asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether John Denham is correctly reported to have said that, "our aim is not to catch speeding motorists"; if so, whether they intend to enforce any speed limits; and how. [HL1914]

My right honourable friend's words are correctly but not fully reported. What he said was, "Our aim is not to catch speeding motorists but to reduce injuries and crashes at known accident hotspots".There is no doubt of our commitment and that of the police to enforce speed limits against those drivers who would seek to disregard them. The whole purpose of speed limits, however, is to prevent injuries and deaths on our roads. We would far rather that people complied with the speed limits than that they broke the law and had to have proceedings taken against them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is being pursued, and by whom, in order to tackle the adverse effects of emerging racial segregation occurring in some towns and cities. [HL2356]

The Government published their report Building Cohesive Communities on 11 December 2001, at the same time as a number of other reports were published on last summer's disturbances in some towns and cities in England. Those reports identified, among other issues, the adverse effects of segregation on community cohesion in such towns and cities, and made a number of recommendations.The Government will implement the recommendations in their report

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have undertaken victim satisfaction surveys of victims of racist crimes; and, if so, whether they will publish the results of the surveys. [HL2386]

The British Crime Survey collects information on crimes committed against individuals and their property; it also asks victims whether they believed the incident was racially motivated, and so can provide trends for racially motivated offences.A report was published in 2001, presenting findings from the 2000 British Crime Survey, covering within it both the extent and nature of racially motivated crimes.The most recent information on victim satisfaction for victims of racist crimes was published in Clancy, A., Hough, M., Aust, R., & Kershaw, C. (2001) Crime, Policing and Justice: the experiences of ethnic minorities. Findings from the 2000 British Crime Survey, Home Office Research Study 223. Table 4.2 in this report contains results by ethnicity on satisfaction with police handling of incidents for victims reporting household, personal and racial crimes. This has been deposited in the Library.The 2001 and 2002 British Crime Surveys continue to monitor attitudes of ethnic minority groups and racially motivated crimes. A booster sample of 3.000 interviews is carried out amongst the non-white population, in addition to the 37,000 core interviews carried out each year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 17 January (

Judgements of the European Court of Human Rights have established that the United Kingdom is restricted in its consideration of extradition where a fugitive whose extradition is requested has suffered or risks suffering a flagrant denial of a fair trial in the requesting country. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights could be interpreted similarly. Each case will need to be considered on its own merits.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they plan to suspend the aggregates tax levy in Northern Ireland, considering that area's geographical circumstances. [HL2396]

As announced in the Pre-Budget Report, the Government have considered in detail the impact of the aggregates levy on Northern Ireland and propose to phase in the levy for aggregates used in processed products in Northern Ireland. This recognises the potential effects of the levy on this specific sector. Phasing in the levy, including an exemption in 2002–03, will be subject to EU state aids approval.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they will ensure that sufficient resources are available in Northern Ireland to ensure that the aggregates tax levy is imposed. [HL2397]

As with other taxes it administers, Customs will apply the level of resource appropriate to the revenue risk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the imposition of the aggregates tax levy in Northern Ireland is contributing towards a more dynamic economy and a cleaner environment. [HL2398]

The Aggregates levy will be implemented in April 2002 on virgin aggregate. In Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the UK, it will encourage the use of recycled and alternative materials, reducing demand for quarrying. The levy will ensure that the environmental impacts of quarrying, such as damage to biodiversity, noise, dust, visual intrusion and loss of amenity, are fully reflected in prices, thus ensuring greater economic efficiency.The Government are minded to phase in the levy for aggregates used in processed products in Northern Ireland, subject to EU state aids approval. This recognises the potential effects of the levy on this specific sector, and will allow the industry time to adjust and improve environmental performance.

asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWhat financial assistance they are giving to the Scottish Executive in the plan to make free in Scotland, from 1 July, personal care for elderly people in their own homes and in nursing homes. [HL2462]

It is for the Scottish Executive to determine its policies and priorities in devolved areas, including care for the elderly, within its existing overall budget.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to persuade the Scottish Executive to introduce, in the near future, legislation relating to the control of foot and mouth disease in order to safeguard the position in England. (HL2380]

Animal health is a devolved matter in Scotland. Scottish Ministers have stated that they support the principle of new legislation on disease control, and propose to take this forward under the timetable and procedures of the Scottish Parliament.I understand that Scottish Ministers hope to issue a consultation on proposed legislative changes shortly.However, I understand that if there were to be a resurgence of foot and mouth disease or an outbreak of another serious animal disease Scottish Ministers would review the situation urgently and consider bringing forward emergency legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the White Paper on common land. [HL2399]

The Government are considering proposals for improving the legislation on common land and town and village greens, as set out in the consultation paper Greater Protection and Better Management of Common Land in England and Wales. Due to the number and complexity of the issues raised, progress has been slower than hoped. We expect to announce our proposals for future action and to publish a detailed report on the responses to the paper in the spring.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish draft regulations on vehicular access over common land in accordance with Section 68 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. [HL2400]

The Government are currently considering the many responses made during the public consultation exercise on the regulations undertaken last year. We hope to be in a position to lay draft regulations for England before Parliament soon.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to organise a comprehensive survey of the United Kingdom continental shelf and to strengthen sustained marine science and monitoring programmes; and [HL2402]What action they are taking to foster a duty of care amongst owners of land and the sea-bed, and amongst users of the sea, to protect the marine environment in the public interest. [HL2403]

The Government's forthcoming Marine Stewardship Report will set out our vision and strategy for the sustainable development and conservation of the marine environment. It will contain ideas and initiatives that we will want to develop in consultation with stakeholders. We are looking at possible initiatives for surveying the United Kingdom continental shelf and strengthening marine science and monitoring in this context.

asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWhat action they are taking to clarify the roles of statutory agencies with respect to the marine environment and to harmonise their monitoring and information dissemination systems and mechanisms (HL2404)

The Government keep the roles of statutory agencies under review. The forthcoming Marine Stewardship Report will set out our vision and strategy for the marine environment. It will contain new ideas and initiatives that we will want to develop in consultation with stakeholders. We are looking at possible initiatives for marine monitoring and information exchange in this context.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to establish a unified marine planning system to manage the demands of existing and proposed activities which affect the marine environment. (HL2405)

The Government's forthcoming Marine Stewardship Report will set out our vision and strategy for the marine environment. It will contain new ideas and initiatives that we will want to develop in consultation with stakeholders. We are looking at possible initiatives for improved co-ordination and cooperation in this context.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to ensure a strategic environmental assessment of all relevant plans, policies and programmes, including those for fisheries, which affect the marine environment, and ensure the application of the precautionary principle, including risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis, in all integrated marine management. (HL2406)

The Government's forthcoming Marine Stewardship Report will set out our vision and strategy for the sustainable development and conservation of the marine environment. In this context, we are considering how strategic environmental assessment can help deliver our vision for the marine environment, We are already committed to the application of the precautionary principle.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to ensure consistency in devolved coastal management strategies and the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in consultation with the devolved administrations and the diverse sectors including fisheries and aquaculture. [HL24071]

It is the responsibility of the devolved administrations to ensure consistency between the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in their areas and the development of wider coastal policies, taking account of the interests of the diverse range of sectors involved. The Inter-Departmental Group on Coastal Policy, which is chaired by DEFRA and made up of officials from the key Whitehall departments and devolved administrations, meets to share information on policies and projects that affect the coast. Co-ordination of transposition and implementation work on the Water Framework Directive at UK level is achieved through regular meetings of steering groups involving the devolved administrations, DEFRA and other departments.The Marine Pollution Monitoring Management Group is working to co-ordinate between agencies in all administrations in the UK the monitoring of contaminants and their effects on biota and biodiversity in coastal waters, including the coordination of classification, typology and monitoring required under the Water Framework Directive.Integration of policies in the marine environment will be a key theme throughout the forthcoming Marine Stewardship Report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What rules apply to the removal from public highways of burned-out and other demonstrably abandoned vehicles; where responsibility lies, including that for the cost of removal; and what monitoring is done of local authority and police practices in arranging removal, especially in regard to the length of time taken to remove such vehicles. [HL2409]

The rules that apply to the removal from public highways of burned out and abandoned vehicles are set out in the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986.Responsibility for removing abandoned vehicles rests primarily with the local authorities which may, under existing legislation, claim their costs of removal, storage and disposal back from the person abandoning the vehicle. In many cases local authorities are unable to trace the offender and their costs will then have to be met from the local authority's budget.Under the 1986 regulations, the police have powers to remove an abandoned vehicle where it is dangerous or a hazard to traffic. Such vehicles will be removed by contractors acting for the police as quickly as possible. Such vehicles are normally removed to a pound or to

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make public their comprehensive Payments Agency risk management plan, which is due to be completed by 31 March 2002. [HL2484]

Detailed procedures are now in place at the Rural Payments Agency to disseminate risk awareness to staff and to enable risk management to work effectively as part of the corporate governance requirements. The RPA plan will sit under the DEFRA risk management strategy that is intended to be published at the start of the next financial year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will consult on revised statutory guidance to the Environment Agency. [HL2494]

On Friday 25 January 2002, we published for consultation draft revised statutory guidance to the Environment Agency under Section 4 of the Environment Act 1995. The guidance concerns the agency's activities in England. It states the statutory objectives which the agency should pursue over the next few years, identifies its roles in contributing to the achievement of sustainable development, and sets out the principles it should follow in deciding its priorities. The document has been developed following the first financial management and policy review of the agency, which the department carried out last year. Copies of the consultation draft have been placed in the House Library. We would welcome responses from interested organisations and individuals, by 18 April 2002. Following public consultation we will lay proposed statutory guidance before Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When do the government expect the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food to publish its report. [HL2531]

The policy commission will publish its report to government on 29 January. Copies of the report will be available from the Libraries of the House and from the Printed Paper Office at 10.00 am that day. It will also be available in electronic form from the policy commission website, www.cabinet-office/ gov.uk/farming.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish the results of the review of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and in what form. [HL2207]

It is envisaged that a report will be completed by September 2002. Its publication and the form it will take will be a matter for Sir George Quigley.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What their current plans are to reach an agreed solution to the continuing issue of Drumcree; and whether they consider there is sufficient urgency in reaching agreement in light of the consequences of failure for the peace process in Northern Ireland. [HL2208]

Parading in Northern Ireland is an important issue, particularly so in areas of contention, and none is more contentious than Drumcree. The Government have over the last number of years instigated and supported a number of efforts to find a solution, both at ministerial and official level. This we will continue to do where we belive we have a positive role to play in facilitating a resolution.On 4 January 2002 the Parades Commission, which is the legally constituted body set up by government to deal with the issue of parades in Northern Ireland, announced it was ready to play its fullest part in facilitating dialogue and debate and was looking to enlist support for core parading values or principles, that can be applied to any parading situation.A resolution to Druncree can only be found through genuine dialogue. The Apprentice Boys of Derry main parades in Londonderry are an example of how a solution can be found to the satisfaction of all.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What level of consultation and co-operation they have sought from the Government of the Republic of Ireland in seeking a solution to the Drumcree issue. [HL2210]

The issue of parades in Northern Ireland is a matter for this Government and the people of Northern Ireland. Any solution to Drumcree can only be found through genuine dialogue between the parties involved. The Government have, and are, ready to facilitate any genuine attempt to find an agreed solution to this issue.We have not consulted with, or sought formal cooperation from the Government of the Republic of Ireland, but that government have been supportive of initiatives, whether led by this Government or independent of it, in an attempt to resolve the Drumcree issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have given sufficient reassurance to those engaged in the commercial and social life of Portadown about their efforts to resolve the Drumcree issue. (HL2211)

No one should be in any doubt about the Government's commitment to resolve the Drumcree issue. Over the last number of years a number of initiatives have been sponsored by the Government including those led by Frank Blair, Director of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Scotland, the Prime Minister's chief of staff and the former Minister of State, the right honourable Adam Ingram. The Government also supported and facilitated the recent independent initiative led by Brian Currin to find an agreed solution to the problem.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the presentations made by the Ulster Unionist Party and Arts for All on a proposed Bill of Rights to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, and listed in a document dated 4 September 2001 called

All submissions were made to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and are, therefore, not held by Her Majesty's Government. We understand, however, that except in those cases where an organisation or individual making a submission asked it to be kept confidential, the commission can arrange, on request and with prior notice, for public access to the written submissions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 21 January, whether the President of the Council of the European Union received the letter from the Zimbabwean Government with regard to Article 96 by 18 January; and whether they will publish it. (HL2433)

The President of the Council of the European Union has received a letter, dated 18 January, from the Government of Zimbabwe. The letter did riot give specific or satisfactory answers to EU concerns on election observers, access by the international media and other questions. The EU has sought urgent further clarification.The President of the Council has not indicated whether he intends to publish the document.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Who the Government will appoint as the National Government Representative to the Convention on the Future of Europe. [HL2493]

The right honourable Peter Hain MP, the Minister for Europe, has been appointed the government representative to the Convention on the Future of Europe.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have made to the Government of Belgium in respect of the proposed road construction at Pilckem Ridge, part of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. [HL2221]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 21 January (Official Report, col. 1328) to my noble friend Lord Faulkner of Worcester.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions they have had with the Government of Belgium concerning the plans of the Flemish regional government to construct a road system related to the A19 highway between Ypres and Fumes which would affect the environment of the Commonwealth War Cemeteries on or near the Pilckem Ridge instead of making a very small diversion to avoid such a situation. [HL2222]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave on 21 January (Official Report, col. 1328) to my noble friend Lord Faulkner of Worcester.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current planned retirement date for the Royal Air Force's Hercules C130K fleet; and whether Jane's Defence Weekly of 27 June 2001 is correct in asserting that the RAF's Hercules C130Ks were originally scheduled for retirement in 2004; and [HL2269]What would be the effect on availability of the Royal Air Force's Hercules C130Ks if they were run beyond their scheduled retirement date; and [HL2271]What would be the approximate annual cost of running the Royal Air Force's Hercules C130K fleet beyond its scheduled retirement date. [HL2270]

The original out-of-service date for the RAF's Hercules C130K was 2004 but this date has since been revised.Current plans for the last element of the rolling programme to replace part of the C130K fleet with C130Js are for two of the C 130K aircraft to be retired by 30 April 2002 and one aircraft to be retired towards the end of 2002. There are currently no detailed plans for the decommissioning of the remaining 26 C130Ks which is predicted to occur by around the end of this decade.The current cost of maintaining the C 130K fleet is some £31 million per annum and it is reasonable to assume that the cost of supporting individual aircraft would increase as the fleet ages. Any decision to extend its operational life would therefore take into account the costs of maintaining the aircraft to meet operational demands.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Taliban and Al'Qaeda militants were captured in Afghanistan with the direct involvement of Her Majesty's Armed Forces and are currently detained by forces of the United States. [HL2362]

None.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as at 15 January, they are detaining any Taliban and Al'Qaeda militants captured in Afghanistan. [HL2364]

No.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the role and responsibility of the Lord Birt in relation to the preparation of a government transport strategy; and how this relates to:

The role of the FSU is to provide internal long-term strategic analysis and policy thinking for the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers on a range of issues. Lord Birt, as the Prime Minister's unpaid strategy advisor, works with the FSU on a range of projects. Part of that work involves providing advice about longer-term trends in the transport industry. The unit is keeping in close touch with my department, and holding discussions with other organisations as necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are being taken to finalise work on (a) track and (b) signal repairs on the West Coast Main Line. [HL2326]

Progress with the West Coast route modernisation is underway and 125mph operation with new, tilting trains is expected from 2003. Repairs and maintenance are ongoing and are carried out as and when appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many stations are to be upgraded on the West Coast Main Line. [HL2327]Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Virgin West Coast is committed to securing funding to improve and upgrade all 17 stations for which it is the stations facilities operator.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans there are to upgrade Southport rail terminals. [HL2328]

I understand that there are plans by commercial developers and Railtrack to redevelop land around and including Southport Station. If the redevelopment proceeds, there would be improved facilities for passengers using the station and an improved interchange with other modes of transport.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many (a) drivers and (b) passengers in taxis 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. [HL2333]

The number of taxi occupants killed are shown below:

Taxi 1 occupant fatalities in Great Britain
	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Drivers	3	6	2	6	8
Passengers	5	6	3	4	4
1 Only those vehicles operating as a hackney carriage, regardless of construction, and bearing the appropriate district council or local authority hackney carriage plates.

It is not known what percentage of these were wearing seat belts at the time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Strategic Rail Authority will be the project manager for the re-opening of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway; and, if not, who will be. [HL2381]

The scheme is not a commitment in the authority's current plans. The authority is in discussion with Railtrack about the possibility of it being taken forward.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage and number of (a) men and (b) women who are eligible for a state pension are entitled to receive the full basic state pension; and [HL2344]What percentage and number of (a) male pensioners and (b) female pensioners receive a partial state pension; and whether the figures for those receiving a partial state pension can be broken down into the following bands of the full state pension: 75–99 per cent; 50–74 per cent, 25–49 per cent, 1–24 per cent; and [HL2345]Based on their current assumptions on the likely level of the basic state pension, the guarantee credit and the savings credit at the time of implementation of the State Pension Credit Bill, how many people will be eligible for the savings credit but will be required to use a part of their savings to bring them up to the level of the full basic state pension prior to the balance of their savings being eligible for the savings credit; and [HL2346]Based on their current assumptions on the likely level of the basic state pension, the guarantee credit and the savings credit at the time of implementation of the State Pension Credit Bill, what would be the cost to the Exchequer of not requiring individuals to use a part of their income to bring themselves up to the level of the full basic state pension prior to applying the savings credit to the balance of their income; and [HL2347]

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are confident that the privacy in electronics communications directive will, in its final form, allow the use of cookies; and, if so, what restrictions they wish to see placed on their use. [HL2311]

The proposed Communications Data Protection and Privacy Directive, which is currently under negotiation, is subject to the co-decision procedure and must be agreed by both the European Parliament and the European Council before it can be adopted.At its first reading last year, the European Parliament proposed the introduction of a requirement on website operators not to use cookies without the prior consent of the website user. At the December 2001 Telecoms Council, member states and the Commission agreed on an alternative approach under which website operators would instead be required to give users prior information and an opportunity to refuse cookies.The Government support this second approach, which we believe is consistent with existing data protection controls and examples of good practice developed within the industry. The new text will now be put to the European Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations were received by the Minister for Energy from the National Assembly for Wales before granting his consent for the erection of the Cefn Croes wind power station in mid Wales; and whether he will place them in the Library of the House. [HL2336]

The views of the National Assembly for Wales were sought and a copy of its formal response has been deposited in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what statutory basis the Minister for Energy was permitted to grant consent for the Cefn Croes wind power station in mid Wales. [HL2337]

The Minister of State for Industry and Energy indicated on 10 December 2001 that the Secretary of State had approved the Cefn Croes windfarm in principle under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Under Section 36 the Secretary of State is responsible for authorising any power station in England and Wales which has a capacity of more than 50 megawatts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the assessment of environmental impact including visual pollution considered by the Minister for Energy before granting consent for the Cefn Croes wind power station in mid Wales. [HL2338]

An environmental impact assessment was made public by the developer at the time the application was submitted. Views on the acceptability of that environmental impact were expressed and those differing views were considered by the Minister for Energy and the Secretary of State before announcing approval in principle for the Cefn Croes windfarm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make it their policy to devolve to the National Assembly for Wales the process whereby all decisions are reached upon proposals for the erection of wind power stations in mid Wales. [2339]

Both before and following privatisation, England and Wales have been regarded and treated as forming one electricity network and one electricity market. Inherent in that is recognition of the integrated nature of the electricity supply system. As a result, decisions on power stations over 50 megawatts in England and Wales are handled by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. In reaching her decision on an application in Wales she will consider carefully the views of the National Assembly for Wales and any other representations from Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will have a policy for the protection of the Welsh landscape in light of the increasing number of proposals for the erection of wind power stations in Wales. [HL2340]

The basis for the Government's policy is the planning guidance for which the National Assembly for Wales is responsible. In addition, the Government take into account the formal views that are received from the National Assembly for Wales on particular matters.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the effects of the increase in gas transportation tariff on Northern Ireland was discussed when the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met representatives of Centrica on 6 December 2001, and what was the outcome of any such discussions. [HL2343]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met representatives of Centrica plc on 19 November 2001, and my honourable friend the Minister for Industry and Energy met them on 6 December 2001.On both occasions a wide range of subjects was discussed in confidence and it would be inappropriate to mention any specific items.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many bids for broadband fixed wireless licences in the 28GHz spectrum have been received by the Radiocommunications Agency in the three months since the auction was relaunched by the e-commerce Minister. [HL2352]

The award process is designed to give companies an opportunity to obtain licences when market conditions appear favourable to them. No bids have been received to date. However, they may apply to obtain licences at any time up to and including 14 October 2002. When an application is received it will be publicised on the agency's website www.radio.gov.uk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the reserve limit for bids for broadband fixed wireless licences in the 28GHz spectrum. [HL2353]

The reserve prices for the twenty-six licences available are as follows:

Region D	(Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire), each WT Act Licence (3 Licences available)	£2,000,000;
Region E	(Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire), each WT Act Licence (3 Licences available)	£2,000,000
Region F	(Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire), each WT Act Licence (3 Licences available)	£2,000,000;

asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) how many applications for compensation under the emphysema and bronchitis scheme for mineworkers or former mineworkers have resulted in full or transitional payments being made;

(b) in how many cases the applicant has died since the presentation of their case; and

(c) how many applications have still to be considered. [HL2260]

To date, IRISC, the department's claims handlers, has registered 173,824 claims in respect of compensation for respiratory disease. There have been 14,780 claims settled and 43,904 interim payments have been made, worth £241.4 million in total.The handling agreement for compensation for respiratory disease was formally signed on 24 September 1999 and claims could not have been settled before this date. The number of claimants who initiated their claim after this date, but have died since registering their claim, is 6,271. Where claimants have died in process, the protocol to deal with these claims was agreed with the claimants' solicitors and put into operation in November 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to complete the procedures for the ratification by the United Kingdom of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting the Illicit Import, Export and Exchange of Ownership of Cultural Property. [HL2325]

My predecessor as Minister for the Arts (Alan Howarth) announced to Parliament in March 2001 that the Government intended to accede to the 1970 UNESCO Convention. I hope to be able to make a further announcement to this House shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many seaside resorts still maintain piers; how many of those piers are listed buildings or structures and how many piers have received grants from public funds towards renovation; and from where. [HL2330]

There are currently 55 pleasure piers in existence at seaside resorts around the UK. Of these, 25 in England and 6 in Wales are listed. The latest figures do not include matched funding, which itself could include public funds. These figures show that six pleasure piers at UK seaside resorts have received lottery funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund totalling £8,558,357, including two awards to Southport pier totalling £1,734,000. We are not aware of any other grants to piers from public funds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether parents should be responsible for the television viewing of their children; and, if so, what action they are taking to establish whether or not their present policy of relying on the nine o'clock "watershed" is effective in enabling parents to control the viewing of children who have television in their bedroom. [HL2375]

Under the current broadcasting arrangements material unsuitable for children must not be transmitted at times when large numbers of children may be expected to be watching. Responsibility for children's television viewing after the 9.00 pm watershed applying to free-to-air channels may be expected to be a shared responsibility between parents and broadcasters. Research by the broadcasting regulators indicates that the concept of the 9.00 pm watershed is widely supported by the viewing public and, just as importantly, widely understood.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is English Partnerships's intention that pictures of all listed properties, regardless of whether or not they are open to the public, should be placed on the Images of England website. [HL2376]

The Images of England website is operated by English Heritage. The project aims to take and publish a single exterior photograph of every building on the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. There is an exemption for buildings visible only from private land, if permission from the owner is withheld, and the English Heritage Commissioners met on 23 January to consider options for other exemption. They will be discussing these options with the Heritage Lottery Fund which has provided funds for the project shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the proposed intention of English Partnerships to place pictures of all listed properties on the Images of England website, regardless of whether or not they are open to the public, is consistent with data protection and human rights legislation. [HL2377]

The Images of England website is operated by English Heritage; it has designed the project to ensure that it is consistent with data protection and human rights legislation.

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

Screening tests are made available because parents wish to know if their child will be affected. The decision whether or not to proceed with a pregnancy after an abnormality is detected is for the individuals concerned, provided they have grounds under the Abortion Act 1967. We believe that parents need good quality objective advice and enough time to reach an informed decision. This will provide support for parents and contribute to valuing both disability and non-disability.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information the Department of Health has on the range of conditions treated by:

Chiropody (podiatry) is the clinical discipline concerned with the diagnosis and comprehensive management of foot and lower limb pathologies. It involves treatment of a wide variety of disorders and conditions affecting the foot and lower limb function and this treatment may be curative, preventative or may involve a course of long-term palliative care or health education. Further information can be found in Benchmarking academic and practitioner standards in Podiatry published by the Quality Assurance Agency, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The document can also be found at www.gaa.ac.uk.crntwork/benchmark/nhsbenchmark/benchmarking.htm.The scope of practice of state registered practitioners, however, is a matter for the chiropodists board of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. Other non-state registered practitioners set their own scopes of practice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many individuals declared chiropody or podiatry to be their main occupation in the census

	Food Standards Agency (FSA)	MAFF/DEFRA1	AFRC/BBSRC2	Medical Research Council (MRC)	Department of Health (DoH)	Total
	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£million
1990–91		2,300	1,500	553		4.4
1991–92		4,200	2,950	567		7.7
1992–93		5,700	4,450	615		10.8
1993–94		6,200	4,200	710	64	11.2
1994–95		5,800	2,400	895	208	9.3
1995–96		5,600	3,050	845	500	10
1996–97		6,800	3,030	1,462	270	11.6
1997–98		10,100	3,723	1,633	1,100	16.6
1998–99		12,651	3,587	3,953	2,100	22.3
I999–2000		15,068	4,481	5,079	4,700	29.3
2000–01	2,458	13,284	4,289	5,983	3,987	30
1The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was formed out of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), parts of the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and parts of the Home Office in 2001.
2The Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) became the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council ( BBSRC) in 1994.

The cost of caring for patients suffering from vCJD varies considerably from case to case, but it is generally considered to be in line with the cost of caring for a wide range of other terminally and chronically ill patients.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 13 December 2001 (

Information on occupation categories from the 2001 census is not yet available. It is expected to be published by the Office for National Statistics in the first half of 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the total expenditure from public funds on (a) research into vCJD and (b) treatment of patients with vCJD, in each of the past 10 years. [HL2171)

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) was identified in 1996. The expenditure on research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) from public funds from 1990–91 to 2000–01 is shown in the table.

It is the responsibility of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to consider each application for a research licence to extract stem cells from fertilised embryos on its individual merits. The policy of the HFEA has always been to require informed consent. Potential donors should receive written details of the research project that highlight any possible consequences of the work prior to making any donation. So individuals who donated embryos before January 2001 would have given consent for how those embryos were to be used. Researchers would not be able to use them for a different purpose without breaching their research licence.