asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current budget of the Britain Russia Centre; how much of this is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and whether they will list the projects now funded by grant-in-aid. [HL2590]

The Britain Russia Centre's budget for FY2000–01 is £236,621, all of which is funded by Foreign and Commonwealth Office grant-in-aid. Grant-in-aid is not generally used to fund projects directly; the Britain Russia Centre bids separately for project funding from a number of sources, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's command programme budgets and the EU TACIS programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What bilateral and multi-lateral assistance and monitoring are being afforded to the Russian Federation in respect of nuclear submarines and other nuclear material in the Kola Peninsula, White Sea and Arctic Ocean. [HL2592]

In March 1999 the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced a £5 million budget for nuclear clean-up work in north-west Russia. We are currently discussing with the Russian Government how this assistance should be structured and expect to begin practical projects soon.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What items are on the current agenda of the NATO/Russia Permanent Joint Council. [HL2593]

The agenda for recent meetings of the NATO/Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) have included dialogue and exchange of information on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, arms control issues and Russian and NATO approaches to security and military doctrine. NATO allies have also used meetings of the Permanent Joint Council, most recently at foreign ministerial level in Florence on 24 May, to express deep concern at the human cost of Russia's action in Chechnya and to urge Russia to pursue political resolution of the conflict.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the proposals put forward by the German Foreign Minister, Herr Joschka Fisher, for a federal European Union; and, if they do not, how they intend to frustrate them. [HL2600]

Enlargement presents a substantial challenge for the EU. We welcome debate on how the institutions can remain effective after enlargement. That is why we welcome this year's IGC and have a positive agenda for reform. The longer-term issues in Joschka Fischer's speech are not for this IGC, as he makes very clear. They are about how a Union of 30 or more member states might function.On the substance of his ideas, he makes it clear that he is speaking in a personal capacity, not as a Foreign Minister, nor as a representative of the German Government. We welcome his contribution to the debate. Our own views are set out in the White Paper

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have recently authorised the issue of any export licences for Iran as an exception to the national arms embargo. [HL2715]

We have recently issued, as an exception to the national arms embargo on Iran, an export licence for the export of night vision equipment for the use of Iranian drug enforcement personnel. This equipment has been procured by a private company on behalf of the UN Drugs Control Programme (UNDCP) as a contribution to the UNDCP in Iran. These goods require a UK export licence as they are transiting the UK en route to Iran.The UK fully supports assistance for the considerable efforts being made by the Iranian authorities to stem the trafficking of drugs through Iran. Since early 1999 the UK has contributed £1.5 million to support Iranian counter drugs activity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for June; and list the major European Union events for the next six months. [HL2716]

See attached.This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assistance they have given this year through international and non-governmental channels to the victims of conflict in Sri Lanka. [HL2655]

The conflict in Sri Lanka, which has escalated recently, has been ongoing for many years. DFID has been providing assistance to nongovernmental and international organisations which provide relief and rehabilitation directly to those affected. In 1999–2000 almost £3.5 million was channelled through Save the Children, OXFAM, UNICEF, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Marie Stopes International. We expect to provide at least a similar amount this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the provision of bilateral assistance to Pakistan. [HL2697]

We have agreed to provide technical assistance to assist the administration to prepare some of the key reforms which would enable the UK and multilateral institutions to re-engage in Pakistan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to ratify the Council of Europe Civil Law Convention on Corruption. [HL2762]

I am pleased to be able to announce that I have today signed the civil law convention during the course of the Conference of the European Ministers of Justice.The Government have strongly supported the programme of action undertaken by the Council of Europe in the fight against corruption. The civil law convention is an innovative and important international legal instrument which will enable victims of corruption to obtain appropriate remedies in the civil courts of all states which ratify the convention. The United Kingdom is not in a position to ratify the convention at present because the requirements of the convention with regard to the rules of limitation for civil proceedings go further than is provided for by current UK law. However, the Law Commission is currently considering the rules relating to limitation of actions and the Government will review this issue as soon as the Law Commission's report is available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the report by His Honour Gerald Butler QC concerning the handling of the case of R

The report by his Honour Gerald Butler QC was delivered on 14 April. On 22 July 1999 (Official Report, House of Commons, cols. 608–9) my predecessor as Attorney-General indicated the Government's intention to make a summary of the report and its recommendations available to both Houses. In the event, it is possible to make the report available in full, and I have therefore today lodged a copy of the report in the Libraries of both Houses, together with a copy of the Government's response. In addition, the summary included in the report and the inquiry's recommendations, together with the Government's response to them, are being made publicly available on the HM Customs and Excise Internet site [http:// www.hmce.gov.uk], and copies of the full report will be available on request to HM Customs and Excise at a cost of £8.All the recommendations made to me in the report which are capable of acceptance immediately have been accepted. Further work is required by other recommendations and such work is being set in hand.With the agreement of the Chairman of Customs and Excise Commissioners, His Honour John Gower QC, assisted by Sir Anthony Hammond KCB QC, has agreed to carry out an immediate review of the role of Customs as a prosecuting authority. The terms of reference are:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What type of cars are used in government departments; and whether they will show in tabular form which departments and make or makes of cars. [HL2458]

The types of cars used are a matter for individual government departments, which are responsible for ensuring that they achieve value for money. The information requested by the noble Lord on the makes of cars used is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are still committed to the concept of "parity of esteem" as set out in the Belfast Agreement; and whether this accords with the views of the Republic of Ireland's Foreign Minister. [HL2488]

Both the British and the Irish Governments are fully committed to the Belfast Agreement and all of the principles contained within it, including the concept of parity of esteem.

asked the Leader of the House:Why seven Questions for Written Answer tabled between 11 and 19 April remained unanswered on 16 May. [HL2525]

The Leader of the House has asked me, as Minister with responsibility for Questions for Written Answer, to reply to the noble Lord's Question HL2525.The Government's aim is to provide accurate and full answers to all Questions for Written Answer tabled in the House of Lords within 14 days. In the majority of cases this target is met. However, some questions which need close co-ordination between various departments and which also lie within a fast moving policy area may not always meet this target.I have looked at the seven questions to which the noble Lord refers and all but one fall into this category. The exception was due to a failure of communcation between departments. We have tightened up the system and will continue to do so as much as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) Which education and library boards in Northern Ireland allow free assessment to school children who may be suffering from an education learning disorder such as dyslexia; (b) which boards offer assessment on a fixed or quota basis; and (c) for those boards offering assessment on a restricted or quota basis, what is the reason and the basis for such restrictions. [HL2587]

No education and library board offers assessment by an educational psychologist solely on a restricted or fixed quota basis, though all boards, except the southern and southeastern education and library boards, operate priority systems. The arrangements vary from board to board but, in general, pupils who are being assessed with an eye to a statement of special educational needs, at stage 4 of the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, are given priority over pupils who require a diagnostic assessment at stage 3 of the code. The southern and south-eastern boards operate on a first come, first served referral system. In every board area emergency referrals are seen on an ad hoc basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are being taken by Belfast Education and Library Board to improve assessment, understanding and support offered to those suffering from education learning disorders such as dyslexia. [HL2588]

The Belfast Education and Library Board operates a peripatetic support service for children with dyslexia; in the current year 142 pupils are receiving individual tuition in their schools from the service, which is also providing advice and support to the teachers of a further 42 pupils. In addition, the service operates a weekly open clinic in Ulidia Teachers' Centre where teachers can receive advice on teaching dyslexic pupils. A further 60 children with more extreme dyslexia problems are provided with a one-year part-time intensive reading course at one of the board's three reading units. In addition to the peripatetic support service, outreach teachers from the reading units support some 500 pupils with serious reading difficulties, including dyslexia, with twice-weekly individual tuition in their own schools. The children who receive the above supports have all been assessed by an educational psychologist.Over the past 10 years the numbers of such pupils for whom the Belfast board has provided this type of support have risen approximately fivefold.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are still committed to publishing the report from the Northern Ireland Railway Task Force in July 2000. [HL2589]

No decision has been taken on whether the task force's report will be published.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why a public consultation exercise concerning an expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to the centre of Belfast was carried out if there are no plans to proceed with the project. [HL2661]

The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company commissioned a public consultation on transportation options on the Belfast to Newtownards corridor to inform and gauge public opinion on the proposed scheme. Public opinion will be one of the factors to be taken into account when a decision is made on whether to proceed with the project.Government have not come to any decision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 May (

No. The steps to bring Northern Ireland into line with GB arrangements, where appropriate, are dependent upon revised legislation and agreement of a closer working relationship with Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 25 May concerning rail safety arrangements for Northern Ireland, whether they will outline the timetable for the discussions between the Department for Regional Development and the Great Britain Health and Safety Executive and when the proposal will be available. [HL2689]

Discussions on formalising arrangements with HSE (GB) are due to be concluded in the summer. Formal agreements will be signed shortly thereafter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 May (

The investigations referred to are those commissioned by the former Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. There is no print-out of all the investigations commissioned by the department and it would entail the disruption of normal duties for a number of staff for many hours to compile such a list and would have cost well in excess of £500 in staff time. It is not possible to say what the cost of 250 reports would be.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 2 May (

In 1993 the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners examined the financial and operational feasibility of constructing a railhead at the port at Lisahally. However the infrastructure work that would have been required to provide a rail spur to the port made the costs of the option prohibitive.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company became aware that there was a proposal for Mr Bob Ayling to be replaced as its chairman. [HL2679]

Robert Ayling informed me of his decision to resign as Chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) on 23 May. Mr Ayling served NMEC as chairman for three years and his decision to step down was in keeping with the fact that he has always put the good of the project first.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which Ministers of the Crown have ministerial responsibility for the oversight of the Dome project; and whether they will publish in

As shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), I am accountable to Parliament for the work of NMEC. I answer parliamentary questions on the Millennium Experience and appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and the honourable Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson) answers parliamentary questions on the Millennium Experience in the other place. My role is to ensure that NMEC meet the Government's five commitments for the experience, covering cost, content, national impact, legacy and effective management. I also appoint NMEC board members, approve their remuneration and agree the arrangements for determining the pay and other benefits for other staff.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 May (H.L. Deb., col. 774) that "the New Millennium Experience Company had to make a convincing case to the Millennium Commission in order to receive further funding, which it did" is to be reconciled with his statement, in response to a question about ministerial involvement in the funding decision by the Millennium Commission on 24 May (H.L. Deb., col. 852), that "I am not in the position to answer the question that she asked in relation to the matter; nor should I be". [HL2683]

The preparation and submission of business plans and budget forecasts to the Millennium Commission are a matter for the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) and its board, not for the shareholder.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many school-age children of 16 or below are known to be suffering from sexually transmitted disease; what are the comparative figures for 1970, 1980, 1990 and 1998–99; and what is the annual cost of their treatment. [HL2632]

The available data based on diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections in genito-urinary medicine clinics in England are as follows. Information on annual treatment costs is not collected separately.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of escalators at central London Underground stations are out of service at any one time; and how many many of those stations offer alternatives for the elderly and disabled. [HL2657]

These are operational matters for London Underground which has informed me that for April escalator availability was 88.7 per cent. I understand that regular announcements are being made at the stations where escalators are out of service and there is a comprehensive poster campaign to keep customers informed.London Transport's Unit for Disabled Passengers provides a comprehensive advice and information service for disabled people and extensive customer information activity, including station and train announcements, posters, radio bulletins and Ceefax. This will ensure that customers are aware of the situation and may consider alternative travel options as necessary. In stations where customer care assistants are present they are trained to help people who need orientation or special assistance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will advise farmers who have inadvertently planted genetically modified contaminated seed to plough it up; and, if so, whether they will advise them to do so before 31 May or to wait until the crop has flowered. [HL2626]

On 26 May advice on the options available to farmers was issued by MAFF, and placed in the Library of the House. The information and a note on the AAPS issues involved was also published on the MAFF website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will report progress on future testing in England for the cattle diseases enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) and brucellosis. [HL2734]

The Government are issuing a consultation paper on proposed changes to the way cattle health testing for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) and brucellosis is carried out in England. This is part of a GB wide initiative and is a direct result of our gaining an "officially EBL free" region status within the EU and the continued recognition of GB status as an "officially brucellosis free" region within the EU.It is proposed to amend the EBL order to take account of new reduced test frequencies. For dairy cattle these would reduce milk testing from three times a year to twice in every fifth year. For beef suckler herds these would reduce blood testing from once every second year to once every fourth year. The proposed reductions are in line with veterinary advice. We aim to have the new arrangements introduced by September this year and fully effective by April next year.No changes are currently proposed for brucellosis testing. Test frequencies for brucellosis are currently subject to review but results are not expected before August. GB has had low or no incidence of brucellosis since 1993.Since these proposals would require changes to the EBL order we are also proposing to simplify publication of the list of laboratories approved to do milk testing and clarify the use of laboratory approval. The Government propose that these changes are also carried out into a remade brucellosis order and that both new orders take full account of devolution.The Government are pleased that in this consultation we are able to recommend reducing monitoring for EBL in England now that we have "officially EBL free region" status for GB. This reduces costs and burdens for both industry and the public purse and is in line with EU requirements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer on 17 May (

The report of the preliminary findings of the study has been placed in the Library of the House and will be made available on the ministry website. The government inspection programme being undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will be focused on those imported seed species which are identifed as most likely to be affected. Further studies are in hand.