asked Her Majesty's Government:How many magistrates' courthouses have been closed in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years for which statistics are available; and what are the locations of such closures. [HL1005]

Seven magistrates' courthouses closed between September 1995 and the end of 1995; 20 closed in 1996; 22 closed in 1997; 24 closed in 1998; 8 closed in 1999; 12 closed in 2000; and 21 have closed in 2001 to date. The table below shows the location and date of closure. Information prior to September 1995 is not available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many magistrates' courts are currently under consideration for closure; and what are the locations of the same. [HL1006]

I am aware that 10 magistrates' courts committees are currently considering courthouse closures. These are Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Surrey, Durham, North Yorkshire, Thames Valley, Greater Manchester, West Mercia, West Midlands and the Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority. Magistrates' courts committees are not statutorily required to inform me of proposed courthouse closures which are not subject to an appeal by its paying authority or authorities. Decisions concerning the number, location and future of magistrates' courts are for each magistrates' courts committee to determine, in consultation with its local paying authority or authorities.Recently, Norfolk County Council lodged its appeal to me against the Norfolk magistrates' courts committee's determination to close Fakenham magistrates' court. I have not yet made my decision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that it is appropriate behaviour for the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to threaten a Member of the House of Lords in the exercise of free speech. [HL875]

The European Convention on Human Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right includes the freedom to impart ideas without interference by a public authority.The exercise of this freedom, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to restrictions such as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of a series of specified interests, including the protection of the reputation or rights of others.The libel laws are the means by which an appropriate balance is struck between the right of freedom of expression (recognised as essential in a democratic society) and the legitimate protection of the reputation and rights of others.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they still accept the claim made in paragraph 15.11 of the report by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland

The recruitment arrangements provided for in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 are compatible with European law.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why reverse discrimination is necessary for Roman Catholics, who were under-represented in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (but overrepresented among senior officers), but not for women (and other groups), who are also underrepresented in the police force, given the statutory objective of representativeness of the community in Northern Ireland in Sections 45(3) and 47(4)(a) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. [HL960]

The Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland did not recommend positive discriminatory measures to address the under-representation of women in the police service. Section 48 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 provides for the Policing Board to make an action plan to increase the number of women in the police service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How, and by whom, applicants to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in February were shortlisted; what tests were performed; whether the applicants were interviewed; whether any of the tests were waived or postponed for some or all of the applicants; and what were the criteria of selection. [HL962]

Applicants to the Police Service of Northern Ireland were initially assessed by Consensia, the independent recruitment agency, to check that they met the statutory eligibility criteria. The selection process consisted of a series of tests and assessments, including an interview, which were designed to assess the competences required to be a police officer. Applicants who had previously passed the Home Office police initial recruitment test were exempted from this particular test.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, and, if so, when, they received preliminary advice from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission concerning a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [HL1094]

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission issued an advance copy of the consultation document Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 31 August this year. The Government expect to receive the commission's formal proposals around March 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they granted an additional £352,000 to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on top of its annual grant of £750,000. [HL1095]

As with all their sponsored bodies, the Government always made it clear that they were prepared to consider any bid for additional resources from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission provided it was supported by a legitimate business case. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland received such a bid from the commission, and made a further £357,200 available to it to support its extensive consultation on the scope for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the suggestion that the chapter on social, economic and environmental rights in the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's proposed Bill of Rights should apply in Great Britain. [HL1096]

The social, economic and environmental rights to which the noble Lord refers appear in a consultation document published by the commission on 4 September this year as part of the commission's consultation exercise to enable it to advise the Government on the scope for a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Government expect to receive formal recommendations from the commission next spring. Any such recommendations will be considered carefully by the Government in respect of the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland, as outlined in the Good Friday agreement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many (a) organisations, and (b) individuals made submissions to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission either (i) calling for, or (ii) opposing the inclusion of a right to elections by proportional representation in the proposed Bill of Rights. [HL1110]

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. 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:What would be the consequences for the United Kingdom's international obligations if they directly incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into Northern Ireland law, as recommended by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, and amended Section 22(6) of the Human Rights Act 1998, thereby disapplying the Act in Northern Ireland. HL1098]

The United Kingdom's international obligations under the ECHR are set out in that treaty and not in the Human Rights Act 1998. Accordingly, they would be unaffected by amendment of the Human Rights Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the latest situation in Sierra Leone following British military intervention and provision of aid and training; in particular:

The situation in Sierra Leone has improved beyond all expectations since our original intervention in May 2000. Significant challenges remain, but the prospects for peace are now better than at any time since the conflict began. Over 20,000 combatants have disarmed and handed over 3,115 handguns, 11,883 assault weapons, 709 group or crew-served weapons and 518,340 rounds of ammunition since May 2001: 10,800 of these weapons have been destroyed to date. The rebel leadership has renounced violence in favour of transforming the RUF into a political party ahead of elections announced for 14 May 2002.The UK's engagement, in support of the United Nations, together with that of regional leaders including President Obasanjo of Nigeria and President Konare of Mali, has underpinned the recent progress in the peace process. But the Government of Sierra Leone will need the continued support of the international community to enable them to consolidate the peace and begin to rebuild the country's shattered institutions and infrastructure.The Government of Sierra Leone have not, so far, had to use their forces to free up territory previously held by the rebels. The government are gradually extending their authority throughout their territory as disarmament progresses: the Sierra Leone police are now present in the nine of Sierra Leone's 13 districts—constituting over 70 per cent of the country—that are officially recognised as disarmed. We expect them to have gained full control over the whole of their territory once disarmament has been completed in December.The main diamond-producing area of Kono was one of the first to demobilise. But a sizable presence of RUF ex-combatants remains in the diamond producing areas, which are beginning to come under government control.UNAMSIL has deployed troops throughout Sierra Leone. Its function is set out in its mandate authorised under Security Council Resolution 1270 (1999) of 22 October 1999, amended by Security Council Resolution 1289 (2000) of 7 February 2000. Its main objectives are to assist the Government of Sierra Leone to extend their authority, restore law and order and stabilise the situation progressively throughout the country, and to help to promote a political process towards disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration and the holding, in due course, of free and fair elections.Spontaneous returns make it hard to determine a precise figure of displaced persons who have returned to their original homes. UNHCR records indicate that 26,000 resettled between April and June 2001, and plans are in hand to resettle another 18,000 from December 2001. Another 120,000 internally displaced persons now in camps in Sierra Leone await resettlement, and a further 80,000 are being accommodated in host communities. Regionally, Guinea is hosting about 109,500 Sierra Leonean refugees, Liberia 70,000, the Gambia 7,630 and an estimated 9,000 Sierra Leonean nationals are in other West African countries awaiting repatriation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the proposal to provide asylum seekers with smartcards will in any way change the number, range and identity of the shops in which they can be used compared with the current system of vouchers; and, if so, in what ways. [HL1084]

The new application registration card will replace the standard acknowledgement letter (SAL) that is currently given to asylum seekers and will allow for much more reliable identification of the holders. Once the new smartcards have been introduced, we will replace the voucher system with a more robust but less socially divisive scheme. We are exploring potential mechanisms for achieving this, including automated credit transfer and using the smartcard as a means of providing financial support to asylum seekers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the recent guidelines that advocate greater leniency for young offenders. [HL1115]

The Youth Court Bench Book does not advocate greater leniency. It reflects the firm, consistent approach to young offenders which the Government have developed in recent years, with the support of Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which criminal offences, if any, still attract the death penalty; and how many prosecutions for treason have occurred since 1900 other than when the United Kingdom was at war with a foreign sovereign state. [HL1120]

The death penalty is no longer available for any criminal offences. Figures show that for the period 1900 to 2000, but excluding 1914 to 1918 and 1939 to 1945, there were 43 prosecutions for treason offences: 32 were for treason felony and the remaining 11 were for high treason and other offences against treason Acts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What number and percentage of patients seen at National Health Service accident and emergency departments are

Accident and emergency data are not available by different age bands.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they have taken to inform residents of nursing homes of their entitlement to free nursing care. [HL1039]

Draft guidance, containing our proposals to implement free nursing care was issued for consultation, together with a press release, in July. The Department of Health has produced a leaflet, NHS Funded Nursing Care in Nursing Homes—What it means for you, a guide for people living in or going into nursing homes, their families and their carers to coincide with the implementation of free nursing care for those funding their own care from 1 October. Primary care trusts, health authorities and councils are distributing these to nursing homes, residents, their families and carers. National Health Service nurses will also have the opportunity to explain the scheme face-to-face when individual determinations of the registered nursing care contribution are carried out. The public can also obtain information from NHS Direct and, in the south-west of England, from Care Direct.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to follow the example of the United States National Institutes of Health in collecting centrally information about the import and use of stem cells. [HL1129]

The Government have no plans at present to collect information on the importation and use of stem cells, although we continue to monitor developments in this field of research. Stem cell research is being examined currently by an ad hoc Select Committee of the House of Lords and the Government will consider its recommendations when they are published.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the decision of the National Assembly for Wales in favour of ending septennial voting on whether public houses should remain open on a Sunday or not, and in view of the fact that the next vote is due to be called in 2003, whether they can give any indication on when the necessary legislation will be introduced into the Westminster Parliament to abolish the necessity for this poll. [HL933]

The abolition of the Welsh Sunday opening polls requires the repeal of Sections 67 and 68 of, and Schedule 8 to, the Licensing Act 1964. Polls only need to be held in 2003 if 500 electors in any Welsh district requisition one. It has been the policy of successive governments to abolish these polls and we have indicated our readiness to do so as part of the general reform and modernisation of alcohol licensing law. However, as it was not possible to include a licensing reform Bill in the legislative programme announced on 20 June for this Session of Parliament, it may not be possible to abolish the polls by means of primary legislation before they are next due in 2003. The Government are therefore presently considering whether or not it would be lawful and appropriate to amend the law by means of a regulatory reform order under the terms of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. However, no final decision has yet been made as to whether to seek such an order.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much English Heritage will spend this year on direct employment of children's education officers. [HL1025]

For 2001–02 English Heritage expects to spend £500,000 on direct employment of children's education officers. This includes payroll and programme costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When Ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and specifically the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Lord Whitty, were first made aware of the receipt by the department of the report

All Ministers in the department were made aware of the receipt of a near-final draft report from my noble friend Lord Haskins shortly after that draft was received on 2 October. Lord Haskins continued to have meetings, such as with the regional development agencies, after that date and made subsequent changes in his draft report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the grades of the members of staff suspended in the Exeter office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 August as part of an investigation into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic; and [HL1130]When Ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs were first informed that members of staff had been suspended on 13 August as part of an investigation into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic; and why no subsequent announcement was made to either the Devon County Council inquiry or to Parliament; and [HL1131]What items of equipment have gone missing from the Exeter office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which could be relevant to the foot and mouth outbreak; and whether any records relating to the outbreak have been lost; and [HL1132]Whether members of staff in any office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs other than the Exeter office have been or are under investigation into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic or into the loss of equipment; and [HL1133]What sums of public money are involved in the investigation at the Exeter office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic; and [HL1134]Whether the police have been informed of the investigation at the Exeter office of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into expenses claims during the foot and mouth epidemic; and if so, when. [HL1135]

Eighteen members of staff who had been based at Exeter are suspended from duty while the department carries out its own internal criminal investigation concerning expenses claims. An investigation into missing equipment is also being carried out. The police have not been advised as my staff have the power to deal with criminal matters. As the investigations are ongoing it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What research has been, or is being, undertaken to evaluate the effects of slug pellets on the British bird population, especially on species such as the song thrush. [HL9461

No research has been commissioned by DEFRA specifically on the effects of slug pellets on British bird populations. However, in carrying out its regulatory activities under UK and EU legislation, DEFRA assesses the risk to non-target species and research is conducted for DEFRA into the risk to birds and mammals from pellets and treated slugs. This is aimed at improving pesticide risk assessments. In addition, there is research funded on integrated methods of slug control, including research to provide novel technologies that reduce the impact on non-target organisms such as birds. More details are provided by the DEFRA website under "research".

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have completed their review of grants for repairing storage facilities outside nitrate vulnerable zones; and, if not, when they expect to do so. [HL1213]

We will shortly be putting proposals on extending nitrate vulnerable zones out for public consultation. The review will be undertaken as a part of consideration of the responses to this consultation. We have informed the Better Regulation Task Force, which recommended this review, of our plans.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the badger culling trials will be fully operational again; and whether they have yet appointed an external auditor to check field operations. [HL1214]

DEFRA, in consultation with the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, is currently drawing up plans for resuming trial operations. In the light of the foot and mouth outbreak, any resumption will be subject to a strict risk assessment.Various aspects of the field operations of the trial are subject to audit, including surveying, social group territory delineation and the humaneness of despatch procedures. Audit reports and the Government's responses are published. Review of audit arrangements is a component of restarting the trial following foot and mouth disease.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 24 October (

(a) There are 42 designated UK border inspection posts (BIPs), 30 of which are approved to deal with food imports; 10 take only products not for human consumption and 2 only live animals.(b) European Commission veterinary experts carry out inspections to border inspection posts in each member state on a regular basis, taking in a number (but not all) of the BIPs during any one visit. They completed an inspection of BIPs in the UK on 26 October this year but have not yet produced a report.(c) The Food Standards Agency's audit programme of local authorities commenced on 1 April 2001 and copies of reports on local authorities that have been audited are available on the agency's website