asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the shortcomings in the European Union External Aid Programme have only recently been discovered; why the Audit Office was not involved sooner; and whether they will seek to ensure that the sum pledged for clearing the Danube at Novi Sad and restoring full navigation is promptly and efficiently spent. [HL2501]

The Government have long been aware that the European Community's External Aid Programme is not living up to its potential. We produced a strategy in December 1998 for improving its effectiveness and efficiency and are currently taking this strategy forward in co-operation with the European Commission.Audit for EC development programmes is the responsibility of the European Court of Auditors, who produce a report in November each year. The National Audit Office scrutinises this report for Parliament in spring the following year.Ensuring that EC pledges are promptly and efficiently spent falls outside the remit of the National Audit Office. However, we fully support Commissioner Patten's recommendation that efforts should be made to speed up implementation of this proposal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will summarise the support they are giving this year to drought affected areas of Rajasthan; and through which organisations. [HL2656]

The Department for International Development has already committed nearly £3 million for relief projects in response to the drought which is currently affecting regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India—including Rajasthan. £2 million of this support is being channelled through the World Food Programme for its regional response, and £500,000 through Oxfam for its activities in Gujarat and Rajasthan.Two DFID humanitarian specialists have recently returned from India and we are currently considering a further response in light of their assessments.In addition, unconnected with the drought situation, DFID has also committed funds for two innovative projects with the Rajasthan Government which aim to promote universal primary education in the state, including areas affected by the current drought.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice they make available to businesses as to their VAT liability on sales of information in electronic form over the Internet, and, in particular, as to how it should be established that "goods" have been exported outside the United Kingdom for VAT purposes; where a member of the public may find such advice; and whether the VAT enquiry lines provide the answers to the previous questions. [HL2647]

There are no special rules for supplies over the Internet. Goods ordered over the Internet and delivered physically are treated like any other supply of goods; and supplies delivered electronically are treated as supplies of services. Information on supplies of goods and services are contained in the VAT General Guide (Notice No. 700). Information about supplies of services traded internationally is covered in Place of Supply of Services (Notice No. 741). Information on VAT and the export of goods is published in Exports (Notice No. 703). Proof of export will normally be satisfied through commercial documentation.Public Notices and information on the whole range of VAT issues are freely available from Customs & Excise Business Advice Centres. In order to assist businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. HM Customs & Excise are in the process of developing a site on the Internet which will provide a wide range of information to help business understand the VAT implications of trading electronically.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice they make available to businesses as to their VAT liability on sales of books where the selling price of the book includes a right of access to the same information on the Internet; where a member of the public may find such advice; and whether the VAT enquiry line provide the answers to the previous questions. [HL2648]

Printed books are zero-rated for VAT purposes. If the rights supplied are incidental to the supply of the book, the whole supply will be zero-rated. A separate supply of rights would take its own liability.Information on VAT is available through local Customs & Excise Business Advice Centres.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they respond to the observations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants that press releases and related materials issued by the Treasury in the context of this year's Budget "are being given a political slant which obscures vital technical issues"; and whether the Budget press releases improve public understanding of the tax system. [HL2653]

The Government have implemented a transparent and open framework for fiscal policy, and believe it is important to explain the reasons for tax changes and how they will work in practice. The Budget press releases and related materials, including the Financial Statement and Budget Report, the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, and technical notes provide full, clear and accurate information about the Government's policies. They are both informative and objective.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force will publish its final report. [HL2714]

The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force, which was set up by the Department in 1997 to look at practical ways of reducing vehicle emissions is publishing its final report, The way forward—the final report of the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force today. The report covers five main areas:Transforming the market and achieving lower environmental impacts from vehicles in use through government incentives, development of technology, and through better public awareness;The role of fleets in improving environmental performance of current and new vehicles;Cleaner fuels and technologies—both conventional and alternative fuels and technologies;The role for low emission zones; andMaking sure everyone plays their part—the importance of enforcement in maintaining improvements.There has already been progress on the Task Force's interim recommendations, published in the 1999 report

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is being taken to reduce the delays in repairs to broken escalators at London Underground stations; and how many of these escalators have been out of operation (a) for over three months and (b) for over six months. [HL2134]

This is an operational matter for London Underground.To minimise service disruption, London Underground has carried out temporary repairs where possible, with the approval of Her Majesty's Railways Inspectorate. All stations are now open. Permanent repairs will be carried out as quickly as possible.On 16 May, 30 escalators had been out of operation for over three months, 12 for over six months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consulted representatives of bee-keepers and fruit growers before approving sites for trials of genetically modified crops; and, if not, why not. [HL2520]

There has not been any specific consultation with representatives of bee-keepers or fruit growers about the siting of farm scale evaluations of GM crops. This is because the assessment of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment ascertained that the release would have no adverse effects on bees or the consumers of honey or fruit containing GM pollen.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice is being given by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency regarding the correct taxation class for a vehicle used to pump concrete or other building materials at a building site, when the vehicle is not used to carry any materials other than water used in conjunction with the machinery. [HL2427]

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has in recent years advised operators of mobile concrete pumps that their vehicles should be licensed in the mobile crane tax class, on the basis of legal advice. However, the DVLA is currently considering the implications of R v Reilly Concrete Pumping Limited, in which an operator was convicted under Section 37 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 after registering his vehicles in that class, to consider what advice it should now issue to operators of concrete pumps to ensure that their vehicles are correctly licensed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it would be in the public interest for the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute a vehicle operator when the operator had followed the advice of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [HL2430]

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency operates within the law and makes every endeavour to give vehicle operators the best possible advice on the appropriate tax class within which to license their vehicles. When the police send a case to the Crown Prosecution, it is reviewed to make sure that it meets the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.If the Crown Prosecutor is satisfied that there is enough evidence to prosecute, then the public interest test must be considered. The advice received by defendants from DVLA would be one factor the prosecutor would take into account when considering whether a prosecution is needed in the public interest. However, the prosecutor must balance other factors for and against the prosecution in weighing the public interest. Each case must be considered on its own individual merits.The interpretation of the law is of course a matter for the courts, and the agency will revise its advice to operators in the light of decisions by the courts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their policy that there should be a small number of large capacity incinerators instead of a large number of small capacity incinerators for the disposal of domestic and farm animal carcasses; and, if so, what arrangements they propose to be made for the storage prior to collection, collection and transportation of carcasses and other animal waste products from farms, hunt kennels and veterinary surgeries with particular regard to the prevention of environmental pollution and disease contamination. [HL2438]

It is not our policy that there should be a small number of large capacity animal carcass incinerators instead of a large number of small-scale animal carcass incinerators.Our policy on waste is set out in the draft waste strategy,

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have evidence that all small capacity incinerators exceed the emission levels laid down in the draft Incineration of Waste Directive and, if only some makes of incinerator are unsatisfactory, whether those incinerators could not be replaced by machines that comply with the emission requirements. [HL2440]

It is the Environment Agency's advice that it is likely that no animal carcass incinerators under 50kg/hr capacity would be fitted with the necessary emissions abatement equipment to meet the standards for dioxins and other pollutants in the proposed waste incineration directive. The cost-benefit analyses prepared for the Department by Entec UK Ltd (copies of which are in the House Library) in Appendix 1 pp. 58-59 noted a lack of emissions data for such plant, but assumed that equipment to abate nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride and heavy metals would be needed, plus a secondary combustion chamber to permit sufficient residence time to achieve the dioxins limit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that the applicants for planning permission to construct a wood-burning power plant at Newbridge-on-Wye have given full and true answers to the Fourth Renewables Tranche questionnaire, particularly in respect of unreleased covenants affecting the land in question. [HL2571]

Through OFGEM, the Department of Trade and Industry has very recently received a request to conduct an investigation under Section 59 of the Electricity Act 1989 on the accuracy of the completion of the Fourth Renewables Tranche questionnaire by the applicants seeking planning permission for a wood-burning power plant at Newbridge-on-Wye. The department has not yet decided whether an official investigation under Section 59 of the Act is to be launched.If it is decided to launch an investigation, then the points you raise would be fully addressed in any such investigation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria are considered by the Ministry of Defence in deciding whether road or rail transport is used for the movement of military equipment within the United Kingdom. [HL2582]

In some cases the mode of transport used may be predetermined to provide training in a particular method of transportation, especially in the case of practising rail movement for deployment. Apart from these, each request for transport is judged on its own merits. Factors considered include: the ability to achieve the required delivery date; the size of the load; the suitability and location of railheads; security and public safety considerations. An assessment is also made of extra effort caused by double-handling at road-rail interfaces and "out-of-gauge" operating considerations. Unless there are overriding reasons to use either road or rail, then the solution which offers the best value for money is normally selected.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many married quarters in the Warminster garrison, managed by the Defence Housing Executive, have gas appliances; and how many complaints about these appliances there have been in the last year. [HL2558]

All the 591 Service Families Accommodation (SFA) at Warminster garrison have gas appliances—i.e. gas cookers and gas heating/hot water boilers. Since May 1999 there have been four formal complaints about unsafe appliances. These complaints have all been satisfactorily resolved and gas certificates have been issued. The gas supply was turned off in each case while remedial action was taken.All the houses at Warminster are fitted with carbon monoxide monitors and none of the systems that failed the contractor's spillage test discharged enough carbon monoxide into each house to activate the alarm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, has had any conversation with any member of the board of the New Millennium Experience Company on 21, 22 or 23 May; and whether he will publish a list of any such conversations. [HL2671]

As sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), I am in regular contact with members of the NMEC board. On 23 May I met with a number of NMEC board members in the course of the afternoon.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport or the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, had a conversation with Mr Michael Grade on 22 or 23 May; and, if so, what was the subject of the conversation. [HL2676]

As sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), I am in regular contact with members of the NMEC board. On 23 May I met with a number of NMEC board members in the course of the afternoon, including Michael Grade.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Leader of the House on 11 May

All civil servants, including special advisers, are required under the terms and conditions of their employment not to misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others. They should not receive benefits of any kind from a third party which might reasonably be seen to compromise their personal judgment or integrity. Where a conflict of interest arises, civil servants must declare the interest to senior management, who will determine how best to proceed. All such declarations are confidential between the employer and employee. We have no plans to make any changes to the existing system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any requirement in the Civil Service Code for special advisers currently employed by the Government to declare any political donations they may have made over the last 10 years or any shareholdings they may have in companies that have made such donations; and, if not, whether they have plans to institute such a requirement. [HL2509]

All special advisers are required to comply with the restrictions on their involvement in political activities set out in Schedule 1 (Part 2) to the Model Contract for Special Advisers. They are also required to seek advice on handling conflicts of interest. There is no requirement for any civil servant, including special advisers, to declare political donations made by them, nor have we any plans to introduce such a requirement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether informing the media of the contents of statements they intend to make to Parliament constitutes a breach of the terms of paragraph 27 of the Ministerial Code. [HL2534]

Paragraph 27 of the Ministerial Code makes it clear that, when Parliament is in session, Ministers will want to bear in mind the desire of Parliament that the most important announcements should be made, in the first instance, to Parliament. It is for individual Ministers to determine the timing and content of announcements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they expect to organise an end-of-year celebration in the Dome; and whether there have been any discussions with broadcasting bodies about broadcasting such an event. [HL2682]

The Government have no plans to organise an end-of-year celebration in the Dome. This is a matter for the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, has any plans to meet Mr David Quarmby. [HL2680]

David Quarmby has been a member of the board of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) since 1997. In my role as shareholder of NMEC, I have met Mr Quarmby on many occasions and I will continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the sole shareholder has considered accelerating the sale of the Dome before December 2000. [HL2672]

There are no plans to accelerate the current timetable for the sale of the Dome. The Government plan to announce a preferred bidder this summer, with handover to be completed as soon as possible after 31 December 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 May (H. L. Deb., col. 774) that it is a matter for the board of the New Millennium Experience Company to determine whether or not it is trading while insolvent, whether the sole shareholder of the Dome intends to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss the trading position. [HL2684]

I have no plans to call an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) trading position.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many girls in care became pregnant in 1999; and what percentage of girls in care became pregnant before they reached the age of 16; and [HL2629]How many children in care are known to be suffering from sexually transmitted diseases; and [HL2631]How many children in the care of local authorities are now housed in bed and breakfast accommodation. [HL2630]

The Department of Health does not collect data on the number of children in care who become pregnant or who are known to be suffering from sexually transmitted diseases. While it was based on a fairly small-scale study, a National Children's Bureau report in 1992 found that a quarter of care leavers had a child by the age of 16.In March 1999, 1,100 looked-after children were placed in lodgings or living independently—this figure includes those housed in bed and breakfast accommodation, although that figure is not collected separately.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether human body parts such as skin, tendons, heart valves, bones and dura matter are imported into the United Kingdom for use in the National Health Service; and if so, from which countries, with what safeguards, and at what annual cost. [HL2645]

The National Health Service is largely self-sufficient in tissues such as skin, tendon and heart valves, relying on material from tissue banks within the NHS. Exceptionally, small amounts of tissues are imported to meet individual patient's needs. Details of the quantity and cost of imported tissues are not held centrally.Tissue banks accepting material from overseas must make sure that the Committee of Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues for Transplantation's "Guidance on the microbiological safety of human tissues and organs used in transplantation" has been followed by the bank of origin. If the tissues do not pass through a United Kingdom tissue bank, the clinician who uses the tissue is responsible for making sure the guidance has been followed.Dura mater is no longer used in the NHS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What scientific evidence there is that

We are advised that the Food Standards Agency is not aware of any scientific evidence that Mycobacterium bovis may be present in the milk of cows that have not been shown to be tuberculosis reactors.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many paediatric pathologists and how many paediatric toxicologists are s currently employed by public services in England and Wales. [HL2569]

The information requested is not collected centrally.We are aware of shortages of specialist paediatric pathologists. This is the result of a number of factors. There is an overall shortfall in those specialising in histopathology, there have been problems in establishing higher specialist training places, trainees do not wish to go into the discipline and it requires extra training over and above that required in histopathology.For 2000/01, we intend to establish 40 new higher specialist training places in histopathology, with new money from the Medical and Dental Education Levy. We have written to National Health Service trusts and health authorities explaining the importance that we attach to the delivery of extra training places in the light of commitments on improved cancer services. We are looking to Regional Offices to use their influence to encourage them to co-operate with Regional Postgraduate Deans in providing the necessary funding and establishing posts. At the same time, the Royal College of Pathologists and the Regional Postgraduate Deans are looking at ways to attract more higher specialist trainees into histopathology in general and paediatric training posts in particular.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the new Food Standards Agency will take steps to examine and assess the scientific rationale used by the Soil Association when awarding organic status to various food products. [HL2361]

Lead responsibility for policy and legislation on standards of organic food production lies with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Food Standards Agency has no plans to take the steps described in the near future.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What contribution they are making to the United Nations conference "Women 2000: Gender, Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-First Century". [HL2698]

We have published today and will be placing in the Library two documents: Equality in practice and Women and Men in the UK: facts and figures 2000.

asked the Chairman of Committees:In what year the Select Committee on the European Communities was first established and with what terms of reference; and when the present Sub-Committees A, B, C, D, E, and F of the European Union Committees were established and with what subject matters they are dealing. [HL2658]

The Select Committee on the European Communities was established in May 1974, following the United Kingdom's accession to the EC the previous year. The committee's original terms of reference were:"To consider Community proposals, whether in draft or otherwise, to obtain all necessary information about them, and to make reports on those which, in the opinion of the Committee, raise important questions of policy or principle and on other questions to which the Committee consider that the special attention of the House should be drawn."The committee originally appointed five sub-committees. The number of standing sub-committees has varied over the years between five and seven. In addition,