asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the establishment of an independent Appointments Commission to nominate Cross Bench Peers to the interim House, as set out in the White Paper on House of Lords Reform. [HL729]

PricewaterhouseCoopers have been appointed to assist in the recruitment of the Chairman and independent members of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.The firm of recruitment consultants successfully tendered for the job of trawling and sifting applications and identifying suitable candidates, who must be politically impartial, for the Chair and the three independent members of the Commission. The appointments will be done under the principles of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.As well as using their expertise to identify potential candidates, they will be running a national press advertising campaign to attract as many suitably qualified people as possible from the widest possible field.The Appointments Commission will take over from the Prime Minister the function of nominating all Cross-Bench Peers to the House of Lords. It is expected to be in place by late spring.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce the full composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union. [HL668]

The United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Western European Union is as follows:The Right Honourable Terry Davis MP (Leader)

Full Representatives	Substitute Members
David Atkinson MP	Malcolm Bruce MP
Sir Sydney Chapman MP	The Right Honourable The Lord Clinton-Davis
Michael Colvin MP	Ms Ann Cryer MP
Tom Cox MP	Michael Hancock CBE MP
Lawrence Cunliffe MP	Robert Jackson MP
Bill Etherington MP	Ms Jenny Jones MP

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who appoints members of Hospital Trusts: what are their responsibilities and remuneration; and what qualifications they require. [HL617]

The Secretary of State for Health is responsible for the appointment of chairs and non-executives to the boards of National Health Service Trusts in England. The responsibilities of chairs and non-executives and the skills and qualities required are set out in the information pack sent to all people who express an interest in these posts, copies of which are in the Library.Annual remuneration for chairs is set at three levels, based on the turnover of the trust: band 1 at £19,825; band 2 at £17,625; and band 3 at £15,550. All non-executive board members are entitled to receive remuneration of £5,140 per annum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to make the document,

The document referred to is an internal briefing paper. By convention, such papers are not published.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many deaths from iatrogenic CJD have been recorded in women who have received fertility treatment in the United Kingdom. [HL620]

There have been no cases of iatrogenic transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in women who received fertility treatment in the United Kingdom.A case of a woman, resident in the United Kingdom at the time of death, has been linked with fertility treatment received when she lived in Australia. This case is reflected in the monthly figures that are published by the Department of Health.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the statement by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment in their report

Professor Blain was appointed as a member of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment's Working Group on Organophosphates because he had appropriate expertise and was not involved with any pending litigation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What guidance they have given to primary care groups on the commissioning of maternity services. [HL589]

Primary care groups, working with health authorities and others, will decide how best to respond to national priorities and local needs within their health improvement programme. This in turn sets the framework within which the health authority and its primary care groups can commission services. Specific guidance was issued in October 1998 (HSC 1998/198), which set out the new arrangements for commissioning all health services, including maternity services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much money they have spent since May 1997 to achieve their pledge to reduce in-patient hospital waiting lists by 100,000. [HL555]

All National Health Service activity contributes to the waiting list position, either directly or indirectly.In 1997–98, NHS spend was £34,664 million.; in 1998–99, NHS spend was £36,611 million; and during 1999–2000, we plan to spend £39,831 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With which countries, since 1990, they have ended export credit support for arms sales. [HL554]

The Chancellor announced on 11 January 2000 a unilateral UK ban on export credits in respect of "unproductive expenditure" to 63 of the world's poorest countries. This initiative follows the UK's unilateral two-year ban on export credits for unproductive expenditure to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries announced in September 1997. This is now being extended indefinitely and widened to cover all countries which are only eligible to borrow from the World Bank on highly concessional terms.Projects supported in future should be measured against the following indicative criteria:assist social and economic development; or be of maximum benefit to areas most affected by poverty; or tackle problem areas where private investment is not available; or wherever possible, earn foreign exchange; or encourage viable self financing projects.These principles need not necessarily preclude ECGD support for the sale of defence or dual use equipment provided that such equipment is, for example, deemed essential for national security, or required to combat the drugs trade, piracy, smuggling, etc. Support for projects must be cleared with the Department for International Development, which must be satisfied that the expenditure is consistent with the above.The full list of countries to which the ban applies is attached.The Export Credits Ban Will Cover:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they intend to take to ensure that farmers who have planted grass strips, and other cover, to widen their field boundaries and enhance biodiversity, are not penalised by a withdrawal of area payment, as envisaged in the latest Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) Rules. [HL484]

IACS rules have always allowed farmers in the United Kingdom to use the full field areas which are shown on Ordnance Survey maps as the basis of their claims under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) provided that their fields are fully utilised. If this condition is not fulfilled, then only that part of the total area which is actually cropped can be claimed. The use of total field areas is of considerable benefit to our farmers but it can only be justified if the extent of uncropped areas around field margins, including the area occupied by any hedges which may be present, is kept within reasonable limits.AAPS applicants have recently been notified about new guidance from the European Commission about the maximum width of field margins that is consistent with the use of full Ordnance Survey areas in aid applications. We recognise the concern that the application of the rules could in some circumstances have an adverse effect on the width of field boundaries and their biodiversity. We have, therefore, also urged applicants to seek advice about minimising the environmental impact of any action they may need to take in order to comply with the new guidance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they would participate in the continuation of the School Milk Scheme if it involved co-financing. [HL538]

The Government are currently considering the proposal from the Commission to Council on the future financing of the EC School Milk Scheme. Our position remains unchanged, in that we prefer the continuation of the scheme in its present form.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made towards a new labelling regime for food products [HL696]

The Government are committed to giving consumers clear, easily understood information so they can make informed choices about the food they buy. We have already taken a number of steps for labelling ingredients derived from genetically modified crops and for labelling the quantities of key ingredients. We are encouraging the development of voluntary industry guidelines aimed at providing better, more consistent information to those consumers with specific allergies and will continue to press for appropriate changes to European and international rules.We are also launching a new initiative to stimulate public debate on food labelling and find out what information ordinary consumers want to be given about the food they buy. We will also be considering different ways of making information available, including the use of modern technology, and whether new approaches are called for to deal with internet shopping. We are funding consumer research into these questions. We shall be holding open meetings and inviting consumers to write or e-mail us with their views.The results of this exercise will feed into the work of the Food Standards Agency, to which the Government have given responsibility for developing food labelling policy. The aim is to improve the clarity of information for consumers, and help establish appropriate labelling regimes at national and international level.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will grant a licence for the export of a Load Handling System and Container Unit to Norwegian People's Aid in Kosovo. [HL667]

We have granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of a Load Handling System and Container Unit for use by Norwegian People's Aid, an organisation engaged in humanitarian demining activities in Kosovo on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). These goods are on the UK's Military List.UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1160 imposed an arms embargo on the FRY. The only exception to this embargo is that in UNSCR 1244, which provides that prohibitions imposed by UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related material for use by the international civil and security presence in Kosovo. We have notified the UN Sanctions Committee of this export and it has raised no objection. The export of the equipment required for demining purposes is not prohibited by the EU arms embargo.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to secure the participation of a Serb representative on the new United Nations Mission in Kosovo—Kosovo Joint Interim Administrative Structure. [HL567]

Her Majesty's Government have supported, and continue to support, the United Nations Mission in Kosovo's attempts to convince the Kosovo Serb leadership of the desirability of their participation in the Joint Interim Administration Council. In discussions with Serbs in Kosovo we take every opportunity to urge them to participate in the shaping of the province.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they envisage to the request by the United Nations Special Representative in Kosovo, Dr Bernard Kouchner, who in December 1999 told the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, "We need money. Without money, no success … without money, no confidence … without money, no restarting of daily life". [HL568]

We agree that UNMIK needs adequate resources to accomplish its mission. We continue to make a significant contribution and urge others in the international community to do likewise.The UK pays 6.2 per cent of UN-assessed contributions to UNMIK. We were one of the first nations to contribute bilaterally, giving US$1 million to UNMIK in July 1999. The Department for International Development (DfID) has also contributed US$2 million to support demobilisation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and has allocated US$1 million for projects to be carried out by the newly formed Kosovo Protection Corps. DfID has recently contributed £1.25 million for civil registration to prepare for elections in Kosovo later this year.At the international donors' conference in Brussels last November, the UK announced that it would be devoting up to US$10 million in budgetary support to UNMIK this year. The European Commission announced an EU contribution of up to 35 million euros in budgetary support as part of a broader assistance package for economic reconstruction which could reach some 500 million euros in 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the promised 4,800 international police officers due for deployment in Kosovo are now in place; and how many are from the United Kingdom. [HL569]

There are 1,972 international police officers now in place, 60 of whom are from the United Kingdom. A further 31 British police officers are working at the OSCE-run police school in Kosovo, training the future local police force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) is adequately resourced to cope with the country's transition to independence. [HL570]

In its Resolution 1272, the UN Security Council authorised a manpower contribution of up to 8,950 troops, 200 military observers and 1,640 civilian police officers for UNTAET as recommended by the Secretary General. The priority now is to ensure rapid deployment of civilian police and other civilian staff. The UK has deployed 14 civilian police and four military observers to the territory. In addition, a UN-World Bank donor meeting held in Tokyo last December received pledges of US$ 520 million for East Timor's reconstruction, development and humanitarian needs over the next three years. The UK committed US$ 20 million, in addition to our earlier commitment of £5.5 million for humanitarian relief and £1 million to support UNTAET. We are pressing for early and effective disbursement of this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list, with dates of appointment and of service, Members of the House of Lords who have, since May 1997, served on, or been appointed to:

I regret that detailed information in the form requested is not held centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The names of current members of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), including those government task forces which are classified as advisory NDPBs, are available on the net at

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who are the current members of the Strategic Communications Unit together with the dates of their appointment. [HL369]

The SCU is staffed by eight civil servants ranging in grade from B1 (Executive Officer) to SCS. These staff include two special advisers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What constitutes a task force. [HL571]

Task forces are normally short-term bodies set up quickly with a specific remit. Members are drawn from across the voluntary, public and private sectors, and are appointed for their expertise and experience in a particular field.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend that there should be a presumption in favour of, or a requirement for, the publication of reports of task forces. [HL572]

It is for individual Ministers to determine the publication arrangements for reports prepared by task forces which they have established.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer of the Lord Falconer of Thoroton that "the success or otherwise of a task force will be determined by the quality of decision taken by the Minister or government department" (HL Deb, 11 January, col. 525), whether it can be inferred that relevant Ministers are wholly responsible for the output of task forces appointed by them. [HL574]

Ministers have a duty to Parliament to account, and be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments and Next Steps agencies. This includes accounting for the work of task forces. Those task forces which are classified as non-departmental public bodies are accountable directly to Parliament through their sponsoring department.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the Lottery Agreement between the English Sports Council and the English National Stadium Development Company Limited and the Football Association Limited. [HL495]

The Lottery Funding Agreement is a contract between Sport England, Wembley National Stadium Limited, and the Football Association and publication of the contract is primarily for the parties to the contract.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the value, for the last full year for which data was available, of all the duties, levies and tariffs on imports from non-European Union countries into the United Kingdom imposed on goods (including agricultural produce) and commercial services. [HL577]

It is estimated that in 1998, the UK received some £2.8 billion in respect of customs duties and excise duties on goods (including agricultural products) imported into the UK from outside the European Union. Services are not subject to duties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What guidance has been prepared for officials on dealings with the devolved administrations. [HL695]

The Memorandum of Understanding (published as Cm 4444) and supporting concordats provide the basis for relationships between Her Majesty's Government and the Scottish Executive and National Assembly for Wales. A number of guidance notes have also been prepared on more detailed aspects of those relationships, covering:

• Common working arrangements
• Correspondence
• Role of Secretary of State for Scotland
• Role of Secretary of State for Wales
• Inter-ministerial and inter-departmental correspondence
• Post-devolution primary legislation affecting Scotland

These documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and the texts are available on the Cabinet Office internet web site (

asked Her Majesty's Government:What training is being given to the Prison Service on the implications for its work of the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998. [HL588]

All staff in the Prison Service and others working in prisons will be provided with information about the Human Rights Act 1998. Senior managers and key policy staff will be given training on the implications of the Act for their work. Existing Prison Service training courses on legal issues already include material on the Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they have taken to account for the DU (depleted uranium) missing after the Boeing 747 crash in Essex in December 1999; and what steps they have taken to meet the fears of nearby inhabitants as to effects similar to those of Gulf War Syndrome. [HL635]

Sixteen of the 20 depleted uranium counterweights from the Korean B747 crash site have been recovered. A radiological survey of the crash site is being conducted and it is expected that this will lead to the recovery of the others. It has been established from the condition of the recovered counterweights and the evidence of the fire damage that there has been no airborne dispersal of uranium from the crash site. Nearby inhabitants therefore have nothing to fear on this account.I understand that newsletters are being provided to address the concerns of local people by the Essex County Council Emergency Planning Department. The recent meeting of the Airport Consultative Committee was opened to the public to provide an opportunity for the local people to voice their concerns and ask questions, and I understand that the Airport Operator is organising further public meetings in the area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many occasions since 1 December 1999 the Jubilee Line service has been disrupted by signal failure. [HL518]

This is an operational matter for LU. However, I understand from London Underground that between 1 December 1999 and 6 January 2000 there were a total of 26 incidents of delay attributable to failure of Jubilee Line signalling equipment. Of these, nine were of over 15 minutes duration and the rest between two and 15 minutes.It is anticipated that the introduction of new systems on complex transport projects will entail the progressive elimination of technical problems. This work is in progress in particular on signalling, and should improve performance significantly over time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the number of (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles which were permanently taken off the roads of the United Kingdom in tile latest year for which figures are available. [HL586]

The estimated numbers of cars and goods vehicle; taken off the roads in Great Britain in 1998 are shown below. Equivalent data for Northern Ireland are not available.

• Cars: 1,800,000
• Goods vehicles: 50,700

The estimate is made by calculating the change in licensed stock of these vehicles between the end of 1997 and the end of 1998 and subtracting this figure from the number of vehicles first registered in 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the number of new (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles which were purchased in the United Kingdom in the latest year for which figures are available. [HL585]

The estimated numbers of new cars and goods vehicles purchased in Great Britain in 1998 are shown below. Equivalent figures for Northern Ireland are not available.

• Cars: 2,261,600
• Goods vehicles: 49,100

These estimates are based on the numbers of vehicles that were newly registered in 1998. The totals will include some vehicles which were purchased in 1998 but which were subsequently scrapped or privately exported.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who will be required to meet the costs which were awarded against Mr Peter Downes, an Education Adjudicator, when he lost a case brought against him by Wandsworth local education authority. [HL604]

The Office of the Schools Adjudicator will meet the costs of this case. In accordance with Schedule 5 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Secretary of State will indemnify the Adjudicator for these costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the review of Access Funds and Hardship Loans. [HL730]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has today announced a package of extra measures for 2000–01 and 2001–02 to widen access to higher education and tackle student hardship in England and Wales. The full year cost of the package has been estimated at £68 million. This honours the commitment he gave to Parliament on 13 July 1998 to monitor the new student support arrangements introduced after the Dearing Report. It also builds on the findings of the review of access funds and hardship loans carried out last autumn.The system of student support is working well: full-time entrants to higher education have increased by nearly 5,000 this year and more money is now going into universities and colleges. The system is fair and equitable to students, families, and the taxpayer. But our review highlighted the specific financial concerns of older students, notably the costs of childcare, especially for lone parents, school meals, and travel. The review also found that mature students, in particular, need guarantees of financial support if they are to undertake and complete courses of higher education. These new measures target extra help at full-time mature students, disadvantaged young people and parents on low incomes with children in higher education.In 2000–01, £17 million will be set aside for non-repayable access funds bursaries for mature students of up to £1,000 per student, according to need, available at the start of the academic year. Further support, depending on circumstances, will also be available from a hardship fund of £57 million for students who run into financial difficulties during the course. Hardship loans will remain available to mature students but they will no longer have to take out a hardship loan before receiving support from the hardship fund. We will additionally provide an income-assessed grant to meet the cost of school meals for students with dependent children aged 4 to 16. We have also decided to ease substantially the income assessment for mature students, who will now be able to have £7,500 of their income disregarded without losing entitlement to student support, instead of a minimum of £820.In 2001–02, three further measures will be introduced to widen access and tackle hardship. We will raise the parental contribution threshold from £17,370 (at 1999–2000 rates) to £20,000, which will mean that around 50,000 more families on modest incomes will no longer have to contribute towards their children's higher education. We shall also review the other contribution thresholds. Up to £10 million will be available for non-repayable bursaries through access funds of up to £1,000 for young students from disadvantaged backgrounds, building on schemes already developing at a number of universities. Both these measures will help students from families on low incomes with no history of entry to higher education. We will provide further help for mature students by introducing a means-tested childcare grant, based on the actual costs of childcare of up to £100 a week per child, for those with dependent children, which will be fully disregarded by the Department of Social Security for benefits purposes.Where necessary, we will make amendments to the Education (Student Support) Regulations 1999 and the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1999 to give effect to these changes for 2000–01. Amendments to regulations to give effect to the changes for 2001–02 will also be made in due course. Changes to the guidance on the use of the access and hardship funds will be given to the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and individual higher education institutions, shortly.