To ask Her Majesty's Government how many units of alcohol are in a litre of liquid with an alcoholic strength of 7 per cent alcohol by volume. [HL4784]

Seven units.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the excise duty on a litre of (a) beer, and (b) cider, containing (1) 6 per cent alcohol by volume, (2) 7 per cent alcohol by volume, (3) 7½ per cent alcohol by volume and (4) 8 per cent alcohol by volume. [HL4785]

Excise duty imposed on a litre of beer and cider containing (1) 6 per cent alcohol by volume, (2) 7 per cent alcohol by volume, (3) 7½ per cent alcohol by volume and (4) 8 per cent alcohol by volume, are shown in the table below. Full details on alcohol duty rates can be found on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2009/bn86.htm.

Figures are excluding VAT.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children of asylum seekers were detained at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre and for what length of time in (a) January to June 2007, (b) July to December 2007, (c) January to June 2008, (d) July to December 2008, and (e) January to June 2009. [HL4727]

The information requested on the number of children of asylum seekers detained at Yarl’s Wood and the periods for which they are detained is not yet centrally collated. The information requested could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children of asylum seekers were detained at Tinsley House immigration removal centre and for what length of time in (a) January to June 2007, (b) July to December 2007, (c) January to June 2008, (d) July to December 2008, and (e) January to June 2009. [HL4728]

The information requested on the number of children of asylum seekers detained at Tinsley House and the periods for which they are detained is not yet centrally collated. The information requested could only be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 29 June (WA 3), why the decision was taken not to proceed with the study by Professor Gillian Baird and her colleagues announced on 8 May 2008 by Mr Ivan Lewis in a press notice and on the No 10 website but instead a different set of researchers was chosen. [HL4758]

The decision to undertake transition research for young people with autism with the University of York and not through the services of Professor Baird, was taken after detailed consideration of the remit of the research and strict government procurement requirements.

This is no reflection on Professor Baird or her team and we hope that she will continue to work with the department on future projects. We value her expertise and the contribution she has made so far to our understanding of autism and autism services.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what efficiency savings they expect to achieve in 2010–11 within the administrative costs of the civil service. [HL4770]

The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review agreed 5 per cent annual real reductions in administration budgets across all departments, releasing over £1.2 billion by 2010-11 for investment in priority areas and further reducing the cost of running central government.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in the last three years in reducing carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles in the Government car service. [HL5004]

The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) has reduced the carbon dioxide emissions from its car fleet by 15.9 per cent from 160.32 grammes per kilometre (g/km) in 2006-07 to 134.84 g/km in 2008-09. The GCDA is on target to meet the Government’s target of an average of 130 g/km for its fleet by March 2010.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the letter or letters from the Local Government Ombudsman to the Department for Transport regarding the proposal by the Department for Transport, enacted and brought into force in 2008, to remove from the Ombudsman his powers to investigate complaints concerning the civil enforcement of traffic regulations where there was a right of appeal to an adjudicator, and of any replies to those letters.[HL4741]

A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House of the response from the Local Government Ombudsman to the consultation on the draft parking regulations that took place in July 2006. There were no individual replies to any of the responses to the consultation.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department of Health has reduced the number of arm's-length bodies to 20, as proposed in the 2004 review Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's-Length Bodies; which arm's length bodies are involved in health and social care (under the review's definition of such bodies); and what their total expenditure was in 2008–09 (in 2003–04 prices). [HL4763]

Following the review of the department's arm’s-length bodies (ALBs), the number of pre-existing ALBs has been reduced from 38 in 2004 to 20 in 2009. Subsequent to the review, responsibility for one ALB (the Alcohol Education and Research Council) has transferred to the Department of Health from the Home Office, raising the current number of ALBs to 21. All of these ALBs have roles in the health and social care system.

In 2008-09 there were 24 ALBs as the transfer of three ALBs into the new Care Quality Commission, and the merger of the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control into the Health Protection Agency, took place on 1 April 2009. Total ALB revenue expenditure funded by the department in 2008-09 (also in 2003-04 prices) is summarised in the following table:

Notes:

2003-04 prices quoted are calculated using the GDP Deflator at market prices issued by ONS, as at 30 June 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what new offences will be brought into force by the draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009. [HL4755]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures the Department of Health intends to take to address the comments of the Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee in its 21st Report (HL Paper 118) about the quality control system for drafting statutory instruments in the department; and how they propose to address the committee's observation that the drafting errors might have been identified at an earlier stage if the department had put the proposal out for public consultation. [HL4757]

The draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009 will replace the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 1991. The regulations have been updated to take account of the changes made by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (the 2008 Act), specifically to the definition of embryo and the introduction of human admixed embryos. The regulations themselves do not introduce any new offences or new policy. The regulations are simply being remade in consequence of amendments made by the 2008 Act.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 prohibits storage of gametes and creating, keeping or using embryos without a licence. This key principle has been retained by changes made by the 2008 Act. There are two exceptions to this that were set out in the 1991 regulations. The same two exceptions have been retained in the updated regulations. The regulations do not remove the requirement for a licence to create or use an embryo.

The first exception relates to the keeping of gametes or embryos in connection with an investigation or proceedings relating to an offence under the 1990 Act. This power to provide for such an exception is set out on the face of the 1990 Act. It refers only to gametes and embryos, not human admixed embryos, so there is no scope for the regulations to provide for this. If such circumstances arose, the human admixed embryos could be kept as evidence at a centre that had a storage licence. It does not alter the principle that no person may create, keep or use a human admixed embryo without a licence or mean that the HFEA would not investigate thoroughly any suspected offence under the 1990 Act.

Earlier this year the department consulted on four sets of regulations in connection with the implementation of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. However, the department did not consider it necessary to specifically consult on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009 as they do not represent a change in government policy. The changes made to these regulations were consequential to changes in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. There was extensive consultation, scrutiny and debate on the changes in the Bill leading to the 2008 Act, which these regulations reflect, during the passage of the Bill itself. However, we do regret that it was necessary to re-lay the draft special exemption regulations. We note the Merits Committee's acknowledgement that the department acted quickly to correct the draft regulations and we will look at any lessons learnt from the laying of these regulations.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision is made in the draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009 for criminal offences concerning the storage and experimentation on human admixed embryos under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. [HL4756]

The power under which the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 1991 and the draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Special Exemption) Regulations 2009 are made is set out in Section 43 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. This limits the scope of the regulations to make provision in relation to the keeping and examination of gametes and embryos, and not human admixed embryos. It is a criminal offence to keep a human admixed embryo without a licence. If it were necessary for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to keep a human admixed embryo in connection with a crime, it would need to be stored at a licensed premise.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they expect the Food Standards Agency to issue briefing material to United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament on (a) progress in establishing maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive, and (b) the procedures through which the Parliament will consider those figures. [HL4718]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions officials of the Department of Health or the Food Standards Agency or both intend to have with Directorate General Enterprise of the European Commission on the economic impact on United Kingdom specialist health food retailers and manufacturers of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. [HL4719]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to raise with Mr José Manuel Barroso their concerns about the impact of establishing maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements prior to his reappointment as President of the European Commission. [HL4720]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that candidates for appointment later this year to the position of the Health Commissioner in the European Commission are aware of the United Kingdom's wish for a proportionate interpretation of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. [HL4721]

No specific levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements have yet been proposed by the European Commission or discussed in Commission-led working group meetings with member states.

There are no plans to provide briefing material to United Kingdom (UK) Members of the European Parliament at this stage on progress in establishing maximum permitted levels for nutrients in food supplements under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements directive, or the procedures through which the Parliament will consider those figures.

In the absence of specific levels, it is not possible to assess the potential economic impact on United Kingdom specialist health food retailers and manufacturers of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. No discussions have therefore taken place between officials of the Department of Health or Food Standards Agency with the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission on this issue.

In the mean time, the Food Standards Agency continues to work with the food supplements industry to consider the potential impact of levels, when they are proposed, on UK businesses and consumer choice.

There are no plans to raise the issue of setting maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements with the President-elect of the European Commission or to inform potential candidates for the post of European Commissioner for Health of the UK's position on this issue.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Crawley on 1 July (WA 55), what was their expenditure on advertising which was not handled by the Central Office of Information, by issue and by department, in each of the past five financial years for which figures are available. [HL4890]

This information is not collected centrally. Each government department, agency and NDPB is responsible for setting its own communications priorities and outputs, and each Secretary of State is responsible to Parliament.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce measures to allow employers to place contractual obligations on their employees to avoid becoming obese. [HL4737]

There are no plans to place any contractual obligations on employers in respect of preventing employees from gaining weight. However, as part of the obesity strategy we are working with employers to encourage healthy eating and physical activity.

In addition, the Government's response to Dame Carol Black's review of the health of the working age population Improving Health and Work: Changing Lives, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, contains a number of initiatives to encourage employers to promote wellness among their staff and make health at work part of their core business model to help reduce obesity.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their plans for HMS “Caroline”, the Royal Naval Reserve light cruiser berthed in Belfast. [HL4772]

We are exploring with the National Museum of the Royal Navy whether it would be willing to assume responsibility for the ship, not as a commissioned warship but as a historically important example of naval power from World War I. This decision is dependent on the provision of National Lottery funding for the Royal Navy National Museum and is also determined by timescales set by the Belfast City Council. At this stage it would be premature to announce any decision. However, we should have a clearer idea about its plans in December 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what contribution the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey make to the United Kingdom Exchequer in return for services provided through overseas representation and in international negotiations. [HL4714]

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last assessed the costs of services provided by the United Kingdom to the Crown Dependencies and the level of voluntary contributions provided in return for those services. [HL4764]

The UK Government are constitutionally responsible for defence and international representations of all the Crown Dependencies, including the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. In accordance with the Jersey and Guernsey (Financial Provisions) Act 1947, the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey occasionally surrender hereditary revenues of the Crown to the Consolidated Fund. Each payment must then be returned to Jersey and Guernsey within 10 working days. The last such payment from Jersey was for an amount of £225,000 in November 2008 and the last payment from Guernsey was an amount of £7,910,000 in February 2003.

The Isle of Man makes contributions in accordance with the Contribution Agreement 1994. The most recent contribution was £2,559,278.55, made in 2008.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps the Learning and Skills Council is taking to ensure there are sufficient skills and manpower to deliver their new nuclear programme and their renewable energy target of 15 per cent by 2020. [HL4340]

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and its future successor body, the Skills Funding Agency, has an important role in responding to the skill needs of the nuclear industry over the coming years. The LSC is working closely with Cogent, the sector skills council responsible for the nuclear sector, to respond to skill needs identified by employers. LSC has also committed to £3.8 million development funding for establishing the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, which, with strong employer-backing, is active in developing and promoting skills and helping ensure the capacity to deliver skills across the nuclear sector. This includes the new Energus Centre in West Cumbria, with £3.5 million capital funding from LSC.

The Skills Academy is developing a number of important initiatives, including a community apprenticeship programme, which will support small and medium-sized firms in the supply chain which take on new and additional apprenticeships; and the nuclear skills passport, to promote mobility and demonstrate supply chain quality and capability.

The Skills Academy and Cogent are currently leading a detailed review of the future skills implications of the nuclear new build, supported by the Office for Nuclear Development (OND) within the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), and by this department. This analysis will provide important data for the Government and their agencies, including the LSC and future Skills Funding Agency. It will also help drive the new Skills Academy's new five-year strategic plan of actions to be taken to ensure there is a suitably skilled, competent and safe workforce to meet these new challenges.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 23 June (WA 269–70), why they do not keep accounts showing the total cost of preparing and introducing a Bill. [HL4754]

Government accounts are prepared on a departmental basis. The cost of preparing and introducing a Bill is typically borne by several departments and can be difficult to disaggregate from parallel work to develop and implement related government policy. The cost of any given Bill will depend on many different factors, such as, for example, the time spent by civil servants, including Parliamentary Counsel and Ministers across government on developing the Bill as well as associated running costs. As the Civil Service and Ministers do not, in general, work by reference to billable units of time, the collection and disaggregation of that information to make this possible would impose very significant additional burdens on all departments.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what information or guidance has been provided to schools and local authorities concerning the requirement to license the provision of musical instruments as “entertainment facilities” under the Licensing Act 2003 where such instruments are used in public performances of live music or private performances that seek to raise money for good causes. [HL4839]

The department has provided general advice to applicants on its website and detailed guidance to licensing authorities on the 2003 Act as it affects the provision of regulated entertainment. However, the Act has devolved responsibility for the administration of the licensing regime to individual authorities and it is for them to consider each application on its own merits. The Act does not draw a distinction between events which are put on for charity purposes and those which are not.

Although the 2003 Act requires schools and colleges to obtain a licence for regulated entertainment to which the public are invited, or for a private entertainment where a fee is charged with a view to profit, they are exempt from paying the licence fee if the event is provided by, located at and for the purpose of the school or college.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of schools in England and Wales are licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 for performances of live music and the provision of musical instruments as “entertainment facilities”. [HL4840]

We do not hold this information. The statistical data collected by the department identify how many premises have permission, in the form of a premises licence or club premises certificate, to put on regulated entertainment, including live music. However, it is not known how many schools have obtained an appropriate permission to cover live performances of music and the provision of entertainment facilities, or indeed any other form of regulated entertainment such as a dance event or a play. In some cases, a school may decide to put on an event by giving a temporary event notice.

Although the Licensing Act 2003 requires schools and colleges to obtain a licence for regulated entertainment to which the public are invited, or for a private entertainment where a fee is charged with a view to profit, they are exempt from paying the licence fee if the event is provided by, located at and for the purpose of the school or college.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Royal Statistical Society's 2009 Vision for National Statistics and the workings to date of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and the UK Statistics Authority.[HL4916]

The Government are committed to statistical reform and, through legislation, have created the UK Statistics Authority to take forward this reform.

The Government recognise the authority's notable achievements during its first year and look forward to its first annual report, detailing what it has achieved so far as well as what it intends to achieve in the coming year.

The Government have committed to assessing the impact of the new pre-release arrangements, a year after they have been in place. Government are also considering when and whether it is appropriate to review the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, as is customary for all new primary legislation.

There is a key role for Parliament in scrutinising the work of the Statistics Authority and the Public Administration Select Committee has held several witness sessions already on official statistics. There are also regular debates in the House of Lords.

The Royal Statistical Society is a key stakeholder in statistical reform, playing a key role in the public debate on statistical issues. Government welcome the commitment made by the society to continue to play an active role in the debate over official statistics in their recent publication 2009 Vision for National Statistics.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which strategic health authorities have the highest proportion of patients inappropriately placed in hospital beds, in the light of the assertion by the NHS chief executive in his annual report that 25 per cent of patients have been inappropriately placed in hospital beds; and what steps they are taking to reduce that percentage. [HL4652]

Information gathered from the Your Health, Your Care, Your Say process, and various studies, suggests that a significant proportion of hospital admissions could be avoidable with the right care and support in the community. The next-stage review has identified tackling this area as urgent, and the primary and community care strategy is now in place to start tackling this in a systematic way. Information on the proportion of patients inappropriately placed in hospital by strategic health authority is not held centrally.

Moving day-to-day care that would traditionally be provided in hospital settings into the community has been shown to provide an equally good service. And delivering high quality community services in conjunction with social care can ensure early discharge from hospital and prevent some admissions to hospital.

The transforming community services programme aims to improve community services to develop modern, personalised and responsive care of a consistently high standard and deliver improved health outcomes for communities. Through the world-class commissioning programme primary care trusts are commissioning an increasing number of community services closer to home, to increase well-being and prevent ill health.

Regional and local partners throughout the National Health Service are leading the system changes set out in the next-stage review primary and community care strategy, to ensure that patients are offered care in the most appropriate setting to meet their needs.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which NHS hospital trusts were approved for Foundation Trust status by Monitor at 31 March; and in respect of which of those trusts strategic health authorities did not expect to be able to apply to Monitor for approval as a Foundation Trust by (a) March 2010, and (b) March 2011. [HL4759]

115 National Health Service foundation trusts had been authorised by Monitor as at 31 March 2009. These are listed in Table 1:

Note:

¹ Formerly known as Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The department collects information from strategic health authorities on when NHS trusts are expected to be in a position to seek the support of the Secretary of State for their application. The departmental assessment stage may take two or more months before trusts which receive the Secretary of State's support are passed to Monitor for assessment and potential authorisation.

Those NHS trusts not expected to seek the Secretary of State's support for their application by March 2010 are set out in table 2:

Information is not held on National Health Service trusts unable to apply by March 2011 but only information on National Health Service trusts which are not expected to be able to make an application to the Secretary of State by December 2010.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are measuring progress on encouraging the use of the independent sector and contestability within the National Health Service. [HL4761]

The fundamental principle underpinning our policy is that commissioners should commission services from the providers which are best placed to deliver the needs of their patients and population regardless of whether they are National Health Service, voluntary sector or independent sector providers.¹

The information requested is not collected centrally.

Notes:

¹ The NHS in England: The operating framework for 2008/9 Annex D—Principles and rules for co-operation and competition.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many contracts were let by the Department of Health or NHS bodies for the provision of primary or secondary care clinical services with a value of £250,000 or more to (a) private sector providers, and (b) social entrepreneurs, in each of financial years (1) 2005–06, (2) 2006–07, (3) 2007–08, and (4) 2008–09. [HL4762]

The department does not centrally collect information on contracts procured by local National Health Service service providers for primary or secondary care. The department can only provide information on contracts procured as part of central programmes led by the department's former commercial directorate or where it has provided commercial and procurement skills and support.

The following tables show the number of contracts that reached financial close in the financial years 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 for primary care and secondary care, which were awarded to independent sector (IS) and social enterprise and third sector (SE) providers

Notes:

While the department does not hold information on the value of contracts procured by primary care trusts as part of the equitable access in primary medical care programme, they are likely to have been over £250,000 in each case.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made by strategic health authorities and primary care trust commissioners in the consolidation of NHS pathology services in their areas, as recommended by the two independent reports by Lord Carter of Coles; and when they expect NHS commissioners to deliver the potential savings of £250–£500 million a year that could be achieved by such consolidation. [HL4744]

The department plans to publish a full report on progress towards implementing all the review's recommendations later this year.

Three strategic health authorities (SHAs)—East of England, South East Coast and Yorkshire and the Humber—agreed in 2008 to work with providers and commissioners on developing approaches that responded to Lord Carter's recommendations about improving quality and patient safety and driving forward efficiencies in pathology services in England. The department is now also working with National Health Service London and is in discussion with NHS North East about how best to support the work in that region; and is continuing to support delivery by funding projects that will enable the improved end-to-end services, full IT connectivity, and best practice in the clinical leadership of pathology services that were assumed in the potential savings identified by Lord Carter. The department and the SHA medical directors together will review progress and next steps in the autumn.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much each primary care trust in Greater Manchester spent on hospice provision in each of the past five years. [HL4780]

This information is not collected centrally. It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs) to decide the level of funding that is allocated to local end-of-life care services, including hospices, based on assessments of local needs and priorities.

To support the development of the End of Life Care Strategy, published in July 2008, a survey was undertaken of PCT expenditure on specialist palliative care services in 2006-07. The results of this survey, which gives one total figure for each PCT, were published on the Department of Health website on 16 July 2008.

We are making £286 million available over 2009-10 and 2010-11 to support implementation of the end-of-life care strategy. Most of this will be allocated to PCTs.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 8 June (WA 132–3), how many ethnic minority owned or led businesses were among the successful 935 businesses awarded contracts for the Olympic Delivery Authority; and what percentage of those who have benefited from work as a result of such contracts being awarded are from ethnic minorities. [HL4711]

Information about the ethnic ownership of businesses is provided to the ODA by its contractors through self-evaluation and on a voluntary basis. The ODA currently has over 950 direct suppliers. Of these 40 per cent have chosen to provide information about their ethnic ownership, of which 20—5 per cent—are BAME-owned.

The ODA defines a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) business as being one that is at least 51 per cent BAME-owned. This is in line with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills definition. The ODA does not collect data on BAME-led businesses.

The ODA obtains workforce data from workers on the Olympic Park through self-assessment, but this does not cover employees of contractors which do not operate on the site. The figures published by the ODA in April 2009 showed that at that time there were 4,101 people working on the Olympic Park, of whom 13 per cent stated that they were from a BAME group. The on-site workforce figures include those for subcontractors as well as for the ODA's direct contractors.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are established financial reporting arrangements for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games; if so, to whom it reports; when; and how it reports. [HL4808]

LOCOG is a private company limited by guarantee. Its annual report is publicly available from Companies House, as well as being published on www.london2012.com. The last annual report is at http://www.london2012.com/documents/locog-publications/locog-annual-report-2008.pdf. The annual report for 2008-09 will be approved by the LOCOG board later this month and will be filed shortly thereafter.

LOCOG is almost entirely privately-financed, with its revenues accrued through sponsorship, tickets, merchandising and broadcast rights. The Government act as ultimate guarantor of funding to stage the Games and so the department regularly receives updates on LOCOG's financial situation on a commercially confidential basis.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will disclose to individual members of the House of Lords, or place in the Library of the House, the unedited KPMG and CLM reports and other associated papers used to decide temporary and other venues for the 2012 Olympic Games, together with details of associated construction and costings and legacy benefits. [HL4788]

A redacted summary version of the KPMG report that informed the Olympic Board's decision was published and placed in the House Library. Because of the continuing commercial sensitivity of information contained within the report, I am unable to publish a full copy at this time.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the Olympic Delivery Authority have also held several briefing sessions with a number of MPs and Peers and are happy to undertake further meetings to explain the rationale behind the Olympic Board's decision as are the British Olympic Association and British Shooting. British Shooting has accepted that Bisley is not a viable option for the 2012 events and will work with London 2012 on legacy for the sport.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which areas offer remote passport interviews; and how many people have applied in each area. [HL4880]

The attached table shows where we have facilities to conduct remote passport interviews and how many interviews have been conducted so far at each site. It is not possible to say how many customers from each area have actually applied as they may attend an interview at any of our offices, anecdotal evidence suggests they do not always choose to attend at their nearest office.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme's income from contributions and transfer payments in the past three years; and what its expenditure on pension benefits and transfers was in those years. [HL4974]

The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme's income from contributions and transfer payments, and expenditure on pension benefits and transfers, are accounted for in the resource accounts for Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation. The income receivable from contributions and transfer payments is shown in the combined revenue account. Information on benefits and transfer payments is shown in note 26, “Provision for pension liability”. Copies of the resource accounts for the years up to and including 2007-08 can be found in the Library.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service are complying with guidance on tackling and eliminating racism from the police service in London. [HL4769]

In November 2008, the then policing Minister published an assessment of minority ethnic recruitment, retention and progression across the police service, including the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), setting out a programme of positive action which is being taken forward by a ministerial-led group.

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), like all police authorities, has a vital role in setting local strategic priorities in consultation with all communities and holding police forces to account for the service they deliver.

An additional duty proposed in the Policing and Crime Bill will ensure that communities' views on policing are representative, including of minority groups, and are at the core of police authorities' work. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) will begin a programme of inspections of police authorities, including the MPA, in 2009 to assess in part how well they are engaging communities and ensuring that all local groups have access to policing services.

The equality standard for the police service will be rolled out to the police service later this year. This will help police forces to build on the considerable progress that has been made and increase their performance on equality and diversity. HMIC will undertake a major workforce inspection of all police forces, including the MPS, in 2010. This inspection—working for the public—will cover implementation of the equality standard.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 17 June (WA 216), why they refer to government documents to answer parliamentary Questions instead of supplying the information; and whether they will ensure that answers are extrapolated from any document and provided in full in the Official Report, where the cost of doing so is not disproportionate. [HL4803]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 17 June 2009 (Official Report, col. WA 216) which also applies for the procedure for referring to government documents to answer parliamentary Questions.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is a requirement of European Community legislation that maintenance and strengthening of railway-owned over-bridges to cater for heavier lorries should be paid for by railway administrations. [HL4816]

The European Community legislation requiring that principal routes in the UK used in international traffic should allow the use of heavier lorries does not specify that the maintenance and strengthening of bridges owned by rail infrastructure managers is to be paid for by those asset owners.

To ask Her Majesty's Government following their announcement that Eurostar UK will become a minority government-owned shareholder in a wider Eurostar company with a majority holding by SNCF, what steps they are taking to ensure competition for high speed passenger services on routes currently served by Eurostar. [HL4992]

The Government are taking steps to encourage competition on High Speed 1 from 2010 and to expand the number of European destinations available by rail from the UK. This was one of the principal objectives behind the recent financial restructuring of London and Continental Railways which the European Commission said would “benefit competition and users in view of the forthcoming liberalisation of international passenger transport by rail in 2010”.

Following this financial restructuring, it is the Government's intention, in due course, to sell a long-term concession for High Speed 1. This will incentivise and maximise usage of the line, and encourage the concessionaire to help train operators develop new international services. It will be for the future operator of High Speed 1 to market the railway and to agree terms of access with international train operators. We understand that High Speed 1 has had some preliminary discussions with potential operators.

The Government’s interest in Eurostar is aimed at ensuring that Eurostar can continue to offer attractive service to passengers whilst also being able to compete with expected new train operators on a level playing field in the future. This was also recognised by the Commission in its approval of this support.

High Speed 1 is not the only infrastructure to be used by cross-Channel high-speed trains. The Government maintain their support for the European Commission in promoting policies that ensure the regulatory arrangements and charging structures of the other infrastructure operators do not act as a barrier to competition on Eurostar routes.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in the next three years any stretches of the A303 trunk road will be re-surfaced with sound-reducing materials; and if so, in which areas it will take place. [HL4947]

Subject to the availability of funds within the Highways Agency's budget, the following stretches of the A303 trunk road are due to be resurfaced with “low noise” surfacing in the next three years:

Boscombe Down to Countess Roundabout (0.75 miles);

Winterbourne Stoke Improvements (0.31 miles);

Tintinhull Junction to Cartgate Roundabout (0.06 miles);

Willoughby Hedge (A350 Junction) to Mere (5 miles);

Deptford to Stockton Wood (3.1 miles); and

Hazlegrove Roundabout (0.25 miles).

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to alter the arrangements for receipt by the Highways Agency of statutory abnormal load movement notifications. [HL4936]

The Highways Agency has no plans to alter its arrangements for receipt of statutory abnormal load notifications.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they carried out research into the impact of the introduction of taxi metering on the provision of service to rural communities. [HL5035]

The Government have not carried out research into the compulsory use of taximeters in rural areas. Responsibility for taxi licensing—including any decision on whether taximeters should be mandatory—rests with local licensing authorities.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Audit Commission report Valuable lessons, and what guidance they issue to school governing bodies on the retention of balances. [HL4913]

I welcome the Audit Commission report Valuable Lessons: Improving Economy and Efficiency in Schools.

The department has already provided a range of tools to help schools make the most effective use of their resources including financial benchmarking, the strategic planning guide, the financial management standard in schools and the offer of a free one-day consultancy visit on improving value for money. The Education Procurement Centre is working with schools to carry out procurement health checks which help to identify where savings can be made. The e-procurement tool OPEN has been developed to help schools buy products online and compare prices of a range of suppliers.

The report supports our position on surplus school balances. It is sound financial management for schools to retain a small surplus from year to year, and revenue funding is intended to support the education of children in school now. It should not be necessary for it to be channelled into capital improvement projects given that separate and substantial capital funding has been made available.

Schools and authorities must work to reduce high balances over the next two years. If total revenue balances and the excessive balances held by individual schools do not reduce substantially by 2010-11, the Government will consult on further action from 2011-12 to bring the total down.

The department provides a reference document called A Guide to the Law for Schools Governors (the guide) to all schools and local authorities to inform them of the legal duties applicable to governing bodies of maintained schools. The guide includes information about the allocation of schools budgets and informs governors that there is a provision in the scheme for financing schools (the scheme) for the local authority to claw back excess surplus budgets. The scheme is issued by their local authority and sets out the financial relationship between the local authority and the maintained schools in their area. The scheme must include a mechanism on how the local authority will control excessive school balances, defined as greater than 5 per cent of the annual budget in secondary schools and 8 per cent in primary and special schools.

In accordance with paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 14 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (the Act), the local authority must consult all the governing bodies and schools in its area if it proposes to make any revisions to the provision of its scheme.

Additionally we have commenced a survey of local authorities practice and experiences in clawing back and managing surplus balances, in partnership with the Local Government Association and the results of this survey will be used to inform possible further action or guidance.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any liability for possible future redundancies at BVT Shipbuilders; and, if so, what is the basis of such liability. [HL4856]

Consistent with the Defence Industrial Strategy (Cmnd 6697), the department has committed to work with its industrial partners, including BVT Surface Fleet Limited (BVT), to transform the maritime sector, maintain sovereign capability, and seek performance improvements to create a sustainable, world-class UK maritime sector.

The BVT terms of business agreement is planned to be a long-term—15-year—industrial partnership and in that context it is quite normal that provision should be made for redundancy costs to be met at customer expense in certain circumstances. However, there are no current plans to rationalise or reduce the number of BVT shipyards nor, in that context, are we aware of any plans by BVT to announce redundancies.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to make it illegal to smoke near young children. [HL4775]

Because of the dangers to the health of children from second-hand tobacco smoke people are urged to avoid smoking near children, especially in confined spaces such as cars. We have given a commitment to complete a review the smoke-free law in England after three years. The review will be carried out in 2010.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many submissions they have received to date on the consultation regarding the proposed St Helena airport. [HL4915]

The deadline for responses to the public consultation regarding the proposed St Helena airport is 31 July.

To date the Department for International Development (DfID) has received 23 submissions by e-mail and 19 submissions by post.

Many respondents are communicating directly with the consultation facilitator rather than with DfID. We will not know how many responses the facilitator has received until she presents her report.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they propose to ensure that all owners of United Kingdom media organisations pay full United Kingdom personal, corporate and sales taxes. [HL4885]

The Government are committed to supporting all companies and individuals within the scope of UK tax who seek to pay their fair share, and to deterring and challenging those who do not through a comprehensive range of measures. This applies to the media business in the same way as to any other industry.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff the UK Border Agency employs; and, of those, (a) how many are in the United Kingdom, and (b) how many are in each other country in which the agency operates. [HL4706]

The number of staff that the UK Border employed as at 30 March 2009 was 17,557 and, of those (a) 16,350 are in the United Kingdom: the number, (b) that are employed in each other country in which the agency operates is shown in the attached table.

Notes to the table.

1. These are full-time equivalent employees as at 30th March 2009.

2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

3. These figures exclude; contingent/ agency workers because they are not employed by the agency, as well as employees on career breaks or maternity leave.

4. The figures include former Border and Immigration Agency staff and those formerly employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who are now part of the UK Border Agency.

5. Countries where there are five employees or less have been excluded for both security and data protection reasons.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to reimburse European workers who have paid the Worker Registration Scheme fee and are then made redundant through their employers' businesses failing. [HL4686]

There are no plans to reimburse the worker registration scheme fee for those who are made redundant. The fee is designed to recover the cost of administering the scheme and is not linked to how long applicants remain in employment.

Those who are made redundant may seek alternative employment and reregister without charge. The fee applies only to initial applications and not to those who are registering a change of employment.