asked the Leader of the House:How many (a) life peers and (b) hereditary peers currently entitled to sit in the House of Lords are: (i) below the age of 45; (ii) aged between 45 and 50; (iii) aged between 50 and 55; (iv) aged between 55 and 60; (v) aged between 60 and 65; (vi) over the age of 65. [HL1543]

	Life Peers		Hereditary Peers
Age	Life Peerages Act 1958	Appellate Jurisdiction Ad 1876	Of First Creation	By Succession	Total
44 or under	4	0	1	71	76
45 to 49 inclusive	12	0	1	48	61
50 to 54 inclusive	26	0	0	60	86
55 to 59 inclusive	47	0	0	85	132
60 to 64 inclusive	59	3	0	83	145
65 and over	305	23	7	278	613
Total	453	26	9	625	1,113

Those peers without writs of summons and those on leave of absence are excluded from the figures given above.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the United Kingdom chemical defence programme is in compliance with the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention. [HL1634]

The Chemical Weapons Convention, with which the United Kingdom is fully compliant, permits activities which protect against the use of chemical weapons. The UK chemical defence programme has been constructed to meet that need. A copy of the 1997 summary outlining the UK chemical defence programme, which has been forwarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have discussed with the United States the Transformation Strategy currently being pursued by the United States Department of Defence for its forces; and what the implications of the strategy may be for the forces of United States allies, with particular reference to the implications of the proposal for an Americas Command, made by the National Defense Panel, of December 1997; and [HL1435]Whether the United States military Transformation Strategy and the anticipated need for allied forces to adopt similar strategies is being taken into account in the Strategic Defence Review; and, if so, what costs are being attached to any such transformation in the light of the United States National Defense Panel's estimate of between 5 and 10 billion dollars annually for funding "a true transformation". [HL1436]

The Ministry of Defence has a continuing close dialogue with the United States Department of Defense on future strategies and force structures. We place importance on ensuring that British forces can operate effectively alongside United States and other allied forces, and this is a major theme of the Strategic Defence Review. The proposals of the National Defense Panel are a matter for the United States Government. I understand that the Department of Defense is still considering many of the recommendations made by the Defense Panel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will set out the procedure by which Parliament, if it thought fit, might change the law in the event that a ruling by the European Court proved to be adverse to the interests of the United Kingdom, unjust or contrary to the intentions of Parliament. [HL1456]

In passing the European Communities Act of 1972 Parliament accepted and legislated to implement the UK's obligations under the treaties to give effect to European Community law. If Parliament wished to legislate in a way which was contrary to a ruling of the European Court of Justice the UK would have to negotiate an amendment to the EC instrument which was the subject of the ECJ ruling or be in breach of its treaty obligations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total population of the Falkland Islands; and what is the annual cost of the islands to the Treasury. [HL1491]

According to the 1996 census, the population of the Falkland Islands is 2,221 (excluding military personnel and civilians at Mount Pleasant and including persons temporarily absent from the islands on the day of the census).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 2 April

It is common practice to refer to "President Santer" when referring to Jacques Santer, President of the Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the electorate supports further European integration; and in view of their commitment to democratic and open government whether they will hold a referendum to prove it. [HL1506]

At the general election the electorate gave its support to the present Government and their manifesto commitment to constructive engagement with the European Union. The Government have made clear their intention to hold a referendum in the event of a decision to apply to join a single currency.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they made to place the plight of Karen refugees and the abuse of human rights in Burma on the agenda of the recent ASEM II Conference in London; what action they are taking to have those responsible for continuing violations of human rights brought before an international war crimes tribunal; and what action has been taken since the meeting between Mr. Derek Fatchett MP and Premier Oil on 17 December 1997 to dissuade the company from economic investment in Burma. [HL1517]

During ASEM 2, the human rights and political situation in Burma were discussed, including the plight of refugees on the Thai-Burma border. There is at present no international tribunal with jurisdiction over crimes against humanity in Burma. Officials remain in regular contact with Premier Oil. They met most recently on 14 April. We continue to make clear the reasons why we do not encourage British companies to trade or invest in Burma.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the assurance by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 24 March (H.L. Deb., col. 1198) that the

On 31 March, one week after the comments made by my noble friend Lord McIntosh of Haringey, the European Parliament did adopt a resolution,

"having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgetary Control and the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs (A4–0082/98)."

The motion for a resolution was drafted by the Committee on Budgetary Control on 3 March. The resolution calls upon the Commission further to examine aspects of the corpus juris paper, a discussion paper produced by a group of academic experts under the aegis of the European Commission.The ideas contained in

asked Her Majesty's Government:What legal obstacles, if any, prevent an individual European Union member state from imposing economic and financial sanctions on an unelected foreign government; and whether they are taking any steps to overcome these obstacles in the case of Burma. [HL1521]

The imposition of economic and financial sanctions on third countries is a matter for the European Community in accordance with Articles 73(b), 73(g)(1) and 228(a) of the Treaty of Rome. Article 228(a) requires prior unanimous agreement under the Common Foreign and Security Policy. No such agreement at present exists. As a matter of domestic law, the Emergency Laws (Re-enactments and Repeals) Act 1964 also limits scope for unilateral action. Furthermore, in the absence of a United Nations Security Council resolution, imposition of economic sanctions could breach World Trade Organisation obligations. We have, however, been able to adopt some trade measures short of sanctions in addition to existing EU measures against Burma. We shall continue to urge EU partners to adopt similar measures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which European Union member states have indicated their willingness to impose economic or financial sanctions on the Burmese Government. [HL1522]

There is no EU consensus to impose economic or financial sanctions on Burma. It would not be consistent with the confidential nature of EU discussions to name member states. The Government have, however, been able to adopt some trade measures short of sanctions in addition to existing EU measures against Burma. We shall continue to urge EU partners to adopt similar measures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made to set up the Commonwealth Business Council as agreed at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. [HL1598]

The first meeting of the Commonwealth Business Council took place in London on 20 and 21 April under the chairmanship of the noble Earl, Lord Cairns, with Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa as vice-chairman. It was attended by a number of leading business persons from throughout the Commonwealth. As agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, its objective is to promote greater private sector involvement in the promotion of trade and investment, and thus prosperity, throughout the Commonwealth. The British Government were pleased to provide £250,000 towards the council's start-up costs. We hope that other Commonwealth governments and the private sector will also want to contribute to this most valuable initiative.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they have taken to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1160 imposing an arms embargo on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [HL1602]

The EU already imposes an arms embargo on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The UK's interpretation of this embargo covers all goods and technology in Part III of Schedule Ito the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended (the so-called "Military List").Following the adoption by the UN Security Council on 31 March of Resolution 1160 as a result of the recent violence in Kosovo, the Privy Council has made Orders in Council giving full effect to the action which the UK is required to take. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998; the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Dependent Territories) Order 1998; the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Channel Islands) Order 1998; and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Isle of Man) Order 1998 were approved by the Privy Council on 22 April and will come into force on 24 April. As a result of these orders, a licence will be required to supply any goods on the Military List to the FRY, so bringing under control such supplies abroad by UK-registered companies or nationals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Clinton-Davis on 14 January

On 31 March my honourable friend the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry announced the Government's acceptance of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's recommendation that the radioactive waste in the Dounreay intermediate level waste shaft should be retrieved for treatment and storage.This decision was taken following detailed engineering studies completed recently by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, which operates the Dounreay site, which have shown that it is now technically feasible to recover waste from the shaft in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner. It demonstrates the Government's commitment to caring for the environment and taking action to deal with the difficult legacies of the past. The difficult task of retrieving this waste will demonstrate that the UK is taking a world lead when dealing with nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste challenges. The most recent estimates presented to the Government by the UKAEA suggest the total indicative costs may lie in the range of £215 million to £355 million. These costs, which are already budgeted for, will be incurred over approximately the next 25 years and will be met from public funds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will reply to Questions for Written Answer by e-mail. [HL1430]

A variety of different methods of replying electronically to Questions for Written Answer have been tested during the last few months. These tests are continuing, and the Government will make known their conclusions as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they have taken, or propose to take, to stimulate a full debate about the genetic modification of food, having regard to the implications for human health and the ecosystem as a whole. [HL1526]

A comprehensive EU-wide system of checks and controls already exists for genetically modified foods, which are approved only following a rigorous safety assessment. In considering applications for approval of such foods, the Government draw upon expert advice from two independent committees, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). The latter advises on the issues relating to the wider health and safety issues associated with releases to the environment. Other independent committees, such as the Food Advisory Committee, are also consulted on more general issues as the need arises.Following the report from the National Biotechnology Conference held in March 1997, the Government are currently giving consideration to the most appropriate means of ensuring that the wider implications of advances in the biosciences, including those related to genetically modified foods, are properly taken into account. As a first step, in November last year, John Battle, Minister of State for Science Energy and Industry, announced a decision to hold a public consultation exercise on the wider issues raised by advances in the biosciences.The Government and their agencies, including the research councils, have supported other activities designed to stimulate public debate including the production of information leaflets for consumers and part funding an exhibition on genetically modified foods at the Science Museum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Cattle Tracing System is expected to begin operation. [HL1558]

The launch date for the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) will be 28 September 1998. The system will register cattle and their movements from birth to death. It is an enhancement to the current cattle passport database which already holds details of over 5 million cattle born or imported into Great Britain from 1 July 1996. The main change will be to hold, in addition, the movement history of all those cattle registered on to the system from 28 September.A new organisation, the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS), is being set up in Workington, Cumbria, to run the CTS. Recruitment is going well, with applications of high quality; buildings have been handed over on time; the main equipment has been installed; and development of the new system is in hand.The Government sent to all cattle farmers, livestock markets and operators of abattoirs in Great Britain a leaflet about CTS on 20 April. The leaflet gives details of the new cattle passport which will be introduced as part of the CTS. The new passport will include details of the animal, details of where it has been throughout its life, cards for owners of cattle to send in when the animal moves, a record of Beef Special Premium and eventually details of the death of the animal. Cattle with the new passport will not require a separate Cattle Identification Document for Beef Special Premium, thus reducing one element of paperwork for farmers.The leaflet that was sent on 20 April is the first in a series which will be sent to cattle farmers between now and the launch of CTS on 28 September to familiarise everyone with their role in the new system.As we have previously announced, the Government have decided that they will meet the costs not only of setting up the CTS but also of running and enforcing it during its first full year of operation. This is a step of real value to the livestock industry, with government bearing costs of the order of £35 million on behalf of the industry.The CTS offers great opportunities to the British cattle industry. The new system will make it possible to check easily where cattle have been during their lives, trace cattle more easily if there is a disease outbreak and give greater assurance to buyers about an animal's history, and so help to rebuild confidence in British cattle and British beef at home and abroad.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Question by the Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 12 March (HL Deb. col. 345), whether the reforms they seek to the common agricultural policy would require support from member states representing 62 of the 87 available qualified votes; if so, upon how many votes they can count to that end; and whether Germany now supports their suggested reforms. [HL1512]

Amendments to the common agricultural policy must be agreed in the Agriculture Council, which would require a qualified majority of 62 votes out of the 87 available. Negotiations on the latest Commission proposals for reform have only just begun and we have a long way to go before the issue is put to the vote.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the answer by the Lord Hoyle on 31 March (HL Deb, col. 146), what is the legal basis for the common fisheries policy; and to what extent the reform of that policy, including such possibilities as its abolition or the departure of the United Kingdom from its jurisdiction, can be achieved by (a) qualified majority voting and (b) unanimity, in which institutions of the European Union. [HL1519]

The common fisheries policy is based on Articles three and 39 to 47 of the EC Treaty. The policy can be reformed by a qualified majority in the Council of Ministers on the basis of a proposal from the European Commission. However, abolition of the policy or the UK's withdrawal from it would require the unanimous agreement of member states to a treaty amendment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have plans to place research on animal health and welfare on the basis of a requirements document, similar to that for food research. [HL1561]

We published on 20 April a document setting out our future animal health and welfare research requirements and inviting tenders for research work to be financed in the year starting on 1 April 1999, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. This document focuses particularly on animal welfare, organisms capable of causing food poisoning and bovine tuberculosis. Further documents setting out animal health and welfare research requirements will be published in future years.This is a broad programme. One of the key elements builds on our current work to improve our understanding of how E.coli behaves on farms and to identify the critical control points for risk management. This will complement work being financed by other departments.The document also takes forward the recommendation in the Krebs Report that our research effort into bovine tuberculosis should be refocused along two main approaches: understanding the causes of outbreaks and developing improved strategies to reduce the number of outbreaks. The Ministry's research programmes generally operate on a rolling three-year cycle, so for most of the programmes the document covers only approximately one-third of the total research effort. For bovine tuberculosis, however, the whole programme has been reviewed in the light of the recommendations in the Krebs Report. The new TB programme picks up the individual recommendations the report makes for research and lays the foundation for developing soundly based control strategies in the future, including in the longer term the development of a cattle vaccine.The document also makes a significant movement in the direction of allocating research contracts by open competition, which will help to ensure that work is undertaken by those best qualified to do it. This also responds to another of the Krebs recommendations and must be right if we are to achieve value for money in this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 20 to 21 April. [HL1592]

My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food chaired the fifth meeting under the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union Council of Agriculture Ministers on 20 and 21 April in Luxembourg. I represented the United Kingdom.The principal items for discussion at the Council were Commission proposals on amendments to the EU banana, tobacco and olive oil market regimes; and its proposals in respect of common agricultural policy (CAP) prices for the 1998–99 marketing year. The Council marked an important step forward in the negotiations on all of these. On bananas, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was able to conclude that the Council would work towards an agreement in June on the basis of the Commission's proposal for changes to the EU banana regime to bring it into line with the ruling of the WTO appellate body. He was also able to conclude, in relation to both tobacco and olive oil, that intensive work would continue at expert level in the light of the guidance given by the Council, with the aim of reaching early conclusions on these proposals if possible. The Council also recognised the importance of concluding the CAP price-fixing negotiation under the UK Presidency in June, and he undertook as Council chairman to work to achieve that outcome.The Council adopted by qualified majority (Germany opposing) a proposal from the Commission extending until 31 December 1998 temporary rules on agri-monetary compensation and the freezing of green rates, but with tighter rules to reduce the risk of over-compensation.At the request of the Dutch Agriculture Minister, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food held a debate on a Dutch memorandum on the use of marker vaccines in combatting classical swine fever. A number of delegations expressed support for Dutch proposals, while others expressed some reservations. All were mindful of the need to examine this issue against the background of what would be acceptable to the EU's international trading partners. He concluded that the Commission should continue its scientific work on this issue as a matter of urgency.The Council held a short discussion, at the request of the French Minister, on proposed EU free trade agreements with Chile and the Mercosur countries. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food undertook as chairman of the Agriculture Council to report the views of agriculture Ministers to the General Affairs Council where these agreements are being negotiated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose to set standards for imported car parts where these are safety-critical, as happens in other western European countries. [HL1566]

In common with other European Union member states, the UK already sets standards for safety-critical car parts which apply equally to imports and those manufactured in this country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much landfill tax has been paid or is due in respect of soil extracted from the Millennium Dome site and deposited elsewhere. [HL1586]

There is an exemption from landfill tax for wastes arising from the reclamation of contaminated land.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether trains will stop at Westminster station when the Jubilee Line extension comes into operation next year. [HL1564]

LT had planned a phased opening of the Jubilee Line extension, which would probably have involved opening initially without Westminster station. However, LT now proposes instead to open the entire line (i.e. the existing Jubilee Line together with the whole of the extension) at the same time for full through services in spring 1999. We are pleased to confirm that this will of course include Westminster station.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list those illnesses associated with or caused by (a) smoking and (b) passive smoking. [HL1524]

Diseases associated with or caused by smoking are as follows: cancer of lung; lip, tongue, mouth, pharynx, larynx; stomach; oesophagus; liver; pancreas; bladder; kidney; cervix uteri; and arteriosclerosis, hypertension, cerebral thrombosis, other cerebrovascular disease, peptic ulcer, osteoporosis, hernia, myocardial degeneration, other respiratory disease, aortic aneurysm, respiratory heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, pneumonia, respiratory tuberculosis, and ischaemic heart disease.In its recent report

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they have on the number of women refused an abortion because their particular circumstances do not fit the criteria of the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended). [HL1569]

We do not collect this information.