asked Her Majesty's Government:What sums have been provided in aid to Algeria in each year since 1 January 1992. [HL146]

British aid provided to Algeria since 1 January 1992 is as follows:

Financial Year	Amount (£ sterling)
1991–92	336,000
1992–93	377,000
1993–94	192,000
1994–95	140,000
1995–96	150,000
1996–97	46,000
1997–98	*120,000
* Provisional figure pending publication of Statistics on International Development.

The 1997–98 figure consists mostly of humanitarian assistance to refugees from Western Sahara who are currently living in Western Algeria.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the letter of 4 January 1989 (disclosed in the

The Attorney General exercises statutory superintendence over the Director of the Serious Fraud Office in the discharge of her functions. That superintendence does not extend to operational decisions taken about the disclosure of individual documents by the prosecution in any given case. The noble Lord, if he wishes to pursue this matter, should seek the assistance of the Director of the Serious Fraud Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what date their manifesto commitments on cancer treatment were or will be met in relation to breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, bowel cancer and liver cancer. [HL110]

The Government's manifesto commitment was to "end waiting for cancer surgery, thereby helping thousands of women waiting for breast cancer treatment". The Government intend to meet their manifesto commitments, including this one, by the end of this Parliament. The ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine recommendations provides the framework to help ensure that the best services are provided for all cancer patients.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Department of Health will be issuing specific guidance to hospital trusts on what elements of medical services can be provided through the Private Finance Initiative. [HL126]

The Government have given a firm commitment that the provision of National Health Service clinical services by the private sector will not be permitted under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) or any other form of public/private partnership. A list of non-clinical services which may be provided under the PFI or other forms of public/private partnerships will be included in the report of the review of PFI which will be published shortly and distributed to NHS trusts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much Government funding has been allocated to Age Concern during 1997–98; whether any of this money was earmarked for the Millennium Debate of the Age; and, if so, how much. [HL130]

During 1997–98 Age Concern received from the Government a mix of project and core grants totalling £1,850,000.None of the funds awarded to Age Concern were as a result of bids for assistance with the Millennium Debate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What research is being done or has been commissioned by the Department of Health into adverse reactions from the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. [HL55]

The effects of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisation have been carefully examined by two groups of independent experts: the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the United Kingdom health departments on matters concerning immunisation, and the Committee on Safety of Medicines. In addition, following the publicity about possible adverse reactions to MMR, a group of 37 independent experts was convened by the Medical Research Council on 23 March this year under the chairmanship of Professor Sir John Pattison. The group examined published and unpublished research into a suggested association between MMR vaccine and inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease) and autism. These independent experts concluded:The available virological and epidemiological evidence does not support a causal role for persistent measles virus infection in Crohn's disease.There is no evidence to indicate any link between MMR vaccination and bowel disease or autism.There is therefore no reason for a change in the current MMR vaccination policy.MMR vaccine remains the safest way for parents to protect their children against measles, mumps and rubella.The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is currently considering the evidence provided by case reports of children where parents suspected adverse effects following MMR. The MCA has set up a working group of independent experts who will evaluate these reports in the context of all the relevant available evidence. The MCA has also commissioned a study to examine the possible association between MMR vaccine and autism.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Serpentine Gallery pays an economic rent to the Royal Parks Agency; and what it is. [HL12]

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the reason for the erection of new police notices in St. James's Park warning that cycles left unattended will be removed by the police; and [HL1]Why cyclists are not allowed to leave their cycles unattended at locations in St. James's Park and Westminster. [HL2]

Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, when they bring Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 into force, they will at the same time bring Section 3 into force so as to ensure that the courts construe future Acts of Parliament so far as is possible in accordance with convention rights, having regard to any ministerial statements of compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights made under Section 19. [HL70]

The main provisions of the Act, including Section 3, belong together and will be implemented as a whole. Section 19 is separate from the main provisions and for that reason we were able to bring it into force in advance of them on 24 November.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to bring into force Section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 as regards ministerial statements of compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights made under Section 19. [HL69]

I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave on 25 November (WA 1–2).

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they plan to respond to the third report of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee of Session 1997–98 into Alternatives to Prison Sentences. (HC486) [HL214]

This is a useful and constructive report, and the Government's detailed response to it is being published today.The report makes a large number of observations and recommendations. It says that community sentences can and should be rigorous and that, if they are to be credible, they must be enforced stringently. The Government endorse that view, as our response indicates. The report also welcomes many of the measures which the Government have already taken to extend the range and flexibility of community sentences and to ensure that intervention takes place at an earlier stage, especially when dealing with juvenile crime.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions they have drawn from the illegal conscription of Rwandan Hutu refugees by the Congolese army from camps under the authority of the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees; whether they have provided assistance to these camps; and whether they have made any representations on this issue to the United Nations. [HL20]

We are concerned about recent reports that a number of Rwandan Hutus have left refugee camps in the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) to join the fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We have raised this matter with UNHCR, who say they do not have any evidence of conscription. Some reports suggest that the refugees are forcing the administrators of the camps to let them leave. UNHCR condemns any recruitment of refugees and asylum seekers for military action and has called on states hosting asylum seekers and refugees to take all necessary measures to prevent activities which could further destabilise the region or undermine the humanitarian and civilian nature of the camps. On 19 November, the Security Council adopted a resolution underlining the unacceptability of using refugees to achieve military purposes. The European Union has allocated 500,000 ecu for humanitarian projects to be implemented through UNHCR in the Republic of Congo.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on European Union enlargement negotiations; and what entry dates they anticipate for new members of the European Union. [HL46]

The Government remain committed to continuing progress towards EU enlargement. Substantive accession negotiations were opened on 10 November with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia in seven chapters of the acquis. We hope the Vienna European Council will stress the importance of further progress in the negotiations between now and the Cologne European Council in June. Vienna will also consider the Commission's reports on the candidates' preparations for eventual accession. We are broadly supportive of the Commission's conclusions that, while much progress has been made, none of the less-advanced applicants is yet ready to start negotiations.The speed of progress towards accession depends on the candidates' individual circumstances. Some of the candidates are aiming for 2002. The UK has not set formal target dates. But we are working hard for rapid progress, and to avoid any artificial delays.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether local authorities have been specifically asked to favour housing development on brownfield sites; and, if so, whether they are satisfied that such a policy is being implemented. [HL109]

PPG3 (Planning Policy Guidance for Housing) requires local planning authorities to make the best possible use of previously developed land for housing. The policy document, Planning for the Communities of the Future, which was published last February, reiterated this policy and set a national target that 60 per cent. of additional housing should be built on previously developed sites over the next 10 years. This target is to be underpinned by targets set regionally by local authorities and will be revisited once the regional targets have each been agreed. A National Land Use Database is being set up, the first priority of which is to establish exactly how much previously developed land exists which can be recycled. PPG3 is under revision and the new draft, which will be circulated for consultation early next year, will include further guidance on development of housing on previously-used land.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the cost of London Transport's management of the franchised bus operations. [HL6]

In 1997–98 administration costs, which comprise planning and development, procurement and operating services, amounted to some £18 million. Operational support, which includes functions such as revenue protection, and the provision and maintenance of shelters, accounted for a further £14 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the performance statistics for London buses by route or areas for the last three years. [HL5]

This is a matter for London Transport. We understand they prepare a route analysis of quality of service indicators which they make available to local authorities and to the London Regional Passengers Committee. We are obtaining information from London Transport and I shall write further to my noble friend.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who is responsible for monitoring the performance of London buses. [HL4]

London Transport Buses, the bus division of London Transport, is responsible for monitoring the service performance. Summary reports are made to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to indicate overall performance against targets set by the Secretary of State.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they propose to take in future to ensure that public disquiet about the impact on the countryside of projects such as the Newbury bypass is adequately addressed. [HL101]

We want a countryside in which the environment is properly protected and conserved. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, spending on DETR's countryside and wildlife programmes is set to rise from £128 million this year to £174 million in 2001–2002. We recently announced our intention to set out our vision for rural England in a rural White Paper.As explained in our White Paper,

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether information is being provided to owners of older vehicles that will be affected by the withdrawal of leaded petrol from sale from 1 January 2000. [HL213]

The withdrawal of leaded petrol is part of a European strategy to reduce pollution from road traffic and the air we breathe.I am nevertheless aware of the concerns of many owners of older vehicles about the practical implications of the ban and information is being made available, at outlets such as MOT stations, garages and forecourts and other locations, which will address the sorts of questions which motorists have been raising. Information may also be found on the department's website at http://www.detr.gov.uk.The general message for those who use leaded petrol is that they will have several options available to ensure that they can continue to use their car after 1 January 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce the results of their consultation on drink-driving. [HL77]

We shall make an announcement when we have finished considering the responses to our consultation exercise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they distributed their information on

Copies of the report were issued to women Members of Parliament as they would have a particular interest. However, the report is available to all members through the Libraries of the House. Members of the public may obtain a copy of the report from the Women's Unit, who can be contacted at 10 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AE.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their policy that no public mention should be made of the private lives of all politicians, or all Ministers, or only selected Ministers. [HL40]

Ministers and other politicians are treated no differently from others in public life.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they have not set up a Men's Unit. [HL7]

The Government are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for men and women. The Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts protect men as well as women from discrimination on grounds of sex. Because, historically, men have not suffered the same disadvantages as women, the Government do not believe that a Men's Unit is necessary.