asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the World Health Organisation has reported or will report on tuberculosis in Chechnya and adjoining regions, on the probable consequences for public health in Russia and eastern Europe and on the necessary preventative measures; and if not; whether they will ask the WHO to do so. [HL1919]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported a steady increase in the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the North Caucasus. Although no data are available on the TB incidence rate within Chechnya, WHO believes the increase there is likely to be particularly pronounced.WHO have reported that the increased incidence of TB in the North Caucasus is likely to have negative consequences for public health and place greater strain on the Russian TB health services. In the North Caucasus, they are working to improve the capacity of local health institutions in Ingushetia to diagnose and treat TB.Russia-wide, the WHO is involved in a number of activities, in preparation for a $100 million World Bank loan for TB control.DfID is contributing over £2 million to TB programmes in Russia, plus an additional $300,000 to WHO for its work in the North Caucasus, including TB control programmes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the forward plans of CDC Group plc will ensure that (a) over the next five years more than 70 per cent of its new investments will be in countries with a Gross National Product per capita of less than US$1,740 based on World Bank data published in 1998; and (b) more than half its new investment each year will be in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. [HL2005]

At the end of 1999 84 per cent of CDC's total investment portfolio was in poorer countries and 51 per cent was in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. CDC plans its business strategy taking account of the requirements placed on it by its investment policy. These are entrenched by means of the special share. It is a requirement that over a rolling five year period 70 per cent of new investments should be in poorer countries. The aim of making at least 50 per cent of new Investment each year in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia is a target, and success in meeting it may be affected by local factors outside CDC's control. It is the intention of CDC year on year to strive for compliance with it. CDC is taking steps to structure its deal generation capacity in such a way as will ensure an adequate deal flow from the countries targeted under the investment policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide a detailed breakdown of the £44 million they have contributed to President Mugabe's land reform programme, including specific project assistance and dates of disbursement, coupled with details of how such expenditure has been targeted towards poverty alleviation in a cost effective way. [HL1904]

A grant of £20 million was agreed with the Government of Zimbabwe in 1981. This funded 42 resettlement projects for the benefit of refugees and landless people following the Independence war. British funds were used for land demarcation and fencing, provision of water and sanitation, construction of schools, clinics, and other buildings, also crop packs and training. The grant was largely disbursed by 1989; however it was eventually closed in 1996 with £3 million unspent. Over a similar period, the counterpart funds to £27 million in programme aid were used by the Government of Zimbabwe to fund its share of the programme.An ODA evaluation in 1988 found that the majority of families settled had benefited considerably through the provision of increased opportunities for income generation and the availability of services such as health and education. The programme had also been successful from the national economic perspective having an economic rate of return of approximately 21 per cent. The Zimbabwean Comptroller and Auditor General carried out a value for money study of the programme in 1993. Despite identifying a number of shortcomings, the study concluded that the exercise was well planned in accordance with clear policies and procedures. It had benefited mainly the landless rural poor, most of whose standard of living had significantly improved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they see any difference between the economy, politics and culture of the United Kingdom and those of the Scandinavian countries which could account for any divergence between the volume and quality of overseas aid given by the United Kingdom and those countries; and, if so, what those differences are. [HL1951]

The Government recognise the high priority given to development issues in Scandinavian countries. This has been reflected in their levels of development assistance. We are not in a position to explain the divergence of UK and Scandinavian performances except that the values of the political leadership have been very different over large periods of time.The Government are committed to poverty elimination and to the international development targets that mark progress towards that goal. This goal is being supported by increasing levels of UK development assistance together with a strong commitment to improve its effectiveness. The Government's approach has received a very positive assessment from the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any one official or department has an overall co-ordinating role for BSE/new-variant CJD; which official or department that is; and what their co-ordinating role is. [HL1929]

No, but the departments involved work closely together on these matters.

asked the Chairman of Committees:What was the purpose of the visit by Sub-Committee B of the European Union Committee to Washington between 9 and 12 April; how many members and officers took part in the visit; and what was its total cost. [HL2036]

The visit was made as part of Sub-Committee B's inquiry into e-commerce: policy development and co-ordination in the European Union. The purpose of the visit was to learn from United States experience in the regulation of e-commerce. The Sub-Committee met representatives of the US National Co-ordinating Committee for e-commerce, the US Department of Commerce, the National Telecommunications and Information Agency and the United States Congress. Four members of the Sub-Committee, accompanied by the Clerk and the Specialist Adviser, took part in the visit. The total cost was £21,560.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they have given to the dossier sent to the General Medical Council by Dr Rita Pal of Sutton Coldfield, which detailed cases of abuse of elderly patients in NHS hospitals overdosed with diamorphine; and what action they are taking in response to it. [HL1911]

The West Midlands Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive and the General Medical Council are carrying out separate investigations into the issues raised by Dr Pal. The GMC will consider any issues raised about the fitness to practice of individual doctors whilst the Regional Office will consider issues about the hospitals and health authorities. The West Midlands Regional Office and the GMC will be meeting shortly to ensure that these investigations proceed quickly.Last year the Government asked the Health Advisory Service to review the standards of care for older people on acute hospital wards. The resulting report

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to ban pithing. [HL1656]

In the light of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee's advice that there is no reason to change United Kingdom practices of stunning and pithing during slaughter of cattle, the Government have no immediate plans to do so. Such a ban however is contained in current proposals from the EU Commission setting out controls on Specified Risk Materials in the European Union. These proposals are under negotiation and the final outcome will reflect discussions now under way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in their current discussions concerning Gibraltar in the European Union. [HL2156]

I am pleased to announce that, following extensive consultation with the Government of Gibraltar and with their support, and with the encouragement of our EU partners, the United Kingdom has successfully concluded discussions with Spain to overcome difficulties which have arisen on a number of issues within the European Union concerning Gibraltar. As a result, arrangements have been established whereby formal communications and notification of decisions between Gibraltar authorities and their counterparts in other member states under EU legislation will be conveyed through a unit established in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. The arrangements will enable Gibraltar to derive immediate benefits in the development of its banking and insurance industries. They will unblock important measures for the development of the single market and in the Justice and Home Affairs field to the benefit of the UK and Gibraltar and prevent similar blockages in the future. The arrangements uphold the constitutional position of Gibraltar, while at the same time removing a major obstacle to the development of EU business. The arrangements are being notified to the Secretary General of the Council in Brussels together with an exchange of correspondence between the UK and Spanish Permanent Representatives to the EU. A copy of the exchange of correspondence and the arrangements will be placed in the Library of the House.The identity card issued in Gibraltar will be recognised as a valid travel document throughout the EU, following some reformatting which is proposed by the Government of Gibraltar to associate the identity card with the UK as the member state responsible for Gibraltar. The UK Permanent Representative to the EU is writing to the Permanent Representatives of all other EU member states to inform them of the proposed reformatting. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of the House.Arrangements will be established under the Schengen Convention to enhance co-operation between the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Spanish police forces in the fight against transfrontier and other crimes in the region, as part of the Europe-wide fight against crime called for at the Tampere Special European Council last October and in keeping with Gibraltar's longstanding commitment in this respect. These arrangements have been initialled. The intention is that they will be signed by the Home Secretary and his Spanish counterpart, as required by the Schengen Convention, when the Council Decision on the UK Schengen application is adopted. A copy of the initialled text will be placed in the Library of the House.A revised version of the draft Council Decision on the UK's Schengen application, including the relevant addition covering Gibraltar which has hitherto been left open, will be circulated by the Presidency shortly. It will provide for Gibraltar's participation in all the provisions in which the UK participates (except the Schengen Information System and cross border surveillance). It will be submitted to the scrutiny committee.The Government welcome the outcome of these discussions. It represents a very good outcome for the UK, for Gibraltar and for all our EU partners. We hope that it will also help to improve the climate of dialogue and the spirit of co-operation with regard to Gibraltar between Spain, and the UK and Gibraltar.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What number of replies were received by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by the closing date, 31 January, in response to their consultation document High Hedges: Possible Solutions in support of each of the four offered options and for none of them. [HL1814]

My department received some 3,000 responses to this consultation, which we are currently analysing. We hope to make a statement, setting out our decisions on the way forward on this issue and the reasons for them, by the summer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total net contribution made by the United Kingdom to the European Community, at constant prices, during the period 1973 to 1995; what was the United Kingdom's net contribution in each of the years 1996 to 1999; and what is their estimate for the United Kingdom's net contribution in 2000, 2001 and 2002. [HL2024]

In 1995–96 prices, the United Kingdom's total net contribution to the European Community Budget for the period 1973–74 to 1995–96 was £38,011 million. Details of the United Kingdom's net contribution in 1996–97 and 1998–99, an estimate for 1999–2000, and the Government's latest forecast of the trended net contribution for 2000–01 and 2001–02 can be obtained from the latest departmental report of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's departments, published on 7 April (Cm 4615).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the

I understand that the estimate of 400–500 rural post office closures in the next year reported in the Guardian on 4 April is a wholly speculative number. In the Post Office's financial year to 27 March 2000, the net number of post office closures was 383.As all sub-post offices are privately owned and operated, there can be many different reasons affecting the decision to close. There is therefore no accurate way of forecasting future closure levels but Post Office Counters Ltd seeks to maintain post office services wherever possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 6 April

The information requested is currently held only by departments which are individually accountable for the purchases they make. The newly established Office of Government Commerce is undertaking work to establish cross-Government purchasing trends.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the debate on Northern Ireland on 22 March (H.L. Deb., col. 358), whether they will extend the air passenger levies waiver announced in the Budget for the Highland and Islands to Northern Ireland. [HL1984]

No. The exemption from Air Passenger Duty for flights from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands is being introduced in recognition of the reliance on air transport by many people in this remote region. It is the only UK region with population density less than 12.5 people per square kilometre. The people of Northern Ireland do not depend on air transport for aspects of everyday life to the same degree.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 10 April

The market research carried out is the commercial property of the Post Office. However, the Post Office has confirmed to me that the proposed subjects for stamp designs for the 2001 programme, which were put to interviewees as part of the telephone poll, included the 200th anniversary of the Union Flag, the physical icon of the creation of the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 10 April

Disclosure of the findings of market research paid for by the Post Office could be commercially advantageous to their competitors—principally other post offices.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 6 March

All 10 authorities were required to report back on their action by 28 April and we are satisfied with the responses that we have received so far. Where those authorities are already considering their 2000 annual library plans, we accept that it is unnecessary for them to produce a fully redrafted version of the existing plan, provided that they have taken appropriate remedial action, and kept the department informed about that action.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What issues are on the agenda for the next meeting of the Tourism Forum on 18 April. [HL1958]

The Tourism Forum will consider a report on the Tourism summit held on 1 March and will discuss the issues of competitiveness, tourism technology, attractions and rural tourism.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which organisations have been invited to attend the next meeting of the Tourism Forum on 18 April. [HL1959]

Invitations to the second meeting of the reconstituted forum have been sent by the English Tourism Council (ETC) to the following organisations:

• Arts Council of England
• Association of British Travel Agents
• Association of Leading Visitor Attractions
• Association of National Parks Authorities
• Association of Professional Tourist Guides
• Association of Recognised English Language Services
• BA Holidays Ltd
• Bournemouth Tourism
• British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions
• British Holiday and Home Parks Association
• British Hospitality Association
• British Incoming Tour Operators Association
• British Resorts Association
• British Spas Federation
• British Tourist Authority
• British Waterways
• Business Tourism Partnership

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of their policy as outlined by the Deputy Prime Minister in November 1999, of a target average bus fleet age of 8 years to be achieved by autumn of 2001, what is the average age of the Ulsterbus fleet in Northern Ireland; and if necessary, what steps will be taken to bring that fleet into line with policy. [HL2038]

The policy announced by the Deputy Prime Minister applies to the bus industry in Great Britain. Translink have informed us that the average age of the Ulsterbus fleet at April 2000 was 11.3 years. The Department for Regional Development has recently approved the purchase of new buses with the £1.7 million Bus Grant allocated for 2000–01 and 2001–02, subject to 50 per cent matching funding from the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. Translink have advised that it is likely any bus purchase will be directed towards the Ulsterbus fleet. Consideration will be given to providing further bus purchase grants during the forthcoming Spending Review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the railway line from Belfast to Larne is regarded by the European Union as a Euro-route; and if so, what benefits this confers. [HL2070]

The Belfast to Lame railway is a section of the Cork-Dublin-Belfast-Larne-Stranraer conventional rail link which forms part of the trans-European transport network and which is one of the 14 priority projects adopted by the European Council at the Essen Council in December 1994. As such, any studies and work intended to improve the rail link would have the potential to benefit from European financial support.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will undertake to consult local councils which might be affected by any possible changes in the next few years to the railway system in Northern Ireland. [HL2072]

Work has commenced on the development of a Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland. It will address all modes of transport, including rail. A round of consultations with District Councils on the Transportation Strategy has already commenced. The Task Force that has been established to consider by the summer options for the future of railways in Northern Ireland will also be inviting views from interested bodies and members of the public. Contributions from District Councils will be welcomed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the dates on which the last ten reports from the Examiner of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland were published and circulated to interested parties. [HL2067]

The information requested is set out in the table below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total number of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland made by each Northern Ireland Department during the last five years for which figures are available. [HL2068]

The information requested is set out in the table below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total number of statutory instruments pertaining to each Northern Ireland Department made during the last five years for which figures are available. [HL2069]

The information requested is set out in the table below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What previous political activity will make a person unsuitable to be appointed as an electoral commissioner. [HL2047]

The recruitment process to find the Commissioners will begin shortly and applicants will be asked to declare any political activity within the last ten years. It will be for the selection panel to determine whether that activity has been such as to make the applicant unsuitable for consideration for appointment. For the Commission to perform effectively the functions given to it by Parliament, it must command wide confidence that it is entirely independent and non-partisan. Accordingly, Commissioners must not be, or perceived to be, associated with any political party.We also think it is right that there should be statutory disqualifiers. I said during the Second Reading of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill that the Government intend to bring forward amendments to disqualify from appointment as Commissioners persons who have had substantial involvement in party politics.The Government will be seeking to disqualify any person who within the last ten years has:

asked Her Majesty's Government:When next the Parliamentary Boundaries Commission will review the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies; and what criteria will be applied to constituencies in Scotland and Wales. [HL1980]

The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England announced the commencement of its fifth general review on 17 February 2000. It is required to submit its report before 12 April 2007. Both the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for Scotland and for Wales are required to submit their reports before December 2006, though no announcement of the commencement dates for their reviews has yet been made. The criteria applied to all these reviews are the Rules for Redistribution of Seats set out in Schedule 2 to the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, as amended by the Scotland Act 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many youth offending team managers are (a) male or female; (b) white, black, Asian or from other ethnic groups; and (c) from social services, probation, police or from other professional backgrounds. [HL1996]

There are 154 youth offending teams in place across England and Wales. 112 of the managers of the teams are male and 42 are female. Information is not currently available on their ethnicity. Information available to the Youth Justice Board suggests 89 of the managers have a social services background, 48 a probation service background and 17 another professional background, including police, education, health and voluntary sector.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What provisions for ethnic monitoring are currently in place for the new youth justice measures contained in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999;and [HL1997]What provisions for ethnic monitoring are in place for anti-social behaviour orders, child safety orders, parenting orders and local child curfews; and [HL1998]Whether there are any results yet available from ethnic monitoring of (a) anti-social behaviour orders; and (b) the new youth justice measures in the youth offending team pilot areas; if so, when will these be published; and in what form. [HL1999]

Pilots of the final warning scheme, reparation order, action plan order, child safety order and parenting order under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 ran from 30 September 1998 to 31 March 2000. Monitoring information on the ethnicity of those dealt with under these new measures has been collected and will be contained in the final evaluation report on the pilots which we expect to publish in the summer. The ethnicity of those receiving referral orders under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 will be considered as part of the pilots of that measure which begin in the summer.There are currently no central arrangements for monitoring the use of anti-social behaviour orders under the 1998 Act but such arrangements are under consideration. There are currently no local child curfew schemes in place under the 1998 Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What provisions the Youth Justice Board has made for regular review and action upon the results of ethnic monitoring of the youth justice system; and whether this information will be included in its annual report. [HL2000]

Over the coming year the Youth Justice Board will be working with local youth offending teams on ethnic monitoring of the operation of the youth justice system. This will enable the Board to report on the ethnicity of the staffing of youth offending teams, on racially aggravated offending committed by young people and on the treatment of young people from ethnic minorities within the youth justice system. The Board will also be working to identify and promote good practice in collating and using ethnic monitoring data within the youth justice system. It plans to publish during the summer guidance to help youth offending teams address race equality issues effectively. Progress with this work will be reflected in the Board's annual report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a civil legal aid system will be introduced in Guernsey in the course of this year, in accordance with the settlement reached in Application No. 30308/96

The States of Guernsey is expected to legislate later this year to establish a civil legal aid system in Guernsey. It is hoped that the scheme can be brought into force as soon as possible thereafter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the proposed rules and practice directions for criminal proceedings in relation to the coming into force of the Human Rights Act 1998. [HL1992]

Proposed rules and practice directions for criminal proceedings in relation to the Human Rights Act 1998 will be published for consultation in the early summer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any truth in reports of a fire-bomb attack on a Pentecostal Church near Burnley in Lancashire on 4 April; if so, whether there is any information about the motivation for the attack; whether any investigation is being carried out; and whether the results of any such investigation will be made public. [HL1990]

I understand from Lancashire Constabulary that a petrol bomb attack took place on 4 April against a Pentecostal Church on Stanley Street, Brierfield. At this stage the motive for the attack is not known and there is no evidence to link the offender to any particular ethnic background or extremist group. Police are carrying out detailed investigations into the attack, including house to house enquiries and forensic analysis of the petrol bomb. In the event of a prosecution the results of the investigation will be made public.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the interests of justice, the accuracy of Sign Language interpretation of all police interviews with profoundly deaf suspects and witnesses can be checked at a later date; and, if not, what steps they are taking to correct this situation. [HL1987]

The Codes of Practice which regulate the conduct of police interviews with suspects contain a number of safeguards for suspects who are profoundly deaf or hard of hearing. These include the requirement for an interpreter and for a contemporaneous written note of the interview to be made, as well as an audio tape recording. The interpreter is also given an opportunity to read the record of the interview and to certify its accuracy in the event of his being called to give evidence. In addition, it is open to chief officers to video-record interviews with deaf suspects with their consent.There is currently no requirement to tape-record interviews with witnesses, but the interpreter and the witness are able to read over their statement and certify its accuracy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the legal status of the supporting statement for proposed use in respect of Oakington Barracks on behalf of the Home Office (Ref: EM/1998) and in particular of the statement in paragraph 4.2 that "ordinary law-abiding citizens of other countries held at Oakington will have their application for asylum automatically refused if they leave the Centre during the time they are held there"; and whether the statement that the application will automatically be refused conforms to the requirements of natural justice. [HL1989]

I confirm that the statement to which the noble Lord refers has no legal status and does not represent the action that is taken if people abscond from Oakington.The Government will fulfil their obligations under the 1951 Convention and no-one will be removed until their claim has been properly decided. Asylum applicants at Oakington are reminded that they have an obligation to co-operate with the authorities in the consideration of their claim. In the case of an applicant who absconds, their claim will be decided on the information available. That might result in the claim being refused. Such refusal is not mandatory. In the event that we are aware that an applicant who has absconded meets the necessary criteria for refugee status, that applicant must be granted asylum in accordance with paragraph 334 of the Immigration Rules. However, if the applicant's claim falls to be refused, he/she will then be liable to removal once located, subject to consideration of any further information provided at that time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will be ready to give senior managers and key policy staff of the Prison Service training on the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 and whether they will place the course material in the Library of the House; whether they will also place course material for existing Prison Service training courses on legal issues in the Library; whether all officers of the Prison Service will have taken these courses by 1 October 2000, and what arrangements have been made for training members of Boards of Visitors on these issues. [HL1988]

Training events specifically on the Human Rights Act 1998 have been running since last year and are continuing. Consideration of the effects of the Act will be incorporated into other relevant courses.We do not propose to place copies of such a wide range of material in the Library since much will mean little in isolation. However, a copy of the Prison Service College prospectus, which gives details of Prison Service training courses, including those with a legal element, will be placed in the Library shortly. A copy of material specifically on the Human Rights Act 1998 which is designed for all Prison Service staff will also be placed in the Library when it is available.Not all prison officers undertake training courses exclusively on legal issues. Such training is targeted at those officers who require it for their specific duties, although more general training frequently contains such an element.Arrangements are currently being made to provide Human Rights Act 1998 training for Boards of Visitors at their annual conference later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to respond to the crime of distraction burglary. [HL2178]

Bogus callers claim over 16,000 victims every year but the true figure is believed to be much higher because many people do not report the burglary. This is a particularly nasty crime as its victims are usually the most vulnerable people in our society. More often than not, they are older people living alone.My honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office (Mr Clarke) has established a steering group bringing together government and industry. Its membership is made up of: Severn Trent Water, Water UK, the Electricity Association, the Association of Chief Police Officers, Age Concern, BT Security, Crime Concern, Crimestoppers, the National Neighbourhood Watch Association, the Institute of Trading Standards, the National Housing Federation and the Womens Royal Volunteer Service. It first met on 11 April and is currently finalising a detailed set of proposals to take forward its work.This group will pull together existing good practice from across the country; establish a database so that details on offenders can be shared; provide coordinated advice for victims of this crime; and produce a help pack for workers who have regular contact with people from vulnerable groups.Two staff will support it: a community safety officer from local government and a police detective superintendent. Both are based at the Home Office.My honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office (Mr Clarke) will tomorrow, with the National Neighbourhood Watch Association and Severn Trent Water, launch this initiative with the first nationwide leaflet drop to groups and residents across the country.My honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office (Mr Clarke) is pleased to report that Water UK have agreed to provide sponsorship support for this initiative for two years. The Electricity Association has also agreed to support the Taskforce by a financial contribution.This is not, however, a crime that the Government can tackle alone. Organisations that send out people for home visits have an enormous role to play and my honourable friend the Minister of State at the Home Office (Mr Clarke) is very pleased that so many have agreed to support his initiative. But more is needed and we will continue to seek support from all our partners in this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Blackwell Committee, established by the Lord Chancellor to investigate non-legally qualified claims assessors and employment advisers, has completed its inquiries; and when they intend to publish the report. [HL2155]

The Blackwell Committee has completed its investigations into the activities of non-legally qualified claims assessors and employment advisers. The Lord Chancellor's Department has today published their report and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Before they made the decision to approve the closure of Merrywood School, Knowle West, Bristol, whether they had seen the consultation paper issued by Avon County Council Education Committee in January 1994 saying that, if there was no secondary school in the Knowle West Area, it would leave a significant area of this community without reasonable access to a local secondary school (paragraph 2.1); and [HL2140]Whether the proposed closure of Merrywood School, Knowle West, Bristol, will increase or decrease the number and length of journeys to school for Knowle West children; and [HL2141]What was the opinion of the Downing Street Social Exclusion Unit on the desirability of closing Merrywood School, Knowle West, Bristol. [HL2142]

In reaching his decision on the proposals by Bristol local education authority to close Merrywood School, published on 5 July 1999, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State took account of the consultation on those proposals, and all other factors which appeared to him to be relevant, including the increased travelling for pupils. It was not relevant for him to consider documents related to previous proposals, such as the 1994 consultation document. The Social Exclusion Unit's role is a strategic one, and it does not extend to issues which are dealt with by a single government department. The unit therefore has no role in advising on individual proposals for school organisation changes, which are decided by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in accordance with his statutory responsibilities. In reaching a decision the Secretary of State was satisfied as to the provision the local education authority were proposing to make for young people who are excluded or alienated from school, and commended the work of the Knowle West Community Steering Group in examining possibilities for the development of lifelong learning opportunities in the area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Department for Education and Employment has any links with the new Local Government Network organisation either by way of consultation or by officials co-operating on working groups. [HL2132]

The department has agreed to be a member of the group established by the New Local Government Network to improve the group's understanding of relevant central government policy and activity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the likely costs to higher education of the implementation of the proposed Bill on special educational needs and disability rights in education. [HL2133]

The Government issued a consultation document on 17 March covering how disability rights in education might be implemented. The cost of implementation in higher education will be estimated in the light of responses to the document.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their policy on teaching of history, as outlined by the Lord Bach on 27 March (H.L. Deb., col. 591), that "History has an important role in putting lives, beliefs, values and attitudes in a much broader context", is consistent with their decision not to mark the bicentenary of the creation of the United Kingdom. [HL2071]

My noble friend the Lord Bach was referring in very general terms to the teaching of history. This is an issue quite separate from decisions about celebrations of particular historical events. I refer the noble Lord to the answers given by my noble friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 7 February (WA 60), 16 March (WA 230–231) and the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 28 March (WA 62).The Government's policy on the bicentenary of the creation of the United Kingdom has been made clear on a number of occasions by my noble friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.