asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have funded any projects in Peru which have contributed to the Peruvian Population Control Programme. [HL1068]

This Government have not provided support to the Government of Peru's Population Control Programme and is opposed to any form of coercion that limits the rights of individuals to decide their own reproductive intentions.The Department for International Development has identified Peru as a priority country for assistance in the health and population sector. As a consequence, our work has been directed towards enhancing capacity within the Peruvian Ministry of Health, specifically in health services management and reproductive health. The majority of our work in reproductive health has been focused upon increasing access and service quality, based upon the tenets of information and informed consent.In 1994 we also provided funds through UNFPA to purchase a range of contraceptive commodities to increase choice for women and men. The majority of funds were for temporary forms of contraception.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 27 February (

The noble Baroness appears to have misunderstood the Secretary of State for International Development's interview. That is not what she said, and it is not her view.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 17 March. [HL 1192]

The first Transport Council of the current UK Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers met under the Chairmanship of my right honourable friend the Minister for Transport, Dr. Gavin Strang, in Brussels on 17 March. My honourable friend the Minister for Transport in London, Glenda Jackson, represented the United Kingdom.We particularly welcome the progress the Council was able to make on proposals for establishing a new European Aviation Safety Authority. There is strong support among member states for these proposals, and it was agreed that work should continue with the aim of adopting a Council decision in June. The Council also took note of progress on a draft negotiating mandate for Community membership of the EUROCONTROL air traffic management organisation, again with a view to adoption in June.The Council discussed the Community's role in EC/US air transport negotiations, in the light of the Commission's existing mandate and a recommendation by the Commission for supplementary negotiating directives. It was agreed that officials should undertake further technical work with a view to more extensive discussion at the June Council. Several Ministers expressed regret that the Commission has recently sent Reasoned Opinions to a number of member states.The Council reached a common position on a Regulation on vehicle national identification signs, under which member states would not require a separate national sign where one is already included (in specified form) in the vehicle number plate, and (with Germany abstaining) adopted a Regulation on the harmonisation of statistics on the movement of freight by road. The Council agreed Conclusions welcoming the Commission's recent Communication on satellite navigation systems.The Council made significant progress in its consideration of the proposed directive on heavy goods vehicle taxation and charging. The Presidency put forward a compromise proposal, with further modifications in response to concern expressed by delegations, but agreement proved beyond reach.The Commission reported on its negotiations with the Swiss Government on proposals for a land transport agreement between the Community and Switzerland. Following clarification of some outstanding points, a substantial number of delegations were broadly supportive. Presidency Conclusions reflecting the Council discussion were drawn. The General Affairs Council will take the final decision for the Community on a series of proposed agreements with Switzerland.Several delegations requested a study into the employment effects of the abolition in 1999 of duty-free sales for intra-Community travel. We agreed to forward the comments raised to the Chairman of ECOFIN.We made a short statement on the Presidency's plans to present a paper to the June Council on the subject of transport safety across the modes. This will set out proposals for exchanges of information and regular reporting by the Commission on safety in all modes and in all EU member states.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they have on the number of vehicles which have been damaged by road humps or speed ramps: whether they believe that these ramps have reduced the number of casualties and accidents: and whether they will place in the Library of the House any reports of studies that support that conclusion. [HL1090]

Information on the first part of the Question is held only locally. TRL Report 215. Review of Traffic Calming Schemes in 20 mph zones, showed that the annual accident frequency fell by around 60 per cent. and child injury accidents were reduced by 67 per cent. Copies of the report can be obtained from the Transport Research Laboratory.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether local authorities are liable to compensate motorists whose vehicles are damaged by road humps or speed ramps. [HL1091]

While it is for the courts to decide, it is unlikely that motorists would be eligible for compensation for any vehicular damage if the road humps over which they have driven accord with the specifications laid down in regulations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment they have made of the economic. environmental and social costs of reducing emissions from different sectors. [HL1157]

Her Majesty's Government regularly undertakes the fullest possible assessment of both the costs and benefits of proposals to limit or reduce polluting emissions, from whatever source and to whatever medium.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their intention to implement the proposed changes to the regulations governing private pilot licences (including medicals) as set out in Joint Aviation Requirements—Flight Crew Licensing (JAR-FCL) by means of a variation to the Air Navigation Order (ANO) and, if so, when. [HL1143]

Yes. It is our intention to implement JAR-FCL by 1 July 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for consulting all landowners and farmers, including those who are not members of the Country Landowners' Association, whilst negotiating their policy on the right to roam. [HL1094]

The Government's consultation paper, Access to the Open Countryside in England and Wales, issued on 25 February, invites views and comments from all those interested in its proposals. The Government will consider carefully all responses to the consultation paper before deciding how best to achieve their aim of giving greater freedom for people to explore open countryside. Preliminary discussions have been held with the National Farmers' Union, the Moorland Association, and other national organisations, as well as the Country Landowners' Association. There will be further meetings with national organisations representing landowners, farmers and other interests as consultation proceeds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 3 March (

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. While our officials have worked closely with the French authorities on the treatment of claims, the settlement and payment of claims is a matter between the French authorities and individual claimants.I understand that the French authorities have now responded to virtually all UK hauliers' claims for compensation following the 1996 French lorry drivers' strike. Over 100 British claimants have either received a firm offer of compensation, or have been told that they are eligible for compensation and have been asked to provide further information on which an offer may be based. Seventeen British claimants whose claims were initially rejected have now had them accepted as a result of their asking the French authorities to reconsider them.During his visit to France on 24 March, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister raised the question of compensation with the French Prime Minister and asked him to ensure that outstanding cases could be resolved quickly and sympathetically.My officials remain in close touch with their French counterparts, and will do what they can to ensure that claims are considered as sympathetically as possible. They remain ready to take up individual cases if asked to do so. I remain confident that the French authorities will ensure that everyone entitled to compensation under French law will receive it.As I pointed out in my previous reply, all claims must be dealt with under French law, which we understand does not provide for the payment of interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish in draft the direction to the Local Government Commission for England, in accordance with Section 7 of the Greater London (Referendum) Act 1998. [HL1216]

A draft direction to the Commission has today been placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are in a position to provide further information regarding the allocation of the 5,000 jobs to be created upon completion of the Millennium Dome, referred to by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 17 February (H.L. Deb. col. 137). [HL766]

When the Millennium Experience is open and fully operational the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) forecast that it will create about 2,000 new full and part time jobs. These jobs will relate to the operation of the dome during 2000, and will include security, catering, etc. The recruitment process for these jobs will begin in mid-1999. An independent report commissioned by the London Borough of Greenwich has estimated that a further 3,000 jobs relating to the dome will be generated. The NMEC are working closely with Greenwich Council and other local authorities in the area to ensure that opportunities for the local labour force are maximised. People interested in working on the Millennium Experience can register through the visitor centre in Greenwich.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the recommendation of the Museums and Galleries Commission that local authorities should have a duty to ensure adequate museum provision in their area; and whether they will consider extending Scottish legislation embracing facilities for cultural activities to cover the whole of the United Kingdom. [HL933]

The Government will encourage local authorities to produce cultural strategies setting out the provision, including museums provisions, which they wish to see made in their areas. We have no current plans to extend Scottish legislation into the rest of the UK, but the need for a statutory requirement can be reviewed in the light of progress.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cases of objects offered through the acceptance-in-lieu system are at present being considered; and how long they have been under consideration. [HL973]

There are 12 offers currently under consideration in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Eight of those have been with the Department for three months or less. The other four cases have required detailed scrutiny and consultation, and have now been with the department for periods of between 11 and 15 months. I expect them to be decided shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the way in which computer systems are supplied to government departments and agencies in Britain; and what steps they will take to ensure that competition between suppliers is maintained to avoid the dominance of a single company. [HL1073]

Yes. In providing goods and services, departments and their agencies seek value for money for the taxpayer, normally through competition. In addition, a cross-departmental committee, under the chairmanship of HM Treasury, is to consider the issue of market share both in this and in the procurement of strategic goods and services generally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a list of contracts for the supply of computer services placed by government departments and agencies in the last five years valued at over £0.5 million, giving the name of the supplier in each case. [HL1074]

This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For what periods of time and at what ages they believe children should undertake work experience and whether, in the interest of children receiving the best school education, they believe that the time for work experience should be taken from the school term or from the holidays. [HL1124]

Pupils can undertake work experience at any time in their last year of compulsory schooling (after the Easter term in Year 10) and beyond. The Government recognise the value of good quality work experience in helping to prepare young people for the world of work and for its contribution to enriching the curriculum. It is important that placements occur in term time to ensure adequate supervision and monitoring by schools and to maximise the learning outcomes and curriculum benefits. Work experience usually takes place in the summer term of Year 10—in most cases after GCSEs have finished.The Government are also taking steps to open up opportunities for the wider use of work related learning throughout Key Stage 4, especially where it will help keep disaffected young people in the education system. Work experience is therefore likely to feature in supporting out of school learning programmes tailored to meet the individual needs of these students.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce the proposal to the European Commission for further sites in Scotland to he candidates for special areas of conservation. [HL1218]

A further list of Scottish candidate SACs has today been proposed to the European Commission. The list comprises 15 new sites and boundary extensions to nine existing candidate sites. This represents a significant step forward in the implementation of the Habitats Directive and is further evidence of the Government's firm commitment to the Natura 2000 network.Consideration continues to be given to the few sites remaining in the public consultation exercises in March 1995 and October 1997 which have not yet been proposed to the Commission. In addition, Scottish Natural Heritage have recently started a third public consultation exercise on a further list of sites in Scotland on the Government's behalf. I hope to announce the submission of further sites to the Commission in the near future.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it remains their intention to appoint individuals to diplomatic postings from outside the ranks of the career civil service; and whether any such appointments have yet been made. [HL1050]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to the noble Earl, Lord Carlisle, on 19 January (H.L. deb, col. 1246ߝ1248). In many cases professional and linguistic expertise is required for ambassadorial posts and the Foreign Secretary and I have been impressed by the calibre of DS officers of ambassadorial and equivalent rank. If an individual from outside the FCO, who had served the nation with distinction, had the right personal qualifications and experience to do the job, we would certainly want to consider inviting him or her to serve as an ambassador in one of our major embassies. No appointments have yet been made at this level.However, through the short-term business attachment scheme we have seconded 10 business people to increase the number of commercial posts at first secretary level overseas; we have eight private sector full-term appointments in a range of jobs and grades from second secretary to counsellor at home and overseas; six private sector appointments to locally engaged jobs overseas; and seven secondments from other foreign ministries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the legislative proposals withdrawn by the European Commission since 1994 on grounds of subsidiarity. [HL1097]

Each year the Commission withdraws a number of proposals. There is no specific list of those withdrawn on grounds of subsidiarity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their review of military training assistance has now been completed. [HL1217]

The review of the FCO's UK Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS) was launched as part of our comprehensive spending review. The Foreign Secretary has concluded that for 1998–99, UKMTAS will be replaced by a new programme called Assistance to Support Stability with In-Service Training (ASSIST), and that we will set up a specific Human Rights Project Fund.The ASSIST programme will be worth £11.15 million in 1998–99. The criteria will be:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will review the reservation registered by the Conservative Government regarding the United Kingdom's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, with particular reference to nationality, immigration, asylum and detention and the practical effects of the reservation since 1991. [HL1078]

We do not intend to review the reservation. We take the view that the United Kingdom's immigration and nationality law is entirely consistent with the thrust of the convention, but believe it is necessary to retain this reservation, which makes it clear that nothing in the convention is to be interpreted as affecting the operation of our immigration and nationality legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they will not provide additional parliamentary time to enable the Wild Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill to complete its remaining stages in the House of Commons; and [HL1053]Whether they have given or plan to give instructions to parliamentary counsel to ensure that any future legislation on criminal justice will be drafted in such a way as to prevent any amendment to outlaw fox hunting and other blood sports from being in order. [HL1055]

The Government have always made clear that there was no question of making time available for any Private Member's Bill in this session. It would be wrong to treat the Wild Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill differently from any other Private Member's Bill. No instructions have been given to parliamentary counsel about future legislation on criminal justice. We would not want Government legislation to meet manifesto commitments to be delayed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House the evidence submitted by Mrs. Phyllis Bowman and the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children to the European Court of Human Rights in the case of

A full summary of the case is already available in the Library, but I understand that it has been the practice to place such papers in the past, if requested, and I am content to do so. My officials have written to Mrs. Bowman's legal advisers to tell them of our intention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of

The Government have no plans to do so. Mrs. Bowman was convicted in accordance with the legislation and there are no grounds for referring the case to the Court of Appeal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the provision to a prison inmate of a pencil, writing paper and access to

Under Prison Service Standing Order 16–7, a prisoner who refuses to seek or is unable to obtain professional advice and wishes instead to initiate and/or conduct legal proceedings in person should be given the necessary facilities to do so. The range and extent of such facilities will vary according to the circumstances of each case and the governor has discretion as to what may be allowed. If the noble Lord has information about a particular case, I shall be glad to investigate it for him.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many weapons were stolen from, or unaccounted for by, the British Police in:

The information requested is not readily available for England and Wales or Scotland, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. In relation to Northern Ireland, 86 weapons were stolen from the police or were unaccounted for by them in the years 1988–1998. Numbers, broken down by year, are as follows:

• 1988 9
• 1989 13
• 1990 13
• 1991 14
• 1992 3
• 1993 5
• 1994 14
• 1995 6
• 1996 6
• 1997 2
• 1998 (to date) 1.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the recommendation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that ethnic Albanians not qualifying for asylum should not be deported to Kosovo; and, if so, whether they will seek to achieve general agreement in western Europe on this point.[HL1046]

In the United Kingdom, all claims for asylum are considered individually on their merits within the terms of the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees and its 1967 protocol, taking into account the latest information and advice on the country situation from a range of sources, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Where an application for asylum is refused, consideration is given to granting leave to remain exceptionally outside the immigration rules on humanitarian grounds. We have not recently returned to Kosovo any ethnic Albanians who have been refused asylum here.There was detailed discussion on the situation in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, including Kosovo, at the January meeting of the Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on Asylum held under the United Kingdom's Presidency of the European Union. UNHCR was represented at that meeting and had the opportunity to explain the conditions prevailing in Kosovo at the time. UNHCR's latest advice on the situation in Kosovo, dated 9 March, has been made available to all governments. It is for individual governments to determine applications for asylum in accordance with their international obligations, in particular the 1951 United Nations convention and its 1967 protocol which are common to all member states of the European Union.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their view of the likely relative tendency to encourage under-age gambling of Pronto! compared with the National Lottery, scratch cards and slot machines, given that Pronto! has an age limit of 18 and is to be situated mainly in licensed premises. [HL1063]

The statutory minimum age for playing lotteries, including on-line games and scratchcards, is 16. This is also the minimum age for playing the National Lottery. Apart from access to the £10 all-cash amusement-with-prizes machines in amusement arcades, there is no minimum age limit for gaming machines in places open to the public. However, prizes are limited to a maximum of £10. Under the law, any person over the age of 14 may enter the bar of a public house. Recent research published by Oflot suggested 8 per cent. of under 16s played fruit machines in pubs.The promoters of Pronto!, an on-line lottery, have chosen to set their own age limit at 18 and to site their terminals mainly in licensed premises. This has no effect on the statutory position, and the promoters could at any time choose to relax their self-imposed constraint. In consulting on the draft Lotteries (Frequent Draws) Bill, the Government's main concern has been the risk to players of any age from rapid, repetitive games in premises not licensed for gambling.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, by restricting the game of Pronto! to players aged 18 or over and by situating terminals in licensed premises, the ability of under-age players to participate is severely restricted. [HL1029]

The statutory minimum age for playing lotteries, including on-line games and scratchcards, is 16. This is also the minimum age for playing the National Lottery. Apart from access to the £10 all-cash amusement—with prizes machines in amusement arcades, there is no minimum age limit for gaming machines in places open to the public. However, prizes are limited to a maximum of £10. Under the law, any person over the age of 14 may enter the bar of a public house. Recent research published by Oflot suggested 8 per cent. of under 16s played fruit machines in pubs.The promoters of Pronto!, an on-line lottery, have chosen to set their own age limit at 18 and to site their terminals mainly in licensed premises. This has no effect on the statutory position, and the promoters could at any time choose to relax their self-imposed constraint. In consulting on the draft Lotteries (Frequent Draws) Bill, the Government's main concern has been the risk to players of any age from rapid, repetitive games in premises not licensed for gambling.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for travel document fees. [HL1261]

In line with the increase in the fee for a British Passport which we announced on 13 February, the fee for a Refugee Passport and for a Stateless Person Document will be increased from £18 to £21 today. The cost of a Refugee Passport and of a Stateless Persons Document is directly linked to the cost of a British Passport. A fee of £21 still represents very good value for money.