asked Her Majesty's Government:What new resources they intend to commit to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) agreed at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis. [HL5110]

Over the course of the last year, a number of African leaders have been working together to draw up the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) which seeks to put in place the policies necessary in Africa for sustainable development. In response to this initiative, G8 leaders prepared an Africa Action Plan, which was finalised at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis.The G8 plan includes a commitment that half or more of the new development funds announced at Monterrey (ie 6 billion dollars) could be used in African countries, but only if they put the NEPAD principles into practice and create the right policy environment.NEPAD itself is not a funding mechanism, and is not envisaged as a body that will implement projects. It is not therefore something that the UK will fund directly.We are, though, committed to increasing significantly the levels of development assistance provided to Africa. We have already doubled our bilateral assistance to Africa since 1997, and will increase it by a further 50 per cent so that by 2006 we will be spending £1 billion in Africa each year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action will be taken under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) agreed at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis to reduce the debt burden of African countries and to improve trade links between Africa and G8 countries. [HL5111]

Over the course of the last year, a number of African leaders have been working together to draw up the New Partnership for Africa's Development which seeks to put in place the policies necessary in Africa for sustainable development. In response to this initiative, G8 leaders prepared an Africa Action Plan, which was finalised at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis. As part of this, G8 leaders agreed their commitment to ensure the full financing of the enhanced heavily indebted poor countries initiative and that up to an extra 1 billion US dollars should be provided for the HIPC Trust Fund. G8 leaders also "reaffirmed their commitment to conclude negotiations no later than 1 January 2005 on further trade liberalisation in the Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations taking full account of the particular circumstances, needs and requirements of developing countries, including in Africa". In addition, G8 countries will work toward the objective of duty free and quota free access for all products originating from least developed countries.The full version of the Africa Action Plan; which gives further details on these and other areas, has been placed in the House Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are entirely satisfed with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) agreed at the G8 Summit at Kananaskis. (HL5112]

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is an African initiative that sets out a framework for conflict resolution and sustainable development in Africa. At Kananaskis, the G8 agreed on an Action Plan for Africa as an initial response to NEPAD. The plan is a good first step in what we see as a long-term process of building a new partnership with Africa. There is more to be clone to implement the commitments expressed by both the Africans and the G8.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many outstanding parking arid other minor traffic violation fines were incurred by diplomatic missions during the year ending 31 December 2001. [HL5343]

Unpaid parking and minor traffic violation fines—2001—diplomatic vehicles.

Diplomatic mission International organisation	No of fines outstanding	Amount
Angola	1,088	£44,470,00
United Arab Emirates	287	£14,150,00
Libya	222	£10,710,00
China	156	£6,400,00
Egypt	151	£7,030,00
Mozambique	147	£5,940,00
Iran	140	£8,250,00
Ukraine	140	£7,949,00
Qatar	122	£5,790,00
Greece	111	£5,650,00
Ghana	96	£4,090,00
France	95	£5,330,00
Turkey	87	£4,980,00
Algeria	69	£3,840,00
Morocco	68	£3,830,00
Zambia	64	£3,710,00
Russia	51	£2,800,00
Ethiopia	47	£1,990,00
Jamaica	43	£2,670,00
Jordan	42	£2,480,00
International Maritime Organisation	40	£2,000,00
Vietnam	40	£2,280,00
Cyprus	39	£1,790,00
Mongolia	39	£2,630,00
Georgia	38	£2,250,00
Brunei	37	£1,540,00
Kazakhstan	37	£2,180,00

Diplomatic mission International organisation	No of fines outstanding	Amount
Philippines	37	£2,000,00
Albania	35	£1,430,00
Afghanistan	34	£1,940,00
Hungary	32	£1,390,00
Poland	31	£1,250,00
Bahrain	30	£1,650,00
Malaysia	30	£1,360,00
Yemen	30	£1,410,00
Pakistan	29	£1,680,00
Peru	29	£1,680,00
United States of America	27	£1,010,00
Cuba	26	£950,00
Oman	26	£3,010,00
Portugal	25	£3,550,00
Dominican Republic	23	£1,390,00
Romania	22	£1,140,00
Rwanda	20	£850,00
Tunisia	20	£1,200,00
Uganda	20	£,840,00
Kenya	19	£730,00
Sierra Leone	19	£2,120,00
Commonwealth Secretariat	18	£1,400,00
Kuwait	16	£6,810,00
Sudan	16	£760,00
Cote D'Ivoire	15	£1,810,00
Barbados	15	£600,00
Belgium	15	£780,00
Brazil	14	£950,00
Zimbabwe	14	£560,00
Mexico	13	£1,210,00
Spain	13	£1,050,00
Germany	12	£540,00
Bulgaria	11	£670,00
Gabon	11	£780,00
Uzbekistan	11	£470,00
	4,254	217,699

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom owed more than £10,000 as of the 5 April in respect of national non-domestic rates (NNDR) for office premises. [HL5344]

Most diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom meet their obligations and pay the NNDR requested from them. However, as at 5 April 2002, the following missions owed over £10,000 in respect of NNDR:

Country	Amount
Bulgaria	£117,511.13
Iran	97,352.55
Sierra Leone	48,274.76
Algeria	43,194.62
Mozambique	31,116.14
Cameroon	27,646.19
Uganda	24,760.37
Bangladesh	20,636.91
Syria	20,004.66
Zambia	19,276.56
Senegal	14,600.98
Jordan	13,154.29
Cote d'Ivoire	12,066.16
Total	£489,595.32

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the annual report and accounts for 2001–02 of the Public Guardian Office will be laid before Parliament. [HL5487]

I have today laid before the House the Public Guardianship Office's annual report and accounts for 2001–02 which gives full details of the agency's performance and expenditure for that year.

asked the Lord Chancellor:When the Government expect to publish a detailed response to Sir Robin Auld's

Justice for All presented to Parliament on 17 July set out our policy on reform of the criminal justice system. We made clear that we are indebted to Sir Robin Auld and John Halliday for their extensive and thorough review of the criminal courts and sentencing policy. Today we publish a detailed resonse to all their recommendations and I have placed copies in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make an announcement on the recent changes in the functions of the Lord Chancellor's Department. [HL5489]

For the assistance of noble Lords I have today placed in the Library of each House a list which sets out briefly the current functions of my department.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the next quinquennial review of the Law Commission is to take place. [HL5490]

I am today announcing the start of a QQR of the Law Commission. The approach to the review will take into account the wider process of law reform and the relationship between the Law Commission and other agencies involved in that process, particularly government departments. It is expected that a final report, outlining key findings and recommendations, will be produced by the end of the year.John Halliday CB has been appointed as Head of Review. Mr Halliday has been selected for this role because of the extent of his knowledge of the operation of government, Parliament and the Civil Service. In particular, he has experience of working with the Law Commission and of leading the fundamental review of the framework for sentencing criminal offenders in England and Wales. This resulted in the Halliday report, 2001.Copies of the terms of reference for the review have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria have to be satisfied before a retrial can be ordered in a serious criminal case. [HL5194]

In accordance with the Criminal Appeal Act 1968, a court can only order a retrial in a serious criminal case if (a) it is in the public interest to do so, and (b) the retrial would be conducted without unfairness to, or oppression of, the defendant.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to encourage the search for effective measures to protect people and animals from attacks by Highland midges. [HL5016]

This matter is devolved to the Scottish Executive and the noble Lord may wish to write to them about the issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 10 June (

The noble Lord's questions suggest that the Treasury has adopted a policy of not selling items valued at more than £1 million. That is not the case. The candlesticks and inkstands to which he refers were excluded from the sale because some of them are in operational use, not by reference to any arbitrary threshold or other policy. My previous statement that the items were valued at more than £1 million was an observation of fact, not an explanation of a policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 April (

While the items are of the greatest significance of any item in the Treasury's silver collection, they are not of such significance as to merit classification as heritage items—which is a term used to cover items of national importance such as Stonehenge and Nelson's column.

Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 10 June (

There is no special definition of the term "antique"; it is taken as having its plain English meaning. All items which might possibly be considered as antiques are drawn to the attention of professional valuers, who confirm or reject this classification.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the actuarially expected mortality rate of life Peers year by year over the next 20 years, assuming that no life Peers are appointed. [HL5437]

The aggregate mortality rates of life Peers year by year over the next 20 years, assuming that no new life Peers are appointed, is estimated as follows:

Period	Estimated mortality rate over per 100,000 alive at beginning of period
1 July 2002–30 June 2003	3,589
1 July 2003–30 June 2004	3,658
1 July 2004–30 June 2005	3,733
1 July 2005–30 June 2006	3,814
1 July 2006–30 June 2007	3,901
1 July 2007–30 June 2008	3,994
1 July 2008–30 June 2009	4,094
1 July 2009–30 June 2010	4,201
1 July 2010–30 June 2011	4,316
1 July 2011–30 June 2012	4,443
1 July 2012–30 June 2013	4,580
1 July 2013–30 June 2014	4,725
1 July 2014–30 June 2015	4,880
1 July 2015–30 June 2016	5,047
1 July 2016–30 June 2017	5,227
1 July 2017–30 June 2018	5,418
1 July 2018–30 June 2019	5,624
1 July 2019–30 June 2020	5,839
1 July 2020–30 June 2021	6,062
1 July 2021–30 June 2022	6,295

The aggregate mortality rates shown in the table give the numbers of expected deaths over the period shown, assuming 100,000 people alive at the beginning of the period. Since it is assumed that no new life Peers are created, the average age of those remaining increases over time and hence the aggregate mortality rate for those remaining also rises.The mortality rates shown in the table have been calculated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with those used to project the numbers of life Peers at each 1 July for the period 1 July 2002 to 1 July 2012 assuming that no new life Peers are created, given in the written reply of 10 June 2002 to the Question of the noble Lord, Lord Jacobs, to the Lord Chancellor (

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many instances of human error affecting full disclosure occurred and when, both at first instance and on appeal, in the criminal cases tried in consequence of the bomb explosions on 26 Juy 1994, at the Embassy of Israel and Balfour House; and whether anyone has been disciplined on account of these errors. [HL5196]

The appellants in this matter have petitioned the House of Lords for leave to appeal. Whether leave to appeal will be granted is under active consideration. As such it is inappropriate at this stage to comment on matters which may in due course be aired in court.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What monitoring of local government workings, where a cabinet system has been introduced, has been undertaken; and, if monitoring has taken place, what are the findings. [HL4688]

Officials at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister maintain a record to monitor the implementation by local authorities under the Local Government Act 2000 of their new constitutions, including those authorities operating or planning to operate executive arrangements involving a cabinet.According to the information which local authorities have provided:as of 11 July 2002, 383 local authorities have implemented a new constitution, with the remaining three planning to implement by the end of 2002;316 authorities are operating executive arrangements involving a leader and cabinet;10 local authorities are or will be operating executive arrangements involving a directly elected mayor and cabinet;one local authority will be operating executive arrangements involving a directly elected mayor and cabinet;the remaining 59 authorities are operating the alternative form of arrangements available under the Act involving a streamlined version of the committee system. One of these will be holding a referendum on whether to move to arrangements involving a directly elected mayor and cabinet executive, having received a valid petition from local people which requires such a referendum.This monitoring supports the public service agreement target the Government have set to ensure that by December 2002 each council has adopted and put into operation a new constitution which is transparent, accountable and efficientIn addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has recently let a contract to a consortium involving Manchester University, Birkbeck College London, Goldsmith College London and Salford University, to undertake a five-year evaluation of the new council constitutions policy, including the effectiveness of executive arrangements. Results of this evaluation are not yet available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 13 June (HL Deb, cols. 367–68), what system is in place, and under what Act of Parliament, to address the situation when a parish councillor, in mid-term, refuses to sign the code of conduct, declines to fill in the register of interests and does not offer his or her resignation. [HL4996]

The Local Government Act 2000 requires members of parish councils to give a written undertaking to observe the authority's code of conduct. If a member fails to give that undertaking within two months of the authority adopting a code, he or she ceases to be a member of the authority.Members must complete a register of interests within 28 days of a code applying to their parish council, as a result either of the council adopting a code, or of the statutory application of the model code from 5 May on all councils which had not by then adopted a code. Failure to complete a register could lead to investigation by the Standards Board for England.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How accommodation for the homeless in London is monitored; against what specifications; and how the accommodation is funded. [HL5246]

Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 requires local housing authorities to secure suitable accommodation for homeless applicants who are eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and have a priority need for accommodation for particular applicants having regard to the circumstances and needs of the applicant and their household. In determining whether accommodation is suitable for an applicant, authorities must have regard to Parts 9, 10 and 11 of the Housing Act 1996 which deal with slum clearance, overcrowding and houses in multiple occupation, respectively. Applicants have the right to ask for a review of the suitability of accommodation offered to them and, if dissatisfied with the authority's review decision, can appeal to the county court on a point of law.Where authorities secure accommodation for a homeless applicant under Part 7, they may require the applicant to pay reasonable charges for, or a reasonable contribution towards, the cost of the accommodation. Applicants on a low income may claim housing benefit towards the accommodation costs. The net costs to local authorities of securing accommodation for homeless applicants are funded through general grant. Costs related to the use of authorities' own housing stock which fall within the housing revenue account are supported by housing revenue account subsidy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will draw the attention of local authorities to the case of

I cannot comment on particular planning cases. Decision-makers in planning cases, including planning appeals, must take into account a variety of issues and circumstances as well as local and national planning policies whether they involve gypsies or members of the settled community. The weight to be attached to a particular concern is a matter of judgement for the decision-maker.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their plans for the future of science, engineering and technology in the United Kingdom. [HL5485]

The Government are today publishing Investing in Innovation: a strategy for science, engineering and technology. This document sets out the Government's strategy for science, underpinned by the substantial new investment in science announced on 15 July by my right honourable friend the Member for Dunfermline East.It sets out what the Government propose to do, in partnership with other stakeholders, to ensure the long-term sustainability of our university research base. It provides details of how the Government intend to implement the recommendations of the Roberts review. It makes clear the Government's commitment to continuing to expand our research base by strengthening existing research programmes through the research councils and allowing for research into exciting and promising new areas of science.The document shows how government will further encourage collaboration between universities and the business sector through increased investment in knowledge transfer activities and, in particular, through an expansion of the Higher Education Innovation Fund. It also sets out how the DTI will increase the diffusion of advances in science and technology in the economy.Finally, it shows what steps the Government will take to improve the quality of the science done by government departments, and commissioned from others.Copies of the document have been placed in the Libraries of the House and may be viewed at

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funding they have made available in the past year for research into the treatment of "dangerous severe personality disorder". [HL5314]

The Government have allocated substantial funds for research into the treatment of individuals who are dangerous as a result of a severe personality disorder (DSPD). In total, during the past year the joint Home Office, Department of Health and Prison Service DSPD Programme contracted research on this issue to the value of £232,887.00.A further substantial programme of research into the treatment of DSPD is planned for 2003 and 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received the annual report for 2001–02 of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's independent Complaints Audit Committee. [HL5537]

A copy of the report has been placed in the Library and will be placed on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website. It is a useful and informative document, and we are grateful to the committee for its comments and its recommendations. We are currently considering how best to implement the recommendations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to publish the final key performance indicator targets for the Prison Services for 2002–03. [HL5545]

The Prison Service Business Plan for 2002–03, published in February 2002, included key performance indicator (KPI) measures for the year but at that stage not all the associated targets had been finalised.The full set of measures and targets for 2002–03 are listed as follows:to ensure no escapes of Category A prisoners;to ensure that the number of escapes from prisons and from escorts undertaken by Prison Service staff, expressed as a proportion of the average prison population, is lower than 0.05 per cent;to ensure that the number of escapes from contracted-out escorts is no more than one per 20,000 prisoners handled;to ensure that the number of positive adjudications of assault on prisoners, staff and others, expressed as a proportion of the average prison population, is lower than 9 per cent;to ensure that the number of prisoners held two to a cell designed for one, expressed as a proportion of the average prison population, does not exceed 18 per cent;to ensure that the number of minority ethnic staff in the Prison Service, expressed as a proportion of the total workforce, is at least 4.5 per cent by April 2003;to ensure that average staff sickness does not exceed nine working days per person by April 2003;to ensure that the average cost per uncrowded prison place does not exceed £38,743;to ensure that the average cost per prisoner does not exceed £36,539;

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to review the Forensic Science Service. [HL5546]

A review of the Forensic Science Service will commence on 2 September and is expected to be completed by spring 2003. The review team, independently lead by Robert McFarland, a former chief executive of the BOC Group, has been appointed and preliminary work is already underway. A steering group, chaired by one of my officials, will oversee the review and recommendations will be made to me in due course. We will report back to the House on its findings.The review process will provide extensive opportunities for consultation work with internal and external stakeholders and will follow the procedures recommended in the guidance for the review of executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies published by the Cabinet Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the most recent statistics are for the police use of firearms. [HL5550]

The statistics for April 2000 to March 2001 show that the number of police operations in which firearms were issued was 11,109. The number of occasions on which firearms were discharged by police increased to nine.There was a small decrease in the number of operations in which armed response vehicles were deployed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by Lord Whitty on 19 June (

For each £1 of grant paid under the England Rural Development Programme the Government spend approximately 18p on technical advice to recipients and administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the spending plans for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and for the Forestry Commission for the next three years following the 2002 Spending Review. [HL5431]

The results of the Spending Review for Defra and the Forestry Commission are summarised in Chapter 16 of the White Paper on 2002 Spending Review (Cm 5570). The key figures are as follows:

£ million
	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Resource Budget	2,443	2,765	2,742	2,792
Capital Budget	241	316	344	354
Total Departmental Expenditure Limit1	2,523	2,902	2,890	2,944
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs1	2,426	2,808	2,796	2,850
Forestry Commission1	97	94	94	94
Near-cash spending in Defra DEL2	2,341	2,727	2,710	2,757
1 Full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation.
2 Consistent with previous control basis.

When Defra was created, the objective was to have a step change in the way environment, agriculture and rural issues were treated in government. The aim was to create a department with sustainable development at its heart—and with responsibility for supporting sustainable development across government. For Defra this means working to achieve a better environment at home and internationally. It also means a food and farming industry working within a prosperous countryside, producing the food that consumers want in harmony with the environment.For the Government as a whole, sustainable development goes much further. The vital importance of sustainable development for government as a whole underlay the decision to make it a central theme of the Spending Review. As custodian of the Government's sustainable development strategy, I particularly welcome the elements of the settlement, for my own department and for others, which will deliver significant improvements in key policy areas. These include.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What targets they have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency for 2002–03. [HL5432]

We have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency the following performance targets for 2002–03.Quality of Service1. To maintain current third party accreditations.2. To achieve ISO9000 accreditation for the TSE archive.Service Delivery3. To achieve a minimum of 85 per cent of ROAME project milestones.4. To meet 95 per cent of published turnaround time for export tests.5. To set a baseline for the customer satisfaction survey.Efficiency6. To achieve £500k savings on procurement spending.7. To achieve a 3 per cent improvement of overheads against turnover using the baseline established in 2001–02.Financial Performance8. To recover from government departments, agencies and external customers, the full economic cost of the agency's services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to issue a revised management statement to the Environment Agency. [HL5433]

We are pleased to inform the House that the management statement has been issued to the Environment Agency today. The statement sets out the relationships between the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Welsh Assembly Government, exercising powers delegated by the National Assembly for Wales and the Environment Agency; the framework within which the agency will operate; and other guidance relevant to its functions. The management statement has been drawn up in consultation with the agency and is being issued jointly with the Welsh Assembly Government.A copy of the Statement has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide an explanation for the animal health and welfare expenditure trends shown in the departmental report for 2002. [HL5435]

Tables 5.1 to 5.5 in the departmental report for 2002 contain a number of errors. These arose from differences in the way information is loaded on central databases, complications with compiling historical information following the recent machinery of government changes and the restructuring of Defra with the revised objectives that followed. Unfortunately, the tight timetable for producing these tables interfered with the quality assurance procedures that would normally have applied.The department's quality assurance procedures are being revised to prevent similar errors in future. Meanwhile, work is in hand to re-issue corrected tables. This is a significant task involving the re-loading of central databases which are subject to a number of timetable constraints. The intention is to provide revised figures by the autumn.Meanwhile, it is possible to clarify that underlying provision for resources available to control animal disease has risen in real terms over the period as follows:

1999–2000 Cash outturn	2000–01 Cash outturn	2001–02 Provisional resource outturn	2002–03 Resource budget
£152m	£183m	£159m	£206m

These figures exclude expenditure incurred on foot and mouth disease, given that this was funded centrally out of the reserve. The drop seen in 2001–02 can be explained by the diversion of state veterinary staff to tackling foot and mouth disease.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many would-be adopters have been rejected after assessment in each of the last live years. [HL4934]

The information requested is not collected centrally.However, the department funded a study published by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering in 2000 called

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total sum of government money spent on research into (a) prostate cancer and (b) AIDS; and what is the annual number of deaths due to each. [HL5023]

In 2000–01, the latest year for which complete information is available for the United Kingdom, the total government expenditure on research into prostate cancer was estimated to be £2 million and on research into AIDS was estimated to be £21 million. In 2000, in the United Kingdom, the total number of deaths due to prostate cancer was 9,280 and the total number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS was 418.The total government expenditure in 2000–01 on prostate cancer research includes £1.2 million by the Department of Health on directly commissioned research. The department is committed to increasing this expenditure to £4.2 million a year by 2003–04. The total government expenditure in 2000–01 on cancer

	Probable route of infection
Year of diagnosis	Sex between men	Sex between men and women	Injecting drug use	Blood/Blood factor	Mother to child	Other/un-determined	Total
1984 or earlier*	684	26	312	569	—	26	1,617
1985	2,112	54	276	686	3	98	3,229
1986	1,989	156	448	89	10	75	2,767
1987	1,747	237	382	50	10	83	2,509
1988	1,380	241	230	25	13	62	1,951
1989	1,452	359	212	29	16	72	2,140
1990	1,700	534	200	24	29	56	2,543
1991	1,712	646	241	24	36	56	2,715
1992	1,639	780	187	24	57	53	2,740
1993	1,498	766	203	17	66	63	2,613
1994	1,480	793	168	17	60	53	2,571
1995	1,465	849	181	20	59	65	2,639
1996	1,539	837	172	21	60	56	1,685
1997	1,390	1,005	168	27	82	51	2,723

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the number of cases of HIV identified in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the London region in each of the years since the condition was first recorded; whether they have identified any patterns from those figures, with particular regard to means of transmission; and whether they will give details of measures being taken to bring down the number of cases in the United Kingdom. [HL5061]

Figures for reported cases of HIV infection diagnosed in the United Kingdom and in the London region are shown in the first table.

Year of diagnosis	London region	UK total
1984 or earlier*	774	1,617
1985	1,802	3,229
1986	1,618	2,767
1987	1,548	2,509
1988	1,202	1,951
1989	1,375	2,140
1990	1,636	2,543
1991	1,754	2,715
1992	1,697	2,740
1993	1,623	2,613
1994	1,584	2,571
1995	1,681	2,639
1996	1,705	2,685
1997	1,716	2,723
1998	1,760	2,799
1999	1,941	3,030
2000	2,262	3,723
2001**	2,362	4,164
Total	30,040	49,158

The second table shows the figures for UK-diagnosed HIV infections according to probable route of infection.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When questions of conscientious objection to abortion referral and contraceptive provision to under-16s were included in local audits of general practice; and who they consulted beforehand. [HL5164]

Best Practice Guidance on the Provision of Effective Contraceptive and Advice Services for Young People was issued to local teenage pregnancy co-ordinators in 2000. The guidance is a specific action point of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy and sets out the criteria by which contraceptive advice services should be commissioned and provided. This includes the provision of confidential contraceptive advice to under-16s within the established legal framework, the provision of early pregnancy testing and non-judgmental advice, and, where abortion is the agreed course, quick referral to NHS funded abortion services in line with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Evidence Based Guideline 7 (2000).In 2001 the Teenage Pregnancy Unit provided an audit questionnaire for local areas to review community contraceptive services and general practice against the

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their policy to encourage general practitioners to provide abortions or contraception to under-16s; and, if so, how they propose to do this. [HL5165]

The Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy recognises the importance of helping young people resist peer pressure to have early sex while seeking to ensure that those who are sexually active have easy access to high quality contraceptive advice. Under-16s are at particular risk of unprotected sex. Although over a quarter are sexually active, they are less likely than older teenagers to access services and use contraception. Teenagers who become pregnant often delay seeking advice from a health professional and are more likely to have late abortions and miss out on antenatal care.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which National Health Service bodies will enter into contracts with non-United Kingdom organisations to carry out operations on National Health Service patients in England; and, if any of those National Health Service bodies are strategic health authorities, how that will affect the commissioning responsibilities of primary care trusts. [HL5187]

Decisions on which National Health Service bodies will enter into these contracts are likely to depend on the exact nature of the contracts proposed. As the prospectus Growing Capacity, a new role for external healthcare providers in England notes, NHS commissioners will have a key role—working with the Department of Health—in defining their requirements from international establishment initiatives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the context of the draft Mental Health Bill, which definitions they prefer for "personality", "personality disorder", "severe personality disorder", "dangerous severe personality disorder" and "dangerous". [HL5311]

The draft Mental Health Bill does not define particular categories of mental disorder. This means that no particular clinical diagnosis will have the effect of limiting the way the powers are used. The same conditions will be used to determine whether an individual falls within the scope of the legislation whatever their diagnosis.The Government have not attempted to produce new definitions for the terms described, but would accept those in general usage and agreed clinical definitions. There is an internationally recognised classification system for personality disorder and these clinical definitions are accepted in relation to the term personality disorder where it is used in the consultation document attached to the draft Mental Health Act.The World Health Organisation and the American Psychiatric Association have produced definitions of personality disorder. The

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they have taken so far on the report of the Audit Commission, published in March 2000, on the quality of artificial limbs, surgical appliances and disability equipment services in the United Kingdom. [HL5320]

The National Health Service Purchasing and Supplies Agency (PASA) is in ongoing consultation with the industry regarding supply of disability equipment in general, which includes discussion regarding research and development. The Department of Health's Medical Devices Agency is responsible for enforcing regulations which cover safety and quality aspects of disability equipment. The agency investigates adverse incidents involving these products in conjunction with the manufacturers. Resultant design or material changes generally improve product quality.The NHS Plan set targets to integrate health and social care community equipment services and to increase by 50 per cent the number of people who can benefit from such services by 2004. A national implementation support team has been established to help local NHS and social services organisations through the transition from separate to integrated services.In relation to orthotics, PASA and others are working together to identify and resolve service problems with a view to developing improved patient outcomes and patient focussed service provision. The quality of the finish of artificial limbs has been improved by the introduction of silicone cosmesis covers, funding for which has been increased by £4 million over three years from April 2001: £30.75 million has also been invested in modernisation of hearing aid services, including the provision of high quality digital hearing aids.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the 2001–02 annual report and accounts for the Meat Hygiene Service will be laid before Parliament. [HL5491]

The 2001–02 annual report and accounts for the Meat Hygiene Service were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library, but formal printing and publication will not occur for another six to eight weeks, pending preparation of a version in Welsh as required by the Welsh Language Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the annual report and accounts of the Medicines Control Agency. [HL5493]

We have received the report and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to receive the annual report of the Medicines Commission for 2001; and whether this will be published [HL5494]

We have received the report, and copies have been laid before both Houses of Parliament today in accordance with the requirements of Section 5(2) of the Medicines Act 1968.Bound volumes have been placed in the Library containing the 2001 reports of the Medicines Commission, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the Advisory Board on the Registration of Homoeopathic Products, the British Pharmacopoeia Commission, the Independent Review Panel on Advertising, the Independent Panel for Borderline Products and the Veterinary Products Committee.We are glad to acknowledge the valuable work done by the distinguished members of the Medicines Act advisory bodies and thank them for the time and effort dedicated in the public interest to this important work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the annual report and accounts of the National Health Service Pensions Agency. [HL5495]

We have approved the annual report and accounts which have today been laid before the House of Commons in accordance with the requirements of Section 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. Copies have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the key targets for 2002–03 of the National Health Service Pensions Agency; and whether they will make an announcement over the future of the agency [HL5496]

We have agreed the agency's key targets for 2002–03, and have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses. A review of the agency will be completed by the end of this year. This will address the performance of the agency and will examine the options ("prior options") for the future of the agency.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which other member states of the European Union have enacted statutory discrimination legislation to prevent religious organisations holding a wide range of broadcasting licences. [HL5416]

We hold no information on which other member states of the European Union have legislation preventing religious organisations from holding certain broadcasting licences.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the annual report and accounts for the Centre for Management and Policy Studies. [HL5466]

Copies of the second annual report and accounts for the Centre for Management and Policy Studies for the year 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 have been placed in the Libraries of the House.The report and accounts show that financial targets have been met. The quality targets were met and in some cases exceeded. The volume targets for participants in training and development were exceeded in the aggregate.The changes to the Cabinet Office announced by Sir Andrew Turnbull, and presently being implemented in advance of his arrival in September, will have a significant effect on CMPS as an organisation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What their policy is towards the use of open source software to enable increased value for money in IT procurement across the public sector. [HL5467]

This Government are intent on securing the best value for money in their IT procurements by encouraging the development of a flourishing IT industry which supplies both proprietary and open source software solutions to the public sector. Government procurement decisions will be based on the ability of the solutions to deliver effective and economic systems and services.I am pleased to announce new policy on the use of open source software within UK Government. It explains how we will consider open source software solutions alongside proprietary ones in IT procurements and award contracts on a value for money basis, seeking to avoid lock-in to proprietary IT products and services. In addition, the UK Government will consider obtaining full rights to bespoke software code or customisations of COTS (commercial off the shelf) software they procure wherever this achieves best value for money. They will also explore further the possibilities of using OSS as the default exploitation route for government funded R&D software.The open source software policy has been formulated for use within UK Government because we seek to embrace the fast moving pace of the software industry and to acknowledge the clear potential for open source software to change the software infrastructure marketplace. It also serves as an appropriate response to the recent European Commission's action plan for the initiative

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the outcome was of the review of policy towards executive agencies. [HL5468]

The Government have published the report of the review which was jointly sponsored by the Cabinet Office and the Treasury. Pam Alexander led the review. Copies of the review's report and recommendations have been placed in the Libraries of the House.The review has far-reaching implications for improving the delivery of central government services. It concludes that the agency model has been a success in improving, and in some cases transforming, services and functions delivered by central government and has brought customer focus and a performance culture into the Civil Service. However, it finds that agencies have in some cases become detached from Ministers and from departments' increasing focus on strategic aims; controls over processes have reduced effectiveness and responsiveness without providing a shared strategic direction.The report makes 12 recommendations to achieve and maintain strategic connection and improve service delivery. These include:departmental leadership which values equally policy and delivery skills and agency management with a clear understanding of ministerial objectives;simpler governance structures providing strategic direction from departments and external challenge from non-executive directors on management boards;alignment of departmental and agency key targets and a cycle of reviews to ensure that structures and processes across departments support the achievement of key objectives; andmaximum use of financial and managerial delegations to support responsive, flexible and effective delivery.The Cabinet Office and Treasury will be working with departments to put the review's recommendations into effect over the coming months as part of the wider drive to improve the effectiveness of public services and place a culture of delivery at the heart of government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to introduce new pension arrangements for the Civil Service. [HL5469]

Under the provisions of the Superannuation Act 1972, three amendment schemes have been placed before Parliament. The first of these amends the rules of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and introduces new provisions for those joining the pension scheme on or after 1 October 2002. The second amendment scheme makes consequential changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, and the third amendment scheme removes the injury benefit provisions of the PCSPS to a separate scheme.Pension arrangements for civil servants (and those in employments and offices listed in Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972) will change on 1 October 2002. New entrants joining after that date will generally be given the choice of a final salary pension or a stakeholder pension with an employer contribution. The new arrangements are being introduced on a cost-neutral basis for employers.We recognise that pensions form a significant part of the Civil Service remuneration package, and we want civil servants to be able to choose the pension that suits them best. Today's Civil Service does not offer a job for life and is benefiting from greater interchange with other sectors at all levels within the organisation. Final salary pensions may be good for those who spend a long period with one employer, but those who change jobs frequently during their career may prefer their employer to contribute to a stakeholder pension. By giving our new staff a choice of two good quality pension alternatives we aim not only to support a more diverse Civil Service but also to raise awareness and appreciation of the value of the pension element of the pay package.The new final salary option will be known as the premium scheme. It will provide a pension based on one-sixtieth of final pensionable earnings for each year of service. Other features of the premium scheme include:option to exchange part of pension for lump sum on retirement;ill-health pensions varying in amount depending on the extent of incapacity;death-in-service lump sum of three times pay;pensions for surviving spouses of 3/8ths of the member's pension;pension payable to a surviving eligible unmarried partner if the member does not leave a spouse;pensions for children.Existing members of the PCSPS will have the option of joining the premium scheme or remaining with the current provisions (to be renamed the classic scheme). Members opting for classic will continue to earn a pension based on 1/80th of pay for each year of service, plus a retirement lump sum of three times pension. Members opting to join the premium scheme will have their past service reduced—typically to 92 per cent of its previous amount—to reflect the improved benefit structure. Members may also opt for classic plus; this option effectively provides premium scheme benefits for service from I October with service before 1 October continuing to be pensioned broadly on the classic model.We are moving to the new arrangements on a cost-neutral basis, with the entire cost of benefit improvements being met by increased contributions by members. None of the cost of the benefit improvements will fall on the taxpayer. All premium and classic plus members will pay the new contribution rate of 3.5 per cent. Members opting to remain in the classic scheme will continue to pay contributions of 1.5 per cent of pay.The stakeholder pension alternative will be known as the partnership pension account. Employees will choose their pension provider from the following panel:

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish the Government Car and Despatch Agency's (GCDA) annual report and accounts 2001–02. [HL5535]

The GCDA annual report and accounts 2001–02 has today been laid before Parliament, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what (a) general topics and (b) Bills they have sought advice of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; what was that advice; and in what ways it was acted upon. [HL4551]