asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their analysis of the scale of forced and bonded labour in India, Nepal, Pakistan and other countries where it exists; and what representations they are making to the governments concerned. [HL2026]

Many forms of forced labour, including bonded labour, exist throughout the world. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Global Report on Forced Labour, to be discussed by the International Labour Conference in June, will provide a review of the present position.The Government strongly support the implementation of the ILO's core labour standards which outlaw all forms of forced labour. We continue to work with, and support, international bodies, national governments and civil society organisations to encourage all countries to ratify, and implement effectively, the internationally agreed conventions which support these standards.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions they draw from the recent report from Jupiter MMXI indicating that United Kingdom Internet surfers are now spending an average of seven hours per month per net user online as compared with figures for Germany, Spain and Italy of 13, 9 and 8 hours respectively; and to what extent the Government believe that these figures can be explained by the relative costs of Internet services in each country. [HL1567]

The length of time that any individual chooses to spend connected to the Internet is only one measure of internet usage. The same Jupiter MMXI survey confirmed that the UK has the largest number of residential net users in Europe. Any measure is likely to be influenced by a number of factors of which price will be only one.The UK has a vibrant market in Internet service provision, with both pay-as-you-go and unmetered packages available to consumers. The latest set of results from OFTEL's benchmarking studies compared the dial-up Internet service costs—adjusted for purchasing power—for residential users in the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, and the US states of Ohio and California. The figures show that overall the UK consumer had access to the lowest prices of the countries considered for residential off-peak access. The latest OECD survey using similar measures for a more limited set of service providers also showed that the UK consumers benefited from cheaper off-peak connection than those in Germany and Spain and approximately equal to those in Italy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When, under the terms of Article 2 of Directive 98/48/EC, as an amendment to Directive 98/34/EC, Directive 98/48/EC was implemented in the United Kingdom; and when the European Commission was informed of this. [HL1690]

Directive 98/48/EC, amending Directive 98/34/EC, was implemented in the United Kingdom by means of an administrative circular on 30 July 1999 and the European Commission was informed on 4 August 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Under what circumstances a legislative measure, whatever its character, becomes notifiable to the European Community in accordance with the Technical Regulations Directives 98/24/EC and 98/ 48/EC. [HL1909]

Directive 98/34/EC as amended by Directive 98/48/EC (the Directive) is applicable, in broad terms, to proposed national measures relating to industrially manufactured products, agricultural products, or information society services. Notification of such proposed measures in draft is required if they will contain technical regulations, that is technical specifications, other requirements or rules on services (as defined by the Directive); and (a) observance of the relevant provisions is compulsory in the case of marketing, provision of an information society service, establishment of an information society service operator or use of the product or service in the whole or major part of a member state; or (b) they prohibit the manufacture, importation, marketing or use of a product, or prohibit the provision or use of an information society service or establishment as an information society service provider; unless exemptions specified in the Directive apply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What processes of scrutiny exist within government departments to ensure that proposed legislative measures, whatever their character, comply with the requirements of the Technical Regulations Directives 98/24/EC and 98/48/EC'. [HL1910]

It is the responsibility of the relevant government department, when proposing legislative measures, to consider whether notification to the European Commission under Directive 98/34/ EC, as amended by Directive 98/48/EC is required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:As of 12 April 2001, how many telecom operating companies originally applied to be involved in local loop unbundling; how many have subsequently withdrawn from the process; and how many are still involved. [HL1923]

In September 2000 around 30 operators expressed interest in taking space in BT exchanges for unbundling facilities. However the decision to commit to ordering such space is a commercial one for each business. The number of contracts for unbundling services signed between operators and BT, and the number and identity of the parties involved, are confidential to those parties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they respond to the recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development survey placing the United Kingdom twenty-first out of 30 industrialised nations in the league table for broadband penetration with 0.8 broadband connections per 100 citizens; and how they reconcile this with recent assertions by the Minister of State (Minister for Small Business and e-Commerce) that the United Kingdom is on course for being the best industrialised nation for high-speed Internet services by 2005. [HL1925]

The OECD data are now four months out of date. The latest domestic figures demonstrate a rapid increase in broadband uptake in the UK with BT alone increasing the number of customers for its DSL technology from 14,000 in November 2000 to 54,000 in April 2001.The OECD data do, however, illustrate that broadband markets are at very early stages of development around the world. At the end of 2000, 21 of the 30 countries evaluated reported fewer than 1 line per 100 inhabitants. The comparison is, therefore, from a very low base.At such an early stage in the market it is more relevant to measure availability of broadband services as a foundation for market evolution. Using OECD figures, 50 per cent of UK households are now within the area of a broadband-enabled exchange. This is behind the leaders Canada (69 per cent), USA and Germany (both 60 per cent). However, the UK compares well with Italy (52 per cent) and Australia (50 per cent) and is ahead of Japan, France (32 per cent) and Holland (40 per cent), and BT forecast 60 per cent availability by the end of the year. Furthermore, the cable companies—which pass 50 per cent to homes and businesses in the UK—are also rolling out broadband cable modem services. Licences for broadband fixed wireless access have also been issued for areas covering 60 per cent of the population. Together, this represents a firm foundation for continued rapid growth in adoption of broadband services in the UK.

asked her Majesty's Government:When a decision was taken for the Post Office to establish universal banking services instead of a universal bank; and whether the new system proposed will benefit both customers and the viability of sub post offices. [HL1869]

The decision to proceed with the current proposals for universal banking services was taken at the end of last summer. These proposals will provide a range of banking services which will cater for as wide a range of customers as possible. It will ensure those benefit and pension recipients who wish to continue to collect their benefits money in cash, in full, across a post office counter, will still be able to do so. And it should lead to a substantial increase in the amount of banking at post offices, tapping into a very much larger customer base than benefit recipients alone. This will benefit sub-postmasters both directly and through increased footfall.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 13 February (

We have not reached a decision whether to proceed with an investigation as we have not received all the information we requested from the complainant. A further request for the remaining information has recently been made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of the total electric power generated in the United Kingdom is currenty produced by nuclear, coal, oil, gas, hydro and wind respectively. [HL1934]

Provisional data for 2000 are as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the statement by G7 finance ministers in favour of a new World Trade Organisation to reduce trade barriers in both industrialised and developing countries, what specific measures they will be advocating on a country-by-country basis to bring developing countries to a position in which they are able to participate in an increasingly liberalised global economy on a basis comparable with the advantages enjoyed by industrialised countries. [HL1981]

As our recent White Paper Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation Work for the Poor makes clear, the Government are committed to working with their EU partners both by giving any new WTO round a clear development focus and by implementing complementary measures to help enable developing countries to participate in and particularly benefit more fully from the globalised economy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the average period of time within which appeals have been determined by the England and Scottish Employment Appeal Tribunals during each of the past ten years. [HL2012]

asked Her Majesty's Government:What period of time they consider reasonable within which the Employment Appeal Tribunals should determine appeals. [HL2013]

The Employment Appeal Tribunal considers a reasonable waiting time for appeals to come to a preliminary or a full hearing to be within four and eight months respectively. However, due to the complexity of individual appeals and the need for proper judicial consideration, it is not possible to ensure that specific periods of time are achieved in individual cases if justice is to be done.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of rural post offices have access through their local telephone exchange to broadband data transmission in Scotland, England and Wales. [HL1928]

I understand from the Post Office that, as at 26 April, 97.83 per cent of all post offices have access through their local telephone exchanges to broadband data transmission in Scotland, England and Wales. I also understand that the Post Office classify some 8,000 post offices as rural but that it is not currently possible to identify within the total the number of rural post offices having access through their local telephone exchanges to broadband data transmission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of rural post offices have applied for planning permission to install satellite receiver dishes for broadband data transmission in order to administer improved financial and other services to their local communities in Scotland, England and Wales. [HL1929]

I understand from the Post Office that, as at 26 April, 1.24 per cent of all post offices have applied for planning permission to install satellite receiver dishes for broadband data transmission in Scotland, England and Wales for the Horizon service. I also understand that the Post Office classify some 8,000 post offices as rural but that it is not currently possible to identify within the total the percentage of rural post offices that have applied for planning permission to install satellite receiver dishes for broadband data transmission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of rural post offices employ computer literate staff capable of operating broadband data communications systems in administering improved financial and other services to their local communities in Scotland, England and Wales. [HL1930]

I understand from the Post Office that, as at 26 April, 98.61 per cent of all post offices employ computer literate staff capable of operating broadband data communications systems for the Horizon service in Scotland, England and Wales. I also understand that the Post Office classify some 8,000 post offices as rural but that it is not currently possible to identify within the total the percentage of rural post offices that employ computer literate staff capable of operating broadband data communications systems.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will encourage the European Commission to implement permanent legislation to ban flexible plastic toys and children's items containing phthalates. [HL2087]

The Commission has issued a draft Council Directive which would make permanent the temporary ban (introduced in December 1999) on the use of six phthalates in articles intended to be mouthed by children under three years of age and require the labelling of phthalate-containing toys and childcare articles for the under threes.In discussions on the proposed Directive, the UK, following the advice of the Department of Health, and in line with the opinion of the Commission's Independent Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (SCTEE), has adopted the position that the scientific evidence does not support the claim that phthalates are hazardous provided that the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) is not exceeded. Much is known about phthalates but very little is known about the effect of substitutes which could replace them. For this reason, we believe that the regulation of phthalates through migration testing is a practicable alternative to restrictions through banning and we continue to support the ongoing work which is being done, with the involvement of the Commission's Joint Research Council, to develop an acceptable test method.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have ceased to publish figures for animals "slaughtered out" under the foot and mouth eradication policy; if so, when and why they ceased publication; and whether they will reintroduce the publication of this information. [HL1764]

Figures for slaughter and disposal are published and updated daily on the MAFF website.MAFF has not ceased to publish these statistics. However, the scale and spread of the outbreak caused difficulty with the collection and transmission of data from our regional operational centres, which meant that from 4–13 April we had to suspend publication of some of the data on the MAFF website. We have since been able to improve and speed up the collection of foot and mouth disease data and have now progessively resumed publication of key data on slaughter and disposal of animals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What scientific evidence they have for the statement by Baroness Hayman on 15 March (H.L. Deb., Cols. 1004–1005) that the risk that an unburied corpse of an animal slaughtered after contracting foot and mouth disease can transmit the disease "is minimised to an insignificant level", and [HLI520]Whether the statement by the Baroness Hayman on 27 March (H.L. Deb., col. 130) that "there is not a major risk of spread of disease from carcasses" of animals slaughtered after contracting foot and mouth disease represents the accepted view of independent scientists, and [HL1522]When they decided, and on whose advice, that the risk of foot and mouth disease being spread from the unburied carcasses of animals slaughtered after contracting the disease is insignificant. [HLI523]

The Government have held the view that carcasses do not pose a major risk of spreading foot and mouth disease from the beginning of the outbreak. They have based this view on advice for the World Reference Laboratory for Foot and Mouth Disease at Pirbright and the Environment Agency. The Government are also advised on disease control strategies by their Chief Veterinary Officer and their expert scientific group. Experimental studies have shown that the release of the foot and mouth disease virus from infected animals is greatly reduced after death. This is why it is so important to identify and slaughter infected animals as quickly as possible.The risk from carcasses is greatly reduced as a result of the procedures followed after slaughter. Carcasses are sprayed with an approved disinfectant which has been shown to be highly effective in destroying any virus on the outside of the animal. Approximately 24 hours after slaughter, rigor mortis sets in, whereby lactic acid accumulates and inactivates virus in the muscles. Virus in other internal organs will be inactivated by the processes of decomposition and is, in any case, situated internally. Before burning, the operations team are instructed to spray the pyre with additional disinfectant to reduce any risk of infection spreading at this stage. The virus is then inactivated at temperatures above 50 degrees centigrade. There may be a small thermo-resistant element of the virus which is also destroyed at 70 degrees, but expert opinion is that this is likely to be insignicant in the possible spread of infection from pyres.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many outbreaks of foot and mouth disease there have been in Cumbria up to 23 April; and how many holdings have had their stock culled in the same period. [HL1814]

As of 19:00 on 23 April there were 616 confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease in Cumbria and slaughter was complete on 592 of these premises on this date. The total number of premises in Cumbria (both infected premises, slaughter on suspicion and dangerous contacts) that had had their stock culled as a result of foot and mouth disease was 1,382.As of 19:00 on I May there were 658 confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease in Cumbria and slaughter was complete on 655 of these premises on this date. The total number of premises in Cumbria (both infected premises, slaughter on suspicion and dangerous contacts) that had had their stock culled as a result of foot and mouth disease was 1,529.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many statements were made to Parliament and by whom during the foot and mouth outbreak in 1967. [HL1898]

This information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the direct cost to 10 April of the current foot and mouth epidemic. [HL1798]

The Ministry paid costs of £56.5 million up to, and including 10 April. This figure does not include staff costs such as salary or overtime or some costs incurred in the disposal of carcasses (e.g. off farm haulage, rendering, cost of leasing land). The total cost is likely to be much higher.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 22 March (

The Institute of Animal Health at Pirbright has recently produced a report, in collaboration with MAFF and the Meteological Office, on the spread of the foot and mouth disease virus from the burning of animal carcasses on open pyres. This report is to be published in the Veterinary Record shortly.Six pyres, located in Devon, Exeter and Worcestershire, were monitored. Additional pyres are currently being investigated in Cumbria and Devon. The report concludes that early results indicate that breakdowns due to virus dispersion from pyres are unlikely to occur in general and the pyres analysed to date have shown no evidence that breakdowns due to this cause have occurred.The Pirbright Institute of Animal Health has informed the Ministry that the virus is inactivated at temperatures above 50 degrees centigrade. There may be a small thermo-resistant element of the virus which is also destroyed at 70 degrees, but expert opinion is that this is likely to be insignificant in the possible spread of infection from pyres.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any truth in the press reports that samples of pathogens related to foot and mouth disease were taken from Porton Down; and, if so, what are the implications of this theft. [HL1779]

We believe that the noble Baroness is referring to comments made in a report which appeared in the Sunday Express on 8 April alleging that a vial of foot and mouth virus had been stolen from Porton Down.No foot and mouth viruses have been stolen from either the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR) or the Chemical and Biological Defence Sector (CBD) of DERA at Porton Down. In fact, no samples of foot and mouth virus have been held at CAMR or CBD Porton Down.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was their response to the offer by the Cuban government to supply veterinary assistance in relation to the foot and mouth outbreak. [HL1972]

The Chief Veterinary Officer has responded positively to the offer in a letter to His Excellency the Ambassador for Cuba on 27 April.

asked her Majesty's Government: Whether delays in culling healthy sheep are causing animal welfare problems, in particular to lambing ewes and their lambs. [HL1630]

We are continuing to support and encourage farmers in maintaining animal welfare standards in the face of our movement controls, necessarily imposed to control foot and mouth disease. We have produced advice on how welfare problems can be relieved through changes to management practices on farms; put in place a helpline providing welfare advice; established a system for licensing movements on welfare grounds; and introduced licensed movement to slaughter for marketing of animals in Infected Areas—an important new option for animals at risk of poor welfare. If these options cannot solve the problem, the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme provides a last resort: priority is being given to the most urgent welfare cases, and a team of vets supported by ADAS technicians and RSPCA experts is assessing applications according to welfare need. Welfare problems arising in lambing ewes and their lambs are considered as part of this process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many animals, culled on suspicion of having been infected by foot and mouth disease, have turned out not to have been infected. [HL2049]

The number of infected premises with an eventual negative result, and the animals slaughtered on them, as at 3 May 2001 was as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any wild deer have been found with foot and mouth symptoms. [HL1827]

All samples submitted to Pirbright from deer have so far (up to 4 May) been negative for evidence of FMD virus, antigen or antibodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any deer have been confirmed to have had foot and mouth. [HL1828]

A number of deer have been tested for foot and mouth disease, all with negative results.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publicise definitive guidance on compensation and insurance rights for those who offer their animals for culling to create a "fire-break". [HL1737]

Compensation for animals slaughtered to create a "fire-break" is payable in accordance with the Animal Health Act 1981. Where animals are affected with foot and mouth disease, the compensation is the value of the animals immediately before they became so affected. In every other case the compensation is the value of the animals immediately before they were slaughtered.Insurance arrangements are a commercial matter for the owners of animals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will arrange advance cash payments to farmers and others entitled to government compensation as a result of foot and mouth disease. [HL1738]

All farmers are paid compensation for any animals slaughtered as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. Stock is valued immediately prior to slaughter and the Ministry's target is to process and pay all compensation claims within three weeks of slaughter. The Ministry is putting in further resources to help meet this target. However, we are aware that in some areas, such as Cumbria where a particularly large number of claims have had to be made, this target is not being met. This is a problem that is currently being addressed and the Ministry is doing all it can to process all claims as quickly as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether compensation will be paid on a herd book basis where no tax is due. [HL1739]

Compensation for animals slaughtered to control foot and mouth disease is payable in accordance with the Animal Health Act 1981. Where animals are affected with foot and mouth disease, the compensation is the value of the animals immediately before they became so affected. In every other case the compensation is the value of the animals immediately before they were slaughtered.The value of animals is determined by reference to standard values or independent valuation. This is not affected by the tax position of an individual farmer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is possible for zoo animals to be vaccinated against foot and mouth disease without affecting the foot and mouth disease-free status of the United Kingdom's commercial farm stock [HL1531]

The European Commission has agreed that each member state may resort to emergency vaccination of susceptible species in zoos with endangered species listed on the red list laid down by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.The vaccination of any susceptible animal, even where limited to special categories of animals not primarily concerned with trade, would usually affect an EU member state's foot and mouth disease status. This leaves unresolved the question of the UK regaining foot and mouth disease free status if the Government decide to proceed with the vaccination of particular categories of animals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the "time lag" for the results of blood tests taken from animals caught up in foot and mouth outbreak week-by-week since these tests started. [HL1977]

Information regarding the time taken to obtain blood test results is not available on a week-by-week basis. The Ministry's policy now is, when appropriate, to slaughter animals on suspicion of foot and mouth disease, or to diagnose the disease clinically, without waiting for the results of a blood test before slaughter.We recognise there may have been some initial problems with the speed of results in the very early stages of the outbreak. These problems have been addressed and positive foot and mouth disease test results take half a day to obtain. It may take the laboratory 96 hours or more to confirm that the samples are free from foot and mouth disease.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the relevant tests on animals involved in the foot and mouth outbreak and in particular the tests carried out on deer. [HL1978]

The Government are satisfied that appropriate testing is being carried out, including tests on deer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether an individual has been appointed to establish the primary cause of the foot and mouth outbreak; and what progress has been made to date; and [HL1865]What guidelines have been set for the research into establishing the cause of the foot and mouth outbreak; and whether a target timescale has been set for the conclusion of the research. [HL1866]

As part of its investigations into the epidemiology of the current foot and mouth disease outbreak, the Ministry is considering the possible origins. Investigations are under way and no comment can be made at this time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether animals slaughtered as part of a contiguous cull in a foot and mouth outbreak are routinely tested for the disease being present in that stock; and, if so, and the contiguous herd is found to prove positive, whether that farm is added to those recorded as having the infection. [HL1868]

Animals slaughtered as part of a contiguous cull may be examined at slaughter. Where there are obvious clinical signs of foot and mouth disease the premises is treated as a confirmed case. In other cases, where there is only suspicion of foot and mouth disease at slaughter, samples may be submitted to the laboratory and disease confirmed on laboratory results. In both cases, the premises are added to the list of infected premises.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will supply details of each of the numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats respectively slaughtered and waiting for slaughter since the commencement of the foot and mouth epidemic. [HL1773]

The following table shows figures of total animals slaughtered by type since the start of the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak as of 19:00 on 1 May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Burnside Farm at Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, was inspected by Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food veterinarians on 22 December 2000 and 25 January 2001; and whether they will publish any report by those veterinarians to the Ministry concerning animal welfare and farming practices on that farm. [HL2005]

These matters are under investigation and it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On how many occasions they checked the animal movement records of K Feakin and W Cleave between 1 January 2000 and 15 March 2001. [HL1457]

These matters are under enquiry. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the foot and mouth disease virus can survive in smoke emitted from burning carcasses; if so, for how long it survives in the smoke; and whether there is any risk of infection from hay or other fodder crops over which smoke has blown. [HL1678]

Expert opinion is that there is little risk of spreading foot and mouth infection via smoke from burning carcasses as outlined in the Answer given to Lord Swinfen on 22 March, Official Report, column WA 177.Regarding hay and fodder crops, the foot and mouth virus will survive for only relatively short periods of time on pasture. The time taken for the virus to be inactivated is dependent on temperature and humidity; higher temperatures and dryness reducing survival times. In addition, the oral infectious dose is high compared with that which will cause infection when inhaled, so that any risks are judged to be minimal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Army was not brought in earlier to help tackle the foot and mouth outbreak. [HL1684]

At each stage of the current outbreak we have called on the appropriate resources. As the disease grew, so did our response. We were in touch with the Ministry of Defence on 20 February, to alert them that there had been an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Essex, and that military assistance might be required. This led to the first active deployment of troops on the ground on 16 March following a formal request by MAFF for MoD assistance on 14 March.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the risks to animal and human health from the smell arising from the mass burial pits for animals slaughtered on account of foot and mouth. [HL1685]

The Ministry is not aware of any risks to animal health arising from smells from burial pits. Humans may react to odour in a variety of ways, and some may experience nausea or feel unwell, but these reactions tend to pass quickly once the odour has dissipated. Medical advice is that serious health problems should not be expected.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What compensation is paid to farmers who have crops in store but cannot sell them because of restrictions imposed due to foot and mouth. [HL1701]

Compensation is payable for the market value of animals slaughtered to control foot and mouth disease. It is not payable for consequential losses caused by foot and mouth controls. There are no plans to make such payments in response to the current outbreak, but the situation will be kept under review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman on 25 April (

Our principal concern at present is to increase the availability of British lamb, beef and pork to the UK market. We are anxious that, as far as disease control measures allow, as many animals as possible should enter the human food chain and we have recently announced changes in disease restrictions to facilitate this.To make a case for private storage aid in any of these sectors we should need to be able to satisfy the European Commission on three points:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman on 30 April, whether the interest free loan agreed by them will have provision for the paying of interest on the money owed to farmers under the scheme. [HL1980]

As the decision by my right honourable Friend the Minister to provide an interest free Governmnent loan will allow the top-up payments under the Pig Industry Development Scheme to be paid some two years earlier than would otherwise have been the case, the question of interest on late payment by government does not arise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions have been reached following the consultations on proposals to protect rare breeds and hefted sheep. [HL2105]

On 19 April proposals concerning the exemption of rare breeds and hefted sheep from the contiguous and 3km cull were published and views sought. The vast majority of respondents to this exercise welcomed the proposals. Arrangements for exempting rare breeds of sheep and goats, and other pedigree sheep and goats of high genetic value, and genuinely hefted sheep, such as Herdwicks and Swaledales, from contiguous and 3km culls have now been introduced and guidance issued. The guidance explains what information needs to be submitted to gain exemption. A copy of this guidance is being placed in the Library of the House.These arrangements allow for owners of sheep or goats who think their stock may qualify and are notified it is to be slaughtered as part of a contiguous or 3km cull to apply for exemption from their local Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM). Owners need to show that the animals can be isolated from other susceptible livestock, and managed in compliance with tight biosecurity. Before registration as an exempted flock/herd, the DVM will arrange for blood samples to be taken for testing. The results for these blood tests must be negative for registration to be granted; positive blood tests will result in the flock/herd being slaughtered.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they propose to prevent the import of food products for personal consumption. [HL1875]

As my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture said in another place on 27 March the Government are taking action to ensure that rules on imports of food by individual travellers are enforced effectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy towards the development of public service values and the ethos of professionalism in the British economy and society as a whole; and what initiatives they have taken in this respect. [HL962]

High-quality public services, responsive to public needs and conducted in accordance with the highest standards of propriety, have a vital role in the development of the economy, and in raising the quality of life in this country. The same characteristics in other professions are also of great importance to the national wellbeing and prosperity. Many of the measures we have brought forward in government have aimed to satisfy these criteria.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What guidance is issued to government departments on the conduct of government business once an election is announced. [HL2106]

The Prime Minister wrote today to ministerial colleagues about government business during the election. Guidance for civil servants covering their conduct was also issued to departments, and specific guidance has been issued to special advisers. Copies of all three documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House, as well as guidance on the use of the Knowledge Network system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, when they place a letter in the Library of the House as part of a Written Answer, they will make an electronic version of that letter available to

The Government would be happy to accept the principle of such a change. However, this is also a matter for the House authorities to decide. There may well be cost implications that all parties would need to consider.

Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place on the House of Lords website all answers to parliamentary Questions which Ministers promise will be answered by outside agencies in letter form and which they say will be placed in the Library of the House, especially all Answers to Written Questions concerning the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [HL1510]

This is a matter for the House authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they respond to the survey from NetValue revealing that the United Kingdom is ranked tenth (out of eleven countries surveyed) in terms of broadband connection, with only one in 32 households, equivalent to 3.1 per cent, having a broadband connection compared with one in 9 in the United States, one in 16 in France and one in 20 in Germany; and what are the implications of these figures for the Government's target for making the United Kingdom the best nation in the G7 for broadband by 2005. [HL1622]

The NetValue report paints a misleading picture, since they looked only at those people who use the Internet; using their own figures, a higher proportion of the overall population in the UK uses broadband than in Germany or France. The UK has a much higher Internet penetration—40 per cent compared with 20 per cent in Germany and France.The UK is rolling out broadband at a rate comparable with most European countries, although we are arguably 12–18 months behind the United States. It is, however, right to be concerned about the need to accelerate and broaden roll-out, which is why an action plan aimed at making the UK the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 has recently been published by the Office of the E-Envoy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the pan-European organisation PRISMA (Providing Innovative Service Models and Assessment); whether any United Kingdom government departments or agencies have any involvement with this organisation either within the United Kingdom or the European Union; and whether any members of government scientific, medical or other councils, advisory committees or panels have declared interests in this organisation. [HL1748]

PRISMA is a research project funded by the European Commission's Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme from September 2000 to February 2003. It aims to provide an analysis of the current and future impacts of new information and communication technologies on government services in Europe. No UK government body is a member of the project consortium. PRISMA is required to publish findings as part of the conditions of funding and, where relevant to the UK's e-government initiative, the results will be taken into consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will set up an independent body to scrutinise and regulate advertising by the Government in the United Kingdom; and, if not, why not. [HL1912]

Government advertising is the responsibility of individual departments. It is subject to strict guidelines published by the Cabinet Office. The Advisory Committee on Advertising, whose members are independent, scrutinises government advertising and has done so for 61 years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total amount paid in consultancy fees with regard to the sale of the Millennium Dome site at Greenwich. [HL2003]

Up until 31 March 2001, the costs of consultancy fees with regard to the Dome sale process were £5.995 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of rural schools have access through their telephone exchange to broadband data transmission services in Scotland, England and Wales. [HL1968]

The department does not collect details about the percentage of rural schools that have access to broadband data transmission services through their local telephone exchanges. The Department's Survey of ICT in Schools 2000 shows that the percentage of schools in England, both rural and urban, with broadband connections by cable is as follows

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of rural schools have access through satellite receiver dishes to broadband data transmission services in Scotland, England and Wales. [HL1969]

The department does not collect details about the percentage of rural schools that have access to broadband data transmission services through satellite receiver dishes. The Department's Survey of ICT in Schools 2000 shows that one per cent of primary schools and less than one per cent of secondary schools in England, both urban and rural, have broadband connections by satellite.The issue of rural schools' access to broadband data transmission services through satellite receiver dishes in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the second phase of the enforcement review following the widening of its remit, announced by the Lord Chancellor on 6 March. [HL2074]

On March 6, 2001, I announced a wider remit for phase two of the enforcement review, Official Report, col. WA 20. The review has identified the need for independent expert advice from the private, independent and public sectors actively involved in enforcement and a market evaulation of the delivery of enforcement services. I will therefore establish an advisory group on the delivery of enforcement services to guarantee openness and transparency.The broader remit of the enforcement review enables us to set better, more wide-ranging public service agreement targets, ensuring that enforcement is carried out to a consistent standard. The current target (to achieve a 10 per cent increase in the amount recovered per pound under executed warrants issued in the county courts in 2001–04) was due to be reviewed in July 2001. The new target will need to take account of the findings of the enforcement review, to be more closely linked to service delivery and to measure return to the customer. We will now set new targets for civil enforcement by December 2001 and implement them in 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on reviewing the remedy of distress for rent as part of the ongoing reform of the civil justice system and review of civil enforcement. [HL2075]

As part of the ongoing reform of the civil justice system and the review of civil enforcement, we have been reviewing the remedy of distress for rent. We recognise that there are concerns about the current procedure whereby landlords of (mainly commercial) property can seize their tenants' goods for non-payment of rent without a court order or any prior notice. The Government accept that some change is necessary and desirable, and I have today issued a Consultation Paper on options for reform of distress for rent. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The aim of this consultation is to:

• Establish the extent to which, and way in which, distress for rent is currently used in both residential and commercial tenancies;
• Consider the potential effect if it were completely abolished;
• Consider the potential effect of its abolition in the residential sector; and
• Seek views on proposals for a modified procedure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to implement the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) with regard to peers' allowances; and, if so, when. [HL1667]

I refer the noble Baroness to my Answer of 16 March (col. WA 118).

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on global health will be published [HL2104]

The PIU report Tackling the Diseases of Poverty: A package to meet the Okinawa/Millennium Targets for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is published today. The report sets out a range of options for tackling these three devastating diseases in developing countries as a contribution both to the UK Government's thinking and to the international debate.The report calls for a comprehensive global strategy to improve and expand coverage of health systems and health promotion; make affordable for those that need them vaccines, drugs, and other products to prevent and treat the diseases; and provide incentives for research into new, more effective health products.The PIU report proposes a series of measures including:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimated expenditure on air sea rescue in Northern Ireland in the financial year 2002–03. [HLI471]

Current daytime provision of search and rescue (SAR) in Northern Ireland is carried out by both a Wessex helicopter from RAF Aldergrove and by Sea King helicopters at RNAS Prestwick and RAF Valley. The Wessex helicopter provides a limited daytime service incorporated within its principal task of providing a trooping capabilitiy. By night both Prestwick and Valley provide cover for Northern Ireland and the surrounding seas.The Wessex reaches the end of its operational service at the end of March 2002, and after that date day and night SAR cover will continue to be provided from the mainland. The Sea Kings are dedicated, all weather capable SAR aircraft, with fully trained crews, and can respond to an emergency much faster than a Wessex. They have greater endurance and greater lift capacity and can remain on a task for longer without needing to refuel.Other military aircraft deployed in Northern Ireland will be available for search and medical evacuations at one hour's notice in support of the mainland SAR aircraft. A decision on a replacement aircraft for the Wessex in the support helicopter role in Northern Ireland has yet to be taken, and so it is not possible at the moment to estimate expenditure on SAR operations in Northern Ireland during the next financial year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whose decision it was to drop various features concerning unidentified flying objects from the December edition of the Ministry of Defence's house journal

The editorial team of the in-house journal Focus decides the content of each edition, selecting from a range of competing potential topics and looking to achieve a balance of departmental news and more general interest pieces. In common with the overwhelming majority of such decisions, Ministers were not briefed about the selection of articles for the December 2000 edition.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether warships lost at sea, either in conflict or under stress of weather, are government property; and whether those entering these sunken warships or removing items from them without government approval and the approval of the survivors' association related to that ship are committing a criminal offence. [HL1893]

The rights of ownership enjoyed by Her Majesty's Government in respect of their military vessels are not lost merely because those vessels have sunk or foundered. Diving on a sunken military vessel in United Kingdom waters is not a criminal offence, although those who remove any items from a sunken military vessel may be guilty of theft. Where there is evidence of theft from vessels in international waters, representations would be made to the appropriate authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the cost to date of the involvement of the Army in helping with the foot and mouth outbreak; and from which budget it is funded. [HL1942]

The additional cost to date of the military assistance provided during the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease is estimated at around £1.5 million. Although costs are falling initially to the defence budget, they will be recovered from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (and, in Northern Ireland, from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) at the end of the military involvement. This is in line with the normal practice for military aid to the civil authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 26th March (

The Government are unable to provide the data for the comparison primarily because service personnel are paid on a daily rather than an hourly rate and we therefore neither have, nor need, detailed information about their hours of work. In addition, when service personnel are deployed on an overseas operational tour they are entitled to a substantial package of welfare benefits, including paid post-operational tour leave and may qualify for a longer separated service allowance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the current status of the repairs to the submarine flotilla following its recall in October. [HL2103]

The repairs to the SSNs recalled last October are progressing well. Although straightforward in engineering terms, the work has involved the development of engineering techniques. This has been given the highest priority and we are able to say that the repairs to HMS Torbay and HMS Tireless have been completed successfully. HMS Torbay remains in refit and HMS Tireless sailed yesterday from Gibraltar to return to duty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received requests from the Central Bank of Cyprus, the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal or other parties for help in tracing and freezing assets belonging to Yugoslavia, Serbia or the Milosevic family. [HL1369]

Her Majesty's Government have not received any request from the Central Bank of Cyprus for help in tracing assets belonging to either the FRY or Serbian governments or to any FRY national. Her Majesty's Government have received a request from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to trace assets in the UK belonging to Milosevic and four other persons indicted by the tribunal. We have informed the tribunal that no such assets have been traced (assets belonging to Milosevic, immediate members of his family and other individuals are also liable to be frozen under EU sanctions regulations). The UK has made it clear to the FRY authorities that we are willing to co-operate as appropriate with its efforts to trace misappropriated assets.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received information about the numbers of Chechnyans currently displaced from their homes; and how many are in (a) Chechnya, (b) Ingushetia, and (c) elsewhere. [HL1837]

It is difficult to get precise information on the number of people displaced as a result of the fighting in Chechnya. Best estimates suggest about 150,000 are displaced within Chechnya itself, including some 60.000 former residents of Grozny. A further 150,000 are estimated to be displaced in Ingushetia, while some 30,000 are believed to be living in other southern Russian republics, including Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia and Dagestan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which international and voluntary organisations are now assisting displaced Chechnyans; and what information they have received about conditions in the camps, particularly those named Ali na, Sputnik and Karabulak. [HL1838]

The Russian Disasters and Civil Defence Ministry (EMERCOM) remains officially responsible for co-ordinating the humanitarian effort of both the Russian ministries and international response for the North Caucasus.The UN, through the Consolidated Inter-agency Appeal for the North Caucasus, is providing assistance in the following sectors: food, agriculture, shelter and non-food items, health, water and sanitation, education, mine action and economic recovery and infrastructure.The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) is providing assistance through the Moscow Regional Delegation Appeal. The appeal for 2001 was issued in December 2000 for a programme of assistance and protection, including the newly granted opportunity to visit prisoners detained by the Russian/Chechen authorities.A number of NGOs, including the Danish Refugee Council, Islamic Relief, Hilfswerk (Austria), Medecins Sans Frontieres and Action Contre la Faime, are also providing assistance in Ingushetia and Chechnya.Alina, Sputnik and Karabulak are official camps situated in Ingushetia. International assistance is provided to all these camps through United Nations programmes, the ICRC and NGOs. The World Food Programme is providing assistance through the Danish Refugee Council in Karabulak and through Islamic Relief in Sputnik.In the last financial year, DfID contributed £3.2 million to the UN Consolidated Inter-agency Appeal and £2.25 million to the ICRC Moscow Regional Appeal. We have also provided assistance through our contributions to the ECHO's humanitarian operations in the North Caucasus which have totalled 25.6 million euros since the outbreak of the conflict in 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they believe that the decision of the European Court of Justice in the case brought against Mr Bernard Connolly by the Commission is in conflict with precedents set by the European Court of Human Rights. [HL1260]

In its judgment in the case brought by Mr Bernard Connolly against the European Commission, the European Court of Justice stressed that fundamental rights form an integral part of the general principles of law, whose observance the Court ensures. The Court highlighted the special significance of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in that regard and made direct reference to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they would support international guarantees for the Kurdish community of northern Iraq in the event of sanctions on the Iraqi Government being lifted. [HL1672]

The UK is committed to building peace and stability in northern Iraq and supports the Kurds' aim of autonomy within a federal Iraq. In the event of sanctions lift the UK would examine all available options for maintaining security for the Kurdish community in Iraq and would work to ensure that they have the opportunity to live free from repression and discrimination.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 23 April (

The Nice Treaty introduces a number of additional safeguards on the use of enhanced co-operation to ensure it is undertaken only as a last resort; that it cannot be used simply for the benefit of a few; that it is consistent with the EU's other policies; that it does not undermine the Single Market; and that it does not exceed the EU's competence.Given all the safeguards now in place, it is right that one country should not be able to block an enhanced co-operation, particularly in a European Union of 27 or more member states. The appeal clause mechanism in Pillars One and Three, by which a member state can demand that the European Council look at the issue, provides the right balance between the interests of the member states and the benefits of greater flexibility in an enlarged EU. The veto remains for enhanced cooperation introduced in the Second Pillar (Common Foreign and Security Policy).

asked Her Majesty's Government:On how many occasions since Lord Birt's appointment as his adviser on crime on 10 July 2000, the Prime Minister has met him to discuss crime. [HL1855]

As part of his work, Lord Birt has met Ministers and officials from relevant departments, including the Prime Minister. As with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide precise details of all such meetings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prisoners in United Kingdom prisons are (a) insulin-dependent and (b) non-insulin dependent diabetics; and [HL1949](a) What percentage of insulin-dependent and non-insulin dependent prisoners are permitted to monitor their own blood sugar levels; and (b) what percentage of insulin-dependent prisoners are permitted to keep their insulin-dependent delivery systems with them; and [HL1950]What percentage of insulin-dependent and non-insulin dependent prisoners have (a) had regular access to a diabetes specialist in the last 12 months; and (b) are provided with a regular and appropriate diet for their diabetic condition. [HL1951]

The detailed information requested about diabetic prisoners in England and Wales is not routinely collected centrally (and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost). The care and treatment of individual prisoners by prison doctors are undertaken in line with the National Health Service (NHS) practice. Prisons, and their local health authorities, are currently completing joint assessments of the health needs of prisoners, identifying appropriate services to meet them and effective ways of delivery. The aim of the needs assessment process is to ensure that prisoners have access to the same range and quality of services that the general public receive from the NHS. Services for diabetics have been included in the assessment process.In Northern Ireland eight insulin-dependent and eight non-insulin dependent diabetics are currently in prison custody. Adult prisoners are allowed to monitor their own blood sugar levels but inmates in the young offenders centre are not permitted to do so. Four prisoners are allowed to keep pen delivery systems. Ten (63 per cent) of the 16 diabetic prisoners have had access to a diabetes specialist in the last 12 months. All prisoners receive a regular and appropriate diet for their condition. In one prison prisoners have access to a dietician who specialises in diabetes.Health care services in Scottish prisons are matters for the devolved administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the findings of the study of the management of diabetes in French prisons published in

The England and Wales Prison Service will ensure that the provisions of the National Service Framework for Diabetes, which will be published later this year for implementation in 2002, are applied, as appropriate, in the prison setting. In doing so it will take into account the findings of the recently published study of the management of diabetes in French prisons.The Northern Ireland Prison Service keeps in regular touch with developments in healthcare treatments in the England and Wales prison system and this includes the treatment of prisoners with diabetes.Healthcare services in Scottish prisons are matters for the devolved administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their policy for those sentenced to community service orders to be set to work clearing up litter or removing graffiti in public places. [HL1994]

The work done by offenders on community punishment orders, as they are now called, is decided locally within the framework of the national standards for the supervision of offenders in the community. Litter and graffiti squads exist in a number of probation areas.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have plans to review the legislation in relation to the animal welfare responsibilities of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the light of the current foot and mouth outbreak; and if not why not. [HL2047]

The Government have no plans to review the position of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). The RSPCA is a voluntary organisation. It is not a statutory body and has no powers or responsibilities laid down in legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to repeal the legislative provision which led to the retirement of two members of the Merseysicle Police Authority on the grounds of age; and whether they will explain how such discrimination is compatible with the requirements of human rights legislation. [HL2051]

The Government are proposing in the Criminal Justice and Police Bill to remove the maximum age limit of 70 for members of police authorities outside London, selection panels for independent member appointments and the service authorities for the National Crime Squad and the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What safeguards exist to ensure that postal votes at elections are not subject to abuse. [HL2052]

Though the Representation of the People Act 2000 simplified the procedure for absent voting, important safeguards remain in place.Before an application to cast an absent vote is granted the electoral registration officer will check that the person is a properly registered elector.For any postal vote to be counted there must be a properly witnessed declaration of identity in respect of it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:During the demonstrations in London on ' May when cyclists taking part were instructed by police to remove their cycle helmets, whether cycle helmets were forcibly removed by police officers from any demonstrators who failed to remove them on request; and what were the reasons for instructing cyclists to remove their cycle helmets. [HL2099]

The police have powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to require items which they believe to be worn mainly for the purpose of concealing an individual's identity to be removed. However, I am advised by the Metropolitan Police Service that they are not aware of these powers being used in relation to cyclists' helmets on 1 May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which bodies are responsible for monitoring airbourne pollution from burning dead animals during the current foot and mouth outbreak; what resources are being devoted to such monitoring; and whether they are satisfied there is no resulting health impact. [HL1759]

For individual sources of pollution which exist in many areas of the country it is common to adopt an approach which is based primarily upon modelling of impacts, rather than direct measurement (monitoring). Such modelling takes into account emissions from the source and other factors such as local topography and metereology (predominantly windspeed and direction).This approach has been followed during the current foot and mouth epidemic. The work has been conducted by, or on behalf of, DETR, the Environment Agency and where relevant the devolved administrations and devolved bodies.Detailed monitoring has been undertaken at some individual sites where carcasses are being burnt in order to verify the modelling work. But the detailed monitoring can be translated into levels of some key pollutants such as dioxins after up to two weeks of analysis.Further continuous monitoring has been undertaken in some sensitive locations, close to pyres, to offer reassurance to the local population.Due to the exceptional nature of the foot and mouth outbreak, all modelling and monitoring work has been progressed to tight timetables, and it has not been possible to estimate the precise resources involved as yet.Any combustion process emits pollution which has the potential to cause detrimental effects on health. We are satisfied that the risks to public health from burning of animal carcasses during the foot and mouth outbreak have been of a low order of magnitude.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On how many occasions the position of a foot and mouth animal burning site has been moved as a result of intervention by the Environment Agency; and whether they will set out the principles which determine the positioning of such a site in the event of disagreement among the interested parties. [HL1935]

The Environment Agency provides specialist technical support on air quality and has a statutory role in authorising sites under the Groundwater Regulations 1998. For this reason it is involved from the early stages in the location of disposal sites and, as a result of influencing the choice of sites in this way, its subsequent intervention to move a selected site should not be necessary. The Environment Agency's advice has been drawn on in guidance recently issued by the Department of Health which sets out measures to minimise the risk to public health from disposal sites, and the agency has issued guidance on the protection of ground and surface waters at disposal sites.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are monitoring the performance of local authorities in meeting their statutory obligations to keep roads for which they are responsible clear of litter; and, if so, how. [HL1995]

The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions does not monitor local authorities in meeting their statutory obligations to keep roads for which they are responsible clear of litter. Local authorities have a statutory duty of cleanliness under Section 86 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to keep roads for which they are responsible clear of litter and refuse. Under the Local Government (Best Value) Performance Indicators a local authority must measure the cleanliness of their roads by the cost per square kilometre of keeping their roads clear of litter and refuse and publish those results.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What analysis they are making of the climatic, social, economic and other consequences for the United Kingdom of any further change in the pattern of behaviour by the Gulf Stream; and what interdepartmental contingency planning they are ensuring to deal with any such consequences. [HL2027]

The best available evidence from climate models suggests that, although the North Atlantic circulation could slow as the climate changes, it will not lead to a cooling of the United Kingdom, as direct greenhouse warming will more than offset the reduction in Gulf Stream heat. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that the risk of a major change in the North Atlantic circulation is remote over the next 100 years. However, since marked cooling linked to circulation changes are known to have occurred over 10,000 years ago, it is important to further explore the potential for such occurrences in the future. This is an area of active research, and includes work at the Met Office's Hadley Centre and other major UK institutes, and a new research programme (Rapid Climate Change) proposed by the NERC.In 1997, the Government established the UK Climate Impacts Programme to help organisations assess their vulnerability to climate change and assist them in planning responses to adapt to it. To underpin these assessments, the UKCIP provides information based on the latest understanding of climate change. The work of the UKCIP is helping to raise both institutional and public awareness of the effects that climate change might have on the UK. The Government also recognise the need to adapt to some changes in climate and have already taken initial action to build adaptation into their own policies in sectors such as flood defence, land use planning and water resources.The Government believe that the best way to address such potential irreversible changes is to ensure successful international action in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. We published our Climate Change Programme last year which sets out how the UK plans to meet its climate change targets, and are committed to making Kyoto work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will promote a new planning procedure for major transport projects such as Heathrow Terminal 5 and Thameslink 2000 to speed up decisions on their authorisation. [HL2039]

Proposals for streamlining the processing of major projects through the planning system were issued by the department for consultation in 1999. We shall announce how to proceed in the light of responses as soon as practicable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Prime Minister's announcement on 24 April in favour of establishing small, United States-style business improvement districts instead of levying a supplementary business rate, how they will take account of the need for business leadership, including landowners as well as occupiers. [HL2040]

The basis of a business improvement district (BID) would be a contract for the delivery of additional services and improvements, funded by an additional rate on properties within the BID area. The parties to the BID would be the local authority and the business ratepayers in the area, a majority of whom must have agreed to the additional rate.The detailed working of the BID would be for local agreement, which could include provision for ratepayers to take the leading role, though local authorities would remain accountable for the expenditure.A property owner who was also the ratepayer would automatically be a party to the BID. Furthermore, the parties to the BID could, if they wished, seek the involvement of non-ratepayers in the work being carried out by BID.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in considering any reallocation of resources within the United Kingdom, they will take into account the need for increased investment in London's transport and education to maintain and enhance its international competitiveness so that it can continue to generate wealth for the benefit of the United Kingdom as a whole. [HL2041]

The Government are aware of the valuable role that London provides in generating income for the United Kingdom. Since taking office we have significantly increased the provision for spending on transport and education. London has benefited from this extra money. It has seen provision for spending on education increase by £640 per pupil in real terms over the last four years and further increases are built into the forward spending plans. The 10 Year Plan for transport allocates £3.2 billion for grant for transport in London for the period 2001–02 to 2003–04, broadly a doubling compared with previous plans. The plan delivers a total of £25 billion of public and private investment for London over 10 years.London has therefore done well from our spending reviews. The allocation of resources for the three years from 2003–04 will be considered in the Spending Review 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether local authorities are meeting their statutory duties concerning the provision of public sanitary facilities; and whether such facilities include provision for frail elderly and disabled people; and [HL2056]What arrangements are in place for monitoring the discharge by local authorities of their statutory duties concerning the provision of public sanitary facilities and ensuring that such facilities include provision for frail elderly and disabled people. [HL2057]

Local authorities have a discretionary power under Section 87 of the Public Health Act 1936 to provide public toilets but are under no statutory duty to do so. We believe that local authorities, in partnership with their local communities, are best placed to decide what level of toilet provision is appropriate for their area.For this reason, there is no best value performance indicator relating to the provision of public toilets. But local authorities are expected to supplement the national BVPIs with local performance indicators to reflect their own priorities and circumstances and to set targets for improving performance against these.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of the concerns of small businesses recently confirmed by a survey by the forum of private business, what proposals they have for reform of the uniform business rate; and whether they will consider a reform based on the size of business. [HL2086]

We set out a number of proposals concerning the national non-domestic rate in our Green Paper Modernising Local Government Finance (September 2000). These included a scheme of rate relief for all small businesses. This would provide rate relief of 50 per cent for properties with rateable values up to £3,000, with the relief being gradually reduced for properties with higher values: there would be no relief for properties with rateable values above £8,000. It was also proposed to target this relief explicitly at small firms (as opposed to small properties) so long as this could be done without making the rules too complicated. We therefore invited views on whether the relief should also take account of the turnover of the ratepayer's business or the number of employees.We are considering the many responses we received to the Green Paper, including that from the Forum of Private Business. A summary of responses has been published on the DETR website. We will be setting out the way forward in a White Paper later this year after further discussions with the forum and others.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received any estimates of funds raised by charities for farmers and rural businesses affected by foot and mouth disease; what impact these funds have on government assistance; and whether information on areas receiving priority assistance is shared. [HL2100]

No complete estimate of moneys raised by charities and other organisations has been compiled. The Countryside Agency has received eligible bids of £2.67 million under the matched funding scheme, of which £1,476 million have been paid to date. I understand that the agency expect a further bid of £2 million. Further applications are anticipated.All donations from charities and other organisations and the matched funding scheme are additional to the Government's mainstream package of assistance for farmers and businesses affected by the foot and mouth disease.The Countryside Agency has issued a press notice on each occasion that funding has been awarded under the matched funding scheme for public donations to foot and mouth relief. In addition, information on areas receiving priority assistance is freely available on the DETR website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 10 April (

The National Specialist Advisory Group Annual Report 1999–2000 is available on the NSCAG website at www.doh.gov.uk/nscag.The Annual Report has been distributed to the following national disability organisations: Action for ME, British Limbless Ex-Serviceman Association, Craniofacial Headlines Support Group

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of food cargoes of non-animal origin are physically inspected on arrival from non-European countries; who bears the cost of inspection; and whether the whole of a cargo of such food is inspected or only samples. [HL1896]

We are advised by the Food Standards Agency which is responsible for issues of food safety.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of food originating from the European Union is inspected at the point of destination In the United Kingdom; what checks are made and with what frequency on such food at retail level; and who bears the cost in each case. [HL1897]

Information concerning the percentage of food originating from other member states of the European Union inspected at the point of destination in the United Kingdom is not held centrally.Retail premises receiving such food are subject to random as well as programmed checks. The frequency and nature of programmed inspections are set out in Codes of Practice 8 and 9 issued under Section 40 of the Food Safety Act 1990. Random checks are undertaken in response to consumer complaints and for other reasons. The costs of these inspections fall to the local food authority.Imports of meat and meat products from other member states of the European Union which are delivered to meat plants in the UK, licensed under the meat hygiene regulations, are subject to risk-based random checks by the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) and by its equivalent in Northern Ireland. The MHS has been instructed to review levels of checking to allow for additional volumes of imports while British supplies are disrupted by the effects of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The MHS is also checking all consignments of imported carcass beef following the recent cases where specified risk materials were found to be attached to the meat. The costs of normal MHS services are charged to the plant operator.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will take any initiatives in relation to National Diabetes Week (10–16 June). [HL1948]

The Government welcome National Diabetes Week, which each year helps to raise awareness of an important area of need. That is why we are developing a national service framework (NSF) for diabetes in England. The diabetes NSF will be published later this year for implementation from 2002. Its aim is to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes by raising the quality of services and reducing variations between them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What additonal funding has been made available for the supply of electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and wheelchair vouchers since April 2000; and what managerial provisions there are to ensure that the funding is appropriately spent on wheelchairs and wheelchair vouchers; and [H1,1990]What expenditure has been earmarked for the supply of electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and for the issue of wheelchair vouchers in England for 2001–02,2002–3, and 2003–04. [H L1991]

From April 2000 the £14 million allocation for wheelchairs and vouchers was placed within health authority revenue baselines. The distinction on what can be spent on powered wheelchair and voucher schemes was removed so that users' needs can be met more effectively. Performance data on the continued progress of powered wheelchair and voucher schemes are collected on the Department of Health's common information core. We will continue to monitor the information carefully.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in the supply of wheelchairs, indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs and wheelchair vouchers since the publication of the Audit Commission's report

The Fully Equipped report does not discuss the powered wheelchair or voucher schemes in detail as those initiatives had been the subject of the separate evaluation by the York Health Economics Consortium. The Audit Commission's recommendations on wheelchairs were directed at local services and auditors appointed by the commission carried out an overview of the wheelchair services at 45 trusts. A full study was then carried out in 38 of these, and individual reports given to the trusts for their local action.After careful consideration of the York Health Economics Consortium's evaluation of the indoor/outdoor powered wheelchair and voucher scheme initiatives, we continued the overall allocation of £14 million for wheelchairs and vouchers, placing it within health authority revenue baselines which are increased annually. The distinction between what can be spent on powered wheelchair and voucher schemes was removed, so that users' needs can be met more effectively. We asked all services to continue to operate a voucher scheme which offers 'users a choice in having a wheelchair which meets their needs.A new framework agreement for the supply of manual and powered wheelchairs was awarded by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and began on 1 October 2000. This provides a wider choice of both manual and powered chairs is available through the NHS, including chairs made available through the voucher scheme.We will continue to monitor provision of wheelchairs and vouchers to ensure that those who need it can benefit from this important service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to issue national minimum standards for National Health Service wheelchairs in England, as recommended by the Audit Commission in its report on disability equipment and services entitled

The specific recommendation in the Audit Commission report Fully Equipped was for local reviews of current service standards for delivering wheelchairs and the introduction of local proposals to deliver incremental quality improvement programmes. Subsequently, a full study of the wheelchair service in 38 trusts has been carried out by auditors appointed by the Audit Commission and reports have been provided to the individual trusts. The Department of Health will have further discussions with the Audit Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress is being made by the Medicines Control Agency in discussions at the European Commission Pharmaceutical Committee in relation to the proposed traditional medicines directive; and what assessment they have made of the likelihood of those discussions leading to a directive that would meet the Government's objective of securing, in European law, a safe home for herbal remedies currently marketed under Section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968 as medicines not requiring a product licence; and [HL2042]

In discussions with herbal interest groups, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has reached a wide measure of consensus that the current regulatory arrangements which permit unlicensed herbal remedies under Section 12(2) of the Medicines Act 1968 do not provide adequate safeguards for the public: there are no specific standards for the safety and quality of individual products under this regime, and there are inadequate arrangements for providing the public information about the use of the product.The UK comments on the second draft of the directive on traditional medicinal products were set out in a letter from the MCA to the European Commission dated 30 April 2001. The response took account of points made by a range of herbal interest groups in their continuing dialogue with the MCA on this issue. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.Although work is still at a relatively early stage, we are encouraged by progress on the draft directive. We expect that if negotiations are successful, this legislation would provide systematic regulatory arrangements for a wide range of traditional herbal remedies of the kind currently sold and supplied under Section 12(2).Any systematic updated regulatory regime for traditional herbal remedies is likely to place greater constraints on companies than is currently the case with the weak regulatory arrangements for unlicensed herbal remedies. A potential advantage for companies, however, is the greater confidence the public could have in the safety and reliability of these products. The draft directive would not affect products which are not classified as medicines.