asked Her Majesty's Government:Which member states other than the United Kingdom have failed to accept the right of individual petition under (a) the United Nations Convention on the elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, (b) the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, (c) the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and (d) the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [HL864]

In summary, the following numbers of state parities have accepted the right of individual petition.Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination—36.Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women27.Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment—45.Convention on the Rights of the Child—there is no right of individual petition.I shall write to the noble Lord with full details.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many applications they have received from residents in the Republic of Ireland for British passports (a) in each year since 1990 and (b) during the period 1 January to 31 October 2001. [HL1382]

The British Embassy in Dublin issued the following numbers of British passports in recent years:

• 1996: 4,701
• 1997: 5,199
• 1998: 5,649
• 1999: 6,381
• 2000: 7,274

1 January to 31 October 2001: 7,345Statistics for earlier years are not available. Because records of unsuccessful applications are not maintained, it is not possible to provide details of the total number of applications received. Neither do the figures available differentiate between applications received from residents of the Republic of Ireland and those who were visiting that country when they made their application.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have studied the report of the visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo last August by the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes and Genocide Prevention; what action they are taking in response to the group's recommendations; and whether they are producing a regional strategy paper on the Great Lakes region. [HL1388]

We have studied carefully the report made by the all party group. I look forward to discussing it and its recommendations when I meet with the group on 28 November. We have a flexible policy towards the Great Lakes, anchored firmly in the Lusaka and Arusha peace processes, which provide the only viable frameworks for lasting peace in the region.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What requirements they intend to introduce to cheek the identities of those travelling by air within the United Kingdom. [HL956]

The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill will amend the Terrorism Act 2000 to give an examining officer the power to make a written request to an air or shipping carrier for it to collect and provide information about passengers, crew, vehicles belonging to passengers or crew and goods carried by ships or aircraft either arriving in, leaving from or traveling within the United Kingdom. At present the power extends only to journeys within the common travel area.The type of information to be collected will be specified by order after the passage of this Bill. The law enforcement agencies are working on a list of common information requirements and the carriers will be consulted on this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give a breakdown of the 79,000 applications for asylum received in the past financial year showing:

A breakdown of the 79,125 applications for asylum to the UK in the financial year 2000–01, by area and nationality, is provided below (Table: Applications for asylum, received in the UK, excluding dependants, by nationality, 2000–01).Information on the total numbers of asylum applicants entering the UK by air, by ship and by land (via the Channel Tunnel) is unavailable. Data are available on applications at ports, and are provided below (Table: Total asylum claims at port of entry, 2000–01).Information on the numbers of in-country applicants discovered by the authorities or who surrendered to the authorities voluntarily is not currently recorded and is therefore unavailable.

Applications1 for asylum, received in the UK, excluding dependants, by nationality, April 2000-March 2001
	Applied at port	Applied in-country	Number of principal applicants Total
Europe
Albania	250	1,430	1,680
Czech Republic	900	75	975
FRY2	600	3,945	4,545
Poland	410	420	830
Romania	260	1,650	1,910
Russia	65	720	780
Turkey	2,185	1,915	4,100
Ukraine	115	520	640
Other Former USSR	360	1,485	1,845
Other Former Yugoslavia	80	2,475	2,555
Others	170	300	470
Total	5,390	14,940	20,330
Americas
Colombia	105	225	325
Ecuador	65	230	300
Others	130	360	490
Total	300	815	1,115
Middle East
Iran	1,330	4,985	6,310
Iraq	2,105	6,625	8,730
Others	510	780	1,290
Total	3,940	12,385	16,330
Africa
Algeria	285	1,240	1,525
Angola	205	590	795
Democratic Republic of Congo	395	560	955
Ethiopia	130	340	470
Gambia	10	40	50
Ghana	100	165	265
Ivory Coast	60	355	415
Kenya	115	225	345
Nigeria	275	460	740
Rwanda	105	615	720

asked Her Majesty's Government:What money from firearms and gun licence applications has been paid into the general police fund in the Thames Valley for the most recently available accounting period.[HL1294]

I understand from the Chief Constable of the Thames Valley Police, who is responsible for administering the firearm and shot gun certification process within his area, that in the financial year 2000–01 the revenue accrued from gun licensing was £326,184. These funds were credited to the Thames Valley Police revenue budget. The overall expenditure of the firearms department for this period was £431,224. In the current financial year the revenue accrued from gun licensing to date (i.e. week 31) is £251,694. It is forecast that the overall cost of the firearms department will be £446,940.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) how many speeding offences involving heavy goods vehicles and public services vehicles have involved speeds in excess of national limits for the vehicles in question over the last three years for which figures are available;

(b) how many of these vehicles involved in these offences have been found to have defective speed governors; and

(c) what penalties have been imposed as a result. [HL1356]

The Home Office, Northern Ireland Office and the Scottish Executive do not collect information on the type of vehicle involved in speeding offences.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to change prisons for men to female use. [HL1607]

The number of women in prisons continues to rise steeply, dramatically exceeding the most recent population projections. Extra capacity is urgently needed and the Prison Service has decided that the best way of providing this is a further change of function of male accommodation. Buckley Hall prison near Rochdale has been selected as the most suitable option in terms of suitable accommodation, geographical location, staffing arrangements and other related factors. The prison is expected to be ready to accept female prisoners from early next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 31 October (

The categories of off-road vehicles entitled to use red diesel are set out in Schedule 1 to the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act. (HODA) 1979. Customs has made no assessment of the quantities of red diesel used by different categories.In deciding eligibility to the rebated rate of duty, the user (the individual or company buying rebated oil) must be satisfied that the end use to which the rebated fuel is put is an eligible one, based on the definitions set out in HODA (and explained in Customs and Excise Notice 75 (Fuel for diesel vehicles)). For the majority of users, this decision is clear cut and is based on the type of vehicle the fuel will be used in and where it will be used (HODA Sections 11–12 and Schedule 1). Where there is any doubt, they should consult their supplier for advice and contact the Customs National Advice Service if unsure.Customs' road fuel testing units provide checks, targeted to particular risks, which aim to detect and discourage misuse of these fuels as road fuels. In doing so, they will seek evidence in support of the user's judgment of eligibility.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have received from the Information Commissioner about the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [HL1296]

I invited the Information Commissioner to express her views on a timetable for the implementation of the Act based on the practical considerations for her office in advance of a decision being taken by the Government. She said that it would be sensible to implement the publication scheme and right of access provisions together on a phased timetable, largely following the structure of Schedule 1 to the Act. She also made it clear that it was for Government to decide on a timetable for implementation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What obstacles, if any, are impeding the bringing into force of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by October 2002 in relation to central government departments. [HL1297]

The Government have decided that the publication scheme provisions of the Act will be implemented for central government in November 2002 at the start of a rolling programme of implementation across the public sector. The individual right of access to information will be implemented for all public authorities at the end of this process in January 2005. This is the Government's preferred approach because it allows time for the required training to be undertaken and appropriate procedures to be put in place to ensure a workable Freedom of Information Act is implemented in a changed culture. It also aligns the implementation of the right of access provisions with the Government's target for the electronic records management project. This initiative will enable the fast retrieval and accurate creation and storage records that will be necessary to meet the demands of the Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will accept the recommendations by the United Nations Human Rights Committee in its concluding observations of 29 October, on the fifth periodic report submitted by the United Kingdom, to consider, as a matter of priority, how persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom may be guaranteed effective and consistent protection for the full range of rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including accession to the first Optional Protocol. [HL1298]

Her Majesty's Government will consider the concluding observations and any recommendations the committee may make once they are available in their final form.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what occasions in the present calendar year they have taken up with the Turkish authorities the prohibition on certain British citizens entering Turkey; what reply they received on each of these occasions; and whether they will ensure that, in considering the progress made by Turkey towards meeting the Copenhagen criteria for accession to the European Union, the Council of Ministers are informed of this matter. [HL1237]

I deeply regret that the Turkish Government continue to deny entry to that country by the noble Lord, as we regret all bars on travel to Turkey imposed on British citizens. We have raised the noble Lord's case on a number of occasions this year, most recently by myself on 18 September during my meeting with the Turkish Minister of State, Dr Kemal Dervis. I also spoke with the Turkish Ambassador to London about this matter in July. The issue was also recently raised with the Director General for Human Rights in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs by our Embassy in Ankara. We have not received a satisfactory response; merely the information that the ban has been reviewed twice yet kept in place. The European Council has made clear that Turkey cannot start negotiations to join the EU until it has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria.

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

It will be possible to give the final estimated cost of the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme after it has closed to applicants. The scheme closes on 31 December 2001 and will not be repeated next year. To date, the combined costs of the Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme and Light Lamb Scheme are approximately £400 million. A little over half of this has been payments to farmers and the rest is made up by the costs of processing the animals, including transport, slaughter and disposal of carcases. The final cost will depend on demand for the scheme between now and the end of the year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What initiatives they have taken since June to reduce youth unemployment. [HL815]

Our policies, built on a foundation of a strong and stable economy, have helped to reduce long term youth unemployment by almost three-quarters since 1997.The New Deal for Young People is continuing to play an active part in helping young people improve their job prospects and move into work. The programme has already helped 326,300 long-term unemployed young people move into work, over 25,000 of those between June and August 2001.In our Green Paper,

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to improve the administration of housing benefit; and, in particular, whether they have any plans to reduce reduplication of forms by better sharing of information between the local authority and the Benefits Agency. [HL826]

We are working with local authorities to improve the administration of housing benefit. A help team has been established which offers practical advice and support to local authorities on ways to improve delivery. The team is now visiting its sixth authority. We have also set up a help fund to enable local authorities to formulate and implement improvement plans. Authorities are being consulted about a new performance framework which will introduce from 2003 a set of performance standards for housing benefit.In order to reduce the duplication of information provided by people claiming housing benefit as well as income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance, we are considering the feasibility of replacing claim form NHB1 with local authorities' own claim forms. Improvements in information sharing between the department and local authorities in recent years means that electronic access to income support and jobseeker's allowance data is available through remote access terminals sited in local authorities. We are currently investigating how we can give local authorities tailored electronic access to other departmental benefit data.The customer management system will he implemented from the end of 2002. This is a single claims process that will collect information over the telephone and in person from customers claiming housing benefit with income support, jobseeker's allowance or incapacity benefit. Information relevant to the housing benefit claim will be transferred electronically to local authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people were excluded from the claimant court for unemployment during the past month as a result of benefit sanction. [HL872]

The information is not available. A benefit sanction does not automatically result in a person being excluded from the claimant count, and the database on which sanctions are recorded does not distinguish between those people who are excluded and those who are not.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the answer by Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 18 October (HL Deb, col. 707):

Our proposals for reforming social housing sector rents were set out in our response to consultation on the Housing Green Paper, Quality and Choice: A decent home for all—the way forward for housing (December 2000), a copy of which is in the Library.We believe that before considering long-term structural changes to the housing benefit system, it is right to focus on improving benefit administration and, where possible, simplifying the scheme. For example, from 2 July 2001 the definition of the single room rent was broadened to reflect better the type of accommodation available in the market to young single people. We are considering proposals for the further reform of housing benefit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their proposals for rent restructuring and the housing revenue account subsidy allocation for 2002–03. [HL1608]

Following extensive consultations last year, we announced our plans to make the rents charged by councils and housing associations fairer and to improve tenants' choice in our housing policy statement Quality and Choice: A decent home for all—the way forward for housing last December. Starting in April 2002, we will begin a series of gradual changes that will result in rents being linked to the value and size of a property and manual earnings in the area.Moving to a fairer system will have real benefits: social rents will remain affordable and generally well below market levels; there will be no large rent increases; we have set a limit of RPI + 0.5 per cent + £2 on the annual increase in any individual rent; and average rents will increase more slowly than in the past; in particular council rents will increase at only half the rate over the last 10 years.I can today announce a further safeguard. Concerns have been expressed about the effect of the rent restructuring formula on a small proportion of properties in high value areas—around ½ per cent of the total social housing stock. To meet these concerns we have decided that the reforms should not lead to rents exceeding a maximum £100 a week in 2002–03 for any council or housing association home. Lower figures will apply for smaller properties. The maximum will rise by RPI + 1 per cent a year. Some social housing rents are already above these levels and they will be frozen or reduce over time. Average council rents will remain around half the maximum figure.Housing associations are free to decide how quickly they move their rents to the levels required by rent restructuring although they should aim to complete the process as far as possible in the next 10 years. We have advised the chairman of the Housing Corporation that, where housing associations do not need to put their rents up in order to remain financially sound, they should not be pressed to do so.I understand that the computer systems used by some local authorities limit their ability to apply different rent changes to different properties next April. I am advising those authorities that for 2002–03 they should apply the average percentage rent change suggested in our restructuring proposals for their stock to all of their rents except where this might involve breaches of the RPI + 0.5 per cent + £2 limit, or the maximum rents announced today. The subsidy system will not penalise authorities for not implementing the reforms at an individual property level.We will consult further with local authorities and tenant groups about the movement from averaged rent increases to the rents which we expect to be charged for individual properties by the end of the 10-year transitional period.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they now expect to publish the Department of Health's guidance to local authorities on charging for social services; and what plans they have for charging working disabled people in proportion to their earnings. [HL1319]

The Department of Health plans to issue final guidance to local councils on charging for non-residential social services later this year. The guidance will seek to ensure that charging policies do not create barriers to work for disabled people.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish the Diabetes National Service Framework; and when they expect he framework to reach full service implementation. [HL1346]

We will be publishing the Diabetes National Service Framework in two stages, the diabetes national service framework standards this autumn and the diabetes national service framework delivery strategy next summer. This will enable the National Health Service to prepare to plan for the 10 year implementation programme which will start in April 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to increase their research funding on the effects of air pollutants on health to take account of the annual costs of adverse health impacts arid of air pollution abatement measures. [HL1367]

A call for research proposals has been advertised in the scientific press and the Department of Health's website.As intended, this call has invited expressions of interest for a programme of research covering a range of air pollution topics.The total amount of funding for this research programme will be approximately £1 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there are any circumstances when depleted uranium is used in the manufacture of prostheses. [HL1418]

There are no circumstances of which we are aware when depleted uranium is used in the manufacture of prostheses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When shampoos for the treatment of headlice in which the active ingredient was an organophosphate were first marketed; and which organophosphates were licensed. [HL1419]

Shampoos for the treatment of headlice containing organophosphates (Malathion and Lindane) were on the United Kingdom market before the licensing of medicinal products began in the early 1970s when the licensing authority was established. Prior to this, no records were held on medicinal products.The first fully approved shampoos for the treatment of headlice containing organophosphates were granted a licence for marketing in 1975. These contained Malathion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many applications have been received to sell off school playing fields in (a) 1997–98; (b) 1998–99; (c) 1999–2000; and (d) 2000–01; and how many applications in each of those years have been agreed. [HL1443]

Before October 1998 there was nothing to prevent a local authority selling a school playing field if it wanted to. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced in October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. Local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained schools are now required to obtain the Secretary of State's consent before disposing of playing fields or any part of a playing field.Applications to sell school playing fields are approved only where it is clear that any proceeds will be used to improve or enhance school sports provision or education facilities. All applications made since mid-July this year are scrutinised by the Independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel to make sure that they conform to published criteria. The panel comprises representatives from the National Playing Fields Association, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the education organisation Learning through Landscapes, the National Association of Head Teachers and the Local Government Association.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of the annual total money raised by the National Lottery has been made over to the New Millennium Experience Company for purposes connected with the Millennium Dome in each financial year since the start of expenditure on the Millennium Dome; and what proportion such funds represented of total funds distributed by the Millennium Commission in each year. [HL1361]

The percentage of the annual total of National Lottery funding available for the good causes which has been made to the New Millennium Experience Company from the first year it received grant payment is as follows: 1997–1998 = 3.75 per cent; 1998–1999 = 7.4 per cent; 1999–2000 = 16 per cent; 2000–2001 = 5.14 per cent.Grant funds paid to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) as a proportion of total grant funds paid by the Millennium Commission for each year since the first grant payment was made are set out in the following table:

Year	Grant payments to NMEC £'000	Total grant payments £'000	NMEC grant to total MC grants paid %
1997–1998	74,182	185,428	40.0
1998–1999	144,318	387,060	37.3
1999–2000	280,500	507,882	46.1
2000–2001	92,000	433,543	21.2

Answer covers complete years only since grant first paid to NMEC.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have discussed with the Government of the Republic of Ireland (a) the fact that, under the first paragraph 9 of the Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity section of the Belfast Agreement, any bill of rights for Northern Ireland will have to be incorporated in the Irish constitution; and (b) that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's proposed bill of rights will require other changes to the Irish constitution. [HL1108]

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is expected to make formal recommendations on what may be contained in a bill of rights early in 2002. When those recommendations have been received, the Government will consider them and will consult with any interested parties, including the Irish Government at that stage. However, the Belfast Agreement does not specifically require the Irish Government to incorporate any bill of rights for Northern Ireland into the Irish constitution.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given that under Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, human rights is an excepted matter in Northern Ireland, why the Department of Education in the Northern Ireland Executive is able to (a) hold a conference on human rights (b) appoint an advisory teacher to work in the Children's Law Centre and (c) appoint five teachers to work in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, whose staffing is the responsibility of the Government under paragraph 4 of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. [HL1109]

Paragraph 3(c) of Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 makes it clear that,

"observing and implementing international obligations, obligations under the Human Rights Convention and obligations under Community law",

are not excepted matters.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many road casualties there have been in Northern Ireland since 1969.[HL1157]

The information requested is provided in the following table:

Road Casualties far Northern Ireland 1969–2000
Year	Accidents	Killed	Injured	Total Casualties
1969	4,981	257	7,124	7,381
1970	5,308	272	7,902	8,174
1971	5,158	304	7,658	7,962
1972	5,261	372	8,025	8,397
1973	5,000	335	7,662	7,997
1974	4,795	316	7,188	7,504
1975	4,882	313	7,340	7,653
1976	4,943	300	7,319	7,619
1977	5,352	355	7,849	8,204
1978	5,473	288	8,080	8,368
1979	5,388	293	7,628	7,921
1980	4,982	229	7,035	7,264
1981	5,245	223	7,557	7,780
1982	5,551	216	7,923	8,139
1983	5,425	173	7,540	7,713
1984	5,978	189	8,561	8,750
1985	5,779	177	8,460	8,637
1986	6,171	236	9,206	9,442
1987	6,344	214	9,722	9,936
1988	6,943	178	10,789	10,967
1989	7,199	181	11,430	11,611
1990	7,159	185	11,576	11,761
1991	6,171	185	10,129	10,314
1992	6,650	150	11,114	11,264
1993	6,517	143	10,957	11,100
1994	6,783	157	11,937	12,094
1995	6,792	144	11,581	11,725
1996	7,093	142	12,433	12,575
1997	7,192	144	12,554	12,698
1998	7,487	160	13,242	13,402
1999	7,562	141	13,308	13,449
2000	8,388	171	14,549	14,720
Totals	193,952	7,143	305,378	312,521

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they increased the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's annual grant of £750,000 in 2001–02 by £352,000; what is the purpose of this extra money; and whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be subjected to financial accountability, by whom and when. [HL1279]

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland received from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission a bid for extra funding to support the commission's extensive consultation on the scope of a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. In response to this bid, the Secretary of State made available a further £357,200 in August this year.The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, like all other non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), is subject to strict financial scrutiny. Its statement of accounts is prepared as directed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with the consent of the Treasury, in accordance with the requirements set out in paragraph 7(2)(a) of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.Brice Dickson, as NDPB accounting officer, is responsible for ensuring that all regulations pertaining to accounts contained in paragraph 7 of Schedule 7 are complied with. This includes sending copies of the commission's statement of accounts to the Secretary of State and the Comptroller and Auditor General for examination at the end of the financial year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to respond to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's report on the rights of lesbians, gays and bi-sexual persons published in August without having been approved by the commission. [HL1301]

The report on the rights of lesbians, gays and bi-sexual persons published by the commission in August was not formally submitted to government and does not therefore require a formal response.I understand that the report in question was research that was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The commission's minutes record that members agreed to publish the report on the understanding that it was a report which was commissioned from others by the commission and did not necessarily reflect the considered view of the commission itself. The foreword to the report indicates that the report was produced by others for the commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the post of Chief Constable of the Northern Ireland Police Service will be advertised internationally. [HL1425]

In accordance with Section 35(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, the Northern Ireland Policing Board shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, appoint the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. It will be a matter in the first instance for the board to consider whether to advertise the post internationally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much they have spent on hiring commercial aeroplanes since 12 September, and [HL1223]What was the cost of hiring Concorde for the Prime Minister's recent visit to America. [HL1224]

Since 1999 this Government have published a list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The information requested will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.All travel was undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Revised claim forms which set out the new daily limits were made available when the House resumed on 15 October. At the same time, a new General Guide to the Peers' Reimbursement Allowance Scheme was issued (as recommended by the Senior Salaries Review Body); this too refers to the revised daily limits. The limits were also reported to the Finance and Staff Sub-Committee at its meeting on 30 October.

of Roding asked the Chairman of Committees:Whether Peers who have claimed reimbursement in respect of the sittings of the House in September and October 2001, up to the maximum rates pertaining up to the end of July, will be entitled to claim additional sums in respect of those sittings up to the new maximum rates applicable since 1 August. [HL1466]

Yes. Members of the House will be able to claim any additional expenses incurred up to the revised limits which took effect on 1 August.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Whether he will in future arrange for increases in the maximum allowances payable under the Peers' Reimbursement Allowance Scheme to be notified to Peers at the earliest opportunity after the new rates have been decided by the relevant House authorities. [HL1467]

Yes. In future, I will take steps to inform the House of the new rates on the next sitting day after the rates have been notified to the House authorities.