asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any new evidence of a reduction in the incidence or prevalence of the HIV virus (a) in Uganda, and (b) in any other country in East Africa; and, if so, whether the reduction can be quantified. [HL3465]

In Uganda, the latest published figures (March 1998) of HIV prevalence rates reported from sentinel sites based in antenatal clinics show a consistent, if slow, decline since their peak in 1992. In urban Kampala, rates have fallen from a high of around 30 per cent. of all pregnant mothers attending clinics being positive in 1992 to around 15 per cent. in late 1997, while in rural areas the fall has been from a high of around 15 per cent. in 1992 to around 7 per cent. in late 1997. This downward trend is confirmed from a long term population-based study being conducted by the Medical Research Council in a rural area of Uganda where rates show a fall from 8.2 per cent. of the population studied being positive in 1990, to 6.9 per cent. in 1997. Early evidence also suggests a decline in prevalence in the urban areas of Kenya from 20.3 per cent. to 16.6 per cent. between 1995 and 1996, and we expect that 1997–98 figures will confirm this decline. We do not as yet have similar data for Tanzania but we are working closely with the Government of Tanzania on their response to the epidemic.Incidence rates—that is the rate at which new infections are being acquired rather than what percentage of a population is positive—are much more difficult and costly to measure. However, evidence from the work done by the Medical Research Council in Uganda, while not reaching statistical significance, indicates that the general trend for incidence is also downwards. If true this is also good news, but there is some concern that the fall may be more pronounced in older age groups and that efforts to target preventive measures towards children and adolescents may need to be increased.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of their overseas aid expenditure in Uganda has been committed to HIV prevention, palliative care and education during the last two financial years; and whether this proportion will be maintained, or increased. [HL3466]

The UK Government take an integrated approach to their support for health improvement in Uganda. As such it is not possible to identify all funding which supports action against a single infection. The Department for International Development's (DFID) support from bilateral funds which can be identified as specifically targeted towards prevention of HIV infection and care for people suffering with AIDS amounted to 3.5 per cent. of all development investment (around £3 million) in Uganda over 1996–97 and 1997–98. So far in 1998–99 we have spent £2.7 million on direct HIV activities. In addition to funds committed through the bilateral programme DFID has funded HIV activities carried out by NGOs through the Joint Funding Scheme and has contributed to the costs of a Medical Research Council operation based in Entebbe.While the efforts of the Government of Uganda have resulted in it being the first country to report significant and sustained falls in the prevalence rate of HIV infection, a continued national and international effort will be required to maintain this decline. We have no plans to reduce our support, although the overall proportion of our expenditure directed specifically at HIV/AIDS activities may decline as a result of our increased support for Universal Primary Education and broader-based programmes in the health and other important pro-poor sectors.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In respect of the Legal Aid Board's multi-party action in which plaintiffs are seeking compensation for injuries caused by radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer, whether the experts' meeting ordered to take place before the end of September to consider the continuation of legal aid in 41 of the remaining cases has reached a conclusion; and, if so, with what results. [HL3422]

The experts' meeting ordered for the end of September has not taken place as the defence experts were not ready. A rearranged date has yet to be fixed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In respect of the Legal Aid Board's multi-party action in which plaintiffs are seeking compensation for injuries caused by radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer, on what grounds the 10 lead cases out of the total pleading in May 1998 were chosen, given that five of them were formally discontinued before trial as the alleged facts and evidence did not appear to be sustainable. [HL3423]

In group actions it is usual practice for lead cases to be chosen which best illustrate the issues raised by the group as a whole. As with any litigation there is always a risk that a particular case will fail on its own facts. However, I am determined in reforming legal aid to ensure that taxpayers' money should only be expended on any case that has so strong a prospect of success and clear benefit to the individual concerned, that, if the individual was able to fund the case out of own resources, he or she would do so and accept the risk of litigation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the net expenditure by the Legal Aid Board amounting to £2.3 million up to August 1998 in their multi-party action involving 105 plaintiffs claiming compensation for injuries caused by radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer is proportionate to the amounts recovered by the three successful litigants out of the 10 lead cases. [HL3425]

I cannot comment on the merits of individual cases. I am determined in reforming legal aid, however, to ensure that taxpayers' money should only be expended on any case that has so strong a prospect of success and clear benefit to the individual concerned that, if the individual was able to fund it out of own resources, he or she would do so and would accept the risk of litigation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider the total net sum of £2.3 million stated as being spent by the Legal Aid Board up to August 1998 on cases in which plaintiffs are seeking compensation for injuries caused by the use of radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer has been an appropriate use of public money. [HL3424]

I cannot comment on the merits of individual cases. I am determined in reforming legal aid, however, to ensure that taxpayers' money should only be expended on any case that has so strong a prospect of success and clear benefit to the individual concerned that, if the individual was able to fund it out of own resources, he or she would do so and accept the risk of litigation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the proposed extension of National Insurance contribution liability to non-cash vouchers will impact most severely on low-paid employees in small companies since employees in larger firms whose employers provide canteens will not face increased liability; and whether they will reconsider this proposal in the light of representations made by both employers and unions. [HL3441]

The Government announced on 22 July 1997 at the Second Reading of the Social Security Bill their intention to bring non-cash vouchers into liability for Class 1 National Insurance in the same way as cash vouchers. The key principles of the proposals are to bring about greater alignment of tax and National Insurance and to bring greater fairness in the NI treatment of earnings. We are currently considering our response to the points raised in the public consultation which ran from 14 August to 14 September. The vast majority of low paid workers do not receive luncheon vouchers and are therefore liable for National Insurance on all their earnings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect their report on Training and Enterprise Councils to be published; and whether it will contain a clarification of the councils' remit. [HL3512]

The consultation on the proposals for the operation of Training and Enterprise Councils and Chambers of Commerce, Training and Enterprise (TECs/CCTEs) ended on 30 September. We are currently considering the responses received and deciding on any changes that will result to the remit, role and operational framework for TECs/CCTEs. Once we have completed this work, we will announce the outcome of our consultation and publish new strategic guidance for TECs/CCTEs which will clarify their remit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to announce new National Learning Targets. [HL3587]

I shall be announcing new National Learning Targets for England tomorrow. They will cover 16 year olds, young people post-school, adults and organisations, in addition to the targets for 11 year olds already announced. Copies will be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to announce the level of AIDS support grant for the next financial year. [HL3572]

The level of AIDS support grant for the next financial year will be £15.5 million (an increase of almost 12 per cent. on 1998–99) and the planning figures for 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 are £16 million and £16.5 million respectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the annual additional cost to the NHS of changing from three separate vaccines to a single MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine from 1988 onwards. [HL3458]

The three separate vaccines have never been recommended in the United Kingdom. Prior to the introduction of MMR in 1988, measles vaccine was given to children aged 12 to 18 months and rubella vaccine was given to girls at age 10 to 14 years. Mumps vaccine was not routinely given at all. It is not possible to give the annual additional cost of the change in vaccine regimen as the costs to the National Health Service of giving measles and rubella vaccine prior to 1988 are not held centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the annual additional cost to the NHS would be of changing from a single MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine to three separate vaccines. [HL3459]

No estimates as to the cost of introducing separate vaccines have been made as separate vaccines have never been part of the national childhood immunisation programme and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which provides expert and independent advice on vaccination, advises against it. The use of single vaccines in place of MMR is not recommended since there is no evidence that doing this has any benefit and it may even be harmful. Government policy is to ensure parents are provided with factual information about immunisation and that immunisation recommendations are backed up by sound scientific research. The administration of separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines instead of MMR is not supported by any studies into its safety or efficacy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What national tracking of adverse responses to current MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccines is taking place in the National Health Service. [HL3511]

The safety of vaccines is carefully monitored both by the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advise United Kingdom Health Ministers. The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) of the Department of Health receives spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to vaccines from coroners, doctors and pharmacists under the voluntary Yellow Card Scheme. There is also a statutory requirement for pharmaceutical companies to report reactions to vaccines to the MCA. Reports of adverse reactions are entered on to a national database operated by the MCA, which regularly screens the data and, when necessary initiates further investigations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have approved the operational plan of the National Blood Authority which was produced in August of this year. [HL3473]

The National Blood Authority's operational plan, dated August 1998, has not yet been approved by the Government. The draft plan placed in the Library in reply to the noble Lord's previous Question answered on 14 October 1998 at col. WA 102 is currently being finalised by the authority in discussion with Department of Health officials. A copy of the plan, as finally approved, will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether National Health Service trusts will be fully reimbursed for the additional costs of blood products charged by the National Blood Authority in the year 1999–2000. [HL3474]

Trusts will be funded by health authorities in the usual way for the handling charges for blood components and for the costs of manufactured blood products.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Department of Health is currently collecting and holding centrally information on the incidence of autism among children as recommended by the House of Commons Health Select Committee in February 1997. [HL3475]

The Department of Health does not currently collect and hold centrally information on the incidence of autism among children. It would be difficult to collect meaningful information because of the lack of a widely agreed definition of autism. It is for the local statutory authorities to determine the needs of children with autism in their area and work together effectively to ensure that these needs are met.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish an updated membership list for the Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs. [HL3594]

The Minister of Transport was inadvertently omitted from the composition of the Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs shown in H.L. Deb., [col. WA 162] on 21 October 1998. The correct composition for this committee is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will respond to the reports by the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development on (a)

The Government have today published responses to these two reports by the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose to undertake a periodic review of the Highways Agency. [HL3592]

We have announced today that we are to commence a periodic review of the Highways Agency. The performance of the agency since its launch will be evaluated and a review of the options for the best management of its functions will be undertaken. It is also an appropriate moment for a review, as we set the agency a new aim and objectives this summer, reflecting this Government's new vision for integrated transport in relation to the English trunk road network. The review will build on the work done during the integrated transport and roads reviews. We hope to announce the results of the review next spring.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have, in co-ordination with their European Union partners, finalised plans to enable civil servants from the 5+1 nations which commenced negotiations for entry into the European Union on 31 March to undertake attachments to the European Commission and the civil services of member states of the European Union; and whether they will provide (a) a list of the United Kingdom ministries involved in the process and (b) the numbers of civil servants from each of the 5+1 nations involved. [HL3333]

The European Commission and member states are now implementing the new "twinning" programme, the main plank of the institution-building component of the Phare Programme for all Central European Candidate Countries. The current focus of twinning is on the placement of member state officials in Central Europe. Round 1 is well under way, with Pre-Accession Advisers hoping to be in place in Central Europe by the beginning of next year. Round 2 of 1998 is due to start at the end of October. There are plans to complement the outward secondment of EU experts with inward secondment of Central European civil servants, but it is too early to be sure of the necessary numbers involved. Twinning currently covers four priority sectors of the acquis communautaire: Finance, Environment, Agriculture and Justice and Home Affairs. After 1999 this will expand to include all sectors, and the FCO hopes to interest all UK departments, agencies and related bodies which have responsibility for implementing EU legislation in future twinning rounds.Placements in the European Commission are also helpful. But, as we have said before, this is a matter for the Commission to decide.In addition, the FCO and the majority of other government departments have offered short placements on an

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current position on the Department of Trade and Industry's review of strategic export controls (HC Deb), 5 May, cols. 262–263W); and what progress has been made in encouraging member states of the European Union and others to introduce appropriate controls over such activities, and in particular the manufacture and export of electric shock batons and similar devices to countries from which the United Nations Rapporteur on Torture has received allegations of torture. [HL3401]

The Department of Trade and Industry published the White Paper on Strategic Export Controls on 1 July (House of Lords Official Report, cols. WA 82–84) and the subsequent formal consultation process ended on 30 September. The Government are now considering carefully all the responses received during the consultation process and will be reviewing their proposals in the light of these.We have pressed our EU partners vigorously to introduce similar restrictions on the export of torture equipment to those we introduced on 28 July 1997 (House of Commons

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are examining the latest evidence that Iraq still holds prisoners of war from Kuwait; and whether they can draw any conclusions or proposals for action from such scrutiny. [HL3440]

Her Majesty's Government play an active role in the Tripartite Commission which considers all evidence relating to the Kuwaiti detainees. We will continue to insist that Iraq provides full information on the whereabouts of the detainees.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have reached conclusions following their study of ways of regulating the activities of private military companies (including the South African legislation); and, if so, whether they will prepare legislation. [HL3409]

Her Majesty's Government are still examining the issue. No final decision has yet been taken.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are increasing their efforts, directly and through multilateral channels, to find a negotiated political solution to the internal warfare that has been taking place within Turkey for 15 years, particularly in the provinces under martial law. [HL3420]

Her Majesty's Government continue to urge the Turkish authorities to seek a non-military solution to the conflict in the south east. We recognise that Turkey faces a significant internal terrorist threat. But we believe that Turkey can best undermine support for terrorism in the south eastern region by addressing the social, economic, political and cultural aspirations of the local population.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the Charter of the United Nations permits, and the international rule of law can survive, claims by individual member states to a right of unilateral interpretation of UN Security Council Resolutions, and a right to engage in military operations under such unilateral interpretations. [HL3411]

The legal basis for any use of force depends upon all the circumstances at the time. These may include authorisation by the UN Security Council, whose resolutions must be interpreted and applied in good faith.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there have been any new exceptions to the arms embargo on Argentina. [HL3569]

Her Majesty's Government have recently granted two exceptions to the embargo. The first was in respect of the sale of a further 24 nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection suits and eight pairs of boots for use by the Argentine contingent of the UN task force in Kuwait. The second exception was in respect of the export of 745 shotgun cartridges to an Argentine sporting goods retailer for sport and hunting use. These decisions represent exceptions but not changes to the embargo.