asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will offer reconstruction aid to Indonesia for Sulawesi and Ambon, subject to the implementation by all parties of the Malino I and Malino II Agreements. [HL3517]

HMG are committed to supporting efforts to reduce conflict in Indonesia and to create conditions in which peace and reconciliation can be sustained. We have provided £4.2 million through the United Nations for conflict prevention and recovery work. These funds are available for reconstruction programmes in Sulawesi and Ambon, provided that conditions are stable enough for such work to proceed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many copies of

We have printed 47,000 copies of the Developing a Global Dimension in the School Curriculum guidance document and have 9,467 in stock.The aim of this guidance document is to show how a global dimension can be incorporated into both the curriculum and the wider life of the school. It was produced by DfID, the DfES, the DEA and the Central Bureau in collaboration with QCA and is aimed at head teachers (both primary and secondary), LEAs and school governors.The guidance document was launched at the Society of Education Officers Annual Conference in July 2000. We followed this up by writing to all chief education officers in England to let them know about the availability of the document and offering to supply copies to those schools within the LEA which expressed an interest in receiving them. We have also promoted and distributed the document through professional bodies and DfID attendance at teacher conferences and events.The guidance document has been very well received by the education community and allows them to show how a global perspective can both enrich lessons and help teachers to deliver the national curriculum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy on the role of peace-keeping troops in humanitarian work in Afghanistan; and what response they have made in particular to the statement of the Non-Governmental Organisation Forum in Kabul. [HL3587]

We appreciate and share the concerns of the NGO Forum in Kabul regarding the role in humanitarian work of military personnel dressed in civilian clothes. Our objective is to meet humanitarian needs through effective and appropriate means. This includes our current funding of various quick impact projects (QIPs) through the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), including rehabilitation of schools, for example. ISAF's objective is to assist in the stabilisation process, with the agreement of the Afghan parties; we believe that quick impact projects aimed at stabilisation and recovery are therefore a valid role for ISAF, particularly given the extent of need and the lack of capacity to address those needs in a timely mariner. ISAF personnel are at all times in uniform, and even when engaged in recovery/humanitarian activities alongside humanitarian workers there is a clear distinction between them. This, to the extent possible in a conflict zone, gives a measure of protection to humanitarian workers.We are aware of reports of coalition forces undertaking humanitarian work while dressed as civilians. The Defence Secretary has made it clear to all UK military in Afghanistan that they must make it clear they are soldiers if challenged, including by NGO personnel; they carry their arms openly, even if not in uniform for operational reasons. We share your concerns about the risks of creating the impression that all aid workers are either members of the military or closely associated with them.We continue to raise this issue with coalition partners through appropriate channels.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the involvement of the Department for International Development in developing the United Kingdom's policy on explosive remnants of war. [HL3819]

The Department for International Development is working closely together with the FCO and MoD to help formulate the Government's approach on this issue, contributing in particular its experience with humanitarian mine action.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many developing countries are estimated to be affected by unexploded ordnance. [HL3820]

According to the Landmine Monitor Report for 2001, there are 89 developing countries currently affected by unexploded ordnance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have given any financial assistance to non-governmental organisations such as Landmine Action to enable them to bring their expertise to discussions on explosive remnants of war under the auspices of the United Kingdom. [HL3821]

We have not received any requests from NGOs for funding their involvement in discussions on explosive remnants of war.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they rejected counsel's advice obtained by Save the Children which recommends that the Government withdraw their reservation in respect of nationality, immigration and asylum to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [HL3843]

We have carefully reviewed the reservation in the light of the legal opinion submitted by Save the Children and other recent requests that it should be withdrawn. We have taken legal advice which strongly suggests that the reservation remains necessary in order to maintain an effective immigration control. We consider that, notwithstanding the reservation, there are sufficient checks and balances in place to ensure that children are protected.The United Kingdom always takes its international obligations seriously. We are obliged, under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, to consider all applications for asylum made in the United Kingdom. Each application is considered on its individual merits. While awaiting a decision on their claims, all asylum seeking children have access to primary healthcare and education facilities and there are currently no outstanding cases where the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has been cited by children seeking asylum here. The majority of asylum seeking children are, of course, accompanied by their families.We fully appreciate the potential vulnerability of unaccompanied children and the distress they may experience while awaiting a decision on their asylum claims. The need for anxious scrutiny is stressed in training and guidance to all staff involved in the asylum decision-making process. Because of the particular sensitivities surrounding applications from unaccompanied children, their cases are given priority and dealt with by specially trained caseworkers, who are provided with comprehensive instructions setting out areas to consider when dealing with such applications. These instructions are available on the Internet and are reviewed on a regular basis.All unaccompanied minors who apply for asylum are referred to the Refugee Council's panel of advisers, a non-statutory body which acts as adviser to the child in his/her dealings with the Home Office and other agencies for the duration of the asylum claim. Unaccompanied minors are not entitled to benefits but are supported under the Children Act 1989 (maintenance and accommodation being provided by social services departments of the local authorities). It has been agreed that no unaccompanied child will be removed from the United Kingdom unless we are satisfied that adequate reception and care arrangements are in place in the country to which he/she is to be removed. If care arrangements cannot be established, the child is normally allowed to remain here exceptionally, outside the Immigration Rules, on compassionate grounds.For these reasons, we do not accept the recommendation made in the legal opinion forwarded by Save the Children.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their reservation in respect of nationality, immigration and asylum to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is capable of a broader interpretation than that which they apply. [HL3844]

If I have understood the noble Lord correctly, he is asking whether it might be possible to re-draft our reservation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in such a way as to define specific situations where our reservation would come into force.The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is written in terms of broad-brush statements rather than in precise legal language. As such, it is possible for signatory countries to interpret the UNCRC in slightly differing ways and for interpretation to change over time. In view of this, I believe it appropriate to retain a similarly broad reservation. Were we to tighten the terms of our reservation, this might compromise our immigration and nationality laws at some later stage following changes of interpretation as to how the UNCRC should be applied. For this reason we believe that it is sensible to retain the reservation as presently worded.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What their assessment is of the potential conflict between the detention of children seeking asylum and Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.[HL3845]

Unaccompanied asylum seeking children are not detained other than in the most exceptional circumstances and then only overnight with appropriate care.Detention of children as part of a family unit is not a step to be taken lightly. In each case careful assessment of the need for detention is undertaken.When children and families are detained they are accommodated in special family units within dedicated family wings of the removal centre. These areas provide a safe and protected environment for children, where their welfare and care are a primary concern.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to appoint the Race Monitor under Section 19E of the Race Relations Act 1976, as amended by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. [HL4048]

We are pleased to say that Ms Mary Coussey has been appointed as the Race Monitor and that she has taken up post. Ms Coussey has been asked to make an interim report in September 2002, which will be made publicly available, and to make her first annual report to Parliament in March 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list and provide valuations for the "250 items of furniture, fittings and artefacts classified as antiques" described in the entry for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments in the National Asset Register. [HL3741]

The Treasury's antique assets comprise 16 items of silverware to the value of £1.2 million; furniture (779 individual items, many grouped in sets, at a total value of £415,000); 127 fixtures and fittings (£95,000); and 42 miscellaneous items (£56,000).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any contracts, apart from the PowerJect contract, have been awarded by government departments without competitive tendering on national security grounds since 11 September 2001. [HL3906]

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what occasions the requirement for the Government to engage in a competitive tendering process has been waived on the grounds of national security. [HL3877]

No central records are maintained on individual procurements or the procurement routes used. Responsibility and accountability for procurement is delegated to departmental accounting officers. Therefore the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 15 April (HL Deb, cols. 681–82), whether they will provide a fuller analysis of the figure of 140,000 additional public sector jobs created between 1997 and 2000. [HL3907]

Detailed information is available in an article on "Jobs in the Public and Private Sectors", published by the Office for National Statistics in Economic Trends No 571 June 2001, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. The article gives a detailed analysis, including figures that show an increase in total public sector headcount from 4,954 thousand in 1997 to 5,093 thousand in 2000, which is the increase given as 140,000 in my previous answer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 22 April

The Treasury's adviser, Bonhams, has helped to compile a list of institutions which may be interested in purchasing these items for display to the UK public. No more detailed criteria as to suitability have yet been applied to this list. The list of potential purchasers is commercially sensitive and it would be inappropriate to disclose it, as provided for in Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Fijian nationals have been recruited by the armed forces in each year since 1995. [HL3801]

Records of the numbers of Fijians who have joined the Army are available only since 1998. There are no records of any Fijians having joined the Royal Navy or the Royal Air Force in that time. The information requested is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the Army controls the amount of mileage covered by armoured tracked vehicles; and what measures and methods are used. [HL3849]

Allocations for mileage covered by tracked vehicles are determined by the role and the required readiness states of units and formations. The track mileage required to support the Army's training programme is provided by the users of the vehicles (Land Command and the Army Training and Recruiting Agency (ATRA)) to the Defence Logistics Organisation by means of a customer/supplier agreement. This process ensures that the activity level planned is supportable and sustainable within resource limits. During the training year Land Command and ATRA monitor and report track mileage so that adjustments reallocations can be made if needed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, on 5 November 2001 (HC Deb,

I will write to the noble Lord and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency for the Financial Year 2002–03. [HL3990]

Five key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency for the financial year 2002–03.The first three key targets apply to projects covered by the major projects report which have passed their main gate approval. Key Targets 2 and 3 are consistent with goals set in the department's public service agreement (PSA), adapted to cover cumulative performance. The fourth key target relates to improvements in DPA customer satisfaction and the fifth to the costs of running the agency. The key targets are:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to investigate the mistaken taxation of Army attributable pensions. [HL3995]

Since the statement of my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Moonie) on 23 January this year, (Official Report, columns 891–902) in another place, the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency has been conducting a review to establish more clearly the exact extent of the problem with the mistaken taxation of service invaliding and attibutable pensions. This work is not complete but has revealed that some Royal Navy invaliding and attributable pensions awarded between 1973 and 1999 have also been mistakenly taxed. We will be reviewing all the case files of those who might have been affected and arranging for refunds to be made as appropriate. This will be done as quickly as possible but is expected to take some months given the need to review several thousand pension files. We will also be providing appropriate national publicity to allow those who think they might have a claim to apply for a tax refund.Our research has not so far revealed any cases where Royal Air Force pensions were wrongly taxed and there is evidence that the RAF has had in place checks which would have uncovered cases where attributable pensions should have been exempt from tax. However, we will include the RAF in our continuing work to ensure that no error is left unidentified.Our further work to date has confirmed that the problem was more extensive than originally understood but has also shown the complexity of the issues involved as over time changes have been made to the organisations responsible for administering the pensions and to the rules governing the schemes. We have therefore concluded that we should set up an internal review, completely independent of the staffs involved, to establish the precise extent of the current problems and to expose any other problems that may exist. This independent review will look across all three services, be launched as soon as possible and is likely to take a number of months to complete. The review team will be headed-up by a senior civil servant and consist of staff drawn from the Defence Internal Audit. In order to provide external confidence, the NAO will be invited to validate the procedures. We will report the findings to the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How (a) "upland" and (b) "lowland" areas are classified or defined; and [HL3620]In the light of the evidence given to the Burns inquiry by the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which stated that 75,000 foxes per year are killed involving the use of dogs and that this system would need to be replaced if a ban was introduced, what plans, if any, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has considered as an alternative system of pest control. [HL3621]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they suggest that (a) fox, (b) deer, (c) hare or (d) mink can be located; and [HL3622]What method they suggest for tracking and destroying a shot and 'wounded deer; and [HL3623]Whether there is an assumption within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that hunting is cruel; and, if so, what evidence of cruelty the Government have in addition to any material made available to the Burns inquiry. [HL3624]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will he given due consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice can be offered to pest controllers as to how to identify a pregnant (a) fox, (b) hare, (c) deer or (d) mink at night when using a rifle. [HL3625]What advice is given to pest controllers about the shooting of a pregnant (a) fox, (b) hare, (c) deer or (d) mink as far as its offspring is concerned. [HL3626]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is recommended for pest controllers to take with regard to a shot and wounded pest that seeks refuge underground; and [HL3627]What advice can be given to pest controllers with regard to the flushing of foxes from thick cover or woodland; and [HL3628]How, in the context of pest control of foxes, "cover" is defined. [HL3629]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What tests or research have been conducted into the viability of methods of pest control. [HL3630]

We have an ongoing process of research and development into the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of pest control methods.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will consult the police and Home Office with regard to enforceability of legislation that might ban or restrict hunting; and [HL3631]What figures and research are available with regard to levels of suffering to animals (including rats and rabbits) caught in (a) snares, (b) cage traps, (c) killed by poison, (d) killed by dogs and (e) caught in leg hold traps. [HL3632]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all those organisations who submitted evidence to Lord Burns' inquiry in relation to cruelty and utility will be invited to contribute to the current consultation period; and whether they are willing to use the Burns report as a basis for legislation and consultation; and [HL3633]Whether they intend to consult members of the Burns inquiry team during the consultation process, in particular Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior on veterinary matters and the issue of cruelty and Professor Michael Winter on utility. [HL3634]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What shot size and shotgun type are recommended for the culling of (a) foxes, (b) hares, (c) deer and (d) mink; and [HL3641]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they accept the findings of a poll carried out in 2001 that showed that 79 per cent of rural veterinary surgeons believe fox control is necessary in their areas; and [HL3644]Whether they accept the findings of a poll carried out by NOP that shows that 63 per cent of rural veterinary surgeons oppose a hunting ban on welfare grounds. [HL3645]

The Government do not comment on individual opinion polls.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consult the Association of Masters of Draghounds and Bloodhounds regarding the suitability of drag hunting as an alternative to live quarry hunting. [HL3647]

My right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.The Association of Masters of Draghounds and Bloodhounds is one of those organisations to which my right honourable friend has written.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What alternative methods of fallen stock collection have been planned should hunts close; and [HL3648]Who will finance any alternative methods of fallen stock collection introduced in the event of a hunting ban. [HL3649]

My right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration. Hunts account for only a small proportion of fallen stock collection. This is a much wider issue and we are already consulting on the current and future shape of collection facilities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What their policy is on compensation for those affected in the event of a ban on hunting, especially in the light of the forthcoming European Court of Human Rights challenge in Scotland. [HL3651]

Such issues would be considered during the drafting of any Bill.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their recommended method of fox control: and [HL3635](a) what is included in the expression "hunting with dogs" and (b) how many people they consider that this might involve; and [HL3678]What proportion of people hunt (a) on foot, (b) on horses, (c) with packs of dogs, (d) with single dogs, (e) with dogs, and guns, (f) in urban areas (that is fox control in buildings), (g) in upland areas and (h) in lowland areas; and [HL3679]What estimate has been made of the contribution hunting makes to the rural economy in terms of (a) direct expenditure, (b) indirect expenditure, (c) direct jobs, (d) indirect jobs and (e) value of fallen stock collection service; and [HL3680]What figures are available for the number of people who benefit from the social functions run by hunts. [HL3681]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What figures they have on predation on birds and mammals by domestic cats. [HL3639]

The Government do not collate these figures. However, the Mammal Society conducted a five-month survey during the spring/summer of 1997. The survey established that the 986 cats in the sample killed over 14,000 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians during this period. The current cat population in GB is estimated to be over 9 million animals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How fox predation levels are (a) monitored and (b) classified. [HL3640]

We have monitored fox predation levels through published scientific literature, research information, reports in the press and information from members of the public. Damage and losses due to foxes can be broadly categorised as being of conservation or agricultural/domestic concern.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consult organisations such as the National Canine Defence League, the Kennel Club and the International League for the Protection of Horses regarding the welfare implications of a hunting ban on the animals used as part of hunting. [HL3650]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration.The National Canine Defence League, the Kennel Club and the International League for the Protection of Horses are organisations to which my right honourable friend has written.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What they intend to do if hunts can no longer destroy injured animals; and who is going to incinerate them. [HL3880]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) announced on 21 March that in relation to hunting with dogs he would conduct a process which will allow individuals and organisations to contribute their views and evidence, in particular on the issues of cruelty and utility. All views submitted will be given due consideration. Hunts account for only a small proportion of fallen stock collection. This is a much wider issue and we are already consulting on the current and future shape of collection facilities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose to table a Motion for debate in this House drawing attention to the findings of the Rural White Paper published in November 2000; and, if so, when. [HL3900]

Given the volume of business of this House, the Government have no plans at present to have a debate.We have made considerable progress in implementing the White Paper during the first year, despite the massive diversion of effort and resources required to deal with foot and mouth disease. We are continuing to work towards the achievement of all the White Paper's long-term goals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in acknowledging the importance of farmers working together and forming co-operative groups as recommended in the Curry report on the future of farming and food, they will place restrictions on the size of such groups. [HL3903]

In its report of January 2002 the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming expressed a strong belief in the need for a much greater level of collaboration between farmers and in the potential of collaborative ventures for all farmers large and small. The Government support those sentiments. The commission did not advocate the placing of restrictions on the size of farmers co-operatives and the Government have no plans to do so. However, cooperatives are subject to the requirements of UK and EU competition law.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given the problem that the current genotype grading in the National Scrapie Plan poses to hill and northern breeds and the potential detriment that will be caused to the pedigree herds, whether they will consider delaying the implementation of category 3 deadlines. [HL3914]

The five genotype groupings that are being used for the purposes of the National Scrapie Plan were put in place following extensive consultations with the sheep industry. The third of the groupings covers rams that have little resistance to scrapie and the plan permits them to be sold or used for breeding without restriction until the end of 2004. After that, any ram in this grouping, with the planned exception of a ram with the ARQ/ARQ genotype, on a scheme farm may continue to be used for breeding for a further three years or until the end of its life if that occurs sooner. Given the need to make real progress under the plan, those are long timescales and there are no plans to extend them further. Participation in the National Scrapie Plan is voluntary and it is clearly in the interests of sheep breeders to convert their flock to scrapie-resistant status as rapidly as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 27 March

We have just received a report from the consultants who conducted the consultation exercise on our behalf and we are currently considering how best to make the findings available. We are not yet in a position to say when a new ILA-style scheme will be available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the definition of a sector skills council; what is their remit; how, and from what source, they are funded; to whom they are accountable; what geographical area is covered by each council; and in what way they are distinct from learning and skills councils; and [HL3786]What is the definition of the Sector Skills Development Agency; what is its remit; how, and from what source, it is funded; to whom it is accountable; for how many sector skills councils it is responsible; in what way it is distinct from the National Learning and Skills Council; and who is the head of the Sector Skills Development Agency. [HL3787]

Sector skills councils (SSCs) are UK-wide employer-led industry or business sector-based bodies. They have the task to define the skills and productivity priorities confronting their sectors, develop strategies to deal with them and work with employers, government and relevant agencies such as the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to deliver specific action, including apprenticeships and occupational standards where these are relevant and the innovation of new approaches to identified skills and productivity problems. SSCs will receive up to £1 million each year from my department to fund their core work. We expect that SSCs will attract additional investment from their sectors to deliver further work their sectors require. SSCs are licensed by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in conjunction with her ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive. SSCs are accountable to the Secretary of State, through the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), for the use of public funds in meeting their core task. As employer-led bodies, SSCs are also accountable to their sectors for their performance and any services directly delivered for a sector's benefit.The SSDA is a non-departmental public body grant-funded by my department accountable to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. The SSDA's chair is Margaret Salmon and its chief executive is Christopher Duff. The SSDA's role is to support the development of an effective SSC network, including making recommendations to Government about the award of SSC licences and to promote the network's engagement with government and and other key partners throughout the UK. The SSDA is also responsible for funding the core work of SSCs through three-year contracts, monitoring SSCs' performance in meeting their priorities, providing skills intelligence to government and other partners for sectors without a SSC and for the co-ordination of cross-cutting sector-related work. The number of SSCs for which the SSDA is responsible will depend on the number of SSCs licensed. SSCs will be licensed for sectors where employers want them and can meet the published SSC Standard.The LSC is the non-departmental public body responsible for the planning and funding of post-16 learning, excluding higher education, in England.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 25 March

Clause 129 provides for there to be regulation where teaching assistants, and others such as further education teachers who are not qualified as school teachers, carry out specified work, which could be described as "work of a teaching nature". The principal teaching duties will be outlined in the regulations following consultation. Regulations will also ensure that teaching assistants always operate under the supervision of a qualified teacher, where supervison may include a qualified teacher being present in the classroom. Any policy developments in relation to teaching assistants taking a full class on their own would first need to be the subject of a public consultation and the requirement that they operate under a qualified teacher's supervision would remain in place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 25 March

If a school company were to fail, the delegated budget of individual member schools would not be at risk. In the case of a purchasing company, the company would be spending member schools' delegated budgets and therefore deemed to be acting as agent of the LEA. The LEA would be liable for the company's debts in the event of company failure, in the same way that the LEA would be liable for an individual school's debt when the school was acting as the LEA's agent. This would not be the case for service delivery companies, because such a company will not be acting as the LEA's agent. If a service delivery company becomes insolvent, its liabilities will not pass to its members as it will be a limited liability company. If a school company is unable to pay its debts there will be the normal routes which apply to all companies open to it and its creditors of placing the company in administration or winding the company up.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 25 March

When the Education Bill receives Royal Assent, the department intends to publish a consultation paper on regulations under Chapter 2 after the school summer recess, early in the autumn term. In line with current guidelines, the consultation process should take a minimum of 12 weeks to complete.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the numbers of:

(a) The numbers of pupils of statutory age and above on roll in England (including those in school-based sixth forms and independent schools) were as follows:

• 1997: 7,204, 013
• 1998: 7,270,006
• 1999:7,317,047
• 2000: 7,365,458
• 2001: 7,399,626.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made with their plans to set up processes for market testing ideas for the unified management of the building and museum at Apsley House; how many formal expressions of interest they have received from bodies which wish to take on the management of Apsley House; and what is the closing date by which tenders have to be made. [HL3778]

We invited initial expressions of interest on 15 March and had received two by the closing date of 12 April. We will announce shortly how we intend to proceed.

asked the Leader of the House:Further to his Written Answer on 19 July 2001

The report of the group that I appointed in July 2001 to consider how the working practices of the House can be improved will be published on Wednesday 1 May.