asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are still in favour of special courts being open late at night in order to deal expeditiously with alleged drunkenness and violence. [HL2196]

The Government still plan pilot studies for extending court sitting hours and to evaluate whether they represent value for money. In particular, attention will be on the effect extended hours will have on delays, deterring local criminals, improving access to justice and helping reassure local communities. Planning is underway involving all criminal justice partners in London and Manchester. Details for the Manchester scheme were announced in a press notice issued on 11 January 2002 and it is expected that particulars of the London scheme will be released soon. Both are currently planned to start in the spring. It has always been the intention to exclude defendants who are incapable from alcohol or drugs from the pilots.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 18 December

Notes on government Bills will describe, in general terms, the most significant convention issues thought to arise from the provisions, together with the Minister's conclusions on compatibility.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much revenue was received by the Treasury as a result of the climate change levy, and how much was returned to industry by way of rebate, in the fiscal year ended 5 April 2001; and how much is projected to be received and rebated in the fiscal year to 5 April 2002. [HL2234]

The climate change levy was introduced in April 2001. There were no revenues in the fiscal year ended 5 April 2001. It was projected, at the time of the Pre-Budget Report November 2001, that £0.6 billion would be received in the fiscal year to 5 April 2002. The Government also announced that all revenues would be recycled back to business through a 0.3 percentage point cut in employers' national insurance contributions and additional support for energy-efficiency measures and energy-saving technologies. For the fiscal year to 5 April 2002 the Government expect to recycle around £1 billion back to business in this way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the first Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 8 January about the presidential election in Zimbabwe

Ideally, independent observers should be present for as much as possible of the campaign prior to the election, as well as for the voting and counting afterwards. The European Union has called for accreditation of election observers six weeks prior to the election.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce the benchmark which they intend to use to monitor and evaluate the forthcoming presidential election in Zimbabwe. [HL2281]

We are discussing with our European Union partners and others the norms and standards we will use to judge the outcome of the forthcoming presidential election in Zimbabwe. We want the EU to publish these well in advance of the election.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What might be the timetable for the suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. [HL2282]

Zimbabwe was formally added to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) agenda on 20 December 2001. It will be discussed again at the next CMAG meeting on 30 January. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary set out the Government's position in thy. House of Commons on 8 January (Official Report, col. 400–03). A decision on suspension is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole. Commonwealth Heads of Government will be meeting in early March.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On which date they expect the central register of persons, who have applied for a shot gun or firearm certificate or to whom a firearm or shot gun certificate has been granted, to go live on the police national computer as required under Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, which came into force on 1 October 1997; and [HL1729]Whether they are liable to legal action for their failure to create a central register of firearm and shot gun certificate holders as required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment ) Act 1997, which came into force on 1 October 1997; and, if not, for how long it is possible to delay compliance with this legislative requirement. [HL1730]

Section 39 does not specify when the requirement for a central register must be met but we are fully committed to its development.The time-scale for delivery has been affected by the need to complete the national DNA database and to upgrade the police national computer (PNC) software infrastructure in order to maintain continuity of service to police forces. The combined effect of these two factors is that it will not be possible to begin rolling out the register until September this year, with progressive data migration and all work planned for completion in November 2002. Design and development has now started and is due for completion in May 2002. System testing will be conducted in June to September.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements have been made for the issue of less-than-lethal ammunition to the police service in England and Wales; and what is the availability of such ammunition at present. [HL1997]

The only less lethal option which requires ammunition is the baton gun. Currently 36 police forces in England and Wales have a baton gun capability and a further three non-Home Department forces are similarly equipped. This figure will increase to 45 forces by April 2002 when the manufacturer has supplied further baton guns.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the consultation by the Department of Health in 2001 on the European Commission's proposal for a directive to harmonise European Union laws on tobacco advertising:

There were 54 responses to consultation. Of these 32 supported the proposed directive, eight opposed it and the remaining 14 either expressed no firm view or commented only on matters of detail. Most of those respondents supporting the proposed directive stated that there should be a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.A summary of the responses has been placed on the Department of Health's website at

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in securing the fulfilment of commitments to the European countries with regard to the development of the A400M military transport aeroplane. [HL2129]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 8 January, (Official Report, col. WA 100–01).

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the first stewardship report promised in the Ministry of Defence's policy document

The Ministry of Defence will publish its first stewardship report on the Defence Estate on Tuesday 22 January. This fulfils the commitment made when In Trust and On Trust: The Strategy for the Defence Estate was launched in June 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what basis they regard the pre-sale valuation of the Millennium Dome and the government appraisal to be commercially confidential; and [HL2264]Whether they will publish the terms of the contract with English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Ltd relating to the Millennium Dome when it has been signed. [HL2265]

In order to protect the parties' commercial interests, it is normal commercial practice not to reveal the details of contractual agreements such as that being entered into between English Partnerships (EP) and Meridian Delta Ltd (MDL). Revealing such details may compromise the Government's ability to achieve value for money, since the joint venture between EP and MDL will be negotiating third parties over the subsequent development of the land. This is true also of the pre-valuation and other appraisals of the value of the Dome site.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the mayoral referendums that have taken place so far with the votes cast for and against; and what are the dates that have been set for further mayoral referendums. [HL2305]

The table below sets out details of the mayoral referendums that have already taken place, together with information currently available on the referendums known to be taking place in the coming months. There are a small number of other local authorities where a decision has yet to be taken on whether or not a mayoral referendum should be held.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many (a) car drivers; (b) passengers in front seats of cars; and (c) passengers in rear seats of cars have been killed in accidents during the last five years for which records are available; and how many and what percentage of each were wearing seat belts at the time. [HL2332]

The numbers of car occupants killed are shown below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of (a) car drivers; (b) passengers in the front seats; and (c) passengers in the rear seats of cars they estimate now wear seat belts. [HL2334]

The last survey of seat belt wearing rates was carried out during October 2001. The results show that 90 per cent of car drivers and 92 per cent of passengers in the front seats now wear seat belts. In the rear seats of cars, 56 per cent of adults (14 years of age plus) and 90 per cent of children now wear seat belts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When Objective 1 funding ends in Merseyside; and what similar funding, if any, will follow. [HL2371]

The current Objective 1 programme in Merseyside will finish on 31 December 2006, although beneficiaries will have a further two years to spend the funds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What help is being given to housing associations which will specifically cater for the single person. [HL2372]

Information is not available in the form requested, but three grant regimes provide accommodation for single people.The Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) is the major source of housing associations' funding. We are increasing investment in affordable housing, both for rent and sale, through the ADP to over £1.2 billion by 2003–04.The Rough Sleepers Unit's capital budget of £71 million over three years 1999–2000 to 2001–02 provides accommodation for rough sleepers, via capital grants administered by the Housing Corporation and paid to housing associations. Revenue grants from the Rough Sleepers Unit are paid to housing associations, a wide range of voluntary organisations, and local authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Ms Keeble on 10 January (HC Deb,

463 affordable homes in rural settlements in England with a population of 3,000 or less were completed and funded by the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme and local authority Social Housing Grant during the eight-month period 1 April 2001 to 30 November 2001.The Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme rural settlement target is to approve, 1,100 units between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002. This will be supplemented with housing provided through local authority funding. In addition, we are encouraging local authorities to make effective use of the planning system.