asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their current policy towards Chechnya. [HL443]

We have consistently recognised the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and the Russian Government's right and obligation to defend its citizens from terrorism. We have acknowledged and condemned the terrorist atrocities committed by some Chechen groups and their clear links to international terrorism. But we continue to emphasise that counter-terrorist operations in Chechnya, as elsewhere, must be in strict adherence to the rule of law and must respect human rights. We believe that the protection of human rights in Chechnya is an essential precursor to any political solution to the Chechen conflict.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 2 December (

British officials paid a fourth visit to Guantananmo Bay between 11 and 15 November. The purpose of the visit was to ask questions relevant to national security, to check on the welfare of the seven British detainees last seen in May and to establish the identity and nationality of two further detainees believed to have British nationality. As a result of these inquiries, one was identified as British. The other detainee did not have British nationality. The officials were from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Security Service.The FCO official met the detainees individually, US officials were able to observe the interviews. The official saw no visible signs of mistreatment. Some detainees reported minor medical problems and the official subsequently raised a number of these with the camp authorities.The official passed to the camp authorities some personal letters for some of the detainees and was able to give oral messages to others. We have passed on to the families oral messages which were received and have briefed them on details of the detainees' circumstances. For reasons of privacy these details are not disclosed in this Answer. Detainees continue to be able to send and receive letters through the camp authorities and through the ICRC, although there is some concern about delays.All the detainees continue to be housed in accommodation which includes individual sleeping, washing and toilet facilities. They continue to be able to practise their religion freely, to take exercise and to have access to reading material.The visiting officials found the US camp authorities to be open and co-operative.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will be taking action to assist beneficiaries of the Thalidomide Trust in claiming back their tax credit entitlements. [HL598]

The Inland Revenue will provide all the help they can to ensure that the beneficiaries of the Thalidomide Trust receive all the tax repayments due to them. The Paymaster General has asked the Inland Revenue to contact the Thalidomide Trust to discuss how best to assist them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will arrange early release for enough sentenced prisoners to eliminate overcrowding of prisons; and whether they will issue guidance for non-violent offences so as to prevent future overcrowding. [HL411]

The Government keep under review all appropriate measures to address the rise in the prison population, including the emergency powers that Parliament has provided.On 4 November the Home Secretary, Lord Chancellor and Attorney-General issued a joint statement (CJS 0006/2002:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 22 October (HL Deb, col. 1213), whether the National High Tech Crime Unit is now fully staffed. [HL487]

The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) of the National Crime Squad is currently recruiting to fill eight vacant and two new posts. This will take its complement to 50 staff.Funds have been set aside from Spending Review 2002 to continue to resource this unit at least until the end of 2005–06.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many requests for mobile phone traffic data have been made to mobile phone companies by police forces in England in each of the past five years; and [HL488]How many requests for computer traffic data have been made to internet service providers by police forces in England in each of the past five years; and [HL489]What costs have been incurred by police forces in England for the obtaining of mobile phone traffic data from mobile phone companies in each of the past five years. [HL490]

The information requested is not collected centrally. Agreements are in place between communication service providers (CSPs) and the law enforcement agencies that provide for cost recovery where a CSP is called upon to provide communications data. The agreements have been reached independently of the Government and take account of the fact that a requirement to provide communication data places operational and financial burdens on the CSP.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What costs have been incurred by police forces in England for the obtaining of computer traffic data from internet service providers in each of the past five years. [HL491]

This information is not collected centrally.Agreements are in place between communication service providers (CPSs) and the law enforcement agencies that provide for cost recovery where a CSP is called upon to provide communications data. The agreements have been reached independently of the Government and take account of the fact that a requirement to provide communication data places operational and financial burdens on the CSP.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the value of investment by central government in information technology projects and procurement for police forces in England and in each of the past five years. [HL492]

The Government are committed to investment in information technology for the police. Technology can play a significant role in reducing the burden of bureaucracy and in increasing efficiency.The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) was established from 1 April 1998 as a non-departmental public body (NDPB) to provide a national capability for information technology and communications solutions to the police service. The PITO budget over the past five years is as follows:

1998–99	£38.4 million
1999–2000	£56.6 million
2000–01	£71.5 million
2001–02	£118.7 million
2002–03 (estimated outturn)	£156.5 million

The PITO budget covers the running costs of the organisation, including the operation and necessary upgrading of the police national computer, and central investment in key national projects. Investment in these projects over the past five years including Airwave, the new digital police radio system (£94 million), NAFIS, the national automated fingerprint identification system (£88 million), applications supporting the national strategy for police information systems (NSPIS) (£82 million) and the development of the police-public interface (£6 million).Police forces have received additional central funding (some £194 million to date) directly from the Home Office to enable them to prepare for the introduction of Airwave—for example by reconfiguring control rooms.Forces are also able to use central funding provided through police and other grants to make local investments in information technology (IT) and have direct access to funding streams such as the Invest to Save Budget.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they estimate that it should take three years to implement the introduction of an entitlement card when many companies are already geared up to produce such cards. [HL387]

There are a number of steps which must be taken before an entitlement card scheme could be implemented, should the Government decide to proceed with one after the current consultation exercise concludes. These include:

(i) securing Parliament's agreement to primary legislation to enact a scheme;

(ii) designing and implementing the checks on applicants which would be necessary before a card could be issued, which may need to be higher than those currently in place for passports and driving licences;

(iii) developing an office network (through agreements with third parties) so that if a personal visit was required before a card was issued people would not have to travel too far to apply;

(iv) procuring and implementing IT systems to process applications and deal with lost or stolen cards.

The Government believe that three years is a challenging but realistic timetable for the introduction of a scheme should they decide to proceed and Parliament approves the legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the statement by Lord Filkin on 2 December (HL Deb, col. 984) that the United Kingdom will admit Afghans from Sangatte who need to be reunited with their families in the United Kingdom or have other particular vulnerabilities, what will constitute particular vulnerabilities for this purpose; and what support will be provided for those who come within this category. [HL448]

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has identified Afghans in Sangatte whom they consider vulnerable either because of a need to be reunited with relatives or because of an international protection need. We have agreed to take those identifed by UNHCR as having links to the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which are the cluster areas for the dispersal of asylum seekers to which new dispersals have been suspended; and what are the reasons for such suspension. [HL485]

The information as at 27 November is as follows:

Cluster area	Dispersal suspended to all or part of the cluster area	Reason
Burnley	All	Dispersal suspended at the request of the police
Nelson	All	Dispersal suspended at the request of the police
Bolton	Part	Dispersal suspended at the request of the police
Huddersfield	Part	Dispersal suspended at the request of the police

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they intend to take in response to the report by the British Medical Association (

Department of Health officials are due to have a preliminary meeting with representatives from the British Medical Association shortly to discuss the issues raised and recommendations made in their report Asylum seekers: meeting their healthcare needs.Meeting the health needs of those with mental health prolems is a priority for the NHS and the National Service Framework for Mental Health is improving services across the board for all service users including asylum seekers. Mental health services can treat the majority of mental health problems. Complex cases can be referred to specialist units throughout the country. The Department of Health is funding the Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture to deliver training to health providers on the needs of those who have been tortured.Voluntary sector agencies provide reception assistants whose job is to assist asylum seekers to complete an application form for support from the National Asylum Support Service. Reception assistants have been given guidance on what to do if an asylum seeker mentions that they are suffering from torture or demonstrates that they have care needs above and beyond destitution. They will be referred to the local authority for assessment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the event of the present regime in Iraq being replaced by a stable democratic government, the Iraqi Kurds being sent to Britain from Sangatte will be required to return to their country of origin. [HL501]

The Iraqis coming to the United Kingdom from Sangatte are being given leave to enter for four years to work here. Their status is not dependent on conditions in Iraq.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether rationalisation of magistrates' courts might be better accomplished by closing some courts in towns and cities and retaining others in surrounding rural areas to reduce the travel problems of rural dwellers while allowing public transport from areas of concentrated population. [HL323]

Magistrates' courts committees (MCCs) are responsible for the efficient and effective administration of magistrates' courts in their area, including their location.The Countryside Agency's rural proofing checklist was sent to all 42 MCCs in May 2001, with the emphasis that rural proofing should be demonstrated when undertaking any accommodation or service review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With which United Kingdom region Gibraltar will be put for voting purposes in the next European parliamentary elections. [HL362]

The European Parliament (Representation) Bill, which was introduced into Parliament on 21 November, contains a provision to require the Electoral Commission to recommend to the Lord Chancellor which electoral region it would be most appropriate for Gibraltar to be a part of for the purposes of European Parliament elections. The Electoral Commission will have to make this recommendation by September 2003.

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

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they have decided that deer hunting cannot meet the tests of utility and cruelty; whether they will publish those reasons; and whether they consider that mink hunting should continue in addition to ratting and rabbiting. [HL451]

The Bill that was published last week is intended to enable Parliament to reach a conclusion on the contentious issue of hunting with hounds. It seeks to prevent cruelty while recognising those activities which are necessary to countryside management such as the protection of animals or crops. All activities have to satisfy the two tests of utility and cruelty (least suffering). The evidence on which decisions were taken include the report of the Burns inquiry and evidence provided to that inquiry public hearing held in Portcullis House in September and submissions from a variety of organisations and individuals.All the evidence has been published: the Burns report and related documents in 2000; 194 letters from organisations or individual hunts in response to the consultation letter of 31 May 2002; complete verbatim transcripts of hearings on 9–11 September 2002 in Portcullis House; videotapes of these hearings are also available, and papers of evidence submitted by the witnesses at those hearings. All of these documents are in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Harrier jets were operational or on exercise in the Norwegian province of Finnmark on 11 March 1982; and [HL405]Whether a Harrier jet landed at either Tromso or the Bardufoss military airbase on 11 March 1982; and [HL406]Whether a pilot received medical treatment in Norway following a flying incident on 11 March 1982; and [HL407]Whether they will be giving evidence to the inquiry by the Norwegian Government into the loss of a Wideroe Airlines aircraft on 11 March 1982; and [HL408]Whether any military aircraft were damaged during the NATO exercise Alloy Express during March 1982. [HL409]

We will offer every assistance to the Norwegian commission of inquiry if requested to do so.As it will take some time for officials to search the appropriate records I will write to the noble Lord and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether primary care trusts and other National Health Service commissioning bodies are responsible for ensuring that the standards of clinical governance required by the trusts are adhered to by contractors, including general practitioners, who provide clinical services on behalf of the trust. [HL250]

All National Health trusts, including primary care trusts and healthcare trusts, have responsibility for ensuring the delivery of safe, high quality care and that clinical governance principles, processes and systems are embedded through the trust board and within the organisation. They should ensure compliance with the statutory duty of quality and principles of clinical governance and patient safety for services commissioned from, hosted by, or jointly provided with other providers.Primary care trust commissioning decisions should be judged against the twin tests of high clinical standards and good value for money. PCTs will account locally, through the annual patient prospectus, and nationally through the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI), for their commissioning decisions. PCTs monitor standards achieved by general practitioners through a variety of methods, including the monitoring of pay, prescribing information, through complaints and discipline mechanisms. GPs also participate in clinical audit, appraisal and CHI inspection and are subject to professional discipline through registration with the General Medical Council.The role of strategic health authorities includes performances management, building capacity and supporting performance improvement. This involves holding PCTs and NHS trusts to account through their performance agreements, as well as supporting PCTs and NHS trusts to improve the consistency and quality of healthcare through their clinical governance programmes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the status of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel being set up to consider major service changes in the National Health Service; and [HL289]Who are the members of the independent reconfiguration panel; and [HL290]Whether the proceedings of the independent reconfiguration panel will be published; and [HL291]How the advice of the independent reconfiguration panel will be made known, including whether the Secretary of State for Health accepts the panel's advice; and [HL292]Whether the independent reconfiguration panel will consider all major service changes and, if not, what criteria will determine whether the panel considers such changes. [HL293]

; Following discussions with the Cabinet Office, the Independent Reconfiguration Panel has recently been granted advisory non-departmental public body status. This reflects the panel's need to be sufficiently independent in providing authoritative advice to the Secretary of State for Health. The panel chairman, Dr Barrett, was appointed by the Secretary of State from a shortlist of candidates. We expect to make an announcement on the other members shortly.The panel will offer expert independent advice to the Secretary of State for Health on any contested proposals for reconfiguration in England that he asks the panel to consider. In deciding to seek advice from the panel, the Secretary of State for Health will wish to be satisfied that all other options for resolutions have first been fully explored. Only those contested proposals, where it is clear that all other options have been exhausted, are likely to be referred to the panel.The panel's advice to the Secretary of State for Health, and the basis on which that advice was formulated, will be published. The Secretary of State for Health will not be bound to accept the panel's advice and, as at present, the final decision will rest with him.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the standard vaccinations that children receive in the United Kingdom contain thiomersal; for how many years these standard vaccinations have contained thiomersal; and what research has been carried out into the cumulative effects of the mercury content of thiomersal on infant children. [HL429]

Vaccines containing thiomersal (a mercury-containing compound known as thimerosal in the United States) have been in use for over 60 years. The only vaccines used in the routine United Kingdom childhood immunisation programme which contain thiomersal as an excipient in the final product are diphtheria, tetanus and whole cell pertussis (DTwP) and diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.In 2001, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) reviewed the available data relating to possible neurotoxicity of thiomersal in vaccines and advised that there is no evidence of harm caused by doses of thiomersal in vaccines. The CSM concluded that the risk: benefit balance of thiomersal-containing vaccines remains overwhelmingly positive. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in the United States also published a detailed review of the evidence relating to possible neurotoxicity of thiomersal in vaccines in October 2001. The IOM findings were consistent with the CSM conclusions.We are aware of two new studies in the UK looking at the relationship between mercury in vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. One of these studies is funded by the Department of Health and uses the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. The other study is using the General Practice Research Database and is funded jointly by the World Health Organisation and the Public Health Laboratory Service (which receives its funding from the department). Neither of these studies supports an association between thiomersal exposure through the UK programme and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. The results of these studies have been made available to the department and a summary of the findings is available in a report to the US Congress which has been placed in the Library.In addition to the above studies, evidence from a recent study by M Pichichero

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many abortions have been performed on girls aged 12 and under in each of the past five years; and at what stage in gestation each abortion has been performed [HL502]

The information requested is set out in the following table.

Abortions by gestation for girls aged 12 and under, England & Wales, 1997–2001
Gestation
	Total	under 9 weeks	9–12 weeks	13–19 weeks	20 weeks and over
1997	18	5	6	6	2
1998	14	5	4	5	0
1999	12	2	7	3	0
2000	18	4	7	6	1
2001	16	4	8	1	3

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 28 November (

The East Kent pilot scheme for screening of asylum seekers for tuberculosis will be independently reviewed in January 2003. The review will help inform decisions about the future of the scheme both in Kent and throughout the rest of the country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Between 18 June and 29 November 2002, 4,516 asylum seekers were screened for tuberculosis in East Kent. Subsequently, 57 were referred to a chest clinic either with potential symptoms or high grade Heaf test results, and so far none has been diagnosed with tuberculosis.

asked Her Majesty's Govnerment:What financial contributions they have made to the British Fluoridation Society since 1999–2000; why they have made any such contributions; and whether they intend to make any contributions in the future. [HL517]

The Department of Health made grants of £80,000 for 2000–01, £82,000 for 2001–02 and £84,050 for 2002–03 to enable the British Fluoridation Society to maintain an information base on water fluoridation and give advice on the technical aspects of water fluoridation and its effects on oral and general health. The level of support for 2003–04 will be decided early next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given the side-effects to patients in recent trials conducted at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York (

We understand that the report in the Wall Street Journal is based on unpublished data presented at a scientific meeting. Until the research is published in full it would be premature to make any comment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many students took GCSE, AS and A-level Latin, Classical Greek, Classical Civilisation and Ancient History each year since 1998 (AS since 2001); and, if separate figures are not available for each subject, whether they would consider listing them separately to reflect the different skills involved. [HL430]

The information requested for schools and colleges in England is shown below:

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–00	2000–01
GCSE
Latin	10,051	9,706	9,595	9,791
Classical Greek	822	852	831	906
Classical Civilisation	3,209	3,258	3,505	3,688
Ancient History	—	—	—	—
Total 15 year-olds	575,210	580,972	580,393	603,318
GCE A-level
Latin	1,316	1,114	1,160	1,153
Classical Greek	202	184	215	198
Classical Civilisation	2,974	2,754	2,738	2,794
Ancient History	525	392	347	342
Total 17 year-olds entered	123,405	122,426	188,717	188,086
AS examinations
Latin				80
Classical Greek				32
Classical Civilisation				231
Ancient History				59
Total 17 year-olds entered				28,058

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consider advancing their plans for full funding of early years education from 2004 to 2003 to assist with the provision of free places in rural areas. [HL457]

From April 2003 increased funding to all local education authorities (LEAs) through education formula spending will ensure that all LEA areas are adequately resourced to achieving universal provision for 3 year-olds by April 2004, six months earlier than originally planned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Learning and Skills Council will take full responsibility for financing home to school transport for post 16 year-olds, thereby protecting rural students from cuts in services consequent on county council spending pressures. [HL458]

During the passage of the Learning and Skills Bill, the issue of who should take the lead on providing support for home to school transport was debated, and it was agreed that local education authorities (LEAs) should continue to coordinate this. This was because LEAs are responsible for compulsory school age transport, many of them are already providing good support, and their local authorities have wider responsibilities for transport locally. The Department for Education and Skills arranged a major study of these arrangements Transport for Students in Further Education by transport consultants Steer Davis Gleave. The study was published earlier this year, and the report and recommendations are available in the House of Commons Library.My department responded to the consultants' recommendations by changing the legislation governing the support LEAs must provide for students of 16–19 and clarifying their responsibilities in Schedule 19 to the Education Act 2002. The legislation commences in January 2003 and requires LEAs to work with their learning and skills council, colleges, passenger transport authorities and other partners to meet the needs of students aged 16–19. They must take account of a number of factors, including ensuring that students are not prevented from accessing and completing their courses because of the availability of transport services or their ability to afford them. We have also provided development funding of £9 million in 2002–03 to help 70 LEAs to research and develop more effective transport support arrangements. Finally, from September 2003 we will be channelling additional funding via the LEAs to help local partnerships to provide effective and sustainable transport support. This will complement the substantial additional funding to be provided to students of 16–19 from September 2004, when the education maintenance allowance is introduced nationally. We are confident that these measures will make a significant improvement to transport support generally and for rural areas in particular.The current review of funding of adult learning is looking at all aspects of financial support for adult learners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the average amount spent per primary school pupil in each of the past five years in (a) England and Wales and (b) Northern Ireland. [HL523]

The table below sets out the information requested for the last five years for which data are available. The figures for Northern Ireland are taken from outturn statements published by each of the education and library boards for controlled and maintained schools and the Department of Education in respect of grant maintained integrated schools. Direct comparison of these per capita figures is not appropriate with those of England given the differences in the levels of delegated responsibility, the incidence of small schools and differing levels of social deprivation.

Year	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
England	£1,730	£1,740	£1,880	£2,030	£2,280
Northern Ireland	£1,697	£1,709	£1,805	£1,990	£2,148

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) How many school sports co-ordinators have been appointed to date; (b) how they were recruited; (c) how many successful applicants were from different ethnic minority communities; (d) how many were men and how many were women; (e) how many of the successful applicants have disabilities; and (f) how it is expected that the schools sports co-ordinators will promote the achievement of race equality and good race relations as part of their operation objectives. [HL428]

(a) In September 2002, there were 765 school sport co-ordinator posts in 149 partnerships. No partnerships have gone live since.(b) There is no recruitment process specifically for school sport co-ordinators. A school sport co-ordinator is designated in each partnership secondary school from among the school's existing PE teachers. These teachers are recruited to the school workforce in the normal way.(c, d, e) We do not collect ethnicity, gender and disability breakdowns for school sport co-ordinators. Such information could be made available only at disproportionate cost.(f) Each school sport co-ordinator partnership works to a development plan, including explicit strategies for benefiting all pupils, including those from ethnic minorities. Partnership aims include providing new and enhanced out of school hours opportunities for all young people in the partnership, including out of school hours learning, noncompetitive participation and competition; increasing all young people's participation in community sport through creating and strengthening links with sports clubs, leisure facilities and community providers; and raising standards of pupils' achievement in all aspects of their school life through increased participation and improved performance, motivation and attitudes.

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

The Food Safety Promotion Board, as do all the implementation bodies, carry out their functions in accordance with the respective domestic law of the two jurisdictions in which they operate. Accordingly, Northern Ireland law applies to staff employed in Northern Ireland and to the exercise of functions in Northern Ireland. Similarly, Republic of Ireland law applies in relation to the employment of staff and the exercise of functions in the Republic of Ireland. Conflicts do not therefore arise.

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

The concepts of positive and, by common implication, negative or normal vetting are now outmoded and so have no real application when describing the elements of vetting referred to in my Answer of 6 November. The terminology in current use, and its relationship to the former terminology, is set out in the then Prime Minister's Statement of 15 December 1994 (WA764–66). Broadly, CTC, SC and DDV are all forms of positive vetting.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) Whether the post of the interim chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency, appointed in 1999, was advertised either internally or externally to the Civil Service; and, if so, whether they will place a copy of the job advertisement in the Library of the House; (b) how many applications were received; (c) which departments were represented on the appointment committee; and (d) what equality procedure was involved. [HL254]

(a) The post of interim chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency was advertised by means of an interest circular circulated internally to all NICS departments. A copy of the notification will be placed in the Library of the House.(b) Eleven candidates initially expressed interest. Only two forms were received by the closing date.(c) The departments represented on the selection panel were the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Education.(d) The competition was carried out in accordance with the Equality Commission's codes of practice.

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

Officials of the United Kingdom and Irish Governments discharge the functions of their particular departments. It would not be appropriate to name the officials nor to disclose their rank as this could also identify an individual officer. I can, however, confirm that the officials who advised the Northern Ireland Administration are employed in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How private ambulance organisations in Northern Ireland are accredited; and how their activities are monitored. [HL283]

There are no provisions in Northern Ireland for the accreditation of private ambulance organisations. It is a matter for the purchasers of private ambulance services to ensure that adequate systems are in place for monitoring the service provided.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the £16.2 million promised to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for capita] investment in a press release of 3 July has been allocated; and what projects are included in the proposed investment. [HL284]

£4 million has been made available in the current and 2003–04 financial years for the development of the ambulance service in Northern Ireland. This funding has been earmarked for fleet replacement, refurbishment of training accommodation and the purchase of a fleet management system. The balance of the commitment on the development of the NI Ambulance Service will be addressed in future budgetary allocation decisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many staff are currently employed at the Strategic Rail Authority, broken down into: (a) freight; (b) passenger franchise management; (c) strategy; (d) infrastructure management; (e) finance; (f) human resources; (g) communications; and (h) other; and what changes in structure are planned in the next six months. [HL388]

The table below gives the current headcount of the Strategic Rail Authority and the projected headcount for 1 April 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they intend to take to ensure that the political affiliations of those appointed by Ministers to public bodies, as evidenced by their political activities, more accurately reflect the political affiliations of the electorate as a whole. [HL441]

On the recommendation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life all applicants for public appointment must answer the standard question on political activity. The Commissioner for Public Appointments designed the format of the question after consultation with the Government and the Committee on Standards in Public Life. The question is set out in the commissioner's code.Political activity should not be regarded as either an aid to or a barrier to appointment. For monitoring purposes only, information is requested and collected on the political activity of applicants. Information on political affiliation is not collected, nor is personal or private information such as membership of political parties or voting preferences.The overriding principle of public appointments is selection on merit, except where statute dictates specific representation or in other strictly limited instances.The Comissioner for Public Appointments seventh report shows that in 2001–02, 20.7 per cent of total appointees and re-appointees declared some form of political activity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware of any data comparing traffic congestion rates in London with those of comparable cities, either in the United Kingdom or in other countries; and, if so, whether they will publish them. [HL442]

The Department for Transport will shortly be publishing congestion figures that will include estimates for London. Data are also collected in English urban areas other than London, but results are aggregated together across these areas, rather than being published individually, to ensure that they are sufficiently robust. Some work is done in other countries to attempt to quantify congestion in urban areas, but we are not aware of anything that is done on a comparable basis with the estimates that will be published for London.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support all of the measures relating to substandard ships in European Union waters which will be proposed at the Council of Ministers in Copenhagen in the week of 13 December, if not, which measures they will not support. [HL471]

We can support all the proposals on substandard, defective ships which we understand are to be put to the Council in Copenhagen.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support a European Union regulation that takes immediate effect banning the transport of heavy fuel oil in single-hulled oil tankers. [HL472]

In its communication of 3 December the Commission indicated that it intended to propose a regulation prohibiting the transport of heavy fuel oil in single hull tankers bound for or leaving the EU ports. We shall examine this proposal in the light of the conclusions of the Transport Council on 6 December, which we supported.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the proposal to ban the 66 ships identified as very substandard after the Erika oil tanker disaster in 1999. [HL473]

We supported the new directive on port state control which was part of the Erika 1 package and which introduced the procedure for banning certain classes of vessels from Community ports. Any vessel which meets the criteria in the new directive will be refused access to UK ports once the directive is implemented.

asked Her Majesty's Govenment:Whether the level of inspection of ships calling at United Kingdom ports of 27.89 per cent in 2001 is adequate. [HL474]

The level of inspection exceeds that required by the Port State Control Directive [1995/21/EC].

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in line with France and Spain, they intend to inspect all single-hulled vessels more than 15 years old that are carrying any substance which would pose a threat to the coastal environment were it to spill. [HL475]

The UK will pay more attention to this type of vessel within the European inspection regime covered by the directive on port state control.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether ships calling at Gibraltar come under United Kingdom jurisdiction; and, if so, whether the 27.89 per cent level of inspection includes inspections in Gibraltar. [HL476]

Yes, for the purposes of port state control Gibraltar is considered as a UK port and contributes to UK inspection effort.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions they have held with the Channel Islands and Gibraltar with regard to their plans to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 to introduce the recognition in Great Britain of driving disqualifications imposed in those places; and what undertakings have been given by the Channel Islands and Gibraltar reciprocal legislation for mutual recognition. [HL500]

The Crime (International Co-operation) Bill, which proposes measures to ratify the international convention on driving disqualifications, also proposes measures for the recognition by Great Britain of driving disqualifications imposed in the Channel Islands and Gibraltar as part of a package which also covers Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Her Majesty's Government propose that such recognition of disqualifications imposed in any one of these jurisdictions should occur only when that jurisdiction has put into practice recognition of driving disqualifications imposed in Great Britain. Only then will the relevant provisions in the Bill be commenced in relation to the relevant administration. Officials have been in touch with officials of the Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar administrations, all of whom have expressed themselves content in principle with arrangements on the lines proposed. No undertaking is required from the Jersey, Guernsey, or Gibraltar administrations to introduce reciprocal legislation. The Government will however encourage the Channel Islands and Gibraltar jurisdictions to consider doing so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 9 December (

As the Written Answer of 9 December stated, the Government's proposal is to permit flashing lamps only to be used in conjunction with steady lamps.