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

Food Safety Promotion Board staff are employed in the Republic of Ireland, where there is no requirement under legislation to monitor the religious breakdown of these staff.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many full-time permanent employees there were in each cross-border body set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, taking the Irish Agency and the Ulster Scots Agency separately, currently and for the year 2000 and the year 2001. [HL139]

The information requested, which relates to the numbers of permanent full-time staff (whole-time equivalents) employed in cross-border bodies currently and for the years 2000 and 2001 is as follows:

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

The North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (NI) Order 1999 provides that the implementation bodies may, for such as their staff as they determine with the approval of the North-South Ministerial Council and the Finance Ministers, pay such pensions, allowance or gratuities, or provide and maintain such pension schemes, as may be so determined.Currently the chief executives of the bodies are working towards a common pension scheme for the employees of the bodies and themselves, and it is anticipated that the scheme rules will be agreed by early in 2003. The appointment of a pension scheme administrator, to be selected through open competition, is expected to take place soon thereafter, with a view to the scheme commencing later in the year it is proposed that the provisions of the scheme will apply retrospectively to all staff, and will not be less favourable then those enjoyed under existing schemes. Such arrangements will require the approval of NS MC and the two Finance Ministers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 November (

There does not appear to be sufficient evidence to justify a review across the Northern Ireland departments at present. The Northern Ireland Civil Service will, however, be following the outcome of recent events to establish whether some form of review would be justified.

asked her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 November (

Expertise in specific languages is not among the core competencies which are required of general administrative staff in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

asked her Majesty's Government:Whether the two parts of the Language Implementation Body, as an international body set up under the Belfast Agreement o f 1998, have an equal relationship with the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and its counterpart in the Government of the Irish Republic. [HL185]

The relationship between the North/South Language Body, comprised of Foras Na Gaeilge and Tha Boord of Ulster-Scotch, and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is determined by the North/South Implementation Bodies Agreement of 8 March 1999, and by the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999, which incorporated the provisions of that agreement with the domestic law of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland respectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the allowance granted to those members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board who are also Members of the Legislative Assembly has been increased by £10,000 per annum. [HL187]

The Northern Ireland Policing Board was reconstituted following suspension of the devolved administration on 14 October. Prior to this, the 10 board members who are also Members of the Assembly had received no remuneration for their work on the board; they were then in receipt of full salary from the Assembly. Under their terms of appointment they will receive remuneration up to the level of £12,000 per annum, abated to take account of any reduced salary drawn from the Assembly. The level of remuneration will be calculated on the basis that it, plus the reduced salary, does not exceed the Assembly salary prior to suspension.

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

In accordance with the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, each implementation body will, with the approval of NSMC and the two Finance Ministers, determine the remuneration, grading, numbers and other conditions of service of the chief executive and other staff of the body. Job descriptions, grading and remuneration are determined by each body and are agreed with the sponsor departments of each administration prior to referral to Finance Ministers and NSMC for approval.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 November concerning a North/South Ministerial Council (WA171–172), whether the reference to the administration in the North refers to Donegal County Council, which administers the most northerly part of the island of Ireland; if not, what part of the Answer covers the northern part of the island; and what is the appropriate title for that part of the island. [HL264]

The Written Answer referred to by the noble Lord contains a reference to "administrations, North and South". In that context the reference relates to the administration in Northern Irleand and the administration in the Republic of Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 November (WA167–170), whether Tourism Ireland is an implementation body; if not, why it was included in the Written Answer; under what legislation it was set up; what its relationship is to the cross-border implementation bodies; and whether it is a government agency. [HL256]

Tourism Ireland Limited (TIL) is not an implementation body. Following the decision of NSMC that tourism would be an area of co-operation within the remit of the North/South Ministrial Council, TIL was established as a publicly-owned limited company under companies legislation in the Republc of Ireland to discharge that function. The Memorandum and Articles of Association of TIL were subsequntly approved by NSMC in October 2000. TIL has no formal relationship with the implementation bodies, but is linked to the NSMC through its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The previous Written Question asked about cross-Border bodies set up under the provisions of Strand 2 of the Belfast Agreement, and although TIL is not an implementation body it was included in the Answer because it is a body operating on a cross-Border basis and it was set up under the agreement. TIL is not a government agency.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 November (WA121–122), whether the community background information sought is available anywhere; and, if so where. [HL267]

No; information on community background of members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is contained in the Seventh Report of the Equal Opportunities Unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel but is not disaggregated at this level.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the 72 recommendations contained in a strategic review of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, published in February 2000, have been carried out; whether sufficient funds have been made available; and if not fully implemented, when they will be. [HL285]

The department accepted 69 of the 71 recommendations contained in this report. Many of the recommendations require ongoing work and, to date six have been implemented in full. Good progress is being made on the other recommendations with priority given to fleet replacement and improved communications. Additional resources of over £12 million have been made available to date and the speed at which the plan will he fully implemented will be determined by the availability of future funding.

asked Her Majesty's Governemnt:What is the average age and mileage of the current fleet of ambulances in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service; and how this average compares with the normally expected age and mileage for ambulances in England. [HL286]

At 31 October 2002, the average age of the NIAS Accident and Emergency (A&E) fleet was four years and the average mileage 104,000. UK guidelines for ambulance fleet replacement stipulates a replacement cycle for A&E vehicles of seven years or 140,000 miles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many boarders there are at each of the schools in Northern Ireland which enrol boarders. [HL304]

The information requested is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What public funds have been allocated by the Northern Ireland Film Commission to each film it has supported during the past two years. [HL345]

The Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission has provided the figures given below. These refer to the last three years as payments to productions occurred across three financial years. The source of these funds was the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total cost of providing for the presence of the Northern Ireland Film Commission at the last Cannes Film Festival. [HL344]

The total cost of providing for the presence of the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission at the Cannes Film Festival and Market in May 2002 was £14,977.62.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions the Director of Public Prosecutions has reached following his review of the handling by the CPS of the Damilola Taylor murder trial. [HL529]

The Director of Public Prosecutions has made public today his summary of his findings in relation to the handling by the CPS of the prosecution following the murder of Damilola Taylor. His overall conclusion is that the initial decision to charge the accused was correct and that to carry on with the case as various new factors emerged between charge and trial was, based on the evidence available, the right thing to do. There would have been grounds for strong criticism of the prosecution if it had failed to put the evidence before a judge and jury for trial. I have placed a copy of the summary of the DPP's findings in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.The Director of Public Prosecutions also examined at my request whether it might now be desirable to allow prosecutors direct access to witnesses in order for their credibility to be assessed. Following his initial findings, I have decided to issue a consultation paper in the new year, which will enable the public, the police, the legal profession and the judiciary to express their views.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much money has been expended from public funds to meet the costs of the introduction of the cup and cone device for MK1 rolling stock which has now been abandoned. [HL332]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertook research into the option of using a cup and cone safety device as a way to prolong the safe running of mark 1 rolling stock. The HSE's total research and development costs into the crashworthiness of mark 1 rolling stock between 1996 and 1999, which includes the cup and cone safety device, was approximately £1.5 million. No public funds were subsequently provided to train operators for fitment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What training is provided for senior civil servants to enable them to understand the role and procedures of both Houses of Parliament. [HL343]

The Cabinet Office provides a wide range of training for civil servants at all levels on the role and procedures of both Houses of Parliament. Full details are available on the internet at www.cmps.gov.ukSpecific training is provided for bill teams and for new senior recruits to the Senior Civil Service. Parliamentary procedures are covered as part of their induction programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 do not permit cycles to be fitted with any lamp which automatically emits a flashing light; and whether they will consider changing these regulations to allow cyclists to use them legally; and [HL352]Given that some cyclists prefer to use lamps which automatically emit a flashing light in contravention of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, whether there are safety advantages to such lamps. [HL353]

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 do not allow cyclists to use flashing lamps for historical reasons. Flashing lamps have traditionally been used to attract extra attention to a vehicle and are not permitted on vehicles that are simply proceeding forwards in the normal way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 2 December (

The bids for the PPP contracts have been the subject of a full value for money evaluation by London Transport and its advisers. On the basis of that evaluation, the modernisation plans are expected to generate a cash saving of £2 billion over the first 15 years of the contracts, compared with the cost of doing the work entirely in the public sector, as represented by the traditionally funded public sector comparator.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimated number of Greek Orthodox, Latins, Maronites and Anglicans living within Turkish North Cyprus; and [HL297]What is the estimated number of (a) Greek Cypriots living in the Karpaz Peninsula of Northern Cyprus; (b) Turkish Cypriots living in (i) Larnaca and (ii) Pafos in Southern Cyprus; (c) Turkish Cypriots living in Kokkina in Northern Cyprus and (d) Maronites living in Northern Cyprus. [HL298]

Specific figures are a matter for the Cypriot authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the Science Budget allocations 2003–04 to 2005–06. [HL528]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has today announced the allocations of the Science Budget for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06, following the announcement in July this year by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the outcome of the spending review. The spending review reaffirmed this Government's commitment to a healthy and vibrant science and engineering base at the heart of the life of the nation. The Science Budget, already growing at an average of about 7 per cent in real terms year on year, will now accelerate to a growth rate of 10 per cent real terms year on year.Details of the allocations are set out in a document I am publishing today,

asked Her Majesty's Government:What financial support they have provided to the Morley Gallery at Morley College in Westminster Bridge Road during each of the years 1997–2002; and what their response would be to any threat of closure by the board of governors. [HL301]

Funding for Morley College, which includes Morley Gallery, is the operational responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council. John Harwood, the council's chief executive, will write to the noble Lord providing the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport welcomes the opportunity galleries such as this provide for students and others to display their works. However, decisions on funding for the gallery are for the board of governors of Morley College in the light of their educational priorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they did not consult the representative bodies of local authorities before announcing their proposed reforms to tackle delays in discharging older people from hospital; and [HL46]

The bodies representing local government and directors of social services have been key stakeholders in the development of the policy on social services reimbursing the National Health Service for delays that are their responsibility. Both they and their members had an opportunity to comment on the proposals that were issued for consultation in July. Subsequently, they have both been involved in regular stakeholder meetings and, in the case of the Local Government Association, put their views direct to Ministers.The announcement of an additional £100 million per full year for three years for social services to tackle delayed discharges demonstrates that the Government do listen to their views and the views of others. However, we believe that a system of reimbursement is the right way to tackle the problem and will give health and social care communities the right incentives to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether non-smokers, particularly those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, face risks from passive smoking; and what plans they have to change the situation, and [HL195]Further to the

Passive smoking is dangerous, particularly to those suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions. We encourage all employers to introduce smoke-free work places. We recognise that this is not always going to be possible and encourage in these circumstances other measures to be taken to reduce people's exposure to smoke.This year the Department of Health is funding local tobacco control alliances across England to carry out projects in close co-operation with local employers to tackle passive smoking and to increase the number of smoke-free environments. These projects vary in nature from the production of smoke free guides to pubs and restaurants to the provision of advice and support to managers wishing to introduce policies. We hope that many will be suitable for national application.The Secretary of State for Health will make and lay before Parliament shortly regulations to transpose into United Kingdom law the European Union Directive on the Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco Products. These regulations will require tobacco products to carry larger and starker health warnings, on both the front and back of the packet. A list of warnings to be displayed on cigarette packets has been agreed at Community level and the warnings will be rotated regularly from a list of approved warnings. The dangers of passive smoking are highlighted in the new warnings which include, "Smoking seriously harms you and others around you", and, "Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke." Article 11 of the directive requires the European Commission to produce a report on the application of this directive by no later than 31 December 2004. The Government consider that the wording of health warnings may be reviewed in the context of this report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the expected financial outcome for National Health Service Professionals for 2002–03; and [HL236]Whether any central money has been made available to National Health Service Professionals during 2002–03; and, if so, how much. [HL237]

In 2002–03, NHS Professionals was allocated £2 million to support roll out. The Government are committed to the delivery of NHS Professionals as a long-term investment to achieve a national approach to temporary staffing, raising standards, reducing costs and improving working lives of temporary healthcare professionals across the country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether National Health Service providers are obliged to use the services of National Health Service Professionals if they wish to hire agency nurses. [HL238]

The aim is that NHS Professionals will be used by all National Health Service organisations as the primary supplier of all temporary staffing requirements for the NHS with, as and when necessary, contracts agreed with commercial agencies to meet any surplus demand.NHS Professionals is a locally delivered service based on national standards to ensure that temporary staff have fair and supportive employment conditions that give staff security and the confidence to build a career in the NHS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many hospital consultants are currently under suspension; and what proportion of the total this represents. [HL280]

There are 32 doctors currently under suspension. Of these, 26 (81 per cent) are hospital consultants. This represents 0.0011 per cent of the total number of consultants.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions are taking place with strategic health authorities to determine whether the additional funds intended for hospices are reaching the front line services; and what action is contemplated if shortfalls are established or suspected. [HL281]

Ministers have asked the National Cancer Director to work with the National Health Service and the voluntary sector to develop proposals for a new approach to specialist palliative care funding. The joint NHS and voluntary sector working group set up by the Director is charged to ensure delivery of the pledge in the NHS Cancer Plan to increase investment in specialist palliative care by £50 million by 2004 and to develop a mechanism to secure long term funding and planning. Representatives from strategic health authorities (StHAs) are members of the working group.To support this initiative the Secretary of State for Health has made available an extra £10 million for specialist palliative care services, including hospices, in 2002–03. This funding has been distributed to primary care trusts (PCTs) with clear instructions that it must be spent on specialist palliative care. Strategic health authorities have been asked to ensure joint NHS and voluntary sector agreement to the use of the money. Strategic health authorities are required to authorise investment and outturn reports from PCTs which demonstrate appropriate use of this additional resource.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish figures for the actual spending on cancer services funded under allocations announced under the Cancer Plan for the financial year 2001–02. [HL312]

An additional £255 million was made available to health authorities for cancer services in 2001–02. We know that all areas invested in cancer services in that period. The National Cancer Director, Professor Mike Richards, is working with chief executives of strategic health authorities to ensure that the money allcoated for cancer services this year and next year gets through to cancer services and that Cancer Plan targets are met.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they believe that county councils such as Cumbria County Council which have been seriously affected by foot and mouth disease should seek to establish a forum in which the public sector agencies covering environment and health would meet on an annual and more frequent basis; and [HL70]Whether they believe that, where appropriate, county councils such as Cumbria County Council which have been seriously affected by foot and mouth disease should build on the foot and mouth disease task force model and create similar, but smaller, groups to help take forward initiatives related to the county's post-foot and mouth disease recovery and regeneration; and [HL71]Whether in counties seriously affected by foot and mouth disease they will encourage the relevant development agencies and county councils to build on existing initiatives to establish an intensive programme of regional economic monitoring that will provide the detailed up-to-date data necessary to allow business support initiatives to be targeted to the needs of economic regeneration; and [HL101]Whether they will encourage county councils in counties seriously affected by foot and mouth disease to build on the work of the Restriction Review Team to establish regular meetings between responsible bodies and key stakeholders to develop methods and policies to protect and enhance countryside access. [HL103]

It is for individual county councils, in partnership with regional development agencies and other regional and local partners, to decide how best to take forward the continuing recovery from the effects of the foot and mouth outbreak, including countryside access. I welcome the example which has recently been set by the Cumbria County Council and North West Development Agency in creating the Cumbria Rural Action Zone arrangements for coordinating and monitoring a major programme of rural regeneration in the county.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the

Since April 2002 checklists have been distributed and fully implemented in all government departments listed in the report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the

All government departments have an appointed person who works as an initial departmental contact for rural issues.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which departments were unable to arrange for the chairman of the Countryside Agency to meet the Secretary of State in connection with the

Since the publication of the Rural Proofing 2001–02 report, the chairman of the Countryside Agency has met with either Secretaries of State or Ministers from all departments with which meetings were requested.Arrangements have also been put in place for the chair of the Countryside Agency to go with the Minister of State for Rural Affairs to meet other departments and consider their view of rural areas.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in implementing rural proofing region by region. [HL324]

Considerable progress has been made in Government Offices for the Regions, with all eight (outside London) taking steps to implement rural proofing. Since April Defra and the Countryside Agency have worked with the Government Office Defra Directors to define the Government Office rural proofing tasks and priorities, and to produce a rural proofing checklist tailored to Government Office needs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 24 September (WA251), whether tables 5.1 to 5.5 in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs departmental report for 2002 have yet been reissued in corrected form. [HL318]

No, tables 5.1 to 5.5 of Defra's departmental report for 2002 have not yet been reissued. This is because reloading of our data on central databases has taken longer than expected since it involved major restructuring of the data. This has proved to be a complex process. We are working to issue revised data as soon as we are satisfied it is correct.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they keep records of owners using the Pet Travel Scheme; and whether these records include the names, addresses and details of the owners and their pets. [HL334]

A person accompanying an animal entering England under the Pet Travel Scheme is required to complete a declaration that the animal has not been outside any of the scheme's qualifying countries in the previous six months. This form records the animal's microchip number, the name and address in the UK of a person accompanying it and, if entering this country by car, the registration number. Copies of this form are retained by Defra.Local veterinary inspectors and animal health offices also retain copies of Pet Travel Scheme veterinary certification issued in the UK. This contains the microchip number and the breed and colour of the animal, as well as the name and address of the owner or keeper of the animal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the event of an outbreak of rabies, they are satisfied that the records of owners and their pets using the Pet Travel Scheme would enable them to track down any pet suspected of bringing in the disease. [HL335]

The rules of the Pet Travel Scheme are intended to minimise the risk of a pet cat and dog bringing rabies into the UK. It is more likely that rabies would be introduced by a smuggled animal, not necessarily a cat or dog, on which there would be no information.The Pet Travel Scheme information retained by Defra would not necessarily enable any animal which had travelled under the Pet Travel Scheme to be located as there is no requirement for notification of change of address of the owner, or of change of ownership of the animal.