asked Her Majesty's Government:In the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement what was the undertaking of the United Kingdom Government in respect of financing the purchase of commercial farms in Zimbabwe for African settlement; how much of the undertaking was fulfilled and at what cost; if it was not completed what were the reasons; and, if so, what is the potential cost of fulfilling the remainder of the undertaking. [HL3533]

At the Lancaster House Constitutional Conference in 1979, the UK Government undertook to assist with land resettlement alongside other donors. No specific sum was pledged, but £44 million has been provided to date; £20 million was offered through the 1981 Land Resettlement Grant, which was closed in 1996 with £3 million unspent because Government did not offer plans to use it; £27 million was provided during the 1980s as budgetary support to help the Zimbabwe Government meet its share of resettlement costs.DFID has recently offered another £5 million to continue help for resettlement working through civil society and private sector initiatives as part of a total of £38 million development assistance. Further support for Government-led resettlement is dependent on a return to the rule of law, and to the principles agreed by government and donors at the 1998 Land Conference.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of Gross National Product has been spent on official overseas aid and development programmes in each of the past five years; what proportion it is now anticipated will be spent in each of the next five years; and when it is expected that the 0.7 per cent of gross national product target will be met. [HL3539]

Figures for official development assistance as reported to the DAC of the OECD are based on expenditure in calendar years, and as percentage of GNP for the past five calendar years were as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to respond to the United Nations appeal for £87 million to assist the 1.1 million Eritreans displaced by the recent war and affected by drought. [HL3584]

The UK has committed humanitarian assistance worth £885,000 to help meet the needs of the internally displaced in Eritrea so far this year, with a further £250,000 for Eritrean refugees in Sudan. We continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to do more. We have also contributed 17 per cent of the cost of the 65,400 metric tons of cereals provided through the EC for delivery this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much of anticipated official overseas aid and development expenditure in each of the next five years will be earmarked for debt relief. [HL3540]

The UK Government are committed to writing off 100 per cent of the debts owed to them by Heavily Indebted Poor Countries—some £1.7 billion in all—as and when countries become eligible.There is a high degree of uncertainty over the amount of debt relief which will be reportable to the OECD Development Assistance Committee as official development assistance over the next five years. On the assumption that the Public Service Agreement target published this week by DFID and HM Treasury is realised, and on current assumptions over which countries achieve HIPC eligibility and when they do so, the total benefit from the UK to debtor countries at the moment when debt relief is irrevocable—i.e. at completion point—will be approximately £140 million in 2001–02, £175 million 2002–03 and £300 million in 2003–04. No assumption has yet been made for the following two years.The amount of DFID's development expenditure on debt relief for 2001–04 was given in reply to Lord Hylton (

asked Her Majesty's Government:What sums were promised in international aid for Kosovo and over what period; and what amount has so far been paid. [HL3468]

The total of pledges at the two donor conferences on Kosovo so far held is £2.1 billion. As at 31 Decemer 1999, £1.5 billion of this had been committed and £879 million disbursed.The total bilateral commitment by the United Kingdom is £119 million, of which £113 million has been disbursed. In addition, our share of the European Community's programmes for Kosovo in 1999 and 2000 is about £90 million.

asked the Leader of the House:Which of the existing travelling and other expense allowances for Peers can be varied by the House of Lords itself; and which have to be referred to the Senior Salaries Review Body [HL3459]

Such matters are not normally decided by the House itself but referred to the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB). There is no statutory requirement for parliamentary pay and allowances to be referred to the SSRB. The SSRB is an independent body set up by the Government to advise on, inter alia, Peers' allowances. The SSRB takes evidence as appropriate and makes recommendations based on this. The Government then decide whether to accept the recommendations and place a resolution before the House accordingly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jay of Paddington on 11 July (

The Government have made every effort to take forward negotiations on the Joint Committee on Human Rights through the usual channels in both Houses with a view to establishing the Committee before the summer. Discussions are still taking place and unfortunately it is now, therefore, very unlikely that consultations on the Joint Committee will be concluded before the summer adjournment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they first announced their support for the creation of a Joint Committee on Human Rights; and what has been the progress of this proposal since it was first announced. [HL3603]

We explained our views on a Joint Committee on Human Rights in the Human Rights Bill White Paper. Draft terms of references were drawn up earlier this year, and consultations through the usual channels began in the spring, as indicated in my answer of 25 May. This House has now agreed to the proposed terms of reference; we await the concurrence of the other place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What recommendations were made by Lord Laming's working group on Target Performance Improvement. [HL 3726]

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced the establishment of Lord Laming's working group on 31 January 2000 (Official Report, Commons, col. 425W). My noble friend Lord Laming has completed his report, and copies have been placed in the Library and printed paper office.I am very grateful to the noble friend Lord Laming and his colleagues on the working group, for their analysis and recommendations. Many of these recommendations build on the extensive change of the prison service programme being managed by the Director General. We accept all the recommendations made in the report, save where my noble friend Lord Laming or the Director General has advised us that further work is required in order to assess how best to take the recommendation forward.We have, therefore, today, announced that the right honourable Member for Fareham, and Chairman of the Newbridge Trust, Sir Peter Lloyd, has agreed to chair a review of the role of prisons' boards of visitors (Recommendation 16). Mr Patrick Carter, a non-executive Director of the Prison and Probation Services, has agreed to lead a review of the Prison Service's programme of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) prisons and market-testing (Recommendation 8).The Director General has been asked to report back to my right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Office, Mr Boateng, at the latest by October 2000, with a more detailed action plan in response to Recommendations 4, 5, 9, 13 and 14. I have also asked the Director General and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons to take forward Recommendation 12.We welcome the report's focus on updating personnel policies, and the importance placed on succession planning, and the effective management of sickness absence and poor performers. These underscore the importance of major programmes of work already under way within the Prison Service. My noble friend Lord Laming has noted the leadership being given by the Director General and the Deputy Director General, and the report's recommendations regarding managerial accountability and the pivotal role of the area manager in improving performance built on recent reforms relating to regionalisation.The Prison Service is in the process of modernising its information technology systems, and will be introducing service level agreements into all public sector prisons by April 2001. Work is also in hand to develop a more sophisticated means of linking performance with the allocation of resources. The Quinquennial Review of the Prison Service, conducted in 1999, reaffirmed its status as an Executive Agency.My noble friend Lord Laming's recommendations are:

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the next quinquennial review of the Community Development Foundation will take place. [HL3725]

The next review will start in the autumn and is due to be completed by April 2001. It will be conducted under the terms of guidance for reviewing Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB) included in the Government's Modernising Government White Paper. The review, which will be carried out by external consultants, is in two stages, in which the organisational options are considered first. Then, if NDPB status is confirmed, a forward-looking examination will be undertaken as to how to help develop and improve performance. An announcement of the results of stage one will also be made to Parliament. The senior official responsible for the review will be the head of the Government's Active Community Unit, based in the Home Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the results of the review of penalties for road traffic offences. [HL 3727]

The Government aim to publish a consultation paper on proposals arising from the review of penalties for road traffic offences during the summer Recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they propose to take to help prisons' boards of visitors to be more effective in the way they monitor Prison Service establishments and report on their findings. [HL3729]

The Government value very highly the important role boards of visitors undertake as the watchdog of the Secretary of State and the independent and impartial advice they are able to provide on the standards of fairness and humanity with which those placed in custody by the courts are treated. The majority of boards work very effectively and provide a good service to Ministers and the public. However, in the light of changes within the Prison Service since the last major review of the role of the boards of visitors five years ago, we have decided that the time is right for a further review of the boards' role and we are pleased to announce that Sir Peter Lloyd has agreed to chair a Working Group to take the review forward. Sir Peter is currenty the Chairman of New Bridge, a charity which recruits and trains volunteers to visit prisoners and provides an employment service for ex-offenders.A board of visitors is a body created by statute, and there is one attached to every Prison Service establishment in England and Wales. Board members are lay people appointed by the Secretary of State, who are empowered under the Prison Act 1952:

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will lay before Parliament the Annual Report of the Police Information Technology Organisation. [HL3737]

In accordance with the requirement of the Police Act 1997, I have received, from the Police Information Technology Organisation, a report on the discharge of its functions during the year 1999–2000. I am arranging for copies to be laid before Parliament and placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the future inspection arrangements for the Prison and Probation Services. [HL3728]

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary wants to open the debate on what the future inspection arrangements should be. He intends to publish a consultation paper setting out a choice of options for drawing the work of the two inspectorates closer together. He would expect to reach a decision before the end of the year, taking full account of the consultation exercise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in setting up a pay review body for prison governors, prison officers and related grades for the Prison Service in England and Wales, and in modernising the arrangements for industrial relations; and if the pay review body and modernised arrangements will extend to the same grades in the Northern Ireland Prison Service. [HL3730]

Agreement has been reached to set up a Pay Review Body to make independent recommendations to the Government on the pay of prison governors, prison officers and related grades for the Prison Service in England and Wales. This review body would operate on the lines of the five existing review bodies, which deal with 1.3 million public sector employees. Like the existing review bodies, it would have a secretariat from the independent Office of Manpower Economics.This establishment of an independent pay determination mechanism would be under the provisions of Section 128 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as part of a comprehensive programme of improvement in prison service management.It is also my right honourable friend the Home Secretary's intention, when parliamentary time allows, to replace Section 127 with a reserve statutory power and a voluntary industrial relations agreement. Section 127, as it stands, makes it unlawful for officers of a prison to take industrial action. The voluntary agreement, which has been accepted by the Prison Governors' Association (PGA), the Prison Officers' Association (POA) and the National Executive Committee (NEC), will be put to a special POA delegates conference in August. This will mean that they have agreed not to induce, support or authorise industrial action. In recognition of this, we will provide them with a new disputes procedure which will include independent arbitration. The voluntary agreement, which will be legally binding, will give my right honourable friend the Home Secretary the power to seek injunctive relief.My right honourable friend the Home Secretary intends to use the provisions of the voluntary agreement instead of those in Section 127, while awaiting parliamentary time to effect the changes in legislation. However, it is clear on all sides that Section 127 would be used in the event of a breakdown of the agreement.Together, we hope these measures will create a new climate for industrial relations in the Service. They clear the way for more constructive dialogue on a wide range of issues by modernising the way that this key group of public sector workers deal with their employer.The remit of the Pay Review Body would also have the scope to make an independent determination in relation to the pay of prison governors, prison officers, night patrol officers and prison auxiliaries in the Northern Ireland Prison Service based on submissions made to it by that Service.The implementaton of this agreement and the delivery of the intentions we have outlined above are dependent on our being satisfied that the state of industrial relations within prisons is such as to enable the effective and efficient management of the Service.Such a state cannot be said to have been attained in the light of the current withdrawal of goodwill by the POA, but I will keep the situation under constant review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What demand forecasts the Criminal Records Bureau has made for criminal record checks by the voluntary sector. [HL3610]

No firm figures are available for voluntary sector demand. The voluntary sector has been included in the overall demand forecasts. The Criminal Records Bureau is conscious of the need to get an accurate picture of demand and proposes working closely with registered bodies to assess the likely demand from the voluntary sector and what types of certificate are going to be required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What estimates of the number of criminal record checks have been made by the Criminal Records Bureau for its first three years of operations; and whether they can provide a breakdown by employment sector. [HL3611]

The Criminal Records Bureau has recently produced demand figures for its first three years of operations. Analysis has indicated levels of demand in the region of 2.5 million for the first year, 4.6 million for the second and 5.5 million for the third. The increase for years two and three reflect the introduction of the Criminal Conviction Certificate. A breakdown by employment sector is not currently available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the demand forecasts that the Criminal Records Bureau had made for the number of criminal record checks for the first five years of its operations from June 2001 in the following categories:

Demand forecast work is ongoing. Figures will be included as part of the Criminal Records Bureau Corporate and Business Plan. This next plan covering the period from 2001–2006 will be published in April 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any discussions took place between the French and British Governments over the recently announced proposals in France to deal with dangerous dogs. [HL3639]

No recent discussions have taken place between the French and British Governments on the subject of dangerous dogs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 28 June (

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the report by Martin Taylor commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on tobacco smuggling cannot be published. [HL3661]

Martin Taylor's advice to the Chancellor was personal and confidential. It would therefore not be appropriate to disclose his advice.However, his recommendations on how to tackle tobacco smuggling were summarised in the Government paper

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 25 July, why they refuse to state in the

I explained in my Written Answer of 11 July (col. WA 21) that excise duty receipts on tobacco products for the year 1999–2000 were to be found in Table 2.1D of Financial Statistic's.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any government department, directly or indirectly, has contributed to the funding of Britain in Europe; and, if so, by how much; and [HL3645]Whether any government department, directly or indirectly, has contributed to the funding of the European Movement; and, if so, by how much.[HL3646]

None.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 20 July (

The information requested can be derived from sterling exchange rates on the 4 of January 1999 and the 4 of July 2000. These were published on page 33 of the 5 January 1999 and 5 July 2000 editions of the Financial Times respectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of the recent judgment of the House that solicitors and barristers no longer have immunity from negligence claims when acting as advocates, they will bring forward legislation making similar claims possible in respect of negligent judges. [HL3613]

No.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, is to be published for consultation. [HL3738]

The draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill and consultation paper will be published as a command paper during the Summer Recess. Before the publication of the printed version of the command paper, a typescript copy will be laid before Parliament. Copies of the typescript version of the draft command paper will be made available in the Vote Office and in the Printed Paper Office immediately after it has been laid before both Houses.A summary of the proposals which are to be included in the draft Bill is set out below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What targets Remploy has been set in its 2000–01 Annual Performance Agreement. [HL3733]

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities has written to the Chairman of Remploy approving the 2000–01 Annual Performance Agreement between the Department and the Company. This agreement covers the year from 1 April 2000. It has been negotiated by the Chief Executive of the Employment Service on behalf of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. The targets are:The average number of disabled people employed by Remploy Ltd will be 10,400;

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the level of expenditure from central Government funds for the education of traveller children; and how the funds are allocated and spent. [HL3709]

Funding to meet the additional costs for the education of traveller children is provided through the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Grant, part of the Department's Standards Fund, the main financial resource for the delivery of national education priorities.In the current financial year 2000–2001, the expenditure specifically related to the education of traveller children is £15.7 million. In 1999–2000 it was £13.7 million. Allocations were made on applications received from local education authorities. Ninety-three local education authorities receive funding to support 17,000 traveller children in 3,400 schools.The grant supports the provision of peripatetic teachers; specialist education welfare officers; pupil transport costs and uniform grants and support for distance learning.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the use of corporal punishment in independent schools is banned under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. [HL3710]

From September 1999, Section 131 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 outlawed corporal punishment for all pupils in maintained and independent schools, and for children receiving nursery education.In no circumstances, under English law, is it therefore legal for independent schools to use corporal punishment, even where parents have given their consent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What would be the total cost of bringing the pensions and compensations paid to the families of those Royal Ulster Constabulary members murdered before the increase in pension and compensation in 1982 up to the same level as the pensions and compensation paid to those whose husbands were murdered after the change of calculation, taking account of inflation; and how many families are involved. [HL3135]

Examination of such records as are readily available indicates that there may be in the region of 150 widows who were widowed prior to the changes being made with effect from 1982.The Government are sympathetic to the situation of such widows if they are now experiencing financial difficulties. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has appointed John Steele, a recently retired senior civil servant in the Northern Ireland Office, to conduct a review of the purpose and scope of the new Police Fund recommended in the Report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland. The Patten Commission specifically recommended that the fund should provide financial assistance for police widows and could supplement the income of those on very low pensions. The review being conducted by John Steele will address this issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the average pensions currently being paid to Royal Ulster Constabulary widows of officers killed before November 1982; and what is the average pension of the widows of those killed after that date. [HL3598]

The average of pensions currently being paid to widows, widowed before and after 1982, is calculated at £532.87 and £854.72 per month respectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have received against Royal Ulster Constabulary widows of officers killed before November 1982 receiving enhanced pensions at the level of those widowed after that date. [HL3597]

There have been no representations received against widows of RUC officers killed before November 1982 receiving enhanced pensions at the level of those widowed after that date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why those widows of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers killed before November 1982 will not have their pensions upgraded to the enhanced level of those widowed after that date. [HL3599]

The pensions of widows of RUC officers murdered before and after November 1982 are paid in accordance with the Regulations in force at the time of the deaths. The Government is taking forward, however, the recommendation in the Patten Report that a substantial fund should be set up to help injured police officers, injured retired officers and their families, as well as police widows' (Recommendation 87). Patten specifically mentions that the fund could be used to supplement the income of those on very low incomes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that paying Royal Ulster Constabulary widows a pension of less than £150 per month is in keeping with the spirit sought in the Belfast Agreement; and [HL3600]Whether they consider that having a two-tier system of pension provision for Royal Ulster Constabulary widows is in keeping with the Belfast Agreement's call for parity of esteem. [HL3636]

The pensions paid to some early RUC widows was commented upon in the report by the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland, set up under the provisions of the Belfast Agreement. The Commission's proposal to set up a fund to address, inter alia, their low pension position has been accepted by Her Majesty's Government and plans for it are being made at the moment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people have been convicted of involvement in the 302 murders of Royal Ulster Constabulary officers since 1969; how many cases this figure represents; how many of those convicted are currently still imprisoned; and how many were released under the recent early release scheme. [HL3601]

The information requested on the number of persons convicted of involvement in the murders of the 302 RUC officers since 1969 and the number of cases this represents is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Of those convicted, a total of six prisoners have been released under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 with a further seven prisoners due to he released on 28 July 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many times bail conditions have been broken in Northern Ireland in each of the last ten years; and [HL3308]How many people have been charged with offences while on bail from a court in Northern Ireland during each of the last ten years. [HL3309]

The information requested is not avialable. Statistics on the breaching of bail conditions and on persons charged with offences while on bail are not routinely collected in Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made with plans to mark the bicentenary in 2001 of the creation of the United Kingdom; and what is their response to proposals already submitted. [HL3419]

The Government's position remains that there are no plans for official government-organised events, but that we will consider specific proposals to mark the anniversary and whether it would be appropriate to support these in any way. Bodies such as the British Council and the British-Irish Association have already been involved in marking the anniversary through support for conferences.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many boys and girls were resident in each of the Training Schools in Northern Ireland at the most recent date. [3289]

Training Schools were renamed Juvenile Justice Centres with effect from 31 January 1999. The population in each of the centres at 26 July 2000 was as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:With regard to Lisnevin Training School, Northern Ireland, how many of those detained were on remand and what has been, in practice, the average length of time spent on remand during the past three years; and, in cases where young people were being held by order of a court, what were the maximum and minimum periods of detention and training ordered during the last three years. [HL3290]

The number of boys on remand in Lisnevin Juvenile Justice Centre in each of the last three years was as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many hours per week of education have been provided for those detained at Lisnevin Training School, Northern Ireland, in each of the last three years; whether education is provided throughout the year, or only during school terms; whether training is available in addition to education; and, if so, for how many hours per week. [HL3291]

During each of the last three years, 25 hours per week of education has been provided at Lisnevin Juvenile Justice Centre. The academic year totals 190 days (the same number of days as education is provided in State schools) and is divided into four terms.Education is provided throughout the year, with a four-week break during the summer, and shorter breaks at Christmas, Easter and Halloween.Vocational training such as woodwork and horticulture is provided for a total of six hours—that is, three hours each week for each subject and is included in the 25 hours' educational provision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What sum will be allocated from the proceeds of the sale of the Millennium Dome site for the repayment of monies made available by the Millennium Commission above the original grant of £399 million; and what sum will be paid to English Partnerships. [HL3586]

No monies from the sale of the Millennium Dome will be allocated to the Millennium Commission. Any operating surplus from the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will be returned to the Millennium Commission. I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave the noble Lord, Lord Tomlinson, on 27 July 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the recent publication of memoranda between the Prime Minister, other Ministers, officials and political advisers has prejudiced national security; and what is the security classification of those memoranda. [HL3666]

The leak of any document written by the Prime Minister is a cause for concern. These particular papers did not carry a security classification and their publication did not prejudice national security.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the six-monthly update of information on task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews established since 2 May 1997. [HL3732]

I have placed in the Library of the House lists containing updated details about those live task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews established between 2 May 1997 and 30 April 2000. The lists also contain details about those bodies that have been wound up since 1 November 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria are taken into acount when purchasing cars for Government Departments by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. [HL3658]

Responsibility for these matters has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr Nick Matheson, to write to the noble Lord.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria are used when purchasing cars for use by:

Vehicles are purchased in line with the Government's policy of securing value for money for the taxpayer. Value for money is the optimum combination of whole life costs and quality (or fitness for purpose) to meet the user's requirement. Criteria to be taken into account are essentially economic and will include quality, aesthetics, delivery, maintenance, management, operating and disposal costs as well as initial price.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Whether the House of Lords is entitled to decide whether or not peers should be allowed to use franked envelopes, similar to those provided for

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will make available to the House the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ending 31 December 1999 of the New Millennium Experience Company. [HL3523]

Copies of the New Millennium Experience Company's Annual Report and Financial Statement for the period ended 31 December 1999 were placed in the Libraries of the House on 21 July 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 29 June (

I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 24 July 2000 (col. WA 16.)

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the dates and locations of known punishment beatings undertaken by terrorist organisations in Northern Ireland between 1 January and 30 June 2000; and how this total compares with the same period in 1999. [HL3245]

The attached table shows the number of paramilitary-style shootings and assaults during the periods 1 January to 30 June 1999 and 2000. We do not keep separate figures on the locations but by far the largest number take place in the Greater Belfast area.members of the House of Commons, for correspondence on parliamentary business.[HL3456]

No. Expenditure by Members of the House incurred on parliamentary business may be recovered within limits set by resolutions of the House. Responsibility for tabling these resolutions lies with the Government and they are moved by the Leader of the House. Changes to the Peers' Reimbursement Allowance Scheme proposed by the Government have usually followed recommendations made by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB).The cost of postage arising from correspondence in connection with parliamentary business is one of the items which Lords may claim under the Secretarial Allowance. The SSRB have, in the past, taken into account the cost of postage when recommending the maximum sum which may be claimed for this allowance.

asked the Chairman of Committees:What arrangements exist for free postage for Peers communicating with (a) other members of the House of Lords, (b) members of the House of Commons, (c) Ministers, (d) Government Departments and (e) other public bodies. [HL3457]

(a) and (b) Members may use the free internal mail system for sending any mail within the Parliamentary estate, including to Lords and Members of Parliament. If the Lord or Member of Parliament has given instructions for mail to be forwarded to a different address, the appropriate House will bear the cost.(c), (d) and (e) The Mail Room off Peers' lobby will accept unstamped mail for any official buildings within the M.25 which are covered by the InterDespatch Service (IDS). A list of IDS Call

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ask the United States Department of Agriculture for samples for research purposes from sheep recently affected by Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy in Vermont. [HL3630]

Samples from the sheep in the recent TSE outbreak in Vermont are being fully analysed in the USA. Samples for research

asked the Chariman of Committees:What arrangements exist for free postage to enable members of the House of Lords to send copies of

Lords who wish occasionally to send their copy of Hansard to a third party may ask the Printed Paper Office to frank the envelope provided it has already been addressed and sealed.

asked the Chairman of Committees:What is the ethnic minority and gender breakdown of the staff of the House of Lords at all grades. [HL3429]

Ethnic and gender breakdown for the House of Lords' staff is as set out in the table:purposes have not been requested by Her Majesty's Government. A UK scientist will be part of a Commission mission which intends to visit the USA in August to examine the scientific analysis of these sheep.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have made in meeting the service delivery targets set out in

The table below sets out the performance achieved by the Regional Service Centres (RSCs) during 1999–2000 against the targets published in the Charter document Commitment to Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What specific means an engineer or an architect has to assert his or her right to be recognised as the author of an artefact under the terms of Part II of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. [HL3675]

Under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, copyright is granted to the authors of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, including works of architecture and artistic craftsmanship. These authors are also granted the moral right to be identified as the author of the work in certain circumstances, such as, for example, in the case of a building, on the building itself and where graphic representations or photographs of it are published. However, this right does not apply unless the author has asserted his or her wish to exercise it by giving notice to this effect (which generally has to be in writing and signed) to those seeking to use or exploit the work. Moreover, the right may be waived by the author, and is also subject to certain exceptions such that it does not apply, for example, to anything done by an author's employer in whom ownership of copyright originally vested. Where the right applies and has been infringed, the author may take court action to obtain an injunction against further infringement and/or damages. The relevant provisions of the 1988 Act are those set out in sections 77 to 79, 87 and 103.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of bills were paid on time by government departments and their agencies during financial year 1999–2000. [HL3736]

I am pleased to announce that there has been a further improvement in the payment performance of central government as a whole. The overall payment performance shows that 97.8 per cent of suppliers' bills were paid on time and departments are making good progress towards meeting the 100 per cent target set for this financial year.There is no room for complacency. It is particularly important that the public sector sets an example to business and is seen to pay its bills on time. I am disappointed to see that a number of departments and agencies failed to meet this year's target of 100 per cent. I have taken steps to remind all departments and agencies of the importance of paying suppliers' bills on time and meeting the target.I am particularly disappointed at my own department's failure to meet the target. It is unacceptable that the department which has overall responsibility for the Government's policy on prompt payment should itself fail to meet the target. My officials are introducing new measures designed to ensure that the DTI meets the target as soon as possible this year.The Government are committed to improving the UK's payment culture. Late payment is a serious problem, particularly for small businesses. Not knowing when the customers' bills will be paid means uncertain cashflow, increased borrowings, higher costs and reduced profits.Government departments and their agencies are required to monitor their payment performance and to publish the results in their departmental or annual reports. The following table lists, by department, the proportion of bills paid within 30 days, or other agreed credit period, of receipt of a valid invoice for financial year 1999–2000.