asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the Lord Chancellor's decision not to proceed with the implementation of Part II of the Family Law Act 1996, what proposals they have to provide divorcing and separating couples with access to the information, legal help, mediation and counselling services that they need. [HL1418]

The Government continue to finance both mediation and legal advice and representation through the Legal Services Commission. I also provide funding for marriage and relationship support organisations, which will increase to £4.5 million in 2001–02 and £5 million in 2002–03. My officials are currently working with the Legal Services Commission in order to pilot proposals to tie these services more closely together in Family Advice and Information Networks which will be able to provide a range of information and help to those experiencing family problems, either directly or by referring them to other local support and information agencies. These proposals will build on research evidence in order to enable us to provide the information and help that people want at the time that they need it. We expect piloting to begin by October 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to promote Alternative Dispute Resolution in the settlement of disputes involving Government. [HL1419]

On Friday 23 March I announced an initiative on the settlement of government disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution. Under this initiative, government departments and agencies make these commitments on the resolution of disputes involving them:

1. Alternative Dispute Resolution will be considered and used in all suitable cases wherever the other party accepts it.

2. In future, departments will provide appropriate clauses in their standard procurement contracts on the use of ADR techniques to settle their disputes. The precise method of settlement would be tailored to the details of individual cases.

3. Central government will produce procurement guidance on the different options available for ADR in government disputes and how they might be best deployed in different circumstances. This will spread best practice and ensure consistency across government.

4. Departments will improve flexibility in reaching agreement on financial compensation, including using an independent assessment of a possible settlement figure.

There may be cases that are not suitable for settlement through ADR—for example, cases involving intentional wrongdoing, abuse of power, public law, human rights and vexatious litigants. There will also be disputes where, for example, a legal precedent is needed to clarify the law, or where it would be contrary to the public interest to settle.Government departments will put in place performance measures to monitor the effectiveness of this undertaking.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will be publishing the Department for International Development's Annual Report. [HL1416]

The DFID Annual Report of 2001 is published today. It looks back at a year in which considerable progress was made in strengthening international efforts to reduce poverty: twenty-two countries have now qualified for HIPC debt relief; increasing numbers of poor countries are producing comprehensive poverty reduction strategies; and the European Union has agreed to duty-free access for all imports except arms from least developed countries. As this report shows, the Department for International Development is a driving force behind these and many other efforts to reduce global poverty.This year's report provides a more detailed assessment of progress against the International Development Targets broken down by region. The report also shows progress at meeting the objectives set in our 1998 Public Service Agreement which are based on the performance of our top 30 partners in achieving the International Development Targets. The 2000 Spending Round agreed substantial additional resources to enhance our existing efforts. Our plans for allocation of these resources are set out in the report.

We actively encourage people to claim social security benefits to which they are entitled. Approximately £9 million has been spent on a variety of initiatives to encourage pensioners to take up the Minimum Income Guarantee. Also, as part of the campaign a teleclaims centre has been established, as a permanent feature, to offer a modern alternative to the claims process.

The targets are in fact for 50 per cent of all pubs and 50 per cent of all restaurants in the Restaurant Association's membership to be charter compliant by the end of 2002. The Public Places Charter Group will conduct a survey of hospitality industry companies this summer to identify levels of take-up. Responsibility for monitoring take-up of the charter is a matter for the members of the Public Places Charter Group, but the Department of Health remains in close touch with progress and assists the development of the charter where possible. The department has no reason to doubt that the Charter Group will achieve its targets.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of venues covered by the hospitality industry's Public Places Charter currently comply with that Charter. [HL769]

A survey of hospitality industry companies will take place this summer to identify the level of charter compliance. The Public Places Charter Group estimates current compliance at around 10–15 per cent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the hospitality industry's customers are made aware of whether particular establishments comply with the Public Places Charter. [HL770]

A key part of the charter is the associated external signage which indicates to customers to what extent smoking is allowed in the venue in question.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they intend to build on the strategic approach to hepatitis C. [HL1383]

The Department of Health is setting up a steering group with the following terms of reference:

To oversee development of the Department's strategic approach to hepatitis C by bringing together issues relating to prevention, control and treatment and to produce a document within the year, for consultation with the NHS, professional bodies and the voluntary and community sectors.

The proposed membership of the group is as follows.STEERING GROUP MEMBERSHIP

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to be able to reply to the Question for Written Answer (HL583) tabled on 31 January about the representations made by Professor Michael Banner on the Department of Health's attitude to and support for the vCJD Incident Panel. [HL1110]

I replied to my noble friend's Question on 21 March. I apologise for the delay in responding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 12 March (

The Government have received a further 17 representations. Replies will be sent shortly setting out the position as outlined in my reply of 13 March (WA 81–82).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consider launching an advertising campaign to recruit graduates as specialist speech therapists and specialist teachers later this year. [HL1129]

The Department of Health invests in a wide range of measures to recruit graduates into the healthcare professions, including speech and language therapy. These include provision of improved bursaries and payment of tuition fees for students, setting up of NHS Careers to provide careers advice and information, improved careers literature and the recent national recruitment advertising campaign for all staff. The department is also discussing with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists how to build on these measures.The Department for Education and Employment is providing significant levels of financial support for the training and professional development of teachers and other staff working with children with special educational needs.

This information is not held centrally.The Department of Health issued Health Service Circular 1999/176 in August 1999. Copies are available in the Library. This asks National Health Service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is not available at the time the technology first becomes available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all available evidence.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements have been made to review the procedures for safeguarding the security and confidentiality of information to be collected in the 2001 Census in England and Wales. [HL1386]

The Government's White Paper on the 2001 Census, published in March 1999, gave assurances that the well-established traditions of maintaining confidentiality of information collected in the census would be upheld for the 2001 Census, and that the Census Offices would undertake reviews of the confidentiality and security arrangements for the 2001 Census and would publish the outcome of such reviews before the census.Independent reviews of the physical security arrangements for processing the 2001 Census information and the measures to protect the statistical confidentiality of the data were undertaken last year. The outcome of the reviews, including a joint statement from the Registrars General for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, is being published today by the Office for National Statistics, the General Register Office for Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.The Government are satisfied that the measures and procedures in place will protect the security and confidentiality of the 2001 Census.The report is available via the National Statistics website (

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide an update of their plans for Partnerships UK. [HL1387]

Partnerships UK was launched in June 2000 to build upon the success of the Treasury Taskforce and to provide a permanent and sustainable centre of expertise to continue the Treasury Taskforce's role in developing and expanding the Government's PPP programme.The Treasury is currently seeking private investors for a 51 per cent state in Partnerships UK. The Treasury's aim is to raise at least £22.5 million through a sale of the shares on a competitive basis to qualifying institutions. Each potential qualifying investor is being invited to invest between £1 million and £5 million.An Information Memorandum has been distributed to qualifying institutions in connection with this Offer for Sale. Further information on the sale can be obtained from the publication copy of the Information Memorandum which has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the speech by the Prime Minister to the World Wildlife Fund in London on 6 March, what inter-departmental arrangements will now be put in place to ensure that all the policies of the Government, including those for industry, transport, taxation, and agriculture, are consistent with the objective of a sustainable environment and future for Britain and the world community. [HL1223]

Inter-departmental arrangements to ensure that government policies are consistent with the objectives of sustainable development are already in place through the work of the Cabinet Committee on the Environment and the Green Ministers' Committee, overseen by the House of Commons Environment Audit Committee.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to persuade the United States and the European Union member states to ratify the Kyoto Protocol of the Climate Change Convention by the time of the Earth Summit in 2002. [HL1225]

In his speech on the environment at Chatham House (6 March), the Prime Minister described the Kyoto process as the first real step down the road of collective action to meet our collective responsibility. We remain committed to securing an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.The next round of international negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol will take place between 16 and 27 July in Bonn. We will do everything we can to promote an agreement at these talks. In the meantime, we will raise the issue of climate in every relevant forum with the US, and continue to discuss the way forward with other countries. Indeed, the Foreign Secretary raised climate change with Colin Powell when he met him in February.The EU is continuing to prepare for ratification and entry into force of the protocol by 2002, and to put in place the policies and measures needed to enable the Community and its member states to meet their Kyoto targets.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What grounds raised by those who oppose planning applications may be admitted by public inquiries into such applications. [HL1248]

Parties opposing a planning application may raise any relevant issues. If they wish to appear at inquiry they will be heard by the Inspector provided that they have something relevant to say which has not already been said.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions took place between the Housing Corporation and the Government Office for London, in the drafting of the London Housing Statement 2000, in the context of the Green Paper

No discussions took place between the Government Office for London and the Housing Corporation prior to the London Housing Statement on the need for additional homes in Greater London for gypsies and other travellers.However, the Housing Policy Statement in December 2000 announced that the Government will be commissioning research into site provision and assessing the accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers across the country. This research will also look at the extent to which the housing needs of gypsies are covered in the housing needs assessments undertaken by local authorities. In addition, the Government have announced a Gypsy Site Refurbishment Grant of £17 million over three years to refurbish existing local authority gypsy sites and to help keep open the existing network of over 300 sites.The London Planning Advisory Committee's 1999 Housing Capacity Study examined residential dwelling capacity but did not investigate the capacity to provide sites for gypsies and other travellers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations (S.I. 2001/561) has been approved by the Council of Ministers; whether it was adopted unanimously or by qualified majority vote: and, if the latter, how the Minister representing the United Kingdom voted. [HL1284]

The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 is domestic legislation and does not require the approval of the European Council of Ministers.Council Regulations 2411/98 which requires member states to recognise number plates incorporating the Euro-symbol as an alternative to the traditional oval sticker was adopted unanimously by the Council of Ministers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations (S.I. 2001/561) permit the display of the Euro-symbol, the 12 stars in gold, on vehicle licence plates as from 1 September 2001.[HL1285]

The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 will permit the display of the Euro-symbol along with the UK national distinguishing sign "GB" on a voluntary basis on vehicle number plates from 1 September 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations (S.I. 2001/561) allow, as an alternative to the display of the Euro-symbol the display of a British national symbol on vehicle licensing plates as from 1 September 2001. [HL1286]

The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 will prohibit the display of any symbol on number plates other than the United Kingdom national identification letters "GB" together with the Euro-symbol. This does not preclude the use of the traditional GB sticker elsewhere on the back of the car.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will set out the current situation relating to the proposals for a substantial increase in glider movements out of RAF Upper Rissington and the estimated timetable for an end to current uncertainty. [HL1071]

RAF Little Rissington is one of a number of Ministry of Defence sites under consideration as a new location for the future delivery of Joint Service Adventurous Training (Gliding) following the planned closure of RAF Bicester in December 2001. A detailed investigation into alternative sites is under way and will be completed within the next few months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will estimate the level of glider movements from RAF Upper Rissington in the months May to September 2001 inclusive. [HL1072]

The No. 637 Volunteer Gliding School, currently based at RAF Little Rissington, is programmed to undertake approximately 4,000 glider launches per annum. Historical data indicates the number of launches taking place during the period May to September 2001 is likely to be in the region of 1,700.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What additional total amount of pounds sterling would be payable to a private soldier on a six-monthly overseas unaccompanied emergency tour if he were paid at the rate of the National Minimum Wage. [HL323]

I refer my noble friend to the Answer I gave him on Wednesday 29 November 2000, (Official Report, column WA 133).

The Government are taking robust action on all these issues.GREEN TECHNOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCESThe recent White Paper,

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 5 March (H.L. Deb., col. 4), why the rules designed to prevent consumers from being misled about the true nature, substance or quality of beef imports do not apply to lamb, pork or bacon. [HL1191]

The EU beef labelling rules and the cattle tracing system on which they are dependent arose directly from concerns over the public health implications of BSE. No similar concerns have arisen in respect of sheepmeat or pigmeat, and thus no parallel rules have been promulgated for labelling and tracing in those sectors. False or misleading labelling of any product is an offence under food law and consumer protection legislation. The Government have issued advice to enforcement authorities and industry, making it clear that origin claims must be clearly worded so that they do not mislead, particularly as to the origin of ingredients.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will declare a national emergency because of the foot and mouth outbreak. [HL1259]

There are no plans to declare a national emergency. All necessary resources of government are being devoted to the eradication of the disease from the national herds and flocks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made with appointments to the government-industry forum on non-food uses of crops since the adjournment debate on non-food crops in Westminster Hall on 11 January. [HL1417]

The following appointments have been made to the forum: Mr Robert Margetts CBE as Chairman, Professor Dianna Bowles, Dr David Carmichael, Mrs Pamela Castle. Dr Paul Ekins, Dr Ray Marriott, Dr Richard Miller and Mr Andy Taylor. In addition there will be one member each from MAFF, DTI and DETR and MAFF will also provide a full-time Secretary, and two technical advisers.The terms of reference of the forum are: