asked Her Majesty's Government:What legal means exist for persons suffering persecution to travel to the United Kingdom for the purposes of claiming asylum, from (a) Afghanistan, (b) Iraq, (c) Iran, (d) Eritrea or Ethopia, (e) Sierra Leone, (f) Zimbabwe, (g) Sri Lanka. [HL785]

Entry Clearance Officers have discretion to accept, outside the Immigration Rules, an application for entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom where a foreign national demonstrates that his or her circumstances meet the definition of the 1951 Convention, that he or she has close ties with the United Kingdom, and where the United Kingdom is the most appropriate country of long-term refuge. Such applications are referred to the Home Office for consideration and, if appropriate, authorisation of Entry Clearance. A temporary Travel Document may be issued by the post abroad to facilitate travel to the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many asylum seekers currently living in initial emergency accommodation have been there for (a) more than one month, and (b) more than three months; and how many under 18 years of age in each case.[HL556]

This information is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. As at 23 February this year there were 7,247 people in emergency accommodation in England and Scotland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cases of rejected asylum seekers are being held by the Home Office, or the Immigration and Nationality Department, before being released to the Immigration Appellate Authority for hearing. [HL791]

Provisional figures for 2000 indicate that at the end of the year about 9,000 asylum cases were being prepared by the Home Office for the appeals process. In addition there will be a small number of cases where refusals are issued on the grounds of non-compliance where it subsequently emerges that a statement of evidence form has been received within the prescribed time, and such cases are reconsidered. Statistics on the numbers of cases to be reconsidered which are in progress, are not collected and could only be produced at disproportionate cost. For the year 2000 as a whole, it is estimated that up to 5,000 cases were reconsidered, or less than 5 per cent of all decisions.

asked Her Majesty's Governments:How many asylum claims have been rejected on the grounds of non-compliance during the last three months, both in total and as a percentage of all rejections during that period. [HL792]

Non-compliance refusals (under paragraph 340 of the immigration rules and paragraph 180F prior to October 1994) are for failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period. From November 1991 these include refusals for failure to respond to invitations to interview to establish identity under the measures introduced then.The information requested is provided in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With regard to asylum applications from (a) Sri Lanka, (b) Afghanistan, (c) Somalia, (d) Iraq, and (e) other countries, what has been the success rate

The latest available information on the outcome of initial decisions is for April to December 2000 ^1,2, and is given in the following table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 14 February (

The information requested is not available. Costs incurred for travel to asylum interviews cannot be separated from the overall travel costs incurred by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). NASS reimburses local authorities by way of grant within unit cost limits for supporting asylum seekers. Travel costs are absorbed within these normal grant limits to local authorities therefore the cost of travel to asylum interviews is not available separately. Those asylum seekers who receive income support are responsible for paying their own travel costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For the last year for which statistics are available:(a) what percentage of applicants for asylum have had their applications refused;(b) what was the length of time between refusal and deportation; and (c) whether they will provide the number of negative applicants who have not been removed from the United Kingdom. [HL946]

During 2000, the Integrated Casework Directorate took 110,065 initial decisions on applications for asylum. Seventy-eight per cent of cases resulted in a refusal (excluding cases decided as part of the backlog clearance exercise).Information about the interval between the final refusal of the application—including any appeal—and subsequent removal of the person concerned, and about the number of failed asylum seekers remaining in the United Kingdom is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether funding will be available nationally to organisations acting as registered bodies under requirements of the Criminal Records Bureau. [HL739]

The Criminal Records Bureau (CR B) project team is currently in touch with potential registered bodies, and we shall be prepared to consider views put to us as to whether some costs, such as those incurred by an "umbrella" body intending to act on behalf of smaller voluntary organisations, might be reimbursed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to reach a decision about funding of the Immigration Advisory Service for the financial year commencing April 2001; and [HL834]What growth they expect in Section 81 funding of the Immigration Advisory Service for next year and thereafter. [HL835]

The Government recognise the importance to the Immigration Advisory Service of an early decision on payment of grant-in-aid under Section 81 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in order for them to plan for a service which can respond to the demands arising from IND's increasing output and other business pressures. Subject to other resourcing needs, and taking account of IAS' other income, the Home Office will play its part in seeking to ensure. as quickly as possible in consultation with IAS, that adequate funding is provided for IAS.Grant-in-aid under Section 81 of the Act is not the IAS' only source of funding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people involved in the illegal provision of sexual services were arrested in England and Wales in 2000; and how many of these had limited leave to remain in the United Kingdom or were here without leave. [HL868]

Individual offences are not identified separately in centrally collected arrests data. However, the table, derived from the Home Office Court Proceedings and Cautions Database, shows persons proceeded against and those cautioned for offences of procuration, brothel keeping and prostitution in England and Wales in 1999.The Immigration Service does not routinely receive statistics on police arrests for non-immigration criminal offences such as the provision of sexual services. No correlation of these offences and immigration status can therefore be made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a table showing the number of people being detained soley under the Immigration Act powers, by stage of application and immigration status, as at the latest convenient date. [HL869]

The most recent information relates to the number of persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 as at 31 December 2000. At that date a total of 1,195 persons were recorded as detained.Current information on persons detained who have claimed asylum, by stage of application and immigration status, is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Miss Zainas Hussain Nazir Hammad, whose claims of slavery were reported in the,

It is Home Office policy not to disclose to a third party any information with regard to an individual's immigration details. I am therefore unable to confirm or deny whether Miss Hammad has claimed asylum in this country.Asylum applications are determined on their individual merits in accordance with the criteria set out in the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 7 November 2000 (H.L. Deb., col 136064), how many loads were escorted by the Metropolitan Police during the week commencing 17 December 2000 and, of these, how many movements involved the use of mobile phones whilst a load was in motion. [HL795]

The Metropolitan Police escorted 30 loads during this period, none of which involved the use of mobile phones as the mode of communication between the police and the abnormal load. This is because in contrast with other forces, abnormal loads escorted by the Metropolitan Police are usually accompanied by police motorcycles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 7 November 2000 (H.L. Deb., col. 1360–64), what evidence supports his assertion that mobile phones are routinely used as a mode of communication between the police escort and the escorted load whilst in motion. [HL796]

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has confirmed that mobile phones are the normal mode of communication between the police and the abnormal load's second man.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to implement Part III of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. [HL849]

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 does not specify a date by which Part III has to be implemented. While it was not proposed to implement Part III before October 2001, the actual implementation date is currently under review and a final decision has yet to be taken.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the Lord Chief Justice, in his lecture given 31 January, that prison overcrowding in England and Wales debilitates the whole system; and, if not, why not; and [HL903]What steps they will take to eliminate the problem of prison overcrowding in England and Wales; and [HL904]What steps they will take to make a sure Home Detention Curfews are used as much as possible. [HL906]

The prison population of 23 February 2001 was 64,488. This was 6,838 below the total certified operational capacity of 71,326 for the same day. The Government set no target for the prison population, as it is for the courts to determine who is sent to prison. The Government will provide the places necessary to accommodate safely and securely those sentenced by the courts. New prison capacity is opening this year. Rye Hill, a 600-place prison near Rugby, opened in January 2001 and Dovegate, an 800-place prison in Staffordshire, is scheduled to open in July 2001. The 2000 Spending Review also provides funding to increase capacity by a further 2,660 by 2004.Overcrowding does not debilitate the whole prison system. It is mainly concentrated in local prisons, which are expected to absorb prisoners as and when the courts remand them. Overcrowding can impact on the daily regime of a prison and constrain the time that prisoners spend on constructive activity. However, it is carefully monitored to ensure that prisons experiencing population difficulties receive support in moving sentenced prisoners to those prisons with vacancies as speedily as operationally possible. The sharing of cells can in certain circumstances be beneficial, such as for prisoners at risk of self harm or suicide.The purpose of Home Detention Curfew (HDC) is to provide selected short-term prisoners with a monitored return to the community, helping them reintegrate into society in a way which best protects the public. Governors may not release prisoners on HDC unless they first pass a stringent risk assessment. I am satisfied that this test is being applied properly and would not wish to encourage governors to release those who might be at higher risk of reoffending or breaching their curfew conditions, or who might pose a danger to the public, simply in order to free up prison places.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what occasions the United Kingdom has notified its intention, in accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland, that it wished to participate in the adoption and application of proposals under the Title IV of the Treaty of European Union in the areas of asylum, combating illegal immigration and civil law. [HL884]

I refer to the reply given to a Question from the Baroness Harris of Richmond (WA 152), on 1 March 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the draft Proceeds of Crime Bill. [HL1062]

We have today published a Command paper, CM 5066, entitled Proceeds of Crime Bill: Publication of Draft Clauses. Copies have been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Home Office website, www.homeoffice.gov.uk.The draft clauses we are publishing provide for the establishment of an asset recovery agency; the introduction of civil recovery; the application of taxation powers to suspected criminal assets; the creation of new specific powers for the tracing and investigation of criminal assets; the restraint of assets of suspected persons during a criminal investigation instead of only at the point of charge; improvements in the United Kingdom's ability to assist foreign jurisdictions; and the reform and updating of confiscation procedures and money laundering offences. The Bill, the work on which has been undertaken on a collaborative basis, will introduce equivalent measures in Scotland and Northern Ireland, adjusted for the legal systems of those jurisdictions.The Government will take account of the responses to the Command paper before finalising the Bill for introduction. We are asking to receive replies before the end of May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What matters were discussed, and what individual cases were raised, with the Chinese authorities at the United Kingdom-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing, which took place between 12 to 14 February. [HL844]

The sixth round of the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue was held in China between 12–14 February. This comprised two days of talks in Peking and a one-day mission to Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to allegations that 700,000 Chinese soldiers have been deployed in southern Sudan. [HL929]

We have no evidence of the presence of any Chinese soldiers in Sudan, let alone the figure of 700,000 alleged in one press report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any evidence that Sudanese oil revenues are being spent on arms procurement. [HL930]

The Sudanese Government have recently restated their commitment to use oil revenues for infrastructure investment, capacity building and social services. There is evidence to suggest that military expenditure has remained stable, but we continue to press for greater clarity in this regard.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any evidence that Osama bin-Laden either owns or has previously owned drug farms in Sudan. [HL931]

We have no evidence of this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements they are making to ensure that while depleted uranium remains in service in NATO the time and exact locations of its use are invariably recorded. [HL753]

This is not a matter for NATO, but for each NATO nation. In respect of the UK, depleted uranium munitions are used by the Royal Navy and the Army.Royal Navy units are required to submit a signalled report to Flag Officer Surface Flotilla on completion of all firings, noting what ammunition and in what quantity and where fired. The ship will also note its latitude and longitude in the ship's log.In the case of land-based depleted uranium munitions, test firings of depleted uranium rounds are conducted under controlled conditions at our ranges at Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway. Depleted uranium rounds are not used by the Army for training purposes. On operations, when such munitions are fired from Challenger 2, the tank may well be under attack and on the move and it would therefore be impossible to establish with any certainty the exact location where any rounds land. The tank commander will know how many rounds he has fired and he will be able to work out retrospectively into what general area he fired a DU round.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether credit rating agencies or companies must recognise BFPO addresses when ascertaining the creditworthiness of members of HM Armed Forces; and, if not, why not. [HL894]

Credit rating agencies do not have to recognise BFPO addresses when ascertaining the creditworthiness of Service personnel. There are practical problems in doing so arising both from the software programs used and the frequent changes that would be necessary as personnel move around the world. The Post Office market the unique post code system operated for all United Kingdom addresses. This is used by most commercial organisations but is not compatible with the BPFO numbering system.The initial rejection of a credit application by the software program will normally be followed by a manual check. However, it is recognised that some companies will not undertake manual checks for small value orders.This issue has been raised with Ministers by the Service Families Federations. The Service Families Task Force is now discussing the matter with the British Bankers' Association, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and the Finance Leasing Association.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on agreement between NATO and the European Union on the chain of command and planning structures for the European Rapid Reaction forces following the Prime Minister's statement (HC Deb., 11 December 2000, col. 349–350) that, "The next step is for the two organisations to agree on the necessary arrangements. Any significant operation will require NATO assets and any such operation will be planned at NATO by the planning staff at SHAPE". [HL902]

NATO Foreign Ministers on 14–15 December 2000 welcomed the decisions and proposals made at the Nice European Council on European crisis management. It reaffirmed determination to reinforce NATO's European Pillar, and to share the goals endorsed by EU Member States at Nice.In order to create an EU security and defence dimension without duplicating capabilities that we have built up in NATO, we are continuing to develop detailed arrangements through which the bulk of the military resources needed for planning and conducting European-led operations (eg planning staffs, command structures, key assets) could be drawn from resources already available to NATO. This is ongoing work.The EU proposed at Nice that for any EU-led operation that has recourse to NATO's assets and capabilities, operational planning will be conducted at SHAPE, under the supervision of the Deputy SACEUR. DSACEUR will often, in such cases, also act as the Operation Commander at the head of a command chain drawn from NATO command structures, but under the political control and strategic direction of the EU. The EU has no plans to establish separate operational planning structures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose to allow the Food Standards Agency to use EC directives to justify extra charges from the Meat Hygiene Service on small and medium abattoirs before an appeal process has been instituted. [HL757]

We are advised by the Food Standards Agency that it intends to revise its proposals to give effect to the recommendations of the Meat Inspection Charges Task Force in the light of the views received from those consulted. In particular, it intends to propose that, if an occupier of a slaughterhouse does not agree with notification by the Meat Hygiene Service of an additional charge, the occupier may request that the dispute be settled by an independent person. Such a proposal would be in conformity with Council Directive 96/43/EC on the financing of veterinary inspections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funding they have given to research on air pollution over the last four years; and what the basis was for their recent decision no longer to provide funding for research into the health effects of environmental outdoor and indoor air pollution. [HL970]

The Department of Health has contributed around £3.2 million to research on air pollution over the last four years. The Air and Environment Quality Division in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) has contributed around £35.7 million. Other parts of DETR and other Government departments also contribute.Due to competing priorities and the fact that a major research programme on outdoor air pollution has recently been completed, the Department of Health has not funded a follow-up programme although some small projects have been funded. Research in this area will be considered again as priorities for research are reassessed each year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 20 December (

We understand that it was not accepted practice at the time of the pilot study to obtain written consent from subjects before taking blood samples or issuing questionnaires. Blood samples were taken for clinical purposes and the questionnaires aimed to verify the circumstances of exposure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Lord Chancellor or the Attorney-General made any appeal to lawyers at a function at the Atlantic Bar and Grill on 7 February to contribute funds to the Labour Party. [HL919]

The Lord Chancellor invited guests to the function on 7 February. He made brief introductory remarks of welcome and reminded them that this was a fundraising dinner. The Attorney-General made the principal speech commending the achievements of the Government to date and inviting contributions to the campaign fund. He also invited guests who were not already members to consider joining the Society of Labour Lawyers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the differential pricing introduced by the Post Office for the first class inland rate (27 pence) compared to the cost of 36 pence to send a letter or postcard of up to 20 grams to the rest of Europe (including the Republic of Ireland) accords with the provisions of the Single European Market. [HL827]

The European Postal Services Directive 97/67/EC requires the Post Office to gear its postage rates to the cost of providing the service. The Post Office has therefore geared the tariffs to the true cost of providing them, whether within the UK or to the rest of Europe. The major part of the costs of cross-border mail is the delivery costs of the post office of the destination country, which are reimbursed by most major European post offices through an agreement made between them known as REIMS II. There is no European Union requirement for a uniform tariff throughout Europe.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What their assessment is of the role to be played by trade unions in securing the support of employees for improved productivity and essential restructuring; and what is their policy towards European Union proposals for information and consultation systems. [HL959]

The Government believe that trade unions have an important role to play in fostering a partnership culture in the workplace, which will contribute to matters such as improved productivity and support for restructuring. The Government have shown their support for the role of trade unions through the provisions on trade union recognition in the Employment Relations Act 1999. The Government have accepted the EU directive on European Works Councils and the directive supplementing the Statute for a European Company with regard to the involvement of employees. The Government see no need for the proposed directive establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community, which is difficult to reconcile with subsidiarity and would cut across member state traditions to no benefit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy regarding the long-standing request of the Greek Government for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens. [HL901]

The Government's policy is that the Parthenon Sculptures should remain at the British Museum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in the conduct of the fraud inquiry into the stone used in the portico of the British Museum's Great Court; and when they expect the matter of the payment of the final £1.3 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund to be resolved. [HL895]

Following the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on the British Museum's South Portico stone contract, the Museum has referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police Fraud Squad. Police investigations are ongoing. The Heritage Lottery Fund is expected to reach a decision on its final payment within the next two months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many warrants of possession were issued on residential properties in (a) Great Britain and (b) each county court in Britain, for each year since 1990 to date. [HL891]

The total number of warrants of possession issued in England and Wales in each year since 1990 is set out in the table below. I have placed a copy of the table showing the number issued in each county court in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimated cost of the BSE crisis to the Common Agricultural Policy. [HL898]

The European Commission has estimated that the current proposals for the beef sector in response to the BSE crisis would lead to the following costs: