To ask Her Majesty's Government how many reports from the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (formerly the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body) they have received in the past five years, and how many reports they have responded to in writing. [HL1377]

The Government have received 14 reports from the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body since February 2003, and have responded to two of these reports in writing. The reports responded to were:

Enquiry into Special Needs Educational Provision in Britain and Ireland, with Special Reference to Autism (February 2005); responded to on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills by Lord Adonis, November 2005, and

The Implications of the Introduction of British ID Cards for the Common Travel Area (April 2006); responded to on behalf of the Home Department by Joan Ryan MP, September 2006, Liam Byrne MP, (April 2008) and Phil Woolas MP, December 2008.

The other 12 reports were:

Links between the BIIPB and the Nordic Council (February 2004);

Delivery of health services to rural populations (April 2004);

Waste Management (June 2004);

Truth and Reconciliation for Northern Ireland (January 2005);

European Funding programmes and Developing Understanding across Borders (March 2005);

European Funding in Socially Deprived Areas of Northern Ireland (April 2006);

Challenges and Opportunities facing the Small Farm Sector (April 2006);

Life Chances for Young People from the Economically Deprived Areas of Belfast (2006);

Barriers to Trade (January 2007);

The Irish Community in Britain (2007);

Renewable Energy except Nuclear (2007); and

The Integration of Recently Arrived Migrants to Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales (2008).

A copy of these reports and the responses of Her Majesty's Government can be found on the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body's website at www.biipb.org.