To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place regarding the removal of asbestos in school buildings. [HL646]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place regarding testing school buildings for the presence of asbestos. [HL647]

Under regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2006, ‘duty holders’ have a responsibility, to manage the risks arising from asbestos in buildings under their control. For the majority of educational establishments, the duty holder will be the employer which for community schools, community special schools, voluntary controlled schools, maintained nursery schools and pupil referral units is the local authority (LA). For voluntary aided and foundation schools it will be the school governors. Usually duty holders carry out asbestos surveys to record the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACMs). These records must then be made available to contractors so that they know where ACMs are located. If necessary following visual inspections, an intrusive survey may be carried out.

Asbestos which is in poor condition, or which is likely to be damaged or disturbed should be sealed, enclosed or removed. Asbestos that is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged is normally left in place and the risks from it managed until the building reaches the end of its useful life. Asbestos does not pose a serious risk if it is managed properly in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations. All major refurbishments carried out under Building Schools for the Future (BSF) would normally include removal of all asbestos and in minor refurbishment work any asbestos that is likely to deteriorate or to be damaged or disturbed would be removed.

The majority of local authorities have adequate asbestos management procedures in place but we are working with the Health and Safety Executive to further improve asbestos management in schools and we will be producing training and guidance on asbestos management for head teachers, governors and local authorities.

This year the Prime Minister and the Schools Minister Diana Johnson met the Asbestos in Schools Group of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health and agreed to set up a steering group to improve the management of asbestos in schools. This is part of the wider work by DCSF and HSE to promote best practice in the leadership and management of health and safety issues in schools.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many teachers have contracted asbestos-related diseases. [HL648]

Statistics for asbestos- related diseases for specific occupational groups are not available.

However, HSE has published analyses of national mesothelioma deaths (one of the main and most serious asbestos related diseases) by last recorded occupation of the deceased. These statistics do not tell us about how many teachers have died from mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos in schools. They are limited because they are based on the last recorded occupation, which may not be the one in which asbestos exposure took place.

The statistics do show that teachers do not stand out as a high risk group: they are among a group of occupations with numbers of deaths from mesothelioma that are broadly in line with the average for all occupations.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many failed deportations of illegal asylum seekers there were in each of the past five years. [HL310]

A centrally recorded robust mechanism for identifying unsuccessful removals was not in place until 2008; therefore, figures for the number of removals which failed before the point of departure are only available for the last two financial years, as set out in the table below. Figures prior to that would only be available through the examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

There are a number of reasons why a removal might be unsuccessful—for example, last-minute legal challenges or the disruptive behaviour of the individual. It should be noted that in many cases, the circumstances that led to the failure of the original attempt to remove will have been quickly resolved and a subsequent removal attempt been successful.

The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed and departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis. National statistics on immigration and asylum are placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many specialist advisers are available to provide personalised advice to jobseekers with autism. [HL595]

There is the equivalent of approximately 450 full-time disability employment advisers working across all Jobcentre Plus districts. Although some autistic jobseekers may benefit from mainstream programmes and services, autistic people with more complex support needs will be referred to a disability employment adviser, who will be able to offer more specialised, personalised support.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the operation of the work capability assessment as it affects employment and support allowance claimants with autism. [HL599]

As referred to in the White Paper, Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future, published in December 2008, we are currently conducting a department-led review of the work capability assessment in consultation with medical experts and representative groups including the National Autistic Society. In addition, the Government are committed to an independent review of the work capability assessment every year for the first five years of operation.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 25 November (WA 2), and in view of the commitment to parity of esteem outlined in the Belfast agreement of 1998, what measures were agreed to give equality to the Ulster Scots language alongside the Irish language. [HL454]

The Government are committed to affording due respect and recognition to Ulster-Scots and the Irish language and to supporting the development of their respective cultural traditions. This commitment was reflected in the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, Section 15 of which amended the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to put the Executive Committee under a duty to adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language and to enhance and develop the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture.

Following the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007, it is for the assembly to take the lead on the Irish language and Ulster-Scots.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average age of retirement in the Civil Service in each department, excluding the senior Civil Service. [HL500]

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

Letter from Jil Matheson, National Statistician, to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, dated December 2009

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what is the average age of retirement in the Civil Service in each department, excluding the senior Civil Service. (HL500).

The Office for National Statistics collects data on leavers from the Civil Service as part of the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES). The requested data are attached at Annex A.

Annex A

Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES).

1 Counts of less than five are represented by “..”. Data not available are represented by “-” Due to concerns surrounding data quality estimates of average age of retirement have been suppressed for a number of departments and represented by “+”

2 Average age based on the median.

3 Includes Government Office for the Regions employees.

4 Figures of the Office for National Statistics exclude field staff who were not civil servants at the reference date.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average age of retirement in the senior Civil Service in each department. [HL501]

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

Letter from Jil Matheson, National Statistician, to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, dated December 2009.

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what is the average age of retirement in the senior civil service in each department. (HL501).

The Office for National Statistics collects data on leavers from the Civil Service as part of the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES). The requested data are attached at Annex A.

Annex A

Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey

1 Counts of less than 5 are represented by “..”

2 Average age based on the median.

3 Includes Government Office for the Regions employees.

4 Figures for the Office for National Statistics exclude field staff who were not civil servants at the reference date.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord McKenzie of Luton on 6 July (WA 116), whether they will place in the Library of the House all bid documents relevant to the three years of funding for the Sufi Muslim Council. [HL428]

There are no plans to place the Sufi Muslim Council's bid documents in the Library of the House as these documents contain personal information and information relating to competition for funding.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what instructions they will issue to the judiciary in Northern Ireland about sentencing policy for those found guilty in road traffic cases which involve a death. [HL451]

The Northern Ireland Court of Appeal delivers guideline judgments on sentencing practice in Northern Ireland which support sentencers in determining the most appropriate sentence and encourage consistency in sentencing. Judges may also have regard to published sentencing guidelines in England and Wales, where appropriate. In addition, the Judicial Studies Board of Northern Ireland publishes significant decided cases on its website (www.jsbni.com).

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the change in the level of knife-related crime in Northern Ireland over the past five years. [HL809]

That is an operational matter for the chief constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the noble Lord, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of hostilities in eastern Congo, the role played by the Rwandan Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the estimated number of fatalities and dispersed people, and measures to address the underlying causes of conflict in the African Great Lakes region. [HL472]

The UK is deeply concerned about ongoing hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Kimia II military operation, launched early in 2009, has provided mixed results. Limited progress has been made against Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), for instance reducing FDLR control of major regions, and its access to both markets and mines that have financed its activities. This has had a destabilising affect on the FDLR, with a subsequent increase in the number of FDLR personnel voluntarily going through the disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR) process (close to 1400 have done so this year, far more than in 2008).

The downside to the activities of Kimia II has been the significant humanitarian costs, as the FDLR has carried out reprisals against civilian populations. According to a report by Human Rights Watch this month, 1400 civilians have been killed in military operations this year.

Since 1998 over 5 million people have died as a result of the conflict in DRC and the UN estimates that there are currently 1.6-1.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in DRC.

The UK has been promoting a comprehensive approach to ending the conflict in eastern DRC. This approach has included non-military activity, such as providing support to the UN DDRRR process (for example, through providing communications equipment). We continue to lobby the Governments of DRC and Rwanda to implement the peace process fully. We are encouraged by—and fully supportive of—the recent rapprochement between DRC and Rwanda, and see this as an important step towards tackling the instability in the Kivus.

The UK has also been active in addressing the underlying causes of instability in the region, including action against the illegal trading of minerals. Our development programmes in the region aim to support national reconciliation, tackle poverty, build economic prosperity and foster respect for human rights.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people are employed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for the purposes of countering extremism, violent extremism and terrorism in institutions of higher education. [HL686]

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) works closely with colleagues across the whole of Government on delivering the counter-terrorism strategy including colleagues within Government Office for Science based within BIS. There are two full-time equivalent civil servants in BIS working specifically on preventing violent extremism in further and higher education institutions.

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the administration of the disabled students' allowance was transferred from local authorities to the Student Loans Company; and whether any difficulties were anticipated when that decision was made. [HL467]

In 2005, a review of student finance delivery arrangements in England was carried out which took on board views from a wide range of stakeholders and customers. This was followed by independent appraisal and consultation with key stakeholders on the review recommendations. A key finding of the review was that, while some bad authorities were performing well, the level of service was variable. It was concluded that a step change could only be achieved by making a single organisation responsible for both the assessment and payment of HE students' grants and loans coupled with other process and technological improvements. That decision was announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 3 July 2006.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) consulted a Targeted Support Stakeholder Panel about the design of processes for students with disabilities on 24 June 2008, 23 October 2008 and 8 June 2009, to scrutinise the SLC's plans, proposals and offer guidance and advice. Discussions at these meetings included an overview of the new student finance service and a summary of planned changes for 2009-10 academic cycle in addition to workshops focusing on key support requirements of targeted support applicants.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Student Loans Company has met its corporate objective 3 “to provide a high quality service” in respect of the administration of the disabled students' allowance. [HL469]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Student Loans Company has met its corporate objective 5 to deliver services “to budget, time and agreed quality standards” in respect of the administration of the disabled students' allowance. [HL470]

The corporate objectives referred to relate to performance measures set for the financial year 2008-09. Performance outturn is recorded in the Student Loans Company's (SLC) 2008-09 annual report, a copy of which is in the Libraries of both Houses and on SLC's website. Performance relating specifically to the administration of applications for disabled students' allowances cannot be separately identified.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to reduce the cost of running the British embassy in Dublin. [HL662]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is pursuing a range of efficiency programmes in order to make our network of overseas representation more cost effective and efficient. By the end of the current three-year comprehensive spending round period the Europe network of posts, including the British embassy in Dublin, will have made efficiency savings of over £12.5 million.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many candidates the Prime Minister's ecclesiastical adviser considered for the appointment of Bishop of Peterborough before two names were presented to the Prime Minister. [HL522]

Under the new procedures adopted in 2008, the Crown Nominations Commission submitted one name to the Prime Minister with a second name should there be any reason why the first candidate is unable to take up the appointment. The number of names considered by the Crown Nominations Commission is a matter for the Commission itself.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people are employed by each institution of higher education overseen by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for the purposes of countering extremism, violent extremism and terrorism. [HL642]

Universities are autonomous institutions and make their own decisions about the allocation of resources, therefore, this information is not held centrally by the department.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the threat posed by extremists, violent extremists and terrorists on student campuses in the United Kingdom. [HL643]

The assessment is that there is a risk of extremist and violent extremist activity on some university campuses. Where it occurs the issue is serious and measures are in place to help universities manage this risk. The issue is not widespread.

For operational security reasons, we cannot release any further detailed information on the level of threat by institution.

To ask Her Majesty's Government on which student campuses they assess that Hizb-ut-Tahrir is active in the United Kingdom. [HL688]

For operational and security reasons, we cannot release information on individual campuses.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have means of measuring the level of far-right extremism on student campuses in the United Kingdom. [HL689]

Each higher education institution in England has a named police point of contact with whom the university management will discuss issues or concerns arising from any extremist groups on campus. This information is recorded locally by police forces.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what forecast they have made of the number of 16 and 17 year-olds who are not in education, employment or training who are expected to take up the offer of a guaranteed place in learning when the new scheme commences in 2010. [HL435]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what incentives they will make available to 16 and 17 year-olds not in education, employment, or training to encourage them to take up the offer of a guaranteed place in learning when the new scheme starts in 2010. [HL436]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the guaranteed place in learning offered to 16 and 17 year-olds who are not in education, employment, or training which starts in 2010 will be available throughout the United Kingdom. [HL437]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the planned cost of the new scheme to guarantee places in learning for 16 and 17 year-olds not in education, employment, or training starting in 2010; and for how many years the scheme will be maintained. [HL438]

To ask Her Majesty's Government which department is to take the lead in the proposal to offer a guaranteed place in learning to 16 and 17 year-olds not in education, employment or training. [HL439]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultations they undertook before announcing the new scheme starting in 2010 to offer a guaranteed place in learning to 16 and 17 year-olds not in education, employment or training. [HL440]

We are determined to ensure that every young person who is not in education, employment or training (NEET) is given an opportunity to engage in learning so that they can develop the skills they will need for the upturn. We will be publishing shortly our strategy to increase the proportion of 16 to 24 year-olds in education, employment or training. Investing in Potential sets out the decisive action we have already taken to strengthen existing provision and new support to help young people engage in learning and work.

The January Guarantee is one element of this, and will ensure that all 16 and 17 year-olds who are NEET in January 2010 have the offer of an Entry to Employment place. The Department for Children, Schools and Families will lead this initiative for young people in England. Education and training matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been devolved to the relevant administrations.

The September Guarantee, of an offer of a suitable place in education or training, was implemented for 16 year-old school leavers in 2007 and extended to 17 year-olds in 2008. This has helped to support record levels of participation by both age groups. But, young people may become NEET throughout the year, with January a month when seasonal employment and short courses come to an end, and when young people realise that their initial choice was not right for them. Ongoing consultation with local authorities, Connexions providers and the Learning and Skills Council has highlighted the difficulty that young people can have in re-engaging in learning at this time and the department has already asked the Learning and Skills Council to make more courses available for young people becoming NEET in January.

That is why we are extending the September Guarantee approach to 16 and 17 year-olds who are NEET in January to allow these young people to re-engage quickly in positive and productive learning, remaining motivated and engaged and reducing the risk of long-term disengagement.

Information provided by Connexions shows that there were around 60,000 16 and 17 year-olds NEET in January 2009. Many of these young people will already have a job or a place in learning to start in January, but we have estimated that the guarantee will draw an additional 10,000 16 and 17 year-olds into learning. Young people who are otherwise eligible will be offered education maintenance allowance to incentivise participation.

A funding package of £40 million is being made available to provide the additional 10,000 places, support for young people from Connexions Services, and education maintenance allowance. We will continue to monitor the economic and employment situation to ensure that we respond constructively to the needs of young people in the current economic climate.

To ask Her Majesty's Government for each local authority for which they have data, (a) how many home-educated children are considered not to be receiving a suitable education, (b) what is the total number of home-educated children, and (c) how many of the home-educated children considered not to be receiving a suitable education (1) are from traveller families, (2) are children who first became home-educated in years 10 or 11 with a previous history of irregular attendance, (3) are children whose parents have not provided the local authority with the data which they have asked for, (4) are children whose parents have refused to allow the local authority to interview their children, and (5) are children who have not been assessed by the local authority. [HL408]

I attach a table showing the number of electively home-educated children in each local authority that responded to the questionnaire on home education distributed in September. The department's policy is not to release any information that might lead to individual children being identified where data released could be combined with other data. As 69 local authorities identified a total of 609 home-educated children that they assessed as receiving education but not full-time or suitable education, we are not able to release a breakdown of this data by local authority, as the numbers for each individual authority would be very small and individual children might be identified.

We did not collect information on the ethnic or cultural background of home-educated children receiving no education, nor their age, so we are unable to provide information on the number from a traveller background, or the number that are in years 10 or 11. In respect of the children in his categories 3 and 4, local authorities were asked separately for information about children where there was a lack of cooperation with monitoring.

The document published at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/publications/documents/laeelective homeeducation/) includes the questionnaire that was sent to local authorities which set out the different categories of information that were sought.

* indicates number < than 10 per LA

To ask Her Majesty's Government for each local authority for which they have data, (a) how many home-educated children are subject to child protection plans, (b) how many home-educated children have been taken into care or placed with a foster family, (c) what is the total number of home-educated children, and (d) how many of the home-educated children in each local authority who have been taken into care or are subject to a child protection plan (1) are from traveller families, and (2) are children who first became home-educated in years 10 or 11 with a previous history of irregular attendance. [HL410]

The department's policy is not to release any information that might lead to individual children being identified where data released could be combined with other data. As 74 local authorities identified a total of 51 home-educated children that were subject to child protection plans we are not able to release a breakdown of this data by local authority as the numbers for each individual authority would be very small and individual children might be identified. However, the department has provided a histogram setting out the spread of child protection plans by local authority and this can be found at (http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/ete/independentreviewofhomeeducation/irhome education/).

We have not collected information about the number of home-educated children taken into care or placed with a foster family, neither have we collected any information about the number of home educated children subject to care orders who are from a traveller background, or who are in years 10 and 11.

I attach a table showing the number of electively home-educated children in each local authority that responded to the questionnaire on home education distributed in September.

However, neither we nor local authorities know how many children are being home educated as there is currently no requirement for home educators to notify local authorities or any other public bodies that their children are home-educated.

* indicates numbers < than 10 per LA

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have issued guidance to employers about whether it is a dismissible offence for employees to express their Christian faith and to suggest that others espouse it. [HL593]

The Government have issued no such guidance. The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 outlaw discrimination, harassment and victimisation on grounds of religion or belief at work and in vocational training.

Under the regulations employers are not required to ban discussions about religion or belief in the workplace. However, the ACAS good practice guide sets out some broad guidelines that employers can follow. This includes making staff aware that if their discussions cause offence then this may be considered to be harassment and therefore unlawful, potentially leading to dismissal. The Business Link website also provides additional information for employers.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Mr Pat McFadden, on 12 October (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 1523W), what the criteria were for the £120 million funding to support development of a British-based offshore wind industry; and whether the criteria will take account of the output of existing offshore wind farms compared to their capacity, maintenance downtime and breakdown duration and costs. [HL383]

Individual grant decisions are made on a case by case basis. Each project that has been funded or will be funded has to go through the existing value for money process for government. All proposals for funding from the SIF have been appraised in line with Green Book principles, particularly to ensure that they provide good value for money in delivering longer term benefits to the UK wide economy. These value-for-money evaluations will take account of output, capacity and maintenance issues where relevant.

To ask Her Majesty's Government on which student campuses (a) Islam4UK, (b) Al-Ghurabaa, (c) Al-Muhajiroun, (d) the Saved Sect, and (e) Sunnah wal Jamaah, are active in the United Kingdom. [HL540]

For operational and security reasons, we cannot release this information.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice the Foreign and Commonwealth Office offers to United Kingdom citizens on which geographical areas are classified as restricted areas by foreign Governments. [HL459]

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice is designed to give British nationals information with which they can prepare themselves for travel to any of 220 countries. We discuss our analysis of a wide variety of risks, including those related to terrorism, crime and health, with international partners, including EU member states. These discussions are reflected in FCO travel advice, though our priority has always been and will remain the safety overseas of British nationals specifically. FCO travel advice is constantly reviewed, and country-specific advice was updated almost 4,000 times in 2008.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 12 November (WA 214), whether they will ask the Accreditation Service for International Colleges to review the accreditation of Kings College of Management in Manchester, in light of the report in the Times on 29 June. [HL316]

The information reported in the Times on 29 June was known to the UK Border Agency and has been acted upon.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the incident which took place on 7 December regarding a Spanish patrol boat in the British waters off Gibraltar. [HL666]

On Monday 7 December 2009, officers from a Spanish Civil Guard patrol boat chased another vessel into British Gibraltar territorial waters and then ashore in Gibraltar. We consider that their actions exceeded their jurisdiction and failed to respect the UK's sovereignty, and we have formally protested. Spanish authorities have apologised for the error and stressed there was no political motive. We welcome this. Officials from the UK, Spain and Gibraltar are committed to working together through the Trilateral Forum to improve law enforcement co-operation, and we welcome ongoing co-operation between police services from Gibraltar and Spain.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to improve cardiac remote management technology within hospitals. [HL631]

We will continue to work with industry and the National Health Service to promote patient access to new technologies, but it is important to realise that not all technologies are appropriate for everyone—it is up to clinicians to make a decision in discussion with patients, about the most suitable treatment in each case.

The Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (CEP) provides independent, evidence-based information about innovative technologies across the entire range of medical devices available in health and social care today. It concentrates on projects where it is possible to make an impact upon the uptake of new technology or those cases where existing technology can be used in an innovative manner. In April 2009, it published an Evidence Review on implantable cardiac devices with remote monitoring facilities. One of its findings was that there was insufficient evidence to conclude whether or not investment in remote monitoring would yield direct cost savings for hospitals. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.

In addition, in 2007 we established the NHS Technology Adoption Centre (NTAC), which works to identify and overcome the barriers to the uptake of innovative technologies that will improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery. One of the projects that it is currently working on is cardiac resynchronisation therapy with remote patient monitoring. This project is about increasing the availability of advanced treatments, which can restore the normal co-ordinated pumping action of the heart, improving cardiac function in suitable people with moderate and severe heart failure. The role of remote monitoring technologies in the early detection of arrhythmias and its impact on follow up care are key components of this project. The findings from this project will be published by NTAC in May 2010 and disseminated across the NHS.

To ask Her Majesty's Government which NHS organisations have been issued with compliance notices by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for not complying with their obligations under the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Equality Act 2006; and how many other organisations are under investigation for similar non-compliance. [HL533]

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has recently issued the following organisations with compliance notices for breaches of the Race Relations Act 1976:

Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust,

NHS Surrey.

The Commission is currently investigating 133 other organisations for possible breach of race laws.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 9 November (WA 118), whether, under Section 69 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's remit includes securing legislative implementation of its advice on a bill of rights for Northern Ireland; whether it is permitted to expend its own funds and staff time doing so; and whether that is consistent with its other statutory functions. [HL103]

Under Section 69 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has a wide-ranging remit, which includes keeping under review the effectiveness and adequacy of law and practice relating to the protection of human rights, as well as promoting the understanding and awareness of human rights in Northern Ireland. The NIHRC is independent of government and it is entitled to set its own programme of work, consistent with its statutory functions. Its business plan for the current financial year is available on its website: http://www.nihrc.org/index.php?page= subresources&category_id=27&from=0&resources_id= 57&Itemid=6l.

The Government have no reason to believe that this plan is inconsistent with the NIHRC's statutory functions.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to abolish religious requirements in recruiting officers to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [HL665]

It is Government's intention to renew the temporary 50:50 recruitment provisions for a final year to 28 March 2011 to ensure we reach our target 30 per cent Catholic composition. When we are satisfied the 30 per cent target will be reached we will return to Parliament and end the provisions. It is anticipated that this may be prior to the end of March 2011.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will respond to those with investments frozen in the Presbyterian Mutual Society. [HL520]

The Ministerial Working Group on the Presbyterian Mutual Society is currently considering all available options for assisting members whose investments in the society have been frozen. This issue raises a number of complex problems that require careful consideration and it would be premature to speculate about how the Government will respond until these have been resolved.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their treatment of investors in the Presbyterian Mutual Society took account of the treatment of investors in the Dunfermline Building Society. [HL521]

The Ministerial Working Group on the Presbyterian Mutual Society will take account of all of the Government's previous interventions in the financial services sector when deciding how to respond to the problems facing investors in the Presbyterian Mutual Society.

To ask the Leader of the House what changes have taken place to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to enable it to answer Questions for Written Answer within 14 days, in view of the performance of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in the 2008–09 session to 30 April when it was the worst department with 30 per cent of questions answered within 14 days. [HL766]

Ministers and officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the previous Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) are committed to providing Peers with accurate and timely Answers to Parliamentary Questions. Following changes to ministerial portfolios in the summer, and the merger of DIUS and BERR, the Parliamentary Unit was restructured and more resources were made available within the Unit to improve the answering time for Peers Questions. The department is pleased that in October 2009, 91 per cent (20 of 22) of Answers were provided to Peers within 14 days and 100 per cent (7 of 7) in November prior to prorogation.

To ask Her Majesty's Government in respect of excavated material and waste arising from the excavations for Crossrail, (a) what is the total and maximum daily expected output from each removal site, and (b) when the maximum outputs occur. [HL604]

The current estimated total bulk volume of excavated material is 7.3 million cubic metres split as follows:

Westbourne Park Western tunnelling site—1 million cubic metres;

Central stations and shafts—3.1 million cubic metres;

Limmo Peninsular Eastern Tunnelling site—2.3 million cubic metres; and

Plumstead Portal/Woolwich Station—0.9 million cubic metres.

At the peak it is estimated that approximately 200,000 cubic metres (bulked) of excavated material will be produced per month across all the Crossrail sites. This peak is predicted to occur in late 2012. The need to reduce the number of such movements during the periods of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is recognised and is being actively considered by Crossrail Ltd in consultation with the Olympic Delivery Authority. As the detailed design develops, the programme and rates for individual sites will be determined.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the expected destinations and means of transport from each removal site of excavated waste and material from Crossrail. [HL605]

Excavated material from the tunnel drives from Royal Oak will be removed by rail, while that from the tunnel drives from Limmo will be removed by boat. Excavated material from other sites, including the central stations and Plumstead portal will be removed by road.

It is intended that this material will either be recycled or transported to Wallasea Island in Essex to create a nature reserve for the RSPB. Other sites being considered for this material include South East of England Development Agency regeneration sites in Kent. Eighty five per cent of the excavated material from the tunnel drives will be removed by rail and boat, removing an estimated 500,000 lorry movements from the streets of London during the life of the project.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how materials from excavations for Crossrail will be tested to check for contamination; where; and by whom. [HL606]

The majority of the Crossrail works are being built on land that has previously been developed. At some locations, previous uses, such as industrial processes, may have led to contamination of the ground. However, virtually all of the 7.3 million m³ of excavated material is expected to be clean and non-contaminated and can be reused elsewhere.

The Environmental Impact Assessment process identified sites where there was a high, medium or low risk of contamination (referred to as Category 1, 2 and 3 respectively). These sites are specified in the Specialist Technical Report on Assessment of Contaminated Land, which supported the Environmental Statement. Both are available from the Crossrail web site: http://www.crossrail.co.uk/.

Control and mitigation measures, applicable to design and construction, for Contaminated Land are given in section 8 of the Crossrail Construction Code. For higher risk sites (Category 1), these require ground investigation and assessment in accordance with the Model Procedures for the Management of Land Contamination (CLR11) published by Defra and the Environment Agency. For medium-risk sites (Category 2), generic procedures have been developed and agreed with the local authorities and the Environment Agency. Low-risk sites do not require further investigation.

The assessments (site specific or generic) will determine the measures required to deal with contamination. For high and medium risk sites, contractors will be given information from ground investigations that provide an indication of ground quality and the presence of contamination. When the contractors undertake excavations, they will carry out tests on excavated materials to comply with Duty of Care Regulations and to determine the destination of these materials.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much steel waste from excavations for Crossrail is estimated to come from sprayed concrete lining waste; and whether that will be disposed of in the bird sanctuary at Wallasea Island. [HL607]

The specification for the sprayed concrete lining will be finalised when the contractors are appointed. Approximately 0.4 per cent by volume of the sprayed concrete to be used by the project is estimated to be steel residue.

Sprayed concrete lining residue will not be used for the creation of the land form at Wallasea Island; however, the sprayed concrete lining residue material may be used to create some of the footpaths to allow pedestrian access.

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the haulage contracts for removing material and waste from excavations for Crossrail will be let; and whether the haulage contractors will be responsible for the testing for contaminated waste. [HL644]

Lord Adonis: Crossrail Ltd’s procurement strategy for removing excavated material is currently being developed and contracts are expected to be let in 2010. The exact scope and specification of each contract, including who will be responsible for the testing of contaminated waste, is still subject to further work. Virtually all of the 7.3 million m³ of excavated material is expected to be clean and non-contaminated and can be reused elsewhere.

To ask Her Majesty's Government why they transferred ownership of the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo station to BRB (Residuary) Ltd rather than to Network Rail; and whether it will be disposed of for property redevelopment rather than to provide extra platforms for domestic train services into Waterloo station. [HL380]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, if the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo station is used as platforms for domestic services, its owner BRB (Residuary) Ltd will become a station operator. [HL381]

Under the terms of the wider funding agreement for High Speed 1, the terminal transferred to the Secretary of State rather than Network Rail. BRB (Residuary) Ltd took ownership of the facility on behalf of the Secretary of State.

It is the Government’s intention that the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo is used to provide increased capacity for domestic passengers. The Department for Transport is in discussion with Network Rail and Stagecoach South West Trains to establish what would be the most cost-effective way to integrate Waterloo International terminal into the domestic station that maximises benefits for the short, medium and long term. This includes the issue of the station's ownership and operation.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they require supermarkets and retail organisations to use supply contracts that are the same for United Kingdom and overseas suppliers; if so, whether they require such contracts to have the same break clauses and penalties; and, if not, whether they will propose such a system, at domestic or European level. [HL386]

In England, contracts are the free expression of the choice of the parties, which are then given effect by law. However, there are exceptions to this general rule—for example, provisions in the Race Relations Act 1976, Sale of Goods Act 1979, Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

Contracts with overseas companies would be drawn up under the appropriate national laws of contract and any business regulations that apply, and determining which country's legal/regulatory framework would take primacy would be a matter for the parties to the contract. The Government note that such legislation could be in conflict with the free movement principles of the European Union.

On UK retailers' contracts with domestic suppliers, the Competition Commission recently put in place a new Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP), which comes into effect in February 2010. This is part of the Competition Commission’s recommended remedies to address problems identified in the UK groceries market concerning large grocery retailers passing on excessive risks and unexpected costs to suppliers. The GSCOP, which applies to large UK grocery retailers, requires that retailers keep better records of contracts with suppliers and incorporate the code into supply agreements which will be made available in writing to their suppliers. The code aims to prevent retrospective changes to agreed terms of supply and will extend to agreements between retailers and those who deal with them direct.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there have been problems with the website of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (online.hmrc.gov.uk); if so, when those problems started; why they occurred; whether they have resulted in taxpayers having difficulty paying income tax and value added tax; whether the technical help numbers provided have continued to work; whether taxpayers have been able to make reasoned complaints; who is responsible for maintaining the website; whether they have estimated the revenue lost or delayed; and whether the website has been altering taxpayers' names. [HL510]

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is not aware of any major service disruptions or other significant problems that would have impacted large numbers of customers or affected their ability to pay their Income Tax or VAT liabilities.

Information about issues affecting HMRC’s online services are available from the following links on the home page of the web site.

Service Availability

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWeb App/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true &_pageLabel=pageOnlineServices_ShowContent &propertyType=document&id=HMCE_MIG_ 009921

Service Issues

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWeb App/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true &_paqeLabel=paqeOnlineServices_ShowContent &propertyType=document&id=HMCE_PROD1 _028772

HMRC can confirm that all technical help-line numbers have been in full working operation and that the facility to make complaints about any aspect of HMRC business has been available.

Maintenance of the HMRC website is controlled by the HMRC Customer Contact Directorate Online and HMRC Information Management Services in partnership with their IT suppliers.

As HMRC is unaware of any significant problems with the operation of its website no estimates of lost or delayed revenue have been made.

HMRC is not aware of any problems with the website that have led to any taxpayers names being changed or altered in any way.

To ask Her Majesty's Government why Royal Mail is phasing out the use of bicycles for postal deliveries; what means of transport will replace them; and what will be the effect of this on carbon dioxide emissions. [HL602]

The department does not hold the information requested. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to respond directly to my noble friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how Royal Mail will dispose of bicycles no longer used for postal deliveries; and whether they will be offered to a charity for use overseas before being dismantled or scrapped. [HL603]

The department does not hold the information requested. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to respond directly to my noble friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of (a) primary, and (b) secondary schools have their own kitchens producing school meals for pupils. [HL236]

The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not collect this information. However, the report of the School Food Trust's fourth annual survey of take up of school meals in England includes information on catering facilities at national and regional level; although not at local authority level. In response to the trust's 2009 survey, local authorities reported that, across England, 75 per cent of primary schools and 94 per cent of secondary schools had a full production kitchen.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much has been spent on sport and recreation by local authorities in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in each year since 1997. [HL478]

The expenditure on recreation and sport by local authorities in England since 1997 is tabled below.

Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns and Capital Outturn (CO) returns.

Information for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Revenue expenditure from 2003-04 onwards has been collected on a Financial Reporting Standard 17 (FRS 17) basis. Under FRS 17 most of the pension schemes covering local government employees are classed as defined benefit schemes. The main implication of defined benefit status is that retirement benefits are accounted for on the basis of the retirement benefit entitlement to which employment in the year gives rise, rather than the cash amounts of employer's contribution or pension due for the year. As a result comparisons between FRS 17 data and data on a non-FRS 17 basis may not be valid.

Comparisons across years may also not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they provide to promote sport and recreational activity through the planning system. [HL482]

Planning guidance for sport and recreational activity is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (PPG 17). Good practice guidance is set out in Assessing Needs and Opportunities: A Companion Guide to PPG17.

Earlier this year my department also issued, jointly with Sport England, Making a planning application—A guide for sports clubs, which provides practical advice to help clubs across the country who want to improve their facilities.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord McKenzie of Luton on 6 July (WA 116), under which funding streams the £392,500 was provided to the Sufi Muslim Council. [HL429]

Funding to the Sufi Muslim Council in 2007-08 and 2008-09 was allocated under the Preventing Violent Extremism Community Leadership Fund. Funding in 2006-07 was made as part of central support for National Prevent Projects.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will reduce the rate of value added tax on repairs to buildings and charge a similar rate of value added tax on new constructions. [HL573]

VAT is a broad-based tax upon consumption, which operates within a framework of rules, which are agreed by unanimity within the European Union. This framework does not permit reduced rates of VAT to be charged for the repair or construction of all types of buildings.

At the March 2009 Ecofin EU Finance Ministers agreed that all Member States should be allowed the choice to introduce a reduced VAT rate for the,

“renovation and repairing of private dwellings, excluding materials which account for a significant part of the value of the service supplied”.

However, equalising the VAT rate for all domestic new build work would require us to permanently give up the current zero rates and the Government have no plans to do so.

The Government continue to keep the impact of VAT on all building work under review.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of people under the age of 25 are unemployed. [HL502]

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

Letter from Jil Matheson, National Statistician, to Lord Chadlington, dated December 2009.

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of people under the age of 25 are unemployed. (HL 502)

Estimates for unemployment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). For the period July-September 2009 it was estimated that 12.8 percent of all persons under the age of 25 were unemployed. The rate of unemployment for people under the age of 25 as published in the Labour Market Statistical Bulletin is 19.8 percent. This estimate is based on the number of people who are unemployed divided by the number of people who are economically active, i.e. in employment or unemployed, in accordance with the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention.

People aged 16 and over are classed as unemployed by the LFS if they are: without a job, want a job, and have actively sought work in the last four weeks; or, out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start it in the next two weeks.

As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people who left university with a degree in 2008 are without a job. [HL503]

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people who left university with a degree in 2009 are without a job. [HL504]

Typically, new graduates take time to move into employment in the months after graduating, with more graduates out of work in the first few months after graduation.

The most comprehensive data on outcomes is provided by the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education survey which looks at graduates six months after graduating. The table below gives a breakdown of full-and part-time first degree graduate destinations, for those who studied in the 2007-08 academic year six months after graduation

Source: HESA Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey 2007-08 Figures rounded to the nearest five

The equivalent data for 2008-09 graduates will be available in July 2010.

For those who left university in 2009 we can use the Labour Force Survey to look at their initial outcomes in July—September 2009. The table below gives the latest BIS estimates of the number of 2009 UK-domiciled first degree leavers in different labour market activities. For comparison purposes data on 2007-08 graduates at the same stage are provided.

Source: Labour Force Survey Quarter 3 2009 & BIS internal estimates

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many student visas have been granted in each year since 1997. [HL418]

The number of student visas issued in each year since 1998 is shown in the table below. Figures are not available for 1997.

* Student applications in 1997 are not available as the annual entry clearance report was not split into visa categories, only settlement and non-settlement.

** From 1997 to 2000 the annual entry clearance report was published by calendar year but changed to financial year reporting from 2001.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the risk of individuals who pose a terrorist threat using the student visa system to enter the United Kingdom. [HL422]

The integrity of the visa system is regularly assessed by the UK Border Agency and other government departments. All those applying for UK visas must submit fingerprints, which, in conjunction with their biographical data, are checked against a range of police and security databases.

Those assessing visa applications are trained in identifying applicants who may pose a threat and taking appropriate action. The Government are committed to preventing those who pose a terrorist threat from entering the UK, and have a range of powers at their disposal in order to achieve this, including the ability to exclude individuals permanently from the UK.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there have been any successful attempts since 1997 by individuals who pose a terrorist threat to enter the United Kingdom using student visas. [HL423]

We do not comment on individual cases for security reasons. Since 2007, all those applying for UK visas have had to submit their biometrics as part of the application process, which have been checked against security and police databases. This includes those coming to the UK as students. The Government are committed to preventing abuse of the visa system by individuals posing a terrorist threat, and have a range of legal powers to enable this.