asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, prior to the appointment of governors by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the posts are advertised; what criteria are used in the filling of these posts; and who short lists the candidates and interviews them. [HL2413]

The appointment of a new governor to any British Overseas Territory is a decision made by Her Majesty the Queen on the basis of advice from the Secretary of State and with the approval of the Prime Minister. The appointments are not normally advertised. The criteria used depend on the circumstances of the post to be filled and the responsibilities involved.Detailed information on individual appointments is exempt from disclosure under Part II, Section 8 (a and b) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers public employment and public appointments. The disclosure of personal data of appointments to governorships would also be restricted by the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will propose to the United Nations Security Council, as suggested by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Executive Secretary Lansana Konyate, that the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone's mandate should be amended to allow it to take offensive action against armed opposition in Sierra Leone. [HL2530]

The United Nations Secretary General, in his fourth report on the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, dated 19 May, assesses that the current UNAMSIL mandate, under UN Secretary Council Resolution 1289, remains sufficient for the time being. But we are keeping the situation under careful review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they offered to provide a helicopter to assist in the evacuation of United Nations peacekeepers from the border town of Foya to Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. [HL2531]

No. We understand that the Government of Liberia have made their own arrangements for the transportation of released detainees and that they remain in close contact with the United Nations on the matter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What changes have been made to EU sanctions in place against Burma. [HL2637]

On 26 April the Council of the European Union adopted a Common Position (2000/346/CFSP) which enhanced EU sanctions against Burma by strengthening the existing visa ban, improving a freeze on the funds of those individuals subject to the visa ban and imposing a ban on the supply of equipment which might be used for internal repression or terrorism.Following from this Common Position, the Council adopted Regulation 1081/2000 on 22 May. The regulation prohibits the sale, supply, export or shipment of goods listed in an annex to the regulation, directly or indirectly, whether or not originating in the Community, to any person or body in Burma or to any person or body for the purposes of any business carried on in, or operated from, the territory of Burma.The regulation also provides that all funds belonging to individuals listed in an annex to the regulation shall be frozen and that no funds shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of those persons.The regulation applies within the territory of the Community including its air space and on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a member state, and to any person elsewhere who is a national of a member state and any body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a member state.The regulation entered into force on 24 May and is directly applicable in the UK. Legislation to provide for enforcement, including penalties, will shortly be in effect.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have seen the report from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs on the prospects for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. [HL2638]

I understand that a distinguished, international delegation organised by the National Democratic Institute visited Zimbabwe from 15 to 22 May. After over 30 meetings with representatives of government, political parties and civil society the delegation called for "heightened observation" of the elections by the international community. Their findings reflect an atmosphere of anxiety and fear, a news bias in favour of the ruling party and that the Registrar General has so far failed to establish an open and transparent electoral process. We hope that the delegation's observations are closely heeded in Zimbabwe.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all-party parliamentary groups and associate parliamentary groups will come within the definition of political activity for the purposes of the Political Parties, Election and Referendums Bill. [HL2551]

As the Bill stands, the requirements in Part IX and Schedule 18 (shareholder consent etc) would apply in respect of donations by companies to registered parties or to any other organisation which carries on activities of any political nature. The Government intend to bring forward amendments to clarify the scope of these requirements. Their effect on donations to all-party parliamentary groups is one of the matters under consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What actions they are taking that will reduce overcrowding in prisons in England and Wales during the current year. [HL2522]

It is for the courts to determine how many offenders are sent to prison. By a combination of providing additional accommodation and the introduction of new legislation (for example, home detention curfew), the Government are ensuring that overcrowding is contained within the maximum safe operational capacity of establishments.Over the current calendar year the Prison Service has increased new prison capacity. On 20 January, Forest Bank Prison, Greater Manchester was opened to provide 800 remand and sentenced places for adult and 18 to 20 year-old males. Two further prisons are currently under construction which will provide 1,400 additional places. Rye Hill, Rugby will provide 600 male places and is scheduled to open on 21 January 2001 and Dovegate, Staffordshire will provide 800 male places and is scheduled to open on 9 July 2001. To ensure sufficient female capacity next year, we have plans to provide four 40-place ready-to-use units at existing female establishments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prisoners in England and Wales have access to (a) work, (b) education and (c) training; for how many hours per week on average; how many have no such access; and whether their figures include remand prisoners. [HL2523]

For all prisoners, including those on remand, the provisional figure for the average number of hours per week spent on purposeful activity in 1999–2000 was 23.2, of which 6.4 hours were in education and training and 10.1 in work. Information on the number of prisoners who do not have access to work, education and training is not available.In 1999–2000, 8,571 prisoners were employed in prison workshops, while 1,988 were employed in prison farms and gardens. In addition, 8,591 prisoners were employed in other activities such as prison kitchens, maintenance and cleaning. Information on the number of prisoners employed on pre-release schemes outside prison is not held centrally.In 1999–2000, 23,230 prisoners took part in education, 14,067 took part in physical education and 2,697 undertook vocational training. Two hundred and seventy thousand, eight hundred and thirty-three teaching hours per week were delivered to prisons in 1999–2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide for the confiscation of mechanically powered vehicles used to abuse the rights of access under the terms of Schedule 8 to the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill or in contravention of this measure. [HL2547]

The effect of Schedule 8 to the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, if enacted, will be to amend Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to make it an offence to drive a mechanically powered vehicle other than on roads. The Government will shortly be issuing a consultation paper as part of their review of the penalties for road traffic offences (including all those contained in the Road Traffic Act 1988). Any changes to the disposals available for offences in that Act would be made in the light of the outcome of that consultation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the number of police officers serving in England and Wales (a) at the present time; and (b) five years ago. [HL2549]

On 30 September 1999, the latest date for which information is available, there were 125,464 police officers in England and Wales. On 30 September 1994, there were 127,427 officers. We plan to publish data on police numbers for 31 March 2000 as soon as they are complete and have been verified. Our current plans are to publish these data by 30 June.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Over the last convenient 12-month period, how many abnormal loads have required a police escort in order to negotiate the A.428 due to the 40-tonne weight limit on the A.14 at Huntingdon, and which were otherwise not escortable on motorways or linked dual carriageway. [HL2559]

The Cambridgeshire Constabulary have estimated that there are about 540 such loads per year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Over the last convenient three-month period, what has been the approximate number of police car hours expended in escorting abnormal loads in order to avoid the 40-tonne weight limit on the A.14 at Huntingdon. [HL2560]

The Cambridgeshire Constabulary have estimated that about 134 police car hours are spent escorting these loads each quarter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Over the last convenient three-month period, what has been the approximate cost of providing police escorts for abnormal loads in order to avoid the 40-tonne weight limit on the A.14 at Huntingdon. [HL2561]

The Cambridgeshire Constabulary have estimated the yearly cost to the police service of escorting these loads at about £5,700.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will assent to the opening for signature and ratification of Protocol 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights to secure enjoyment of any rights enforced by law without discrimination. [HL2526]

I understand that the text of the Protocol is currently under further consideration. Her Majesty's Government will decide their position in the light of the final text.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend that Railtrack plc should be subject to the Freedom of Information Bill in respect of its statutory responsibilities for safety; and, if so, what other public companies they intend should be similarly subject to that Bill. [HL2528]

The Freedom of Information Bill contains a provision in Clause 4 which permits the Secretary of State, by order, to bring within the scope of the Bill private organisations which exercise functions of a public nature. Before making such an order the Secretary of State will be required to consult every person to whom the order relates or persons appearing to him to represent such persons.Before reaching a decision whether to make an order under this provision, the Secretary of State will, among other things, wish to determine whether designation of a body as a public authority, as defined in the Bill, will lead to information being obtained which is not otherwise available from another public authority and the regulatory burden which would be imposed on the private organistation.In the case of private organisations operating in regulated sectors of the economy such as Railtrack plc, it is intended that information relating to its public functions which would be disclosable under the terms of the legislation would be available from the regulatory authorities. In the case of Railtrack plc, this will be the Office of the Rail Regulator and the Health and Safety Executive. If legislation regulating the flow of information contains unjustified statutory bars to disclosure, these will be amended by an order made under Clause 74 of the Bill.Therefore, the Government are satisfied that it is not necessary to designate Railtrack plc as a public authority for the purposes of the freedom of information legislation.With regard to other companies which we intend should be subject to the Freedom of Information Bill, I refer the noble Lord to the list attached to the reply I gave on 20 April (

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of the asylum seekers who entered the United Kingdom in each of the years 1985, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 have been accepted as such, after due process of investigation, and have been granted permission to stay. [HL2553]

The information requested is given in the table. The proportions relate to initial decisions made in that year, not the number of applications. Persons recognised as refugees and granted asylum or those not recognised as refugees but granted exceptional leave to remain prior to 27 July 1998 had to wait four or seven years respectively before being eligible for settlement. Since 27 July 1998, persons recognised as refugees and granted asylum are accepted for settlement at the same time, and those not

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the list of organisations in Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Bill is compatible with the Government of the United States' List contained in the document Patterns of Global Terrorism; and [HL2594]Whether they propose to include non-Irish organisations in Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Bill; and [HL2595]What non-Irish terrorist groups they believe to be operating within the United Kingdom. [HL2596]

Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Bill lists organisations which are currently proscribed under either the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 or the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1996. These organisations will remain proscribed when the Bill replaces those Acts.The proscription powers in the 1989 and 1996 Acts can only be exercised against organisations concerned in terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland. Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Bill, as presently drafted, therefore includes only Northern Ireland-related terrorist organisations.However, the Terrorism Bill provides for the first time a power to proscribe organisations concerned in other forms of terrorism. The Government are considering which organisations involved in international terrorism might be added to Schedule 2 once the Bill is in force. They are of course aware of the list in the United States document

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to take advantage of the opportunity to legislate for cyber-terrorism in the Terrorism Bill currently before Parliament; and, if so, how. [HL2597]

As I indicated at Committee stage of the Terrorism Bill on 16 May (Official Report, col. 229) we are looking carefully at whether the definition of terrorism should explicitly refer to some acts of disruption to or interference with computer systems. Our consideration of the matter is still under way but we expect to be able to advise on the outcome in advance of the Report stage of the Terrorism Bill.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prosecutions for causing explosions, criminal damage etc have been brought in respect of animal liberation groups in the last five years; how many resulted in convictions; and whether they are satisfied with the level of co-operation between police forces with the purpose of preventing such crimes. [HL2608]

The numbers of incidents and arrests reported by police forces were:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether anyone other than a military person or a diplomat has been appointed as a Lieutenant Governor of any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; and, if so, when and where. [HL2610]

Until 1947, when the garrisons were withdrawn, the offices of Lieutenant Governor in Jersey and Guernsey were military ones and their salaries and other emoluments were paid by the War Office. Since then, those appointed as Lieutenant Governors have all been senior retired officers of the armed forces. In the Isle of Man, since 1945 the Lieutenant Governors have been either retired officers of the armed forces or members, or retired members, of the Colonial Service or the Diplomatic Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 22 May (

Yes, the salaries of the Lieutenant Governors of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are tax free.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why it is necessary to have a Lieutenant Governor for Jersey and one for Guernsey. [HL2612]

Jersey and Guernsey are separate jurisdictions, with their own legislatures, legal systems and judiciaries. It would not be appropriate to have a single Lieutenant Governor for the two bailiwicks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their advice to former directors general of the Security Service about publishing their memoirs. [HL2621]

Crown Servants, both serving and past, are under a duty of confidentiality regarding the information they obtain during the course of their service. The procedure for former members of the security and intelligence agencies requires that they obtain clearance before publishing anything relating to the work of the agencies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for revising the original cost of criminal record checks on volunteers under Part V of the Police Act 1997; and what is the likely cost per annum to individuals; and [HL2627]What research they have undertaken to examine the financial impact of criminal record checks on the voluntary sector; and whether the report will be published. [HL2628]

We are implementing Part V through the establishment of the Criminal Records Bureau. When the bureau comes into operation it will be expected to recover its costs through charges for the certificates that it will issue, on application, to individuals. It will be for employers and organisations to decide whether to reimburse the cost. Until the bureau's operating costs have been determined it will not be possible to fix the charges. We have made clear our determination to keep the cost as low as possible.Before we introduce regulations which will set the price of certificates, we shall carry out a regulatory impact assessment, in consultation with bodies affected by the fees to be charged by the bureau, including representative of voluntary and volunteering organisations. This will provide a thorough and up-to-date assessment of the implications. We shall make the results available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they are taking to improve the position of victims in the criminal justice system. [HL2663]

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary will be announcing tomorrow his plans to give victims and their relatives a greater say in the criminal justice process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much training has been provided by the Civil Service College to civil servants at the request of departments where they were working on the implications and practice of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information since the inception of that code. [HL2527]

Since 1994, 137 civil servants have attended a one-day course at the Civil Service College on this subject. This topic is also cove red as an integral part of a number of other college courses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they received the current Translink Corporate Plan for 2000 to 2003; and why it has not yet been published. [HL2555]

The Department for Regional Development received a corporate and business plan for the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and Translink for the period 2000 to 2003 on 29 February 2000.Any decision to publish the plan is a matter for the companies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the £183 million required to bring Northern Ireland Railways up to safety standards would be reduced by £70 million by the leasing of new rolling stock; and given that the £80 million required for track work would attract a 75 per cent European grant, what would be the actual cost to the Government per year over the next 10 years of funding the safety requirement. [HL2556]

If the cost of leasing trains were 10 per cent more than the cost of outright purchase, the annual cost of funding the new trains

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the members of the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission will be announced. [HL2639]

I am pleased to announce that the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) is being launched today with Professor Malcolm Grant, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, as chair.The commission will provide the Government with independent strategic advice on biotechnology issues that have an impact on agriculture and the environment, including ethical and acceptability issues. It will report to the Minister for the Cabinet Office and to my colleagues in the devolved administrations. Its members have a breadth of backgrounds and skills ranging from experience of consumer and green issues to farming, science, ethics and industry. A complete list of the members and the commission's terms of reference have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the shortfall in Royal Air Force recruitment in each of the last five years. [HL2383]

The shortfall in RAF recruiting over the last five years is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of Royal Air Force personnel receive compulsory instruction in the flying of gliders. [HL2384]

It is not compulsory for RAF personnel to receive instruction in the flying of gliders. Glider flying training is available to service personnel as an adventurous training activity. This training is provided at the Joint Services Adventurous Training (Gliding) (JSAT(G)) centre at RAF Bicester. There are however 10 instructors for the JSAT(G) centre who are required to undertake training and qualify as gliding instructors. Additionally, there are 900 volunteer instructors for the Air Cadet Organisation Volunteer Gliding Schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What financial support is provided by the Royal Air Force to the Bicester Flying Club and any similar clubs. [HL2385]

The RAF Gliding and Soaring Association (RAFGSA) receives no direct financial support from the Royal Air Force. The RAFGSA, along with other non-public service sport and recreational clubs, is provided with facilities where surplus capacity exists. In the specific case of the RAFGSA's club at Bicester, it is provided with the use of the airfield and a hangar and it is also provided with some manpower support from irreducible spare capacity at the Joint Services Adventurous Training (Gliding) centre at Bicester.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total membership of the Bicester Flying Club and similar Royal Air Force supported clubs. [HL2386]

The RAF Gliding and Soaring Association is a non-public organisation and consequently my department does not hold records. However, I am advised by the RAFGSA that its current membership is 909, of which 183 are associated with its club at RAF Bicester.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many flights by gliders, self-powered, with tugs or launched by catapult have taken place from RAF Little Rissington in each of the last five years; and what is the estimated number of similar flights for each of the next five years. [HL2387]

Records are not retained at RAF Little Rissington for longer than one year. The number of launches in 1999 was 4,232, all of which were by the Air Cadet Volunteer Gliding School using self-propelled gliders. The level of activity in previous years would have been at the same level and the Air Cadet Volunteer Gliding School plans to continue at this level for the next five years. The RAF is considering a proposal to allow the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association's Bicester Gliding Club and the Joint Service Adventurous Training (Gliding) Centre, both currently based at Bicester, to relocate to RAF Little Rissington The annual flying activity of JSAT(G) is estimated in the region of 4,500 aerotow launches and 300 self-propelled flights during weekdays. A further 9,000 winch launches and 900 aerotug launches would be made by the RAFGSA, which operates seven days a week during the period of March to the end of October.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the required qualifications for membership of the Royal Air Force funded Bicester Flying Club, which has recently moved to RAF Little Rissington. [HL2401]

The RAF Gliding and Soaring Association (RAFGSA) requires that at least 51 per cent of its membership are serving or retired members of the services or MoD civil servants. External members are allowed by invitation. The RAFGSA advises that 76 per cent of its members belong to the Armed Forces.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House the contractual or other documents relating to the occupation of land known as RAF Menwith Hill by third parties. [HL2469]

As with all sites made available for use by the United States visiting forces in the United Kingdom, RAF Menwith Hill is made available in accordance with the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House, and other arrangements appropriate to the relationship which exists between the Governments of the United Kingdom and United States for the purposes of our common defence. These other arrangements are confidential and are withheld under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the comments made by the House of Commons Defence Select Committee (7th Report, HC125) about the Government's efforts to improve the quality of life of Gulf War veterans with still undiagnosed illnesses; and whether they accept the recommendation that there should now be improved financial provision and better access to medical treatment for such veterans. [HL2490]

Gulf veterans who are ill because of their military service may already qualify for government financial assistance; all are entitled to be referred to the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme and those who are ill have access to medical treatment, either from the NHS or the Defence Medical Services.The Government welcome the Defence Select Committee's report

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all Defence Housing Executive properties served by gas have an annual safety check; and whether the occupants are given a landlord's gas safety certificate [HL2529]

As a landlord, it is DHE's policy fully to comply with all requirements of gas safety legislation. In implementing this policy the agency arranges for an annual safety check on gas-fired appliances which are part of the building structure in inhabited premises. This will include gas-fired boilers, gas fires and gas cookers where these have been supplied by DHE. Of course, this necessitates the occupant allowing reasonable access for the inspection engineer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What use has been made of the powers contained in the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. [HL2557]

The powers of the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 have been used to process applications for licences to recover crashed military aircraft: 1,366 such applications have been approved and 176 rejected. There have been two successful prosecutions against individuals who have committed offences under the Act. To date there has been no designation under the Act of either a military vessel or of a controlled site containing a military vessel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their statistical data relating to e-commerce and the dot.com sector are adequate; and, if not, what action they propose to take to improve the situation. [HL2532]

A Government Statistical Service interdepartmental group is reviewing means of meeting requirements for statistics in this rapidly developing area. In general, e-commerce transactions are covered by existing statistical collection but they are not separately identified.Information on Internet access is available From the Family Expenditure Survey. The expenditure diary on the Family Expenditure Survey has been amended to identify Internet transactions by households separately. The time use survey will collect data on the amount of time spent on the Internet.For the e-commerce enabling industries such as computer software, pilot data collection by the Office for National Statistics on individual products and services is planned. Research is also in hand in cooperation with Internet service providers to access information that they hold on patterns of Internet use. A report

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the context of use of e-mail by employers, any conflicts or anomalies exist between current employment law and practice and the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998, especially those relating to Article 8 concerning the right to privacy. [HL2533]

Employment legislation contains no requirements specifically to employers' use of e-mail. My department collects no information on employers' practice in this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the evidence for the statement by Lord Sainsbury of Turville during the debate on the Part-time Workers Regulation 2000 (H.L. Deb., 22 May, col. 563) that "All businesses knew that the legislation was imminent and had plenty of time to prepare for it". [HL2613]

The basic principle of the legislation is to treat part-timers no less favourably than comparable full-timers. This principle is enshrined in the Part-time Work Directive. The UK has been committed to implementing the directive since April 1998. Thus businesses have known the legislation was imminent for two years. Since then, the Employment Relations Act 1999 and the consultation on part-time work have fleshed out the details of the Government's proposals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the debate on the Part-time Workers Regulations 2000 on 22 May, who will pay for the backdated pension costs of (a) the £4 billion estimated by Lord Sainsbury of Turville at col. 564 and (b) the eventual cost of the regulations themselves; and, if these burdens are to fall on business, how they equate that with his statement at col. 553 that "The Government are concerned that the regulations placed on business are not overly burdensome, particularly on small businesses". [HL2614]

The estimate of £4 billion in backdated pension costs comes as a result of a ruling by the European Court of Justice. The case was based on sex discrimination law and is unconnected with the Part-time Workers Regulations. The costs will be borne by both employers and employees.The cost to employers of the Part-time Workers Regulations is estimated to be £27.4 million. Employees will benefit by £23.4 million.The proposals should not create a significant burden for most businesses. In fact the great majority who do not treat their part-timers less favourably than their full-timers will be unaffected. Changes will need to be made only where part-timers are less favourably treated than comparable full-timers. Small employers should not be unduly affected by the new rules.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they would have introduced the Part-time Workers Regulations 2000 in their present form if they had not been obliged to do so by the European Union. [HL2615]

The Government would have introduced these measures on part-time work whether or not they had been agreed at European level. Ending discrimination is important if part-timers are to play a full part in the flexible labour market.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they were aware of the statistics in the Office for National Statistics publication

My noble friend Lord Bach made clear in his reply to the noble Lord's earlier question of 26 April (Official Report, WA 119) that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment was fully aware, when reaching his decision on the proposal to close Merrywood School, of the level of social deprivation in the Knowle West area. Information about social deprivation was provided by the local education authority and objectors to the proposal. The Office for National Statistics publication does not provide detailed information on an area of this size.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackstone on 23 March (

No discussions have taken place between Ministers of the Department for Education and Employment and the Member of Parliament for Bristol South other than those described in my earlier reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will estimate the number of people who have been subject to benefit sanctions on each New Deal programme and in each year since their introduction, breaking these totals down, where possible, by (a) gender, (b) ethnic minority and (c) region. [HL2601]

Information is not available in the form requested. Young people taking part in the New Deal for 18 to 24 year-olds may be liable to a benefit sanction if they do not attend one of the four options as they are expected to do. Comprehensive information on the number of sanctions that have been imposed for failure to attend New Deal options as expected is collected through the Decision Making and Appeals System (DMAS). This system identifies the number of sanctions imposed for each New Deal option in each region but does not identify the numbers of individuals involved or a. breakdown of their characteristics.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will estimate for the New Deal for Young People the number of sanctions imposed in each year since April 1998 for (a) each New Deal option, (b) each unit of delivery and (c) each region, stating in each case the number of young people on the scheme and the number and percentage of young people on New Deal who have been sanctioned. [HL2602]

Information is not available in the form requested. Comprehensive information on the numbers of sanctions imposed for failure to attend options as expected within New Deal for Young People is collected through the Decision Ma king and Appeals System (DMAS) and is currently available to the end of December 1999. This is shown in Table 1.This infomation cannot be compared directly with the numbers of young people who had joined New Deal in each region by December 1999 because it relates to number of sanctions imposed not to individuals. There will be cases where sanctions have been imposed more than once on an individual.Table 2 sets out the numbers of young people who had joined New Deal in each region and in Scotland and Wales by end December 1999. Table 3 shows the number of young people who have joined each of the options during this period.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have conducted, or are due to conduct, research into whether those subject to benefit sanctions are more or less likely to become involved in criminal activities; whether they will list actual or prospective publication dates and details; and whether they will summarise any results. [HL2603]

The Government have not previously conducted research into jobseekers' involvement in criminal activity following the imposition of a benefit sanction. The evaluation of the community sentence sanctions proposed in the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill will include the impact on re-offending by people subject to a sanction. The research report will be published after the evaluation of the pilots, and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide a list of the headings under which data are being collected for the New Deal Evaluation Database; and whether they will deal with the information which relates to the impact of benefit sanctions on New Deal clients. [HL2604]

The New Deal Evaluation Database collects information and collates this on a range of issues. These are personal characteristics; key

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received a report on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Conference on genetically modified foods and health in Edinburgh at the end of February; and whether the report will be published. [HL2489]

The chairman's report and rapporteur's summary of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) conference on genetically modified foods and health have been published by the OECD on its website. Copies have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many children in England and Wales are currently wards of court as a result of applications by social services departments determination that the children are "at risk"; how many of those children are in foster care; and how many are hospitalised. [HL2568]

The information requested is not available in the form requested.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the average cost to the National Health Service of (a) creating a new hospital bed place and (b) training a new non-specialist nurse. [HL2570]

The cost of creating a new hospital bed place in a new hospital is approximately £325,000, excluding value added tax at current prices. The cost includes the capital construction cost, equipment costs and professional fees incurred, as well as a proportion of the costs of the supporting services within the new hospital such as operating theatres, outpatient departments, accident and emergency services, catering, office accommodation, public areas, pharmacy, pathology and radiology. It does not include the running costs necessary to make the bed operational, such as staffing, linen or cleaning. A new bed in an existing hospital would be considerably cheaper.The total average cost to the National Health Service of training a new non-specialist nurse is £33,000 over three years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure that children are protected from abuse through prostitution and that those who coerce children into prostitution are (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted. [HL2577]

The Government have published new guidance, Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution—Supplementary Guidance to Working Together To Safeguard Children. It establishes that the primary law-enforcement effort must be against those who coerce children into and abuse them through prostitution. Children involved in prostitution should be treated primarily as victims of abuse. The guidance sets out an inter-agency approach, based on local protocols, to address this type of abuse. The identification of a child involved in prostitution, or at risk of being drawn into prostitution, should always trigger the agreed local area child protection committee procedures to ensure the child's safety and welfare and to enable the police to gather evidence about abusers and coercers. The guidance forms an important part of the Government's strategy to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made on setting up an independent national advisory group on teenage pregnancy. [HL2662]

We are pleased to announce that the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy has been established and that the first meeting of the group took place on 25 May 2000. It was chaired by Winifred Tumim, who is currently chair of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations.The group's role will be to provide advice to government and to monitor the overall success of our strategy to cut teenage pregnancy rates and reduce the risk of long-term social exclusion for teenage parents and their children.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the French whole herd slaughter policy of BSE-affected herds has led to a serious distortion of the recorded figures for the incidence of BSE. [HL2617]

Any slaughter scheme will affect the disease statistics as animals will be removed before they have the opportunity to develop clinical signs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 12 April 2000 (

On 12 April 2000, I announced that the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Social Security and I had agreed with the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, new arrangements for part-time judicial appointments. Similar arrangements have now been put in place for an additional range of part-time tribunal appointments for which I am responsible and for appointments made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the President of the Council and the Home Secretary.I am also pleased to announce that for those tribunals which sit in Scotland, but where responsibility for appointments remains wholly or partly the responsibility of Westminster Ministers, the Lord President of the Court of Session has agreed to assume the role that the Lord Chief Justices have already agreed to for appointments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In practice this will mean that the Lord President will have to concur in all decisions to remove or not to renew an appointment.Where Scottish and Welsh Ministers are now consulted on appointments to tribunals in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions or devolution concordats, they will also be consulted on removals from office, and decisions not to renew appointments.These changes will come into effect immediately.I am placing in the Libraries of both Houses a joint statement signed by myself and the Lord President setting out the arrangements for the following tribunals, which may sit in Scotland:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many judges' lodgings are still used as such; what is the actual cost of running them; how many nights on average each one is occupied by a judge; how many staff work in them; how many are open to the public to visit; and what is their estimated capital value if they were to be sold off. [HL2565]

There are 32 judges' lodgings (including the use of hired lodgings), the annual cost of which was £4.98 million for financial year 1999–2000.