asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the maximum percentage of those serving on a National Health Service Trust from any one political party that is desirable. [HL1752]

The guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments makes clear that political activity, affiliation or balance should not be used as criteria for appointment to public bodies, except where there is a statutory requirement to that effect or in the limited instances where the nature of the public body makes it important that individual political parties are represented. Neither condition applies in relation to appointments to National Health Service trusts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many industrial disputes have occurred in the year 1999–2000 in each London postal district which have had any affect on the collection or distribution of mail. [HL1636]

I understand from the Post Of ice that during the calendar year 1999 there were 32 separate industrial disputes in the London postcode area which involved full working days lost. In addition, mail services were also seriously affected by employee restrictions on overtime in the SW6 and SW15 postal districts. A breakdown by numbers of industrial disputes which occurred during 1999 in each London postal district is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether prompt release of results is a condition of Medical Research Council grants for prion research [HL1613]

The MRC expect all grant holders to disseminate the results of their work promptly and dissemination plans must be detailed in research proposals. This is generally through publication in peer reviewed scientific journals.In addition, the main organisations that fund research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) hold annual workshops where all current TSE grant holders present progress reports and preliminary findings. Such findings for particular studies may be made publicly available at an early stage, with the agreement of the investigators and the funders.In circumstances regarding the release of sensitive information, the MRC may discuss the research outcome with relevant government departments prior to release, This is part of the normal process and would not be expected to delay release.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What they are doing to ensure that the commitments agreed at the OSCE Istanbul Summit concerning Russian withdrawal from the Transdniestrian region of Moldova are met. [HL1818]

Her Majesty's Government fully support the OSCE Istanbul Declaration on Moldova, which called for complete withdrawal of Russian troops, armaments and ammunition from Moldovan territory by the end of 2002. Her Majesty's Government regularly emphasise the need to comply with this agreement in our discussions with the Russians, Moldovans and Ukrainians (the latter as guarantors of the peace). The declaration agreed to consider the establishment of a voluntary fund for international assistance to facilitate the withdrawal. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has contributed £100,000 to this fund from its ASSIST budget.An international needs assessment mission to explore the removal and destruction of the ammunition and armaments is negotiating for access to Transdniestria. The UK is planning to contribute military experts to this mission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many self-employed people will be subject to increased Class 4 National Insurance contributions from April 2000; and what the total value of this increase will be to the Treasury. [HL1595]

Reform of National Insurance for the 2.8 million self-employed includes a substantial reduction in the rate of Class 2 contributions. Taken together, the measures will mean that 0.9 million self-employed will pay less National Insurance contributions. The measures will mean that 0.9 million people with profits of less than £9,215 will actually pay less National Insurance Contributions and those 1.9 million with profits above that amount will pay more. The exchequer effects of changes are detailed in table A2.1 of the March 2000 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the positive and negative effects over the next decade on Britain's microbusiness (small and medium-sized enterprises 0–10) of the advent of the euro, whether or not the United Kingdom adopts the euro; and [HL1619]What will be the positive and negative effects over the next decade on Britain's small and medium-sized enterprises of the advent of the euro, whether or not Britain adopts the euro; and [HL1620]What will be the positive and negative effects over the next decade on Britain's vending and coin-operated industries of the advent of the euro, whether or not Britain adopts the euro; and [HL1621]What will be the positive and negative effects over the next decade on Britain's mortgage and insurance industries of the advent of the euro, whether or not the United Kingdom adopts the euro. [HL1622]

The launch of the euro in 11 European Union (EU) countries has implications for UK firms of all sizes across a number of business sectors. That is why the Government established the Euro Preparations Unit (EPU). Since its inception in December 1997, EPU has run a national business information campaign on the euro and published euro factsheets and case studies, which help small and medium sized enterprises in particular to take account of the euro now that it is a business reality. Further information can be found in the Treasury's regular euro progress reports, the most recent of which was published in November 1999. Copies of these reports are available in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the appointment of trustees and senior staff to the new Football Foundation will follow Nolan rules and be subject to public advertisement. [HL1626]

Discussions are continuing between the Football Association, FA Premier League, Sport England and DCMS on the creation of the Football Foundation. The foundation will not be a government body but an independent organisation for which the football authorities are seeking charitable status. As such, the foundation will not fall under the remit of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).It is currently envisaged that the Government and Sport England will each have the right to appoint a director to the board of the foundation. While this appointment by government is not subject to the full OCPA procedures, the Government will ensure that the underlying principles do apply; that is, the appointment will be made on the basis of merit against a role specification and from a field of candidates.The appointment of the foundation's staff will be a matter for the foundation's board, once established, though it is anticipated that the existing staff of the Football Trust will transfer to the foundation on the winding up of the trust. These staff will be supplemented, as necessary, by open recruitment by the foundation, once established.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress the Lord Chancellor's Department has made in respect of the recent review of the Public Trust Office. [HL1631]

I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Hoyle, on 8 February 2000, Official Report, column WA 83.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On how many occasions since her appointment on 6 December 1999 as co-ordinator of Social Exclusion Unit Policies, Dr Mowlam has (a) chaired meetings on rural social exclusion; and (b) visited the countryside to see first-hand the problems of social exclusion. [HL1496]

My right honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office was asked in December 1997 by the Prime Minister to chair the Ministerial Network on Social Exclusion. At this time the network was given a new remit to chase progress across government on implementation of past SEU reports on subjects such as rough sleeping and teenage pregnancy.To date, my right honourable friend has chaired no meetings specifically on rural social exclusion. My right honourable friend has made visits to the countryside in the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Prime Minister is content with recent press coverage of health and other issues. [HL1435]

The Prime Minister is not accountable to Parliament for the performance of the press.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Prime Minister's chief press secretary has, in any official capacity, expressed an opinion, on behalf of the Prime Minster or of the Government as a whole, on recent press coverage of health and other issues; and if so what that opinion is.[HL1436]

The Prime Minister's Chief Press Secretary has repeated the publicly expressed views of the Prime Minister, calling for greater balance in the media debate on the National Health Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they regard the 10 Downing Street website as factual in content and free of party political bias. [HL1593]

Yes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When was the last meeting of Green Ministers; what was discussed; and which departments were represented by (a) Ministers and (b) officials. [HL1677]

Green Ministers held their first meeting of this year on 16 March. The Committee agreed the publication of a series of guides to help promote sustainable development and the greening of government across Whitehall and beyond. Work of Green Ministers lists all the Government's targets and commitments in this area. It is also a good summary for those who would like to understand more about the role of Green Ministers and their work. Sustainable development—what it is and what you can do helps to explain sustainable development for the ordinary civil servant. The other leaflets will help public sector bodies prepare sustainable development awareness-raising strategies and address biodiversity issues.At the meeting, Green Ministers discussed progress on environmental management systems, travel plans and integrating the environment into policy. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, their Green Minister, outlined progress on greening the police and prison service as well as the main department.Green Ministers agreed:there should be an annual meeting of departments' senior officials responsible for sustainable development;to continue their work to make the Government's funding regimes, such as the Spending Review and the Private Finance Initiative, as sustainable as possible, including taking account of the environment;target a number of associate bodies (including non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies) and help them become models for best practice on sustainable development, encouraging others to follow suit.Since Green Ministers' last meeting in November, the Government have agreed proposals for new energy targets. From 1 April, Government will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 per cent a year. In addition, Green Ministers will continue to make the benchmarking of Government buildings a priority and will investigate the feasibility of reporting on emissions from transport as well as buildings.The departments represented by Ministers were: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Cabinet Office; Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Department of Health; Department of Social Security; the Chancellor's Departments; Law Officers Departments; Home Office; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and the Welsh Office. Those represented by officials were: Department for International Development and Department of Trade and Industry.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they have received from the Traveller Law Research Unit of Cardiff University regarding the pitch losses since the repeal of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; and what action they will take to ensure that there is sufficient accommodation for Gypsies and other Travellers. [HL1627]

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions received a copy of a survey of local authority sites prepared by the Traveller Law Research Unit under cover of the noble Lord's letter on 17 March. We are currently considering this document and will compare its findings with those of DETR's annual list of Gypsy sites which is due to be published around Easter this year.DETR is to commission a research project later this year to look at the management and maintenance of existing Gypsy caravan sites which will also inform our views on future site provision and the issues raised in this survey. We would welcome views from the Travelling community on the project and officials will make contact with the Traveller Law Research Unit and others when work begins.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to implement the recommendations of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons following his report on the Portland Young Offenders' Institution. [HL1723]

Under the protocol for responding to inspection reports, the Prison Service has 30 working days from the date of publication to draw up an action plan addressing the recommendations. I will write to the noble Lord when the action plan has been approved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in all local and national elections throughout Great Britain absent voting facilities are now available to disabled people in receipt of war pension mobility supplement. [HL1682]

Under Section 6(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1985, anyone who cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to a polling station by reason of physical incapacity is entitled to an absent vote.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action has been taken to implement Recommendations 222 and 223 of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice (Cm. 2263, 1993). [HL1629]

I expect to be in a position to send you a substantive reply by 20 April 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What responses they have received to their consultation letter regarding proposals to extend the opening hours of casinos in England and Wales. [HL1854]

My honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, Mr O'Brien, published this consultation paper on 11 November 1999 and the consultation period ended on 31 January 2000. The Home Office received 2,820 responses, mostly from casino staff. Two-thousand, eight hundred and nine of the responses opposed the proposals. Six were neutral and five expressed support.Many casino staff were concerned about the impact which the proposal would have on them and their families, about the difficulties in travelling home especially for female staff in the early hours, and about more exposure to passive smoking. Some also said that management had not consulted them about the proposed change. They wanted us to regulate these employment issues by using the law rather than through employee/employer negotiations.The unions opposed the change. They drew attention to the lack of recognition for collective bargaining purposes in casinos and to the timing of the implementation of the union recognition provisions of the Employment Relations Act 1999.Some residents' associations were also worried about increased noise early in the morning and additional traffic.Having considered the responses very carefully, my honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, Mr O'Brien, has nevertheless concluded that we should proceed with the proposal. The issue is not the number of responses, but the strength of the argument for restricting commercial freedom. Casinos will not be obliged to adopt longer opening hours, but they will have more flexibility to meet consumer demand and increase their competitiveness. The changes will not so significantly affect the running of casinos as to require deferment pending the outcome of the independent gambling review, which is to start after Easter. The Gaming Board for Great Britain has no objections.The Government understand the concerns about the impact of additional operating hours on casino staff and their families or on local residents. But the Gaming Act 1968 provides a regulatory framework for gambling in the public interest and is not designed to regulate normal employer/employee relations, which are subject to the Employment Relations Act 1999. We agree with the view expressed by the unions that any changes to casino hours should not be made before the union recognition provision of the Act is in force. The longer hours will not, therefore, be available until the end of July this year. In addition, it will continue to give to licensing authorities power to impose restrictions on casino hours where necessary to prevent disturbance or annoyance to the occupiers of other premises in the vicinity so that the concerns of residents can be considered.The Scottish Executive has consulted on a similar exercise in respect of casinos in Scotland and will report the outcome separately.We will place a revised Regulatory Impact Assessment in the Library when the order is laid.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 27 March. [HL1855]

My honourable friend the Minister of Stale at the Home Office, Mrs Roche, represented the United Kingdom at the Council. The main matters dealt with were as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in updating guidance to the Services on the values and standards of Service personnel. [HL1856]

The Army and RAF have revised and updated the guidance given to their personnel on the values and standards of each Service and the standards of behaviour and conduct to which they are expected to adhere. This underpins Service ethos and so helps to sustain the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.The revised guidance is set out in publications entitled

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress the Ministry of Defence has made with the refurbishment or redevelopment of Marne Barracks at Catterick; and what use will be made of the barracks in the future; and [HL1652]Whether the redevelopment of Marne Barracks at Catterick is being impeded by residual gliding activities at that location [HL1653]

Marne Barracks is occupied by 5 Regiment Royal Artillery and 8 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps. From 2003, 8 Transport Regiment will expand to include two further squadrons and in order to accommodate this increase it is proposed that part of the airfield should be built over. Precise details have yet to be confirmed, but it is envisaged that glider activity by 645 Volunteer Glider School at the airfield will be affected. An option study to identify an alternative site for the Gliding School is under way, but, in the meantime, gliding activity does not impede the current redevelopment.Currently, work is under way at Marne Barracks to upgrade the gymnasium and it is expected that this work will be complete by the end of September. In addition, a new Surveillance and Target Acquisition Training Centre should be completed at the end of the year. A major refurbishment of the single living accommodation will commence at the end of 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the SA80 rifle compares to its predecessor the SLR in terms of: (a) accuracy; (b) overall length; (c) ease of carrying while undertaking other work; and (d) size of magazine. [HL1654]

The SA80 is a lighter, more accurate and more versatile weapon than the SLR. The lower recoil energy of the SA80 derived from its smaller cartridge makes it easier to maintain or reacquire a target during shooting than with the SLR. The average user therefore finds the weapon easier to handle and use. The SA80's SUSAT optical sight, issued t D all infantry users, provides 4x magnification of a target, increasing further the accuracy and consistency of the weapon.The length of the SA80 is 785mm, some 350mm shorter than the SLR. The compact configuration of the SA80 allows it to be handled in and out of vehicles (such as armoured personnel carriers) much more easily, allowing the weapon to be brought into action more quickly and effectively. It also makes the SA80 easier to operate when moving in confined spaces such as in urban or jungle areas. The unique SA80 sling allows the weapon to be carried in a number of configurations, which allows greater flexibility than with the SLR both to carry the weapon and to complete other tasks such as digging.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 21 March

The relevant legislation is Article 28 of the EC Treaty, which prohibits quantitative restrictions on imports and all measures having equivalent effect between member states.