asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make representations to the Government of Zimbabwe on the proposed legislation to discriminate against racial minorities in the form of positive action within the business sector, as reported in

We have followed with concern recent press reports that such legislation is under consideration by the Government of Zimbabwe. However legislative proposals have not yet been published. We have no plans at present to make representations to the Government of Zimbabwe. The British High Commission at Harare will continue to monitor the situation actively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support the aim of ABOLITION 2000, which represents 700 organisations in 50 countries and seeks international agreement to a timetable to secure the elimination of nuclear weapons.

We strongly support the goal of the global elimination of nuclear weapons. We believe that adequate verification and mutual and balanced reductions are necessary elements in that process. We remain to be convinced, therefore, of the wisdom of a pre-set timetable for nuclear disarmament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Mr. Hussein Al Dulaimi, Dr. Tikriti and other senior officials of the Iraqi Ministries of Oil and of Industry, and of the Military Industrial Organisation, have applied for visas to visit the UK; whether it is the Government's practice to refuse all such applications; and whether they have evidence that the Iraqis are trying to persuade companies in the UK and elsewhere to breach the United Nations sanctions for the purpose of developing the Nassiriya oil field in southern Iraq.

Five Iraqi officials applied for visas to visit the UK. Visas are issued to Iraqi government officials only if there is a compelling reason to do so. In this instance, they were refused. We have no evidence to suggest that the Iraqis are trying to breach sanctions for the purpose of developing the Nassiriya oil field in southern Iraq.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support the creation of a permanent international criminal tribunal to try serious violations of international humanitarian law.

We fully support the establishment of an international criminal court to try war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. We will take an active part in the negotiations on a statute for the court.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the French Government's decision to expand trade with Beijing, whether the European Union can still achieve a consensus at the United Nations on human rights violations in China and Tibet.

We recognise that there has been a difference of emphasis amongst our European Union partners on the right tactical approach to China on human rights. However, we are all agreed on the importance of this subject and we shall remain in close touch with our partners on future policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library the latest available data on the number of operations cancelled for non-medical reasons on the day patients are due to arrive in hospital, or after admission; and the number of patients not readmitted within one month.

The information has been placed in the Library today.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to review the law on surrogacy.

It is important that in an area as sensitive as surrogacy the law is kept under review in order to ensure that it continues to meet public concerns.The legal position regarding surrogacy is clear:surrogacy must not be commercialised; andsurrogacy arrangements are unenforceable.However, since this issue was last examined, the number of difficult cases which have attracted public attention has increased, although because so many arrangements are entirely private it is always difficult to make any assessment of the numbers of cases.In view of current concern, UK health ministers have invited a small team with the relevant expertise to take stock and reassess the adequacy of existing law in this difficult area.The terms of reference for the review are as follows:to consider whether payments, including expenses, to surrogate mothers should continue to be allowed, and if so on what basis;to examine whether there is a case for the regulation of surrogacy arrangements through a recognised body or bodies; and if so to advise on the scope and operation of such arrangements;in the light of the above to advise whether changes are needed to the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 and/or Section 30 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.Margaret Brazier, Professor of Law at Manchester University, will lead the review. The other team members will be: Susan Golombok, who is Professor of Psychology at the City University, London; and Alastair Campbell, Professor of Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol.We have specifically asked the review team to consider the issue within the context that surrogacy should not be commercialised and that any woman who has a baby as part of a surrogacy arrangement should not be compelled to give it up if she changes her mind. We also want to know whether there is, realistically, any practical way in which surrogacy arrangements could or should be regulated and, if so, how.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the answer by Earl Howe on 14 December 1992 (H.L. Deb., col. 390), whether they will consider again the need to support research into biological control of bracken in view of the continuing substantial spread of this plant in the United Kingdom since 1992.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is currently undertaking research into the biological control of bracken with the aim of achieving effective long-term control of bracken and the successful re-establishment of more desirable vegetation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to introduce legislation to abolish mandatory life sentences for the offence of murder.

The Government have no plans to introduce such legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What form of proportional representation is being considered for the 1999 European elections; andWhat consultations are taking place and with whom on the introduction of proportional representation for European elections; andWhat is the last date for introducing legislation on proportional representation to enable it to be effective for the 1999 European elections; andWhether, in accordance with the provisions of the Maastricht Treaty, which stipulate that there should be a common electoral procedure in different member states, they will implement the de Gucht Report in time for the 1999 European elections.

The Government's election manifesto contained a firm commitment to introducing a proportional system for electing Members of the European Parliament. No decision has yet been taken on the timing for this change and, accordingly, it would be premature to speculate on the type of proportional system that would be most suitable or to begin consultations on the subject.In order to give time for proper consultation and preparation it would be preferable for the necessary legislation to have been enacted some 9–12 months before the elections took place under a new system. We have no present plans to introduce legislation on proportional representation for European elections this session but if an opportunity to legislate arose we would consider taking it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With reference to the statement in the Labour Party manifesto that "The judge and jury of LEA performance will be their contribution to raising standards", by what measures this contribution will be judged.

We will outline in the forthcoming White Paper our policies for combining support to, and pressure on, local education authorities to ensure that they contribute effectively to raising standards.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the new strategic realities on which a Defence Review will be based.

The world has changed dramatically in fewer than 10 years. Since the end of the Cold War the security risks to the United Kingdom and to our Allies have changed fundamentally and we no longer face the threat of general war in Europe. New security challenges confront us, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, aggressive nationalisms, international terrorism and the impact of scientific and technological developments. The review is intended to give the Armed Forces a coherent and stable planning basis for several years ahead.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their best estimate of the number of people sleeping rough in London; how this figure was obtained; and by how much they hope to reduce it and over what period.

The following table gives figures from single night head counts of people sleeping rough in Greater London, undertaken by voluntary sector homelessness agencies and local authorities. Housing authorities have an obligation to consider the housing needs of everyone residing in their areas, including people sleeping rough, and to reflect those needs in their housing strategies. Government assistance specifically to tackle rough sleeping is provided in areas where a major rough sleeping problem has been demonstrated, including most of the areas listed below. Funding is provided through a number of programmes, including the Department of the Environment's Rough Sleepers Initiative and Rough Sleepers Revenue Fund, and the Department of Health's Homeless Mentally Ill Initiative and Drug and Alcohol Specific Grant. The Government expects these programmes to result in significant reductions in the numbers of people sleeping rough over the next two to three years; and our overall aim is to ensure that there is no necessity for people to sleep rough in Britain.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they propose to take forward their plans for regional development agencies in England.

We plan to bring forward legislation in the autumn to create regional development agencies in England to improve regional economic competitiveness and to provide for effective, co-ordinated regional economic development. It is intended that the boundaries of regional development agencies (RDAs) will be the same as the administrative areas of the Government Offices for the Regions, except that there will be a single RDA for the North West region including Merseyside.My honourable friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning is today beginning a series of regional tours to seek local views and to open a dialogue on how to take matters forward. The Government recognise that the English regions have different characteristics and different problems, and we do not wish to impose a single prescriptive model for the agencies. We want to ensure that legislation allows each region to have arrangements which fit its particular circumstances, building on the work that many bodies are currently doing.This morning my honourable friend met representatives of the national organisations with a major interest in regional development to outline our plans for touring the regions, to hear their views, and to encourage them to participate fully in the regional process.As a means of focusing debate, the Government have produced a paper setting out the issues for discussion, and inviting any written views by 5 September. We have placed a copy of the paper in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made in integrating the Department of the Environment and the Department of Transport.

Significant progress has already been made in integrating the policies of the two departments. To secure the maximum advantage from integration, and to simplify lines of responsibility; my right honourable friends the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Minister for Transport have concluded that the two departments should now be merged into a single department, to be known as the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.This change will take place from Monday 16 June. Detailed decisions on organisational structures will not be taken before the end of September, and will be preceded by a process of review and consultation with staff and trade unions.