asked Her Majesty's Government:When the independent review of the fire service will be completed. [HL715]

The independent review of the fire service was announced on 12 September 2002 under the chairmanship of Sir George Bain. The review considered UK-wide arrangements for the future organisation and management of the fire service. My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister has today placed copies of the final report in the Vote and Printed Paper Offices and Libraries of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the average pay of firefighters in the United Kingdom, and (in sterling) in France, Germany and Holland. [HL375]

The information held centrally is as follows. The starting salary for whole-time firefighters in the basic rank is £16,941 rising to £17,727 after six months. For those over 18 the starting salary is £17,208 rising to £17,982 after six months. After four years the salary for a fully qualified firefighter increases to £21,531, rising to £22,491 after 15 years. These rates were effective from 7 November 2001. Firefighters in London receive a London weighting allowance of £3,739.The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on the average rates of firefighters' pay in France, Germany and Holland.

:How many firefighters and related administrative workers operate in Glasgow; and how many service personnel are now operating in Glasgow. [HL374]

This is a matter for the Scottish Executive and the noble Lord may care to write to them about this issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Where the new homes funded by the Challenge Fund will be located; how many units will be built on each site; and how the funding will be distributed by location and by region. [HL449]

The table below sets out the Challenge Fund allocations that the Housing Corporation intends to make. The allocations are provisional and subject to confirmation of costs and timing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who is the Minister responsible for the New Millennium Experience Company. [HL720]

Further to the Prime Minister's response to the Member for South Suffolk on 8 July (Official Report col. 749W), I have full responsibility as Minister for the New Millennium Experience Company. My honourable friend the Member for Harrow East (Tony McNulty) will provide support in the other place, although without any executive responsibility.The shareholding remains with the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, for the time being while outstanding litigation is being resolved. It is the intention that the shareholding will transfer to me as soon as the litigation has been resolved. In the meantime, I have been granted power of attorney and any decisions in relation to the company are being taken by me. The noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, no longer has any ministerial responsibility for the New Millennium Experience Company.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the recent e-voting trials commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions were subject to the gateway review procedure; and, if so, what was the outcome of the review. [HL425]

The 2002 electoral modernisation pilot programme was subject to a gateway review process. The review decided that the project should proceed and also made a number of recommendations to improve the process, which were carefully taken into account.A gateway review is currently under way for the 2003 electoral modernisation pilot programme. The next stage of this review is planned for early January 2003. The gateway reviews are proving beneficial to this project and careful regard is being had to their recommendations. The process is based on well-proven techniques that lead to more effective delivery of benefits together with more predictable costs and outcomes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the reports commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on recent e-voting trials. [HL424]

Copies of the Electoral Commission's strategic evaluation report of the May 2002 electoral modernisation pilot programme, together with the government response to the recommendations of the report, were placed in the Library of the House in September. The reports for each of the 30 individual pilot schemes, including the nine e-voting pilots, have been on the Electoral Commission's website and available from local authorities since August. I have today placed copies in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider the present size of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to be an adequate response to the current security situation in Afghanistan. [HL445]

The size of the International Security Assistance (ISAF) is governed by the ISAF mission, which remains as defined in UN Security Council Resolution 1386 of 20 December 2001 and most recently reconfirmed on 27 November 2002 by UNSCR 1444. This authorises ISAF to assist the Afghan authorities in the maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding area. Any change to the ISAF mission would require a new UN Security Council Resolution. The size of force required might then have to be reassessed.We share the view of the Afghan people that security remains a priority and are concerned that the Afghan Transitional Administration does not yet have adequate means to deal in an effective manner with ongoing threats to security beyond Kabul. Options are currently being discussed for addressing this problem in the short term. Ultimately, the solution to the question of security in Afghanistan must lie in building up indigenous security and law and order forces capable of addressing likely sources of instability. We welcome in this context the decree signed by President Karzai on 1 December on principles governing the establishment of the new Afghan National Army and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants into civilian life.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the European Union's condemnation of the sentencing of the journalist. Viktar Ivashkevich, in Belarus, has had any effect; and what action the Government are taking to urge the Belantsian authorities to review the verdict, given the role of the free press in foreign policy. [HL446]

Her Majesty's Government are very concerned at the treatment of Mr Ivashkevich and other journalists in Belarus. However, representations by the EU have had no effect yet. In response to the continuing deterioration of individual freedoms and rights of expression in Belarus, Her Majesty's Government, along with 13 other EU member states, have issued a travel ban/exclusion orders on the President of Belarus and seven leading political figures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any changes have been made to recall procedures for offenders on licence in the community. [HL719]

In September, the Home Secretary asked Stephen Shaw, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, to look at the case of Malcolm Rourke. This was a disturbing and shocking crime and we extend every sympathy to the victim.Instances where an offender on licence supervision commits an offence of similar gravity to the original one are thankfully few in number. However, because of the devastating effect these crimes can have on the lives of their victims, there can never be any room for complacency among those whose task it is to supervise such offenders. That is why the Home Secretary asked Stephen Shaw to undertake this inquiry. This work has now been completed.We are grateful to Stephen and his team for conducting such a thorough investigation and for producing a detailed analysis of how the arrangements for managing and recalling dangerous offenders can be further enhanced. Although the report concluded that there was no evidence of negligence or incompetence, it did make a number of constructive recommendations as to how these arrangements might be strengthened in the future. These have been accepted in full and will now be implemented.It is a sad reality that there are no guarantees with this type of work. It is not always possible to foresee and prevent crimes committed by people on licence any more than it is possible to do so for those without previous convictions. We can however learn lessons and make sure that every effort is made to protect the public. In particular, the most important change is that in future recall decisions will be taken by the local probation service which is supervising the offender.

asked Her Majesty's Government:To confirm recent reports of an announcement from the Home Office at the Streaming Media Europe event that current proposals for introducing a data retention regime under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 are to be abandoned; and [HL578]What are the implications for the voluntary regime of data retention currently being negotiated with Internet service providers of a recently reported announcement suggesting that the scheme had been abandoned. [HL579]

No such announcement has been made. The Government's proposals on retention of communications data will be set out in a consultation paper drawn up in line with Section 103 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 to be published early next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the context of data retention, there are incompatibilities in the existing law which have proved insurmountable in the terms of delivering a scheme, whether voluntary or mandatory. as provided for in the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. [HL580]

No.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the outcome was of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 28 and 29 November and what their stance was on the issues discussed, including their voting record. [HL718]

I and the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland, represented the United Kingdom at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels on 28–29 November.The A points were approved as in document PTS A 62 (14754/021 (a copy of which has been placed in the Library) with the exception of item 16. Ministers signed the Protocol to the Europol Convention agreed at item 4The Presidency advised on progress in implementing the Seville European Council conclusions, presenting a report on action taken to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking and on management of the external border. Member states urged the Commission to produce its overdue report on financial resources for repatriation, border management and migration projects. The Commission explained that the financial resources had to come from the current financial perspective, which required re-evaluation of existing commitments within the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Committee and External Relations budgets but that national expenditure would need to remain a significant source of funding.The Council adopted negotiating mandates for the Commission to pursue readmission agreements with Turkey, Albania, Algeria and China. The aim will be to agree arrangements with those countries for the return of their nationals who have entered the European Union illegally. Over lunch, Ministers also discussed the application of the re-admission provision in the Cotonou agreement. This would allow member states to approach African, Caribbean and Pacific countries bilaterally to ask them to take back their nationals.The Council discussed the time limits to be applied for determining responsibility for an asylum claim in the regulation establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the member state responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the member states by a third-country national (Dublin II). The Presidency concluded that member states would have one week in which to accept or reject a compromise package comprising a time limit of one year for responsibililty on the basis of illegal entry across the external frontier and five months for tolerated illegal presence in a member state. The Council agreed that the latter criterion should apply only to asylum seekers illegally present after the entry into force of the regulation. The Council also agreed to a minutes statement addressing the possible future inclusion in the regulation's scope of applicants for subsidiary protection.The Council held a brief discussion of Articles 1–19 of the council directive on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third-country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection concerning the definition of a refugee and those entitled to subsidiary protection. However, two member states maintained reservations on the text.With the exception of one member state, Ministers agreed to amend Article 16 of the directive laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers in member states in line with a United Kingdom proposal allowing for the refusal of support to asylum seekers making late applications. The one other remaining reserve on the text was lifted following a change to Article 11 concerning access to labour markets.The Council also agreed a Statement declaring the European free trade areas and accession states (from the date of signature of the accession treaties) to be safe third countries for the purposes of asylum.The Council adopted a Community programme on the return of third country nationals to source countries and a programme intended specifically to address returns to Afghanistan. The Council also took note of Council conclusions agreed by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18 November concerning the integration of immigration policy into the Union's relations with third countries. I welcomed the conclusions as a positive first step but called for the monitoring of returns projects to ensure that they were effective.The Council agreed a package of provisions on child abduction for inclusion in the regulation concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility. These were based on retention of existing Hague Convention arrangements with additional rules where a non-return order has been issued under the 1980 Hague Convention on Child Abduction. In order to encourage other member states to accept the compromise, the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland, proposed the creation of a strict timetable to initiate custody proceedings in the home court following a non-return order.Consequently, member states were also able to agree the Council decision authorising the member states, in the interest of the European Community, to sign the convention on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition, enforcement and co-operation in respect of parental responsibility and measures for the protection of children.The Council agreed to revise the negotiating mandate for the draft agreement between the European Union and the United States of America on judicial co-operation in criminal matters and on extradition.The Council discussed a Presidency compromise package intended to address member states' outstanding reservations on the proposed offences in the framework decision combating racism and xenophobia. I, with four other member states, agreed that that proposal struck the right balance between punishing racist and xenophobic acts and protecting freedom of expression. However, the remaining member states were divided in either expressing fundamental problems with the scope of the instrument or wanting to go substantially further, in particular in reducing the threshold for criminal liability.The Presidency sought agreement to its compromise proposal regarding the abolition of the dual criminality requirement in the framework decision on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to financial penalties. This would enable member states to maintain dual criminality for a transitional period of up to five years. Although this was acceptable to the majority of delegations, including the United Kingdom, five member states maintained reservations.Two member states maintained reservations on the proposed penalties for trafficking in small quantities of drugs in the framework decision laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of drug trafficking.Two member states also maintained reservations on the scope of the offences of active and passive corruption in Article 2 of the framework decision on combating corruption in the private sector.Under any other business, the Presidency emphasised the importance of securing an agreement between Europol and the United States of America on the exchange of personal data. The Commission also asked the Council to consider its proposal for a Council decision on financing certain activities carried out by Europol to fight terrorism. The latter point would be considered at the December JHA Council.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the timetable for publication of the report on the circumstances of the fire at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre. [HL637]

It has not been decided when the report will be published. Stephen Moore's terms of reference require him to take full account of inquiries being undertaken by Bedfordshire police and the Bedfordshire fire and rescue service, neither of which has yet concluded investigations. He is also required to conduct his inquiry in a way that would not impede any criminal investigation. Criminal trials arising out of the events at Yarl's Wood on 14 and 15 February are listed for April 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will bring into force the Commission for Racial Equality statutory code of practice on the duty to promote race equality in Scotland. [HL772]

An order under Section 71 C of the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended) has today been laid before Parliament. The order brings into effect the code of practice on the duty to promote race equality in Scotland. It offers practical guidance to Scottish public authorities on how to meet their duty to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful racial discrimination and promote race equality and related duties.The statutory code of practice on the duty to promote race equality in Scotland will come into effect on 19 December 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether permission has been given for Turkish air bases to be used by a United States-led coalition in the event of military action against Iraq. [HL469]

It is not for us to comment on bilateral contacts between the US and Turkey. No decision has been taken to launch military action against Iraq.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps have been taken to protect medical research companies against the actions of animal rights activists. [HL771]

The Government are determined that animal rights extremists will not prevent companies carrying out legitimate business in the UK and that these companies will be protected from intimidation and harassment. In recognition of the exceptional circumstances Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc has found itself in, the DTI has previously agreed to provide banking facilities for Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc. The DTI is now extending its support to facilitate the provision of insurance services to Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc on a worldwide basis. Both these actions have been taken to secure Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc from the harm caused by the criminal intimidaton and assault being directed at its employees, including their families and friends, and also those of its suppliers, customers and other companies. Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc is a world-leading provider in the highly regulated area of essential research, development and toxicological testing services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and chemical industries. Any commercial damage to these industries or their supporting services like Huntingdon Life Sciences, would have a very serious impact on UK scientific and medical research. The DTI is not using commercial insurance companies or brokers at this time and is providing insurance through its own resources.

of Castle Vale asked Her Majesty's Government:What recent assessment the Department for Work and Pensions has made of the facilities offered by Rehab UK at its Tyne and Wear Brain Injury Centre; and with what result. [H1505]

Jobcentre Plus purchases places from Rehab UK as one element of our work preparation programme for people with disabilities. As part of a recontracting process, the services offered by Rehab UK at its centre in Tyne and Wear were assessed in July and, following that assessment, a new contract was awarded with effect from 1 October 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What help has been extended to small businesses connected with the hotel trade in 2002 to date. [HL554]

The Government have assisted small accommodation providers in a number of ways during 2002. For example, small hotel businesses will have benefited from over £5 million provided by government for the regional tourist boards (including London) to help promote their regions and individual businesses. In addition, the British tourist authorities' activities in promoting Britain overseas as an attractive tourist destination bring an additional £1 billion per year of expenditure by inbound visitors to this country. from which businesses of all sizes, including smaller ones. benefit. The Small Business Service (SBS), with an annual budget of over £400 million, is dedicated to championing the interests of small businesses and building an enterprise society in which all small businesses thrive and achieve their potential. The SBS recently published a new guidance pack for small business entitled Access to EU funding which complements the Government's comprehensive support for business start-ups and established small firms. The money is primarily available to improve competitiveness, productivity and innovation. Finally, small accommodation providers also benefit from the existence of sensibly designed quality schemes, aimed at ensuring that consumers' expectations are met so that return visits and recommendations are made, and from quality scheme membership which gives free listing in the English Tourism Council's Where to Stay guide.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total expenditure incurred by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on work carried out by consultants during the financial years 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02. [HL687]

Contracts awarded to consultants on behalf of DCMS during the relevant peiods are as follows

• 1997–98: £728,000
• 1998–99: £424,000
• 1999–2000: £227,000
• 2000–01: £358,000
• 2001–02: £693,000

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they propose to publish the White Paper on common land. [HL527]

We published our legislative proposals for common land and town and village greens in the Common Land Policy Statement in July 2002. We expect to consult on detailed proposals for the agricultural management of common land in May 2003, building on the work of the stakeholder working group which has been established to consider this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the report into administration in Northern Ireland will be published next August; and, if not, when. [HL287]

The review of public administration in Northern Ireland was launched by the Northern Ireland Executive in June 2002 and the team conducting the review was due to make final recommendations to the executive at the end of 2003.By the end of November the review team had completed an extensive pre-consultation process that involved nearly 70 meetings, including meetings with all local councils.The team is continuing with its programme of research and analysis. However the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly may have implications for the review's overall timetable. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has indicated that he will consult with the political parties early in the new year about the future of the review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the current terms and conditions relating to survivor benefits in the pension schemes for Members of Parliament and civil servants; and how those benefits are funded. [HL438]

MPs' pensions are paid out of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF), which is a managed fund with income from investments and member contributions. The Exchequer makes the equivalent of an employer's contribution, which is set independently by the Government Actuary's Department.In cases of death in service, the pension payable to a legally married spouse is equal to the Member's salary for the first three months, and then at a rate of 5/8ths of the deceased Member's pension payable at age 65. The provisions are the same on death in retirement, but if the Member dies within five years of retirement, the spouse's pension is paid at the rate of the Member's pension for the remainder of those five years before reducing to 5/8ths. The regulations contain a provision to curtail the pension of a widow/widower of a deceased Member on remarriage or cohabitation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the unique narrow gauge railway artefacts under the custodianship of Derry City Council would be better placed with the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. [HL431]

The railway heritage of Derry City Council and the North West of Ireland Railway Society are jointly housed in Foyle Valley Railway Museum, which is closed while Derry City Council reviews its viability.It is preferable that these artefacts retain their historic links by remaining in Londonderry and I hope that the council and the railway society can resolve their differences for the benefit of all.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much funding from PEACE I was allocated by the Special European Union Programmes Body to groups promoting aspects of Irish culture and how much to bodies promoting Ulster Scots culture; and what percentage was to groups in the Republic of Ireland. [HL518]

The Special European Union Programmes Body did not allocate any funds under the PEACE I Programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider the present size of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to be an adequate response to the current security situation in Afghanistan. [HL445]

Security in Afghanistan is primarily the responsibility of the Afghans themselves. Within Kabul, the International Security Assistance Force has more than 4,600 troops from 22 nations and continues to help the Transitional Islamic Authority of Afghanistan maintain the security and stability of Afghanistan's capital.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a request has been made by the US Administration for the use of Fylingdales for missile defence purposes. [HI773]

We have today received a letter from United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, requesting UK agreement to upgrade the early warning radar at RAF Fylingdales for missile defence purposes.As set out in the discussion paper published on 9 December, the Government believe that the developing ballistic missile threat is one that we must take very seriously. We assess that at present there is no immediate significant threat to the territory of the UK from ballistic missiles. However, intentions can change quickly, and the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles are continuing. We could not wait until a specific threat became clear before determining how to defend against it.The US is looking to work closely with friends and allies in developing defences which enhance global security in the face of this potential threat. As well as improving US defence, an upgraded Fylingdales radar would be a key building block in the extension of missile defence to Europe should we and other European allies so desire. In this context, Mr Rumsfeld's letter contains the undertaking that, if Fylingdales were to be upgraded, and should we desire it, then the US would be prepared to extend missile defence coverage and make missile defence capabilities available to the UK as the evolution of the US system permits, subject to agreement on appropriate political and financial arrangements.RAF Fylingdales has operated since 1963 as one of several sites which provide early warning of ballistic missile launches against this country, Western Europe or the United States. The station is under UK operational command and the data it produces are shared between the UK and US military authorities. The upgrade requested would enable the system to track ballistic missiles more accurately so that they could be engaged by interceptors, in addition to the radar's existing role. We understand that a parallel request has been made to the Danish Government for upgrade of the radar at Thule, Greenland.The US propose no change to existing arrangements for data-sharing and operational command at Fylingdales, maintaining the long-established principle of joint decision-making relating to the use of US strategic assets based in the UK. It is expected that the work would involve installation or new computers and software and an additional communications link. No material environmental impact would be expected but this will need to be confirmed in further discussions with the US and local planning authorities. The US would hope to start work later next year and will accordingly make contingency provision in its defence budget.Mr Rumsfeld's letter also proposes the early conclusion of a new bilateral research, development, test and evaluation memorandum of understanding to ensure that the UK, both government and industry, has the fullest possible insight into, and opportunity for involvement in, the missile defence programme. We believe this represents an important industrial and technological opportunity for the UK regardless of our response to the US request.The decision on Fylingdales upgrade will be an important one, and the Government are keen for it to be informed by public and parliamentary discussion. We shall ensure that this House has appropriate opportunities to discuss the issues in the new year.The Government will now consider the US request very seriously, agreeing to it only if we are satisfied that it will ultimately enhance the security of the UK and the NATO alliance. We will make a further statement in due course.