asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are taking any action on the targeted advertising service offered by Phorm in the light of the questions about its legality under the Data Protection and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Acts. [HL2635]

The Office of the Information Commissioner made a statement on 3 March 2008 that it was in discussion with one company about the nature of its service and the way it uses information about ISP customers. My department will consider the continued relevance of the current safeguards and legislation in the light of the outcome of those discussions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they have pledged, and contributed, towards the World Food Programme's current three-year relief and recovery operation in Afghanistan; and whether the amounts pledged take account of rising food prices. [HL2388]

The Department for International Development recently approved £3 million of emergency humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. DfID's contribution, along with other donors, will help the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide 43,000 tonnes of assorted commodities (ie, 35,000 tonnes of wheat, 4,200 tonnes of pulses, 2,800 tonnes of vegetable oil and 700 tonnes of iodized salt) in rural areas, and 46,000 tonnes of wheat in urban and semi-urban areas.

The price of wheat has increased between January 2007 and 2008 by a countrywide average of 58 per cent. The poor spend as much as 55 per cent of their income on food, predominantly wheat flour. Our response will help to mitigate the effect of this adverse impact.

The Government of Afghanistan have also taken immediate measures and are considering longer term mechanisms to address similar crises. The Government have also temporarily reduced the import tax on wheat and wheat flour. As part of the Afghanistan national development strategy they are developing a disaster preparedness and risk mitigation strategy.

We are monitoring the situation closely and have been taking account of higher costs when responding to humanitarian appeals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will authorise the extraction of spinal columns from sheep by vacuum, as approved by the European Union, and in the light of the Food Standards Agency placing no restrictions on the import of sheep meat so processed from France and the finding of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee that the likelihood of BSE in sheep is near zero. [HL2968]

I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave him on 10 March 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 193).

As regards the import of sheep meat from France, or any other member state, we have been advised that if unsplit carcasses of sheep over 12 months of age are received in the United Kingdom they are, in accordance with European Union regulations, randomly checked for presence of spinal cord. This verification process will involve splitting the carcasse.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by Baroness Andrews on 10 January (Official Report, col. 941), whether they have revised their guidance on allotments; and, if so, what changes have been made. [HL2931]

I am pleased to confirm that a revised edition of Growing in the Community—A Good Practice Guide for the Management of Allotments was published on 13 March 2008 by the Local Government Association.

The revised guidance reflects the significant developments in the allotments movement since 2001. It contains a wealth of new examples of good practice, showing innovative uses of allotments benefiting all sections of the community. The guide explores current thinking on allotments, highlighting their importance in promoting health, community engagement and community cohesion.

The guide provides an up to date policy framework. It outlines the legislation, and policy guidance, and sets out best practice affecting allotment gardening, and signposts further information.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What progress has been made in developing solutions to facilitate data exchange between Bowman and other NATO digitisation systems as part of the Ministry of Defence’s command and battlespace management capability release. [HL2834]

Improvements to connectivity with NATO systems are being addressed as part of the planned uplift to the capability of the Bowman CIP system to BCIP 5, which is currently under way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the planned pilot Centre for Defence Enterprise on the Harwell campus will be established and operational. [HL2894]

A formal opening of the Centre for Defence Enterprise is planned for May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the planned pilot Centre for Defence Enterprise on the Harwell campus will be staffed and managed. [HL2895]

The Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE) will be staffed by a team of initially three, based on site at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire. The team is part of the MoD Defence Technology and Innovation Centre, based at Shrivenham, which is itself part of the MoD Science Innovation Technology Top Level Budget area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the planned pilot Centre for Defence Enterprise on the Harwell campus will relate to the work of the Defence Scientific and Technology Laboratories. [HL2930]

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratories (Dstl) is the MoD's primary source of internal scientific and technical advice and will play a key role in the Centre for Defence Enterprise activity. Dstl will support assessment of research proposals and work with proposers to maximise exploitation opportunities within defence.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will propose that the role of incapacitating biochemical weapons in military operations and law enforcement be discussed at the Chemical Weapons Convention Review Conference. [HL2952]

The issues surrounding so-called incapacitating biochemical weapons and their potential impact on the Chemical Weapons Convention are highly complex and most states party to the convention have yet to express clear ideas on the implications for the convention. The UK believes that thorough study of the complex technical and legal implications is required and therefore does not consider the issue ready for detailed discussion at the second review conference. But we are willing to examine, with other states party to the convention, the options for taking forward work after the conference, if it appears that consensus on how to move forward seems achievable, and if a suitable mechanism and scope for discussions can be decided.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the new Director of Service Prosecutions, Bruce Houlder QC, has served in HM Regular or Reserve Forces; and [HL2892]

Whether they will place in the Library of the House an outline and timetable of the induction course for the new Director of Service Prosecutions; and whether the director will exercise any prosecutorial functions prior to completing this course. [HL2893]

The full details and timings of Mr Houlder's induction programme will be finalised with him when he takes up his post as the first Director of Service Prosecutions (DSP) in May 2008. There are no plans to place a copy in the Library of the House. However, it is anticipated that the programme will include familiarisation with the service justice system and the service courts, engagement with the single service provost marshals and the Ministry of Defence Police, as well as meetings with Defence Ministers, the Attorney-General, the single service chiefs, the Permanent Secretary and the principal personnel officers of the single services. The DSP will also visit ships, establishments and air stations both at home and overseas to acquire a breadth of knowledge about the areas and the circumstances in which Armed Forces personnel live and operate. The programme will also include visits to operational theatres.

Mr Houlder has not served as a regular or reserve member of Her Majesty's Armed Forces.

The DSP will not exercise any prosecutorial functions until 1 January 2009.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 31 March (WA 127), regarding the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES), what planning figure is the relevant integrated project team using for the numbers of each variant of the FRES. [HL2970]

Work on detailed requirements is continuing. Current planning suggests that the FRES programme will provide a fleet of more than 3,000 vehicles, and that the utility vehicle will make up just over half the total fleet. However, fleet requirements for each FRES family will not be confirmed until the main investment decisions are taken. I am withholding further details on internal planning figures as they are subject to change as the requirement matures and their release would, or would be likely to, prejudice commercial interests.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is a military covenant. [HL2541]

Of the UK Armed Forces, only the British Army formally sets out its understanding of The Military Covenant: Army Doctrine Publication, volume 5, chapter 1, 2000. The Government recognise their responsibility to value, respect and support all those who serve and have served in the Armed Forces. Important steps have been taken to ensure that the Government meet their responsibilities to uphold the military covenant including improvements in healthcare, compensation, accommodation and welfare.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the motion proposed by the National Union of Teachers for an end to school visits designed to raise awareness of the Armed Forces. [HL3037]

The department is supportive of activities that help children and young people understand the role of the Armed Forces, and we are in discussions with the Ministry of Defence as to how we might increase access to cadet forces for pupils in state schools. However, it is for head teachers to determine whether to invite Armed Forces personnel to visit their schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made in discussions with the Scottish Executive regarding the jurisdiction of and arrangements for inquiring into the deaths of Scottish-based service personnel killed on duty overseas. [HL2861]

Contacts between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive continue on this sensitive and complex issue.

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice on 25 March 2008, (Official Report, column 53W) in another place to the right honourable Member for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow (Mr Adam Ingram).

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 17 March (WA 23), by what process service and ex-service personnel were individually invited to respond to the proposals in the consultation paper Transforming Tribunals; and which organisations were invited to respond. [HL2819]

Transforming Tribunals was published on 28 November, both in hard copy and on the Ministry of Justice website. Publication was accompanied by a press release. The views of all those who deal with tribunals on the issues set out in the paper were invited. In respect of service and ex-service personnel, copies of the paper were sent directly to the Royal British Legion and Eastern War Pensions, which currently represent over 80 per cent of appellants in PAT cases.

In addition to their responses, and as stated in my reply of 17 March, a number of other service organisations have responded to the consultation, including the Royal Air Force Association, Combat Stress, the Army Benevolent Fund, the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association and the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations. The Pensions Appeal Tribunal also made a detailed submission, which was the subject of Lord Morris’s Question.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Ministry of Defence has decided to sole-source the CTA 40mm cannon for Warrior FRES, given the lack of manufacturing facility and qualification for the ammunition. [HL3055]

The MoD has down selected, subject to commercial undertakings, the cannon developed by CTAi (an Anglo/French Joint Venture company between BAE Systems Land Systems and Nexter) for both Warrior and FRES Scout programmes, as it meets the lethality requirements of both systems, and a single common solution is more efficient and effective. The programme is still in the concept phase and work continues to determine the associated ammunition requirements. Identification of a manufacturing facility and qualification of ammunition, will, of course, be addressed as part of this work.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether, at a meeting to discuss the activities of Bahraini refugees in the United Kingdom, the British ambassador in Bahrain informed the Interior Minister that persons granted refugee status are subject to the same laws as natives. [HL2901]

The content of discussions between Governments are confidential. Government officials are prohibited by law from discussing the details of any individual asylum case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received reports about a potential famine in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and neighbouring states in India following the flowering of bamboos and the destruction of crops and food stores by the growing rat population; and what contribution they will make to the World Food Programme for emergency assistance to this situation. [HL2593]

The UK Government are aware of the food shortage occurring in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh and in north-eastern India, receiving reports on the CHT crisis from both the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP will be conducting a needs assessment mission in the CHT, and the European Community for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) is doing so in Mizoram, north-eastern India. These assessments will provide the UK Government, as well as donor partners, a basis to consider the scale of the problem and the needs identified. We will then be able to evaluate how best the international community can respond to this crisis, in consultation with both the Governments of Bangladesh and India. Under an agreement with the Government of India, UN agencies and other donors cannot respond to a humanitarian emergency unless formally requested to do so by the Union Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the implications for British development aid of the decision by the United States Agency for International Development to declare that the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats in the Entity of Republic of Srpska in Bosnia-Herzegovina is no longer eligible for financial assistance. [HL2380]

The decision by the United States Agency for International Development has no implications for British development aid in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they will take following the formal decision, dated 27 March, by the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner declaring that for the purposes of Section 52(3) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 the Law Society's plan for the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 for securing effective and efficient complaints handling against solicitors is inadequate; and whether they have plans to review the implications of this declaration for retired miners, widows and families in the British Coal litigation. [HL3020]

The Government appointed the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (LSCC) in 2004 as an independent regulator of the Law Society's complaints handling function. Therefore, the Government do not become involved in discussions on the plan for complaints handling. However, the Government are pleased to note that following a request from the LSCC, the Law Society's 2008-09 plan includes a target related to the handling of miners' cases. It remains the Government's view that the Law Society and LSCC should work together effectively to deliver continued and sustainable improvements for consumers.

Both the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform will continue to work with the LCS, the LSCC, the Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO), coalfield MPs and other bodies to ensure that all claimants under the coal health scheme understand their rights to redress through the LCS where deductions have been made wrongfully from their compensation awards.

The Government have legislated in the Legal Services Act 2007 to create an independent Office for Legal Complaints, which will remove complaints handling from the legal professional bodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the light of the report of the Legal Services Ombudsman for England and Wales in the cases of Dennis Rimmer and Norman Dickinson, retired miners whose British Coal industrial deafness claims were dealt with by Beresford's Panel Solicitors Scheme, they will request reports from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Complaints Service concerning the other 6,796 claimants whose cases were sold by Beresford's to its panel of 10 firms of solicitors between June 2002 and March 2004. [HL3056]

Reports by the ombudsman on individual cases are confidential to the parties concerned. It would not be appropriate for the Government to have knowledge of or to comment on individual cases.

The legal profession is independent and as such complaints about solicitors are a matter for the Law Society. However, the Government take a close interest in this issue and seek regular updates from the Legal Complaints Service (LCS) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to ensure that progress is being made.

The Law Society tells us that in respect of the coal health compensation scheme, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has authorised investigations into 60 firms of solicitors; 20 firms have been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the SRA has won the first three disciplinary cases heard there. To date, solicitors have refunded more than £3.6 million to miners. This figure is expected to rise as more investigations are completed.

It is also our understanding that the Legal Complaints Service has received 3,383 complaints to date, of which 2,538 have been closed. Of the 2,538 closed matters, 162 were upheld and 1,139 were conciliated. The remainder were closed due to reasons such as the customer resolving the matter with the solicitor without LCS assistance, the complaint being outside the LCS jurisdiction; i.e. the complaint was against a union, or the customer not responding.

The Government have legislated in the Legal Services Act 2007 to create an independent Office for Legal Complaints, which will remove complaints handling from the legal professional bodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they have taken following the reports by the Legal Services Ombudsman in respect of retired miners, their widows and families in the British Coal litigation; and whether they are satisfied with the performance of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Complaints Service. [HL3058]

The Government are pleased to note the improvements that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Legal Complaints Service (LCS) have made in dealing with complaints. However, they recognise that still more can be done. The Government are pleased to note that, following a request from the LSCC, the Law Society's 2008-09 plan includes a target related to the handling of miners' cases.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has authorised investigations into 60 firms of solicitors; 20 firms have been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the SRA has won the first three disciplinary cases heard there. To date, solicitors have refunded over £3.6 million to miners. This figure is expected to rise as more investigations are completed.

It is also our understanding that the Legal Complaints Service has received 3,383 complaints to date, of which 2,538 have been closed. Of the 2,538 closed matters, 162 were upheld and 1,139 were conciliated. The remainder were closed due to reasons such as the customer resolving the matter with the solicitor without LCS assistance, the complaint being outside the LCS jurisdiction—that is, the complaint was against a union—or the customer not responding.

Both the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform will continue to work with the LCS, the LSCC, the Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO), coalfield MPs and other bodies to ensure that all claimants under the coal health scheme understand their rights to redress through the LCS where deductions have been made wrongfully from their compensation awards.

In January 2008 Bridget Prentice and Malcolm Wicks met representatives of the LCS and SRA, Kevin Barron MP and Lord Lofthouse to discuss the outcomes and way forward from the Rother Valley initiative.

The Government plan to provide details of claimants under the Coal Health Compensation Scheme to enable the Law Society further to raise awareness among retired miners following the success of the Rother Valley pilot. This will be on a phased basis over the next 12 months.

In January 2008 Bridget Prentice and Malcolm Wicks met representatives of the LCS and SRA, Kevin Barron MP and Lord Lofthouse, to discuss the outcomes and way forward from the Rother Valley initiative.

The Government plan to provide details of claimants under the Coal Health Compensation Scheme to enable the Law Society further to raise awareness among retired miners following the success of the Rother Valley pilot. This will be on a phased basis over the next 12 months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to address the concerns of retired miners, their widows and families in the British Coal litigation seeking redress against their former solicitors, in the light of the reports of the Legal Services Ombudsman in the case of Enoch Walker recommending that the Legal Complaints Service should re-investigate all complaints arising out of the British Coal litigation which had been rejected either for being out of time or because family members did not have locus standi; and whether the ensuing conduct of the Legal Complaints Service was appropriate. [HL3059]

Reports by the ombudsman on individual cases are confidential to the parties concerned. It would not be appropriate for the Government to have knowledge of or to comment on individual cases.

The legal profession is independent and as such complaints about solicitors are a matter for the Law Society rather than the Government. However, the Government believe it is important that miners who complain to the Law Society under the coal health compensation schemes get the level of service and compensation they deserve.

It is our understanding that the Legal Complaints Service has received 3,383 complaints to date, of which 2,538 have been closed. This has resulted in excess of £700,000 being recovered for former miners or their relatives. The Government are also pleased to note that, following a request from the LSCC, the Law Society's 2008-09 plan includes a target related to the handling of miners' cases.

Both the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform will continue to work with the LCS, the LSCC, the Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO), coalfield MPs and other bodies, to ensure that all claimants under the coal health scheme understand their rights to redress through the LCS where deductions have been made wrongfully from their compensation awards.

The Government have legislated in the Legal Services Act 2007 to create an independent Office for Legal Complaints, which will remove complaints handling from the legal professional bodies.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they will allow representatives of Overseas Territories to lay wreaths in their own right at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day. [HL2847]

It is the long-standing practice for my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of all the Overseas Territories at the Remembrance Day service. There are no plans at present to change that arrangement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they will make through the Commonwealth to President Biya of Cameroon that he should not alter the constitution to allow him to stand for re-election for a further seven-year term of office in 2011. [HL2922]

A Commonwealth delegation visited Cameroon in late February 2008 to discuss issues relating to democratic reform. It was able to raise a number of issues with the Government of Cameroon at senior level, including the wider question of electoral reform.

The Government supported a European Union public statement on 27 March 2008, which noted that any changes to the constitution must be decided by the people and institutions of Cameroon, but emphasised the importance of a broad, free and open debate, involving all elements of Cameroonian society, on the proposals for constitutional revision. The statement also said “...the European Union remains convinced that the possibility of a changeover of power, the freedom of the press and the guaranteeing of public freedoms are fundamental to the consolidation of democracy, and draws attention to the urgent need to improve the electoral system and the standard of voter turnout, these being guarantors of the stability that the country needs”.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many care homes in each district of Greater Manchester have more than half of their employees qualified to NVQ level 2 or above. [HL2807]

We have been informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection that it can provide information about the performance of care homes for older people in the Manchester council area against standard 28 of the national minimum standards (NMS) for care homes for older people.

Standard 28 requires a minimum ratio of 50 per cent trained members of care staff to National Vocational Qualification level 2 or equivalent, excluding the registered manager and/or care manager and, in care homes providing nursing, excluding those members of the care staff who are registered nurses.

During the year ending 31 March 2007, of the homes inspected against standard 28 which were still active on 31 March 2007, 73 out of 77 homes met or exceeded the standard.

Comparable information is not available for homes inspected against the NMS for care homes for younger adults.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether media reports of United Kingdom support for the Colombian army’s III Brigade intelligence department are correct and, if so, what is the nature of that support and whether they are satisfied that such support complies with the recommendations of the United Nations special rapporteur on actions regarding human rights defenders. [HL2900]

We do not divulge details of the support that we provide to the Colombian Government because to do so could not only endanger the effectiveness of the support but play into the hands of ruthless and powerful drugs-trafficking cartels. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has upheld this decision.

Our work with the Colombian Government, including with the Ministry of Defence, is specifically aimed at countering the threat of cocaine to the UK and at helping to improve the human rights situation, including through demining work. We do not offer the Colombian Government training in counterinsurgency operations.

We fully endorse and support the recommendations of the United Nations special rapporteur on actions regarding human rights defenders and we closely supervise the use of British resources in an effort to ensure that the highest operational, ethical and human rights standards are maintained by the people whom we are working with.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What matters are covered in the United Kingdom’s advisory role to the Colombian authorities on reform of the Colombian military justice system. [HL2897]

The UK has been working for several years with the Colombian authorities to improve human rights standards in the Colombian military. This is mainly achieved through workshops, which include participants from the Colombian Ministry of Defence, armed forces, police and other relevant institutions such as the public prosecutor's office and international organisations.

Our work with the Colombian military on reform of the military justice system is founded on respect for human rights. Under Colombian law, cases involving human rights abuses are the responsibility of the public prosecutor's office and are not dealt with within the military justice system. We have helped to develop formal liaison between the various agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of offences allegedly committed by members of the armed forces and police, with a view to improving investigatory and judicial processes.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What advice they gave the Colombian authorities regarding the inclusion of cases of human rights abuse within the Colombian military justice system. [HL2898]

The UK has been working for several years with the Colombian authorities to improve human rights standards in the Colombian military. This is mainly achieved through workshops, which include participants from the Colombian Ministry of Defence, armed forces, police and other relevant institutions, such as the public prosecutor’s office and international organisations.

Our work with the Colombian military on reform of the military justice system is founded on respect for human rights. Under Colombian law, cases involving human rights abuses are the responsibility of the public prosecutor’s office and are not dealt with within the military justice system. We have helped to develop formal liaison between the various agencies involved in the investigation and prosecution of offences allegedly committed by members of the armed forces and police, with a view to improving investigatory and judicial processes.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What monitoring and evaluation have been considered to assess the efficacy of support provided to the Colombian military, including the mountain units, and what has been the cost of that support in each year over the past five years. [HL2899]

All UK projects in Colombia, as elsewhere, undergo rigorous evaluation before funding is agreed, in areas such as value for money and effectiveness of implementing partners, and they are carefully monitored while projects are under way in terms of proper use of funds, achievements of objectives and outputs. We continually and closely supervise the use of UK resources in an effort to ensure that the highest operational, ethical and human rights standards are maintained by the people whom we are working with. Our work with the Colombian Government, including with the Ministry of Defence, is specifically aimed at countering the threat of cocaine to the UK and at helping to improve the human rights situation. The only training that we have provided to individuals in the high mountain battalions has been human rights and demining training.

We do not divulge details of the support that we provide to our Colombian partners because to do so could not only endanger the effectiveness of the support but play into the hands of ruthless and powerful drugs-trafficking cartels. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has upheld this decision.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Further to the Written Answer on 3 March by the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Dr Kim Howells MP (Official Report, Commons, 2143W), what was the outcome of the meeting with delegates from the Colombian trade unions. [HL2896]

On 4 March, my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Kim Howells, met senior members of Colombian trade unions during their visit to the UK. The Minister reaffirmed the UK’s support for Colombia and our commitment to working with all sectors of Colombian society to improve the human rights situation. He also expressed the UK’s continuing support for trade unionists in Colombia and our intention to continue our ongoing work with Colombian trade unions and the Trades Union Congress to bring an end to the unacceptable situation that they face.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much the Northern Ireland Compensation Agency has paid out each year since it was created. [HL2826]

This is the operational responsibility of the Compensation Agency. The chief executive has advised me of the following:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by the Prime Minister on 12 March (HC Deb, col. 276) on action to be taken with regard to compensation for pleural plaque sufferers, how much progress has been made since the Law Lords' ruling on pleural plaque compensation on 17 October. [HL3029]

The House of Lords judgment on pleural plaques raises very complex issues. We understand the anxiety that is experienced by people who have been exposed to dangerous substances like asbestos, and who have been told they have pleural plaques. We are currently giving serious consideration to all the representations which have been made to us, and are actively exploring how people who have pleural plaques as a result of exposure to asbestos might be supported. We aim to announce our response as soon as we have analysed all the options.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

In respect of the Department for Children, Schools and Families, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department’s activities. [HL3000]

It is not in the interests of the UK’s national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK’s IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Department of Health, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department's activities. [HL3067]

It is not in the interests of the United Kingdom's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their information technology (IT) systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department's activities. [HL3001]

It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems.

This information would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of (a) the Department for Work and Pensions, (b) Jobcentre Plus, (c) the Pension Service, and (d) the Child Support Agency, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department's activities. [HL2985]

It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Ministry of Defence, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department's activities. [HL3068]

It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Ministry of Justice, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department's activities.[HL3005]

It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of (a) Her Majesty's Treasury and (b) Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised their computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department's activities. [HL3003]

It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they have any plans to increase the age of criminal responsibility to 18. [HL2946]

There are no current plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many children have been subject to restorative justice intervention in Northern Ireland since the creation of the Youth Justice Agency. [HL2864]

Statutory restorative justice intervention for young people in Northern Ireland is delivered through the Youth Justice Agency's Youth Conference Service. Since the commencement of youth conferencing on 18 December 2003, there have been 3,936 referrals (up to 28 March 2008) relating to 2,122 distinct children.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much it will cost per month to provide police protection for Raymond Horne, following his recent deportation from Australia for sexual offences. [HL2778]

This is an operational matter for the police service.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

How many people are currently on the sex offenders register. [HL2780]

According to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements annual reports, as of 31 March 2007 the total number of registered sex offenders in England and Wales was 30,416.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In light of the deportation of Raymond Horne from Australia to Britain, whether they support the creation of an international sex offenders register. [HL2937]

The UK authorities were aware of the arrival of Horne in advance and took steps to deal with this. An international register would not have affected the response in this case. However, increasing the exchange between countries of information on sex offenders is one of our key public protection aims. In November 2006, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Ireland on the exchange of information on sex offenders and are hoping to develop similar arrangements with other states. We have raised the issue of exchanging information on sex offenders in EU discussions and are exploring other opportunities to engage in discussions on this issue with other states.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people are treated each week for the psychological effects of cannabis use; and what advice is given by FRANK, the Government's drug advice service for young people, about the threat posed by cannabis use to the health of young people. [HL3007]

The information requested is not available on a weekly basis. However, the most recent data available on the numbers of people presenting for treatment in specialist substance misuse treatment services who identified cannabis as their primary problem of misuse were 21,800 in 2005-06 and 24,700 (rounded to the nearest hundred) in 2006-07.

The advice FRANK provides is detailed information about the effect of cannabis on physical and mental health and states that there is “increasing evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health and problems such as schizophrenia”.

FRANK delivers this message in a number of ways through its website, telephone helpline, by television and radio adverts and information leaflets.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 20 February (WA 65) refers only to Electoral Commission complaints to and investigations by the Metropolitan Police Service; whether they will provide details of the overall costs of all United Kingdom police investigations on behalf of the Electoral Commission; and what were the outcomes of those investigations. [HL2857]

The Government are not aware of any other investigations being carried out by any other police forces, but detailed information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent the Polkinghorne Guidelines established in 1989 should still apply to research using foetal tissue; how implementation of these guidelines compares in practice to the regulation of research involving human embryos; how calls for greater transparency and consistency have been addressed since the publication of a report in the Royal Society of Medicine's Clinical Ethics journal in 2006 (Volume 1, pages 216–8); and what are the justifications for any known differences regarding separation of treatment and research roles in obtaining material from foetuses or patients undergoing fertility treatment. [HL2704]

Since the publication of the Polkinghorne Guidelines in 1989 (amended 1995), new statutory frameworks have been put in place to regulate fertility treatment and embryo research and to regulate the use of tissue for research.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 regulates fertility treatments, involving the creation of embryos outside the body, for example in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and the use of donated gametes (sperm and eggs) and embryos, and the use of human embryos in research.

The Human Tissue Act 2004 regulates the removal, storage, use and disposal of relevant material for scheduled purposes including research. Relevant material is defined as any material consisting of or including human cells with the exception of gametes, embryos outside the human body and hair and nail from a living person.

The Human Tissue Authority has published a code of practice on consent for the use of human tissue for certain purposes including research. The code recognises the sensitivity surrounding the use of foetal tissue for research and says that best practice is to obtain fully informed consent for the use of foetal tissue in research or for other purposes specified in the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Both fertility treatment and embryo research require a licence from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). While the majority of research involves the use of embryos donated by patients who no longer wish to use them in their own treatment, the processes of treatment and research are kept separate. The HFEA's code of practice provides guidance to clinics and research centres about the proper conduct of licensed activities.

Research Ethics Committee approval is always required for the use of foetal tissue, products of conception and live human embryos in research.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the provisions in Clause 4 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill were based on the experience of other countries known to have performed research using human gametes and animal gametes without replacing the nucleus of an animal egg and not destroyed later than the two-cell stage; if so, in which countries such research has been carried out; in what years that research commenced; what significant medical advances were made by the research; and in which other countries such hybrids have been described as human admixed embryos. [HL2810]

The Government are not aware of any published research into the creation of embryos using human and animal gametes where such embryos have gestated beyond the two-cell stage. We are not aware of any country referring to such embryos as human admixed embryos.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 19 March (WA 44), whether outgrowing embryos lie outside the remit of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority if they have ceased to be human embryos; and why every embryo in British laboratories that has been cultured for more than 14 days lacks any relationship between the trophectoderm and the inner cell mass. [HL2811]

Once an embryo ceases to be a live human embryo it falls outside the regulatory remit of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. It is the intrinsic nature of cell masses which have outgrown from the structure of an embryo to lack a relationship between the trophectoderm and the inner cell mass.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 19 March (WA 44), how the necessary organisational structure of a viable embryo has been determined on the basis of empirical studies of primate embryos; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a list of references to all peer-reviewed research papers which support the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's decision on this matter. [HL2812]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority came to the conclusions on outgrowing embryos after taking account of the views of a range of scientific and clinical experts. Studies in the 1970s demonstrated that on a collagen surface the inner cell mass retains its 3D structure while on plastic it becomes completely flat. It was concluded that the retention of a 3D structure is key to its continuing to develop normally and form a recognisable embryo in vitro.

(Reference: Hsu YC (1971) Post-blastocyst differentiation in vitro. Nature. 14;231(5298):100-2).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 31 March (WA 133), why the Department of Health does not collect detailed information on therapies and clinical trials involving adult stem cells or embryonic stem cells; and whether collation of such information would be an appropriate use of public funds by the Medical Research Council and the National Health Service. [HL2971]

The department does not systematically collate information on therapies or clinical trials based on the distinction between any one source of starting material. The Government have stated that they will fund stem cell research irrespective of the source of the stem cells.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) has information on the clinical trials it funds; for example on the treatment of leukaemias and other blood cancers involving the transplant of adult (bone marrow) stem cells. However, it is not within the MRC's remit to collect detailed information on therapies and clinical trials involving adult stem cells or embryonic stem cells.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 31 March (WA 132–33), whether any member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority who has been part of a committee making licensing decisions regarding nuclear transfer has ever expressed views in favour of reproductive cloning; and to what extent those opposed to the creation of human embryos for such research influence licensing decisions. [HL2972]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised the department that it is not aware of any views expressed in favour of human reproductive cloning by members of the authority's research licence committee.

Lay summaries of research proposals submitted to the HFEA are placed on its website with an invitation to the public to submit comments. All comments received by the HFEA, including those from people opposed to the creation of embryos by cell nuclear replacement for research purposes, are considered by the research licence committee before making its decisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 29 November 2007 (Official Report, 29/11/07; col. WA 131) and 3 December 2007 (Official Report, 3/12/07, col. WA 159) regarding the need for fully informed consent on the part of women donating eggs for research, how many eggs were stated to be required to ensure that the chance of pregnancy is not reduced according to patient information and consent forms approved by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; and how these documents reflect the corresponding overall incidence of hospitalisation described in the journal Human Fertility (volume 10, issue 3, pages 183–87). [HL3075]

The department has been informed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) that it does not produce guidance on the number of eggs required to ensure that the chance of pregnancy is not reduced in an egg-sharing arrangement. That is a matter for individual clinical judgement. However, the HFEA's code of practice states that clinics should ensure that the treatment offered is the most suitable available to satisfy the needs of the egg provider and recipient(s).

The HFEA also expects that, before treatment begins, women should be given information on, among other things, a description of how the clinic proposes to determine the allocation of eggs between provider and recipient(s) and the possible side-effects and risks of treatment, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the Medical Research Council's request for applications before 19 March in order to catch up with induced pluripotent stem cell technology reflects the current position of stem cell research in the United Kingdom relative to global competitors; and how this compares with the merits of interspecies nuclear transfer, as recently publicised on 1 April in advance of peer review. [HL3006]

The Medical Research Council (MRC) supports research into all approaches to harness the potential of stem cells to treat human disease and believes that the discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is a major breakthrough in stem cell research. This technology is at a very early stage and, although there has been proof of principle, many questions remain unanswered.

Research into iPS cells is being pursued in many laboratories around the globe, following the original demonstration of this technology in mouse in 2006 and in human cells in 2007. UK researchers are well placed to utilise this technology, and the recent joint MRC/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) call for proposals aims to promote the development of human iPS cells towards application. Comparative studies with human embryonic stem cells will be key to understanding the full potential of this technology.

The MRC has made no assessment of the recently publicised findings on interspecies nuclear transfer, which have yet to be peer reviewed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress is being made in their discussions with the Government of France on the proposed nuclear power stations joint project. [HL2787]

The French and UK nuclear safety regulating authorities announced enhanced co-operation on 27 March. In particular, they will work together to establish a joint project approach to the regulation of the European pressurised water reactor should that go on to the next stage of generic design assessment alongside other reactor designs, following the prioritisation process recently announced by the UK Government. This joint approach in relation to the EPR will not prejudice other designs involved in the prioritisation process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the interests of reducing carbon emissions, they will consider introducing a policy to discourage large families through fiscal means. [HL3031]

The Government's objective is to provide financial support to families in a way that meets their needs, and does this primarily through a combination of child benefit, which goes to all families, and child tax credit, a payment to families on low to moderate incomes. Both child benefit and child tax credit pay more for additional children, recognising the higher costs these families face. Between 1998-99 and 2005-06, increases in the level of financial support to families have helped lift 600,000 children out of poverty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their policy towards family size. [HL3032]

Families are free to be whatever size they choose and the Government support them in this choice in a wide range of ways including through our childcare strategy, tax credits, benefits and services offered through Sure Start children's centres and extended schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 (SI 2008/691), whether Articles 3, 4 and 5 provide that tope may be caught using a rod and line but may not be landed in England nor transhipped to a fishing boat from another part of the United Kingdom; and whether tope may, in those circumstances, be landed in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. [HL2856]

The Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 prohibits tope caught by rod and line from being landed, alive or dead, in England only. Anglers can continue to practise catch and release. Only tope caught by methods other than rod and line, up to a limit of 45 kg per day liveweight, may be landed. Tope caught by any method may currently be landed in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Tope may not be transhipped by UK vessels in English waters and within British fishery limits, excluding Northern Ireland zone, the Scottish zone, Wales or the territorial sea adjacent to the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

We understand that the Welsh Assembly Government intend to introduce an equivalent statutory instrument and the Scottish Executive are considering this matter further. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland has no plans to introduce similar measures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the carbon footprint of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office brochure Better World, Better Britain, published in February. [HL2803]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not estimated the carbon footprint of this publication.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Rules 2008 (SI 2008/638), what is the estimate for 2008–09 of the numbers of annual fees that will be charged in each fee band; what was the actual figure for 2006–07; and what is the latest prediction for 2007–08. [HL2824]

The information requested is set out in the table below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Gangmasters (Licensing Conditions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Rules 2008 (SI 2008/638), why renewal fees increased by 11.1 per cent for bands A and B and 7.9 per cent for Band C. [HL2825]

Under Treasury funding rules, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is required to cover the cost of its operation from the licence and application fees it receives.

The GLA fee levels for the 2008-09 financial year were set following public consultation. On the basis of the outcome of this consultation, the GLA decided that licence fees for band D licence holders should not be increased. Band D licence holders are the smallest businesses licensed by the GLA, with turnovers of less than £1 million in the sectors regulated by the authority. Keeping band D licence fee levels unchanged represents a saving in real terms for more than 72 per cent of licence holders. To meet its cost recovery target, the GLA has had to increases fee levels for licence holders in bands A to C.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 17 January (WA 278), what representations the Ministry of Defence has had since 24 September 2007 from Dr Malcolm Hooper, emeritus professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Sunderland, on the deaths and illnesses of veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf War; and what responses they are making to the questions posed by Dr Hooper in his reply to the department's letter to him dated 9 January. [HL3047]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans (Derek Twigg) will write to my noble friend setting out the position regarding recent letters from Professor Malcolm Hooper. In broad terms, however, these letters do not raise substantive new points on Gulf veterans' illnesses that would affect our understanding of their causes or the steps we might take to help those affected.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many quasi-autonomous non-governmental agencies attached to health and social care exist. [HL3016]

Details of the department's public bodies, executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and special health authorities, for 2007 have been placed in the Library.

This information is now published on the Appointments Commission website at: www.appointments.org. uk/docs/public_bodies_2007.pdf and will be updated annually.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the new electronic tags for Alzheimer's patients will be available through the National Health Service. [HL2939]

The department has no plans to make electronic tags available to people with Alzheimer's disease through the National Health Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 25 March (WA 82), whether they will provide the same statistics with regard to anthrax. [HL2875]

Anthrax vaccine is not routinely offered to the public in the United Kingdom. Vaccination against bacillus anthracis is recommended only for those at highest risk of occupational exposure; for example, those handling dead animals, e.g. tanners and vets and laboratory staff who may be handling organisms. Data on the numbers of people vaccinated are not routinely collected.

The Health Protection Agency issues vaccine for the purpose of occupational protection and during the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2007, 2,430 doses of anthrax vaccine were issued by the agency. A primary course of vaccination for pre-exposure prophylaxis normally comprises four doses of vaccine followed by an annual booster dose.

There is no vaccine immunoglobulin for anthrax vaccine.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of people seeking an appointment with a genito-urinary medicine clinic are seen within 48 hours; and how this varies between regions. [HL3017]

Information on the number of first attendances at genito-urinary medicine clinics seen within two normal working days in January, the latest month for which figures are available, by strategic health authority is shown in the following table.

Source: Department of Health genito-urinary medicine access monthly monitoring form.

Notes: The data presented here are for first attendances only. These are commissioner-based data.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many new hospitals are presently under construction in England and Wales; and which of these are in north-west England. [HL2967]

Information on new hospital schemes under construction in England is shown in the following table (information on schemes in Wales is not held centrally by the Department of Health in England).

The table shows that of the 33 schemes currently under construction, four are within the boundaries of the North West Strategic Health Authority (SHA).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are taking any steps actively to encourage the provision of hydrotherapy for those with mobility problems. [HL2999]

No steps have been taken centrally. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders, including practice-based commissioners, local government and the public to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of hydrotherapy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made as to how single-line prescription items such as intermittent catheters will be affected by the proposed changes to service remuneration under the review of part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stomach and incontinence appliances, and related services to NHS primary care. [HL2981]

The review of the arrangements under part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related services in primary care is ongoing.

One of the aims of the review is to achieve clear transparency between what is reimbursed for items and what is paid for services (remuneration). Through a process of consultation, views have been sought on proposals that reflect this aim. In our assessment, single-line prescription items such as intermittent catheters should not be affected by the proposed changes to service remuneration.

A further consultation is due to be published in May 2008, together with an impact assessment and equality impact assessment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether initiatives to tackle health inequalities will include schemes to address inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability. [HL2979]

Initiatives to tackle health inequalities will include schemes to address inequalities by people with a learning disability. We are currently promoting a primary care trust framework to support comprehensive health checks, health action planning and better access to health promotion services for people with learning disabilities and we are publishing guidance to the National Health Service on meeting the disability equality duty in relation to this group shortly.

Valuing People Now: From Progress to Transformation was published on 4 December 2007. The document builds on the vision set out in the White Paper Valuing People (2001) and proposes five priorities for delivery over the next three years—personalisation, health, employment and social inclusion, housing and ensuring change happens. Valuing People Now is key in driving forward the health agenda and tackling inequalities for people with learning disabilities. The consultation period ended on 28 March 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to carry out further research into whether or not the use of mobile phones causes brain tumours. [HL2940]

The ongoing Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme is jointly funded by government and industry. This programme is managed by an independent committee which selects and monitors the research. MTHR published its first report in September 2007. The report can be found on the MTHR website at www.mthr.org.uk/.

MTHR studies found no epidemiological association between short-term mobile telephone use (less than 10 years) and cancers of the brain and nervous system. The report noted that the situation for longer exposure times is less clear and recommended work to assess whether exposure to mobile telephone radiofrequencies in the longer term increases the risk of developing brain and nervous system tumours. A cohort study to investigate a wide range of potential effects including brain cancer is under way at Imperial College, London.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many hospitals built since 1997 have single-sex wards. [HL3028]

Information about the number of hospitals that have single-sex wards is not collected centrally. Guidance issued to the National Health Service requires the provision of single-sex accommodation, not wards, which can take a number of forms. NHS trusts may provide good segregation through single rooms, single-sex bays within a mixed ward, single-sex wards or combinations of these types.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which annual reports the Home Office is required by Act of Parliament to produce; and, in each case, what is the authorising Act. [HL2860]

The Home Office is obliged by statute to lay the following annual documents before parliament:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the post office in the Central Lobby of the Palace of Westminster is one of those under threat of closure. [HL2978]

The Post Office in question has not been proposed for closure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 10 January (WA 219), which provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 require that the identity of a clinic at which women are known to have been at risk from life-threatening complications should not be publicly disclosed; and how the interests of prospective patients are similarly protected in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. [HL3074]

There are no provisions in either the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 or the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that explicitly require that the identity of a clinic at which women are known to have been at risk from life-threatening complications should not be publicly disclosed. However, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has informed the department that it would regard the release of information that could lead to the identification of individual patients as contrary to the confidentiality provisions in Section 33(2)(a) of the Act.

In 2003 the HFEA introduced an incident alert reporting system. Taking an approach where the name of a clinic reporting an incident is not made public, the HFEA has worked with clinics to encourage greater reporting, particularly of lower risk incidents or those that are “near misses”. This is to ensure that lessons learnt from such events can be circulated to other clinics, so avoiding a repeat elsewhere in the sector.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Immigration Tribunal Service did not deliver to the Home Office the appeal submission in the name of Nino Trollope in the case of the visa application for entry into the United Kingdom from Mrs Anna Zurabishvili. [HL2957]

When an appeal against refusal of entry into the United Kingdom is lodged with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (as opposed to being lodged with the embassy), the tribunal serves a copy on the embassy that dealt with the visa application, which is then responsible for instructing the Home Office presenting officers unit in the UK. The AIT served a copy of the appeal for Mrs Anna Zurabishvili on the British embassy, Tbilisi on 6 July 2007 and sent a duplicate copy by fax at the embassy's request on 22 November 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they or the European Union raised at the United Nations Human Rights Council in March section 5 of the Iranian draft penal code, which provides a mandatory death penalty for apostasy, in contravention of Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and, if so, with what results. [HL2923]

The UK and the EU are deeply concerned by provisions in Iran's draft penal code that would make the crimes of apostasy, heresy and witchcraft punishable by death and have spoken out publicly about this on several occasions. The EU presidency issued a declaration on behalf of the EU on 25 February 2008 expressing concern about the draft law and calling on Iran to ensure that any modifications to the penal code are consistent with the international human rights conventions to which Iran is a state party. The EU also expressed concerns about these amendments in a meeting with the Iranian authorities in early March and in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council on 13 March. My honourable friend the Minister for the Middle East, Kim Howells, called in the Iranian ambassador on 1 April to raise UK concerns about the apostasy articles of the draft penal code and to stress our opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What processes are in place for the Ministry of Defence to learn from the experience of the St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service in providing support to injured service personnel, in particular their support for those injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. [HL2789]

Formal meetings between the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) and MoD are held four times a year. The main purpose for these meetings is to monitor the contract which is in place between the MoD and DMWS. However these meetings also offer the opportunity for issues to be raised by both organisations and there is also close liaison in between meetings.

DMWS staffs are firmly embedded in all deployed field hospitals and are the primary welfare contact for the patients in those units. The DMWS is also contracted to provide welfare services to service personnel in hospitals in the UK, Germany and Cyprus. Welfare is also an integral part of a commanding officer's (CO) responsibility to those under their command, both staff and patients, and as such COs have a vested interest in maintaining close contact with their DMWS staff.

COs of field hospitals are invited to contribute to the contract monitoring process and further have the opportunity to reflect issues expressed by and with respect to the DMWS in their post-operational reports, all of which contribute to lessons learned from operational deployments. Additionally the COs of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Ministry of Defence Hospital Units and representatives from the chains of command from Germany and Cyprus are invited to attend one of the quarterly meetings each year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to resist any proposals from the United States to include British troops based at Basra airport in military activities in Basra. [HL2885]

UK forces in Basra may be asked to undertake military activities in support of Iraqi Security Force operations where coalition commanders judge such requests from the Iraqis to be militarily viable and appropriate. For example, UK forces have, as part of the coalition effort, provided fast jet, helicopter, logistic, medical, staff officer and ground force support to recent Iraqi Security Force operations against criminal elements in Basra. UK forces will continue to meet all their obligations as part of the multinational corps.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they played a role in establishing the business skills programmes being developed in partnership between local district councils and the Baghdad Small Business Development Centre. [HL2725]

The Department for International Development is not involved in establishing the business skills programme being developed in partnership between local district councils and the Baghdad Small Business Development Centre (SBDC). This is an initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the estimates made by the International Organisation for Migration in its recent report on the number of displaced Iraqis and on the number of internally displaced Iraqis who do not receive government food rations, lack clean water and do not have access to the medications they require. [HL2767]

The UK Government remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in Iraq and the number of people who have been displaced from their homes. We have seen the International Organisation for Migration's (IOM) recent assessment that more than 5.1 million people are now displaced, of whom 2.7 million are displaced inside Iraq. The IOM also estimates that more than 75 per cent of internally displaced people do not have access to government food rations, nearly 20 per cent do not have access to clean water and 33 per cent cannot obtain the medicines they require. However, it remains difficult to obtain accurate data on the humanitarian situation in Iraq, and the figures quoted by humanitarian agencies vary. For example, UNHCR has recently reported that the total number of displaced Iraqis is around 4.4 million, of which 2.4 million are displaced inside Iraq.

Despite uncertainty about exact numbers, it is clear there are humanitarian needs in Iraq that have to be addressed. The Department for International Development is committed to playing its part and is working closely with the IOM, as well as UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to ensure urgent needs are met. In March this year, DfID announced a further £15 million in humanitarian assistance for vulnerable Iraqis, including a £1.5 million contribution to the IOM. This money will support humanitarian operations, including efforts to fill the gaps in the Government's food distribution system, repair water and sanitation structures, and rehabilitate and strengthen health services and facilities. This latest package of support takes DfID's total humanitarian contributions for Iraq to £147 million since 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the recent report by Women for Women International which found a substantial drop in the number of girls being enrolled in school over the past five years in Iraq; and [HL2726]

What is their response to the latest figures published by the United Nations which suggest that the number of illiterate women in Iraq has increased from 2 per cent in the 1970s and 1980s to 27 per cent today. [HL2727]

The UK Government share the concerns about gender disparities as well as general lack of access for children to education in Iraq. In March this year, the Department for International Development announced contributions to the UN's Children Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), totalling £5 million. These contributions will support the provision of emergency learning spaces and school equipment, rehabilitation of education facilities, and transportation for children to school, as well as meeting other priority needs among vulnerable Iraqis. This support forms part of DfID's overall humanitarian contributions for Iraq, totalling £147 million since 2003.

DfID has not seen the UN figures the noble Baroness quotes on female literacy in Iraq. The UNICEF report of last year estimated that overall literacy rates may have been around 74 per cent in 2006, compared to 52 per cent in 1977 and 72 per cent in 1987 following the education campaigns of the 1970s and 1980s. The report did not give figures for female literacy rates in the 1970s and 1980s but estimated they were around 64 per cent in 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of girls are enrolled in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Iraq; and how this compares with five years ago. [HL2770]

There is a lack of reliable data on the overall situation in the education sector in Iraq, and the enrolment of girls in education more specifically. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) offers the following statistics, which indicate a slight increase in girls' enrolment at all levels of education between 2002 and 2005:

We do not have enrolment data for 2006 and 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assistance they are providing to reconstruct, repair and upgrade the power system in Iraq, including generation, transmission and distribution; and [HL2687]

What assistance they are providing to the Iraqi Commission of Electricity in drafting and implementing policy. [HL2688]

Since 2003 the Department for International Development (DfID) has spent £90 million on infrastructure projects in southern Iraq, of which £84 million has been on the power sector. We have added or secured 415 megawatts of electricity to the Iraqi national grid, and will be adding or securing a further 60 megawatts over the next few months, enough to provide 24 hours of power for around 1 million people. This has been achieved by repairing damaged electricity transmission and distribution networks, including transmission lines from al-Hartha power station to Basra city (securing electricity supplies for 1.5 million residents), and the al-Hartha power station chimney (securing electricity supplies for 340,000 people).

DfID is not providing any support to the Iraqi Commission of Electricity in drafting and implementing policy. We have been encouraging the Government of Iraq to approach the World Bank for advice on the energy sector, including power, as we believe that the bank is best placed to provide this assistance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assistance they are giving to the refugees in the al-Tanf and al-Waleed camps on the Iraq border. [HL2642]

The UK Government remain concerned about the situation for the more than 2,700 Palestinian refugees in the al-Tanf and al-Waleed camps on the Iraqi-Syrian border. The Department for International Development supports these refugees through contributions to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). DfID recently announced a further £15 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq, of which £10 million has gone to UNHCR and ICRC. This money will support displaced people in and from Iraq, including the Palestinians in the al-Tanf and al-Waleed camps. UNHCR and ICRC provide camp maintenance and medical assistance for the Palestinian refugees. UNHCR also pursues possibilities for resettlement for a number of these refugees to third countries.

DfID has contributed £147 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq since 2003, of which £56 million has gone to UNHCR and ICRC.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the letter sent by 24 refugee and human rights agencies to the Prime Minister on 18 March on Iraqi refugees. [HL2768]

The UK Government share the concerns for displaced Iraqis, as set out by the 24 NGOs in the open letter of 18 March to the UK and Iraqi Prime Ministers and the US President.

It is a priority for the UK Government to alleviate humanitarian suffering among displaced and vulnerable Iraqis. This is the reason the Department for International Development has recently announced a further £15 million in humanitarian assistance. The money will go to the UN-led Consolidated Appeal for Iraq, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This takes the UK Government's overall humanitarian assistance contributions for Iraq to £147 million since 2003. DfID's contributions have supported the provision of food, financial and legal aid to displaced and other vulnerable Iraqis. It has also supported the rehabilitation of hospital water and sanitation structures in Iraq and the upgrading of health and education facilities in host communities and countries. In addition, the UK is a major contributor to the European Commission (EC). Last year, the EC allocated €50 million in support of Iraqi refugees in the Middle East region. This included €9 million to support Syrian public health services in areas with large Iraqi populations, and €26.7 million to build capacity in the Jordanian education sector to accommodate Iraqi refugee children.

DfID's contributions to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) support the protection of Iraqi refugees in the Middle East region. By registering with UNHCR, refugees obtain improved legal protection in countries that have not signed up to the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention. UNHCR is continuously increasing its outreach efforts to register more Iraqis in countries such as Jordan and Syria. UNHCR also provides food and financial assistance to prevent destitution among the refugees. Other protection measures include UNHCR support to safe houses for victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable women and children in Syria.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What attempts they have made to restore the operating capacity of Iraq's 140 major water treatment centres, which currently operate at 65 per cent efficiency; and [HL2684]

What role they have played in rehabilitating the 15 water treatment facilities and portions of the Sweet Water Canal to Basra; and [HL2685]

What role they have played in the World Bank's two projects, Emergency Water, Sanitation and Urban Reconstruction, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works, and Emergency Baghdad Water Supply and Sanitation, which is being implemented by the mayoralty of Baghdad, to increase levels of water sanitation in Iraq. [HL2686]

In 2003, Iraq's 140 major water treatment facilities were operating at about 35 per cent of their design capacity (3 billion litres a day) due to inadequate maintenance, lack of plant operators, power shortages and looting. The international donor community, including the UK, US, World Bank and Japanese, are helping improve the efficiency and reliability of existing treatment facilities and the US has constructed several new facilities, especially in the south where water quality is particularly poor.

The Department for International Development has committed more than £100 million to infrastructure regeneration projects in Iraq. By May, we will have improved access to water for 1 million people. We have replaced 200 kilometres of water mains, repaired over 5,000 leaks, cleared out 7,000 septic tanks and cleared more than 40 kilometres of drains. We have refurbished a reverse osmosis unit in Basra to supply potable water to about 500,000 people. We have also improved water supply to 60,000 people in al-Amtahiyah, and constructed a water training centre in Basra to increase the skills of Iraqi engineers in water treatment and leakage repair. Finally, we have provided technical advice for a major sewage installation in al-Amarah, providing up to half the city's population with access to a piped system and replacing open sewage channels.

The US has rehabilitated the Sweet Water Canal system, repairing breaches, cleaning and repairing the main water storage and settling reservoir and refurbishing 14 water treatment plants around Basra city. The UK Royal Engineers have completed a project, funded by DfID, to install low lift pumps to provide a secondary source of domestic water supply to the 2 million population of Basra.

The two World Bank emergency water and sanitation projects in Iraq are being funded through the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI)—a multilateral mechanism made up of two trust funds, one managed by the United Nations and the other by the World Bank. Donors have pledged more than $1.77 billion for reconstruction projects through the IRFFI, of which DfID made a contribution of $127 million in 2004.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What representations they have made to the Government of Israel about reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross claiming that the Gaza Strip’s sewage system is incapable of handling its waste. [HL2912]

We remain gravely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the poor state of essential services, including water and sanitation. In a briefing to the diplomatic corps on 26 March, Israeli Defence Minister Barak said that he had supported the Gaza sewage project and that Israel would do what it could to complete it.

My right honourable friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development issued statements on 11 and 21 January 2008 expressing their deep concern about the humanitarian impact of the restrictions imposed by the Government of Israel on Gaza and urging Israel to lift all restrictions.

My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has also reiterated our concerns in phone calls with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and Defence Minister Barak in recent weeks.

Our embassy in Tel Aviv continues to raise this issue on a regular basis with the Israelis.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they will take steps with their European Union Middle East road map partners to ensure that substantive rather than partial negotiations are started by Israel and the Palestinian Authority with a view to ensuring the creation of a Palestinian state by the end of this year. [HL2914]

The EU, as a member of the quartet (US, UN, EU and Russia), has an important political role to play in the Middle East peace process. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions with international partners, including EU colleagues, on the peace process. The EU presidency issued a declaration on 14 March 2008 expressing the European Council’s full support for the Annapolis process and its commitment to support the parties in their negotiations with a view to achieving an agreement this year leading to a two-state solution. The EU continues to demonstrate its commitment to the peace process by: providing political support; giving practical support to Palestinian institutions; capacity and economic development; and effective monitoring to hold the parties to their commitments.