asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer given by Baroness Chalker on 12th December 1996

The Government believe that issues of discrimination are best dealt with at national level. Article F.2 of the Treaty on European Union, however, requires the European Union to "respect fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms". This was reinforced by Opinion 2/94 of the European Court of Justice, which states that respect for human rights is a condition of the lawfulness of Community acts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer given by Baroness Chalker of Wallasey on 12th December 1996

The Government believe that issues of discrimination are best dealt with at national level. All member states, however, are party to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. We do not feel that further European Union protection against unfair discrimination is necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the latest position regarding the project to redevelop the Treasury building.

The Treasury has now taken another step forward in this project by agreeing Commercial Heads of Terms with Exchequer Partnership plc. This completes a significant milestone in the negotiation process, and enables both parties to proceed with the project in principle, subject to final contract. That contract, known as the Development Framework Agreement (DFA), is now being drafted.The Treasury is likely to occupy around a third of the redeveloped building. The intention is that all essential building works will be completed in advance of occupation, and that the Treasury will pay as and when its accommodation needs are delivered to specified standards. The accommodation will all be towards the western end of the building which will enable the Treasury to occupy purpose-built, modern accommodation within the existing facade. It is for Exchequer Partnership plc to decide how best to utilise the non-Treasury space in the redeveloped building. They are presently looking at various options including flats at the western end, and a hotel and/or additional offices at the eastern end. Other issues will necessitate satisfying the authorities on a wide variety of matters, including planning permission and listed building consent, and will be subject to security considerations. Further details will be available at DFA stage.The present timetable, subject to planning permission and therefore necessarily tentative, remains for the Treasury temporarily to vacate the building towards the end of 1998, and to re-occupy part of it in the middle of 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When will they publish the Report of the Advisory Group on the Ethics of Xenotransplantation.

Animal Tissue into Humans, the report of the Advisory Group on the Ethics of Xenotransplantation, was published today. The government response to the report was also published for a three-month consultation period. Copies of the report and response are available in the Library.We also announce the establishment of the UK Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority, which will regulate this area until a suitable opportunity for primary legislation arises. We are very pleased that Lord Habgood of Calverton has agreed to chair this interim authority.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place a copy of the current draft of the Community Care (Residential Charges) Bill in the Library.

Copies of the preliminary draft of the Community Care (Residential Charges) Bill have been placed in the Library. This draft has served as a basis for informal discussions with the financial services industry, local authority associations and other interested bodies. The Government will be publishing a final draft together with a policy statement in the near future; the current draft is purely a working draft and policy details will be given in the statement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of testimony given to a United States Senate House Sub-Committee by Major Michael Johnson and Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant George Grass on 10th December 1996 about the chemical in a tank found in the grounds of a Kuwaiti Girls' High School, they will reconsider their written replies to the Countess of Mar of 1st November 1994 (H.L. Deb.,

No. As I explained in my answer of 4th June, the incident at the Sabahiyah High School for Girls has been extensively investigated.Samples taken from the tank were analysed by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment and the results found were consistent with the contents being nitric acid. There was no evidence of chemical warfare agents present in the sample.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to review the current maximum penalties for sex offences.

My right honourable friend has decided, in consultation with my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, to undertake a review of the existing maximum penalties for sex offenders. The object of the review will be to identify any anomalies in existing penalties, and to ensure that penalties properly reflect the comparative gravity of different offences.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total number of voters currently registered on the electoral roll, and what is their estimate of the total of those eligible to vote.

No accurate estimate is available of the number of eligible people who are not registered to vote. The number of names on electoral registers coming into force in the United Kingdom on 16th February 1996 was 43.985 million, when the estimated resident population of eligible age was 46.234 million but the first of these figures includes some redundant names, and names which properly appear on more than one register (e.g. students, people with second homes) and the second includes foreign citizens who are not eligible to vote.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When their response to the Nineteenth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on the

We have today published the government response to the Nineteenth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution on the Sustainable Use of Soil. Soil is a vital resource, and different activities can constrain its future use. It is necessary to seek to understand these effects more clearly in order to avoid causing unwitting damage. The commission's report provides a valuable contribution to this process.We have accepted its main recommendation that we should produce a more explicit strategy for soil protection. We intend to publish this for public consultation in the spring. This will allow us to build on the many policies and actions which are already contributing to the effective stewardship of soil. The Soil Strategy will draw together existing work, clarify our goals and identify clear commitments for future action. It will also address the overall monitoring framework for soils, including the issues of access to soil data and the better integration of existing data.Our detailed responses to the 90 other recommendations which were made by the Royal Commission and which cover all aspects of soil use are also set out in the government response. Amongst the most important recommendations which are accepted by the Government are:implementing the new contaminated land regime as soon as is practicable (Recommendation 2). The Department of the Environment is currently evaluating the responses to its consultation on statutory guidance;reviewing legislation relating to the Environment Agencies once they have had time to establish themselves (Recommendation 4). A study of existing legislation is planned in order to identify the scope for rationalisation;considering further ways to encourage farmers to seek advice on erosion control (Recommendation 18). MAFF, for example, is planning to issue an advisory booklet in 1997 to complement the Soil Code; andpursuing action to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions (Recommendation 41). Amongst other measures, the Government are contributing to the European Union Acidification Strategy planned for mid-1997.Copies of the government response are being placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of arable area aid payments were made within the 31st December deadline.

I am pleased to say that arable area payments were sent out to 99 per cent. of claimants in England by 31st December, covering around 98 per cent. of payments by value. This successful result bears testimony both to the prompt and accurate return of claims by farmers and to the efforts made by the Ministry's staff to process payments as required by EU rules.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Marine Safety Agency fees are to be increased.

Some of the Marine Safety Agency's fees will change on 1st February 1997. The most significant change is an increase in the hourly rate for merchant ship and fishing vessel surveys from £45 to £60. This increase is required to comply with our aim of full cost recovery for services provided by the Government. We believe the new fee is still competitive when compared with private sector rates for similar work, and this is the first significant increase for some years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they accept the Civil Aviation Authority's recommendations on the future provision of air traffic control services, following the review of its two-centre strategy.

The Civil Aviation Authority reported to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport shortly before Christmas that its review had validated the strategy of providing air traffic control services through two centres based respectively at Fareham in Hampshire and Prestwick in Scotland. The Government are minded to accept this recommendation but would wish the airlines and other interested parties to be consulted before a final decision is taken. My right honourable friend has asked the Chairman of the CAA to initiate this consultation and hopes that it will be possible to announce the outcome in March.