asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their assessment of the accuracy of reports by the United States global intelligence firm Straffor on 8 November that Russian intelligence services are working together with pro-Russian Iraqi generals in order to oust the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein. [HL56]

We would not disclose any such assessment, as the work of the intelligence and security services is outside the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (paragraph 6, part 1).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is illegal for cyclists to cycle at night with only flashing front and rear lights; and, if so, how many prosecutions were made last year. [HL3]

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 do not permit cycles to be fitted with any lamp which automatically emits a flashing light. Cycles in use on the roads at night are required to have a front lamp which shows a steady white light, a red light to the rear and red rear retro reflector.All offences relating to bicycle lights and reflectors are classified together and cannot be broken down. In England and Wales in 2000, 275 persons were proceeded against for all such offences, 230 of whom were convicted.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many child curfews have been imposed by the courts in England and Wales. [HL19]

Between February 2001, when curfew orders with electronic monitoring were extended to 10 to 15 year-olds, and 31 October 2002 the courts imposed 2,704 orders on young offenders of that age.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will be able to reply to the representations made by the Independent Schools Council on the issue of changes in visa regulations for gap assistants. [HL44]

My honourable friend the Minister of State for Citizenship, Immigration and Community Cohesion wrote to the General Secretary of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), Mr Cooke, on 21 November.The Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate had previously written to Mr Cooke on 28 October; and officials met Mr Cooke on 6 November. At that meeting the position in relation to gap-year students who wish to enter the United Kingdom to spend a year working in independent schools was discussed. Officials will keep in contact with the ISC about this matter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What mechanism exists between the National Asylum Support Service and the Legal Services Commission as to notification of the location of dispersed asylum seekers, both those with support and accommodation and those with support only, so that the Legal Services Commission can ensure there are sufficient supplies of legal advice for the asylum seekers to access it. [HL84]

Reports are sent monthly to the Legal Services Commission which give information on the number of asylum seekers supported in National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation in each cluster area and the number in receipt of financial support only, broken down by region.

asked Her Majesty's Government:At what point all cases that are similar to, but not included in, the

The Roth litigation, a legal challenge against the provisions contained in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 that allow penalties to be imposed on carriers for transporting clandestine entrants to the United Kingdom, was settled in October of this year. The settlement was between the Home Office and the litigants and sets no precedent for other cases where penalties have been imposed under the same regime.The findings of the Court of Appeal in the

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Harmondsworth detention removal centre contains asylum applicants whose cases have not been finally decided; if so, how many and why; whether there are still some 45 children under 18 in this centre; and what provision is made for their education. [HL178]

Detention is most usually appropriate to effect removal, initially to establish a person's identity or basis of claim, or where there is reason to believe that the person will fail to comply with any conditions attached to the grant of temporary admission or release. It necessarily follows therefore that there will be asylum applicants detained at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre whose cases have not been finally decided.The most recent published statistics indicate that, as at 29 June 2002, there were 385 persons detained at Harmondsworth who were recorded as having claimed asylum at some stage. Information about which of these cases had not been finally decided is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by an examination of individual case files.As at 21 November there were 10 children under 18 detained as part of family groups at Harmondsworth.Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre is managed and operated on behalf of the Immigration Service by UK Detention Services Ltd. The contractor makes provision for education for school-aged children and employs suitably qualified staff as managers of education. The profile and numbers of children at the centre changes from day to day. Education provision needs therefore to be sufficiently flexible to cater for the needs of a variable number of children of variable ages and abilities. A programme of modular education concentrates on numeracy and literacy and the national curriculum, taking into account the diverse needs of the children who pass through the centre.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much money has been spent by the Cabinet Office on external consulting contracts in each of the years since 1996–97. [HL79)

I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer given in another place to the Member for 13uckingham by my honourable friend the Member for Shipley on 26 March 2002 (Official Report: col. 815W).The total cost to the Cabinet Office and the Central Office of Information for the use of consultants in the financial year 2001–02 is £16,875,000.This increase in expenditure in 2001–02 reflects work on such studies as broadband research, international e-economy benchmarking, and e-security and authentication. Other Cabinet Office consultancy spend is on research and IT developments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What role victims, or relatives of victims, of transport accidents have in preventing, delaying or authorising the reinstatement of infrastructure damaged in the accident in respect of (a) the road network; and (b) the rail network. [HL245]

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of the Fire Service in England and Wales are (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minorities. [HL76]

The following is the information as at 31 March 2002:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 7 November (

Parliament has determined that a citizen may vote in a by-election held to fill a casual vacancy and in an ordinary election held on the same day in separate local authorities, if they are registered to vote in both areas concerned. The Government generally believe, on grounds of equity, that it would be wrong, if some electors were able to vote twice on the same day at elections held in separate local authorities, but believe it is pragmatic to allow citizens to vote if one or both are by-elections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the fact that a citizen who is registered to vote in two local authorities may not vote in elections held in more than one local authority on the same day breaches the principle of no taxation without representation. [HL111]

The Government generally believes it would be wrong if some electors were able to vote twice on the same day at the same election. This would not be equitable since it would allow electors able to register in more than one location to have more voting rights than those who do not.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy towards the procurement of open-source as opposed to proprietary software; and what proportion of software procured for use by (a) central government, (b) local government and (c) the public sector is from open-source sources. [HL1]

The 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 made on a value for money basis, based on the ability of the solutions to deliver effective and economic systems and services and seeking to avoid lock-in to proprietary IT products and services.No information is held centrally concerning the proportion of open-source software procured for use by central and local government and the public sector. Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to take any action in response to the reported statement by the Chairman of the Convention on the Future of Europe that the admission of Turkey to the European Union would mark the end of the European Union. [HL57]

M Giscard d'Estaing is entitled to express his personal thoughts on the admission of Turkey to the European Union. This does not, however, reflect the views of this Government. We believe Turkey's accession to the EU would be in the best interests of Britain and indeed Europe as a whole. We have repeatedly made clear that we want to see Turkey in the EU in accordance with. the conditions that all candidates have to meet.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What practical support they will be offering to gain backing for the United Nations Secretary-General's proposals for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. [HL58]

On 11 November my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary issued a statement warmly welcoming the UN Secretary-General's decision to table his proposals for bridging the remaining gaps after the months of negotiations between the two sides. He said that the British Government believe that there is now the best chance to solve the Cyprus problem in decades, and that this opportunity is not likely to recur in the foreseeable future. We will be working with all those concerned for a positive outcome.We have been making this case at all levels. The UK will maintain close contact with all the main parties, both at ministerial level, through diplomatic channels and through the work of our High Commission in Nicosia, to support the efforts of the UN. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary met George Papandreou on 8 November and both my right honourable friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met Greek and Turkish leaders last week. My honourable friend the Minister of State for Europe met Ioannis Kasoulides, the Cyprus Foreign Minister, on 26 November. Negotiations for a settlement of the Cyprus problem were discussed at all of these meetings.Lord Hannay, the UK Special Representative for Cyprus, also travelled to Athens, Nicosia and Ankara last week to meet key players in the negotiations for a settlement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimated population of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; and how many of this population will have to be re-settled on the basis of each of the two maps in the present United Nations proposals for the future constitution for Cyprus. [HL118]

The British Government welcome the UN Secretary-General's decision to table proposals to bridge the gaps between the two sides in Cyprus. The UN Secretary-General has asked that the specifics of the negotiations between the two sides are not openly discussed.We estimate the total population living in the north of Cyprus is approximately 200,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the "Prestige" oil tanker, in distress off the Galicia coast of Spain, was sailing to Gibraltar; and what advice has been given to the Government of Spain; [HL120]

The company that chartered "Prestige" has stated categorically that the vessel was not going to call in at Gibraltar but was going to Singapore via the Straits of Gibraltar. The records of the Gibraltar Port Authority also indicate that no notification of an intention to call had been made to the "Prestige".We have made this clear to both the Spanish Government and the European Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the visits made in January, February and May by officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and security services to the seven or more British citizens detained without trial by the United States at Camp X-ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; whether these men were in good mental and physical health; when they are expected to be released, or whether they are suspected of war crimes or other offences; if so, when they will be charged; and by whom. [HL125]

I refer the noble Lord to the statement made by my honourable friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office (Mr Ben Bradshaw) in another place on 21 January (Official Report, col. 623) and his reply to my honourable friend Mr John Robertson in another place on 4 March (col. 69W) and to the answer given by my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office (Mr Mike O'Brien) to my honourable friend Christine Russell in another place on 13 June (col. 69W). The purpose of the visits was to ask questions relating to the identity, nationality and welfare of the detainees as well as questions relating to national security.'We continue to discuss the circumstances of the British detainees with the US regularly, to press the US as regards the future of the detainees and to encourage the US administration to move forward with the process of deciding how to deal with them. We have not been informed that any of the detainees now held at Guantanamo Bay has so far been charged with any offence by the US. The question of whether the British detainees might face criminal charges and prosecution in the UK is for the police and the prosecuting authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will call upon the Government of Hungary to repeal Law LXXXXIV 2001 [PA 153] on the grounds that it may discriminate against minority religions and be incompatible with membership of the European Union. [HL131]

We have made no representations to the Government of Hungary or any other government or international body concerning Law LXXIV, 2001 (PA 153), "Amendments of certain legislation regulating financial affairs", amending law CXXIV of 1997. We do not believe the law to be incompatible either with EU membership or with Hungary's obligations towards minority religions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What work the British Council has done or plans to do which is targeted at people over:50. [HL 135]

The British Council recognises the value of older people in society. Examples of its work with this age group include a programme in Tanzania to help improve conditions for pensioners there and one to connect UK and Japanese organisations tackling the problems of an ageing population.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussion they have had on reported NATO proposals for pre-emptive military strikes against suspected terrorists without prior approval or consent from the state in question; and how such strikes can be reconciled with existing international law and the desirable global rule of law. [HL176]

At the Prague Summit, NATO leaders approved a package of measures to strengthen the alliance's ability to meet the security challenges of the 21st century. They reiterated their determination to protect our populations, territory and forces from any armed attack, including terrorist attack, directed from abroad, in accordance with the Washington. Treaty and the Charter of the United Nations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the conference to launch the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missiles. [HL261]

The United Kingdom subscribed to the International Code of Conduct (ICOC) against Ballistic Missiles at its launch in The Hague on 25 November. Her Majesty's Government will be represented at the launch by the Member for North Warwickshire, Mike O'Brien, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.The ICOC is a politically binding agreement designed to tackle the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. It does so by promoting transparency and confidence building among states. It consists of principles, commitments and confidence-building measures. It will establish international norms for the first time in the area of ballistic missiles. The code will complement the existing range of international instruments against WMD.The non-proliferation commitments in the code include a commitment not to contribute to, support or assist any ballistic missile programme in countries which might be developing or acquiring weapons of mass destruction in contravention of international obligations; also to exercise vigilance in assistance to space launch vehicle programmes, given that these can be used to conceal ballistic missile programmes. The code also calls for maximum possible restraint in the development, testing and deployment of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.The confidence-building and transparency measures are designed to promote confidence through information sharing, in the form of both pre-launch notifications and annual declarations about ballistic missile and space launch programmes. The aim is to boost confidence for instance that space launch vehicle programmes are not being used as cover for ballistic missile programmes.The code represents a significant step forward for the international community in the area of arms control—in this case, the control of one of the delivery systems of choice for weapons of mass destruction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the London Conference on Organised Crime in South-Eastern Europe held at Lancaster House on 25 November 2002. [HL0275]

A successful ministerial Conference on Organised Crime in South-Eastern Europe, hosted by the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary, was held on 25 November in Lancaster House.Fifty-seven delegations including all EU member states and the European Commission attended as well as the five countries of the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) and other countries from south-eastern Europe and beyond.The conference noted that the serious impact of organised crime in the region is felt far beyond its borders, including the EU. The conference agreed a wide range of actions to tackle the problem effectively. The focus was on meeting European standards, building wide public support for the necessary measures, and improving regional co-operation.Each of the countries of the region additionally announced a number of areas of priority action in the fight against organised crime. These actions are both specific and measurable.The UK, in full co-operation with EU, international and regional partners will now work to ensure the implementation of these actions. The incoming Greek EU Presidency set out a series of specific actions against crime to be carried out in the first half of 2003. The Greek Presidency has called a summit meeting next June to review progress.The conference was an important step forward in the effort to defeat organised crime in south-eastern Europe.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will state their future plans for the Watchtree site in Cumbria; and particularly whether it should be permanently closed for disposal of animal carcasses or other waste. [HL0075]

DEFRA is currently in the process of restoring the Watchtree site to a range of natural habitats and intends to manage the site to enhance its nature conservation value. The department has indicated that it does not intend to use mass burial as a carcass disposal route in any future outbreak but is committed to managing the existing sites, including Watchtree, for as long as is necessary in relation to any risks to the environment or public health. The department is currently reviewing the plans for each mass burial site where carcasses are buried, including their possible use for contingency purposes and will announce its proposals in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Nigerian Government imposed an import ban in August on United Kingdom dark chicken meat; and, if so, whether this is a temporary or long-term ban. [HL217]

I have received no notice from either the Nigerian authorities or the British High Commissions in Lagos and Abuja of a ban on the import into Nigeria of dark chicken meat.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will use the European Union approved blood test for the testing of badgers in the Krebs trial. [HL220]

There is no European Union (EU) approved blood test for ascertaining whether badgers have bovine TB. The presence of bovine TB in badgers culled in the Krebs trial is determined by post mortem examination and the bacteriological culture of tissue samples.In July 2002 the EU officially recognised the gamma-interferon blood test for diagnosing bovine TB in cattle, but only for use as a supplement to the standard TB skin test. A pilot project to assess the effectiveness of the gamma interferon blood test and extra severe interpretation of the existing skin test in

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of the 31,261 trainee teachers are men; and how this proportion breaks down between those undertaking primary education courses (14,476) and those undertaking secondary education courses (16,785). [HL 116]

Provisional results of the Teacher Training Agency's survey of initial teacher training providers in England show that, in 2002–03, 13 per cent of the recruits to primary teacher training courses and 38 per cent of the recruits to secondary teacher training courses were men.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What changes are proposed to the Department for Work and Pensions expenditure limit and administration costs limit. [HL299]

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the Department for Work and Pensions departmental expenditure limit will be increased by £728,123,000 from £7,024,051,000 to £7,752,174,000 and the administration cost limit by £561,526,000 from £4,996,673,000 to £5,558,199,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are set out in the following tables:of the 2001–02 Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (