To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 February (WA 122), whether they envisage an international free market in agricultural products, including the abolition of all tariffs on foodstuffs and a campaign supporting their policy against protectionism. [HL1615]

The World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Doha Development Agenda negotiations will serve as an important opportunity to further cut import tariffs for all WTO members, liberalising trade in agricultural products at a global level. The Government maintain their focus on achieving an ambitious, pro-development outcome to the negotiations at the earliest opportunity.

As I responded to my noble friend's previous Question on 4 February 2009 (Official Report, House of Lords, col. WA 122), the Government will also continue to seek radical reform of the common agricultural policy as we set out in our vision, which states that import tariffs for all farm sectors should be progressively aligned with the much lower level prevailing in other sectors of the economy.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the future of permaculture principles in agriculture; and what measures they are implementing to encourage it. [HL1803]

Defra has not funded specific research into permaculture in agriculture. However, Defra supports a wide range of research into more sustainable farming systems and reducing the environmental impacts from agriculture. Therefore organic farming projects and others which take a holistic view of farming share some principles with permaculture.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial penalties they would be exposed to if they were to withdraw from the A400M project; and what is the value of penalties payable by EADS in the event of a breach of contract. [HL1736]

The arrangements for contract cancellation on the A400M programme are complex and are determined by the contract with the prime contractor that has been agreed between the involved partner nations. The precise contractual arrangements and costs that would apply should a decision be made to withdraw from the programme are commercially sensitive. Likewise, the contract lays down remedies available to partner nations in the event of a breach of the contract. The exact value of these remedies is also commercially sensitive.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the costs of urgent operational requirements for the Ministry of Defence in each year since 2002–03 was spent with companies domiciled in (a) the United Kingdom; (b) the United States; (c) other European Union countries; and (d) the rest of the world. [HL1902]

This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on forced removals of failed asylum seekers to Sudan. [HL1462]

On 9 July 2008, the Government announced the suspension of enforced returns of non-Arab Darfuri asylum seekers to Sudan to await the outcome of the country guidance case by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. The case is now expected to be heard between May and July 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on forced removals of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. [HL1461]

The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal recently found that there is no barrier to us restarting enforced returns for failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe. Since 2006 hundreds of Zimbabweans have voluntarily returned home. Those found not to be in need of protection and who have not left the UK voluntarily can expect to be returned. We always take account of the political and humanitarian factors in any returns consideration.

To ask Her Majesty's Government in view of the Bank of Scotland (Ireland) trading in the United Kingdom, whether any Government regulator investigated the appointment of chairmen to the bank; and, if so, which regulator; when; and what was the outcome. [HL1718]

Bank of Scotland (Ireland) is a subsidiary of HBOS, and hence now of Lloyds Banking Group. It is an Irish business regulated primarily by the Irish financial regulator. Bank of Scotland (Ireland) has operations in the UK within Northern Ireland which operate as branches passported into the UK from Ireland, in accord with European legislation.

As part of the approvals process, the Financial Services Authority assesses the fitness and propriety of senior management exercising significant influence within the firms it regulates. In the case of subsidiaries, it is the responsibility of the home state regulator (in this case Ireland) to ensure the firm's senior management is fit and proper in line with directive requirements.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the European Union Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations are being communicated to small and medium-sized chemical companies. [HL1810]

Between September 2007 and December 2008, Her Majesty's Government ran an awareness campaign to alert UK industry to REACH and the various obligations the regulation placed on companies. The focus of the campaign was specifically on small and medium-sized enterprises across all sectors of UK industry, as REACH has implications for more than just chemicals companies. A joint strategy was agreed between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as the policy lead, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and the UK REACH Competent Authority provided by the Health and Safety Executive.

The campaign was guided by a survey of small businesses in January 2008 to make sure that information was targeted on specific, poorly informed sectors of industry. It included:

national conferences and regional free-to-attend road shows until May 2008 covering the entire UK, explaining REACH and advising local businesses on how to prepare to fulfil their obligations;

the placing of advertisements and articles in relevant trade publications, along with various online and internet-based advertisements;

articles in the HM Revenue and Customs Employers' Bulletin, with an online circulation of around 1.3 million businesses; and

radio advertisements broadcast at the end of September and mid-October 2008 on 45 selected regional and four national radio stations.

This activity contributed to the number of UK businesses pre-registering by the 1 December deadline being the highest of any EU member state.

Information on REACH continues to be provided for businesses through online advertising, the competent authority's dedicated REACH website containing detailed information and advice, and its national REACH helpdesk which responds to individual enquiries from businesses.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin on 12 February (WA 217), how they intend to monitor the effectiveness of the guidance on Safeguarding Children from Abuse Linked to a Belief in Spirit Possession, published in May 2007. [HL1571]

Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are responsible for developing policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in their area. We would expect LSCBs to have regard to practice guidance in doing so. LSCBs are also responsible for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of what is done by the local authority and board partners, individually and collectively, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and advising them on ways to improve.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial and human resources they have provided to the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service in each of the past five years. [HL1573]

Under the Safeguarding Children and Supporting Families Grant programme, the department provided funding of £15,000 in 2004-05, £8,000 in 2005-06 and £5,000 in 2006-07 to the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service. It will also be receiving £78,000 in 2009-10 and £33,000 in 2010-11 under the Children, Young People and Families Grant programme.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in the Home Office chipping of goods initiative launched in March 2000. [HL1674]

The chipping of goods programme was completed by the Home Office in October 2004. The programme provided compelling evidence of the commercial benefits to business of tagging technology, enabling tighter control of the supply chain and stock as well as reducing opportunities for crime. The use of electronic tags by industry and commerce has now become common, both in the supply chain and to provide in-store security for products.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many racially motivated crimes in England and Wales in each of the past five years (a) were recorded by the police, (b) resulted in a police caution, and (c) were prosecuted, broken down by police force. [HL1569]

The available information relates all racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded by the police. It is not possible separately to identify racially motivated offences from the recorded crime data collected by the Home Office.

The police data are based on the number of offences recorded in each financial year. Cautions and prosecutions data have been provided by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform and are based on the number of offenders. These data are published on a calendar year basis and are counts of persons by their principal offence. For these reasons the two datasets are not directly comparable.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Chevening scholarships were awarded by country in each academic year since 2004. [HL1770]

Details for the academic years 2004-05 and 2005-06 are given in the Chevening Programme annual report for each year. The reports are available at www.chevening.com/annual-reports.

Details for 2006-07 were given in a Written Answer to the honourable Member for Chelmsford West on 16 October 2007 (Official Report, col. 999W) and for 2007-08 in a Written Answer to the honourable Member for Havant on 2 June 2008 (Official Report, col. 699W). The final figures for 2008-09 are not yet available.

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the forthcoming Equality Bill is expected to be published; and whether it will contain provisions to tackle social class discrimination. [HL1612]

We will introduce the Equality Bill as soon as it is ready.

The Government believe that factors such as where someone lives, their vocation and their family background should not put someone at a disadvantage. We are presently in consultation with interested parties regarding the concept and design of a strategic duty on public bodies to address socioeconomic disadvantage. No decisions have yet been taken.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was spent by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in each year since its formation on (a) entertainment, and (b) consultants. [HL1703]

The Equality and Human Rights Commission spent in 2007-08:

(a) hospitality—£15,265; and

(b) consultants—0.

The commission expects to spend in the 2008-09 full financial year:

(a) hospitality—£11,381; and

(b) consultants—£420,000.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to respond to the recent report Race to the Top published by Business in the Community, which stated that, since 2000, government-led race equality measures have had minimal impact in increasing top-level opportunities for black and minority ethnic managers. [HL1611]

Increasing race equality is a government priority. On 24 February, we launched a wide-reaching consultation on improving opportunities for Black, Asian and minority ethnic people. Our discussion document, Tackling Race Inequalities, invites views on what the Government's future approach to promoting race equality should be. The document explicitly acknowledged the findings in the Race to the Top report that many Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups are under represented in senior management positions. The discussion document can be found at www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/1155456.pdf.

The progress achieved in recent years against the Government's strategy for race equality and community cohesion, Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society, is described in the three published progress reports, the most recent of which was also published by the Department for Communities and Local Government on 24 February. This can be found at www.communities. gov.uk/publications/communities/raceequalitythirdreport.

Copies of the discussion document and the progress report have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will allow Professor Eric Hobsbawm to examine the files held on him in the past by the security services. [HL1669]

The Security Service is subject to and fully complies with the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). If Professor Hobsbawm made a DPA subject access request to the Security Service and is dissatisfied with the response that he received, he may ask the service for an internal review of its response, complain to the independent Investigatory Powers Tribunal, or complain to the Information Commissioner.

Anyone can make a subject access request under the DPA to the Security Service. Without anticipating the outcome of any such application, the main statutory function of the service is protecting national security. In perhaps the great majority of cases, the service will need to rely on the DPA Section 28 exemption to avoid damage to national security. That will include use of the long established “neither confirm nor deny” approach—an approach acknowledged by the National Security Panel of the Information Tribunal.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the European Parliament report calling for an “Integrated European Armed Force”; and what assessment they have made of its compatibility with their opposition to the creation of a European army. [HL1724]

Any decision over the use of UK Armed Forces remains with the Government. The UK's policy remains that there will be no standing European army, navy or air force. We have just one set of military forces and they belong to the UK, not to any international organisation, although that is often the framework in which they will be used. Any national contribution to EU-led crisis management operations is strictly voluntary and the UK has a veto over the launch of any EU-led operation. The European Parliament has no direct role in European military defence matters and this report is therefore a contribution to a debate rather than establishment of a new policy.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 11 February (WA 191), how they and the quartet expect that smuggling into Gaza will be effectively prevented; and who is responsible for negotiating the full opening of all crossing-points. [HL1511]

Egypt already works to prevent smuggling along its border with Gaza. The international community is seeking to work with Egypt and also to address routes used for arms trafficking.

Opening the crossings to legitimate trade is also a key part of tackling smuggling. There is no single person responsible for achieving this: we and international partners are all working to achieve it.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product was attributable to banking and financial services in 2007–08. [HL1575]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Roberts of Conwy, dated March 2009.

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the percentage of Banking and Financial Services to gross domestic product (GDP). (HL1575)

When assessing industry percentages to total production it is more appropriate to assess against total gross value added (GVA) than GDP. This is because GDP equals GVA plus unallocated taxes and subsidies such as VAT which are not able to be allocated to industry production.

In current (nominal) price terms for the calendar year 2008 total financial intermediation (which includes banking, insurance, pension funding and financial auxiliaries) is estimated to make up 8.5 per cent of total GVA. The banking industry only (SIC division 65) is estimated to make up 5.7 per cent of total GVA.

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the timetable for the section 60 order required to implement statutory regulation for clinical physiologists. [HL1661]

Proposals for the statutory regulation of clinical physiologists will be resolved as part of a separate consultation, as outlined in The Future of the Healthcare Science Workforce Modernising Scientific Careers: The Next Steps: A Consultation, published in November 2008. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

Plans for a separate consultation on proposals for regulation will be announced in due course.

To ask the Chairman of Committees what proposals there are to make access easier for visitors to the House of Lords who are dyslexic. [HL1943]

Since April 2008 the Cromwell Green entrance has been the main visitor entrance for the Palace of Westminster. Visitors are met there by a team of visitor assistants who are able to provide face-to-face help as required. Access issues remain constantly under review.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in accordance with the duty imposed by Article 46 of the European Convention on Human Rights to abide by judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, they will introduce legislation to enable United Kingdom courts, below the level of the House of Lords, to depart from decisions of the House of Lords which are incompatible with the Convention rights as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights in their binding judgments. [HL1690]

No. This issue was carefully considered by the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords in the cases of Kay and others v London Borough of Lambeth and others and Leeds City Council v Price and others [2006] UKHL 10 and in R (on the application of RJM) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2008] UKHL 63. Their conclusion was that the doctrine of precedent should not be altered.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many economic migrants (a) entered, and (b) left, the United Kingdom in each of the past six months. [HL1726]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Hylton, dated March 2009.

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many economic migrants (a) entered, and (b) left, the United Kingdom in each of the past six months. (HL 1726)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses the International Passenger Survey (IPS) to estimate flows of international migrants into and out of the United Kingdom. The IPS is a sample survey and cannot provide monthly estimates of migration. However ONS does provide annual estimates of migrants entering and leaving the UK for work-related reasons. The latest migration estimates, for 2007, show that 243,000 people entered the UK for work related reasons and 173,000 left.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will oppose any proposal from the European Commission to establish a European Union asylum support office. [HL1618]

The proposal to which the noble Lord refers will only apply to the UK if we opt in to it. We have until 20 May to decide whether to do this and are currently considering our options.

The proposed European asylum support office would have no powers to determine asylum cases. Sixteen percent of asylum claims in the EU are multiple claims made in more than one member state.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the International Court of Justice has ruled on the legality of Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas under international law; and, if not, whether they will request the United Nations Security Council to bring forward a case. [HL1777]

The International Court of Justice expressed the following opinion in its Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of 9 July 2004:

“The court concludes that the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (including East Jerusalem) have been established in breach of international law”.

In its Resolution 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979 the UN Security Council determined that:

“the policies and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East”.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the use of the phrase “local service centres” by local authorities to refer to villages is language authorised by the Government; and, if so, when it was introduced. [HL1879]

The terminology used by a local authority in respect of its own areas and service delivery arrangements is entirely a matter for that local authority acting in accordance with its statutory powers and duties, including having regard to the code of recommended practice on local authority publicity.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what diplomatic representation the United Kingdom has in Madagascar. [HL1739]

The UK does not have a mission in Madagascar which is covered by our High Commission in Port Louis. There is, however, a small British Interests Section in Antananarivo, which was opened in November 2008 in the grounds of the German embassy. Emergency consular assistance to British nationals is provided by two honorary consuls, based in Antananarivo and Toamasima. Staff from Port Louis visit regularly, including monthly visits to collect visa biometrics. There were nine visits by diplomatic staff and the British Council last year. We have also pioneered the concept of the virtual embassy in Madagascar, enabling residents of that country to access many of the services of a normal embassy online (for example, visa, consular and information services).

To ask Her Majesty's Government on what local advice the recent decision was based to discourage United Kingdom citizens from visiting Madagascar; to what extent the decision was based on the incidence of riots and the deaths of citizens from gunfire other than in Antananarivo and Toliara; and whether there was evidence of those disturbances in the north of the country. [HL1740]

On 7 February 2009, following violent demonstrations that included the fatal shooting of 28 protesters in Antananarivo, we advised against all travel to Madagascar. As tensions eased following meetings between the two parties, we subsequently lowered the level of travel advice to advise against all but essential travel on 24 February 2009. Our decisions were based on reports from a range of sources across Madagascar, including reports from our honorary consuls in Antananarivo and Toamasima, the resident diplomatic community, the British Interests Section in Antananarivo, and a temporarily seconded member of staff based in Port Louis. We also followed reporting closely in the local media and made extensive use of an innovative “wiki” website through which British citizens in Madagascar could report what was happening on the ground in towns and cities across the country.

Almost all international travellers arrive and leave Madagascar via Antananarivo, which has, of course, been the focal point for the recent demonstrations between the Government of President Ravalomanana and former-Mayor of Antananarivo Andry Rajoelina's opposition. Although tourists were not specifically targeted, outbursts did occur in the vicinity of hotels and areas in which tourists could potentially be situated.

The safety of British citizens travelling overseas is our overriding concern and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel advice is written with this in mind. The decision to advise against all or all but essential travel is not taken lightly and is ultimately made at ministerial level, with input from our overseas network and consular advisers using their expertise to take a global perspective on such crises. The political situation in Madagascar was highly volatile, with the opposition openly stating an intent to overthrow the Government, possibly through means of mass protests and seizures of government property. During periods of unrest such as these we review our travel advice at least once a day.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether certain employers have deducted income tax and national insurance from migrant and agency workers and retained the proceeds; if so, what evidence they have of such practice; and how many prosecutions there have been for such offences in recent years. [HL1679]

HM Revenue and Customs does not generally keep data relating to the income tax and national insurance contributions deducted from migrant and agency workers and retained by the employer.

HM Revenue and Customs' specialist labour provider units, which undertake compliance activity regarding gangmasters, does keep data relating to those gangmasters who have been subject to investigation. Since April 2006, the period for which data are readily available, the Labour Provider Units have concluded approximately 570 compliance settlements where there were failures to account correctly for income tax and national insurance contributions.

In the period since April 2006, two gangmasters have been prosecuted by the police with the active assistance of HM Revenue and Customs.

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit's website will be fully functional; and why it has been “under reconstruction” for as long as it has. [HL1729]

The National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit (NETCU) is updating its website to ensure its content remains relevant. I understand that new sections will start appearing in March. NETCU recognises the inconvenience that the downtime of their website has caused to interested parties, but is keen to ensure that any new content meets the needs of all its stakeholders.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what documents or notices health providers are required to display at each of the premises where they provide NHS services; and who is responsible for monitoring those requirements. [HL1721]

Health providers are required to display a variety of documents or notices at each of the premises where they provide National Health Service services. Some examples are set out below.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers general fire precautions and other fire safety duties needed to protect relevant persons, those being people in or around the premises. Healthcare providers are required to display signs that direct occupants to emergency exits, signs on fire doors that are required to be kept shut or kept locked, and notices that outline the action to be taken in the event of fire.

Health and safety legislation requires all United Kingdom employers to display a copy of the health and safety law notice at their workplace. This notice is designed to provide employees, and others in the premises, with information on safety legislation and list sources of further advice.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 SI 2007/991, amended by SI 2007/1669, SI 2007/3302 and SI 2008/647, requires that buildings with a total useful floor area over 1,000m² that are occupied in whole or part by public authorities and by institutions providing public services to a large number of persons and therefore frequently visited by those persons, display a display energy certificate (DEC). The present transitional arrangements associated with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 also allow for a site-based DEC to be displayed rather than an individual building DEC. The DEC must be placed in a prominent place clearly visible to the public and conform to the approved layout.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord McKenzie of Luton on 11 February (WA 199) concerning benefits not devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, whether all benefits paid to residents of Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the executive. [HL1663]

All social security benefits and pensions paid by the Department for Work and Pensions in Great Britain are the responsibility of the Executive in Northern Ireland.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people with addresses in the Republic of Ireland were granted British passports in each of the past five years. [HL1664]

It is possible for non-resident British holidaymakers who have lost or had their passports stolen to be issued with passports while visiting the Republic of Ireland. However, we are unable to provide accurate and definitive figures for the number of people with addresses in the Republic of Ireland who were granted British passports in each of the past five years, without examining all 53,222 applications for British passports received by our embassy in Dublin over this period. This would incur disproportionate cost.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of Sir Fred Goodwin's annual pension payments they expect to recover in tax of all kinds. [HL1919]

We do not comment on an individual's tax affairs for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many petitions the Ministry of Defence received in (a) 2007, and (b) 2008; what steps the Ministry has taken to publicise them; and whether they will place the text of the petitions received and the number of signatures in the Library of the House. [HL1743]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what procedures the Ministry of Defence has for receiving, acknowledging, dealing with and responding to petitions that it receives from members of the public. [HL1744]

Petitions are processed in the same way as other public correspondence received by the department, with a response normally being sent by officials to the originator of the petition.

Although the department records the volume of correspondence sent to Ministers, the text of petitions and the number of signatures are not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of the House of Lords are appointees to the non-departmental public bodies listed under “Department for Children, Schools and Families” in annexe A to the report of the Cabinet Office entitled Public Bodies 2008; and what was their appointment and individual remuneration. [HL1797]

This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration is published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

The names of the NDPBs for which the department is now responsible are listed on the department's website at www.dfes.gov.uk/ndpb/.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of the House of Lords are appointees to the non-departmental public bodies listed under “Department for Culture, Media and Sport” in annexe A to the report of the Cabinet Office entitled Public Bodies 2008; and what was their appointment and individual remuneration. [HL1799]

Information about board members, including details of any remuneration they receive, appear in the annual report and accounts published by each public body.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of the House of Lords are appointees to the non-departmental public bodies listed under “Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs” in annexe A to the report of the Cabinet Office entitled Public Bodies 2008; and what was their appointment and individual remuneration. [HL1800]

This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration is published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of the House of Lords are appointees to the non-departmental public bodies listed under “Department of Health” in annexe A to the report of the Cabinet Office entitled Public Bodies 2008; and what was their appointment and individual remuneration. [HL1807]

This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration is published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of the House of Lords are appointees to the non-departmental public bodies listed under “Forestry Commission” in annexe A to the report of the Cabinet Office entitled Public Bodies 2008; and what was their appointment and individual remuneration. [HL1843]

None.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of the House of Lords are appointees to the non-departmental public bodies listed under “Government Equalities Office” in annexe A to the report of the Cabinet Office entitled Public Bodies 2008; and what was their appointment and individual remuneration. [HL1844]

Public Bodies 2008 Annexe A lists the Equality and Human Rights Commission as an executive non-departmental public body of the Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Women's National Commission as an advisory non-departmental public body of the GEO. Members of the House of Lords who are currently appointed to the boards of these two bodies are as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of the House of Lords are appointees to the non-departmental public bodies listed under “Home Office” in annexe A to the report of the Cabinet Office entitled Public Bodies 2008; and what was their appointment and individual remuneration. [HL1846]

This information is not held centrally. Information on board membership and remuneration is published in individual bodies' annual reports and accounts.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any minimum size of flock below which the Control of Salmonella in Broiler Flocks Order 2009 (SI 2009/26) will not apply. [HL1699]

The requirements of the Salmonella National Control Programme (NCP) for broilers as implemented by the Control of Salmonella in Broiler Flocks Order 2009 will apply to all broiler flocks apart from those exempted in Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 under Article 1.3. The exemption applies to where:

production is for private domestic use only (ie the meat is not being sold on the market); and

the holding is supplying small quantities direct to the consumer (ie farm gate sales) or via local retailers which only supply the final consumer (essentially householders).

Regulation 2160/2003 does not give a specific threshold for “small quantity”. Defra has recently taken part in discussions with industry representatives, including the National Farmers Union and the British Poultry Council, to agree a threshold which is proportionate and meets our obligations under EU law. A final decision will be made in time for the forthcoming publication of a guide for producers on the NCP for broiler flocks later this month.

To ask Her Majesty's Government in relation to an Ofsted report saying an independent school “provides parents and prospective parents with all the required information in the school prospectus and its website”, what that required information is; and how much of it should appear on its website. [HL1754]

The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, which came into force on 9 February 2009, require independent schools to provide information to parents and parents of prospective pupils. There are four elements to this requirement:

First, an independent school is required to place on a website or make available to view in school particulars of the policy on admissions, discipline and exclusions, particulars of the educational and welfare provision for pupils with statements and pupils for whom English is an additional language, particulars of the school's curriculum policy, particulars of the school's policy to prevent bullying, the school's policy on the health and safety of pupils on activities outside the school, the school's policy on promoting good behaviour and sanctions for misbehaviour, particulars of the school's academic performance during the preceding school year including the results of any public examinations, details of the complaints procedure and the number of complaints registered under the formal procedure during the preceding school year and the number of staff at the school, including temporary staff, and a summary of their qualifications.

Secondly, the child protection policy must also be available on a website but where there is no school website it must be provided direct to parents and parents of prospective pupils on request.

Thirdly, schools must provide parents and parents of prospective pupils by e-mail or letter with the school's address and telephone number and the name of the head teacher; where the proprietor is an individual, the proprietor's full name, address for correspondence during both term-time and holidays and a telephone number or numbers on which the proprietor may be contacted at all times; where the proprietor is a corporation, a Scottish firm or a body of persons, the address and telephone number of its registered or principal office; where there is a governing body, the name and address for correspondence of the chairperson and a statement of the school's ethos (including any religious ethos) and aims.

Fourthly, a copy of inspection reports must be sent to parents.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a visa application from Ibrahim Moussawi for his forthcoming visit to the School of Oriental and African Studies; and whether they have decided to allow him entry to the United Kingdom. [HL1859]

It is government policy not to comment on individual visa applications unless there is a substantial public interest in doing so. All visa applications are considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules. A visa application may be refused if it is not conducive to the public good to admit the applicant to the UK. Such decisions are based on a careful assessment of all the facts and on hard evidence, not hearsay.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations apply to paragraph 10(d) of Schedule 1 to the Joint Waste Authorities (Proposals) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/105). [HL1694]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether paragraph 11 of Schedule 2 to the Joint Waste Authorities (Proposals) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/105) implies that no proposal will be accepted that results in increased costs; and, if so, who will ensure that that is the case. [HL1695]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether paragraph 12 of Schedule 2 to the Joint Waste Authorities (Proposals) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/105) implies that no proposal will be accepted that does not benefit the environment; and, if so, who will ensure that that is the case. [HL1696]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether paragraphs 11 and 12 of Schedule 2 to the Joint Waste Authorities (Proposals) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/105) taken together imply that a proposal will be acceptable if it results in increased cost but has an environmental benefit or if there is no environmental benefit but there is a cost saving. [HL1697]

Joint waste authorities will be employing organisations. Where services or roles and duties transfer from the current provider to a new provider, either during the creation of a joint waste authority or following contracting/re-tendering exercises post-vesting, then the staff working in these areas are likely to transfer to the joint waste authority. Accordingly, the TUPE Regulations 2006 and the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Civil Service 2000 (COSOP) are likely to apply. Further detail is available in the statutory guidance which accompanies the Joint Waste Authorities (Proposals) Regulations, available on Defra's website.

Proposals for a joint waste authority will be considered on their own merits and according to the requirements of the regulations and statutory guidance.

Assessment will take into account the estimated level of service and performance improvements, efficiency and environmental benefits the Joint Waste Authority will deliver. A ‘low' score against any one criterion will not necessarily lead to rejection, but would be expected to be compensated by a ‘high' score elsewhere.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the sites of the 76 weather stations. [HL1840]

The Met Office has considerably more than 76 weather stations. However the 76 Met Office weather stations that are used for the cold weather payments (CWP) scheme for Great Britain are listed in the table below.

Note 1: Latitudes are degrees north.

Note 2: Longitudes are degrees east (+) or degrees west (-).