asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 27 February (

The treaty establishing the European Community provides that, in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence, the Community shall take action in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity only if the objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states.The institutions of the Community are required by the Amsterdam Protocol on the Application of the Principles of Subsidiarity and Proportionality to ensure that the principle of subsidiarity is complied with.It is not possible to specify the last three occasions on which the principle was applied. The institutions are required to apply it constantly. Its successful application means that often proposals for EC action are simply not brought forward.The Commission prepares an annual report on the application of subsidiarity. Its last report, entitled

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were their reasons for agreeing in the Nice Treaty to abolish the United Kingdom's last-resort veto in the European Council on proposals for enhanced co-operation in matters that come within the treaties establishing the European Communities and in provisions relating to the Third Pillar of the Treaty of European Union. [HL1374]

In an enlarged EU it is not reasonable for one member state to hold up all the others wishing to proceed with enhanced co-operation, provided that the rigorous conditions for enhanced co-operation have been met. These provide that enhanced co-operation is open to all and that the single market is protected; and will help ensure that there is no development of an inner core.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have received from the Government of Turkey to recent inquiries concerning multiple-allegations that women in official custody or under interrogation have suffered rape and other forms of torture. [HL1427]

We are concerned about the recent case of 19 people who have made allegations about rape and torture in police custody in Turkey. Our embassy in Ankara raised this case most recently on 23 March with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have not yet received a substantive response from the Turkish Government. Our consulate-general in Istanbul attended the first hearing on 21 March. We will continue to monitor this case closely.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are discussing with the Government of Turkey the closures of newspapers and the tines imposed on media owners and editors, especially where the state security court is involved; and whether these matters are being examined in connection with Turkey's application for membership of the European Union. [HL1428]

We monitor closely the human rights situation in Turkey, including restrictions on freedom of expression. We have on a number of occasions raised concerns with the Turkish authorities. The European Commission also regularly publishes reports reviewing Turkey's progress towards meeting the criteria for EU membership (agreed at the 1993 Copenhagen European Council). The most recent report (November 2000) is available in the Library.The Turkish Government stated in their recently published national programme that they will review their legislation governing freedom of expression.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they have encouraged NATO to take in order to make clear to the ethnic Albanian insurgents in Macedonia and in Kosovo that violence is not in the long-term interests of all the peoples in the region. [HL1432]

Throughout the crisis in Macedonia the UK has strongly supported the strenuous efforts of NATO and its Secretary General, Lord Robertson. We fully endorsed the Secretary General's statement of 21 March which called on all political leaders, especially in Kosovo and in ethnic Albanian communities in Macedonia, to condemn violence unreservedly and work to end it. UK forces in Kosovo, with Scandinavian support, have formed an extra battlegroup, Task Force Cambrai, which has deployed to the Kosovo Macedonian border to help prevent unauthorised crossings by extremists groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they have taken to emphasise Britain's support for the Macedonian Government following the recent actions of ethnic Albanian insurgents in Macedonia. [HL1431]

From the outset of the crisis the UK has led efforts in the UN, EU and NATO to condemn the extremist violence in Macedonia. We drafted and supported UNSCR 1345 which made clear the international community's support for the Macedonian Government and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Macedonia. Throughout the crisis British Ministers have been in close contact with Macedonian counterparts. On 5 April the Foreign Secretary visited Skopje to meet the Macedonian President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and leaders from the ethnic Albanian political parties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the effect of changes to Articles 137 and 144 of the treaty establishing the European Community to be made by the Treaty of Nice, in particular the extension of the list of matters in Article 137(1) and the creation, in Article 144, of a Social Protection Committee. [HL1458]

The Treaty of Nice extends the list of matters in Article 137(1) to include the modernisation of social protection systems. This is limited to co-operation between member states (such as the exchange of information and best practice): the harmonisation of legislation is explicitly excluded.New Article 144 provides a legal base for a non-legislative committee to monitor the development of social protection policies in the member states and to promote the exchange of information and experience between them. The establishment of the committee was agreed at the Lisbon European Council. This amendment merely gives it a formal legal base.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate in terms of obligations under Article III, V, VI and IX of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of any role to be played by RAF Fylingdales and RAF Menwith Hill in United States plans for missile defence. [HL1491]

The US has yet to put forward any specific missile defence proposals and has not therefore requested the use of UK facilities in this regard.In addition, the UK is not a party to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What work is currently being undertaken by the Department for International Development in northern Iraq. [HL1677]

In the Financial Year ending 31 March 2001, DfID provided approximately £3 million in humanitarian assistance to northern Iraq for mines-affected communities, village rehabilitation for internally displaced and vulnerable women and children, physiotherapy for children with physical disabilities, social support for older persons, the development of a statistical capacity to assist the Kurdish administration in the planning of humanitarian aid policies, and an integrated water management programme, focusing on 2,500 families in 123 urban and rural communities. We are funding these projects through Save the Children Fund, ACORN, Kurdistan Children's Fund, Christian Aid/ REACH, HelpAge International, 4RS, Durham University and Mines Advisory Group.DfID is also providing funds for Liverpool University to carry out research into a possible healthcare programme for the victims of weapons of mass destruction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 3 April (

As I explained to the noble Lord in my reply on 3 April, the Government do not forecast the contribution of other member states on an annual basis. However, estimates have been produced for the net contribution of France and Italy in 2006. These are based on the assumption of only six new member states, and are at 1999 prices, and indicate that the net contribution of France will be around 5 per cent of the EC Budget and that of Italy around 4 per cent. Based on the same assumptions, the United Kingdom's net contribution in 2006 would be around 5 per cent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their estimates of the cost to gross domestic product to date of the foot-and-mouth outbreak and the additional public spending to date arising from the outbreak. [HL1715]

As my right honourable friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury said on 22 March (Official Report, col. 358W) and 5 April (Official Report, col. 239W), it is not possible at this stage to make a robust assessment of the economic impact. The Treasury, MAFF and other interested departments are keeping a range of possible outcomes under review. My right honourable friend the Minister for Agriculture reported in his statement to the House on 9 April that, "we have committed more than £500 million to farmers so far" (Official Report, col. 706). At present it is not possible to estimate the final cost of the outbreak with any reliability.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the statement in Chapter 5, paragraph 56, of the Ministerial Code that, in respect of civil servants, Ministers have "a duty to ensure that influence over appointments is not abused for partisan purposes" applies to legal appointments made by the Lord Chancellor; and, if not, why not. [HL934]

Paragraph 56 of the Ministerial Code refers to the Civil Service. However, the appointment of judges and Queen's Counsel is purely on the basis of merit, and there are many safeguards built into the system, not least the recent appointment of the First Judicial Appointments Commissioner, who has access to every interview, every piece of paper and every meeting in the appointments process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is the policy of all government departments to ensure that any television advertisements that they commission always provide closed caption subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing people. [HL703]

Advertising is the responsibility of individual departments. However, the Central Office of Information, which handles the majority of government advertising, has a policy that any government commercials that are commissioned through it provide closed caption subtitles for the deaf.The only exceptions are recruitment commercials for the Armed Forces.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 8 February concerning the practice of referring to services in the public domain when providing factual information in Written Answers in the

The Government are committed both to fully answering all questions put to them and to the better use of electronic communication, and have noted the concerns of the House. The Government recognises that when referring to other published material in Written Answers it may well be appropriate to include the more significant elements of the material with appropriate brevity in the Written Answer. This will depend on the merits of each individual case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will require counties and unitary authorities to compile and maintain a register of volunteers for public sector appointments and to advertise the register in libraries, town halls, doctors' surgeries, citizens advice bureaux and websites. [HL843]

There are currently no plans for counties and unitary authorities to compile and maintain a register of volunteers for public sector appointments.However, the Public Appointments Unit (PAU) in the Cabinet Office maintains a computerised register of people who wish to be considered for appointments to the boards of public bodies. It provides names from the register in response to specific requests from government departments. Anyone can nominate themselves or others for inclusion on the register. Self-nomination is encouraged, and in recent years has become the most common form of nomination.

Information about the PAU is sent to a range of organisations on a regular basis, and is also available on the Internet at

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Government will publish a copy of the letter sent to Legacy plc when it was made the preferred bidder for the Millennium Dome; and [HL872]Whether they will publish the letter sent to Legacy plc terminating the preferred bidder status in relation to the Millennium Dome. [HL874]

We do not intend to publish the preferred bidder letter at present. Legacy are not precluded from further involvement in the process; and the letter and associated documentation contain information which could be of use to other potential bidders and undermine the Government's negotiating position.Under the terms of the preferred bidder letter, Legacy plc's status as preferred bidder expired on 14 February 2001. I am today placing in the House libraries a copy of a letter dated 15 February from the Competition Director to Legacy plc, notifying them of the Government's decision that was announced on the same day (

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice they received as to best value for money for the taxpayer in selling the Millennium Dome site if the Dome were retained. [HL873]

In considering bids for the Millennium Dome, the Government have received advice both from officials and from outside professional advisers as to best value for money. They will continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the number of young Britons taking up positions as

The Government aim to raise European awareness amongst young Britons by promoting training opportunities such as the institutions' stagiaire schemes. We have been satisfied with the number of British stagiaires in recent years, particularly in the European Commission, where Britons account for more than 10 per cent of the total number of stagiaires at each intake.The Government produces guidance on each of the institutions'

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they consider that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is representative of the entire community when it has no representatives from any of the ethnic minorities, from the evangelical Protestant community or from the 22 per cent of the population who consider themselves to be Ulster Scots. [HL1336]

None of the members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was appointed to represent any particular group or section of the community within Northern Ireland. Each was appointed on his or her own merits but with regard to the statutory requirement that the Secretary of State should "as far as practicable secure that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland". The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland remains committed to complying with the obligations placed on him by Sections 68(3) and 75 of the Northern Ireland Act in making any future appointments. In making appointments, however, the Government are inevitably constrained by the numbers and quality of applications made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will start the process of recruiting a chief executive, chief commissioner and members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for its next statutory period; and whether they will ensure that it reflects all strands of Northern Irish society. [HL1337]

The chief commissioner and other existing members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission were appointed for three years from 1 March 1999. The Commissioner for Public Appointments recommends that public appointees should initially be assessed for their willingness and suitability for reappointment six months before the end of their appointment and, if appropriate, a further appointments process should then be run.The Government are currently seeking to appoint further commissioners through open competition following the resignation of Angela Hegarty in January. All further appointments to the Commission will be made with regard to the Secretary of State's statutory obligations under s.68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.The chief executive is directly employed by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, so her employment is a matter for the commission itself. The chief commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will require the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to place the answers to all relevant parliamentary Questions, including letters placed in the Library of the House, on the commission's website. [HL1378]

It is for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission itself to decide what is placed on its website. We will, however, put the noble Lord's suggestion to the commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who is the accounting officer for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [HL1553]

Mr Joe Pilling, Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office and principal Accounting Officer for all money within the NIO Vote, has designated Professor Brice Dickson, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as Non-Departmental Public Body accounting officer for the Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what criteria they intend to measure the target of achieving universal Internet access in the United Kingdom by 2005; and whether the target is to be applied to access at home, at the workplace or in the community. [HL1357]

In March 2000, the Prime Minister announced our commitment that everyone who wants it will have access to the Internet by 2005. In doing so, he made clear that access could be at work; at home through a personal computer, digital television, games console or other devices; on the move by telephone or other wireless device; or at a nearby public access point.The Office of National Statistics monitors Internet access and use at home, work and in the community on a quarterly basis. We will continue to track our progress against this research.In addition, colleagues at the Department for Education and Employment have recently set up an ICT Research Centre whose remit includes assessing access to ICT by age, gender, socio-economic group, disability and ethnicity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the appointment of an officer to provide independent advice to Ministers on their responsibilities under the Ministerial Code, to conduct independent investigations of alleged breaches of the code, and to report to the Prime Minister and to Parliament. [HL1392]

The Government's position on this issue is set out in their response to the sixth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 4817).

asked Her Majesty's Government:If any announcement regarding the chair of the Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body from 1 March is to be made. [HL1747]

The Prime Minister has appointed Mr Michael Blair QC to be Chair of the Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body from 1 March for a period of three years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their plans to expand the equine industry in Britain to boost the rural economy. [HL829]

The Government recognise the major contribution which the equine industry makes in generating economic activity in the countryside. Although the scope for expansion may be limited in some sectors of the industry, there are likely to be significant opportunities in particular areas such as the breeding of high performance horses. Steps have been taken to facilitate diversification into horse enterprise on farms, and the horse sector can benefit from measures operated under the England Rural Development Programme, for which funding of £1.6 billion has been provided over seven years. The Government's policies for rural development were set out fully in the Rural White Paper in November 2000 and many of these will benefit, directly or indirectly, the equine industry and horse users.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the lowest pH level at which the foot-and-mouth disease virus will survive; and what is the pH range of air in the United Kingdom atmosphere. [HL1563]

The viability of foot and mouth disease virus depends on pH and temperature. The virus is most stable at neutral pH levels, but will not survive indifinitely. Acidic or basic pH levels decrease the survival time, as do high temperatures. As an example, in laboratory conditions, foot and mouth disease virus survives at pH 6.0 for only two minutes.As pH is a measurement of the acidity or basicity of aqueous or other liquid solutions, it is not possible to give the pH range of air. We assume that the question refers to airborne spread of the virus. The factors that affect airborne spread include wind direction, wind speed, wind veer, ambient temperature and relative humidity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the normal pH of living animal tissue; what pH levels are achieved by

The normal pH of living animal tissues is approximately neutral. During rigor mortis, the pH in skeletal muscle falls below 6.0, which is sufficient to inactivate foot and mouth disease virus. The exact value depends on the species of animal and type of muscle. Viable virus can still be isolated, however, from the bone marrow and lymph nodes of carcasses. The pH levels during decay depend on many factors and may rise after rigor mortis; however the virus cannot be reactivated by a rise in pH levels.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether pH levels achieved in meat from healthy slaughtered animals, frozen or chilled without the carcass being hung, are sufficiently low to kill foot-and-mouth disease virus. [HL1565]

To inactivate the virus in meat, it is essential that a pH level below 6.0 has been reached before deboning. This can be achieved by chilling at 2 degrees C for 24 hours or by electrical stimulation. If the meat is frozen before the pH levels drop during rigor mortis, then the foot and mouth virus can survive for long periods, but may be inactivated during the thawing process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In what circumstances veterinary officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, advising the Chief Veterinary Officer about matters related to the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, have been given emoluments from the racehorse industry. [HL1244]

MAFF officials have received no such emoluments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what dates, if any, they issued emergency instructions to the State Veterinary Service about dangerous foot-and-mouth disease contacts associated with the livestock dealers Feakin and Cleave; what were the reasons for any such instructions; and how many foot-and-mouth outbreaks, if any, are so far directly traceable to the activities of these two dealers, including any outbreaks in France and Holland. [HL1455]

The Ministry issued emergency instruction to the State Veterinary Service concerning specific market tracings on 6, 10, 14 and 16 March. These instructions were part of the tracing process to identify all premises with animals that had been exposed to infection, including those which had passed through the dealerships of Mr Feakin and Mr Cleave. These premises were regarded as Dangerous Contacts, and all susceptible livestock on these premises were slaughtered. Mr Feakin and Mr Cleave were mentioned by name in an emergency instruction issued on 16 March 2001.Epidemiological enquiries are continuing into the links between each outbreak and a full report will be published in due course. Currently, at least 80 outbreaks are traceable to movements through the dealerships of Mr Feakin and Mr Cleave. We are liaising with the authorities in France and the Netherlands and also with the appropriate local authorities in the course of these enquiries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When vaccination of milking cows against foot and mouth disease will commence; and whether the animals vaccinated can be used for breeding purposes. [HL1533]

We are actively considering the use of vaccination as a disease control measure. Vaccination is not a substitute for our current slaughter policy and would only be a tool as part of this approach. European Commission rules would enable vaccinated animals to be used for breeding purposes subject to certain conditions which are set out in the Decision of the EC Standing Veterinary Committee of 28 March.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has written to all United Kingdom's veterinary businesses (both large and small animal practices) to ask for their assistance in the fight against foot and mouth disease; and, if so, on what dates they were approached. [HL1534]

The Ministry wrote to all regional Animal Health Offices on 23rd February 2001, with the request that they contact all veterinary practices in each division to see if they had any staff to assist with the foot and mouth outbreak. In addition, advertisements for temporary veterinary surgeons have been placed on the MAFF website http://www.maff.gov.uk/ and in the journal The Veterinary Record. Requests for assistance have also been made through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and British Veterinary Association.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether financial support referred to in the statement by Baroness Hayman on 9 April (H.L. Deb., col. 1013) extends to those farmers who are restricted from selling their animals either under the 30-month scheme, or because the lambs have cut second teeth. [HL1786]

The measures referred to in my statement make no general provision for paying compensation to farmers for losses resulting from their inability to enter cattle into the Over Thirty Month Scheme or to have their cattle slaughtered for human consumption before they reach 30 months of age. The Government are keeping the position of producers affected in these ways under review. In the meantime, cattle of all ages may be entered into the Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme if the circumstances are appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the benefit for the United Kingdom from a favourable resolution of the court case against France for its failure to allow the import of British beef. [HL1801]

A favourable resolution should enable British beef to be exported to France; which was our most significant export market prior to the 1996 export ban. It would also reinforce the message to consumers in other countries that beef produced under the Date-based Export Scheme is as safe as any in the world. This should benefit the export trade once current restrictions due to foot and mouth are lifted.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will arrange for Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food personnel to be available at Page Street until at least 10.30 pm every evening to cover the shift system being operated by veterinarians in foot-and-mouth diagnosis and slaughter. [HL1772]

The two shifts currently operated by veterinary staff in the Disease Emergency Control Centre (DECC) at Page Street are from 08.00–16.00 hours (early shift) and 13.00–21.00 hours (late shift). Administrative personnel are on hand to support the vets at Page Street through both shifts. A duty veterinary advisor is available at other times outside the shift system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total of the annual subsidies paid to United Kingdom farmers:

Expenditure on CAP measures in the UK was, on average, £3.4 billion per annum during the period 1996–97 to 2000–01. This includes expenditure on direct payments and market support measures. The latter are not necessarily paid direct to farmers. This figure excludes the additional support farmers receive from the consumer through the maintenance of EU agricultural prices above world levels by the CAP. During the same period, expenditure by UK agricultural departments on other support to agriculture was, on average, £178 million per annum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total cost to the United Kingdom taxpayers of:

Between 1996 and 2000, the UK contributed, on average, £10.6 billion to the EU budget. Over the same period, the Common Agricultural Policy represented, on average, 48 per cent. of total expenditure from the EU budget. Expenditure by UK agriculture departments on other support to agriculture was £178 million, on average, between 1996 and 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many national fishing licences were sold during the last year: in the categories: (a) salmon, (b) trout and (c) coarse fishing; what prices are being charged for the 2001 season, and from which outlets; and whether there are any changes in the qualifications for a licence. [HL1641]

The provisional numbers of national rod fishing licences sold in 2000–01 were:

(a) salmon and sea trout; 29,549

(b) coarse fishing (including non-migratory trout) 1,075,434

(NB there is no separate trout or coarse fish licence)The cost of the various types of licences for the 2001–02 season are:

Licence type	Migratory Salmonids	Coarse and Trout
Full	£59	£20
Concessionary	£29.50	£10
Junior	£29.50	£5
8-day	£16.50	£6.50
1-day	£5.50	£2.50

These licences can be obtained from all post offices in England and Wales and some on the Scottish border, as well as from some larger fisheries. Licences may also be obtained by telephone (0870 1662662) or via the Internet (

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the foot and mouth emergency and the desirability of minimising movements of stock, they will immediately lift restrictions on grazing of livestock on set-aside land in cases where stock are in need of keep and no other suitable grazing is available in an adjacent or nearby field. [HL1572]

Restrictions on set-aside land were lifted on 16 March 2001. The European Commission agreed to our request for a derogation from Arable Area Payment Scheme rules to allow set-aside land to be used for grazing, without loss of aid payment. This applies where no alternatives are available due to movement restrictions resulting from the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the statistics in the British Hospitality Association 2001 Contract Catering Survey, what has been the impact of the introduction of the national minimum wage in the hospitality sector. [HL1604]

Employment in the United Kingdom has grown by over 430,000 since the introduction of the minimum wage. The number of jobs in the hotel and catering sector—which includes a high proportion of low paid jobs—increased by 14,000 between March 1999 and September 2000. The independent Low Pay Commission's third report found no adverse effects on the economy or employment; in fact employment had increased in a range of service industries.The Government recognise that for some employers the national minimum wage presents a challenge. We will be working through the Small Business Service and the trade associations to ensure that firms in this sector are able to make the necessary adjustments to manage the changes arising from minimum wage increase due in October.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all post offices have been successfully equipped with a modern, online electronic platform. [HL1614]

I understand from Post Office Network that the main Horizon programme has now been completed with the successful installation of the system in over 17,500 outlets (98 per cent of all post offices). There remain a small number of outlets (approximately 300) where there are special factors involved, but Post Office Network plans to complete installation in all but 50 of these remaining outlets by June, with any outstanding installations to be done as quickly as possible thereafter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions can be drawn from the fact that the worktrain.gov.uk search engine does not recognise the word "Internet" but returns the error message "Internet has not been recognised. It may be mis-typed or not in our dictionary. Please type in different job title." [HL1621]

Worktrain is an important new service on the Internet, providing information about jobs, training and careers. It was launched by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on 8 March 2001.Users can search for jobs by selecting from a list of different types of work or specify a job in their own words. At present the word "Internet" is not included in the job titles listed, as relatively few job vacancies in related work are held by the Employment Service. However, the searching system is being enhanced to include additional words which people frequently use and the word "Internet" will be added shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria Employment Service Contracting Division used in awarding the recent contracts for Work Based Training for Adults; and how they intend to ensure effective delivery of those contracts. [HL1637]

The competition to award contracts for the delivery of Work Based Learning for Adults was conducted by ES officials in line with public procurement principles and followed requirements set down by the European Commission.ES officials sought outline delivery proposals from among organisations which had already passed through a pre-qualification process. They evaluated these against predetermined quality criteria drawn from guidance provided to all those invited to bid. The evaluation looked at how the bidder proposed to deliver and manage the provision and the outcomes they would achieve, supported by relevant evidence.Responsibility for managing these contracts will rest with teams based in Employment Service Districts, who will be familiar with local requirements. Contract management activity is underpinned through a quality framework agreement between ES and the provider. There will be co-ordination with the activities of the Adult Learning Inspectorate and the Learning and Skills Council to ensure consistency of approach to providers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Under the New Deal Programme for the under 25s, what is the average cost over the last 12 months of placing an individual into (a) sustainable employment, and (b) sustainable self-employment, giving the figures both nationally and specifically for the Yorkshire and Humberside region. [HL1640]

Information over the 12 months since February 2000 to January 2001 (the most recently published set of monthly statistics) shows that almost 174,000 young people started on the programme and 104,000 jobs have been taken up, of which more than 80,000 have been sustained. In Yorkshire and Humberside, nearly 19,000 young people have joined the New Deal and nearly 12,000 jobs have been taken up, of which 9,000 have been sustained. On average around £2,000 is spent on each participant on the New Deal for young people and the cost per sustained job is around £5,000 both nationally and in Yorkshire and Humberside. Statistics are published each month that show the numbers of young people who find a job through New Deal: these do not distinguish between self-employed and employed earners.In today's youth labour market, it can take young people one or two starts before they settle in a job. Because of this, the Government's approach is to calculate the cost per job figure including both sustained and unsustained jobs. Any job can offer considerable benefits to the participant through increased self-confidence and useful work experience, even if the job does not last. Calculated on this basis, the cost per job figure is around £4,000. People who leave for a job that does not last and return to claim the Jobseeker's Allowance will be offered further help from the New Deal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With reference to paragraph 17 of the Presidency Conclusions of the Stockholm European Council:

The answer is as follows—(a) the existing rules governing the allocation of airport take-off and landing slots are set out in EC' Regulation 95/93, given force in UK law by the Airports Slot Allocation Regulations 1993 (SI 1993 No. 595) (as amended). In brief, the regulation enables member states, where demand for slots at an airport exceeds supply and there is no prospect of the imbalance being redressed in the short term, to appoint a slot co-ordinator to undertake slot allocation. He is required to act in an independent manner, and to perform his duties in a neutral, transparent and non-discriminatory way. Slots are allocated on the basis of priority criteria set out in the regulation, in international guidelines, and in any airport-specific local rules.(b) EC 95/93 placed a duty on the Commission to report to the European Parliament and the Council on the effects of the regulation three years after its entry into force, and to place a proposal for the continuation or revision of the regulation before the Council by 1 January 1996. This deadline was comprehensively missed. But the additional time has enabled further consideration of the impact of the regulation, particularly as regards its declared objectives of encouraging market entry and facilitating competition. Her Majesty's Government welcome the proposal that there should be comprehensive reform. It has put forward to the Commission the argument that a revised system should adopt a market-based approach to slot allocation, with the auctioning of newly created and recycled slots, and legitimised and transparent trading of slots between air carriers.(c) The rules explained above do not form part of the Single European Sky.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to make a decision on the new franchise for operating passenger train services on the East Coast Main Line. [HL1734]

Revised proposals from both Virgin/Stagecoach and GNER were received by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on 17 April. Once the SRA has considered these, it will decide whether to proceed with a request to the Secretary of State for a direction to authorise early replacement of the Inter City East Coast franchise. Any such request will be given appropriate and timely consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to bring into effect Section 223 of the Transport Act 2000, giving the Rail Regulator powers to require the provision, improvement and development of railway facilities. [HL1711]

Section 223 of the Transport Act will be brought into force as soon as any necessary exemptions have been made. We expect to consult the Rail Regulator and other interested parties on a draft exemption order before the summer Recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the status of the application as part of the local transport plan scheme by Luton Borough Council last July for funding for a guided busway between Luton and Dunstable. [HL1713]

Major local transport plans such as the proposed guided busway between Luton and Dunstable, known as Translink, are considered by the department as part of the overall strategy in the authority's local transport plan. More work is needed by the authority on the economic appraisal of Translink before the department can reach a provisional view on whether it passes the tests that have been established to determine eligibility for government funding. A revised appraisal is expected shortly. Should the department's provisional view be that it passes these tests, the authority would then apply for powers to build the scheme under the Transport and Works Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the cost of publishing the brochures produced by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and intended for the public on

The cost of production and delivery of 10,000 copies to local authorities in England for them to distribute to local people was £38,861 inclusive of VAT.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to deal with the economic and social consequences of foot and mouth disease in areas like Cumbria by using resources from existing Objective 2 allocations for 2000–06 or by applying for new resources from the European Union. [HL1636]

The Objective 2 Programmes for England have recently been formally approved by the European Commission. Within the approved framework, individual programmes have flexibility to respond to foot and mouth in the way most appropriate for their region.The North West Programme Monitoring/Regional Committee met on 30 March 2001. It delegated authority to the European Programme Secretariat to enable it to deal with an accelerated application for £1 million European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to match North West Development Agency funding for business support measures to assist the rural and tourism sectors. That application is in full compliance with the eligibility rules under the programme. It has now been submitted by the NWDA and an offer has been issued by the Secretariat.Under that project, business support agencies can obtain additional funding for an enhanced service to those sectors in the North West hit particularly hard by the drop in tourism and rural business.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How long they estimate it will take to reopen footpaths and fells of the Lake District to walkers (a) once the foot and mouth disease outbreak in Cumbria has peaked; and (b) after the last case has been identified in the county; and [HL1729]Whether they expect the footpaths and open fells in the Lake District National Park to be reopened any time during 2001. [HL1730]

We hope that it will be possible to open most footpaths and open fells in the Lake District National Park before the end of 2001. The rate of opening will, however, depend on the course of the disease. It is too soon to say how long after the last case the area can be declared free of infection. But paths can be considered for reopening on a case-by-case basis as the situation evolves, and we welcome the fact that Cumbria County Council has already been able to lift restrictions on some of its footpaths.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether records are kept of the number of foreign registered vehicles involved in road accidents; and, if not, what would be the cost of so doing. [HL1712]

Data on foreign registered vehicles involved in road accidents are not available. However, the gathering of such data in the future is to be assessed as part of the upcoming five-year rolling review of the STATS 19 collection system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they are taking to ensure that Britain's national parks will be able to uphold their statutory purposes during and after the foot and mouth crisis. [HL1796]

We have asked National Park Authorities to produce estimates of extra costs they have incurred and loss of income resulting from the effects of foot and mouth. We are committed to ensuring that the Park Authorities continue to fulfil their statutory duties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the introduction by the Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited in their Welcome Store in Stepney of Braille labelling on over-the-counter medicines; and whether they will encourage the wider use of Braille labelling for medicines. [HL1609]

The Government strongly support this initiative by the Co-operative Welcome Store in Stepney which was launched by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on 13 March. By enabling ready identification of important medicines in daily use such as aspirin and paracetamol, this initiative represents a major step forward for safe self-medication for blind and partially sighted people. Solving the technical problems in achieving this will bring benefits more widely, as the initiative is rolled out to Co-operative food stores and pharmacies across the country.The Government are committed to ensuring that all medicines are used correctly and safely on the basis of full and comprehensive product information. The Medicines Control Agency, in the guidelines to the pharmaceutical industry, encourages marketing authorisation holders to make statutory medicines information accessible for the blind and partially sighted via Braille, large print and audio.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the recent report by Professor David Burns of Newcastle General Hospital that some 25 per cent of patients thought to have Parkinson's disease have been wrongly diagnosed. [HL1666]

The Government have not been made aware of particular difficulties in the diagnosis of patients with Parkinson's disease. The Government will continue to emphasise that all doctors, including general practitioners, receive training designed to ensure they have the basic skills, knowledge and experience to provide quality services to patients, including those with Parkinson's disease, and to respond to changing patterns of disease and modern methods of healthcare delivery.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals they have to assist community pharmacists in providing discrete quiet areas in pharmacies for counselling on medicines management, pharmacist prescribing and other services. [HL1704]

The Government's programme for pharmacy in the National Health Service in England is set out in Pharmacy in the Future—Implementing the NHS Plan published in September 2000, copies of which are available in the Library. In that document we said that we will be discussing with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee changes to the terms of service and distribution of remuneration for community pharmacy to establish minimum standards and to promote and reward high quality services. The standard of premises and the provision of private consultation areas are likely to be among the issues discussed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What help they are considering to enable community pharmacists, especially those who are single-handed, to engage an additional pharmacist to assist in the provision of new services; and what material encouragement they will provide to help community pharmacists to undertake the additional training required for such services. [HL1705]

There are many opportunities for community pharmacists to become involved in providing additional services on behalf of the National Health Service. Such services may be funded in a variety of ways and pharmacists and pharmacy owners will seek to negotiate payments which appropriately take into account any investment they have made or will need to make in staffing and training.In addition, the continuing professional development of pharmacists and their staff will be one of the issues we intend to include in discussions with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee in due course about changes to existing terms of service and national remuneration arrangements for community pharmacy in order to promote and reward high quality services.We will also continue to support the provision of training materials for community pharmacists through our Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education. This will include new training materials to meet new health priorities such as medicines management.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking, in consultation with pharmacy organisations, to ensure an adequate supply of pharmacists to provide the new services which they and the profession now seek to make available. [HL1706]

Workforce modelling previously undertaken by the Department of Health suggests a 12 per cent. increase in the pharmacy workforce between 1998 and 2003, despite the change to a four-year undergraduate course. Building on this experience, the department is supporting the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's initiative to establish a pharmacy workforce advisory group to scope future pharmacy workforce needs and advise on how supply and demand could be managed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the Department of Health's timetable for responses to its consultation paper on fairer charging policies for home care and non-residential services and the issuing of final guidance; and whether, and if so when, it is intended to tell local authorities that their policies should not reduce disabled people's incomes below income support levels. [HL1707]

Consultation ended on 30 March and we are now considering the responses. We intend to issue statutory guidance to local councils during the summer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 5 April (

The Government have decided not to seek leave to appeal against the judgment given by Mr Justice Burton on 26 March.Although an appeal would have provided an opportunity to seek clarification on some aspects of the judgment that may have a bearing on the future liability of National Health Service bodies, the Government did not wish to subject the claimants to a further period of uncertainty while the appeal was under way.The Government are now focusing on the implications of this judgment, which will take time to consider.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What statutory provisions apply to the processing of data by interactive television systems and digital set top boxes. [HL1568]

The processing of data by interactive television systems and digital set top boxes is covered by the provisions of the Data Processing Act 1998 and as such comes under the auspices of the Information Commissioner.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the increased turnover in the hospitality industry, as shown in the British Hospitality Association 2001 Contract Catering Survey. [HL1603]

The Government are pleased to note that the British Hospitality Association's survey reports an 8.5 per cent. increase in turn over in contract catering from 1999 to 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all land acquired under New Opportunities initiatives will be subject to enduring covenants, preventing its use for industry or commercial development or for housing. [HL1613]

No; it is currently a requirement of the New Opportunities Fund's financial directions that grant conditions for freehold land apply for 80 years. In some cases it may be proper to apply enduring or restrictive covenants; but this will depend on the individual circumstances of a grant proposal for land purchase.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the date on which they received the report of the Senior Salaries Review Body's review of parliamentary pay and allowances; and when they expect to publish it. [HL1056]

The Chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body wrote to the Prime Minister in late February enclosing a copy of the report.The Government published the report on 16 March.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many American multinationals have signed up to the "safe harbour" agreement between the European Union and the United States; and whether the agreement is operating effectively. [HL1105]

The United States Department of Commerce maintains a list of organisations adhering to the safe harbour arrangements. On 10 April 2001, 37 organisations were listed. Without more detailed information than that which the list provides, it is not possible to identify multinationals. The Government have no reason to believe that the safe harbour arrangements are not functioning effectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether recruits to the National High-Tech Crime Unit are trained in the United States rather than the United Kingdom; and, if so and in light of the apparent absence in the United Kingdom of adequate training facilities for the Unit and Information Technology security services generally, what plans they have to address this. [HL1778]

Staff joining the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit will receive their core training in the United Kingdom. Some staff will undertake training in the United States in the use of specific computer forensics tools by attending courses delivered by the product manufacturers. Home Office National Police Training is reviewing the hi-tech crime training needs of the police service as a whole.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their definition of a "hard-working family". [HL1363]

The Government are committed to supporting families who work hard to balance their work and family commitments looking after children and their dependents. That is why we are improving rewards from employment, helping people into employment and improving support for parents, including child care, and for carers and poorer pensioners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they reconcile the statement of the Lord Davies of Oldham on 27 March (H.L. Deb., Col. 255) that "detainees held in prisons have access to a telephone, although the telephones are used in the main for incoming calls" with the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29 March (

The position is as stated in my earlier Answer, WA 59, 29 March. I understand that my noble friend Lord Davies of Oldham is writing to those who took part in the debate on 27 March to clarify or expand upon a number of points, and the issue of access to telephones to receive incoming calls is one such point.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Firearms Certificates Database, required under Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, is still expected to be operational in February 2002, as indicated in the letter of 20 November 2000 from the Minister of State at the Home Office, Mr Charles Clarke, to Mr Robin Corbett MP. [HL1769]

I understand from the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), which is responsible for taking this project forward, that the database is still expected to be operational around February 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish, for the most convenient recent period, an analysis of:(a) the number of offenders who appeared before the courts for sentence following convictions on four or more previous occasions;

Table: Offenders sentenced during four sample weeks of 1998 who had four or more previous convictions
	Males						Females
	Age under 18		Age 18–25		Aged 26 and over		Age under 18		Age 18–25		Aged 26 and over
Total number of offenders in sample who have convictions on four or more previous occasions	657		4,323		7,619		41		324		630
Offence on most recent conviction:
Violence against the person	36	5.5%	269	6.2%	571	7.5%	1	2.4%	14	4.3%	23	3.7%
Sexual offences	0	0.0%	13	0.3%	68	0.9%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%,	1	0.2%
Burglary	112	17.0%	503	11.6%	480	6.3%	2	4.9%,	9	2.8%,	10	1.6%
Robbery	24	3.7%	73	1.7%	60	0.8%	2	4.9%,	3	0.9%,	2	0.3%,
Theft and handling stolen goods	263	40.0%	1,311	30.3%	2,035	26.7%,	19	46.3%,	156	48.1%	323	51.3%,
Fraud and forgery	4	0.6%	85	2.0%	240	3.2%	1	2.4%	24	7.4%,	32	5.1%
Criminal damage	14	2.1%	65	1.5%	118	1.5%	0	0.0%	2	0.6%,	7	1.1%
Drug offences	26	4.0%	407	9.4%	947	12.4%	0	0.0%	24	7.4%,	55	8.7%
Other indictable offences	29	4.4%	443	10.2%,	591	7.8%	5	12.2%,	40	12.3%,	78	12.4%,
Summary standard list offences	149	22.7%	1,154	26.7%	2,509	32.9%	11	26.8%	52	16.0%	99	15.7%
Total	657	100.0%	4,323	100.0%,	7,619	100.0%,	41	100.0%	324	100.0%	630	100.0%,
Sentence received on most recent conviction:
Absolute or conditional discharge	117	17.8%	425	9.8%	1,005	13.2%,	8	19.5%	54	16.7%	128	20.3%
Fine	67	10.2%,	1,157	26.8%	2,558	33,6%,	7	17.1%	71	21.9%,	178	28.3%
All community sentences	276	42.0%,	1,186	27.4%,	1,852	24.3%,	19	46.3%,	114	35.2%	194	30.8%,
Imprisonment: less than 12 months	136	20.7%	995	23.0%	1,340	17.6%	6	14.6%,	63	19.4%	81	12.9%
Imprisonment: 12 months to less than 4 years	29	4.4%	430	9.9%,	537	7.0%	1	2.4%,	11	3.4%	14	2.2%
Imprisonment: 4 years and over	0	0.0%	49	1.1%	134	1.8%	0	0.0%,	2	0.6%	3	0.5%,
Imprisonment: all sentence lengths	165	25.1%	1,474	34.1%	2,011	26.4%,	7	17.1%,	76	23.5%	98	15.6%
Other sentence	32	4.9%	81	1.9%	193	2.5%	0	0.0%>	9	92.8%	32	5.1%,
Total	657	100.0%	4,323	100.0%,	7,619	100.0%	41	100.0%,	324	100.0%	630	100.0%

Readily available data relates to a sample of offenders who were convicted of standard list offences during 20 days in 1998. The total number of offenders convicted of standard list offences during the sample period was 33,808 males and 4,941 females, of whom 12,599 males and 995 females had been convicted on four or more previous occasions (i.e. they were being sentenced on a fifth or subsequent occasion). The table gives an age and gender breakdown of the most recent offence, sentence imposed, and an analysis of the time since the offender's last previous conviction. An estimate for a 12-month period can be made by multiplying the same figures by 13.