asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria they intend to use to assess applications for funding from the extra-statutory ex-gratia scheme established to provide representation for proceedings before coroners in exceptional inquests in Northern Ireland. [HL1445]

I can advise the noble Lord that I will consider each application for funding from the extra-statutory scheme on its individual merits and in the round. In so doing I will have regard to:

(a) whether the issues raised in the application fall outside the scope of a coroner's inquest;

(b) whether the applicant would qualify financially for full civil legal aid in other circumstances;

(c) whether an effective investigation of the death by the state is needed, and whether the inquest is the only way to conduct it;

(d) whether the applicant has a sufficiently close relationship to the deceased to warrant funding;

(e) whether an alternative to public funding is available;

(f) whether the applicant needs representation in order to participate effectively in the inquest—for example, because there are unusually complex questions of law or fact, or evidential difficulties, or because of the level of representation of others who have an interest in or are involved in the inquest;

(g) whether there is a significant wider public interest in representation being provided;

(h) the views of the coroner, if expressed; and (i) any other matters which appear to be relevant to the individual circumstances of the case.

I am writing to interested parties to invite their views on the criteria.The consultation exercise for these criteria will conclude on 30 June 2001. In the meantime and until I reach a conclusion on the final criteria to be adopted, I will apply the criteria set out above to any applications for funding from the extra-statutory fund.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the revenue which will be foregone by the Treasury as a result of the Budget scheme to enable non-charging national museums to reclaim VAT; and how much revenue is currently foregone by the Treasury under the existing scheme whereby charging museums can reclaim. [HL1309]

The cost of the Government's VAT refund scheme for the main national museums and galleries is set out in Table A.11 of the 2001 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much revenue would be foregone by the Treasury, in relation to the scheme announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Budget to enable national museums to reclaim VAT, if non-charging university museums with designated collections were to be included as an additional sector to the scheme, including a breakdown of the relevant figures. [HL1310]

No such estimates have been made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale on 8 March, whether the total expenditure allocated to Scotland of £15,047 million for 2000–01, and £16,231 million for 2001–02 took any account of the implementation of the Sutherland Report and the proposed increase in teachers' salaries above the level agreed for England; and what is the estimated cost of implementing these two items of expenditure. [HL1155]

The resources allocated to Scotland in the 2000 Spending Review were based on changes to the provision made for comparable programmes for England and Wales, as provided for in the Statement of Funding Policy. No additional resources have been provided to take account of the implementation in Scotland of the Sutherland Report or the recently agreed increase in teachers' salaries. Estimates of the costs of these measures are a matter for the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action will be taken to speed up the arrangements for valuing animals that have to be slaughtered because of foot and mouth disease. [HL1423]

An order has been made to change the valuation procedure for animals slaughtered for foot and mouth disease. This order gives farmers the option of payments at standard rates, or of having animals valued by a valuer. This is intended to help speed up the valuation process and so ensure that animals can be slaughtered as quickly as possible.The standard rates of valuation are as follows:

	£
Sheep
Breeding ewes (in lamb/lamb at foot)	90
Cull/draft ewes	32
Hoggets (male and female old season's lamb)	55
New season's lamb	60
Rams	150
Pigs
Gilts	190
Breeding Sows	130
Cull sows	80
Piglets on sow	18
Stores: Breeding units (weaners)	30
Stores: Finishing unit	55
Boars	520
Cattle
Clean cattle: Steers (under 30 months old)	600
Clean cattle: heifers (under 30 months old)	500
Clean cattle: young bulls (under 30 months old)	580
Breeding cows	1,100
Breeding heifers	900
Breeding bulls	1,000
Cull cattle (including clean cattle over 30 months old)	325

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will respond to the "open letter" addressed to them by the editor of the

We will reply to the letter. The Department of Health have given an undertaking to issue a discussion document on the future of the National Cardiothoracic Transplant Service as soon as we have all the relevant facts. The decision on the site of the fourth national cardiothoracic transplant centre will be announced once any comments have been considered.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will set up a national cancer research institute. [HL1420]

The NHS Cancer Plan of September 2000 said that the Director of NHS Research and Development and the National Cancer Director had been asked to work with all those involved in the funding and delivery of cancer research and to come forward with definitive proposals for a national cancer research institute. They have done so, and we have agreed their proposals.The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is a partnership between all the United Kingdom Health Departments, the Medical Research Council, the Cancer Research Campaign, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, the Marie Curie Research Institute and the pharmaceutical industry. The greatest benefit for patients is likely to be achieved if all the main funders of cancer research work together to ensure the best use of research resources.The NCRI will be established from 1 April. It will provide the focus for cancer research conducted across the UK, and provide strategic oversight of that research. It will take the lead in identifying where further research initiatives are indicated and are most likely to lead to progress. It will also co-ordinate research into cancer genetics in the UK.But the NCRI will not be a single, large "bricks and mortar" facility. It will have a core staff of about six people, and total running costs of about £500,000 a year. All the partners have agreed to contribute. The details have to be worked out, but the Government are prepared to underwrite the costs in the first instance so that the NCRI can make progress without delay.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish their response to the Science and Technology Committee 6th Report of session 2000–01 on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. [HL1421)

The Government's response to the Science and Technology Committee's 6th Report on Complementary and Alternative Medicine is published today and copies will be placed in the Library. The Government welcome the committee's report and believe its main recommendations will help protect the interests of patients and other consumers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What actions UNMIK and KFOR are taking to prevent violence and illegal incursions by armed Albanian extremists in the frontier districts of Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia. [HL1139]

KFOR has stepped up its efforts to control the boundary between Kosovo and the rest of Serbia, and the border with Macedonia. A NATO representative helped broker the ceasefire between the FRY authorities and representatives of the armed groups in the Presevo Valley area of southern Serbia. Some Yugoslav Army forces have been allowed to return to one area of the Ground Safety Zone on the border with Macedonia, under the authority of the KFOR Commander. KFOR is taking a number of specific steps to help the Macedonian authorities. Urgent consideration is being given to further assistance, following the escalation in the Tetovo area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they last discussed issues of religious freedom with the government of Russia; and whether they will ask for extensions of the time-limits for registering local religious groups. [HL1216]

Senior FCO officials raised UK concerns over religious freedom at the UK/Russia human rights talks in Moscow on 5–6 March 2001.An EU

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are discussing with the Russian Federation problems surrounding the registration of the Salvation Army as a religious group in Moscow, St Petersburg, Volgograd and Rostov on Don (given successful registration in five other cities). [HL1217]

The Salvation Army has re-registered in St Petersburg, Rostov on Don and Volgograd (as well as Petrosavodsk and Vyborg). We are closely monitoring the situation in Moscow, and have raised our concerns with the Russian Government. The Salvation Army was registered at a federal level on 20 February 2001 and we hope this will enable the difficulties in Moscow to be resolved. We will continue to watch the situation closely.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ask British Missions in all the countries of the Soviet Union to be vigilant concerning religious liberty and non-discrimination and to raise these issues whenever seems necessary. [HL1218]

All of our missions in former Soviet Union countries follow issues of religious freedom and discrimination closely. We take every opportunity, often with EU partners, to urge the states of the region to pursue laws and practices which foster tolerance and mutual respect and to protect religious minorities against discrimination, intimidation and attacks. We also regularly raise specific cases of religious persecution with the governments concerned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Treaty of Nice and related agreements require ratification by Parliament before they become legally binding upon the United Kingdom, or whether they have already become so under the treaty-making powers of the Royal Prerogative. [HL1183]

The Treaty of Nice needs to be ratified by all 15 member states before it can enter into force and become legally binding upon the United Kingdom and the other member states. Before the UK can ratify the treaty, legislation amending the 1972 European Communities Act will need to be passed by Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that Azerbaijan meets the human rights standards required for membership of the Council of Europe, notably as regards its elections and free media; and, if so, what is the basis for this opinion. [HL1197]

On joining the Council of Europe on 25 January this year, the Government of Azerbaijan undertook to continue the process of democratic reform in order to meet the standards expected of a member state. This included commitments, which the Committee of Ministers will monitor, to improve its election procedures and to introduce legislation to guarantee freedom of expression.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will press the Government of Azerbaijan to secure the fundamental right to fair elections and free expression in accordance with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights and its First Protocol. [HL1198]

The Government will continue to play its part in the Committee of Ministers in pressing Azerbaijan to honour the commitments which it made on becoming a member of the Council of Europe. These included undertakings to hold free and fair elections and to introduce standard legislation to guarantee freedom of expression. The Committee of Ministers has made special arrangements to monitor Azerbaijan's fulfilment of these commitments. This has already led to the re-staging of elections where irregularities have been discovered.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funds, in real terms, were paid by the Treasury to the BBC World Service, to the British Council and to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in total in each year since 1995; and what is their estimated funding in the period ahead covered by the latest Comprehensive Spending Review. [HL381]

Information on Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure plans for financial years 2001–02 to 2003–04 (including provision for the British Council and BBC World Service) will be included in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2001 Departmental Report, to be laid before Parliament shortly. The report will also include details of Foreign and Commonwealth Office, BBC World Service and British Council outturn in financial years 1995–96 to 2000–01.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy on contacts between United Kingdom nuclear industry personnel and nationals of India and Pakistan. [HL1384]

Our policy on contacts with India and Pakistan on nuclear issues is set out in a statement to Parliament by the then Minister of State, Tony Lloyd, on 10 July 1998. However, where contact between UK nuclear scientists and nuclear industry personnel and Indian and Pakistani individuals is judged not to be of proliferation concern, we will, on a case-by-case basis, consider making an exception to the policy.We have decided to make such an exception for an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) research co-ordination meeting on nuclear reactor decommissioning which, following a request by the IAEA, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) have agreed to host. Participants from several countries, including India and Pakistan, will be invited to attend the meeting, to be held in the United Kingdom in May 2001. In view of our policy we were consulted by BNFL on the IAEA proposal. We firmly support the work of the IAEA and the safe decommissioning of nuclear reactors and judge that the meeting will not in any way assist the development of weapons of mass destruction. We will continue to consider future cases individually.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they will take to modernise the entry clearance service. [HL1385]

The Government will invest £7.2 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund over the next three years in improved technology for the entry clearance (visa) service. This will help deliver a fairer, faster and firmer service, with benefits for visa applicants and for their sponsors in the UK. It will also contribute to the Prime Minister's target of enabling all public services to be delivered electronically by 2005.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any progress has been made towards the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. [HL1422]

I am pleased to announce that the UK has today ratified the charter. In doing so, we have undertaken a binding commitment to protect and preserve Welsh. Scottish-Gaelic, Irish, Scots and Ulster-Scots as an essential part of our cultural heritage. We are considering the case for Cornish to be included. Our Instrument of Ratification lists the specific provisions in Part III of the Charter which we have undertaken to promote the use in public life of Welsh, Scottish-Gaelic and Irish. Copies of the Charter and the Instrument of Ratification have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have made to the Royal British Legion's long-standing campaign to secure a Minister for Veterans' Affairs; and what consultation they will be having with the ex-Service community about their response. [HL1308]

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced in another place on Wednesday 14 March 2001 (Official Report, col. 1019W) the appointment of a Veterans' Minister. We will be consulting representatives of the ex-Service community about how this initiative might be taken forward, as well as seeking their views on arrangements for the Veterans' Task Force and Forum, the latter of which will include representatives of the veterans groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What responses have been received to the Ministry of Defence's consultative document on screening arrangements for Service personnel and civilians who have served in the Balkans or the Gulf and who are concerned about exposure to depleted uranium. [HL1425]

We are pleased to say that we have received a total of 32 very helpful and constructive responses to our consultative document on technical aspects of a screening programme. These are being used in the development of plans for the next stage of work. We now plan to publish a second consultative document with our proposals by 11 April. This is a little later than we had hoped, but the change is necessary if we are to take proper account of the comments we have received.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ask the Director General of the Prison Service to issue an instruction to prison governors to consult visiting ministers of non-Christian faiths about the design and suitability of rooms designed or constructed as multi-faith accommodation; and whether they will ensure that such accommodation is carpeted. [HL1242]

In my Answer to a Question from the noble Lord on 7 March (WA30) on the provision of multi-faith accommodation in prisons, I said that the Prison Service would be discussing with members of the Advisory Group on Religion in Prisons, at their next meeting, the issue of guidelines for prisons on the requirements and use of such rooms. Issues such as the need to consult locally with the relevant ministers and the carpeting of such rooms will form a part of this consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they propose to consult the Advisory Group on Religion in Prisons on the latest draft standard on religion; and, in particular, whether they will seek agreement on a requirement that the chapel be made available to the non-Christian faiths where no suitable alternative is available. [HL1243]

The Prison Service standard on religion is due to be issued in early April. Members of the Advisory Group on Religion in Prisons were consulted on the draft standard in September 1999 and will be sent a copy of the published standard. The standard reflects long established Prison Service policy as set out in the Directory and Guide on Religious Practices in Her Majesty's Prison Service (page 116), which is in the Library. This advises that, where there is no space available which can be considered reasonably adequate in terms of decency and the dignity of a religious community at prayer, chaplains may, as a temporary measure, and after consulting with the bishops and Methodist Chairman, give their consent for the chapel to be used for worship by non-Christian groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will reduce or cancel business rates owed by rural businesses whose incomes have been adversely affected by government action taken to control foot and mouth disease. [HL1261]

On 22 March, the Government announced measures designed to alleviate the immediate financial hardship of small businesses in rural areas which have been badly hit by the effects of foot and mouth disease. Local authorities already have discretion to grant rate relief to businesses suffering from hardship. The Government have announced that the central government contribution to rate relief will be increased from 75 per cent to 95 per cent for small businesses in rural authorities, which are suffering hardship as a result of foot and mouth disease. Local authorities may also use their existing powers to defer or reschedule the payment of rates.Businesses affected by foot and mouth may also apply to the Valuation Office Agency for a temporary reduction in their rateable value. Proposals should be made to the agency as soon as possible, but the Government have announced their intention to extend the deadline for making an application so that successful proposals received by 30 June 2001 may be backdated into the 2000–01 financial year, if appropriate.On 19 March, the Government presented a Bill that will extend mandatory rate relief to all food shops with a rateable value below £6,000 in small rural settlements, and has said that it will lay regulations to extend mandatory 50 per cent rate relief to sole village pubs and garages with a rateable value of less than £9,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made towards the establishment of a public/private partnership for National Air Traffic Services. [HL1424]

We are pleased to announce that today the Government have selected the Airline Group as the strategic partner for the National Air Traffic Services Public/Private Partnership. The Airline Group has satisfied the Government that it will maintain the high safety standards achieved by NATS. Its strategic investment plan will provide NATS with the investment it needs to meet the demands of steadily increasing air traffic, and will guarantee the future of the new air traffic control centres at Swanwick and Prestwick. The Airline Group will also introduce management skills into NATS which will help it to operate efficiently.The NATS Public/Private Partnership will be regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority, which will ensure that NATS continues to operate safely, while reducing costs to users. The Government will retain a 49 per cent shareholding to enable them to protect the public interest on strategic matters. Staff will have a direct interest in the company through a 5 per cent stake.Since last November, when the legislation enabling the establishment of the public/private partnership was announced, the Government have been taking the views of all sections of the aviation community on their proposals. The report on the discussions held during this three-month period is being laid in the Libraries of both Houses today.This will be the first true public/private partnership, helping to ensure the safe and efficient provision of air traffic services, and providing the opportunity for NATS to emerge as a major worldwide player in its field.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many complaints they have received from parents in each of the last 10 years because they have been unable to obtain a place in a mainstream school for their children with special educational needs. [HL1274]

This information is not held centrally. When the Government consulted on the Green Paper Excellence for all children: Meeting Special Educational Needs, some 81 per cent of those responding to a question about measures to include more pupils with special educational needs favoured greater inclusion. The proportion of pupils in special schools fell from 1.3 per cent in 1991 to 1.2 per cent in 1995 and has remained constant in each of the last six years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they are giving to the report

We recognise the importance of supporting the siblings of disabled children. We therefore welcome the publication of the research report as a further source of evidence underpinning our work in supporting services to disabled children and their families.Through the Government £885 million Quality Protects programme, set up to improve children's services, we are increasing the provision of support services to families of disabled children, including short-term breaks. This will help all members of the family including siblings. A key component of Quality Protects is to improve the assessments of the needs of disabled children and their families. As recognised in the report, the Practice Guidance accompanying the Government's new

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is now possible for a Peer who so requests to receive copies of Answers to written Questions by electronic means; if so, which departments now offer this facility; and when the rest will do so too. [HL1340]

Peers who so request may now receive electronic Answers to their written Questions from the Cabinet Office only. Indeed this is the very first Answer from government to be transmitted electronically. I refer the noble Lord to my previous Answer that I gave him on 15 February (Hansard, col. 331) about other departments offering this facility.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ask public bodies which distribute funds to governing bodies of sporting organisations not to bracket motor car sport and motor cycle sport together; and not to bracket road racing with off-road sports. [HL1014]

The Sports Councils recognise 112 sporting activities. All new activities seeking recognition from the Sports Councils are required to meet a number of assessment criteria, in particular those relating to physical skill and effort. Motor car sport and motor cycle sport are separately recognised activities, with funding decisions taken independently and with each application for funding treated on a case by case basis. Similarly the Sports Councils do not bracket road racing with off-road sports.This has been demonstrated by the Sports Councils over the last three years, with Exchequer support being provided to the Auto Cycle Union in respect of motor cycle sport. However, no funding has been provided to motor car sport.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who appoints the members of UK Sport and Sport England; who are the present members; with which sports each of them have previously been associated; and when do their current appointments expire. [HL1011]

Appointments to both UK Sport and Sport England are made by the Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, following procedures which meet the standards and principles laid down by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.Information on the present members of UK Sport and Sport England and dates their current appointments expire, together with details of those sports they have previously been associated with are shown in the following table:

UK Sport
Present Members	Appointment Expiry	Previous Sporting Associations
Sir Rodney Walker— Chair	18 September 2003	Chairman of Leicester City plc, Chair of Donnington Estates, former non-Executive Chair of Brands Hatch Leisure plc, former Chair of Wakefield Trinity Rugby League Football Club, former Chair of the organising Committee for 2002 Commonwealth Games
Tanni Grey-Thompson OBE	22 November 2001	Paralympic athlete
Zahara Hyde Peters	22 November 2001	Former international athlete
Diana King OBE	22 November 2001	Glider pilot, Former Chief Executive of the English Ski Council
Adrian Metcalfe OBE	22 November 2001	Former Olympic athlete, Head of Sport at Channel 4 and Eurosport