asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Chairman of the SERPLAN Members Policy Group has advised on the distribution of dwellings to be built in the South East up to 2016 in the light of the policies set out in the Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 and of the proposed changes to the Draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9), as requested by the Minister for Housing and Planning in March; and, if so, when this advice will be made public. [HL3896]

No, SERPLAN have not advised further on the distribution of dwellings. The Government are carefully considering all the representations received on draft regional planning guidance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many commuters suffered prolonged delays when the Central Line of the London Underground was shut for nearly four hours after 6 pm on 4th September. [HL3934]

The incident at Liverpool Street affected the whole of the Central Line, and commuters on other lines as well. An accurate estimate of the numbers involved is not available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why a 30 amp fuse on a new underground train could not be replaced immediately in the incident on London Underground on 4 September, and whether such delays as occurred indicate a deficiency in the design of the train. [HL3935]

There is no 30 amp fuse on the type of train in question. The reason the train would not move on this occasion was the tripping (within design specification) of four filter charging circuit breakers. These are designed to protect the traction motors. The reason for tripping is the subject of an ongoing official investigation, as are the position of the circuit breakers and their inability to be reset when the train is in service in the tunnel. A summary of the results and recommendations of this investigation will be published by London Underground in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why there were not enough oxygen masks to treat passengers suffering from the effects of heat following the breakdown on the Central Line of the London Underground on 4 September. [HL3932]

The official investigation of this incident, which is still under way, has not revealed any evidence that the provision of emergency equipment was in any way lacking. As there are no requirements for London Underground to provide and maintain oxygen masks under current legislation, this specialist service was provided by the London Ambulance Service. In the region of 14 fully equipped ambulance units were deployed to Liverpool Street to treat those suffering from the effects of heat.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the names of trawler operators operating three or more vessels in the United Kingdom whose trawlers have been involved in fatal accidents during the last five years, giving dates of incidents and numbers of fatalities for each company. [HL3945]

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 28 July (

In the Government's view, any such legislation would improperly undermine the principle of judicial independence and adversely affect the certainty of the legal process. It would be for the courts to consider and if appropriate review the common law principles which have been established in the existing case law in this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many units there are in the United Kingdom which provide facilities for needle exchange for intravenous drug users; and whether these have increased or decreased in number in recent years. [HL3890]

Data from the drug action team template returns for 1999–2000 show a combined total of 322 statutory and voluntary sector providers of needle exchange services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that an adequate number of dentists and dental nurses are being trained in sedation; and whether they have any plans to increase the number of training courses to make sedation for dental patients more widely available. [HL3851]

We have accepted the recommendations in the report from the review of general anaesthesia and sedation for dental treatment which was led by the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Dental Officer. We want to see methods of pain and anxiety control other than general anaesthesia used whenever possible and are exploring the need, and ways, for increasing the provision of training in sedation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the names of the Chief Medical and Chief Dental Officers since 1960, showing their period in office and indicating whether the position was full or part time. [HL3914]

The Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) since 1960 have been:

• Sir George Godber, 1960–1973;
• Sir Henry Yellowlees; 1973–1983;
• Sir Donald Acheson, 1983–1991;
• Sir Kenneth Calman, 1991–1998;
• Professor Liam Donaldson, 1998—

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why, in view of their statement in the document

In Modernising NHS Dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan, the Government recognise that dentistry needs to be made a higher priority across the whole National Health Service. I am delighted that Dame Margaret Seward has joined the NHS Executive to help with that. During her time as Chief Dental Officer, Dame Margaret will concentrate specifically on the dental strategy and will provide an experienced and expert focus for a wider team implementing the measures that the strategy contains. I have every confidence in Dame Margaret's ability to make a significant contribution to its success.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give a breakdown of how the additional £360 million they are making available to assist people to meet the cost of their residential and nursing home care will be allocated and a similar breakdown of the £900 million they are making available for intermediate care. [HL3893]

Details of what is covered by the £360 million and the £900 million are set out in paragraphs 15.18 and 15.14 of the NHS Plan, copies of which are available in the Library. The proposed allocation of funds to enable the NHS and local councils to achieve these and other service improvements announced in the NHS Plan will be set out in the NHS and local government allocation announcements in the autumn. In line with government policy, resources will not be ring-fenced unless this is necessary to secure outcomes required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the announcement that 86 per cent of primary schools and 98 per cent of secondary schools are online, what is the average number of computer terminals in these schools and how many of these computers are located exclusively in the classroom [HL3909]

Statistics published by the Department for Education and Employment on 6 September indicated that there is one computer for every 12.6 pupils in primary schools, and for every 7.9 pupils in secondary schools. This compares well with the corresponding figures from 1998 (when there was an average of one computer for every 17.6 pupils in primary schools, and for every 8.7 pupils in secondary schools) and demonstrates that schools are on course to meet the challenging targets which we have set for 2004—computer to pupil ratios in primary and secondary schools of 1:8 and 1:5 respectively.The average number of computers per school, and the average number of computers per school available mainly for curriculum purposes, will be included in a further statistical bulletin due for publication on 11 October. As with the highly encouraging Internet connectivity figures referred to in the Question, these data will be based on a survey of schools conducted in April 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is the practice of Ministers to release to the media the text of their speeches and statements to be made in Parliament before they are actually delivered; if so, when this practice began; and whether, in the light of experience, Ministers consider it preferable to continue or discontinue this practice. [HL3961]

The GICS Handbook makes it clear that if a Minister is to make a statement in Parliament, it is helpful to provide the Press Gallery with copies of the text on the understanding that they undertake not to use the statement until it has been checked against delivery. This has been the practice of successive Administrations. There are no plans to change existing practice. Copies of The GICS Handbook are in the Library of the House and on the GICS website www.gics.gov.uk/handbook.