asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the amount of the United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations' Voluntary Fund for Viet, ms of Torture; and how does the rate of contribution compare with contributions made by other comparable countries. [HL1539]

The United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations' Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture was £130,000 in 1999. The UK's contribution was the second largest in 1999. The UK's contribution in 1998 (£130,000) was the third largest.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Further to his Answers of 17 February (

Yes. Professor David Feldman, currently Barber Professor of Jurisprudence and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Birmingham, has been appointed with effect from 1 September 2000. If a committee is appointed before that date, Professor Feldman will be available to assist it on an ad hoc basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their views on the growing practice by employers of asking for details on job applicants' sexual orientation; whether they will make it clear that employers should not discriminate against a job applicant who declines to give this information; and whether they have taken advice on the compatibility of this practice with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL1487]

The Government encourage employers to ensure that they do not discriminate in their recruitment processes. I understand that some employers may consider it appropriate to monitor applications with a view to ensuring that discrimination does not take place in their recruitment procedures. Some job applicants will feel, however, that their sexual orientation is not something a prospective employer need be aware of, and no employer should discriminate against applicants who choose not to declare their sexual orientation for whatever reason.Individual employers should seek legal advice on whether this practice complies with the Human Rights Act and other laws.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the names of those who have been appointed to the Spoliation Advisory Panel; and whether the members represent organisations or have been appointed in an independent capacity. [HL1357]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport expects to announce details of the membership of the panel within a very few weeks. Members will not be representing interested organistations but will be appointed in an independent capacity, with expertise and experience relevant to the work of the panel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the definition of "family" used by the Inland Revenue. [HL1500]

There is no statutory definition of family in the Taxes Acts.For the purpose of Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit, family is defined as a married or unmarried couple responsible for a child, or a young person in non-advanced education, who is a member of the same household for whom at least one of them is responsible, or as a lone parent who is responsible for such a child or young person.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the present strength of the Army Cadet Force in the United Kingdom; in which three counties it is strongest; and in which three counties it is weakest. [HL1484]

The latest available statistics give the total strength of the Army Cadet Forces as 42,550. The three Army Cadet Force contingents that are strongest numerically are:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements they are putting in place to ensure rapid and effective contributions by the Armed Services to relief work in humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur. [HL1422]

There are well-established procedures between the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence for calling on military support for relief work in overseas humanitarian emergencies. These procedures are reviewed as a matter of routine following every operation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Services Cotswold Centre is to close; if so, (a) how they propose to provide in one place the services for families suffering marital breakdown or other turbulence—for example, a creche, counselling and a small school for stressed children, as well as accommodation; and (b) what saving the closure represents; and whether the money is being ring-fenced for family welfare. [HL1434]

Her Majesty's Government reaffirm their high regard for the work of the Services Cotswold Centre on behalf of Army families. The Centre is, however, under-utilised and a working group has recently been set up to explore alternative means of providing the service and to identify a solution that offers better value for money. The centre will not be closed until an appropriate alternative solution is in place. I shall write further to the noble Baroness when the position is clearer and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Ministry of Defence widows under the age of 60 are in receipt of both a Forces Family Pension and an attributable Forces Family Pension. [HL1472]

There are no widows in receipt of both a Forces Family Pension and an attributable Forces Family Pension. A widow may receive either a Forces Family Pension or an attributable Forces Family Pension from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, but not both. A widow of a serviceman who dies for reasons attributable to service may receive a family pension from the AFPS and a War Widow's Pension from the DSS War Pension Scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will require the Ministry of Defence to buy British chicken, lamb, beef and pigmeat; and, if not, why not. [HL1492]

The supply of food to our Armed Forces is contracted out to "3663". The MoD does not specify the source from which our contractor should obtain meat (or any other products) but expects them to seek the best market price, consistent with meeting our quality standards; indeed to do otherwise would contravene European law. I am as keen, however, on seeing our servicemen and women eating British products as I am for our contractor to secure the best value for money. Accordingly, our contractor is required specifically to give full consideration to British products, which we look to them to buy wherever they are competitive. Currently all beef for consumption by our UK-based service personnel is British. In addition, 100 per cent of our pork; some 50 per cent of our bacon and gammon; and 30 per cent of our chicken is being sourced in the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many deaths due to smoking related causes occurred in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [HL1462]

The number of deaths due to smoking related causes for each year from 1989 up to 1998, the latest year for which such information is available, is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 8 March (

Public expenditure priorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been different. Spending on transport has been afforded a lower relative priority in Northern Ireland. The future level of funding for public transport will be considered as part of the 2000 Spending Review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 8th March (

As part of a study commissioned by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company on transportation options on the Belfast to Newtownards Corridor, a full range of possible transport options was examined. Arising out of this study, the preferred technical option for a modern transit route to link Dundonald and Knock with the centre of Belfast is a new concept known as EWAY. The type of transit system proposed, described as a train on rubber wheels, claims to offer the best features of rail and bus by combining the freedom from congestion of rail with the more realistic cost and greater flexibility of the bus. At this point in time there are no plans to proceed with EWAY, given the current financial resources available for public transport in Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What pilot schemes of innovative electoral procedures they have approved for the May local elections.[HL1640]

My honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, Mr O' Brien, is making orders to enable the following pilot schemes to take place at this May's local elections:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Law Commission recommendations for legislative reform they have caused to be enacted so far this Parliament. [HL1455]

Three Law Commission Reports have been enacted during this Parliament. They are:Report No. 220,

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Law Commission reports recommending legislative reform which have been accepted in whole or in part are awaiting enactment. [HL1454]

There are currently seven Law Commission reports that have been accepted in whole or in part that are awaiting enactment. A list is provided below. Of these, Law Commission Report 260, Trustees' Powers and Duties, is currently before Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the median period between (a) the publication of a Law Commission report containing recommendations for legislative reform; (b) the Government's acceptance or rejection of its recommendations for legislative reform; and (c) the enactment of those accepted legislative reforms. [HL1453]

The department does not keep statistics on the median times requested. However, Appendix C to the Law Commission's Thirty-Third Annual Report, 1998, lists the Law Commission reports awaiting implementation at that time. Of this list, five reports have been accepted in full, or in part, by the Government. The median time between the completion of each of these five reports and their acceptance is two years.The enactment of Law Commission Bills, once accepted by the Government, is subject to the availability of parliamentary time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much additional funding has been made available to the health service in England and Wales since 1 May 1997; and under what headings; and how much funding was supplied to the health service in Scotland and Northern Ireland for the same period, under the same headings. [HL1408]

The following tables show the additional funding that has been made available to the National Health Service from Her Majesty's Treasury since 1 May 1997 in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. Figures for Northern Ireland also include additions resulting from a reallocation of funds within the Northern Ireland block. All tables show additions to the nearest £ million.