem cells would not be sufficient for such purposes; and to what extent organismal development might be required to establish the appearance of symptoms consistent with disease onset, especially in light of the current 14-day rule; and [HL3402]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 17 April (WA 42–43), whether the continuation of licensing controls on research projects involving human embryos allows specific prohibitions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 to be reinterpreted without recourse to Parliament; and whether such prohibitions were breached by the regulatory authority when granting HFEA research licence R0153. [HL3403]

The need to use embryos is a key consideration during the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's licensing process for embryo research. The regulatory framework requires the use of alternatives to embryos—for example, established embryonic stem cell lines—where suitable ones exist. Schedule 2 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 sets out the activities for which licences may be granted. Licences for the purposes of a project of research involving human embryos cannot authorise any activity unless it appears to the HFEA to be necessary or desirable for one or more of the purposes specified. The law also makes it clear that no licence shall be granted unless the authority is satisfied that any proposed use of embryos is necessary for the purposes of the particular research project.

The Government recently published a White Paper, Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, and will shortly be publishing a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny. The revised legislation will continue to permit the creation and use of embryos for research within limits and subject to regulatory oversight. It will continue to be the responsibility of the regulator to consider licence applications within the parameters set out in legislation. The Act currently prohibits culturing embryos for more than 14 days in vitro, and the Government do not intend to change the 14-day limit.

For research purposes only, the Government intend to remove the restriction on altering the genetic structure of a cell while it forms part of an embryo. This could aid understanding of genetic pathways involved in implantation and the mutations resulting in failure of implantation. For example, modifying a specific gene thought to affect the ability of an embryo to implant will allow scientists to learn about its function by looking at the effects on other genes in the early embryo. This approach could identify potential targets for treatment without the need to place the modified embryo in a woman.

A HFEA appeals committee licensed application R0153 on 1 September 2005. Following consideration of the overall intentions of Parliament and of the definition of genetic structure, the appeals committee concluded that none of the activities proposed in the application was prohibited, that they were necessary or desirable for specified research purposes and that the use of embryos was necessary for the purpose of the proposed research project.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Triesman on 16 April (WA 15), what were the circumstances surrounding the case on which the European Court of Justice delivered its Opinion 2/94 on 28 March 1996 (paragraph 29). [HL3628]

Pursuant to Article 300(6) of the Treaty establishing the European Community (then Article 228(6)), the Council lodged a request for an opinion with the European Court of Justice on 26 April 1994, on the following question: “Would the accession of the European Community to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 4 November 1950 ... be compatible with the Treaty establishing the European Community”.

Further background information is cited in the introductory paragraphs to the opinion, including at paragraphs III-6 to III-10.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Triesman on 16 April (WA 15), what are the limits to which the European Court of Justice's Opinion 2/94 on 28 March 1996 (paragraph 29) can be applied. [HL3629]

Paragraph 29 of the European Court of Justice's (ECJ) Opinion 2/94 on 28 March 1996 is an explanatory disposition. Its aim is to clarify the scope of Article 308 of the Treaty on the European Community (then Article 235 TEC).

In Opinion 2/94 the Court of Justice gave an interpretation of Article 235 (now Article 308) which is of general application. The ECJ has often been asked to rule on the use of Article 308 of the TEC. From the case law of the court, it is clear that Article 308 cannot be used by the community to widen its competencies beyond what is needed to attain the objectives mentioned in the EC treaty.

As an example, paragraph 30 of the opinion makes clear that Article 308 “cannot serve as a basis for widening the scope of community powers beyond the general framework created by the provisions of the Treaty as a whole” and that it “cannot be used as a basis for the adoption of provision whose effect would, in substance, be to amend the Treaty without following the procedure which it provides for that purpose”.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their best estimate of the United Kingdom's net annual contributions to the European Union budget over the years 2007 to 2012 (a) if the United Kingdom's rebate is maintained, and (b) if it is not. [HL3514]

Based on the European Commission's forecasts and assumptions, and using the financial perspective table agreed on 17 December 2005, Treasury estimates for the UK's net contribution to the EC budget and the abatement are:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give details of any financial contributions made to the European Union for special individual projects, including overseas aid to developing countries outside the European Union, for each of the past five years. [HL3515]

The United Kingdom makes its contributions to the EC budget as a whole and not to individual projects within it. Details of the UK's contributions to the EC budget over the period 2000 to 2005 may be found in table 3.2 of the European Community Finances White Paper (Cm 6770, page 17) published in May 2006. The United Kingdom's gross contribution in 2005 to 2006, after taking account of the abatement, was £8.1 billion. In addition, the United Kingdom makes contributions to the European development fund, details of which are as follows:

2001-02—£91,463,000

2002-03—£132,545,000

2003-04—£230,883,000

2004-05—£253,655,000

2005-06—£234,431,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What principal subjects they plan to raise in their first discussions with the new president of the French Republic. [HL3546]

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister spoke to the president-elect, Nicolas Sarkozy, on 6 May to congratulate him on his election victory and to emphasise the Government's desire to work closely with the future French Government on a number of bilateral, European and foreign policy issues.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much money they have spent on public health awareness campaigns to reduce the spread of HIV in each year since 1986. [HL3144]

Expenditure on sexual health campaigns, from 1986-87 to 1995-96, including HIV public education, contraception awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, is set out in the following table. It is not possible to separate out funding solely related to HIV awareness.

Since 1996-97 the department has funded separate HIV health promotion for gay men and African communities. Expenditure is set out on the following table.

Notes: Both tables exclude local work funded by the National Health Service. Table two excludes HIV awareness raising and information resources for the general population produced by the former Health Education Authority (and Health Promotion England) and the Family Planning Association through sexually transmitted infections awareness campaigns.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, as part of their response to any positive recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's review of human papilloma virus (HPV), they will provide guidance to the National Health Service on how females outside any schools-based programme will be able to access HPV vaccination; and [HL3548]

How quickly after they receive the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's advice with respect to human papilloma virus vaccines they expect to be able to make recommendations to the National Health Service on their use. [HL3549]

The department is seeking advice on the new human papilloma virus vaccine from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which is an independent expert advisory committee. Ministers will consider advice from JCVI when it is forthcoming.

The department will consider the range of implementation issues should the vaccine be recommended, including timing of introduction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans either (a) to seek a derogation from the European Union physical agents directive for the use of medical magnetic resonance imaging; or (b) not to ratify the directive. [HL3500]

The Government are acutely conscious of concerns about this directive and recognise that it is clearly unacceptable to have a situation where its requirements are in conflict with what are important medical procedures. They are therefore seeking a way forward that balances the needs of patients with protecting workers. The European Commission and other member states are also involved. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working with them, as well as the medical community, to find an acceptable solution.

The action being pursued includes HSE-funded research into the scale and nature of the impact of the directive on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The interim findings have already been made available to the European Commission; the final results, expected later in the year, will also be made so available. Added to this, the European Parliament has been informed of the impact of the directive on MRI; and UK Ministers and officials will continue to raise the matter in EU meetings and contacts, wherever possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many individuals in the United Kingdom are estimated to (a) die prematurely, or (b) suffer serious ill health annually as a result of inhaling secondhand smoke or fumes from (i) tobacco products; (ii) herbal cigarettes containing no tobacco; (iii) incinerators and bonfires; (iv) industrial processes; (v) motor vehicles; and (vi) all other airborne pollutants. [HL3576]

The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) published a report in 2004, Secondhand Smoke: Review of Evidence since 1998—Update of evidence on health effects of secondhand smoke, which found that exposure to secondhand smoke led to a 24 per cent increased risk of lung cancer and a 25 per cent increased risk of coronary disease.

A report published by Professor Konrad Jamrozik in the British Medical Journal in April 2005 (330:812), Estimate of deaths attributable to passive smoking among adults: database analysis, estimated that 10,700 people die in the United Kingdom annually due to illnesses caused by exposure to secondhand smoke.

The evidence that secondhand smoke damages health is well documented. SCOTH concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer in non-smokers, can trigger respiratory asthma attacks, and is a cause of sudden infant death syndrome. In addition, children exposed to secondhand smoke are at higher risk of developing pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma and middle ear disease.

The department is not aware of research that specifically estimates the number of deaths and/or cases of serious ill health related to smoking herbal cigarettes in the UK.

A copy of these reports is in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the terms of reference of the two inquiries the Secretary of State for Defence has announced regarding the circumstances of the capture of British servicemen by Iran and the decisions taken regarding the publication of their accounts in newspapers. [HL3626]

I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement on 24 April 2007 (Official Report, cols. WS 21-22).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had recently with the Government of the United States concerning the formation of a viable, independent state of Palestine including east Jerusalem. [HL3524]

My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with the US as well as other international partners to discuss ways to move the peace process forward. We, and the US, want to see the creation of a two-state solution and an end to violence.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had with the Government of Israel concerning financial support for industrial units near the security barrier between Israel and the Occupied Territories. [HL3525]

The UK has spoken to both the Israelis and Palestinians about industrial parks in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv discussed the issue with Israeli Government officials in December 2006 and more recently with Palestinian and Israeli businessmen on 7 May. Whilst we welcome any proposals which seek to support Palestinian economic development, there are a number of sensitive questions around industrial parks including security, location and upholding environmental and labour standards. Further development of the proposals on industrial parks is dependent on agreement on these points between, amongst others, the relevant Palestinian and Israeli parties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have established guidelines on the use of public funds to provide memorials to people who committed suicide for political reasons. [HL3355]

This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many general practitioners within the North Belfast and West Belfast parliamentary constituencies have undertaken depression and suicide awareness training since the launch of the Suicide Strategy for Northern Ireland in October 2006 which recommended that funding should be provided for such training; and how many general practitioners in the constituencies have not undertaken this training. [HL3535]

This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to attract more tourists, particularly children, to Northern Ireland following the recent Titanic international conference in Northern Ireland. [HL3452]

This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is a threat of any groundwater pollution as a result of the recent fuel spillage at RAF Mildenhall; and whether clean-up costs will be met by the Government of the United States. [HL3531]

The threat of pollution to groundwater in the local area has been assessed as low. The situation is being closely monitored in conjunction with the Environment Agency to ensure that there is no impact to the public and private water supplies.

The cost of the clean-up will be met by the US authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of those who have held ministerial office for the present Government have occupied or now occupy other remunerated posts in the public sector following appointment to these positions by the Government. [HL3591]

This information is not held centrally and is therefore only available at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Statement by the Parliamentary Secretary for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs, Barry Gardiner, on 20 February (Official Report, Commons, 25WS), whether the transfer of £4.72 million from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the Department of Trade and Industry for socio-economical funding will be earmarked; if so, what it will be spent on; and, if not, whether any of it will stay with the rural development agencies or whether all of it will be passed to Natural England. [HL3586]

The sum of £4.172 million that was transferred to the Department for Trade and Industry was earmarked to cover expenditure incurred in the delivery and development of the socio-economic elements of the current and future rural development programmes for England. None of the sum has been, or will be, passed to Natural England.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many individuals in the United Kingdom are estimated to (a) die prematurely, or (b) suffer serious ill health annually as a result of smoking herbal cigarettes containing no tobacco. [HL3574]

The department is not aware of research that specifically estimates the number of deaths and/or cases of serious ill health related to smoking herbal cigarettes in the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the constituents of the smoke from herbal cigarettes containing no tobacco which are harmful to human health; and to what extent these are also present in smoke from incinerators, bonfires and sundry industrial processes, and in the fumes emitted by motor vehicles. [HL3575]

During the passage of the Health Bill through the House of Lords, my noble friend Lord Warner wrote on 24 April 2006 to Peers who spoke during the first sitting of Grand Committee on a number of matters regarding the smoke-free aspects of the Bill, and a copy was placed in the Library. This letter included information and references to research on emissions from herbal cigarettes.

The department is not aware of any specific research comparing emissions from the smoking of herbal cigarettes with those produced by sources such as incinerators, bonfires, industrial processes or motor vehicles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, since 2004, the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has given directions to the Ulster Scots Agency; and, if so, when they were given; in relation to what they were given; why they were given; how the approval of the Government of the Republic of Ireland has been manifested; and whether they will place copies of all relevant documentation in the Library of the House. [HL3504]

This matter is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the research currently being undertaken at the University of Surrey and at the University of Albany in the United States on the public health and environmental effects of polychlorinated biphenyls and other chlorinated hydrocarbons released into the environment and, particularly, into water sources. [HL3351]

The Government are not aware of what research is being carried out at the University of Surrey and the University of Albany in this area. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment keeps under review research on dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, which have similar toxic properties, and will consider any significant developments in the area of human health.