asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they plan to provide separate facilities for detained men and women in the holding room of short-term holding facilities in terminal 3 of Heathrow Airport. [HL3369]

We are currently in the process of looking at the feasibility of creating separate short-term holding facilities at terminal 3 for women as recommended in the recent Independent Monitoring Board report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements they have made to ensure that detainees in the short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport are able to make the free telephone call to which they are entitled. [HL3370]

There is no national standard or policy regarding the use of telephones by detainees which would cover the short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport.

However, the IS91R (notice of reasons for detention) form which is issued to a detainee states:

“You may request to have a person known to you or who is likely to take an interest in your welfare informed at public expense as soon as practicable of your whereabouts”.

Detainees are given access to telephone calls either via their own mobile phone (except for those with cameras, recording or internet facility), or via a payphone. Alternatively, if they are not able to use these, access to a free telephone call is provided.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many detainees in the past six months waited more than eight hours for transportation from the short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport to Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre. [HL3371]

The information requested is not readily available and provision of a reply would be at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who were on the panel that selected the new Director of Service Prosecutions. [HL3626]

The members of the panel which considered candidates for the Director of Service Prosecutions post were: Elizabeth McMeikan, Civil Service Commissioner; Sir Ian Andrews, Second Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence; General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman, Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff; and Sir Ken McDonald, Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In what circumstances and on what grounds staff of BAA are entitled to instruct airlines to refuse to carry passengers; at what level such decisions are made; and how many such decisions have been made at each of London's airports in the past 12 months. [HL3603]

BAA is not entitled to instruct airlines to refuse to carry passengers. Airlines within their own terms and conditions may refuse to carry passengers—for example, in circumstances where they have incorrect documentation, have been disruptive or have made hoax threats.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will allocate £8 million over five years from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs's contingency fund specifically for research on bee health; and whether they will consult the British Beekeepers' Association and other interested parties to help prioritise research areas. [HL3523]

Defra's contingency reserve is for tackling emergencies such as major disease outbreaks or natural disasters.

The expectation is that funding for commissioned research specific to honey-bee health will be around the same level as in previous years. In addition to this, honey-bee health benefits from other Defra-funded research activities.

A Bee Health Research Funders' Forum has been created to discuss priorities. Defra, the National Bee Unit and the British Beekeepers' Association participate along with other interested parties. Research priorities are also addressed in the draft bee health strategy, which is currently available for public consultation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 25 April (WA 324), why it costs £735 to be registered as a British citizen. [HL3356]

We now calculate the fees for immigration applications with a flexible charging model. This means we use a number of factors to determine the fees working within strict financial limits agreed with HM Treasury. We no longer set fees on a straightforward cost-recovery basis but flexibly to cover the full end-to-end cost of the immigration system and by taking into account the value of a successful application in terms of entitlements and benefits to the migrant.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make representations to the Government of Burma to postpone the referendum scheduled to be held on 10 May because of the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis. [HL3537]

Our ambassador in Rangoon wrote to Senior General Than Shwe, Prime Minister Thein Sein and other members of the Burmese Government to put the referendum process to one side and mobilise all efforts on the urgent relief effort following Cyclone Nargis.

It is incomprehensible in the current circumstances that the regime went ahead with the referendum on 10 May, with the intention to conduct the remaining part of the process on 24 May. The referendum and any subsequent process leading to the planned election in 2010 need to be inclusive, transparent and conducted in an environment where all political parties can participate without fear of intimidation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have identified specialist authorities with appropriate procedures and services for unaccompanied children who are suspected of being trafficked and who require care and protection; and whether they will appoint independent guardians and an independent rapporteur for such children. [HL3327]

We are holding discussions with potential specialist authorities over the care and support of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Such care and support will include measures to identify and meet the needs of those who may have been trafficked.

On the appointment of guardians, I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 14 November 2007 (Official Report, col. WA 19). The Government do not currently believe that there is a role for an independent rapporteur for trafficked children. We have in place an interdepartmental ministerial group on human trafficking supported by a stakeholder group of non-government organisations which meets Ministers on a regular basis.

Each provides opportunities for consultations on the Government's strategy for combating human trafficking. Key children's charities, and the Children's Commissioner, are represented on the NGO stakeholder group.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to support the National Care Farming Initiative in its efforts to expand its database. [HL3612]

The Government recognise the valuable work carried out by care farms and support the National Care Farming Initiative's plans to create a database of all care farming providers. I will be visiting a long established care farm, Highfields Happy Hens, on 22 May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the implications of the reported new Chinese submarine base. [HL3676]

I am aware of recent articles about construction at Sanya Naval Base on Hainan Island. An enhancement of the facilities on Hainan Island would not be at odds with China's published 2006 national defence White Paper, which states that its navy “aims at gradual extension of the strategic depth for offshore defensive operations and enhancing its capabilities in integrated maritime operations and nuclear counterattacks”. We routinely monitor Chinese military developments and consistently encourage it to maintain transparency and a responsible approach to military modernisation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Over the past year (a) how much money has been raised by the climate change levy; (b) what the cost of this levy has been per individual household; and (c) what the cost has been of the promotion, development and subsidy of renewable energy.[HL3629]

(a) Receipts from the climate change levy for the 2006-07 financial year were roughly £712 million. HM Revenue and Customs routinely publishes data on levy receipts in the climate change levy bulletin, which is available at www.uktradeinfo.com.

(b) The levy is charged on energy supplied to business and the public sector; supplies of energy to domestic consumers, charities and non-business use are excluded from the levy, so costs are not borne by individual households.

(c) Expenditure by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on sustainable energy projects in 2007-08 was £29.6 million. Of this total, £26 million was capital grant expenditure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many single farm payments are outstanding for the years 2005 and 2006; and what proportion of the 2007 payments have been made. [HL3624]

There are eight payments outstanding for the 2005 single payment scheme (SPS) year and 42 outstanding for the 2006 SPS year.

The outstanding payments for these years relate to complex cases, mainly involving legal and probate issues.

Of the total estimated claimant population of 106,700, 91.7 per cent have received full SPS payment for the 2007 SPS year.

The RPA is working to finalise remaining payments as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to avoid trauma for young witnesses by enabling them to give testimony to courts through video links. [HL3496]

Section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 permitted child witnesses under the age of 14 years in the case of offences of violence or cruelty, and child witnesses under 17 years of age in sex-offence cases, to give evidence by way of live link, so that they can give evidence from outside the courtroom. The availability of live links was extended by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to all witnesses who are under 17 years of age. The legislation includes presumptions that live links will be used for young witnesses, particularly in cases of sexual or violent offences.

There are now video-link rooms in all Crown Court centres and in 77 per cent of all magistrates’ courts. Her Majesty's Courts Service has allocated £2 million this financial year to upgrade equipment in the Crown Court and the magistrates’ courts and, where required, provide a small amount of new equipment in the Crown Court and magistrates’ courts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will set out the timetable for the incorporation of “authority to carry” within the United Kingdom's e-Borders programme; and when they expect full implementation of such a system. [HL3585]

The “authority to carry” capability will be available over a phased period from October 2008, with a manual response process to inform carriers. A fully automated response to carriers is a future service under the e-Borders contract.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will set out a timetable for the incorporation of “other passenger information” (OPI) data within the United Kingdom's e-Borders programme; and when they expect full use of OPI data within United Kingdom border checks. [HL3586]

The e-Borders system already collects and uses a small sample of OPI which it has used to de-risk the main programme. From summer 2009 the e-Borders solution will begin the incremental capture of other passenger information (OPI), and by the end of December 2013 will be processing 100 million targeted/selected OPI passenger movements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consultations they have had with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand with regard to the technologies they have employed to operate their authority to carry schemes for the past 10 years; and whether and when this technology will be employed within the United Kingdom's e-Borders programme. [HL3587]

Heads of Border Operations within the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States sit on a five-country steering group. The group is committed to strengthening links between the participating countries and has held discussions on the various “authority to carry” schemes.

The “authority to carry” capability will be available from October 2008, with a manual response process to inform carriers. A fully automated response to carriers is a future service under the e-Borders contract.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 25 March (WA 81) concerning the reports of the Shipman inquiry, what steps have been taken to implement the measures proposed to strengthen the systems of death and cremation certification; and [HL3539]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 25 March (WA 81) concerning the reports of the Shipman inquiry, whether they will implement the recommendation that it should be unlawful for a single doctor to provide certification of death for burial purposes; and [HL3540]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 25 March (WA 81) concerning the reports of the Shipman inquiry, whether they will implement the recommendation that there should be independent scrutiny by a second person of the circumstances of death and the deceased's medical history; and [HL3541]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 25 March (WA 81) concerning the reports of the Shipman inquiry, whether they will implement the recommendation that there should be cross-checking of information between the treating doctor or doctors, the deceased's family and, where appropriate, nursing or care staff, to ensure that the suggested cause of death is consistent with the circumstances of the deceased's death; and [HL3542]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 25 March (WA 81) concerning the reports of the Shipman inquiry, whether they will implement the recommendation that no doctor should by themselves be permitted to make the decision whether or not to refer a death to the coroner for investigation; and [HL3543]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 25 March (WA 81) concerning the reports of the Shipman inquiry, whether they will introduce the proposal in the third report for new forms of reporting and adequate capturing of information relating to the circumstances of death. [HL3544]

The department published a consultation paper, Improving the Process of Death Certification, on 24 July 2007. The paper sought views on proposals to address the weaknesses identified by the Shipman inquiry in the process of death certification in England and Wales.

Key proposals are that:

all medical certificates of cause of death (MCCDs), with the exception of cases referred directly to the coroner by the certifying doctor, would be subject to scrutiny by an independent medical examiner appointed by a primary care trust (or an equivalent organisation in Wales) and with strong links to the National Health Service clinical governance teams;

if the medical examiner was satisfied that all was in order, he/she would issue an authorisation enabling the family of the deceased to register the death and proceed to burial or cremation;

where the medical examiner was not satisfied that the MCCD told the full story, or felt that there were other unusual circumstances, he/she would refer the case to the coroner for further investigation, along with his/her reasons for doing so;

the medical examiner would have full access to medical records and would be empowered to discuss the circumstances of the death with the doctor signing the MCCD and with the family of the deceased; and

NHS clinical governance teams would collate information from MCCDs and would use this to analyse trends and patterns, looking out for unusual features, such as those revealed by Shipman's pattern of deaths.

Clauses implementing these important reforms will be included in the coroners and death certification Bill announced as part of the Government's draft legislative programme for 2008-09. A summary of responses to the consultation on Improving the Process of Death Certification will be published by the department on 21 May 2008.

The Government believe these proposals represent a transparent, proportionate, consistent and affordable response to the weaknesses identified by the Shipman inquiry that will provide greater protection for the public and improve the quality and accuracy of death certification. The proposals will also improve public health surveillance and remove current inequalities in the way burials and cremations are dealt with.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) what standard of spoken or written English, if any, is required for entry for settlement in the United Kingdom by individuals who can show assets of £1,000,000 in a United Kingdom bank account; (b) when that requirement was fixed; and (c) what is the timetable for reviewing that requirement in future. [HL3483]

There are no English-language requirements for entry to the UK in the investor category. Those who wish to apply for settlement as an investor will need to have spent a continuous period of at least five years in the United Kingdom before becoming eligible to apply. Adults aged 18 or over but under the age of 65 who apply for settlement need to demonstrate knowledge of the English language and of “Life in the UK”, unless they are applying under one of the categories which does not contain this requirement.

A person can demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge of the English language and of life in the UK by passing either the “Life in the UK” test, or by obtaining an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) with citizenship certificate. This requirement was introduced from 2 April 2007.

The policy requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the English language and of “Life in the UK” will continue with the introduction of the points-based system, tier 1 (investors), later this summer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any proposals to alter the laws protecting the right to liberty and security; if so, when; and whether they will (a) abolish the detention of persons under 18; (b) abolish the detention of immigrants, either on arrival or prior to removal; (c) require communication of reasons for detention in accessible and appropriate language; (d) create a right of detained persons to be visited by medical practitioners, lawyers and family members at any time; and (e) create a presumption against remand; and [HL3461]

Whether they have any proposals to alter the laws on equality and discrimination in the United Kingdom; if so, when; and whether they will (a) widen the grounds of discrimination beyond those protected in European Union law; (b) adopt positive discrimination in favour of defined social groups; and (c) ensure that disabled persons enjoy human rights equally with others; and [HL3462]

Whether they have any proposals to alter the laws on the right to life and protection against state killing; if so, when; and whether they will (a) create an equivalent horizontal right to life, protecting persons from other persons as well as from the state; (b) retrospectively apply the Human Rights Act 1998 to deaths which occurred before 2 October 2000; (c) extend the law on inquests to allow witnesses to be compelled to give evidence; and (d) alter the law on the minimum use of force to create a different test for persons under the age of 18; and [HL3463]

Whether they have any proposals to alter any laws protecting the right to physical integrity; if so, when; and whether they will (a) extend hate-crime legislation to cover all forms of discrimination; and (b) give women the right to control their reproduction; and [HL3464]

Whether they have any proposals to alter the laws prohibiting inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; if so, when; and whether they will (a) reform the law permitting the return of a person to a country where he may be legally executed; and (b) prohibit evidence obtained through ill treatment or torture from being admissible in criminal proceedings; and [HL3465]

Whether they have any proposals to alter the laws prohibiting slavery and forced labour; if so, when; and whether they will only permit work in prison which is rehabilitative; and [HL3466]

Whether they propose to alter the law on the right to respect for private and family life; if so, when; and whether they will (a) add freedom from domestic violence and the protection of the best interests of the child to those rights; (b) repeal statutory limitations on non-nationals marrying and entering into civil partnerships; (c) strengthen data protection legislation to make processing of data subject to the consent of the persons concerned; and (d) remove all exemptions to disclosure of personal information; and [HL3488]

Whether they propose to alter the law on the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; if so, when; and whether they will abolish all oaths imposed by state bodies; and [HL3489]

Whether they propose to alter the law on the right to freedom of expression; if so, when; and whether they will (a) extend freedom of information legislation to cover information required for the exercise or protection of human rights; (b) add consideration of the best interests of children to the limitations on that right; and (c) alter the law on restrictions on free speech through the extension of anti-hatred legislation to cover all grounds of discrimination; and [HL3490]

Whether they propose to alter the law on the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly; if so, when; and whether they will (a) reverse the emphasis of the right to make association more important than peaceful assembly; (b) add the right to participate in trade-union activities (including the rights to strike and engage in collective bargaining) to the rights to form and join trade unions; (c) alter the law on restrictions on peaceful assembly and association through the extension of anti-hatred legislation to cover all grounds of discrimination; and (d) grant trade-union rights to the Armed Forces; and [HL3491]

Whether they propose to alter the law on the right to culture, language and identity; if so, when; and whether they will (a) incorporate in domestic law the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe; (b) limit cultural, ethnic, linguistic, religious and communal minority rights so as not to conflict with the rights and freedoms of others; (c) protect against coercive cultural assimilation by public bodies; (d) create a right for indigenous and non-indigenous groups to be educated through minority languages; and (e) treat sexual orientation as a basis for national minority status; and [HL3492]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to nationality and identity; if so, when; and whether they will (a) create a right in domestic law to nationality equivalent to the right in international law not to be stateless; and (b) add to nationality law provisions barring discrimination on all grounds except nationality; and [HL3517]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to education and lifelong learning; if so, when; and whether they will (a) add lifelong learning to the existing right to education; (b) ensure private educational institutions respect democratic principles; (c) work towards the realisation of universal educational access and achievement; (d) create extensive rights for children in education; and (e) ensure education is provided in accordance with parental preferences; and [HL3518]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to an adequate standard of living; if so, when; and whether they will (a) create a right to an adequate standard of living; (b) create a right to the continuous improvement of living conditions; and (c) work towards the realisation of these two rights; and [HL3519]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to the highest attainable standard of health; if so, when; and whether they will (a) create a right to receive appropriate health and social care; (b) alter the law on reproductive healthcare; (c) work towards the realisation of the right to the highest attainable standard of health; (d) create a right to emergency medical treatment and essential primary healthcare; and (e) create a right for children to have access to information on social and health issues; and [HL3520]

Whether they propose to alter the law on the right to housing; if so, when; and whether they will (a) create a right to adequate housing that is affordable, accessible, habitable, safe and appropriate, with access to public services and social facilities; (b) create a right to appropriate emergency accommodation; (c) work towards the realisation of the right to adequate housing; and (d) make public authorities responsible for housing those evicted by the courts; and [HL3521]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to a sustainable environment; if so, when; and whether they will (a) create a right to a sustainable, healthy and safe environment; (b) provide public information on the environment; and (c) foster participation in decisions on planning applications; and [HL3522]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to work; if so, when; and whether they will alter the law on (a) the right to choose freely and practise a trade or profession; (b) conditions of work and terms of employment; (c) equal conditions of work for women and men; (d) equal treatment for migrant and national workers; (e) entitlement to rest, leisure, respite and reasonable limitation of working hours, as well as appropriate provision for retirement; and (f) equality of opportunity and fair treatment of pregnant women and workers with children; and [HL3553]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to social security; if so, when; and whether they will work towards the realisation of this right, including the right to social assistance, social insurance and pensions; and [HL3554]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to a fair and non-discriminatory justice system; if so, when; and whether they will (a) create additional informal justice mechanisms; and (b) ensure that all those in the administration of justice are recruited or appointed on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria relating to qualifications and experience; and [HL3555]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to a fair trial; if so, when; and whether they will (a) remove civil rights from the ambit of this right; (b) ensure the right of appeal to a higher tribunal; (c) provide information on rights in appropriate and accessible language; (d) ensure the right to silence with no adverse inferences being drawn subsequently by juries or judges; (e) ensure the right to trial by jury; (f) allow defendants to compel witnesses; (g) ensure evidence incompatible with human rights is inadmissible; (h) ensure the free use of an interpreter in custody; (i) ensure no child or other vulnerable person is subjected to the ordinary criminal process; and (j) ensure there are no controls on lawyers; and [HL3556]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to humane conditions of detention; if so, when; and whether they will (a) ensure there is no deprivation or restriction of any human right except to the extent demonstrably necessitated by the fact of detention; (b) ensure information is provided on the reasons for deprivation of liberty; (c) ensure that treatment or other support that enables reformation and social rehabilitation is provided; (d) ensure that there is prompt access to appropriate legal and medical assistance and pastoral care; (f) provide adequate support for the families and children of prisoners and ex-prisoners; and (g) provide for the reintegration and resettlement of former prisoners into society under the best possible conditions; and [HL3557]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the rights of victims and witnesses to fair treatment; if so, when; and whether they will ensure witnesses are treated in the same manner as victims; and [HL3558]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the rights of children and vulnerable adults as witnesses and victims of crime; if so, when; and whether they will require children and vulnerable adults only to be cross-examined by trained individuals with appropriate expertise; and [HL3617]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the rights of victims of crime or of human rights violations; if so, when; and whether they will (a) require full disclosure of the truth relating to relevant crimes or human rights violations; (b) ensure necessary care and support is provided in accordance with the needs of victims; (c) require thorough investigation of missing persons; (d) ensure that status as a victim of crime is not dependent upon whether the crime is reported to the police; and (e) ensure that lawyers and voluntary sector workers are also to be treated as victims; and [HL3618]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the rights of children and young people in the justice system; if so, when; and whether they will (a) treat every person under 18 as a child; (b) ensure the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration; (c) raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18; and (d) ensure that children are not detained or imprisoned except as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time; and [HL3619]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to participate in public life; if so, when; and whether they will ensure there is (a) the opportunity without discrimination to participate freely in public life and political affairs; (b) a balance of men and women holding domestic and international public positions; (c) equal representation of men and women in the formulation of government policy; and (d) an increased role for women in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution; and [HL3620]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to freedom of movement; if so, when; and whether they will provide (a) the right to a passport for citizens; and (b) special treatment for trafficked people, domestic workers and victims of domestic violence; and [HL3621]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the right to choose a nomadic or settled lifestyle; if so, when; and whether they will permit persons to change from one lifestyle to another; and [HL3664]

Whether they propose to alter any law on the rights of the child; if so, when; and whether they will (a) extend all human rights and fundamental freedoms to children; (b) ensure the best interests of the child are the paramount consideration for all public bodies and private institutions; (c) ensure the right of children to participate; (d) ensure a child's right to a stable, safe and secure family environment; (e) provide a right to play; and (f) ensure that under-18s are not recruited into the Armed Forces; and [HL3665]

Whether they plan to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 in part or all of the United Kingdom; and [HL3666]

Whether they plan to dispense with the United Kingdom's powers to derogate from and to make reservations under the European Convention on Human Rights; and [HL3667]

Whether they plan to empower the courts of the United Kingdom to apply unincorporated international human rights law; and [HL3668]

Whether they plan to establish human rights courts or tribunals. [HL3669]

In view of the number and breadth of the Questions posed by the noble Lord, I shall reply to him by means of a letter once I have collated the information relevant to his Questions; and I shall place a copy of that letter in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What revenues (if any) accrue from the North Sea in addition to those in table B8 in the 2007 Pre-Budget Report (Cm 7227). [HL3645]

The North Sea revenues line in table B8 of the 2007 Pre-Budget Report includes all direct tax revenues accruing to the Government from profits made from oil and gas production. The breakdown of these revenues can be found in more detail in HM Revenue and Customs statistics at table 11.11, which is published on the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11-11.pdf.

In addition the Government, through the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, also collect licence fees from licence holders. In 2007-08 these amounted to £60 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the most recent guidance that has been issued to civil servants by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the drafting of Answers to Questions for Written Answer in the House of Lords. [HL3546]

Cabinet Office guidance for civil servants on drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions was published in February 2005. A copy of the guidance is in the Library of the House. It can also be found on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and _ethics/civil_service/pq_quidance.aspx.

We have internal guidance in place on Lords Written Questions that was last updated on 11 April 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the most recent guidance that has been issued to civil servants by the Scotland Office on the drafting of Answers to Questions for Written Answer in the House of Lords. [HL3600]

Cabinet Office guidance for civil servants on drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions was published in February 2005. A copy of the guidance is in the Library of the House. It can also be found on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinetoffce.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/civil_service/pq_guidance.aspx.

Internal departmental guidance is provided orally when required and the departmental written guidance is currently being updated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the most recent guidance that has been issued to civil servants by the Department for Transport on the drafting of Answers to Questions for Written Answer in the House of Lords. [HL3601]

Cabinet Office guidance for civil servants on drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions was published in February 2005. A copy of the guidance is in the Library of the House. It can also be found on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/civil_service/pq_guidance.aspx.

This guidance is available to all civil servants at the Department for Transport on the department’s intranet site.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will be the content of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland, announced on May 7. [HL3630]

We are currently discussing the content with the Scottish Qualifications Authority and our other partners in the project. This is a qualification designed principally for those who have not yet reached driving age. It will therefore include topics such as the content of the Highway Code, being a safe and responsible passenger in a car or bus, a good attitude towards road use and the economics of owning a car.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the likely take-up of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland. [HL3631]

In the fora of young people that the Driving Standards Agency organised as part of preparing the Learning to Drive consultation proposals, including those held in Scotland, 85 per cent of participants said that they would be interested in taking a foundation qualification in safe road use, provided it was not an obligatory course. The aim is to make this qualification engaging and enjoyable as well as valuable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What timetable they envisage for the extension throughout Great Britain of the foundation course in safe road use to be piloted in Scotland.[HL3632]

We plan that our foundation qualification in safe road use should be available in Scotland from autumn this year. No decision has yet been taken in respect of other parts of Great Britain.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of an individual's annual income currently goes on direct taxes and national insurance, at earnings of (a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £50,000, (f) £60,000, (g) £70,000, (h) £80,000, (i) £90,000, (j) £100,000, (k) £150,000, (l) £200,000, and (m) £500,000. [HL3568]

The information on liabilities is in the table. The figures assume no reliefs or deductions apply, and reflect the Statement by the Chancellor that the basic personal allowance for 2008-09 would be raised by £600 to £6,035, and the basic rate limit set at £34,800.

Notes:

1. Assumes not contracted-out class 1 NIC rate applies, and that earnings are spread evenly throughout the year.

2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £1.

3. Assumes only income is earnings and no income tax reliefs or deductions apply.

Information on the average rate of income tax liability for various ranges of total income is shown in table 3.5 on income and deductions based on the survey of personal incomes, of which 2005-06 is the latest year available. This table reflects the effect of deductions and reliefs as well as different tax rates on different types of income. The information can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What additional revenues would be generated by the removal of the upper earnings limit. [HL3569]

The yield from removing the upper earnings limit for employee class 1 national insurance contributions would be £8.5 billion for 2008-09.

This excludes any estimate of behavioural effects, which could be significant given the scale of the change.

The estimate is consistent with Budget 2008 assumptions and assumes that the NHS allocation contribution rates are unchanged.