To ask Her Majesty's Government whether servicemen wounded in Afghanistan have to pay to watch television in United Kingdom hospitals. [HL5857]

The majority of service personnel injured in Afghanistan will be treated in Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, under the auspices of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM). RCDM has a patient welfare fund, which meets in full any costs incurred by service patients for the provision of television in Selly Oak and other Birmingham hospitals.

Service personnel hospitalised elsewhere within the UK are eligible to claim a daily incidental expenses allowance of £5 to cover daily living costs. Those personnel injured on operations also remain eligible to receive the operational allowance (£13.08 daily) up to the date at which their tour was projected to end had they not been injured.

Additionally, pay-as-you-go (PAYG) dongles along with laptops are provided to military patients on request. If a military patient has any reason to pay for TV cards or dongles out of their own pocket, they are reimbursed.

Additional facilities covered by the PWF include (not an exhaustive list) meals out, cinema trips, outings to football matches, et cetera, as well as weekend local leave in local hotels.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial penalties they would incur if one new aircraft carrier was cancelled. [HL5888]

The Government remain fully committed to delivering the two ships of the Queen Elizabeth class, recognising the importance of HMS “Queen Elizabeth” and HMS “Prince of Wales” to our future carrier strike capability, wider defence needs and the sustainability of the UK shipbuilding sector. The QE class are key enablers to sustaining the sovereign capabilities signalled in the defence industrial strategy, in particular the high-end design, systems engineering and combat systems integration required to support the Royal Navy in the 21st century.

Any major changes, such as the cancellation of a carrier, to the QE class contract would first require a period of negotiation between the MoD and Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) to agree what changes would need to be made to the programme. This would include any potential financial penalties resulting from that change, which could be significant. We have no intention of pursuing this course.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they envisage will be spent before completion of the new aircraft carrier project. [HL5890]

I refer you to the previous Answer given by my noble friend Lord Drayson on this subject on 9 July 2009 (Official Report, cols. 759-60). The latest cost and time estimates are currently going through the department's approval process. As is normal practice, we will not make any firm announcements until this process has completed.

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the army vacated Drumadd Barracks in Armagh City; whether the Ministry of Defence still owns the barracks; if so, for what purpose they are used; and, if not, what proposals there are to dispose of the premises. [HL5909]

Drumadd Barracks, Armagh, were declared surplus by the department as part of the Northern Ireland normalisation process and handed over to Defence Estates for disposal on 6 July 2007.

The barracks are currently vacant and being maintained by Defence Estates, which is working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on future plans for the site.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have considered the risk factors identified following the Italian outbreak of H7N1 when devising control measures for a similar outbreak in the United Kingdom. [HL5834]

The risk factors and lessons learned from all outbreaks of avian influenza, whether of low or high pathogenicity in birds, have been taken into consideration in the formulation of our contingency plans for, and response to, outbreaks of avian influenza in the United Kingdom. The last outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of type H7 (H7N7) in the UK was in June 2008. It is considered highly likely that this highly pathogenic infection derived from a pre-existing low pathogenicity infection (LPAI) of type H7, as was the case in the outbreak of Italy in 1999, which was caused by avian influenza type H7 (H7N1).

Spain has reported this month its first ever outbreak of HPAI in chickens caused by type H7. There remains a constant low risk of the introduction of both HPAI and LPAI into the UK via wild birds, though there is negligible likelihood of introduction of HPAI into the UK through legal trade with Spain.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce measures to require banks in receipt of state support to pay bonuses in new shares. [HL5993]

The banks in which the Government have a shareholding are managed on an arm's-length commercial basis by United Kingdom Financial Investments (UKFI). UKFI has been working with government investee banks to ensure that incentives are much more strongly linked to long-term value creation, and is currently negotiating with the banks in respect of their 2009 performance year remuneration. The Government expect their investee banks to be at the forefront of implementing the FSA's code of practice on remuneration and the G20 agreement on remuneration.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes they propose to regulations governing banks to ensure that branches whose headquarters are outside the United Kingdom but who trade in the United Kingdom are monitored to the same degree as those whose headquarters are in the United Kingdom. [HL5937]

The regulations governing the supervision of branches of European economic area (EEA) banks are set out in European legislation. These regulations apply equally to banks headquartered in the UK and outside the UK, but within the EEA. Under the single market legislation, a bank authorised in one member state has a right to establish a branch in another member state. Day-to-day supervision of branches of EEA banks trading in the UK is a matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The FSA's responsibilities over EEA branches are set by EU law and include shared responsibility for liquidity but exclude all other areas of prudential monitoring. Recent changes to the EU's capital requirements directive permit the supervisor of a significant branch to be a member of a supervisory college. This should provide supervisors of branches with a better picture of the health of the financial group and alert them to emerging problems the group may be facing.

The Government believe that the rules and safeguards for cross-border branching within the EEA should be strengthened to reduce the likelihood, and cost, of the failure of a foreign branch. The European Economic and Financial Affairs Council agreed, in October 2009, to invite the European Commission to further review the home-host arrangements for branches under the EU single passport. The Government will play an active role in proposing appropriate changes to the framework.

Financial institutions outside the EEA wishing to establish an authorised presence in the UK can open either a branch or a subsidiary. The FSA will authorise institutions as a branch once the home regulator has been assessed for equivalence to UK and EEA supervisory standards, and once the whole firm has been assessed as meeting the FSA's threshold conditions for authorisation.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the number of non-motorised cycles on the roads of the United Kingdom has increased in the past 10 years; and, if so, by how much. [HL5881]

The information requested is not available.

However, estimates are produced of pedal cycle traffic on all roads in Great Britain. These show a 20 per cent increase between 1998 and 2008, from 4.0 billion to 4.7 billion vehicle kilometres. Figures are not available for Northern Ireland.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the information technology cost of the single farm payment scheme in each year from 2005 to 2008, including the costs of equipment and administration. [HL5740]

The NAO value-for-money report quoted the following figures for single payment scheme information technology costs calculated to reflect IT depreciation, amortisation, running costs and contractors.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the 34,500 cases of inaccurate payments made in 2007 to farmers in respect of the single farm payment remain unresolved; and how many new cases were identified in 2008. [HL5741]

All of the 34,499 single payment scheme cases identified in 2007 as requiring their entitlements to be reviewed to reflect new information on their accounts have been completed. In many cases the full payments had been made so adjustment of payments was not necessary. The NAO value-for-money study reports corrections on 27,757 in 2008 and early 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the refurbishment of the Ledra Palace, Nicosia, in order to provide improvised accommodation for the United Kingdom contingent of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus has been completed; what was the cost; and who paid for the work. [HL5961]

The renovation and refurbishment of the Ledra Palace Hotel continues as part of an agreed three-year programme between 2007 and 2010 between the Republic of Cyprus and the UN. All work on the external fabric of the building is complete providing a watertight structure. All roofs have now been repaired and/or replaced, the fire detection and alarm systems have been installed, asbestos removal in the boiler rooms and cellars is complete, the floor covering in the gymnasium has been replaced and the ration store refurbished. The recommissioning of rooms in the west wing is complete and a total of 35 rooms have been handed over to the UN forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP). In addition to this, the renovation of the Ledra Palace Hotel medical centre is nearing completion.

There is no direct cost to the UK for this work. The work is being carried out by the Republic of Cyprus in an arrangement with the United Nations and we do not have visibility of the associated costs.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Answer by Lord Rooker on 18 June 2007 (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 7), whether the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is on target to save farmers £3 million by 2009-10; and how those savings will be achieved. [HL5929]

The 2005 Whole Farm Approach business case was reviewed in 2008, and the estimate for savings expected by 2009-10 was revised downward from £3 million to £2 million to reflect lower than originally anticipated farmer take-up. The system is working well and receiving positive feedback from those farmers who use it.

The system is now providing online access to the cattle tracing scheme and access to the single payment scheme is scheduled to be available in 2010.

Taken together with other online services and a rapidly growing number of users, we expect the current review of the business case to confirm delivery of the forecast benefits and for further benefits to be identified.

Savings are achieved through prepopulated online forms, immediate validation, improved advice and guidance, and similar facilities which should make the online system quicker and easier for farmers and their agents to use. These savings will be reflected in the annual simplification plan, due to be published each December.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which Department for Transport agencies' budgets for 2010-11 (a) will fall by more than 5 per cent from 2009-10, (b) will fall by less than 5 per cent from 2009-10, and (c) will increase from 2009-10. [HL5861]

The Department for Transport's agencies are currently in the process of preparing their budgets for 2010-11. Budgets will be formally set following the completion of the department's business planning round in the first quarter of 2010.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to review their stance on regulation, having regard to the findings of the recent Department for Business, Innovation and Skills report on the benefits of regulation. [HL5877]

This Government have always recognised the benefits that regulations can bring when there is a clear need for intervention and the rules are designed and implemented in the right way. Given that regulatory changes bring costs for business and society we will continue to make prioritised choices on regulation.

This report shows through case studies how the Government's approach to better regulation can not only minimise costs but also maximise the benefits that necessary regulation brings to society. A range of stakeholders representing businesses, employees and consumers signed a joint statement with Government on 19 October (available via http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file53233.ddoc. A copy is available in the Library of the House) setting out how better regulation approaches help deliver benefits and minimise costs.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House details of the evidence on which Mr Graham Badman based his statement that he is aware of 52 care plans in respect of home-educated children; and what is the equivalent figure and evidence in respect of substantial abuse or neglect. [HL5983]

On 9 October Mr Badman sent a report to Mr Barry Sheerman MP setting out a detailed local-authority-level analysis of child protection plans relating to home-educated children. His letter of 28 October, also to Mr Sheerman, sets out further information relating to other information he collected in the course of the review about abuse and neglect. Both pieces of correspondence are on the department's website at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/ete/independentreviewofhomeeducation/irhomeeducation/.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 26 June 2007 (WA 129-30), what consideration the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has given to findings reported in the journal Nature on 17 September 2009 (volume 461, issue 7262, pages 367-372) with regard to the renewal of research licence R0153; and, in particular, how the HFEA has evaluated comments by Peter Aldhous in New Scientist on 26 August 2009 indicating that the approach described in the paper is superior to a technique pursued at Newcastle University. [HL5764]

We understand that any research licence application or renewal considered by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is assessed in light of the scientific evidence available at the time. When the licence is originally granted, and upon renewal, the application is peer reviewed. The HFEA expects such peer review to consider relevant research.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Triesman on 29 October 2007 (WA 144) and by Lord Darzi of Denham on 10 January 2008 (WA 216) and 18 June 2009 (WA 226), at what point the Newcastle Primary Care Trust switched to offering three cycles of in vitro fertilisation to eligible patients instead of one treatment cycle; and what is known about the impact of this change in policy on the tendency of women to provide their eggs for research involving cloned human embryos. [HL5792]

Newcastle Primary Care Trust (PCT) has offered three cycles of in vitro fertilisation to eligible patients from 1 April 2009. We do not hold information on whether PCT funding criteria has an impact on the tendency of women to donate their eggs for research.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the level of unemployment among young people and their need to acquire skills, they will remove the 16-hour rule for persons over 21 wishing to complete full-time education and claim benefits. [HL5734]

We have no plans to do so. We recognise that for some people, lack of skills can hamper their entry into work and we actively support jobseekers in gaining the necessary skills. Customers claiming jobseeker's allowance can undertake full-time training if this is needed in order to gain the necessary skills to enter employment. Customers who undertake full-time training are transferred to a training allowance, to which the 16-hour study rule does not apply.

Furthermore, the Government have made a commitment to develop and deliver a fully integrated employment and skills (IES) system in England by 2010-11. The new integrated service will bring together and reform existing employment and skills services to better support skills acquisition, employment and career progression.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve or facilitate connections to the gas and electricity grids to ensure the viability of anaerobic digestion plants and encourage their growth. [HL5894]

This was addressed in the UK Renewable Energy Strategy (Cm 7686, July 2009). In relation to electricity, various measures to address grid-related access barriers are currently being implemented. These include short-term measures to connect as a priority ready-to-go projects; new rules on long-term grid access; and new incentive mechanisms for investments in grid infrastructure. On gas, the Government are preparing guidance for prospective biomethane producers on how to connect to the gas network; building on the renewable energy strategy, that guidance will also outline arrangements for addressing longer-term issues.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the Budgetary Report of the European Community which argues that the United Kingdom's budgetary position poses severe risks to the sustainability of public finances. [HL5827]

The report published by the European Commission is a theoretical exercise that shows what would happen over the next 50 years if member states did not consolidate their public finances. As the report itself states, “these projections are not robust forecasts and are not meant to be realistic scenarios of what may happen in the future”. The Government are committed to protecting the sustainability of the public finances and have set out a clear plan for halving the deficit over four years once the recovery is under way. The fiscal projections set out in the 2009 Budget are consistent with debt falling as a proportion of GDP by 2015-16.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to monitor the first elections under the Falkland Islands' new constitution on 5 November. [HL5749]

The 5 November 2009 elections are being organised according to the terms of the Falkland Islands electoral ordinance. The Government have every confidence in the Falkland Islands Government to run free and fair elections.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures (a) have been implemented, and (b) are planned, to prevent flooding in (1) Gloucestershire, (2) Worcestershire, and (3) Herefordshire. [HL5846]

Since September 2007 the Environment Agency has implemented a number of measures to manage and reduce the risk of flooding in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire:

two flood alleviation schemes have been implemented in Gloucestershire (Deerhurst, Bourton-on-the-Water), and one in Worcestershire (Hylton Road, Worcester). Over £1,000,000 has been spent on an improvement scheme for the River Chelt in Cheltenham;

risk-based maintenance of flood defences has been carried out. This includes blockage and vegetation removal from channels and structures to improve flood flow conveyance;

in excess of 100 meetings and flood awareness events have been held with communities at risk or who have been affected by flooding;

improvements have been made to flood incident management arrangements and responses;

improvements have been made to the telemetry network and the production of forecasting models. A new, more local community-based warning system has been introduced, along with a National Flood Forecasting Centre to improve flood forecasting and warning; and

the Environment Agency has contributed to 13 local resilience forum multiagency flood plans for emergency responses and recovery.

A £5,000,000 flood scheme in Hereford now provides better protection to 196 properties, including 25 listed buildings.

Details of future projects are given in the Environment Agency's medium-term plan, which is available on its website.

In addition, Defra is funding early action within Gloucestershire on managing risks from surface water: £50,000 has been allocated to date, with a further £100,000 to be provided by March 2011.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much horse meat is imported to the United Kingdom; whether it is all covered by horse passports; and how the link between the passport and the meat is made. [HL5941]

Figures are not held on the amount of horse meat imported into the UK. Traditionally, UK consumers have not consumed horse meat so it is unlikely that any significant quantity is imported. Horse passports are not required for the import of horse meat into the UK.

Horse passports indicate that a horse is eligible for entry into the food chain and can be slaughtered for human consumption. After slaughter, the passport is either destroyed or invalidated and returned to the issuing body.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will recommend that reporting mechanisms be set up in Gaza, following the offensive by Israel, to investigate congenital abnormalities in babies born over the five years from 2010. [HL5769]

The World Health Organisation is currently monitoring the incidence of congenital abnormality in Gaza. The agency has carried out a retrospective study of 2008 to act as a baseline for ongoing monitoring. We understand that from a preliminary examination of 2009 data there is not an increased level of congenital abnormality in Palestinian children in Gaza. We will follow closely further conclusions reached.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the annual payments in (a) 2007-08, and (b) 2008-09 to the United Kingdom from European economic area countries for reimbursement of healthcare costs for those countries' nationals under EEC regulation 1408/71; and what were the payments from the United Kingdom to those countries under that regulation. [HL5954]

The following tables show the breakdown of actual cash payments received and made by the United Kingdom in the financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09 from non-waiver European economic area (EEA) member states and Switzerland for the reimbursement of healthcare provided under EU regulation (EC) 1408/71.

Notes:

1. Payments made or received in one year do not necessarily relate to claims for that year nor do they reflect the full value of claims for that year

2. Waiver, except Article 22.1c (patient referral) and Article 55.1a (industrial injury) claims

3. Waiver, except Article 22.1c (patient referral claims)

4. Previously waiver, regulations applied from 30 June 2008

5. Totals for individual countries are rounded to the nearest £1

6. Sub-totals may not add up to rounded overall totals due to rounding

7. Denmark is excluded from the list, as there is a total waiver

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much has been invested into research into sudden arrhythmic death syndrome and flash pulmonary oedema in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [HL5807]

Neither the department nor the Medical Research Council (MRC) has in recent years funded any research directly concerned with sudden arrhythmic death syndrome or flash pulmonary oedema. The MRC supports a broad portfolio of cardiac and pulmonary research which may in time increase our understanding of the causes of the conditions.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 20 October (WA 60), how patients over 18 are made aware of their rights to request hydration in advance of any treatment. [HL5946]

All patients are entitled to oral nutrition and hydration without the need to make a request.

Where a patient has difficulty in taking fluids orally, the healthcare team are expected to assess their condition and requirements for hydration. Various forms of artificial nutrition and hydration may help prolong and improve the quality of a patient's life, but potential benefits may be accompanied by problems and complications. Decisions in these difficult cases should be taken in accordance with professional guidance. If artificial hydration might prolong a patient's life, and the patient has the capacity to make decisions about their care, the clinician is expected to discuss with the patient the benefits, disadvantages and risks so that they can make an informed decision about their future treatment. If artificial hydration might prolong the patient's life and the patient lacks capacity, those close to the patient should be fully involved in making a decision which serves the patient's best interests.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to their report Building a Society for all ages (pages 39-40), what is the minimum viable number of admissions for stroke damage for a hospital to have (a) a stroke physician, and (b) a dedicated stroke unit; and how many hospitals did not meet those criteria in 2008. [HL5831]

There is no evidence on which to base guidance on minimum levels of stroke admissions to warrant a stroke physician and specialist stroke unit. The goal, as articulated in the stroke strategy (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library), is to provide equitable access across communities to such facilities and at the same time to ensure maximum effectiveness and best use of resources.

The configuration of stroke services will depend on a number of factors, for example the geography of the area and the age profile of the local population. Commissioners will therefore need to decide which configuration of services best meets the needs of their locality. This could range from fully specified free-standing rural hospitals, through networked groups of units across regions to hub and spoke arrangements in dense urban areas. New technologies, such as telemedicine, can afford solutions to providing services in rural areas.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their current and future funding commitments to the Find and Treat tuberculosis project in London. [HL5966]

The Find and Treat (F&T) project has department funding to the end of 2010. We aim to provide an evaluation of the effectiveness of the project that will provide London commissioners with the evidence they need to decide on future funding for the project, and the department continues to liaise with NHS London over options for future service provision.

However, tuberculosis service organisation is ultimately a matter for local National Health Service management, and it will need to decide on the future of Find and Treat when the department funding ceases.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they promoted 2 October as an international day of non-violence, as designated by the United Nations as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. [HL5552]

In order to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) closed all of its offices in India on 2 October 2009. The FCO did not actively promote 2 October as the international day of non-violence.

The UK played a key role in establishing 21 September as the UN global international day of peace and a day of global ceasefire and non-violence through co-sponsorship with Costa Rica. In support of this day, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and UK allied forces in Helmand, Afghanistan, did not engage in offensive military operations on 21 September 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made, or will make, representations to the appropriate authorities concerning the possible change of name of the street where the Iranian embassy is located to Neda Agha-Soltan Avenue to mark the death of Neda Agha-Soltan following the election in Iran in June. [HL5702]

We have no plans to make representations on changing the name of the street where the Iranian embassy is located. We have repeatedly made clear our concern over the violence, detention and deaths of Iranians which followed the Iranian presidential elections in June, including the killing of Neda Agha-Soltan.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what reports they have received regarding the incidence of congenital abnormalities in babies born since the offensive in Fallujah. [HL5767]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have any information of its own on this, although we are aware of reports which occasionally appear in the media on congenital abnormalities in babies born in or near Fallujah and of the periodic referral of this issue to the UN.

In Iraq more broadly, there are media estimates that cancers in northern Iraq increased five to tenfold following Saddam Hussein's use of chemical weapons during the Anfal campaign in 1988.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigations are being ordered into the reports of congenital abnormalities in babies born in Iraq, since the war, and Fallujah in particular. [HL5768]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not asked for any investigations to be so conducted.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the Government of Israel about the alleged deaths of two Palestinians, the wounding of 75 others, the destruction of 3,400 trees and the killing of 25 sheep, caused by Israeli colonists on the West Bank since the beginning of 2009. [HL5771]

We are concerned by recent reports of attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The UK has consistently condemned such acts of violence. We continue to urge the Israeli authorities to enforce the rule of law and take action to prevent such incidents.

To ask Her Majesty's Government why a warrant issued under Regulation 7(5) of the Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1361) is valid for three months; and whether that time-frame for the validity of a warrant will become the norm (a) in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, or (b) in all government departments. [HL5942]

The issue of warrants with a three-month time limit for execution is already standard across government (see for example Section 8 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (as amended)). Therefore, for reasons of consistency of legislation, and after consultation with the Home Office, the period of validity for warrants issued under Regulation 7(4) of the Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1361) was fixed at three months. In practice, however, the great majority of warrants will be executed shortly after their issue, although there may be operational reasons in certain circumstances why this is not possible.

To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to Regulation 9(2)(a)(iv) of the Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1361), why the logotype of the Rural Payments Agency would be used on a regraded label applied to horticultural produce that has been judged to break European Union marketing rules. [HL5944]

All the enforcement labels included in SI 2009/1361 contain both the logotype of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the logotype of the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). The RPA logotype is included because it is the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate of the RPA which enforces the marketing standards in England. The enforcement labels assist in quickly identifying the breach identified to all concerned. In the case of the regraded label, they indicate to the holder of the produce that the labels on the produce containing the class information required by the marketing standards need to be corrected. Once this has been done, the regraded enforcement labels can be removed.

To ask Her Majesty's Government who is responsible for setting speed limits in English national parks. [HL5971]

Local traffic authorities are responsible for setting local speed limits including those in English national parks. The department provides authorities with guidance to ensure local speed limits are appropriately and consistently set. The latest guidance was published on 8 August 2006 in DfT Circular 01/2006, Setting Local Speed Limits. Paragraph 92 of the circular refers specifically to national parks.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Phorm on the management of data relating to the operations of the National Health Service. [HL5853]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Google on the management of data and national databases relating to the National Health Service. [HL5854]

None.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what tendering arrangements there are to ensure that there is competition in the awarding of contracts for the gathering, management and distribution of data services relating to NHS databases. [HL5855]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the awarding of contracts for the provision of database services for the National Health Service precludes (a) renegotiation or termination of those contracts within the contract terms, and (b) the awarding of further contracts without tendering. [HL5856]

Procurement of the primary supplier contracts under the national programme for information technology (NPfIT) was completed between February 2003 and February 2004. Since that time there has been no renegotiation of these contracts, and no changes to their terms and conditions. There have, however, been resets of the contracts. Reset is a normal, repeatable process for contracts with a long lifetime to ensure that their ongoing delivery reflects progress to date, current priorities, and deployment plans for the future, and that they continue to support the evolving needs of the National Health Service. However, reset allows for the option of agreeing enhancements to existing services or functionality that does not effect a change in contract scope or risk allocation. The contracts contain provision for the termination of the whole contract or a part of the services provided by a supplier.

In 2008, the department finalised a range of framework contracts through open competition to provide additional capacity and capability in the supply of information technology (IT) services to the NHS. The contracts will enable the streamlined procurement of IT systems and services from suppliers who have demonstrated experience in the health sector and can be used to support both NPfIT-related work and wider IT-related projects. The procurement of the framework contracts was initiated with the publication of an OJEU notice in March 2007.

These contracts are not intended to replace the contracts already let for the National Programme for IT. They supplement the existing supply capacity, and enable new requirements to be met through a readily available approved framework, while mitigating any risk of existing suppliers being unable to meet contractual commitments.

The framework arrangements provide for NHS bodies with specific requirements to conduct a further competitions procedure, engaging suppliers who have been awarded a framework contract in the appropriate service category or categories. Should changes to requirements be necessary in due course there may be an opportunity to amend the defined terms and conditions of supply, depending on the scope and type of these changes.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the rights of NHS hospital patients in respect of regular feeding in the case of those aged (a) below 65, and (b) 65 and over. [HL5948]

Nutrition is an important component of patient care and all National Health Service organisations must ensure:

patients whatever their age, are provided with a choice of food from a selection calculated to deliver a balanced and varied diet;

vulnerable patients are assessed for nutritional status on admission, and if necessary, given special attention to ensure they consume a sufficient amount of food. Such patients must be weighed regularly;

patients' individual nutritional, personal and clinical dietary requirements are met, including any necessary help with feeding;

food must be available outside normal hours for those who need it; and

where appropriate wards should consider protecting mealtimes from interruption so that patients can receive the attention they need and that meals are not missed.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Northern Ireland Office spent on legal fees in each of the past five years. [HL5703]

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, has spent the following on legal fees in the past five years:

Legal fees for the NIO rose substantially in 2006-07, mainly due to expenditure by the Public Prosecution Service on the Omagh bomb trial, and also on the trial of James Fulton and his associates, which proved to be the longest murder trial in Northern Ireland history. These two cases alone accounted for an increase in legal expenditure of £2 million. Scale fees for counsel increased in April 2006, the first increase in a number of years, and this also contributed to overall increase in 2006-07.

A large case which carried forward into 2007-08 contributed to the increase in this year.

There may be some associated costs included within these figures that are not legal fees but these could only be disaggregated at disproportionate cost.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Northern Ireland Office spent on taxis from 1 September in each of the past five years. [HL5704]

The invoiced expenditure on taxi fares for the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland but excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, from 1 September for a 12-month period for each of the past five years is shown in the following table.

Changes to transport arrangements in 2007-08 have generated overall savings even after allowing for the increase in taxi costs. These figures exclude taxi fares paid by employees and reimbursed as miscellaneous expenses. These costs can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The NIO keeps the cost of travel on official business under regular review. Departmental guidance requires all staff to use the most efficient means of transport taking account of travel costs, time and incidental expenses, for example, the cost of car parking.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 12 October (WA 16) concerning the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission obtaining funding from Atlantic Philanthropies, what other Northern Ireland non-departmental public bodies have received outside funding in the past three years. [HL5705]

Details on the Northern Ireland Office non-departmental public bodies that have received outside funding in the past three years, and the amounts received, are listed below.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (in addition to funding from Atlantic Philanthropies):

2008-09—£6,000 from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland towards a joint research project into human trafficking.

2007-08—£5,124 income from a conference organised by the commission in partnership with the Irish School of Ecumenics, entitled “Rights and Righteousness”, to consider the relationship between faith and human rights. The income relates to delegate fees and a contribution to the costs of the event from the Irish School of Ecumenics.

2006-07—£53,480 grant from the United Nations to host an International round table on “The Role of National Human Rights Institutions in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations”.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board:

Financial assistance towards a pilot programme to develop the capacity of the district policing partnerships to engage with the community, received from the International Fund for Ireland as shown in the following table.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will investigate the proposed cost and temporary build of the venue for the 2012 Olympic shooting events at Barking; and whether the costs quoted will be the final costs with no further costs to be incurred in relation to site security, windage, range equipment, operational health and safety and transport. [HL5585]

Barking was considered only as a possible fallback option for the shooting events. However, the Olympic board decided that shooting events would remain at the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Olympic Delivery Authority or any Highways Authorities or both undertook a transport assessment covering the road transport aspects of the Olympic Park project; and, if so, what it or they concluded about the impact on specific roads where European Union limit values for ambient air quality are being breached and may continue to be in breach. [HL5653]

The ODA undertook a transport assessment as part of the planning process in 2007. The assessment considered the effects of the proposed Olympic Park project on the highway network through the phases of construction, Games time and transformation. The assessment concluded that the effects on local air quality would not be significant.

The ODA focuses its activities on making sure that vehicles entering the site meet the very stringent Euro-standards for vehicle emissions. The ODA will also continue to monitor the local air quality throughout the construction project.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether suppliers to the Olympic Delivery Authority comply with its Guidelines on Sustainable Transport if their means of delivery contributes significantly to a breach of environmental legislation or European Union limit values for ambient air quality, such as for particulate matter along the A12. [HL5654]

The ODA's code of construction practice requires that all commercial road vehicles and construction plant comply with any legislative requirements, including the London-wide emissions zone and the European emissions standards. This requirement is set out to all contractors operating on the site and audits are undertaken by the ODA's delivery partner across the Olympic Park.

The ODA is committed to reducing the number of lorry movements to the site. To date the ODA has moved 58 per cent of the construction materials to the Olympic Park site, by weight, by rail and water. The ODA's target of recycling or reusing over 90 per cent of demolition material is being exceeded, thereby reducing the need to import and export material from the site.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many businesses owned or run by women, black and ethnic minorities, and disabled people have been awarded work among the 1,036 businesses which have won work worth over £5 billion supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority. [HL5673]

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is committed to an open and transparent procurement process and seeks to ensure that inclusivity underpins all its work. It promotes equality and inclusion both within the organisation and through its supply chains.

The ODA does not collect data on women, black, Asian or minority-ethnic (BAME) or disabled-led businesses. Information about the ownership of businesses is provided to the ODA by its contractors through self-evaluation and on a voluntary basis; therefore some suppliers have chosen not to disclose this information or have chosen not to respond to date. The table provides ownership details for the ODA's current suppliers:

The ODA defines majority ownership as a business with at least 51 per cent ownership by a member of one of these groups. This is in line with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills definition.

There are also thousands of business opportunities in the supply chains, and while the ODA does not collect ownership details on this, it expects a number of contracts to be awarded to female, disabled and BAME-owned businesses.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 25 June (WA 297) concerning the enforcement of the law against cyclists in and around Westminster, why they will not make representations to the appropriate authorities on behalf of members of the Houses of Parliament and their staff. [HL5989]

The enforcement of cycling offences including cycling on footpaths and pavements in and round Westminster is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service. The commissioner is best placed to decide on enforcement in the light of seriousness, conflicting demands on police time and resources, and local circumstances.

As with other offending, we would encourage individuals to inform the police of specific problems and of particularly dangerous behaviour so they can take appropriate action.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what numbers and percentages of (a) men, and (b) women will be entitled to the full basic state pension in (1) 2020, (2) 2030, (3) 2040, and (4) 2050. [HL5545]

The information requested is given in the table below:

Source:

Projections from DWP Forecasting Division using the Government Actuary's Department's Retirement Pension Model; Great Britain only

Notes:

1. This table shows the proportion and number of people over SPA entitled to BSP, ie, around 85 per cent of females over SPA in 2030 are projected to be entitled to full BSP.

2. Women's entitlement is based on their own contributions and on their husband's contributions where the inheritance and substitution provisions apply for widows and divorced women.

3. Includes deferrers. Figures refer to percentage entitlement not to percentage of those in receipt of full BSP. Some people may be entitled but not be in receipt of a pension because they have chosen to defer their entitlement.

4. Proportions have been rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.

5. Population numbers are consistent with 2006 ONS population projections and have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.

6. Estimates take into account the 2007 Pension Act reforms and apply to all people over state pension age in the given years.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the total administrative and legal costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in contesting war pension claims in each of the past five years. [HL5842]

The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency administers the war pensions scheme. The external legal costs incurred by it in contesting war pension claims in each of the past five years are as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what role they envisage for education and sport in tackling racial and homophobic hate propaganda; what resources are being made available to counter material contributing to prejudicial attitudes; and what specific community-led programmes and projects are to be prioritised for support. [HL5797]

Education and sport have a very important role to play in helping to tackle racial and homophobic hate propaganda. The Government's view is that there is no place for racism or homophobia in any aspect of our society, whether in the education system, the sporting world or the wider society.

Schools, sports partnerships, sports clubs and national governing bodies of sport are supported by the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England to help ensure that their programmes and provision are totally inclusive and free from all bias and prejudice in this respect.

For example, the terms and conditions for county sports partnerships require that they operate fair procedures in relation to any individuals and that they should not exclude anyone from participation on the grounds of race, religion, colour, sex (except where the programme relates to participants of one gender only, for example, women's football), occupation, disability or political persuasion.

The sports plans of national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport are scrutinised by Sport England's equality officers to ensure that there is appropriate reference and emphasis on equality. For example, NGBs are required to include an equality/inclusion statement in their constitution, by-laws or official handbook and must ensure equal access to participation.

More specifically, “Let's Kick Racism out of Football” and “Show Racism the Red Card” are two community programmes run by the Football Association and the Football Foundation which use the powerful image of football, clubs and players to tackle racism head on and to present an anti-racist message to young people and others.

In partnership with the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England, the Government have introduced two athlete mentor programmes. The Respect Athlete Mentor Programme (RAMP) and the Changing Lives Scheme each uses elite sports men and women as role models to engage with young people from disaffected backgrounds and to provide a positive influence. Athletes are selected from a wide range of contrasting backgrounds and demonstrate how they have had to overcome significant challenges such as bullying, dyslexia, exclusion or disability on their way to sporting success.

The British Council's International Inspirations programme is dedicated to improving cultural relations with other countries and is creating lasting opportunities for children and young people of all abilities in schools and communities across the world, particularly in developing countries. The programme encourages an international dimension in school development planning to raise whole school standards and achievement and explores issues such as cultural diversity, inclusion, religion, ethics, global communication and the Olympic and Paralympic values.

The national strategy for PE and sport was introduced in 2003 and has increased the percentage of 5 to 16 year-olds taking part in at least two hours’ high-quality PE and sport each week from 62 per cent in 2003-04 to 90 per cent in 2007-08. We are building on this success and now want all 5 to 16 year-olds to have access to five hours of PE and sport per week whatever their ability or circumstances, with three hours for 16 to 19 year-olds. In delivering on our targets, the Government will continue to work to promote inclusion throughout the education and sporting worlds and will seek to ensure that we do not become complacent in this respect.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 26 October (WA 107) indicating that there is less need for diesel trains, in the light of the number of rolling stock available, what response they propose to make to initiatives by the community rail partnerships which require additional train capacity. [HL6038]

Community rail partnerships have contributed to the development of local and rural rail. In the medium term, diesel trains will be released to community rail lines from lines which are electrified. In the mean time, shorter term solutions may be needed and we will work with train operators to minimise pressures.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, on 18 May (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 1184W), what the location will be of the inquiry centres at Kings Lynn and Louth when the offices close; and what is the anticipated closure date of each. [HL5945]

In December 2008 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced its decision to vacate its office in Louth. The actual vacation date for the office is still to be set. A decision on the long-term location of the attached inquiry centre is also yet to be made but, as previously committed to, it will remain at or nearby its current location.

Announcements in December 2008 also confirmed that HMRC's Vancouver House office in Kings Lynn, where the inquiry centre is located, would be retained.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 13 October (WS 26-8) and the European Union decision to exclude Sri Lanka from the generalised system of preferences and trade scheme, what progress the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations agencies are making towards (a) freedom of movement for internally displaced people; (b) human rights for all sections of the population; and (c) a sustainable political settlement involving all parties and ethnic groups. [HL5770]

In the past few weeks there has been some progress on the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs); unconfirmed UN figures as of 26 October 2009 are that 32,000 people to date have been returned to their home areas, mainly to Jaffna, and 228,000 people remain in closed camps, mainly in Vavuniya. We are advocating at all levels with the Government of Sri Lanka freedom of movement for IDPs so that they can return to their areas of origin and be provided support when they return home. We are also encouraging the Government of Sri Lanka to co-operate constructively with the UN and other international humanitarian agencies. The monsoon season underlines the importance of progress on returns.

The European Commission published its report into its investigation of Sri Lanka's compliance with GSP + conventions on 19 October 2009. The report raises serious concerns about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, which we share. The report is a precursor to the Commission's recommendation to EU member states on whether Sri Lanka should continue to benefit from the GSP+ trade preference scheme. We are clear that to do so Sri Lanka must respect its international human rights obligations under GSP+. We continue to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to engage with the Commission and to take immediate action to address the issues outlined in its report.

A sustainable political settlement will depend upon genuine reconciliation between all of Sri Lanka's communities. The Sri Lankan Government have made some progress, through for example opening up a dialogue between the President and the Tamil National Alliance, but more needs to be done in this regard in advance of any elections in Sri Lanka.

Implementation of the Government of Sri Lanka's own commitment to return the bulk of the IDPs to their homes by the end of the year will also be crucial for the long-term peace and stability of the country.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to monitor the elections to St Helena's Legislative Council scheduled to be held on 4 November 2009; and whether they intend to announce their decision on the commencement date of construction of St Helena's proposed airport before these elections take place. [HL5808]

The Government have no plans to monitor the elections. The 4 November 2009 elections are being organised according to the terms of the new St Helena constitution and the St Helena elections ordinance. The Government have every confidence in the St Helena Government to run free and fair elections.

As indicated in the consultation document on access options for St Helena, the Government intend to make their decision on that issue by the end of 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Sudan regarding the conviction of Lubna Hussein under Article 152(1) of the Sudanese Criminal Act; and what assessment they have made of the punishment of the women arrested with her. [HL5847]

We have followed this case closely through our embassy and made representations to the Government of Sudan (GoS) during the 12th session of the UN Human Rights Council in September in Geneva. My honourable friend the Minister of State for International Development, Gareth Thomas, raised human rights issues with the Government of Sudan in Khartoum on 14 October 2009 and we continue to raise these issues with the GoS, including through the EU.

While we welcome the release of Ms Hussein on 8 September 2009, we continue to call upon the Government of Sudan to act in the spirit of the rights set out in the Interim National Constitution and in particular the Bill of Rights provision that no person should be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to increase investment in benefits and tax credits to support families and children in order to help them avoid debt, stimulate the economy and meet the target to halve child poverty by 2010. [HL5794]

Between 1998-99 and 2007-08, 500,000 children were lifted out of relative poverty. The latest statistics do not take into account measures announced in and since Budget 2007 which are expected to lift around a further 500,000 children out of relative poverty.

The Government continue to work towards the 2010 target. We have taken further steps at Budgets and Pre-Budget Reports—for example, both working and child tax credit were increased at Budget 2009, with the child element of child tax credit rising by £150, £75 above the level of indexation. Further, the Government have committed to increase the child element of child tax credit by another £20 above indexation in April 2010.

Families with children in the poorest fifth of the population are on average £4,750 a year better off in real terms than in 1997. The Government remain committed to tackling child poverty, as shown by the Child Poverty Bill.

Decisions on investment in benefits and tax credits are taken at Pre-Budget Reports and Budgets.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the total receipts from value added tax in the United Kingdom; and what percentage of those receipts goes towards the United Kingdom contribution to the European Union budget. [HL5879]

Total receipts from value added tax (VAT) are published in the National Statistics VAT bulletin available at https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullvat. In 2008 total VAT receipts were £80,708 million.

The UK's VAT-based contribution to the European Union is published in table 12.1 of the Blue Book, available at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/BB09.pdf. In 2008 the UK's contribution was £2,270 million.

Using these two figures, the UK's VAT-based contribution to the European Union in 2008 was equivalent to 2.8 per cent of total VAT receipts.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were killed or seriously injured in the 37 road accidents in 2008 where lorries were involved and which might have been avoided if retro-reflective conspicuity markings had been provided; and what is the estimated cost of those accidents. [HL5926]

These 37 accidents involved heavy goods vehicles of 7.5 tonnes or above. Retro-reflective tape, had it been fitted, might have avoided or mitigated the accidents. More detailed study of the individual cases would be needed to quantify the potential effectiveness of the tape in each case.

Immediate implementation of the retro-reflective tape requirements would not prevent all such accidents. It will be some years before all relevant heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are so fitted, and although fitment is expected to reduce side/rear HGV impact accidents involving poor conspicuity, there are many other contributory causes which it cannot address. These include excess speed, drink-driving, ice, mechanical failure, driving while tired, driver distraction etc.

The accidents resulted in 48 fatalities and 19 serious injuries. Using average values—not actual costs but an estimate of savings that might have been obtained had such accidents and injuries been prevented—the total cost can be estimated at £70 million.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to require planning authorities to ensure that public buildings have electrical power points for electric road transport. [HL5761]

The Government wish to see wide take-up of this technology, without distinction between installations on public and private buildings, and therefore will be providing up to £30 million to encourage local authorities and business to install electric vehicle charging points upon their premises. The Government will also be consulting very shortly on proposed changes to the planning system in England which would make it easier to install electric vehicle charging points in both on-street and off-street areas.