asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many children in care have been moved to (a) five or more placements and (b) 10 or more placements while in care, during each of the last six years for which figures are available. [HL2576]

The numbers of children looked after who, during the past six years, had more than five or 10 placement moves are shown in the tables below. The first table shows the number of placement moves for children looked after at 31 March only and the second table shows the number of placement moves for all children looked after during each of the years 2002 to 2007.

Improving placement stability for looked-after children is a high priority for the Government, as reflected in their public service agreement targets and the national indicator set for local government. The Care Matters White Paper and the Children and Young Persons Bill include a range of measures which will help to improve placement stability, including revised arrangements for care planning, strengthening the role of independent reviewing officers to ensure placement moves are given greater scrutiny, and ensuring children are placed closer to their homes and schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What estimate they have made of the financial benefit to United Kingdom energy companies arising from the free allocation of permits under the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme in 2008–10. [HL2308]

The value of ETS allowances is set by the EU carbon market, and varies from day to day. At the current price for EU Emissions Trading Scheme allowances, and at the current pound to euro exchange rate, the free allocation to UK electricity generators is potentially worth around £1.6 billion per year. The exact benefit depends on many factors including the extent to which companies have included the value of the allowances in the price of electricity to end users.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What estimates they have made of the cost of information technology consultancy in the Department for Work and Pensions during each of the three years of the current Comprehensive Spending Review period. [HL2463]

While the department has estimated its future spend on information technology, no separate estimate has been made of the cost of consultancy within that.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in light of paragraph 37 of the judgment of the European Court of 4 March in Polejowski v Poland, they will ensure that English courts have the power to “secure a proper balance between, on the one hand, the interest of the State in collecting court fees for dealing with claims and, on the other hand, the interest of the applicant in pursuing his claim.” [HL2413]

Citizens in a democracy under the rule of law have a constitutional right to a court system, but it is not a constitutional right to free access, provided those who cannot pay are protected.

A review of the previous system of exemptions and remissions was undertaken during 2006 and the recommended changes led to the development of proposals which were subject to a public consultation between 2 April and 25 June 2007. On 1 October 2007, a revised single system of fee remissions was introduced that was designed to protect access to the courts for the less well-off in a fair, consistent and transparent way.

Access to the courts is enshrined in Section 92(3) of the Courts Act 2003, by which the Lord Chancellor must have regard to the principle that access to the courts must not be denied in prescribing court fees and the remission system. Unlike the Republic of Poland, in England and Wales the determination of fee remissions is undertaken not by the courts, but by court officers as part of their administrative function.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For each of the three years of the current Comprehensive Spending Review, how many disability employment advisers they plan to employ on a full-time basis; and how many on a part-time basis. [HL2464]

Jobcentre Plus currently has 500.81 whole-time equivalents in disability employment adviser roles. Of these, 304 are full-time and 327 are part-time.

In 2008-09 Jobcentre Plus is planning to have 629 whole-time equivalent disability employment advisers. For 2009-10 and 2010-11 we expect our numbers of disability employment advisers to remain the same. It is not possible to break this figure down into numbers of full and part-time staff at this stage of the planning process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they are having with the Government of Egypt about the prevention of arms smuggling from Egypt into Gaza. [HL2419]

Arms smuggling into Gaza remains a great concern. The Quadrilateral Committee, which consists of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and the US, has been working closely to address this issue and we continue to support the work of the committee. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary also raised this issue when he met his Egyptian counterpart Aboul Gheit in November 2007. Our embassy in Cairo is discussing this issue with the Egyptian authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether unmarried cohabiting opposite-sex couples need legislative protection; and [HL2414]

Whether the law that currently applies to resolve property disputes between unmarried cohabiting couples is sufficiently clear and uncomplicated and produces fair outcomes for cohabitants and their children; and [HL2415]

Whether they will introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Law Commission for England and Wales in its report Cohabitation: The Financial Consequences of Relationship Breakdown to provide a scheme of financial remedies that would lead to fairer outcomes on separation of cohabitants and their families. [HL2416]

Cohabiting couples do have fewer legal rights than their married counterparts, but that is not to say that they have none. In relation to domestic violence, cohabiting couples have the same rights to protection as married couples.

Financial disputes over maintenance payments for children are governed by the Child Support Agency and by legislation specifically designed to cater for their needs. Neither differentiates between cohabitants and married parents.

The question of whether further legislation dealing specifically with cohabitants is required is a finely balanced one. It was precisely because of the Government's concern that cohabitants might be inadequately protected that the question of whether they should have specific rights was referred to the Law Commission.

Following the Law Commission's report, the Government have decided to consider research on the impact of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 which contains provisions that are similar in many respects to those which the Law Commission recommends before deciding whether to implement the Law Commission's proposals. In particular, the Government wish to consider the likely cost and benefit to this jurisdiction of bringing into effect the scheme proposed by the Law Commission, and to see how well the scheme meets the needs of vulnerable individuals.

The Government have funded the “Living Together” campaign to raise public awareness about the legal status of cohabitation. It aims to make people more aware of the differences in the rights and responsibilities applying to married and unmarried relationships, and to provide cohabitants with practical advice on how they can protect themselves and their families, should they wish to do so. Pending the outcome of research, the Government will continue to support this campaign.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward MP, has to visit Northern Ireland during April. [HL2546]

It is not the practice, not least for security reasons, to discuss future engagements of government Ministers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to evaluate the results of the research undertaken on behalf of the United States Congress-appointed Committee investigating Gulf War illnesses by the University of California, in San Diego, and published in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, with a view to assessing its relevance to the conditions of United Kingdom veterans. [HL2490]

The Ministry of Defence will examine any significant new research of which it becomes aware to assess its relevance to UK veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict. There are many research studies in the UK and elsewhere into the illnesses affecting Gulf veterans; most of these have been peer reviewed and published in scientific or medical journals and are usually available on the world wide web. The Government have particular arrangements to monitor the research undertaken in the United States; we have a British liaison officer based permanently in Washington DC who is tasked both with ensuring that the UK has full visibility of US research into Gulf veterans' illnesses and with providing a channel for communicating our own work to interested US parties. We are aware of a paper recently published by the Department of Medicine, University of California, entitled Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and Gulf War illnesses and are giving it consideration; however, we note that the paper is not based on a systematic review of the literature.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many deaths were caused by the methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospitals in 2007. [HL2538]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician and Registrar General, to Lord Taylor of Warwick, dated 19 March 2008.

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Question asking how many deaths were caused by methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospitals in 2007. (HL2538)

Data for 2007 are not yet available. The most recent data are for 2006 and were published in Health Statistics Quarterly 37 in February 2008. This publication is available in the Houses of Parliament Libraries.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

What proposals exist to reduce the carbon footprint in the near future of the House of Lords. [HL2408]

The carbon footprint of the House of Lords has been reduced drastically by a decision in autumn 2006 to purchase 100 per cent of electricity consumed on the Parliamentary Estate from renewable sources. Prior to this, only 10 per cent of our electricity was purchased from renewable sources. Since all electricity now comes from renewable sources, proposals to reduce the carbon footprint in the near future concentrate on reducing gas consumption, as it is only gas consumption on the Parliamentary Estate which now results in carbon emissions.

An offer of green gas, ie gas from renewable sources, has been made to the Parliamentary Estate and is under consideration. A report is also being prepared on how to improve control of the boilers in the Palace of Westminster main boiler house. It is expected that implementation of the recommendations in the report would result in a reduction in natural gas consumption and hence carbon emissions. The planned refurbishment of 1 Millbank includes many energy efficiency measures which would also reduce carbon emissions; for example, a solar water heating system is being proposed to generate domestic hot water for taps. The draught-proofing of some buildings is also being proposed for completion during the 2008 Summer Recess.

A proposal to run an Environment Champions programme for a year in each building over a total period of three years for the whole Parliamentary Estate is under discussion. This programme would raise staff awareness of measures to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

What plans there are to make copies of the booklet The Work of the House of Lords more readily available to visitors to the House. [HL2716]

Copies of the booklet The Work of the House of Lords are currently made available in the Library, the Printed Paper Office and from the Information Office. Arrangements are being made to ensure copies are made available to visitors at Peers Entrance and upon request at Peers Lobby.

Over the next few months the booklet will be widely circulated to schools, universities, public libraries, government departments and parliamentary relations departments in a wide range of organisations. It will also be sent to local government, the health service, business and commercial organisations, charities, the press and other relevant bodies.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Whether, given the quality of tap water and the financial and environmental cost of bottled water, he will recommend that the House provides only tap water. [HL2495]

The Administration and Works Committee agreed at its meeting on 18 March that work should be undertaken to examine the feasibility of installing an on-site facility for the bottling of mains water. The Committee will consider the output of this work in due course.

Potable tap water is available in all Lords refreshment outlets. Potable tap water points are also installed on every floor of Fielden House and 2 Millbank, and in a number of corridors and offices within the Palace.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For the most recent 12 months for which figures are available, how many domestic property purchases took place in each of the following bands (a) £150,000 and under, (b) £150,001 to £180,000, (c) £180,001 to £190,000, (d) £190,001 to £200,000, (e) £200,001 to £250,000, (f) £250,001 to £300,000, (g) £300,001 to £400,000, (h) £400,001 to £500,000, (i) £500,001 to £750,000, (j) £750,001 to £1,000,000, (k) £1,000,001 to £1,500,000 (l) £1,500,001 to £2,000,000, and (m) over £2,000,000. [HL2492]

The number of UK residential property transactions in the requested price bands, processed by HMRC in 2006, is given below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the number of people who died in the conflict in Iraq in February 2008. [HL2447]

The security situation in Iraq has improved recently but deaths by violent means continue to be difficult to gauge accurately or reliably. Estimates, drawn up by a variety of organisations, vary greatly. The Government's view remains that records of civilian deaths are best monitored by the Iraqi Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support President Sarkozy of France in his advocacy of creating a sovereign Palestinian state before the end of 2008. [HL2451]

As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has said, the bedrock of our approach on the Middle East peace process is threefold—first, to be unstinting in our support for the principle of a two-state solution with a viable state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel; secondly, to give every support to all those who are committed to peaceful progress in the region; and, thirdly, to support economic and social development across the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We believe that the Annapolis process represents the best chance for peace since 2000 and it will be vital for the parties and the international community to work to ensure that 2008 is a year of progress.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the combined non-governmental organisations’ report The Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion. [HL2426]

We welcome the important work that UK non-governmental organisations are doing in Gaza. We are discussing the recent report with the relevant non-governmental organisations. The Government are already working to help alleviate the difficult humanitarian situation in Gaza, including our contribution of £100 million over five years to the UN Relief and Works Agency. This is part of the Government's overall commitment of £243 million over three years, linked to political progress. We urge all parties to bring about a complete end to violence in Gaza and to work urgently to reopen the border crossings. But a long-term solution to the crisis in Gaza—both Israeli security and Palestinian hardship—can only come from a political process. Recent events make it all the more important for the parties and the international community to support the Annapolis process. All our efforts are behind this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What qualification the students of the new National Enterprise Academy will achieve. [HL2486]

The National Enterprise Academy (NEA) is looking to develop a national vocational qualification (NVQ) in enterprise. It will give a solid foundation in enterprise skills and focus on unlocking the entrepreneurial talents of teenagers from a wide range of educational and social backgrounds in the 16 to 19 age group.

A key feature will be the involvement of real working entrepreneurs within a further education learning environment. The qualification will lead students towards future business start-up, employment or higher education. It is expected that students will be supported after completing the course through ongoing mentoring and access to support services, such as potential seed investment from a dedicated fund to be established by Peter Jones, the entrepreneur.

The NEA was announced on 11 March 2008 by the Prime Minister and Peter Jones as part of the Government's Enterprise Strategy: Enterprise: unlocking the UK's talent. The NEA will build on the Government's current initiatives to create a more enterprising culture.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the debt securities in issue of £64,294.3 million contained in the last published balance sheet of Northern Rock at 31 December 2006 is secured against assets of the bank; if so, how much; and against which assets. [HL2173]

The figure quoted includes debt securities issued by Northern Rock as well as the other entities consolidated in the group accounts. Holders of debt securities issued by Northern Rock have a claim against the assets of Northern Rock as creditors of Northern Rock according to the terms of those securities. However, debt securities issued by the various securitisation vehicles set up by Northern Rock are secured against the assets of the relevant issuer, and those bondholders have no recourse to Northern Rock for repayment of their bonds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the securitisation issues of £40.2 billion, representing 43 per cent of total funding stock, referred to by the chief executive of Northern Rock in his last report in January, are secured against assets of the bank; if so, how much; and against which assets. [HL2174]

None of these securitisation issues is secured against the assets of Northern Rock plc.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Dolerite Funding No 1 and Dolerite Funding No 2 commercial mortgage securitisation vehicles are still in existence, as indicated on Northern Rock's website. [HL2202]

The Dolerite bonds were fully redeemed in August 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have guaranteed the Whinstone Capital Management Ltd securitisation and the Dolerite Commercial Mortgage Securitisation vehicles. [HL2203]

The securities issued by Whinstone are not covered by the guarantee arrangements.

Northern Rock has a commercial relationship with Whinstone and any funds deposited with Northern Rock by Whinstone would be covered by the guarantee arrangements in the same way as any other wholesale deposit. Northern Rock has entered into credit default swaps with Whinstone on a commercial basis and payments under these contracts would be covered by the guarantee arrangement.

The bonds issued by Dolerite were fully redeemed in August 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the views of the chief executive of Northern Rock in his last report on 20 January 2007, which referred to the quality of the bank's assets remaining strong, with arrears performance on the residential lending book reflecting this and only 0.42 per cent of accounts three months or more in arrears, remain accurate. [HL2227]

The Financial Services Authority has assessed that Northern Rock has a mortgage book of good quality and remains solvent. It is a matter for its management to release specific business updates.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18 February (HC Deb, col 21) that he was taking Northern Rock into a period of temporary public ownership, how many months constitutes “temporary” and whether there is any length of time beyond which temporary public ownership would not be permitted to continue. [HL2246]

The Government have set a clear strategic aim for the board of Northern Rock plc to move the bank off all forms of public sector support at the earliest appropriate opportunity, but are not setting an arbitrary deadline for returning Northern Rock to the private sector. It is for the new board to develop a strategy that best serves the objectives of Government, as sole shareholder and guarantor, in particular to protect taxpayers and depositors and promote financial stability.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Northern Rock is gaining, or will gain, any competitive advantage over other banks and building societies from its borrowings being guaranteed. [HL2247]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the executive chair of Northern Rock, Ron Sandler, have both made clear their commitment to ensuring that the company does not compete unfairly on the back of government support. Furthermore, any support to Northern Rock will be subject to scrutiny by the European Commission against the state aid rules, which prohibit unfair distortion of competition. The UK Government have made clear their commitment to adhering to these rules.

As further reassurance, HM Treasury has asked the Office of Fair Trading to prepare an annual report assessing the competitive impacts of Northern Rock's business on the markets in which it operates.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Northern Rock is contractually obliged to replace mortgages held by Granite as they mature or default. [HL2248]

Northern Rock is under no contractual obligation to sell further mortgages to Granite. Any decision by Northern Rock to sell mortgages to Granite would be taken for commercial reasons and in light of the strategic plan to be agreed with the Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the value of further mortgages which will be replaced before Northern Rock emerges from its temporary period of public ownership. [HL2250]

Northern Rock operates on an arm's-length basis from Government as a commercial entity in a competitive environment. It is inappropriate for the Government to comment on the details of Northern Rock's mortgage book.

Ron Sandler, Northern Rock's executive chair, is developing a strategic plan as a matter of priority and will present the plan to the Government shortly. The plan is subject to government approval. Any subsequent major decisions will need the approval of the Government—as in the case of any publicly owned company.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Financial Services Authority will publish its report on issues relating to Northern Rock. [HL2485]

The Financial Services Authority has confirmed in its business plan 2008-09 that it will publish the conclusions of its review of lessons learnt from the Northern Rock situation in March 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What the annual cost of a £12 disregard on pension credit would be in (a) 2015, (b) 2025, and (c) 2050. [HL2285]

The information is shown in the table below.

The estimates refer to the annual cost of introducing a £12 weekly private pension income disregard for all income-related benefits (pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit), in 2008-09. The disregard has been increased by earnings in each year following 2008-09.

Notes 1. In the financial years up to and including 2013-14 Treasury economic assumptions have been used to model earnings uprating. After this point a long-term earnings growth assumption of 4.93 per cent has been applied. 2. Estimates have been calibrated to published medium-term forecasts of expenditure on income-related benefits. 3. Estimates refer to the United Kingdom and are in 2007-08 prices. They have been rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion. 4. Estimates account for the state pension reforms in the Pensions Act 2007, but they do not take into account private pension reforms as detailed in the current Pensions Bill. 5. Care should be taken when interpreting these estimates. Projections of the expenditure on income-related benefits are sensitive to modelling assumptions and to projected changes in the distribution of pensioner incomes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will accept the advice of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children that all children presumed to have been trafficked be provided with a legal guardian; and whether this would reduce the number who go missing. [HL2504]

We are not convinced that the provision of legal guardians for children who are believed to have been trafficked would provide significant additional safeguards to those that already exist nor reduce the number of children who go missing.

Local authorities already have a statutory duty to ensure that their functions are discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 regardless of their immigration status. They also have responsibilities for unaccompanied children, as well as those who arrive in the UK with their parents and for whom there are concerns regarding their safety and welfare.

The protection and subsequent care plans for each child are based on assessments of individual needs. Such assessments are already subject to external scrutiny through a number of statutory routes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there are any cases of receipt of housing or other benefits by second and subsequent wives of a polygamous marriage illegal under British law; and, if so, what is the legal authority for such payments. [HL2344]

Because legislation does not provide entitlement to benefit payments to anyone in a polygamous marriage that is illegal under British law, there should be no such cases.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 10 March (WA 212–13), what funds they provide for the care of persons leaving prostitution; and whether they plan to increase these to provide the services mentioned in the Answer, including locally provided services. [HL2440]

No final decision has yet been made on the level of future funding for these services so we are not in a position to provide precise figures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there would be any alterations to the subsidies to be paid to Virgin Trains in 2007–08 and 2008–09 for operating services under the West Coast Main Line franchise were they to extend services to and from Wrexham. [HL2330]

If the Department for Transport (DfT) were to propose a change to extend West Coast Trains services to and from Wrexham then it is likely to generate an increase in subsidy to the train operator. There are currently no plans for DfT to initiate such a change. However, from December 2008, West Coast Trains is planning to operate an additional 0705 Wrexham General to Chester and 2020 Chester to Wrexham General service as a commercial proposition.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much United Kingdom shipping has contributed to the funding of Irish Lights since the agreement with the Republic of Ireland was signed in 1985; what action they are taking to obtain a refund from the Government of the Republic of Ireland of all contributions made since 1985; what action they are taking to ensure that in future there is no contribution by United Kingdom shipping to the costs of maintaining lights in the Republic of Ireland; and when they expect negotiations on this to be completed. [HL2551]

The estimated contribution made by UK shipping to the provision of aids to navigation in the Republic of Ireland in each year since 2002-03 is set out in the evidence study following the review of funding for the Commissioners of Irish Lights published on 3 March. Data before that date are not readily available. The estimated contribution, as the report points out, arises out of the provision of an integrated service throughout Great Britain and Ireland.

The UK contribution will be the subject of discussions between the two Governments in determining a long-term funding solution. It is too early at this stage to say when negotiations will be completed and a new agreement put in place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept the conclusions of the Department for Transport's internal consultant Penny Brooke's Review of Funding for the Commissioners of Irish Lights—Evidence Report, dated February 2008; whether the conclusions are accepted by the Government of the Republic of Ireland; why the answer by Baroness Crawley on 18 April 2007 (Official Report, cols. 215–16) underestimated the annual contribution to the provision of aids to navigation in the Republic of Ireland by over £2 million; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the report. [HL2552]

The Irish Lights Evidence Study was published with the agreement of the UK and Irish Governments. Copies of the report were placed in the House Libraries on 3 March 2008.

Two key findings of the study were that the proportion of the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) expenditure falling in the Republic was 85 per cent, rather than the 70 per cent assumed in the 1985 agreement and that the General Lighthouse Fund may be contributing in total £8.5 million a year to the funding of lights in the Republic. This figure also includes CIL's portion of the costs borne directly by the General Lighthouse Fund on behalf of the three General Lighthouse Authorities which are currently excluded from the 1985 agreement.

The Answer by Baroness Crawley, which gave an estimate of £6.4 million for the annual contribution in 2005-06 to the provision of aids to navigation in the Republic of Ireland was based on the outcome assumed in the existing 1985 agreement, that is to say that the North/South expenditure split was 30/70. Redundancy costs in that year were also excluded from that figure and CIL's sundry income was netted off in arriving at that figure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether different charges are imposed in different countries for the issue of a United Kingdom visa; and, if so, what are those charges. [HL2453]

All United Kingdom visa application fees fall into the categories set out below. They are standard throughout the world, regardless of the. country in which an application is made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In which countries applications for a visa have to be made directly to the Embassy; and in which through a third party. [HL2454]

Visa applications have to be made to a visa application centre operated by one of UKvisas' commercial partners (VFS or WorldBridge Services) in the countries listed below. In all other countries, applications have to be made direct to the appropriate British visa-issuing Mission.

Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Italy, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazhakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many applications made in Tbilisi, Georgia, for visas for entry into the United Kingdom have been refused in the last three years. [HL2455]

The total number of visa applications refused from our embassy in Tbilisi in each of the last three years is provided below. The total number of visas issued in each year is also shown.

2005—886 refused; 3,293 issued;

2006—720 refused; 3,852 issued; and

2007—871 refused; 4,291 issued.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the total gross revenue in sterling from visa applications at the embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, in each of the last three years; and what proportion of that income has been returned to applicants. [HL2356]

The total revenue in sterling from visa applications received by our embassy in Tbilisi in each of the last three financial years (FY) is as follows:

FY 2005-06—£244,379.47

FY 2006-07—£295,965.44

FY 2007-08 (to date)—£448,907.06.

Data regarding the proportion of the income returned to applicants are not held centrally and it would incur disproportionate cost to collate this information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consult the Scottish Executive and all relevant voluntary agencies in England and Wales with a view to providing sufficient prevention, support and services in the main centres of population for women facing personal violence of all kinds, including effective exits for women wishing to leave prostitution. [HL2438]

The cross-government action plan on sexual violence and abuse, published in April last year following widespread consultation, set out the Government's strategy for tackling sexual violence and abuse (including prostitution and sexual exploitation) by maximising prevention, improving the criminal justice response and improving access to health and support services. Implementation of the plan is monitored by a stakeholder advisory group on sexual violence and abuse and its membership is primarily voluntary sector organisations from across England and Wales.

The Government's co-ordinated prostitution strategy, which covers prevention and support for developing routes out, was also developed following widespread consultation with stakeholders, including voluntary sector organisations that provide support and services for those involved.

In terms of domestic violence, the independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA) and independent sexual violence adviser roles have been developed in conjunction with the sexual and domestic violence voluntary sectors, and the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) model for protecting vulnerable victims was modelled on the MARAC developed in Cardiff where one of the leading agencies (Cardiff Women's Safety Unit) is a charitable, voluntary sector organisation. The Government's strategy relies on good working partnerships between both statutory and voluntary sector organisations.

In terms of prostitution and violence against women, these are devolved issues for Scotland.