asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide details of the Prime Minister's visits in an official capacity to the countryside of the United Kingdom since 1997. [HL5823]

The Prime Minister undertakes visits to all parts of the country, including the countryside. The Prime Minister visited Suffolk on 30 May 2002 and spent part of his holiday in the Lake District in August.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What level of security checks are currently being carried out on all staff in the Northern Ireland Office who have access to sensitive political information; and how these checks conform with those for staff in the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Defence. [HL5847]

Staff employed in the Northern Ireland Office are vetted, on grounds of national security, to the levels deemed appropriate in accordance with the policy set out in the then Prime Minister's Statement of 15 December 1994 (Hansard cols WA 764–66).Those NIO staff who are members of the Home Civil Service are vetted under the same arrangements as staff in other UK government departments, including the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Defence. Those staff who are members of the NICS on secondment to the NIO are vetted under broadly analogous local procedures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have been contacted by the United Nations Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders following the views expressed by Ms Inez McCormack about Lord Laird on 8 April, as recorded in the minutes of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [HL5866]

Her Majesty's Government have not been contacted by the United Nations Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Ms Hina Jilani, following the views expressed by Ms Inez McCormack about Lord Laird on 8 April, as recorded in the minutes of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the annual report of the commissioner appointed under Section 57 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 will be laid before the House. [HL6321]

A copy of the report for 2001 by the right honourable Sir Swinton Thomas has been laid before the House today in accordance with Section 58(6) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with Section 58(7) of the Act and in accordance with the commissioner's recommendations. Sir Swinton was originally appointed commissioner in April 2000 under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, continuing in the role from 2 October 2000 under Section 57 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. This is his second report and the Prime Minister is grateful to him for all his work as commissioner.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the annual report of the commissioner appointed under Section 59(1) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 will be laid before the House. [HL6322]

A copy of the annual report for 2001 by the right honourable Lord Justice Simon Brown has been laid before the House today in accordance with Section 60(4) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with Section 60(5) of the Act and in line with the commissioner's recommendation.Lord Justice Simon Brown has served as Commissioner for the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service and Government Communications Headquarters since his appointment on 1 April 2002 under the Security Service Act 1989 and the Intelligence Services Act 1994. Since 2 October 2000 his role has continued as Intelligence Services Commissioner by virtue of Section 59(1) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. This is his second report and the Prime Minister is very grateful to him for all his work as commissioner.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they intend to bring forward to raise the density of new housing developments in London and the South East. [HL6302]

In the Deputy Prime Minister's parliamentary Statement of 18 July on sustainable communities he announced the Government's intentions for tackling the housing shortage in London and the South East. The Statement explained that the Government expect the housing numbers already agreed in regional planning guidance for the South East to be delivered, working within the presumption of making better use of land by improving design, increasing densities and using brownfield sites to the full. In the Statement, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that he would intervene in planning applications for housing that involve a density of fewer than 30 dwellings per hectare net.The Town and Country Planning (Residential Density) (London and the South East England) Direction 2002 is published today, which gives effect to this announcement. From 2 December local planning authorities in London and the South East will have to consult the Deputy Prime Minister before giving planning permission for low density housing developments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they propose to include crack cocaine in Sections 8 and 9 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, in accordance with Section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. [HL61431]

Further to the reply I gave the noble Baroness on 24 September 2002, Official Report (cols. WA216) a public consultation exercise on the notes of guidance is currently underway and due to finish in mid-November.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the Commission for Racial Equality is under a duty to ensure that its policy is compatible with the policy pursued by the Secretary of State for the Home Department; if so, what is the source and scope of the duty; and what are the means by which it is imposed upon the chair and other members of the Commission. [HL6068]

:The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) has a statutory duty to work towards the elimination of discrimination; to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups generally; and to keep under review the working of the Race Relations Act 1976 and submit proposals for amending it.As a non-departmental public body (NDPB) the CRE operates at arms length from government. However, the policy and resource framework is agreed with Ministers who remain accountable to Parliament for the work and efficiency of the Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the meeting of the European Union-Russia

The EU-Russia ad hoc working group on sustainable development has not yet held a meeting. The EU emphasised its importance at the 7th EU-Russia Cooperation Committee on 23 October and is currently still working to establish a date for a meeting in 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their latest estimate of the security and humanitarian situation in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo; what reports of ethnic cleansing they have received: and what bilateral and multilateral response they are making, especially in preventing genocide. [HL5970]

The security and humanitarian situation remains serious as a result of ethnic clashes and fighting between rebel groups. We initiated a UN Security Council Presidential Declaration which expressed grave concern at the situation in Ituri. We also instigated an EU Presidential Declaration expression concern and calling for the UNSC to consider reviewing the mandate of MONUC and increasing its monitoring presence in Ituri.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, following the hanging of Mr Hamzeh Ghaderi, a member of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, on 7 October, their "constructive dialogue" with Iran includes pleas for clemency towards 10 other members of the same party under sentence of death. [HL5999]

Her Majesty's Government oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and urge all states to abolish the death penalty. We and the EU continue to make clear our views on this subject to the Iranian Government at every opportunity. We raise with the Iranian authorities specific cases which breach the international minimum standards relating to the death penalty.The EU agreed on 21 October to establish an EU-Iran human rights dialogue with the hope that such a dialogue will bring about concrete improvements in respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran. The dialogue has been established without preconditions, and benchmarks for assessing its progress are expected to refer,

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received legal advice on the lawfulness of making war on Iraq without a specific United Nations mandate; and, if so, whether they will publish it. [HL6003]

It has been the longstanding policy of successive governments not to disclose internal policy advice, including legal advice (exempt under Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, "information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion"). As we have repeatedly made clear, no decision to launch military action had been taken and military action is not inevitable. The Government's view of the legal position was recently set out to the Foreign Affairs Committee and can be found in the FAC's 20 June 2002 report on the Foreign Policy Aspects of the War Against Terrorism.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is being taken under the auspices of the G8 Africa Action Plan to support Africa's own efforts to achieve peace and security in Sudan; and [H L6036]What additional support the G8 leaders meeting in Kananaskis this year committed to efforts to bring peace to Sudan. [HL6037]

Peace and security is an essential prerequisite for development in Africa and consequently it has a high place on the agenda of the G8 Africa Action Plan. The plan included a commitment to provide additional support to African efforts to resolve the principal armed conflicts on the continent, including the long-running conflict in Sudan. In support of this commitment, we are working with the US, Norway and Italy in support of the Inter-Governmental Authority of Development (IGAD) efforts to broker a peace agreement and a comprehensive ceasefire between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. We are also working with the UN, the World Bank and others, including the EU, on plans for post-conflict reconstruction, dealing with Sudan's debt, and developing a poverty reduction strategy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have Ukrainian Government about assassination attempt on, and without charge of, Konstantin Grigorishin. [HL6066]

Mr Grigorishin is a Russian citizen and has not approached the British Embassy for support. He was released from detention on 20 October.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have made an assessment of the current threat to British institutions and nationals in Sudan from global terrorism. [HL6035]

The terrorist threat to British interests world-wide is kept under constant review and was most recently revised following the terrorist attack in Bali and statements made by Al'Qaeda. This latest world-wide review included the threat to British institutions and nationals in Sudan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to give powers to local authorities to deal with odour nuisance from sewers and sewage treatment works. [HL6300]

We shall shortly issue a consultation document setting out the available options by which we can achieve practical ways to deal with the problems of odour nuisance from public sewers and sewage treatment works. The possibility of giving appropriate powers to local authorities will be considered as part of the consultation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 3 July (

As in most other EU and OECD countries, the UK faces the challenge of an ageing population over the coming decades. However, the UK's population is ageing less rapidly than that of many other EU member states.The UK is also in a good position to deal with these challenges. Current Government policies are fiscally sustainable over the long term. The

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much additional revenue would be raised if tax relief on private pension contributions were restricted to 22 per cent; and how much this sum would on average increase the state pension. [HL6159]

Due to the uncertainty of behavioural responses resulting from such changes, no estimates are available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What number and percentage of people aged over state pension age pay (a) no tax; (b) tax at the lower rate; (c) tax at the basic rate; and (d) tax at the higher rate; and whether they can provide similar figures for 2001–2,1997–8 and 1993–4. [HL6160]

The number and percentage of people aged over state pension age by tax bracket is given in the table.