asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Jay of Paddington on 25 February (

We hope to be in a position to do so shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who, within the Joint Centre for Education in Medicine, has primary responsibility for the national evaluation of the Calman reforms of specialist medical training; and [HL3471]Whether they will publish interim reports of the national evaluation of the Calman reforms of specialist medical training. [HL3472]

Professor Janet Grant, Director of the Joint Centre for Education in Medicine, has primary responsibility for the national evaluation of the Calman reforms of specialist medical training.The Government have no plans to publish interim reports of the evaluation of the reforms. However the Joint Centre for Education in Medicine's final report to the Department of Health will be made widely available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many times the independent panel of the Ministry of Defence for interactions between vaccines and NAPS (Nerve Agent pre-treatment Sets) has met and when it last met. [HL3444]

The independent panel set up to oversee the MoD's research programme investigating the possible adverse health effects of the combination of vaccines and tablets which were given to troops during Operation Granby to protect them against biological and chemical warfare agents has, so far, met on two occasions: on 18 December 1997 and on 24 February 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to Monuments at Risk Survey of England 1945–95 recently published by Bournemouth University and English Heritage; and what is their reaction to the estimate that 24 per cent. of all monuments in South-East England have been destroyed over the past 50 years. [HL3361]

The Government take seriously the findings of the survey. It provides invaluable information about the state of England's archaeological heritage, and the threats it faces. English Heritage has responded very positively by publishing a number of measures which it is committed to implement. The Government's Planning Policy Guidance Note on archaeology and planning (PPG 16) sets out a framework for addressing the threat to archaeology caused by development, which the survey highlighted. PPG 16, and the possible need for additional legislative and financial measures, will be kept under review in the light of continuing discussions with English Heritage and other relevant government departments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to enforce the law prohibiting metal-detection on scheduled ancient monuments and to prevent metal detecting in World Heritage areas. [HL3362]

Permission to use a metal detector on a scheduled ancient monument is granted only in rare circumstances, normally as part of a programme of authorised archaeological investigation under expert supervision. This applies also to scheduled ancient monuments within those World Heritage Sites which have archaeological importance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of England is covered by pilot schemes to promote the voluntary recording of archaeological finds by portable antiquities liaison officers; and whether the county of Sussex is currently served by such a liaison officer. [HL3360]

At present the six pilot schemes to promote the voluntary recording of archaeological objects cover about one third of England; bids have been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund to extend the schemes to a further four areas within England and the whole of Wales from January 1999. Sussex is not at present served by a finds liaison officer, nor will it be included within the planned extension of the scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice they have recently given to Chief Executives of Councils in Sussex on council-owned land; and what advice the Department for Culture, Media and Sport sought from English Heritage, the Council for British Archaeology and from the Standing Conference on Portable Antiquities and the British Museum on this matter. [HL3359]

In June the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Mr. Fisher, wrote to Chief Executives of councils in Sussex and Lincolnshire regarding their policies relating to the use of metal detectors on council-owned land and suggesting that they send representatives to a meeting with him to discuss the issue. Advice was obtained from English Heritage before the letter was sent; the issue was also raised in advance with the Council for British Archaeology's Portable Antiquities Working Group and the British Museum. Following responses received to the letter, the department will be giving further consideration to this issue before arranging any meetings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish in the

The information is not available in the form requested. Monitoring the operation of the red route network is the responsibility of the Traffic Director for London, who was established under the Road Traffic Act 1991 to oversee the development and introduction of the red route initiative, which seeks to improve the operation of London's main roads. He has a duty under the Act to monitor the operation of the 320 miles of red route which the Secretary of State for Transport has designated. The monitoring seeks to identify statistically reliable network-wide changes in conditions arising from the introduction of the new measures; this is not undertaken on a link by link basis. The director annually publishes two reports, Retail Monitoring and Traffic Monitoring, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cases of synthetic pyrethroid pollution of watercourses in England and Wales have been reported to the appropriate authorities since 1 January 1998. [HL3416]

Thirteen confirmed cases of pollution of rivers and streams in England and Wales by synthetic pyrethroids were reported to the Environment Agency in the period 1 January-16 October 1998. Final statistics for 1998 will be available early in 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the increasing number of controlled parking zones being introduced in London and elsewhere, they will ensure that registration numbers of vehicles receiving parking tickets and other such notices are checked with the stolen vehicle register. [HL3406]

The police and local authorities in England and Wales issue some 5.8 million parking tickets each year. It would not be practical to check each of these vehicles against the stolen vehicle register. However, where a police traffic warden in London considers that a vehicle looks suspicious—from its condition, for example—then the necessary checks can be made. Outside London it is a matter for the relevant police authority and the few local authorities that have taken on decriminalised parking enforcement powers to develop their own policies in this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is still planned to open all stations of the Jubilee Line simultaneously in spring 1999; and, if not, whether they will give their estimate of the date of opening of the whole Jubilee Line, or sections of the line, and each station on the line. [HL3429]

The Jubilee Line is planned to open in three phases.Phase one will open the extension between Stratford and North Greenwich in late spring 1999. This section includes four stations: Stratford, West Ham, Canning Town and North Greenwich.Phase two will follow in late summer. This section will include six stations: Canary Wharf, Canada Water, Bermondsey, London Bridge, Southwark and Waterloo.The third and final phase will complete the extended line by linking Waterloo with the existing line at Green Park in autumn 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, following publication of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions report,

The Government's planning policies on retailing and town centres remain as set out in PPG6 (Planning Policy Guidance note 6). The recent research supports this policy. I commend this report to local authorities, which are primarily responsible for determining planning applications. We have no plans to add to the existing guidelines on the Government's call-in policy. Call-in depends on the circumstances of each case; the call-in power is used very sparingly. The Government are currently considering whether the recent retail application in Kirkby Lonsdale should be called in.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State, Department of Transport (the Earl of Caithness) on 24 March 1993 (

During the three-year period 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1997, there were reports of three accidents involving fatalities, 22 involving serious injuries and 88 involving slight injuries on the two single carriageway lengths (5.9 miles) of the A.21 trunk road between the southern end of the Tonbridge Bypass and Scotney Castle, south of Lamberhurst. There are both long- and short-term proposals for improving the safety of these lengths of road. Following the Roads Review, the A.21 Lamberhurst Bypass has been included in the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI). The Government are committed to starting all TPI schemes within the next seven years. Details of timings are being worked on at present and will be announced as soon as possible. Congestion and safety problems on the A.21 between Tonbridge and Pembury will be considered by the "Access to Hastings" study announced in the Roads Review. It is too early to say when this study is likely to proceed but we will be consulting the South East Regional Planning Conference shortly about the proposed multi-modal study programme and the remit for the "Access to Hastings" study. The Highways Agency is also carrying out a feasibility study for smaller scale safety improvements south of Kippings Cross.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish their climate change consultation paper. [HL3553]

On Monday 26 October my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister will launch a consultation paper seeking views on policy options for meeting our climate change targets. Copies of the document will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

I will answer the noble Lord's questions in the same order as he has asked them:

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to respond to the Twentieth Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. [HL3554]

We have published our response to the Twentieth Report, on Transport and the Environment. Copies of the response have been laid before the House.The Government's response to the Commission closely follows their recently published White Paper on Integrated Transport. The Government note the clear resonance between the themes emphasised in the White Paper and in this Royal Commission report and its predecessor, the Eighteenth Report. These include recognition that the consequences of future traffic growth are indeed unacceptable; the need to take action to secure more sustainable transport for the future; the need for integration, both within and between transport modes, and of transport policies with other policies; agreement that government should aim to provide the framework for all those with an interest in transport to play their part; the potential for technology to provide solutions through innovation, among other things, in fuel efficiency and emissions; and the need to encourage awareness of transport issues, and to send consistent signals such that we all work to further sustainable development objectives.The Government have warmly welcomed the Royal Commission's reports, which have been influential in shaping the new mood for change, away from policies dominated by the short term and towards a more sustainable approach to transport policy that tackles both congestion and pollution. The Government look forward to developing this common ground as we all work to implement the new integrated transport policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the technical report on revising and updating the Index of Local Deprivation will be published. [HL3555]

We have placed in the House Library the report describing the technical details of revising and updating the Index of Local Deprivation, the results of which were published in June of this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they have now decided to seek an out of court settlement to the current legal action on National Bus Company pensions. [HL3556]

Litigation was set in train by the decision of the previous government to offer the trustees funding to pursue this matter through the courts. In view of this it would not have been appropriate to begin negotiations on a settlement until the details of this complex case had been fully prepared and all the relevant facts and arguments were known to and considered by both parties. The trustees submitted the final part of their claims in July this year. The Government received strong legal advice that they should lodge their own response with the court before opening discussions on an out of court settlement. The Secretary of State initiated settlement discussions as soon as that stage was reached.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they propose to extend Part M of the Building Regulations to new dwellings; and when they will come into force. [HL3486]

Amendment regulations have been laid before Parliament and published today, extending Part M of the Building Regulations, covering access and facilities for disabled people, to include new dwellings. These regulations include transitional provisions. The effect of the regulations is that from 25 October 1999 new homes will have to be built with features that make them better suited to the needs of disabled people. People will be able to invite disabled people to visit them in their own homes; and home owners will be able to remain in their own homes longer as they become less mobile as they get older.The benefits of these changes will be very considerable—potentially more than 10 million people will benefit. In particular there will be direct benefits of increased convenience, accessibility and sociability for disabled people. The measures will also help significantly those people who are temporarily disabled through accident or injury and those with young children in prams and pushchairs.The extension of Part M complements this Government's commitment to implement the remaining duties of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act. Part III will improve disabled people's access to goods and services and Part M will ensure better access to new dwellings. It is better and more cost effective for new homes to be designed and built with proper facilities—as already happens with new public and commercial buildings—than to rely on later piecemeal adjustments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many claims they have received for compensation for the confiscation of handguns under:

Around 56,600 claims have been received under Options A and B of the statutory compensation scheme for large calibre handguns and the ex gratia surrender scheme for small calibre pistols, of which around 60 remain outstanding, pending the completion of enquiries. Around 25,900 claims have been received under Option C of these schemes, of which 18,900 remain outstanding. In 900 of these cases, offers of payment have been made and are awaiting acceptance by the claimant.Around 9,700 claims have been received under Options A and B of the statutory surrender scheme for small calibre pistols, of which 4,300 remain outstanding, together with around 6,100 claims under Option C of this scheme.The Firearms Compensation Section is currently concentrating mainly on the outstanding claims under Option C of the large calibre and

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to bring the Human Rights Bill into force in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before they bring it into force in England; and, if so, what are their reasons. [HL3427]

We do not at present have any plans to bring the Human Rights Bill into force at different times in different parts of the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Queen signed the Letters Patent signifying the Royal Assent to the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Bill before the completion of its passage through both Houses of Parliament. [HL3428]

Royal Assent is itself a process, of which the Queen's signature is a vital part but neither the start nor the end. The Queen signed the Letters Patent for the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Bill before the completion of its passage through Parliament. This has been normal procedure for many years. Royal Assent was subsequently given, after the completion of all the Bill's stages, on Friday 4 September.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans are being put into place to prepare for the implementation of the proposed freedom of information Act. [HL3568]

We hope to do so in the second quarter of next year.The Data Protection Act 1998 received Royal Assent on 16 July, but substantial subordinate legislation will also be needed. We issued two consultation papers about this in August. There were more than 100 responses, which we are currently considering. We will announce a firm target date for implementation as soon as we can.Meanwhile, users of automated personal data must continue to comply with the present Data Protection Act 1984. This includes registering new processing operations and applying for renewals when existing registrations expire.When the new Act comes into force, processing operations which were already under way by 23 October 1998 will become subject to the transitional regime, which for automated data will end on 23 October 2001.New processing operations which had begun on or after 24 October this year will become subject to the new regime as soon as it is brought into force. The Data Protection Registrar has sent me a copy of the introductory guide to the Act which she had just issued and which covers these matters. I shall place a copy in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that electronic tagging may be a suitable alternative to detention for Immigration Act detainees; and whether they will conduct a trial with some of the asylum seekers at present in detention. [HL3477]

We are following with interest the pilot schemes for the use of electronic tagging within the criminal justice system and will, in due course, consider whether a similar system would be beneficial to the Immigration Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consider designating Aldington as an Immigration Act detention centre. [HL3479]

The possibility of using Aldington as an Immigration Service detention centre is one of a number of options being considered to expand the detention estate and reduce the use of prisons. Discussions are taking place between Immigration Service and Prison Service officials. We expect to be able to take a decision within the next few months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they have not detained General Augusto Pinochet, former dictator of Chile, now on a visit to Britain, using the powers in the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which embody in our law the obligation under Article 6 of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to take into custody and prosecute any person within our jurisdiction who is alleged to have committed torture or an act which constitutes complicity or participating in torture. [HL3399]

The offence of torture contained in Section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 provides that a United Kingdom court has jurisdiction to prosecute for an offence of torture committed by a person of any nationality committed in any part of the world. The police may arrest or detain a suspect in connection with an offence under Section 134 only if they have sufficient evidence to do so. If the noble Lord believes he has evidence of an offence under Section 134, he should place it in the hands of the police.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the reasons for the delay in bringing into effect Parts III and V of the Police Act 1997. [HL3452]

Detailed work is under way to implement Part III of the Police Act 1997 as quickly as possible. Sir Andrew Leggatt has been appointed as Chief Surveillance Commissioner and we are hoping to announce the appointment of six surveillance commissioners in the very near future. The draft code of practice has been the subject of a public consultation process and a revised code will be laid before Parliament shortly. We are also making good progress on the practical arrangements necessary to support the work of the commissioners. We are aiming to bring Part III into effect at the beginning of next year.We have decided to implement Part V of the Act by establishing a criminal records agency. The agency will be responsible for issuing the three forms of criminal conviction/record certificates provided for by the Act and, when fully operational, it is estimated that over 10 million certificates will be likely to be issued on request each year. The agency will be self-financing through fees charged for each certificate.There are substantial resource issues in terms of setting up the agency, police manpower and costs to employers and voluntary organisations. We are giving very careful consideration to the phasing in of certificates, with priority given to the protection of children and the arrangements for charging for certification. Account is also being taken of the emerging findings of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Abuse of Trust.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are able to state the number of persons holding a firearm or shotgun certificate on 31 December 1997 in respect of each police licensing authority in the United Kingdom, and the total number of such certificates; and, if not, when they expect to be able to give these figures. [HL3430]

The following table gives the available information, which relates to the numbers of firearm and shotgun certificates on issue on 31 December 1997. Figures for Scotland were published in a statistical bulletin in July, and those for Northern Ireland were published in the Chief Constable's annual report in September. Figures for England and Wales will be published within the next month, and the figures given in the table are currently provisional.