asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether civil servants from the Republic of Ireland who are operating in a part of the United Kingdom, namely Northern Ireland, have diplomatic immunity: and, if not, what is their status. [HL269]

Unless they were accredited as members of a diplomatic mission, consular post or international organisation, or covered by arrangements for visiting forces, civil servants from other countries operating in any part of the United Kingdom would not enjoy diplomatic immunity or any other special status.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What sanctions exist if European Union member states refuse or fail to pay fines levied under Articles 226–229 of the treaty establishing the European Community. [HL329]

Article 228 (2) provides that the Commission shall refer to the Court of Justice any case where it considers that a member state has failed to take measures necessary to comply with a judgment of the Court of Justice. In making such a referral the Commission shall specify the lump sum or penalty to be paid. This would equally apply where the failure involved a failure to pay the fines set down in the judgment with which the member state had failed to comply.The appropriate sanction would therefore be a second referral for failure to comply with a judgment (being the third referral in total, the first referral having been for failure to comply with the original judgment that the member state had failed to fulfil an obligation under the treaty).In practice only one member state, Greece, has been fined. Non-payment under Article 228 has not been a problem so far.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What penalties, apart from fines, could be applied to member states under Article 229 of the treaty establishing the European Community. [HL330]

Article 229 does not provide for alternative penalties to be imposed. It confers upon the European Court of Justice jurisdiction to rule on penalties which are imposed under regulations adopted by the Council or by the Council and Parliament, i.e. to raise or lower fines so imposed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider the confidence-building dialogue between the State Peace and Development Council in Burma and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy to have stalled; if so, whether their policy will toughen in line with the statement in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's country profile of Burma; and what form a tougher policy towards Burma would take. [HL347]

The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail, expressed his disappointment at the pace of progress after he visited Burma on 12–16 November. He expressed disappointment with the political process which had not been "maximised or developed". We agree with this assessment.If real political progress is to take place in Burma, Senior General Than Shwe must increase his contacts with Aung San Suu Kyi and move the discussions on from confidence building to substantive issues.UK policy will remain firm until Burma irreversibly commits to national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to combat Burma's status as one of the largest producers in the world of opium for illicit consumption and as a major supplier of methamphetamines. [HL351]

We monitor the trade in Burma carefully through a drugs liaison officer based in Bangkok. The majority of opium and methamphetamine produced in Burma is trafficked within Asia and to Australia.We try to bring pressure to bear on the Burmese regime to improve their record on drugs. The European Council conclusions of 21 October on Burma included urging "the authorities to take vigorous action to combat the production and trafficking of drugs". UK law enforcement agencies co-operate with their counterparts in South-East Asia in specific criminal investigations.About 90 per cent of the UK's heroin originates in Afghanistan. Synthetic drugs (including methamphetamine) consumed in the UK are mostly produced in Europe.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many applications their Embassy in Dublin has had for British citizenship in each month since 1 January 1999; how many were accepted; and how many were rejected. [HL357]

The British Embassy, Dublin does not retain figures on the number of successful or unsuccessful applications for British citizenship. All applications received by the British Embassy are forwarded to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at the Home Office in Liverpool where a final decision is reached.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the next meeting is scheduled under the Brussels process. [HL359]

No date has been set for a further meeting.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the complaints made to Her Majesty's Government by the Spanish Government about Gibraltar. [HL360]

The Spanish Government have raised a number of concerns about Gibraltar in public and in private, most recently in relation to the "Prestige" oil tanker and the operations of Gibraltar port. We have made clear to the Spanish that we do not share their view on this issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who is responsible for the supervision of financial services in Gibraltar. [HL361]

The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission is charged with the responsibility of supervising institutions carrying on financial business in or from within Gibraltar. The commission is appointed by the governor with the approval of the Secretary of State.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the statement by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 25 November (HL Deb col 613), whether they will make available additional briefing about the Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Bill. [HL530]

My noble friend Lady Symons of Vernham Dean wrote on 4 December to all those noble Lords who took part in the debate on Second Reading of the Bill enclosing additional notes on the Bill. Copies have been placed in the House of Lords Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the

All departments included in the Rural Proofing report, with the exception of Cabinet Office and Home Office, have said they will either be including a section on rural proofing or will be signposting the work they are doing in this area within their departmental reports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the future of the Tote; and over what timescale they intend to achieve this change. [HL309]

We plan to bring forward a Bill which will include provision for the sale of the Tote. We have made it clear that our wish is to sell to a trust which represents relevant horseracing interests. The Bill will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in the five years preceding the Chinook ZD576 crash there was one, or more than one, Chinook accident in the Royal Air Force; if so, on which dates; and whether the Royal Air Force held inquries. [HL373]

There were three accidents involving RAF Chinook Mk1 aircraft in the period 1989–94 and an RAF board of inquiry was held after each of them. The dates of the accidents were: 24 July 1989,25 July 1989 and 15 October 1991. They have no relevance to the Mull of Kintyre accident, where the aircraft involved was a Chinook Mk2.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 25 November (

The radio spectrum referred to as the 2 GHz band is at 2025–2110 MHz and 2200–2290 MHz. (It is not the whole of the spectrum between 2 and 3 GHz where there are a great many current and prospective users, including prospective cellular systems, existing fixed links, satellite services, programme making and special events users, industrial, scientific and medical use, low power applications, government and de-regulated use).The current users of the spectrum at 2025–2110 MHz and 2290–2025 MHz are space operations (Civil) and space operations (military). This spectrum is globally harmonised for space operations services. In Europe, this includes data links to satellite and telecommand. The UK has military use of NATO satellite services from specific sites. This application is of paramount importance to the UK and the international regulatory basis for managing spectrum is such that we can only protect this application under the provisions that apply to this spectrum. In this respect it is unique and is the only spectrum of its kind that is suited to this type of space operation.Other services can operate in this band within limits imposed by international regulations. There is also one regional rural fixed wireless access licensee (Zipcom) which has held a licence since 1996 but has not rolled-out sevices. Indeed, as a consequence of Zipcom's failure to meet its roll-out obligations, it has been asked to surrender its licence.Prospective users of the band are MoD tactical radio links, additional military space operations and programme making and special events.The recent changes I referred to are consequential to requirements of the military for space operations and tactical radio links as part of our long-term commitment to NATO. It will not be possible for commercial public fixed wireless access services to co-exist with these operations, which would cause serious and repeated interruption through the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they believe there are any lessons to be learned from the Broadband Wales programme for the promotion and take-up of broadband in England. [HL435]

The UK Broadband Task Force, launched in November, aims to find best practice initiatives and disseminate information on these across the whole of the UK. The task force regional co-ordinator based at the National Assembly for Wales will therefore be in a position to take into consideration the progress of the Broadband Wales programme and subsequently identify where its successes can be appropriately applied to the rest of the country, including England.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much money they expect British Energy to pay to Enron under the proposed standstill agreements described on page 6 of the announcement of restructuring proposals and extension of HMG loan facility which was made on 28 November and deposited in the Library of the House. [HL376]

This is a commercial matter for British Energy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the terms and the duration of the amount of the out of the money power purchase agreements and contracts for differences between British Energy and Enron noted on page 6 of the announcement of restructuring proposals and extension of HMG loan facility which was made on 28 November. [HL377]

This is a commercial matter for British Energy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the British taxpayer is underwriting an agreement which will enable payments to be made to Enron. [HL378]

The Government's overriding priorities remain to ensure the safety of nuclear generation and security of electricity supplies. The credit facility that the Government have made available to British Energy is to enable it to operate its stations safely, to continue trading and to meet its commercial obligations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following their estimate of an annual cost of £150–£200 million for the next 10 years, what is their estimate of the annual cost to the Government from 2012 to 2086 of its significant contribution to British Energy's historic fuel liabilities managed by BNFL. [HL379]

If the proposed restructuring announced by British Energy on 28 November is successful and the company performs well, its contribution to the new liabilities fund will grow. The annual costs to government after 2012 will depend on the money in the fund. The Government will meet any shortfall to ensure nuclear safety and environmental protection. We will also be looking at how the contracts for historic spent fuel services with BNFL are managed as a part of the creation of the LMA.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the statement by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 28 November (HL Deb col 916), what is the limit of the commitment by the Government to underwrite the proposed solvent restructuring of British Energy, expressed both in an amount and in time. [HL380]

British Energy will meet its future spent fuel liabilities on an ongoing basis. It will also contribute to a new fund which will be used to pay for its nuclear liabilities, including decommissioning costs. British Energy's management accounts to 30 September 2002 show, on a discounted basis, an accrual of approximately £2.1 billion for historic spent fuel liabilities extending to 2086 and provision of £0.7 billion for uncontracted liabilities and £0.6 billion (net of the current nuclear decommissioning fund) for costs of decommissioning. The Government will take on financial responsibility for BE's historic spent fuel liabilities and underwrite the funds if they are insufficient to meet costs when they occur.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What recent representations the Deparment for Work and Pensions has received from Rehab UK about the future of its Tyne and Wear Brain Injury Centre; and what action they are taking. [HL270]

Jobcentre Plus purchases places from Rehab UK as one element of the work preparation programme. and signed a contract with it on 1 October 2002 for the supply of brain injury rehabilitation services from its Tyne and Wear centre. My right honourable friend the Minister for Work has recently received a letter from the chairman of Rehab UK.Jobcentre Plus must ensure balanced provision from the work preparation programme for disabled people with a range of different needs, and increased funding for those with brain injuries would have a disproportionate impact on its ability to provide support for people with other disabilities. Jobcentre Plus will continue to review expenditure from the work preparation budget throughout this financial year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) How many firemen died in 2001; (b) how many firemen were injured in 2002; and (c) how many civilians died in fires or as a result of fires in 2001. [HL337]

In 2000, the latest year for which data are available in the United Kingdom, no firefighters died in or as result of fires while on duty. In the same year 683 firefighters received injuries in or resulting from fires while on duty. There were an estimated 595 civilian deaths in fires in 2000. Since 2000, I am aware of one death of a firefighter in England and Wales while on duty as a result of a fire.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 27 November (

No, the Government are not satisfied, which is why the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with the fire service to achieve a workforce that better reflects the communities it serves; to help the service remove barriers to creating a more diverse workforce and to assist in raising the profile of the service as a career choice within currently under-represented groups.Research

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action the Government are taking to follow up the results of the comprehensive performance assessments for London, unitary, metropolitan and county councils in England. [HL608]

The Audit Commission will announce the outcome of comprehensive performance assessments (CPA) for London boroughs, unitary, metropolitan and county councils on 12 December. These assessments will provide the basis for better local decision-making, inform relations between central and local government and give local people a clear understanding of how well their council is serving them. It is a key stage in one of the most ambitious exercises in performance management ever undertaken by central and local government. But CPA results are not the end of the process; they are the starting point for improvement planning that will demonstrate the Government's public sector reform agenda in action.The services included in CPA have a significant impact on the quality of all our lives: education, social services, housing, transport, welfare benefits, waste, planning and library and leisure facilities. CPA also delivers a picture of the council as a corporate entity, recognising the importance of councils as community leaders, forging effective partnerships and delivering on national and local priorities. We will build on the connections CPA has made through a collective central government response, applying the measures announced on 26 November to devolve power, increase support where it is needed and work directly with councils to ensure local people receive the quality of services to which they are entitled.We want to see all councils aiming to be excellent. Our vision is one where local government takes ownership of the improvement agenda, with those who do so successfully encouraged to innovate by the removal of controls. There is a great deal that can be learned from the best performing councils, and it is vital that we build on as well as celebrate their achievements.We are reducing red tape and unnecessary controls that distract councils from improving services. For the very best councils, we are going further. These are councils with a strong focus on improvement which are delivering high quality services. They come in all shapes and sizes, including councils working in the most challenging circumstances. For high achievers CPA will bring new flexibility to expand or to change the way they deliver services and significant additional freedoms to go much further and trailblaze innovative and new practices.We are making it clear that getting by will not be enough. There is no room for those in the middle simply to stay there. They will have to raise their game or fall behind. CPA will clearly identify the service priorities for the underperforming and the corporate obstacles to innovation and better services. It will indicate where these councils will have to focus their efforts and where central government should be prioritising support. Government are working with the LGA to identify a range of support and improvement activities in response to CPA. But it is clear that the skills needed to realise continuous improvement will be found primarily within local government. Securing long-term and sustained improvement will be achieved only through building a greater capacity across the whole local government sector. There will be an immediate focus on the poor and weak councils, informed by the corporate assessment element of CPA.Government will work in a spirit of co-operation with those councils which are doing poorly. Wherever possible an authority should be given the opportunity to tackle its own problems and weaknesses. The Government will nevertheless seek to engage directly with poor performers and provide appropriate support. We recognise that even overall poor performers have some good services, and we are determined to build on good practice. CPA will deliver the challenge that some councils have needed to address complacency and take a radical look at the way they currently work. For others it will initiate the process of identifying the measures needed to turn around failing services. In all cases the message will be that we will not tolerate poor performance or failing councils. They let down the people they are elected to represent and serve. They tarnish the reputation of the rest of local government. Where necessary, government will not shirk from taking decisive and tough action.CPA scores will be the launch-pad for action for central and local government. The overarching aim is to secure the foundation for genuine and long-lasting improvement in council services. Freedoms and flexibilities will enable the highest performers to do more. They will also provide a strong incentive for others to change. Where improvements are needed CPA will be the basis for better focused and more determined improvement planning. Ownership of improvement planning and strong local leadership at member and officer level will be vital, as will delivering against realistic but challenging targets. We expect CPA and the improvement planning process to deliver rapid and tangible benefits to local government and to the people they serve.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funding or resources have been made available to the Irish Language Agency, similar to that referred to in the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 6 November (

Funding by the Department of Education and Science has not as yet been provided to the Irish Language Agency for the two assistant editor posts referred to in my Answer on 6 November in any year since 1999.

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

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, on behalf of both sponsoring departments, informed Foras na Gaeilge on 2 July 2002 that NSMC approval was required for the appointment of two assistant editor posts. Foras na Gaeilge was advised to seek that approval at the earliest opportunity after the necessary departmental approvals were obtained. No similar posts have been requested by Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch. The job descriptions and salary scales were designed by Foras na Gaeilge, based on existing job specifications and salary scales in the publications section of the organisation. The salary scale was agreed at official level between the sponsor departments and the two finance departments, subject to the approval of NSMC. The posts were created in response to a request from the Department of Education and Science for assistance in the provision of Irish language training aids. That department will provide all the costs involved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to lay the Intelligence and Security Committee's report into the terrorist bombings on Bali. [HL607]

The Prime Minister has today laid before the House the Intelligence and Security Committee report of its inquiry into the intelligence, assessments and advice prior to the

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the additional daily cost to the police of the firefighter's strike. [HL263]

The Government have agreed to reimburse police authorities for additional

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people under 18 years of age are currently detained in adult prisons; and when the Government intend to apply the Children Act 1989 to such cases. [HL180]

On 21 November one under-18 year-old male was kept in adult accommodation while three were in young offender institutions (YOIs) without specific provision for juveniles. In the women's estate on the same date, all the women under 18 years old were held in YOIs. Sixteen were being held without specific provision for juveniles. Ten of those were unsentenced.The court has held that the Prison Service's policy, subject to the correction of one sentence, complies with domestic law, including the Children Act 1989. Further, it more than adequately meets the Prison Service's obligations under human rights law.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much funding has been provided annually for crime and disorder reduction partnerships since their establishment. [HL234]

The table below outlines the level of funding allocated to partnerships since their establishment through a number of different initiatives.costs incurred by the police in supporting emergency fire cover, which would not have normally been part of their duties.It is not possible to predict exactly what the cost to police authorities will be as this will depend on the nature of the strike activity and local needs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many special constables there are. [HL302]

We collect data on special constabulary strength for March and September each year. The latest figures are for 31 March 2002 when there were 11,598 special constables in police forces in England and Wales. We are committed to increasing the special constabulary and we are working with stakeholders on a package of measures designed to address recruitment and retention issues.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that copies of prison standing orders and instructions are available to prisoners through prison libraries. [HL381]

It is a mandatory requirement for governing governors to ensure that non-protectively marked prison service orders (PSO) and instructions are made available to prisoners through prison libraries. This mandatory requirement is made clear in PSO 0001 The Prison Service Instructions System and in PSO 6710 Prison Libraries. It is also an auditable requirement within the Prison Service instructions system performance standard.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they have taken to ensure that families and elderly residents in private residential care homes have complaints fully investigated; what actions management can be required to take; what monitoring is in place; what sanctions are available; and what compensation is available to residents if there is evidence of negligence and abuse. [HL132]

Under the Care Standards Act care homes are required to have robust procedures for dealing with complaints made by residents or people acting on their behalf. The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) is responsible for ensuring that care homes complaints procedures conform to the regulations and meet national standards. The NCSC also has discretionary powers to investigate complaints which may inform its role as a regulator.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether National Health Service Professionals has a finance director who holds a recognised accountancy qualification. [HL239]

NHS Professionals is a locally delivered service based on national standards for the supply of temporary healthcare staffing. The service providers of NHS Professionals will have their own standing financial instructions as for all National Health Service organisations, with clear lines of local accountability.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the accountability and governance arrangements for National Health Service Professionals; and [HL235]What objectives have been set for National Health Service Professionals for 2002–03 and for its chief executive (or other senior responsible manager). [HL240]

The accountability and governance arrangements for NHS Professionals are managed by workforce development confederations (WDCs). WDCs are held accountable for the delivery of the implementation and ongoing performance management of NHS Professionals via the strategic health authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements they are advocating to ensure that the election of Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland's successor as director general of the World Health Organisation is open and transparent; what qualifications they will be rating most highly in candidates; and whether they will be seeking a commitment by candidates to the Alma-Ata declaration, Health for All. [HL279]

The Government will act in accordance with the constitution and the rules of procedure of WHO in regard to the process of the election of the director general of the WHO. We shall be seeking in candidates those qualities essential to running the World Health Organisation and the ability to keep health at the forefront of the international agenda. We shall be seeking a commitment to the furtherance of health in all contexts, including primary care.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much prescribing budgets are being overspent by region; and to what extent this is affecting health services. [HL308]

The following table sets out the prescribing budgets notified to the Prescript ion Payment Authority by each strategic health authority. The 2002–03 forecast outturns are based on prescribing data from April 2002 to August 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people were employed in the National Health Service in 1997: and how many are employed in 2002. [HL338]

The latest census data currently available is for September 2001. National Health Service workforce figures as at September 2002 are not yet available and the vacancy survey and censuses in March 2002 did not collect a complete picture of the NHS workforce.The figures for 1997 and 2001 are given in the following table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 November (

Funds for information management and technology (IM&T) implementations have been included in general allocations to the National Health Service during the past five years. On two occasions specific additions have been identified for IM&T investment but that investment is additional to the on-going baseline expenditure. The total spend on IM&T across the NHS is not routinely collected.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funds have been committed by central government to (a) the Integrated Care Records System (ICRS), (b) the National Health Service National Programme, (c) the National Health Service electronic appointment booking project, (d) electronic prescriptions and (e) NHSnet. [HL433]

Funds are being identified within the Spending Review 2002 settlement for National Health Service information management and technology (IM&T). The Department of Health is working to apportion the funds across existing IM&T priorities and the national programme. The latter will include work on all of the following: Integrated Care Records System, electronic booking, electronic prescriptions and enhancements to NHSnet. The amounts to be deployed will be aligned with local NHS requirements expressed in local development plans. Final decisions on how some of these services will be delivered and paid for will be made within the context of the procurement of prime service providers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total expenditure incurred by the Department of Health on work carried out by external consultants during each of the financial years 1997–98. 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02. [HL506]

Expenditure by the Department of Health on external consultants for each year between 1997 and 2002 is shown in the following table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman on 12 May 1999 (

When assessing whether or not a claim will affect the status of a product, the Medicines Control Agency has to consider those claims in the total context of the product. Unless the claim is directly linked to a specific product it cannot be taken into account when assessing the status of that product under medicines legislation. A food product making medicinal claims, including fluoridated drinking water, is subject to the controls of the Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (as amended). Those regulations prohibit medicinal claims in the labelling or advertising of food (including water), and it is an offence to sell food in respect of which such a claim is made or to advertise it for sale or to supply it in the course of a business. There is an exemption in the Food Safety Act 1990 in relation to the supply of water to any premises.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman on 30 June 1999 (

The Medicines Control Agency does not consider that the evidence for fluoridation published by the University of York in September 2000 has produced any information which affects the classification of products containing fluoride. Products containing fluoride remain subject to a number of different regulatory regimes. These include medicines, foods and cosmetics.