To ask Her Majesty's Government how many British Armed Forces medical staff have been deployed to Afghanistan in each year since 2001. [HL2323]

The following table summarises data available from centrally held records of the number of Armed Forces medical staff deployed to Afghanistan over the period April 2006 to February 2010.

*rounded to the nearest 10.

These data exclude those medical staff who are integral to the deployed battle groups. The number of medical personnel deployed to Afghanistan between 2001 to April 2006 is not held centrally.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reduce the number of cases within Her Majesty's Armed Forces which exceed the Harmony Guidelines for the length of time of service and deployment. [HL2480]

We fully recognise the importance of ensuring that service personnel do not spend an undue proportion of their time on separated service or operational deployments, which is why harmony guidelines are maintained. Unfortunately, at a time of high operational commitment, breaches of harmony guidelines do occur, but initiatives and regulators are used to help ameliorate the situation. These include flexible appointing between ranks, mobilisation of Reservists, financial retention and re-engagement incentives, contractorisation and reviewing the numbers of posts required for each operation on a regular basis. In addition, longer-term initiatives are used to promote increases in training, recruitment and retention.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Armed Forces personnel are currently undergoing Pashtun language training. [HL2232]

There are 60 personnel currently undergoing higher level Pashto language training. There are also an additional 800 personnel who have undergone or will undergo lower level Pashto training in the current pre-deployment cycle. Higher level training (for professional and expert qualifications) enables trusted translation. Lower level training enables linguists to undertake basic military business in limited scenarios.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trained Pashtun speakers were (a) serving in HM Armed Forces, and (b) serving in HM Armed Forces and deployed to Afghanistan, in each year since 2001. [HL2233]

Trained Pashto speakers serving in HM Armed Forces:

Trained Pashto speakers serving in HM Armed Forces and deployed to Afghanistan:

The data for deployed Pashto speakers 2001-06 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Higher level training (for professional and expert qualifications) enables trusted translation. Lower level training enables linguists to undertake basic military business in limited scenarios. The majority of the higher level capability requirement is provided by contractors and locally employed civilians. The number deployed at any one time is half the annual number (six-month tours).

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trained Pashtun speakers they expect to be (a) serving in HM Armed Forces, and (b) serving in HM Armed Forces and deployed to Afghanistan, in (1) 2010, (2) 2011, and (3) 2012. [HL2234]

The figures are based on the Headquarters Land Forces model for language and cultural training which, as currently envisaged, will come to maturity by 2012. The figures for the intermediate years are interpolated from the 2009 baseline. The number deployed at any one time will be approximately half the annual number (six-month tours). Higher level training (for professional and expert qualifications) enables trusted translation. Lower level training enables linguists to undertake basic military business in limited scenarios. The majority of the higher level capability requirement is provided by contractors and locally employed civilians.

Pashto speakers not deployed at any one time may be providing UK-based support to operations or recuperating between tours. No service man or woman is trained in Pashto without an expectation of supporting operations in Afghanistan or from the UK.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Armed Forces personnel are undergoing Dari Persian language training. [HL2318]

There are 20 personnel currently undergoing higher level Dari language training. There are an additional 90 personnel who have undergone or will undergo low level Dari language training in the forthcoming training cycle.

Higher level training (for professional and expert qualifications) enables trusted translation. Lower level training enables linguists to undertake basic military business in limited scenarios.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trained Dari Persian speakers were serving in Her Majesty's Armed Forces in each year since 2001; and, of those, how many were deployed in Afghanistan. [HL2319]

Trained Dari speakers serving in HM Armed Forces:

Trained Dari speakers serving in HM Armed Forces and deployed to Afghanistan:

The data for deployed Dari speakers 2001-06 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Higher level training (for professional and expert qualifications) enables trusted translation. Lower level training enables linguists to undertake basic military business in limited scenarios. The majority of the higher level capability requirement is provided by contractors and locally employed civilians. The number deployed at any one time is half the annual number (six-month tours). 2010 will see the beginning of a significant increase in Dari training to a basic (lower) level.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trained Dari Persian speakers (a) serving in Her Majesty's Armed Forces, and (b) serving in Her Majesty's Armed Forces and deployed to Afghanistan, are expected in (1) 2010, (2) 2011, and (3) 2012. [HL2320]

The figures are based on the Headquarters Land Forces model for language and cultural training which, as currently envisaged, will come to maturity by 2012. The figures for the intermediate years are interpolated from the 2009 baseline. The number deployed at any one time will be approximately half the annual number (six-month tours). Higher level training (for professional and expert qualifications) enables trusted translation. Lower level training enables linguists to undertake basic military business in limited scenarios. The majority of the higher level capability requirement is provided by contractors and locally employed civilians.

Dari speakers not deployed at any one time may be providing UK-based support to operations or recuperating between tours. No service man or woman is trained in Dari without an expectation of supporting operations in Afghanistan or from the UK.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Harrier jump jet pilots are serving in Her Majesty's Armed Forces; and, of those, how many are trained to fly at night, trained to take off and land on an aircraft carrier, and trained to fly at night and take off and land on an aircraft carrier. [HL2322]

On 1 March 2010, there were 146 Royal Navy and RAF pilots trained to fly Harrier aircraft. In addition, three Royal Navy pilots are currently deployed with the US Marine Corps flying the US version of the Harrier. Of the 146 pilots, 65 are currently qualified to fly Harriers but this number could be increased through refresher training. Of the pilots currently qualified, 34 are qualified for night flying, 47 are qualified to take off and land on an aircraft carrier and 11 are qualified to take off and land on an aircraft carrier at night. The numbers of pilots in these categories are increasing as Joint Harrier Force regenerates its wider capability following its return from deployment in Afghanistan.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to reduce the rate at which Royal Navy officers are voluntarily leaving military service. [HL2479]

The Royal Navy’s current level of officer manning is sufficient to meet the tasks it is required to undertake. To ensure it continues to meet its manning requirements in the future, the Royal Navy has a number of retention initiatives, which include: financial retention incentives and specialist pay; the development of increased opportunities to transfer to longer commissions; and the Moral Component of Operational Capability project, which is examining the need to strengthen the ethos and values within the naval service. In addition, the significant benefits of staying in the Navy, such as job security, pay and pension, healthcare, leave, adventurous training et cetera, are detailed in a new brochure which will very shortly be cascaded through the Navy’s divisional chain.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the provisions and penalties of boat licensing law are the same throughout the United Kingdom. [HL2545]

Maritime safety, including regulations and the standards for ships, is not a devolved matter and applies equally across the United Kingdom. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for the application of requirements and for decisions about enforcement action.

Local acts, private legislation and by-laws govern the use of boats on particular areas of water—for example, ports, lakes, inland waterways and coastal areas. These are a matter for the specific inland navigation authority.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of a marine protected area covering the entire British Indian Ocean Territory Exclusive Economic Zone with Articles 56.2, 61.2 and 61.3 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. [HL2393]

The Government are fully aware of their obligations under UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea. Should the proposal to establish a marine protected area (MPA) in the British Indian Ocean Territory go ahead, it would be fully compatible with these obligations.

It has not, however, yet been decided whether an MPA should be established and what form it should take. A decision will be taken once the public consultation (10/11/09 to 5/3/10) is over, the report on all responses is written by the facilitator and the way ahead is decided on after consideration of the report.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was paid by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and its agencies to (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) KPMG, (c) Deloitte, (d) Ernst & Young, (e) Grant Thornton, (f) BDO Stoy Hayward, (g) Baker Tilly, (h) Smith & Williamson, (i) Tenon Group, (j) PKF, (k) McKinsey and Company, and (l) Accenture, in each of the past five years for which information is available; how they monitor contracts with those firms; and how the department reports (1) during, and (2) at the end of contracts, to Buying Solutions. [HL2083]

The Department for Children Schools and Families and its predecessor department paid £16.5 million to the above-mentioned firms over the past five years. The department does not hold the requested information for its associated bodies, as they are independent and are responsible for their own data.

Management and monitoring of contracts are undertaken by the individual business units supported by comprehensive contract management guidance available on the department's intranet. Information on how individual contracts are monitored is, therefore, held by the individual business unit and not collected or retained centrally. However, for central DCSF Management Consultancy Frameworks, which covered the period up to the end of March 2008, a feedback form was used to gather information on the performance of the organisation. This form was issued to individual business units at the end of each contract and requested feedback about the performance of the organisation. Organisations awarded DCSF Management Consultancy Frameworks from those listed were: (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) KPMG, (c) Deloitte, (j) PKF, and (l) Accenture.

Reporting to Buying Solutions during or at the end of a contract would be the responsibility of individual business units, although there is no formal requirement or process for such reporting. To gather this information would be at disproportionate cost.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was paid by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its agencies to (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) KPMG, (c) Deloitte, (d) Ernst & Young, (e) Grant Thornton, (f) BDO Stoy Hayward, (g) Baker Tilly, (h) Smith & Williamson, (i) Tenon Group, (j) PKF, (k) McKinsey and Company, and (l) Accenture, in each of the past five years for which information is available; how they monitor contracts with those firms; and how the department reports (1) during, and (2) at the end of, contracts to Buying Solutions. [HL2095]

The Department for Culture Media and Sport has made the following payments to these companies:

The agency Royal Parks has made the following payments to these companies:

*** Please note that Baker Tilly used to be subcontracted by NAO to do our year-end audit, but we were charged by NAO under notional charges. No moneys were paid by TRP direct to Baker Tilly.

All figures exclude VAT.

For the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, contracts with the organisations used are either managed by a contract manager or a project manager dependent on the nature of the work and its duration. End-of-contract reports are sent to the procurement team to establish that the work has been carried out to an expected level of delivery. For the agency Royal Parks, the contracts listed were short term and monitored through regular TRP/consultant meetings.

There are no reports made to Buying Solutions during or at the end of the contract unless there have been exception reports raised during the use of the supplier for either good or poor performance. The agency Royal Parks would report to Buying Solutions if it experienced problems with a contractor.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was paid by the Department for Health and its agencies to (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) KPMG, (c) Deloitte, (d) Ernst & Young, (e) Grant Thornton, (f) BDO Stoy Hayward, (g) Baker Tilly, (h) Smith and Williamson, (i) Tenon Group, (j) PKF, (k) McKinsey and Company, and (l) Accenture, in each of the past five years for which information is available; how they monitor contracts with those firms; and how the department reports (1) during, and (2) at the end of, contracts to Buying Solutions. [HL2099]

The information is shown in the following tables. In each case, the figures are full payments made to these companies for all services provided.

Source: Department of Health

Notes:

1. These figures include payments made by NHS Connecting for Health

Source: MHRA

Notes:

1. The MHRA figures for the period 2009-10 are from 1 April 2009 to 26 February 2010.

2. Additionally, the following sums of money were paid by MHRA to RSM Bentley Jenison before it merged with Tenon Group plc in December 2009:

Source: NHS PASA

Notes:

1. NHS PASA closed on 31 December 2009.

In answer to the second part of the Question, contracts are monitored in various ways to ensure delivery of the service and value for money. It is for each department to manage its contracts and the amount of time and intervention required depends on the complexity, risk and cost of the work to be undertaken, allied to the specific details contained in the contractual arrangements.

A number of staff will typically be involved, such as business owners, technical specialists and contract/commercial managers.

Buying Solutions has put in place a number of framework agreements for use by government departments and the wider public sector, and provides information to departments on their use. These agreements have standard terms and the relevant business area will monitor delivery of the requirement with support of contract managers as required. Reports on all contract activities are not issued as a matter of course to Buying Solutions.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any information that suggests that (a) torture, or (b) inhuman and degrading treatment, is practised in Cuban prisons. [HL2485]

It is difficult to obtain official, reliable information about prison conditions in Cuba. The Cuban Government tightly control information about, and access to, their prisons.

Following a fact-finding mission to Cuba in 2009, Human Rights Watch reported concerns about prison conditions including: overcrowded cells; unhygienic and insufficient food and water; inadequate medical treatment; and cases of solitary confinement, harassment and beatings. The report additionally highlighted the lack of an effective complaint mechanism to address concerns. Our embassy in Havana maintains contacts with various unofficial groups in Cuba that focus on prison conditions as well as the families of political prisoners whose complaints reflect the concerns of Human Rights Watch. Such reports certainly give us cause for concern as to the possibility that prisoners in Cuba may be being subjected to mistreatment.

We consistently raise concerns about prison conditions with the Cuban Government and call on them to allow independent inspection of their prisons. The Cuban Government ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1995 and in January 2009 invited the UN Special Rapporteur for Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to visit Cuba. The visit has not yet taken place. We hope that the special rapporteur’s visit will be arranged soon and that he will be granted sufficient access to places of detention to be able to conduct a proper assessment of the situation. We will take careful note of his findings.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidelines there are on dress codes for British diplomats attending official functions abroad. [HL2436]

There is no universal guidance on dress code for British diplomats attending official functions abroad. The dress code would depend on the country a diplomat is serving in, the function being attended and the guidance issued by the host.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what were (a) the percentage unemployment rates, and (b) the total number of persons employed, in (1) May 1997, (2) May 2005, and (3) February 2010. [HL2517]

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

Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director-General for Office for National Statistics, to Lord Kilclooney, dated March 2010.

As Director-General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the unemployment rate and the total number of persons employed in May 1997, May 2005 and February 2010. (HL2517)

The Office for National Statistics does not produce monthly estimates of employment and unemployment. Estimates are available for three-month average time periods. The latest time period for which estimates are currently available is the three months to December 2009.

The table below shows unemployment rates and the number of people in employment for April-June 1997, April-June 2005 and October-December 2009. These estimates are seasonally adjusted.

To ask Her Majesty's Government with regard to page 10 of their response to the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report on Energy Efficiency and Fuel Poverty of October 2009, how many fuel poor and vulnerable households there are; how many other households there are; and whether a rising block tariff scheme will cater equally for each sector. [HL2412]

The latest household statistics for England show that, in 2007, there were about:

2.8 million fuel-poor households;

15.6 million vulnerable households;

2.3 million vulnerable fuel-poor households; and

21.4 million households.

The available evidence suggests that fuel-poor households typically have higher energy requirements due to the type of homes in which they reside (ie they tend to be less energy efficient) and due to particular characteristics of their lives (eg elderly consumers who are more likely to heat their home for longer each day). This suggests that a rising block tariff would make it more expensive for many fuel-poor households to heat their homes to an acceptable standard and may, therefore, make it more difficult to remove these households from fuel poverty.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made by United Kingdom fuel suppliers in achieving the five per cent by volume target for biofuel content by 2013–14. [HL2520]

The Renewable Fuels Agency’s annual report (2008-09) records that the percentage by volume of road transport fuel from renewable sources supplied during 2008-09 was 2.7 per cent, against the 2.5 per cent target for the year.

The target level for 2009-10 is 3.25 per cent, and will rise annually in stages, reaching 5 per cent in the 2013-14 reporting year. The Renewable Fuels Agency publishes progress reports on a monthly and quarterly basis, including unverified data on volume of supply.

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to achieve the revised target of holding national crude oil and oil product stocks equivalent to 90 days' worth of net imports. [HL2521]

The UK's current obligation is to hold oil stocks equivalent to 67½ days worth of final consumption. The latest information available for December 2009 showed that the UK held about 14.5 million tonnes of oil in stocks. This is equivalent to 84 days of final consumption or some 800 days of net imports.

As indigenous crude oil production declines, net imports will increase and will lead to a consequent increase in the UK's oil stocking obligation with the transition from an obligation based on final consumption to one based on net imports. The timing of this change depends on a range of factors, including the decline rate of indigenous oil production and the pattern of future UK oil product demand.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average purchase price, excluding value added tax, of a 500-sheet ream of white A4 80 gsm photocopier paper paid by the Royal Armouries in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much it spent in total on all photocopier paper in the last year for which figures are available. [HL2351]

The information requested is not held centrally by this department. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of the Royal Armouries to write to the noble Lord. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Governments of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to introduce measures to give civil protection to British Asians when they are within their jurisdiction to prevent them from being forced into marriages and to enable them to return freely to the United Kingdom. [HL2413]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble friend Lord Malloch-Brown on 12 January 2009 (Official Report, col. WA102) to his Written Question on forced marriage legislation. We continue to work with the Governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to tackle forced marriage and encourage them to take steps to prevent forced marriages from taking place. These discussions cover a range of options, from awareness-raising and outreach work to possible legal remedies. We continue to work closely with these Governments to provide effective consular assistance to British nationals affected by forced marriage.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether e-training on forced marriages has commenced for frontline professionals, including in local authorities, to complement the revised practice guidance on dealing with forced marriages. [HL2415]

Our joint Home Office/Foreign and Commonwealth Office Forced Marriage Unit has commissioned development of an e-learning training package for front-line professionals dealing with forced marriage cases. This is expected to be rolled out to professionals in relevant departments in April 2010.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants have been found to be working for the Department for Transport and its agencies in each of the past five years. [HL2347]

In each of the past five years, there have been no illegal immigrants found to be working as a Department for Transport employee.

In December 2008, one illegal immigrant was found to be working at Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency as an employee of a contractor and was arrested on 10 December 2008. The contractor carried out all relevant checks prior to employment but was deceived by the forged documentation provided by this individual.

People employed to work in government departments and their agencies, either directly or through a contractor, are required to satisfy requirements on identity, nationality and immigration status prior to the offer of employment. On the one occasion within the past five years where compliance checks have found illegal immigrants working for Department for Transport contractors, the individual was kept in detention until his appearance in court on 12 January 2009, when he was sentenced.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants have been found to be working for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its agencies in each of the past five years. [HL2380]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Royal Parks agency have found no illegal immigrants working for them in the last five years.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin on 12 January (WA 147), what was the total expenditure excluding value added tax on photocopier paper by the Department for Children, Schools and Families in the latest year for which figures are available. [HL2294]

The total spend for photocopying paper purchased by Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) for the period 1 January to 31 December 2009 was £22,108.16.

The data have been provided by the department's supplier for stationery, Banner Business.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the average purchase price, excluding value added tax, of a 500-sheet ream of white A4 80 gsm photocopier paper paid by the Duchy of Lancaster in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much it spent in total on all photocopier paper in the last year for which figures are available. [HL2299]

The Duchy of Lancaster, which is entirely self-financing, does not form part of Her Majesty's Government. During the 12-month period 1 February 2009 to 31 January 2010, the average price of a 500 sheet ream of white A4 80 gsm photocopier paper, excluding VAT, purchased by the Duchy of Lancaster was £2.47. Over the same period, the duchy consumption of photocopier paper, inclusive of all sizes and colours, was £838.74 plus VAT.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total expenditure, excluding value added tax, on photocopier paper by the Home Office in the latest year for which figures are available. [HL2507]

The total expenditure, excluding VAT, on photocopier paper by the Home Office during the financial year 2008-09 was £181,976. All paper purchased by the Home Office is recycled or from environmentally sustainable sources.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the cost of producing and distributing the Met Office and NHS pack “Health Outlook—COPD Forecast Alert Service”; what are the anticipated responses to it; and what are the anticipated benefits from it. [HL2376]

The “Healthy Outlook—COPD Forecast Alert Service” pack forms part of the Met Office Healthy Outlook service, which is designed to help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to take control of their own health and keep well in the winter months. In 2009-10 the cost of this service to participating NHS primary care trusts and GP practices has been approximately £27 per patient, which includes the pack, training for health professionals and a telephone alert call when weather and virus conditions combine to put the health of people with COPD at risk.

There are currently 22,000 patients registered to receive telephone alerts through the Healthy Outlook service out of a total of 1 million people on the UK COPD register. In a recent independent survey of over 3,000 users of the service, 79 per cent of respondents confirmed that they had received an information pack and 99 per cent said that they had found it easy to understand. This survey also showed that 85 per cent of patients using the service understood their condition better, 54 per cent were seeking a repeat prescription, 42 per cent were reporting their symptoms earlier and 43 per cent were taking more exercise. Other research has shown a UK average 20 per cent reduction in hospital admissions for COPD and a reduction in excess winter deaths in the West Midlands.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 10 February (WA 151–2) regarding medical treatment for Republic of Ireland citizens, what is the “planned treatment” referred to; whether it includes emergency treatment; and how much was reclaimed from the Republic of Ireland for emergency treatment during 2007 and 2008. [HL2112]

Planned treatment is any treatment that one European economic area (EEA) country refers to another EEA country via an official commission—a hip replacement, for example. Claims between the United Kingdom and Ireland for emergency treatment are calculated on a formula basis under a bilateral arrangement, which takes into consideration all liabilities under related European Union regulations. No claim specifically for emergency treatment was made.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people entered the United Kingdom under tier 2 of the points-based system in each month since February 2009. [HL2194]

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people entered the United Kingdom under tier 1 of the points-based system in each month since February 2009. [HL2195]

Data relating to passengers entering the United Kingdom in 2009 are currently being prepared for inclusion in the Home Office statistical publication “Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2009”. This is due to be published in August 2010 and will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office research, development and statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.

The requested monthly breakdown will therefore not be available until this date.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of recent evidence from the Immigration Advisory Service about the use of country of origin information in determining the status of refugees; and what changes they have made to that process in the past 12 months. [HL2371]

UK Border Agency's country of origin (COI) material is subject to public external scrutiny by the independent chief inspector of UKBA to help ensure that it is as current, accurate and balanced as possible. The agency continuously monitors and evaluates all aspects of asylum caseworking practice, including the use of COI. The Immigration Advisory Service report The Refugee Roulette contains some interesting material which will inform these quality assurance processes.

A key part of the agency's quality assurance system, endorsed by UNHCR, is to check appropriate use of country of origin information. The agency has given a commitment to the Public Accounts Committee that 10 per cent of all asylum decisions will be independently audited in addition to those audited locally. The agency has also revamped its foundation training package and has introduced for the first time consolidation training for its case owners.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much compensation has been paid to complainants for injuries suffered through the use of excessive force during attempts to remove them from the United Kingdom in the past five years. [HL2311]

The Home Office prepares its accounts in accordance with UK GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) adapted for the public sector in accordance with guidance issued by HM Treasury.

The Home Office has previously reported the total amount of compensation payments made in its annual resource accounts. However, it is not possible to disaggregate these totals without incurring disproportionate costs.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the European Union regarding the resettlement of Roma inhabitants of the lead-contaminated camps at Osterode and Cesmin Lug; and to the authorities in the Serb enclave of northern Mitrovica regarding the evacuation of the inhabitants of the sites to locations in northern Mitrovica; and whether they will also raise with the European Union the provision of immediate medical treatment for those in the camps suffering from the effects of lead poisoning and malnutrition. [HL2254]

The Government are fully supportive of, and committed to, the international effort towards the closure of the lead contaminated camps at Cesmin Lug/Çesmin Llug and Osterode, and the successful and sustainable resettlement of the Roma inhabitants on uncontaminated land.

Our embassy in Pristina is working closely with parties and stakeholders involved in resettlement of the Roma, including the Kosovan Ministry for Communities and Returns, the municipal government of Mitrovica and the European Commission liaison office, and will continue to do so. These parties support resettlement in non-contaminated areas because this provides the most sustainable long-term solution for the inhabitants of the camps. Various NGOs provide nutritional and livelihood support and there are medical staff on hand. There is also access to the municipal hospital for those who need it.

We want to help ensure that resettlement efforts are fully co-ordinated in order to provide a sustainable future for the camp inhabitants. The municipality of Mitrovica has donated land to the rebuilding project, so that all the current inhabitants of the camps can be relocated, and the European Commission liaison office in Pristina has pledged €5 million in funding for the Roma Mahalla in Mitrovica.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Her Majesty's ambassador to Libya has been requested by the Scottish Government to monitor the health and location of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. [HL2492]

The Scottish Executive have not asked our ambassador to Libya to monitor the health and location of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. Mr al-Megrahi’s health and location are monitored by East Renfrewshire Council under the terms of his release. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office understands that the council receives a monthly report from his doctors in Libya.

East Renfrewshire was designated as the local authority responsible for monitoring Mr al-Megrahi because his family lived in Newton Mearns during his imprisonment in Greenock prison.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the decision of the Government of Mauritius not to participate in the public consultation on the marine protected area, consideration is being given to an overall settlement of the issues concerning the future of the Chagossian people and the Chagos islands with the Government of Mauritius and the Chagossian people. [HL2164]

Following the Law Lords' judgment in R (Bancoult) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs [2008] UKHL 61 that the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and the British Indian Ocean Territory (Immigration) Order 2004 are lawful, government policy remains that there is no right of abode in the territory and anyone wishing to visit requires a permit. The Government do not intend to resettle the Chagossians in the territory.

The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory, which was ceded to Britain in 1814 and has been a British dependency ever since. As we have reiterated on many occasions, we have undertaken to cede the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes.

Meetings between UK and Mauritian officials on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) were held in January and July 2009. Delegations discussed the latest legal and policy developments relating to BIOT. Both delegations set out their respective positions on sovereignty and the UK also set out how the UK needed to bear in mind its treaty obligations with the US and our ongoing need of the BIOT for defence purposes. There was mutual discussion of fishing rights, the environment, continental shelf and future visits to the territory by Chagossians.

My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has also discussed the proposed marine protected area with the Mauritian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in November 2009.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will investigate the activities of foreign media owners in Britain who do not pay United Kingdom taxes. [HL2404]

Foreign media companies operating through a branch or permanent establishment in the UK are subject to tax on their UK profits in the same way as any other company. Foreign citizens who own media outlets operating in the UK are liable to UK personal taxation in the same way as any other foreign citizen. HM Revenue and Customs is committed to ensuring that all foreign companies and individuals pay the UK tax that is due and to carrying out investigations using its usual procedures.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether measures are in place to respond to an increase in foreign ownership of United Kingdom media titles. [HL2473]

The UK is obligated to allow freedom of ownership within the European economic area. Foreign ownership restrictions have never been applied to newspaper ownership. Foreign investment in UK media businesses increases productivity and efficiencies as well as bringing new ideas, skills and creativity, all of which provide better services for consumers.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what bonuses were or will be paid to Met Office officials for the years 2009 and 2010; how much each grade received; and on what bases and by whom they were awarded. [HL2429]

An element of the Met Office’s overall pay award is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance.

For performance-related payments made in 2008-09, I refer the noble Lord to the Answer that my honourable friend the Minister for Veterans, Kevan Jones, gave to the honourable Member for East Antrim (Mr Wilson) in another place on 26 February 2010 (Official Report, Commons, col. 774W).

In 2009-10, performance-related payments of £126,416 have been awarded by line managers to recognise immediately exceptional one-off performance either by individuals or by teams. The average award has been £64.

Other performance-related payments relating to 2009-10 will be considered following the end of the financial year, depending on achievements during this period against specific targets linked to the success of the Met Office at individual, team or organisational level.

The Met Office does not hold a breakdown of payments by grade and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure any reductions to the Northern Ireland Office's budget do not disproportionately affect building projects. [HL2428]

The value for money savings that the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is making during the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review period relate to resource budgets. Capital budgets and therefore building projects are not affected.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total expenditure, excluding value added tax, on photocopier paper by the Northern Ireland Office in the latest year for which figures are available. [HL2441]

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arm’s-length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland, but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, spent £70,670.30 on photocopier paper in 2008-09.

This information is based on invoices coded to the reprographic and cut paper expenditure codes on the NIO finance system.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether police forces promote employment as a Police Community Support Officer as the most desirable qualification for candidates seeking to become police officers. [HL2422]

There are no specific recommended prior qualifications for candidates seeking to become a police officer.

The new, optional police community support officer (PCSO) award will be introduced from April 2010 and will be a helpful qualification, capable of offering prior accreditation. There are also a number of useful pre-join courses on offer in higher education and further education. These include a 14-week diploma from Portsmouth University and a foundation degree at the University of Lancashire.

From April 2010, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) working with Skills for Justice (the sector skills council) will provide guidance to police forces on appropriate pre-join routes. However, none of these courses will offer a guarantee of recruitment as a student police officer.

From April 2010, a new qualification will be introduced to all police officers, to be achieved during their initial training. This qualification is a diploma in policing, which is a level 3 vocational qualification on the new qualification and credit framework.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many complaints against the police resulted from the Gaza protests in London between 27 December 2008 and 29 January 2009; and how many of those complaints have been investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. [HL2430]

The Home Office does not hold this information. These are matters for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which will respond to the noble Baroness direct.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to implement the recommendations of reports published last year on policing of demonstrations. [HL2431]

The policing White Paper published in December 2009 sets out the principles that need to underpin the policing of protest. The White Paper also sets out the government commitment to deliver a programme of work to take forward the recommendations coming out of the reviews into policing of protest.

Good progress is being made in updating the ACPO manual Guidance on Public Order and revised training packages. We intend to issue a draft code of practice for consultation to underpin the ACPO guidance. Additionally, the Home Office is drafting guidance on banning orders, Section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002 and the use of overt photography.

This programme of work will involve public consultation and we plan to complete by June 2010, as set out in the policing White Paper.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what property was damaged as a result of the Gaza protests in London between 27 December 2008 and 29 January 2009; what injuries were sustained; and by whom. [HL2432]

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have been imprisoned as a result of a conviction related to the Gaza protests in London between 27 December 2008 and 29 January 2009. [HL2433]

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have pleaded not guilty to the offences with which they are charged in relation to the Gaza protests in London between 27 December 2008 and 29 January 2009. [HL2434]

Information provided by the Metropolitan Police Service is that property damaged as a result of the Gaza protests during this time period is as follows.

Three Starbucks coffee shops had a total value of damage of £64,000.

A clothes shop and dentists were attacked in Kensington High Street on 10 January 2009. Both premises had windows smashed.

The North Gate to Kensington Palace Drive (which is a Grade II listed structure) was pushed by the crowd and cracked. The gas lamps on top of the gate were destroyed and set alight, which cost £34,000 to replace and fix.

Information held by the Metropolitan Police is that 55 police officers were injured. Two officers suffered broken jaws, one officer suffered a perforated eardrum and another officer received a broken foot and fractured ribs. Other injuries were predominantly impact injuries from missiles, including fireworks, pedestrian barriers, barrier clips, bottles, cans, stones, tables and chair legs, being thrown at the police. We do not hold any information on injuries to protestors.

The Crown Prosecution Service has informed me that a total of 75 people were charged with criminal offences arising out of the protests. Twenty-eight of those have pleaded guilty and been sentenced, of whom 22 have received custodial sentences by the Crown Court. Seven further defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentence. Seventeen individuals have pleaded not guilty and await trial.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foreign prisoners have been freed without being considered for deportation in each of the past five years. [HL2140]

In 2006, 1,013 individuals were identified as having been released from prison without consideration by the UK Border Agency for deportation and by the end of 2006 all had been considered for deportation. Steady progress continues to be made on these cases despite their age and complexity.

The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has provided regular updates on this group of cases to the Home Affairs Committee. She reported in February this year that 782 of the 1,013 cases have been concluded, 371 of which have been removed or deported from the United Kingdom. Also, 125 cases are still going through the deportation process and a further 25 are still serving custodial sentences, while 81 are still to be located.

As the chief executive also made clear in her latest letter to the HASC, the UK Border Agency receives around 850 referrals a month, about half of which meet the criteria for deportation. In a caseload of this size, there are challenges in referral and consideration for deportation particularly around short-term and remand prisoners. Improved processes with the courts and NOMS and a new notification and recording system mean that the UK Border Agency is able to identify cases where the referral did not take place as it should. This system has identified five cases in the more/most serious category where referral did not take place as it should and consideration for deportation was pursued retrospectively.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foreign national prisoners who have completed their sentences are currently resident in United Kingdom prisons. [HL2143]

In 2009, for an average month, approximately 550 foreign national prisoners were detained in prison beyond the end of their sentence—so-called time-served prisoners. In addition, for an average month, approximately 1,250 foreign national prisoners were detained in an immigration removal centre.

This information is from internal management information systems and should therefore be treated as provisional and subject to change.

To ask Her Majesty's Government in the context of their publication of The Future of Rail Franchising, whether they will revise their plans to let the East Coast Main Line franchise in 2011. [HL2546]

The Government plan to incorporate the recommendations from their review of rail franchising into the new intercity east coast franchise within the timescale for letting of that franchise in 2011.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discuss with local authorities in rural areas options for removing double yellow lines in historic villages in favour of suitable parking signs and penalties. [HL2565]

Highway authorities have a number of options for making and signing parking restrictions and provisions. Because the choices that they make will impact largely on local people, these choices are best made at local level.

The Department for Transport publishes extensive guidance on the correct design and use of signing systems for various purposes. This guidance is primarily contained in the Traffic Signs Manual, which can either be purchased in hard copy from the Stationery Office or viewed on the department’s website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tss/tsmanual/.

Additionally, the department’s officials regularly give site-specific advice and assistance to highway authorities that are dealing with unusual or difficult situations.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many students at state-funded secondary schools in 2009 were entered for A-Levels in (a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) physics, (d) chemistry, and (e) biology. [HL2208]

The total number of entries for 16 to 18 year-olds¹ in maintained schools² in 2009 are shown in the table below.

¹ Age at the start of the 2008-09 academic year, ie 31 August 2008.

² Includes community and foundation special schools, hospital schools and pupil referral units.

Source: Statistical First Release: GCE/Applied GCE A/AS and Equivalent Examination Results in England, 2008/09 (Revised)

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many students at state-funded secondary schools in 1999 were entered for A-Levels in (a) English, (b) mathematics, (c) physics, (d) chemistry, and (e) biology.[HL2209]

The total number of entries for 16 to 18 year-olds¹ in maintained schools² in 1999 are shown in the table below.

¹ Age at the start of the 1998-99 academic year, ie 31 August 1998.

² Includes community and foundation special schools, hospital schools and pupil referral units.

Source: Achievement and Attainment Tables data, 1999.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many British citizens or their relatives have been discovered in the recently opened graves in Slovenia from the massacres of 1945. [HL2245]

We have no information on the nationalities of the remains discovered in concealed graves in Slovenia.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Slovenes returned from the protection of the British Army in 1945 were subsequently killed. [HL2246]

There is no official record. However, we believe that up to 12,000 Slovenes may have been repatriated. We have no information on how many may have been killed.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will set up a commission, along the lines of the Anglo-Polish historical committee, to examine the relationship between the United Kingdom and Slovenia from the outbreak of the Second World War to the agreement on Trieste signed in 1954. [HL2247]

There are no plans to set up a commission.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider proposals for self-discipline and accountability by the United Kingdom security services in their activities at home and abroad. [HL2401]

The Government take accountability of the agencies seriously and keep it under review.

Accountability for the intelligence and security agencies is provided by their governing legislation—namely, the Security Service Act 1989 for the Security Service (MI5), and the Intelligence Services Act 1994 for the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6) and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). These place the agencies under the authority of the relevant Secretary of State and set out their functions. The Acts place duties on the head of agency on the obtaining and disclosure of information, on ensuring that the agency takes no action to further the interests of any political party and on reporting.

Additionally, the Intelligence Services Act provides for oversight of the agencies by the Intelligence and Security Committee.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 governs agency use of covert investigatory techniques. Additionally, the Act provides for the Intelligence Services Commissioner and the Interception of Communications Commissioner to keep under review the relevant aspects of agency work. It also provides for the Investigatory Powers Tribunal to determine complaints on the conduct of the agencies.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the numbers and descriptions, including nationalities and ages, of hostages rescued by Royal Navy ships undertaking anti-piracy operations off Somalia since October 2008; what were the circumstances and locations of their release; and what actions were taken against their captors. [HL2105]

Since October 2008, Royal Navy units have carried out compliant boardings on three suspected pirate vessels operating off the coast of Somalia where hostages were subsequently found on board. In all three cases the hostages were released following the Royal Navy's intervention.

In November 2008, HMS “Cumberland” boarded a Yemeni vessel 60 nautical miles south of the Yemeni coast, which had been hijacked by suspected Somali pirates. Six Yemeni hostages were released and returned to Yemen. The eight suspect pirates were transferred to the Kenyan authorities for prosecution and are currently on trial.

A further two boardings took place within Somali territorial waters in April and October 2009, resulting in the release of all hostages: 11 Yemenis, two Tanzanians and one Somali Tanzanian. Following detailed analysis of evidence, the suspects were also released because it was assessed by legal advisers that the likelihood of a successful prosecution in a regional state was low. This was, in part, due to a lack of clear evidence, an unwillingness of hostages to give evidence in a regional court and the fact that Somalia has jurisdiction over Somali territorial waters, so a transfer to Kenya or any other regional state could not take place. The UK, however, continues to encourage other regional countries to accept suspected pirates, in line with its commitments under the Djibouti code of conduct.

Ages and further details of individual hostages are not recorded, so this information cannot be provided.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Lord Myners on 25 February (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 1083), why they are supporting a European Commission proposal for an exchange of information agreement with Monaco for tax purposes when the European Commission has no competence in relation to direct taxes. [HL2392]

The European Union has no competence to determine rates of direct taxation, which are a matter for member states. The EU shares competence with member states in the area of exchange of information and administrative co-operation for the purpose of combating fraud and protecting the single market against cross-border tax evasion.

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the UK Border Agency spent on (a) external public relations consultants, and (b) public affairs consultants, in each of the past three years; and for what purposes. [HL2285]

The UK Border Agency has spent the following (see table attached) on external public relations consultants in the past three years.

The UK Border Agency has not spent anything on public affairs consultants in the past three years.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 22 February (WA 262–3), why it is not possible to determine how many of those admitted to the United Kingdom from non-European Economic Area countries as dependants of students arrive without prior entry clearance; and whether they will begin categorising and counting the group. [HL2365]

Since 31 March 2009, under the new points-based system, all student dependants have been required to obtain a prior entry clearance in order to enter the United Kingdom in this capacity.

Details regarding the proportion of student dependants who arrived in the UK without entry clearances prior to 31 March 2009 could be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.