asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose to change the present prohibitions on the sale and use of soft drugs outside medical requirements. [HL2199]

Her Majesty's Government do not propose to change the present prohibitions on the sale and use of any currently controlled drug for non-medical purposes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the Refugee Legal Centre that, where the detention of asylum seekers is contemplated, serious consideration should be given to alternative methods of control, such as reporting requirements, and that, in cases where the individual is detained, he or she should be provided with full written reasons for the detention and be able to challenge the decision to detain, within a reasonable period, before an independent judicial body. [HL2274]

The detention of asylum seekers is authorised only when necessary and against the background of a general presumption in favour of granting temporary admission or release. Alternative methods of ensuring compliance are considered but will not be appropriate in every case.Individuals who are detained are served with a notice which specifies the Immigration Act power under which they have been detained, the reasons for their detention and the factors that have been taken into account in reaching that decision. This is reflected in the Detention Centre Rules 2001.Detainees are able to challenge the lawfulness of their detention by way of application for judicial review or by applying for a writ of habeas corpus. We are satisfied that this complies with the requirements of Article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Oakington process should be used for certain categories of case in relation to asylum seekers, for example, where the case is not straightforward or the applicant has been the victim of torture. [HL2275]

The Oakington fast track process is intended for those asylum claims which, upon initial screening, appear to be straightforward and capable of being decided in about seven to 10 days. It is not intended for more complex cases, including victims of torture. Where complicated issues, or evidence of torture leading to an appointment with the Medical Foundation, emerge after arrival at Oakington the applicant is removed from the Oakington process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the reasons for not keeping statistics on numbers of failed asylum seekers who are returned to specific countries within each period. [HL2301]

The destination of persons removed from the United Kingdom under Immigration Act powers, including failed asylum seekers, is recorded on case files. This information is not collated centrally since it is not required for immigration management purposes. Reliable information on the destination of removed persons could therefore only be obtained by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.Information on the nationality of asylum seekers removed from the United Kingdom is available on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1 .html.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current backlog in the issue of "NASS 35" documents to asylum seekers who are granted refugee status or leave to remain; and what action is being taken to eliminate this backlog in order that such people may claim any benefits to which they are entitled from the date when the Nation Asylum Support Service support ceases. [HL2302]

The backlog for issuing NASS 35 documents within the NASS Status Terminations Team as at 17 January 2002 was 210 cases. This backlog will be eliminated by 14 February.Once notified of a positive asylum decision NASS issues a NASS 35 normally within five working days. Numbers of positive decisions notified to NASS to stop support vary from week to week as they depend upon the outcomes of asylum cases processed. Large numbers in one week will affect throughput time and levels of work in progress. Some cases may take longer if some anomaly requires further investigation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many passports were lost between dispatch from the Passport Agency and receipt by the applicant. [HL2285]

The United Kingdom Passport Service issues more than 5 million passports each year, the majority of which are issued via first-class post.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they plan to implement the special measures for vulnerable or intimidated witnesses recommended in the

The Speaking up for Justice report on vulnerable or intimidated witnesses in the criminal justice system published in 1998 proposed a range of special measures available for use at the trial including: video-recorded statements to replace the evidence-in-chief; video-recorded pre-trial cross-examination; live TV links; screens around the witnesses box so that the witness does not need to face the defendant in court; removal of wigs and gowns; assistance with communication if necessary, including the use of an intermediary; and power for the judge to clear the public gallery in cases involving sexual offences or intimidation so the witness can give evidence in private.The measures requiring legislation were included in Part II of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.Implementation of the special measures will be phased as we have an opportunity to see how they are working.The implementation in the Crown Court will take place six months from today to allow a lead-in for the agencies to conduct training and preparation. All the special measures will be implemented for vulnerable witnesses, with the exception of intermediaries and pretrial cross-examination, which will be subject to pilot projects. The same measures, with the added exception of video-recorded statements, will be implemented at the same time for intimidated witnesses.All other measures will be introduced in 2003–04 for all qualifying witnesses.In magistrates' courts implementation of special measures in July 2002 will be restricted to TV links and video recorded evidence for child witnesses in cases involving sexual offences, violence (including threats) and cruelty. This would provide protection for children in cases involving assaults, muggings and domestic violence. It would also bring the adult magistrates' courts into line with the current provision in the youth court.Most of the measures will be extended to magistrates' courts by 2003–04 (after their evaluation in the Crown Court) to bring them in line with the Crown Court.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What restrictions are currently in place on arms exports to each of the following areas:

Export licence applications for all countries are considered on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria announced by my right honourable friend the Minister for Europe on 26 October 2000 [HC 199–203W].In addition, the statement of the then Minister of State my honourable friend the Member for Manchester Central of 10 July 1998 (HC 688) imposes restrictions on the issuing of licences to Pakistan and India for items listed on the nuclear suppliers group dual-use list. Items on the list will be denied to nuclear and nuclear-related end-users in India and Pakistan, as will all other goods to these end-users which could contribute to nuclear programmes.My right honourable friend Peter Hain announced an exception to this statement on 3 July 2000 (3W). The exception is for equipment which would not normally require an export licence but is deemed licensable under the WMD end-use controls and where the initial concerns about WMD end-use are not subsequently substantiated.UNSCR 1333, which imposed an embargo on the sale, supply and transfer of arms to the Territory of Afghanistan under Taliban control, expired on 19 January. UNSCR 1390 imposes an embargo on the supply, sale and transfer of arms and related material to Osama bin Laden, members of the Al' Qaeda organisation and the Taliban and other groups, individuals, undertakings and entities associated with them.A full list of all the sanctions regimes and arms embargoes implemented by the UK can be found on the FCO website at (http://files.fco.gov.uk/und/ sanctions/list.pdf). A summary of additional UK-only restrictions on the export of strategic goods can be found at (http://files.fco.gov.uk/und/sanctions/ summary.pdf).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What applications they have received from British firms for Export Credits Guarantee Department cover by any British firms in connection with the Yusefeli project; and what standards they will apply in judging those applications in terms of the environmental impact, consultation with affected residents, resettlement plans and effects on local archaeology.[HL2314]

ECGD received an application for support for the Yusefeli project from AMEC International Construction Ltd in December 1998.In accordance with ECGD's business principles, international standards, such as the report by the World Commission on Dams and those contained in the guidelines of the World Bank Group, will be used as benchmarks for the assessment of the project.An environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been conducted and we expect that a resettlement action plan (RAP) will also be produced. Best practice for both of these requires appropriate consultation with the affected communities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are taking precautions against coastal flooding resulting from ice melting in the Antarctic Region. [HL2197]

Predicted changes in the balance of ice held in Antarctica and elsewhere are taken into account in the sea level rise predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that are incorporated into guidance issued by Defra to coastal authorities. In addition, expert evaluation has concluded that the potential for more severe melting of land-based ice which could cause a significantly greater rise in sea level is very remote over the next century.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the total quantities of glass, paper and plastics presently recycled in the United Kingdom; and what is the current market demand for such recycled material. [HL2252]

The latest data held by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs indicate that 407,000 tonnes of glass, 4,711,700 tonnes of paper and board and 141,000 tonnes of plastics are recycled per annum. These figures include paper and board imports for recycling of 57,300 tonnes but do not include glass exports of 69,000 tonnes and paper and board exports of 402,300 tonnes.However, we still use very significant quantities of virgin paper, glass and plastic. There is therefore great potential, dependent on market conditions, for increasing the amount of these materials that the UK recycles.The Government have established the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), with £40 million of government funding from 2001 to 2004, to help create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs intends to apologise to farmers in the Thirsk area for her statements in the House of Commons on 12 November 2001 (HC Deb, col. 578), which were admitted to be inaccurate by Lord Whitty in a Written Answer on 20 December 2001

The Private Secretary to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State wrote on 10 January 2002 to the National Farmers' Union in Thirsk to explain that the figures in the Secretary of State's statement in the House of Commons on 12 November 2001 related to the North Yorkshire region as a whole rather than to the Thirsk area and that there had been no intention to mislead in quoting them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by Mr Morley on 10 January (HC Deb, 991W), what factors have affected United Kingdom harvested production of oilseeds in 2000 and 2001, which came in at 66 per cent of 1999 production and 81 per cent of 1996 production. [HL2378]

In making their planting decisions farmers will take account of a range of factors relevant to the particular circumstances applying on their farms. However, the decrease in the production of oilseeds in 2000 and 2001 is partly explained by the reduction in the specific aid rate payable for oilseeds under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS). As a consequence of the changes agreed in Agenda 2000, the aid rate for oilseeds will be equalised with that for cereals from the 2002 harvest, thus making planting decisions more market driven and less responsive to the level of subsidy available under the AAPS. In addition, poor conditions in the 2000–01 season have resulted in much lower oilseed yields in 2001, even though the planted area was higher than in 2000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What monitoring is undertaken of the adequacy of facilities for wheelchair users and other severely disabled people in accident and emergency units; with which hospitals they are now satisfied in this regard; with which they are not satisfied; and if there is any action they will be taking to improve the facilities. [HL1722]

This sort of monitoring is not carried out centrally. Section 21 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 ensures reasonable access to services by disabled people. The Government have issued guidance to the National Health Service (Health Service Circular 1999/999) on implementing Section 21 that requires all providers of NHS services to have completed a programme of implementation by 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 13 December

The Department of Health does not have access to data about the number of beds in private hospitals occupied by National Health Service patients.Since November 2000, the Independent Healthcare Association has collected monthly data from independent healthcare providers about the number of NHS patients treated by them. This covers outpatient appointments, day cases and inpatient treatment. A breakdown of the information will shortly be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information the Department of Health has on the incomes and hours of work of people working in the private sector as:

The Department of Health does not currently collect information on rates of pay and hours of work of either registered or non-state registered chiropodists working in the private sector.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many chiropodists are currently registered on the Chiropodist Register of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine; and how many of these are currently working for the National Health Service in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.[HL2299]

There are currently 8,706 chiropodists registered on the register held by the Chiropodists Board of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine.Figures for workforce data published in September 2000 show 3,470 chiropodists working for the National Health Service in England, 741 in Scotland, 175 in Northern Ireland and 262 in Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the announcement by the Department of Health on 24 December 2001 on digital hearing aids, when they expect to announce the starting dates for the next 30 National Health Service trusts providing digital hearing aids; and what process will be followed by the Department of Health in negotiating a new bulk purchasing contract for digital hearing aids. [HL2306]

Health communities interested in joining the Modernising Hearing Aid Services Project are about to be invited to declare their interest. Decisions on the sites which best fulfil the selection criteria will be made quickly thereafter and a list of those sites will be announced at that time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide a list of vCJD cases by date of onset. [HL2310]

An updated table listing vCJD cases by date of death, onset and confirmation of diagnosis is as follows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to review the current method of distributing funds within the National Health Service in view of the resulting low level of funding

A wide-ranging review of the weighted capitation formula used to allocate resources to health authorities and primary care trusts is currently taking place. A key criterion of the new formula will be to contribute to the reduction of avoidable health inequalities. The intention is that, following the review, the new formula will be ready for 2003–04 allocations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of the cost of the basic state pension is covered by national insurance contributions. [HL2294]

The National Insurance Scheme is financed on the pay-as-you-go principle, with current rates of national insurance contributions set to produce the income needed to meet current expenditure on benefits and the costs of administration, as well as maintaining a reasonable working balance in the fund. In addition a Treasury grant from the Consolidated Fund can be used to supplement revenue from contributions and investment income. The cost of the basic state pension is therefore met in full by national insurance funds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there are any plans to redevelop the Wembley stadium site once the stadium has been demolished. [HL2331]

The Football Association announced on 19 December 2001 its intention to pursue the development at Wembley of a modified version of the World Stadium Team proposals designed by Lord Foster of Thames Bank and approved by Brent Council in June 2000. The determination of the revised plans are subject to planning law and due process and will need to be approved before any demolition of the existing stadium, a listed building, can begin.