asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the number of magistrates' courts in the County of Dorset; what was the equivalent figure in 1992; what is the projected figure for 2012; and whether they will express these figures as a ratio of courts to square miles. [HL2972]

There are nine courthouses comprising 23 courtrooms in Dorset. representing one courthouse per 113.78 square miles or one courtroom per 44.52 square miles; in 1992 there were 12 courthouses comprising 29 courtrooms, representing one courthouse per 85.33 square miles or one courtroom per 35.31 square miles.The provision of courthouses and courtrooms is the responsibility of the local Magistrates' Courts Committee, which has informed me that it is not currently in the process of consultation over the closure of any courthouses, although an operational decision may be taken in 2002–03 to reduce the number of hired rooms at County Hall in Dorchester or to suspend the hiring of those rooms pending a consultation exercise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have done any research on the proportion of defendants in Dorset whose costs in attending court exceed the fine imposed if they are found guilty. [HL2975]

My department has undertaken no such research.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to change to the level of bereavement damages awarded under Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and Article 3A(5) of the Fatal Accidents (Northern Ireland) Order 1977. [HL3280]

I laid before Parliament yesterday orders increasing the level of bereavement damages from £7,500 to £10,000 to reflect the increase in inflation since the figure was last revised in 1991. The orders will take effect from 1 April 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In what ways they are helping the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Oversight Commissioner and the Police Ombudsman to work together in harmony and muntual support. [HL2852]

Through the legislative framework created by the Government the three bodies named, whilst independent in their own right, are encouraged by the Secretary of State to work towards the common goal of an effective and acceptable police service in Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is a constitutional convention that a retiring holder of the posts of Cabinet Secretary and head of the Home Civil Service should receive a life peerage. [HL2929]

There is no constitutional convention. However, as my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said in another place on 25 June 2001, a limited number of holders of very high office may be recommended for a peerage direct to the Queen by him.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of recent incidents, what they consider to be the status of the IRA ceasefire. [HL2945]

The Secretary of State continues to keep the status of all ceasefires under review. He will not hesitate to take appropriate action if necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 13 February

The accounting officer for the ombudsman's office is Mr Sam Pollock. A further breakdown of the work carried out by consultants listed in my reply of 13 February is a matter for the ombudsman's office. The Police Ombudsman has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will introduce amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to extend its application to public authorities, similar to the amendments to the Race Relations Act 1976 made by Section 1 of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. [HL2969]

We are committed to extending the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to cover public authorities when parliamentary time allows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Morgan of Huyton on 4 October 2001

The position remains as in October. We are committed to introducing a duty on public bodies to promote sex equality when parliamentary time allows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there was an agreement made at Weston Park last summer concerning Northern Ireland; and, if so, who was involved and what was agreed. [HL3000]

The Weston Park discussions did not result in immediate agreement on political advance. Following intensive discussions there, the British and Irish Governments put a package of measures, covering all outstanding issues, to the Northern Ireland parties on 1 August.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they consider that there will be another act of IRA decommissioning. [HL3001]

The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning reported on 23 October 2001 that it had witnessed an event, which it regarded as significant, in which the IRA had put a quantity of arms completely beyond use.We now want to see further decommissioning by the IRA, and decommissioning by all other terrorist groups. The timing of any future decommissioning events is a matter for the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prisoners released in Northern Ireland under the early release scheme have been recalled due to further criminal activity. [HL3216]

Five individuals who were released from prison early under the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 have been recalled to prison due to further criminal behaviour.

asked the Leader of the House:Whether it is necessary to declare any significant indebtedness, other than a mortgage with a Financial institution, in the new Register of Lords' Interests. [HL3255]

Questions about the entries in the new Register of Lords' Interests should, in the first instance, be directed to the Registrar of Lords' Interests. The registrar consults whenever necessary the Sub-Committee on Lords' Interests, and Members should accept his advice in determining whether any particular interest is relevant or significant for the purposes of the register. A Member who acts on the advice of the registrar in determining what is a relevant interest satisfies fully the requirements of the code of conduct.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish a consultation paper on periodical payments for future loss and care costs in personal injury cases. [HL3279]

My noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor has today published the consultation paper Damages for Future Loss: Giving the Courts the Power to Order Periodical Payments for Future Loss and Care Costs in Personal Injury Cases. The consultation paper proposes that the courts should have the power to award damages for future loss and care costs in the form of periodical payments. Responses to the consultation are sought by 7 June 2002. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When Commonwealth Ministers last discussed capital punishment; what was the outcome; what plans exist for further discussions; and whether prison conditions in the Caribbean Islands are on the agenda. [HL2912]

Commonwealth Ministers, including law Ministers, have not discussed capital punishment at their meetings over the past 15 years. There are no plans to discuss capital punishment or prison conditions at future meetings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the French Government's view that there must be an immediate peace settlement in the Middle East, on the grounds that violence there is endemic and will not respond to further security and anti-terrorist measures; and, if not, why not. [HL2986]

In common with our EU partners, the Government believe there is a need to establish a political perspective. However, the first step must be to establish an acceptable level of security on the ground. As a first step toward talks, the Palestinian Authority must take serious action to stop the violence, dismantle terrorist networks and bring terrorist suspects to justice. Israel must withdraw its forces from Palestinian-controlled areas, end extrajudicial killings, lift the closures and restrictions, and freeze settlements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have protested against the part destruction by the Israeli Defence Force of the trade union headquarters in Nablus; and with what result. [HL2988]

We are greatly concerned by Israeli destruction of Palestinian Authority infrastructure. Such action does not help the Palestinian Authority to dismantle terrorist networks, undermines the authority of President Arafat, and disrupts Palestinian economic, social and humanitarian development. Together with our EU partners, we raised our concerns at the EU General Affairs Council on 28 January about Israeli destruction of infrastructure funded by EU members. We reserved the right to claim reparation in the appropriate fora.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cases they know where British citizens or residents were deported from China, because of membership of or association with Falun Gong, since July 1999; whether they are aware of cases where visas to visit China have been refused to British citizens or residents for the same reason; if so, how many; and whether they are making representations to the Chinese Government on these matters. [HL3044]

Five British citizens were deported from China on 14 and 15 February this year for "illegally preaching Falun Gong". A Swedish national, resident in the UK, was deported from China after taking part in a Falun Gong demonstration in Tiananmen Square on 20 November 2001.The issuing of visas to China is a matter for the Chinese authorities. We are not aware of any cases where British citizens, or residents, have been refused a visa to China because of affiliation to Falun Gong.Our embassy in Beijing has made official representations to the Chinese authorities about lack of consular access to the British citizens who were deported, their alleged mistreatment and confiscation of their belongings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What reports they have received from the British Embassy in Ankara concerning the expulsion of inhabitants from villages and hamlets in the Van and Sirnak districts in 2001, and the destruction for the second time of Senlikkoya in October 2000; whether they have information concerning difficulties faced by inhabitants wishing to return to their original villages; and whether they will draw the attention of the Government of Turkey to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (dated 1998). [HL2915]

The British Embassy in Ankara reports regularly on human rights issues in Turkey. It has previously reported on village clearances in the regions mentioned by the noble Lord. In the course of its regular monitoring of human rights in Turkey, it receives information from a variety of sources covering a range of issues, including the impact of clearances on the local population.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 25 February

As I explained in my answer to the noble Lord on 25 February, the Two Flags, Three Voices formula allows the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to participate in the Brussels Process with his own and distinct voice as part of the British delegation. We have made clear that any proposals emerging from the Brussels Process would be implemented only in the event of an affirmative vote by the people of Gibraltar in a referendum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which United Kingdom Minister has overall responsiblity for World Trade Organisation negotiations. [HL3107]

The United Kingdom Minister with overall responsibility for World Trade Organisation negotiations is ultimately my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. However, as Minister for Trade, I am responsible for taking forward this work on a day-to-day basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How in light of devolution they ensure that their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child are consistently monitored and implemented across the United Kingdom; and [HL2612]Following devolution, responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout the United Kingdom rests with the United Kingdom Government and not with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales; and [HL2613]In response to the concluding observations adopted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 1995 following examination of the United Kingdom's initial report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, they have carried out an up-to-date review of action taken; and, if so, whether they will publish the results. [HL2614]

The Children and Young People's Unit (CYPU) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child across the United Kingdom and will be co-ordinating the Government's next report in 2004. CYPU is a cross-departmental unit responsible for ensuring the coherence of the Government's policies for children and young people. In taking forward this work, CYPU is working closely with the devolved administrations and Whitehall departments to ensure a proper perspective across the United Kingdom. As with other international treaties, while responsibility for the convention as a whole rests with the United Kingdom Government rather than the devolved administrations, responsibility for implementation in respect of devolved matters does rest with the devolved administrations.The Government responded to the Committee on the Rights of the Child's concluding observations of February 1995 when we published the United Kingdom's second report in August 1999. The second report will be considered by the committee later this year. Given the time that has elapsed since the last report was submitted and the important changes that have taken place since then, we intend to publish later this spring a brief update on UK progress since 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they respond to evidence from non-governmental organisations working in Afghanistan that air strikes targeted at the Taliban are also causing civilian casualties, hampering the relief effort and reducing the numbers of people who can be assisted. [HL936]

The coalition has ensured throughout operations in Afghanistan that the targeting of legitimate military targets is conducted with the utmost care and with the over-riding requirement that the danger of civilian casualties should be kept to a minimum. We obviously regret any such casualties that may occur. Reports and claims of civilian casualties received by the Ministry of Defence have predominately emanated from the Taliban via a variety of media groups. There have been virtually no reports received from more reliable sources such as non-governmental organisations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Question for Written Answer tabled by the Earl of Sandwich on 23 October 2001 (HL936) which is still unanswered, how they respond to further evidence in the

The Government have said before that the international coalition operating in Afghanistan makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties, but obviously regrets any that may occur We should be cautious about believing all newspaper reports, since many were derived from factual errors or Taliban propaganda. As the Guardian article itself says, regarding an academic who is researching casualties, "some of the strikes he records duplicate one another, others are fictional".

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the medically downgraded 9,635 Army personnel are unfit for deployment outside the United Kingdom, for deployment on operational duties and for deployment overseas. [HL2600]

The figure of 9,635 medically downgraded personnel in the Army was as at 1 April 2001. As at 1 January 2002, there were 10,126 medically downgraded personnel. The breakdown of this total is shown below.

Number of medically downgraded personnel deployable overseas in any part of the world in a line of communication or base role, but not in a fighting role	7,159
Number of medically downgraded personnel who may be employed outside the UK in Germany, Belgium or (for Gurkas) Nepal	1,435
Number of medically downgraded personnel unfit for any deployment outside the UK	1,532

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current total number of Fleet Air Arm Harriers and RAF Harriers GR7; and what will be the number in the future after the proposed cuts. [HL3076]

On 4 March 2002, there were 54 Sea Harriers and 86 RAF Harriers in the Harrier Departmental Fleet. The Harrier Departmental Fleet is the total number of Harrier aircraft owned by the Ministry of Defence and includes aircraft from the operational fleet, sustainment fleet, training fleet and aircraft owned by QinetiQ. Following the withdrawal from service of the Sea Harrier between 2004 and 2006, the Sea Harrier element of the departmental fleet will be nil, and the RAF Harrier element is planned to be 86.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is being taken by the Ministry of Defence to increase the number of recruits for the Army; and what money is being allocated to units that have set up their own unit recruiting teams. [HL3096]

Action is being taken in a wide range of areas with the aim of increasing Army recruiting, both for officers and soldiers, co-ordinated by the Army Training and Recruiting Agency's Recruiting Group. This includes television advertising, work experience and "Look at Life" courses, graduate recruitment seminars and undergraduate army placements. In addition, concentrated recruitment drives have been trialled in two specific areas. The first in the London area last year showed a 24 per cent increase in inquiries and the latest drive in the North East in February showed an increase in inquiries of 31 per cent, although it is too early to assess the effect on actual enlistments. Similar events are planned for Scotland in June this year, a further London campaign in October, and the home counties and South East also in October. Changes to the recruiting process are being implemented in selected areas using more non-uniformed staff to process applications, allowing uniformed personnel to be more mobile and go out to the potential audience rather than expecting them to come to the recruiting offices. Other initiatives include Camouflage Magazine, which is aimed at 13 to 17 year-olds and aims to cultivate and maintain an early interest in the Army; there are currently nearly 90,000 members of whom nearly half are 15 and 16 year-olds. Also, a Commonwealth selection team is being set up with effect from April 2002 to serve the increasing interest from Commonwealth countries.As from 1 April 2002 there will be 93 regimental recruiting teams (RRTs), encompassing existing RRTs and the former mobile display teams. These will be staffed by Field Army personnel, but funding will be from both recruiting group and the Field Army. The level of funding will vary according to the team's size and the recruiting need of their particular capbadge. Funding includes the provision of vehicles and trailers, portable computers, mobile telephones, travel and subsistence costs, with fuel costs and marketing support also provided.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are being taken to enable staff sergeants and sergeants to extend their service voluntarily beyond the 22-year point by placing them on a special list. [HL3097]

Any soldier who has completed 18 years' service on the open engagement, notice engagement or the 22-year engagement, may apply to be considered for service on the long service list (LSL). At present, there are 577 soldiers serving on the LSL (as at 1 January 2002), of whom approximately 200 are staff sergeants and 37 are sergeants. While no guarantee can be given of employment up to age 55, every effort is made to secure this.Soldiers can also be granted career continuance for periods of up to five years. Employment may be in their own arm or service, or they may be required to serve in another arm or service on transfer.In addition to this, the Army is currently conducting a study, known as the non-commissioned engagements and career structures study, into soldier career structures. One strand of this study is to examine the possibility of employing more soldiers, including those at the rank of sergeant and staff sergeant, for longer than 22 years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why approximately 15 duty personnel were not allowed to fly on flight RR 500 from Stansted to Munster on 18 February, when the flight was carrying only 91 personnel and when the Ministry of Defence had chartered 106 seats. [HL3138]

Flight RR 500 on 18 February was chartered for 100 seats but 21 out of the pre-booked and waiting list passengers failed to report. All eight stand-by duty passengers who did report were then boarded. Only one non-duty aspiring passenger did not fly, an indulgee wife of a serviceman. The failure to fly was due to a local administrative error and RAF staff have been rebriefed on the procedures to be followed when dealing with indulgence passengers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking as a result of the recent European Convention on Human Rights ruling on military courts martial. [HL3139]

The European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in the case of Morris v the United Kingdom on 26 February. The Court noted that the changes to the court martial system made by the Armed Forces Act 1996 have gone a long way to meeting the concerns it had expressed previously, in the Findlay case. However, it found that there had been a violation of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which concerns the right to a fair hearing, as regards certain aspects of Mr Morris's trial by court martial in 1997.The Court was concerned about the potential for undue external influence over certain members of a court martial panel; and about the procedures for involving non-judicial authorities in the review of court martial findings and sentences. We are assessing the implications of the Court's judgment for the future conduct of courts martial and whether any changes that may be necessary require the legislation to be amended. At present, Army and Royal Air Force courts martial scheduled for the near future are being postponed. We regret the inconvenience this is causing to accused and their representatives and to witnesses. The possible resumption of courts martial is being reviewed on a week-by-week basis. For the time being, trials in the Royal Navy are continuing in view of the nature of the regulations in that service concerning the position of court martial members.We shall make an announcement as soon as our assessment of the implications of the judgment has been completed. However, we do not consider that the judgment fundamentally affects the court martial system, which we intend to retain as an effective and fair means of administering discipline and justice in our Armed Forces.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of the recent European Commission ruling on the "Single Sky Policy", what steps are being taken by the Ministry of Defence to allow the United Kingdom to retain control over its own airspace to ensure that the Royal Air Force is able to fly at any time in defence of the United Kingdom. [HL3140]

The Ministry of Defence is fully engaged in formulating the UK's position on the European Commission's Single Sky proposals. These proposals, which recognise the national security imperative, call for close co-operation between civil and military authorities. The MoD has forged close links with the Civil Aviation Authority and other interested government departments, and these will ensure that we are fully involved in any Single Sky legislation discussions which impinge on issues of national security.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the criteria for the collective performance levels 1–5 in regiments of the Royal Amoured Corps. [HL3141]

Collective performance (CP) levels are generic for Army formations and units, and are not specific to the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC). The definitions of CP levels 1–5 are as follows:

CP level	Description
CP 1	Units, sub-units or detachments all of whose soldiers have successfully completed their individual Foundation Training (Individual Training Directives (Army) and Special To Arm Training) in year.
CP 2	A unit trained in single arm sub unit skills.
CP 3	A unit trained in single arm/specialist role skills (i.e. up to unit level) less specific to theatre training.
CP 4	A battle group or unit trained for its primary task/ all arms operations, less any specific to theatre training.
CP 5	A formation or task force, trained for all arms operations, less any specific to theatre or mission training.

Regiments of the RAC are required to reach up to CP4. They achieve this by gaining proficiency in a number of mission essential tasks (land), depending on their role and designated readiness.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the cost of maintaining the regional cultural consortiums in 2001 in total and by region. [HL3024]

The cost of maintaining the regional cultural consortiums in 2001 was £379,559.69. The cost by region is set out in the following table. The consortiums have also received financial assistance from a variety of regional bodies and in kind from staff in the Regional Government Offices.

	£ Total
Living East	53,513.39
East Midlands Cultural Consortium	47,183.60
Culture North East	72,410.10
North West Cultural Consortium	61,202.45
South East Cultural Consortium	43,139.85
South West Cultural Consortium	34,029.07
West Midlands Life	25,409.36
Yorkshire Cultural Consortium	42,671.87

asked Her Majesty's Government:On how many occasions they have reviewed the effectiveness of the work of the regional cultural consortiums; and whether those reviews have been published. [HL3025]

The first review since the consortiums were launched around Christmas 1999 is currently taking place and decisions on that review will be announced in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Statement on the national stadium by the Baroness Blackstone on 19 December 2001 (HL Deb, cols 301–14), whether the independent value for money assessment has been commissioned into the proposed contracts with Multiplex; if so, which company has been commissioned to carry out such an assessment; and whether they are satisfied that the company has no previous or likely future involvement in the project. [HL3029]

Following a competitive tendering process in which Sport England and DCMS were involved, Wembley National Stadium Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Football Association, has appointed Cyril Sweett Limited to undertake a value for money analysis of the proposed contract with Multiplex Constructions Limited. I have placed a copy of the terms of reference for this study in the Library of the House, Cyril Sweett Limited has had no previous involvement in the national stadium project and there is, at present, no indication of likely future involvement in the project.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions they reached in their discussions with John Stoker of the Charity Commisson on 12 February with regard to the potential implications for sports clubs which may decide to apply for charitable status under the Charity Commission's proposals outlined in

Following the Minister for Sport's meeting with Mr Stoker, a number of significant improvements are to be made to the Charity Commission's guidance to sports clubs which are considering applying for charitable status. The commission will circulate the improved guidance for comments shortly.Charitable status will make a number of financial benefits available to local amateur clubs, including mandatory 80 per cent rate relief. The Government expect that this improved guidance together with further practical measures, which are presently being discussed with the commission, will greatly help local clubs in making successful applications.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the definition of hospital board and lodging, excluding food and laundry. [HL2664]

There is no hospital board and lodging charge. Maintenance and treatment in a National Health Service hospital are provided free, regardless of a person's financial situation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What evidence they have of evasions of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations made under the Consumer Protection Act 1998; and what action the Department of Trade and Industry is taking to address any breaches of the legislation. [HL2934]

The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998 are enforced by local authorities, which have powers to suspend the supply of products which do not meet the requirements of the regulations, to seize such products, and to prosecute suppliers. This department collates statistics on prosecutions under the regulations every five years and publishes them in a statutory report on consumer safety. The most recent report, published in 1998, records that 404 prosecutions were brought under the regulations between April 1993 and March 1998, of which 398 resulted in conviction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will increase the proportion of energy generated from nuclear and renewable sources in order to reach their targets for reducing emission of carbon dioxide in the United Kingdom. [HL2985]

My department is looking to accelerate the development of renewables in a wide range of sources and technologies. The renewables obligation for England and Wales due to come into effect from 1 April 2002 (subject to parliamentary approval) and the comparable Scottish renewables obligation represent the Government's main mechanism for achieving our target of obtaining 10 per cent of licensed electricity supplies from eligible renewable sources by 2010. This is a very challenging target but one we are determined to see met. It is intended to act as a stimulus to industry and to provide a milestone for monitoring progress.Nuclear power provides about one-quarter of the UK's electricity supplies. It is for the private sector to bring forward proposals for new plants. We are not aware of any such plans.Overall, the department's energy and emissions projections indicate that the UK is on track to meet its Kyoto targets. On central assumptions, the policies and measures set out in DEFRA's Climate Change Programme are projected to reduce the UK's CO

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the comments about Scotland by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville in the debate on wind energy on 25 February (HL Deb, col. 1305), what arrangement will be required to unblock renewable projects in Scotland; and how many projects are currently blocked. [HL3006]

My remarks on 25 February were in relation to NFFO locational flexibility, which is applicable to projects in England and Wales. The Scottish Executive is currently in the process of putting regulations in place to facilitate locational flexibility for SRO (Scottish Renewables Order) projects in Scotland. Subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament, these will be in place by the end of March 2002, bringing Scotland into line with the position in England and Wales.Scotland is well on the way to achieving its SRO target of 150 MW of installed renewables capacity by 2003. The Scottish Executive is aware of only one project that will benefit from the locational flexibility provisions being put in place, compared to the 100 or so projects that stand to benefit from the new flexibility in England and Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 2 July 2001

Those consulted included organisations representing right holders, particularly the owners of rights in sound recordings and music, and users of sound recordings, such as broadcasters, small businesses and background music providers. Right-holder interests wanted the exception to copyright in Section 72 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be repealed or modified. Those providing background music by dubbing wanted Section 72 to be modified too but another user group wanted Section 72 to remain unchanged. A dialogue with some of the key interests is continuing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which department they identify as the lead department for co-ordinating labelling policy. [HL3059]

The lead department for co-ordinating product labelling policy is the Department of Trade and Industry, which provides the secretariat for an Interdepartmental Group on Product Labelling.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to receive the assessment of the condition of the Ridgeway from the Countryside Agency, requested by the Minister for Rural Affairs; and whether they will make this assessment the basis for consultations on further measures that may be needed from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to protect the Ridgeway from damage by motor traffic. [HL2910]

The Department for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs has no plans to consult on this issue.The Ridgeway Management Group (comprising the relevant highway authorities and the Countryside Agency) has commissioned an audit of the condition of the trail throughout its full length. The report is expected in the early summer. The management group will then consider what further action is required to ensure that the surface of the Ridgeway is maintained to an appropriate standard.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ask the World Trade Organisation to include environmental impact assessments when a conflict may arise between trade rules and sustainable development. [HL3105]

The Doha Development Agenda, agreed by Ministers at the fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in Doha in November 2001, strongly reaffirmed the WTO's collective commitment to the objective of sustainable development.The ministerial declaration states: "We are convinced that the aims of upholding and safeguarding an open and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, and acting for the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development can and must be mutually supportive".The declaration assigns a new role to the WTO's Committee on Trade and Development and Committee on Trade and Environment to act as forums to identify and debate the developmental and environmental aspects of the negotiations in order to support the objective of having sustainable development considerations appropriately reflected during the course of the new trade round.The declaration also explicitly supports "the efforts by Members to conduct national environmental assessments of trade policies on a voluntary basis". This reflects the view which is strongly held by the majority of WTO members that environmental or sustainability impact assessments should be entirely voluntary in nature and should be conducted at the national level.The United Kingdom and the European Union strongly support the use of environmental or sustainability impact assessments as a tool to assist the development of countries' trade policies with a preference for sustainability impact assessment as this allows the full range of economic, environmental and social impacts to be considered in a balanced way.The EU is, therefore, undertaking its own sustainability impact assessment (SIA) of the new round. The European Commission has recently awarded a contract to the Institute for Development Policy and Management at the University of Manchester to conduct a detailed and rigorous SIA of the new round. The results of the SIA, when available, will he used by the EU to inform its approach to the negotiations. Regular consultations with civil society on the scope and findings of the SIA will be convened by the European Commission. A dedicated website has been set up to provide easily accessible reports on the progress of the SIA.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment has been made by the Environment Agency of the damage caused to inland trout lakes through the constant killing of trout by cormorants; and what protection is being provided to safeguard trout stocks. [HL3132]

In 1996, the Environment Agency, together with DETR and MAFF, launched a research programme to improve the level of information on piscivorous birds and their impact on fisheries. The survey concluded that predation by cormorants was a problem at specific fisheries rather than a general problem.As well as providing information on a wide range of non-lethal anti-predation measures, DEFRA issues licences to allow the shooting of a limited number of cormorants as an aid to scaring where it can be demonstrated that the cormorants are having a serious effect on the performance of a fishery and where there is no other satisfactory solution. Recent studies suggest that stocking with larger trout is a cost-effective option for reducing losses to cormorants.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Environment Agency is encouraging a cull of the cormorant; and how many licences have been issued to kill cormorants. [HL3133]

The Environment Agency does not encourage the cull of cormorants as they are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The destruction or taking of these birds, their eggs or their nests is prohibited except under licence from DEFRA or one of the statutory conservation bodies (in England, English Nature). The Act does provide for them to be controlled under licence to prevent serious damage to fisheries although there are no powers to undertake a general cull.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will estimate how many rainbow trout are killed by cormorants each year; which regions are suffering most; which cormorant species are most responsible for the depletion of trout stocks; and from where they originate. [HL3134]

No estimate has been made of the number of rainbow trout taken by cormorants.Cormorants in the UK belong to a single species

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions have taken place between the Environment Agency and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to rid trout lakes of cormorant activity [HL3135]

The Non-Governmental Joint Fisheries Policy and Legislation Working Group, chaired by Lord Moran, now holds regular and ongoing discussions with the Environment Agency, RSPB, English Nature, and various angling bodies to discuss the way forward in resolving problems caused by cormorants. These discussions have previously resulted in the leaflet Cormorants: The Facts, published in 2001, which seeks to communicate the various cormorant management options to the angling community. Ridding trout lakes of cormorant activity is not practicable.