asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs, Mr Jonathan Shaw, on 22 April (Official Report, Commons, col. 1911W), whether the package of measures to help farmers most affected by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease would have been subject to European Union controls had the Lisbon treaty been in force.[HL3825]

The package of measures announced on 8 October 2007 aimed at helping farmers most affected by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease were subject to the European Union's state aid rules. The Lisbon treaty does not change these rules or the requirement for member states to comply with them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the outcome of the meeting of Agricultural Ministers in Brussels on 19 May to consider European Union proposals on further regulation of the use of agricultural pesticides and herbicides. [HL3769]

The Council of Ministers adopted a common position on a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action to achieve a sustainable use of pesticides. The Council also took stock of progress on a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made in reducing atmospheric pollution around Heathrow airport. [HL3787]

There was a significant downward trend in annual mean concentrations of nitrous oxides (NO_x) at the airfield perimeter in the period 1993 to 2004, and a small downward trend in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Concentrations of particulates (PM₁₀) remained broadly constant over the period 2000 to 2004. These and other results were set out in the report of the Heathrow Air Quality Technical Panels in July 2006 published by the Department for Transport and available on its website at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/heathrowsustain/. Our recent consultation on adding capacity at Heathrow airport shows that concentrations of all these pollutants around the airport are predicted to be within allowable limits in the event of further development.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

At which British airports the iris recognition entry system is in operation; how many persons have registered with the system; and on how many occasions passengers have made use of it in the past 12 months at each of the airports at which it is available. [HL3604 ]

The iris recognition entry system (IRIS) is available at Heathrow airport terminals 1 to 5, Gatwick South and North, Manchester airport terminals 1 and 2 and Birmingham.

By 14 May 2008, 207,502 persons had registered on the IRIS scheme barrier crossings for the past 12 months are as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will prepare an impact assessment for amendments to the list of species in Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [HL3763]

My department will publish an impact assessment to accompany any statutory instrument that may amend Schedule 4.

Until a decision has been made on how to amend Schedule 4, it is not possible to say when the impact assessment will be prepared.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to ensure that captive populations of species that they intend to remove from Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are DNA-tested to check that they are of legitimate stock and to provide baseline data on any future parenting claims made for the species. [HL3764]

My department has no plans to carry out DNA testing on all birds that may be removed from Schedule 4. The department has no evidence to suggest that the population of birds currently listed in Schedule 4 is other than from primarily legitimate sources. The costs of DNA testing the whole captive population would be prohibitively expensive and would not be justified by any possible enforcement or conservation benefit. Any DNA testing to be carried out by Animal Health will be based on a risk and intelligence-led approach.

Modern breeding techniques use artificial insemination from a variety of possible male donors. The movement and death of many of the birds involved in this process means that any comprehensive testing scheme for all birds subject to registration would simply not be logistically possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why they revised the criteria used to decide which species should be listed in Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [HL3765]

The prohibition on the import of wild birds into the EU was extended in July 2007 and with this prohibition likely to remain in force for the foreseeable future the situation in the commercial trade of wild birds has changed. My department therefore revised the criteria for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) assessment of species to be listed in Schedule 4. The list of species provided by the JNCC was considered in terms of the proportionality of the burden that registration of these species would place on keepers, balancing any conservation benefit that may arise from registration against the regulatory burden imposed by registration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How individual birds issued with Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) transaction specific certificates, but removed from Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, will be traced by the police for DNA testing if they are suspected of being taken from the wild. [HL3766]

The UK CITES Management Authority (UKMA) makes every effort to ascertain the legality of acquisition of a bird before issuing a transaction specific certificate. However, if information came to the attention of the UKMA after issuing a certificate which led it to doubt the veracity of the original application, it would trace the ownership via the name and address in box 1 “holder”, as the certificate is re-issued every time the bird is used on a commercial basis by a new keeper. Applications for certificates will also contain details of parent birds, if known.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which of the 11 non-European Union species proposed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee for inclusion in Schedule 4 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 already have captive populations in the United Kingdom; and whether this has any effects on the laundering of wild birds smuggled into the United Kingdom. [HL3768]

Of the 12 species originally proposed by the JNCC for listing in Schedule 4, nine are non-EU species. Animal Health has issued CITES permits for six species (red-browed amazon; red-tailed amazon; hyacinth macaw; blue-throated macaw; red vented/Philippine cockatoo; and Bali starling) in the past 10 years, indicating that these species have been kept in captivity in the UK.

The EU ban on wild bird imports has meant that, other than birds imported for conservation programmes, only captive-bred birds from approved breeding establishments have been permitted for import into the EU. Any import of wild non-EU birds would be contrary to the ban and CITES regulations. I consider that these regulations maintain a satisfactory level of control on any trade in the nine species, and there is no evidence to suggest that these controls do not work.

I do not consider that the listing of the nine non-EU species in Schedule 4 in England would have any effect on any illegal take of these species that may occur from the wild in third countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Ministerial Statement on the pay rise announced earlier this year for the Armed Forces, quoted by the Royal British Legion in its submission to the Ministry of Defence of 8 May, “in recognition of their tremendous contribution at home and overseas”, was drafted before or after they decided to abolish the 10p starting rate of income tax. [HL3595]

The Government's acceptance of all the recommendations contained in the 2008 report of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body was announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 7 February 2008. The decision to abolish the 10p starting rate of income tax was first announced in the 2007 Budget speech on 21 March 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether their recent contacts with representatives of the aluminium industry show progress in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. [HL3613]

BERR has regular contact with the UK aluminium industry's trade association, Aluminium Federation (ALFED) and UK aluminium companies such as Anglesey Aluminium. We have had insight through the data provided by the aluminium industry on the positive measures they are taking to reduce CO₂ emissions.

We understand that the EU aluminium industry has reduced its total direct CO₂ emissions from primary aluminium smelters by 49 per cent and its Perflouro carbon (PFC) emissions by 83 per cent between 1990 and 2005^*. UK primary aluminium smelters are at or close to world leading CO₂ efficiency for the technology employed. The sector as a whole is increasing international focus on the potential of industry sectoral agreements or approaches in delivering global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

* Figures provided by the European Association of Metals and the European Aluminium Association.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the estimated £10 billion-worth of uranium and recovered plutonium stockpiled in the United Kingdom will be used for electrical generating purposes rather than being consigned to waste. [HL3628]

No decision has yet been taken on the future of the UK's stockpile of nuclear materials.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 20 May (WA 187–8), what are the oil price projections calculated by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.[HL3838]

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform does not publish oil price projections. It publishes oil, gas and coal future price assumptions for the period till 2020, which are disseminated throughout Whitehall and where relevant are used by government departments in their analytical work.

The latest version of BERR's future fossil fuel price assumptions were published this month, following a consultation published in January. In order to capture some of the uncertainty around future oil prices, there are four illustrative scenarios: low, central, high and high-high. Further details are available at the following links at www.berr.gov.uk/energy/environment/projections /recent/page2639.html and www.berr.gov.uk/files/file46071.pdf.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who are the members of the consortium to manage an environmental assessment of the proposed Severn barrage. [HL3792]

The members and roles of the consortium to manage the strategic environmental assessment of proposals for tidal power development in the Severn estuary are listed below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the likely cost of the two-year environmental assessment of the proposed Severn barrage. [HL3793]

The total cost of the contract to manage the two-year strategic environmental assessment of proposals for tidal power development in the Severn estuary is £3.634 million, though there may be some additional costs if the scoping phase identifies a need for further work, such as extra environmental research studies and field surveys.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to exempt businesses employing fewer than 20 people from the forthcoming European Small Business Act. [HL3641]

The Small Business Act has been welcomed by UK Government. It will not be a legislative measure—its aim will be to set principles and outline measures to improve the framework conditions for European small businesses, while taking full account of their diversity. It will cover a range of policy areas; for example, the impact on small business of EU regulations, facilitating access to finance and helping them enter new markets, including the single market.

Small businesses regularly say that their key concern is the disproportionate burden of regulation on them and so our priority is to see a bold set of measures within the Small Business Act to reduce regulatory burdens coming from the EU. It is as part of this “better regulation” element that we are pressing the European Commission systematically to consider, where possible, exempting small businesses with fewer than 20 employees from EU regulation, as we plan to do for domestic regulations. Where exemption is not possible, either for legal or policy reasons, we suggest the Commission should work with small firms to design specific approaches for them, including simplified enforcement and effective guidance.

We continue to work with the Commission and other member states in developing a Small Business Act that will support Europe's small businesses and encourage their growth.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Statement by Baroness Andrews on 6 May (WS 16–17), what is the balance of the extra funding for flood recovery from the European Union to be allocated to the Northern Irish and Welsh devolved Administrations; and whether, if it is over £0.4 million, the sum of £30.6 million for England is all new money.[HL3822]

The net benefit to the United Kingdom from the successful application to the EU Solidarity Fund, after taking account of the abatement and EU budgetary increases, is £31 million. Of this, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive will receive £193,026 and £180,158 respectively, based on a proportionate share of eligible public sector damage sustained.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the response by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 13 May (Official Report, col. 992) concerning the use of safety glass in pubs, whether there is a British Standard which a local authority could specify; and, if not, whether they have any proposals to introduce such a standard. [HL3755]

There is a British Standard for multi-trip glass bottles for beer and cider (glass bottles used more than once). This is BS6118:1981. At present, there are no British Standards for the use of safety glass in pubs. Home Office officials are working with academic experts in materials to explore the scope to produce a safer alternative to glass which could be used in pubs and clubs as outlined in Safe. Sensible. Social. The next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy, published in June 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 12 December 2007 (WA 54–5) about the handling of the case of Gulf War veteran the late Mr T E Walker, what information they have on the holding of an inquest into his death and its outcome. [HL3712]

The Newcastle-upon-Tyne coroner is conducting the inquest into Mr Walker's death. He adjourned the inquest in December at the request of Mr Walker's parents, so that he could receive and consider representations about its scope. The coroner will set a date for the inquest to be resumed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund to fund the purchase of archive collections were successful in each of the financial years 1994–95 to 2006–07. [HL3582]

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has provided the following information about the percentage of applications to fund the purchase of archive collections which were successful in the financial years from 1994-95 to 2006-07:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the statue of Oliver Cromwell outside Parliament will be restored in time for the anniversary of Cromwell's death.[HL3844]

The upkeep of the statue of Oliver Cromwell is a matter for the House of Commons Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give local authorities increased powers to regulate lap-dancing clubs in their areas by (a) extending the use of the sex encounter establishment licensing category countrywide; and (b) removing the exemption for establishments that possess a premises licence. [HL3806]

The Licensing Act 2003 is able to regulate these premises in relation to any concerns about the four licensing objectives—the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children. However, we are aware that some licensing authorities have concerns about the powers available and feel that they are not adequately able to control these establishments.

We are in the process of providing additional guidance for local authorities on the Licensing Act and how it can be used to deal with lap-dancing clubs. As part of this process, we will be asking licensing authorities for feedback if they still have concerns. This will tell us if the controls under the Licensing Act are sufficient or whether we need to do more to protect local communities.

If we find that there is a need to provide licensing authorities with additional powers to deal with any nuisance or criminal activity associated with lap-dancing establishments, we will consider the full range of options. This could include changes to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, which regulates sex encounter establishments (such as sex shops and sex cinemas).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of their concerns about potential noise nuisance at live music events, what legislation other than entertainment licensing is available to the police or local authorities to pre-empt potential sources of sound nuisance and to regulate it when members of the public complain. [HL3716]

The Government take the issue of noise seriously, and have given new powers to local authorities to deal with noise with the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Statutory Nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990

Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended) lists what is capable of being a statutory nuisance. At Section 79(1)(g) is “noise emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance”.

Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a statutory duty on local authorities to inspect their areas periodically for existing and potential statutory nuisances, and to take reasonably practicable steps to investigate complaints of nuisance. Once satisfied that a statutory nuisance exists or may occur or recur, the local authority must serve an abatement notice under Section 80 of the Act on the person responsible for the nuisance (or the owner or occupier if the person responsible cannot be found or the nuisance has not yet occurred).

For noise, the local authority can (under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005) choose to defer serving an abatement notice for up to seven days in order to pursue specific alternative steps to resolve the problem. If the noise nuisance is not abated within seven days, the abatement notice must then be served, and it can served at any point within that time.

A complainant can also take private action through the courts under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The complainant must give a minimum of three days' notice in writing of the intention to take private action to the person who is the subject of the complaint, and must specify the subject of the complaint. If the court agrees that a statutory nuisance exists, or may occur or recur, it will issue an abatement notice. There is a defence for industrial, trade and business premises of “best practicable means”. There is a defence of “reasonable excuse” for causing a statutory nuisance or breaching an abatement notice.

Noise Act 1996 and Licensed Premises

Section 84 of and Schedule 1 to the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 amend the Noise Act 1996 so that it applies to licensed premises. The fine upon summary conviction for exceeding the permitted level, as measured from within the dwelling of a complainant, will be up to £5,000. The local authority will be able to offer the option to discharge liability to conviction with the payment within 14 days of a fixed penalty notice of £500.

The permitted level is 34dB(A) where the underlying level does not exceed 24dB(A), or 10dB(A) above the underlying level where this exceeds 24dB(A). This permitted level applies to both domestic and licensed premises.

Section 84 of and Schedule 1 to the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 came into force in relation to England on 1 October 2006. We have revised the permitted noise levels and an approval for devices measuring noise levels.

These were brought into force on 28 February 2008 following a stand-still period required under the Technical Standards and Regulations Directive 98/34/EC.

The Noise Council's Code of Practice on Environmental Noise Control at Concerts

The Noise Council's Code of Practice on Environmental Noise Control at Concerts was published in 1995 and is designed to help organisers, promoters and regulators to plan and manage the noise issues associated with such events. It was prepared by a working party of professionals experienced in this field and was published following a public consultation. Since then, it has become widely used in the UK and can provide a means of enabling successful concerts to be held while minimising the disturbance caused by noise.

Compliance with the various provisions of the code of practice does not confer immunity from any legal obligations, such as the statutory nuisance regime contained within Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

It is understood that there is dialogue between the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Institute of Acoustics (both of which were members of the Noise Council) exploring the possibility of reforming a working party and the extent to which the code should be reviewed or revised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 12 May (WA 112), why they do not monitor centrally whether local planning authorities have design review panels. [HL3772]

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment's (CABE) remit from the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is to manage the national design review service and support the regional design review panels. The CABE also provides support for all design review panels through its publications and DVDs. We are pleased to see the recent growth in local panels, which demonstrates an increasing willingness to ensure local quality of design. The CABE is working to identify whether its existing business plan contains the necessary resources to monitor local design review panels.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a national Bill of Rights should apply to Northern Ireland; and if not, why. [HL3802]

The Government are committed to consulting on their proposals for a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and expect the consultation to include questions about the territorial extent of any future Bill.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the role of Wales in the 2012 Olympics, particularly regarding the involvement of Welsh businesses and the use of facilities in Wales for training camps and for staging events.[HL3830]

The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are working hard to ensure the benefits of 2012 reach across the UK and have established a Nations and Regions Group (NRG) to oversee this work, chaired by Charles Allen. The Welsh Assembly Government are represented on the NRG by Gareth Hall, director of the Department for the Economy and Transport.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and LOCOG expect directly to procure £6 billion-worth of contracts. In January, the Olympic Family launched the London 2012 Business Network, helping businesses across the UK to access these contracts. CompeteFor is a key component of the Business Network, as it enables businesses, particularly small/medium enterprises (SMEs), across the UK to access contracts from the ODA and LOCOG supply chains. To date, 200 businesses in Wales have registered on CompeteFor, and businesses in every constituency should be encouraged to sign up and get support to compete for and win contracts. The official launch in Wales of the London 2012 Business Network was held on 22 May in Cardiff, at the Constructing Excellence Conference, which was addressed by the First Minister, the right honourable Rhodri Morgan AM.

Additionally, 31 facilities from Wales offering 27 sports/disciplines are to be included in the official London 2012 pre-games training camp guide. On 28 May, LOCOG also announced facilities that have met the criteria for inclusion in the guide as paralympic pre-games training camps. This includes 16 facilities from Wales offering 20 paralympic sports.

The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will also host group stages of the football competition in 2012.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What procedures they have planned to obtain fingerprints and iris scans from passport applicants at remote video-linked interview offices. [HL3756]

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) will be introducing passports incorporating fingerprint biometrics as part of the ongoing security enhancements to passports. There are currently no plans to enrol iris biometrics.

The exact method by which fingerprints are enrolled during passport applications has yet to be finalised. However, the needs of those living in remote communities is being taken into consideration. First time passport applicants are already required to attend an interview as part of the application process. The IPS has explored ways to make this more accessible to those in remote communities with video-linked offices currently being delivered as a solution.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to maintain and, if possible, increase the amount of safe accommodation available for women who have suffered rape or trafficking, or who wish to leave prostitution. [HL3682]

The Government have funded the Poppy project since 2003 to provide comprehensive services to non-UK victims who have been trafficked into the country for sexual exploitation. We have given our commitment to ratify the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings by the end of 2008 which will formalise our existing arrangements and enhance our measures to protect and support these vulnerable victims.

In addition, under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996), local authorities in England must secure suitable accommodation for applicants in certain priority needs groups. These priority need groups include vulnerable people, including those who are vulnerable as a result of having fled their home because of a risk of violence or threat of violence likely to be carried out.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to identify victims of trafficking at the earliest possible stage and to prevent them (in particular vulnerable women) being placed in immigration detention. [HL3683]

As part of our implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Human Trafficking, we have been piloting a victim identification process to improve our understanding of how to identify victims and what support needs they have. We have also held a number of consultation workshops with partners from within and outside the Government, including non-governmental organisations which have a particular focus on safeguarding the rights of women.

The Government will introduce firm proposals before the end of the year, informed by the pilots and consultations. An individual who is officially identified as a victim of trafficking, in need of care and support, is unlikely to meet the criteria for immigration detention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they are responding to petitions in favour of the United Nations Global Initiative to fight Human Trafficking. [HL3796]

The UK Government have always supported the UN Global Initiative which was originally launched in London on 26 March 2007. The initiative culminated in an international conference held in Vienna on 12 to 15 February 2008 at which the UK was represented by a high-level UK delegation.

The non-governmental organisation Stop the Traffik presented their 1 million signatures petition to the UN at the Vienna Forum. The UK continues to support the themes of the petition which include work on prevention, prosecution and protection through the auspices of the UK action plan on tackling human trafficking.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether persons serving custodial sentences who have absconded or escaped from prison are put on the United Kingdom Border Agency watch list; and how many such persons are currently on the list. [HL3605]

The UK Border Agency maintains a watch list of adverse information and intelligence which is used to inform decisions. It is longstanding policy not to discuss either the specific data held on this watch list or the source of the data on it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the most recent guidance that has been issued to civil servants by the Attorney-General's Office on the drafting of Answers to Questions for Written Answer in the House of Lords. [HL3511]

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.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has been the increase or decrease in traffic congestion (a) on outer-urban roads, and (b) in urban areas, since 1997. [HL3812]

Information on trends in congestion is available for England for (a) the strategic road network (inter-urban roads) and for (b) the 10 largest urban areas.

(a) Inter-urban roads

Provisional figures for the PSA1 target year ending March 2008 show that average vehicle delay on the slowest 10 per cent of journeys on motorways and trunk roads in England has risen from 3.78 to 3.95 minutes per 10 miles since the baseline year ending July 2005, an increase of 4.4 per cent. This covers a period of 32 months and represents an annual increase of 1.6 per cent.

These figures represent average daytime delays (6 am to 8 pm) on the 91 routes currently used for monitoring performance on the strategic road network. Figures are presented on a rolling year basis. Delay is calculated as the difference between observed journey time and a reference journey time (the time that could theoretically be achieved when the traffic is free flowing).

(b) Urban areas

Traffic congestion in urban areas is measured by “person journey time per mile” for the 10 largest urban areas in England: London, the six metropolitan areas (Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire) and Bristol, Leicester and Nottingham. The table “person journey times (minutes per mile)” shows the increase or decrease in traffic congestion.

LO London, GM Greater Manchester, ME Merseyside, SY South Yorkshire, TW Tyne & Wear, WM West Midlands, WY West Yorkshire, BR Bristol, LE Leicester, NO Nottingham, ALL weighted average of the 10 largest urban areas.

Data are not available for inter-urban roads or urban areas for years earlier than those shown. All these data were published on 8 May 2008 in Road Traffic and Congestion in Great Britain: Quarter 1 2008 at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatables publications/roadstraffic/traffic/qbtrafficgb /2008/q108.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether their objectives in selling the Tote include retaining support for the racing industry and jobs in Tote headquarters in Wigan as well as getting value for the taxpayer. [HL3711]

As announced in the Written Statement to the House on 5 March, the overriding criterion for the Tote's privatisation will be to maximise value for the taxpayer while remaining sensitive to the interests of racing and employment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 8 May (WA 100), whether the Environment Agency Wales has a list of the original documents it indicates have been returned to Mr Douglas Gowan; and, if it has, whether they will place a copy in the Library of the House. [HL3593]

I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that the documents returned to Mr Douglas Gowan by the Environment Agency were listed in the covering letter dated 13 December 2007 which accompanied those documents.

The covering letter will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 8 May (WA 101), what was the relevant information provided to Lovells in order that it could carry out the instructions of the Environment Agency Wales. [HL3594]

I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that the Environment Agency fully instructed Lovells LLP and provided all information necessary and germane properly to protect the Environment Agency's interest in the US Bankruptcy Court proceedings.

The information provided was in contemplation of proceedings and subject to legal professional privilege.