asked Her Majesty's Government:Why a gap on top of the wall between Cluan Place in East Belfast and its neighbouring areas used by a sniper to shoot into the Cluan Place community on the night of 18 November was not repaired; when it will be repaired; and what other steps are being taken to assure the security of the residents. [HL194]

The gap in question was an unavoidable consequence of the work being taken forward to extend the height of the security fence at the Cluan Place/Clandeboye interface. It was always intended to plug this gap during the course of the construction works. However, given the relative calm in the period prior to the 16 November it was decided best to press ahead with the major works on the security fence and then seal any gaps with appropriate metal flashingFollowing the regrettable shooting incident on 18 November work permanently to seal these gaps was completed on 19 November.An extensive works programme to increase the security fencing in the Short Strand area is now nearing completion.

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

The IRA issued a unilateral statement on 31 August 1994 announcing a complete cessation of its military operations from midnight. The ceasefire ended on 9 February 1996 with explosions at Canary Wharf, London. It was restored on 20 July 1997.The Secretary of State continues to keep the status of all paramilitary ceasefires under review and continues to make judgments in the round, paying particular attention to the provisions set out in Section 3(9) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the recently introduced practice of omitting the full stop after clause and section numbers in Bills and Acts of Parliament respectively makes the documents in question easier to understand; and, if not, why the change was introduced. [HL538]

The format of Bills and Acts of Parliament was changed during Session 2000–01, following the report of a working group on the format of the statute law. The group's report was endorsed by the Procedure Committee in its second report of Session 1998–99, which included samples of text in the new format. The purpose of the changes recommended by the group, taken as a whole, was to make the statute law easier to read and to understand, not only in paper form but also using modern technology, including the Internet, on which all Bills and Acts are now published.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who is responsible for the delivery of palliative care for the Northern Ireland Hospice. [HL663]

The Registered. Homes (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 and the Nursing Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 govern the operation of the Northern Ireland Hospice. In addition, the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 also governs the operation of the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice. Under the legislation, the Eastern and Northern Health and Social Services Boards' Registration and Inspection Units have authority to inspect the adult and children's hospices to ensure that the boards' standards for good practice are being met.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that the inquiry team into Northern Ireland hospice care will have sufficient power to ensure that all parties act upon the recommendations. [HL664]

The team conducting the review will make it's report to the Minister with responsibility for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. It will be for the Minister to determine what action needs to be taken and how it should be implemented.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Why the House of Commons Commission in setting up an initial feasibility study for visitor facilities for the Houses of Parliament did not do so in conjunction with the House of Lords; and what representations have been made on behalf of the House of Lords; and [HL642]Why the consultants' meetings about setting up a visitor centre for the Houses of Parliament with 13 representatives of the House of Lords included only one peer; and what instructions the other 12 representatives of the House of Lords had previously been given by individual peers or groups of peers with regard to their evidence or views; and [HL643]

The initial feasibility study for improved visitor facilities was commissioned by the House of Commons Board of Management, acting through the Group on Information for the Public (GIP). The study was conducted by the consultants Haley Sharpe, in conjunction with Purcell Miller Tritton and Partners (conservation architects).GIP is a Commons body, but the House of Lords is represented on it by Mary Morgan, the Director of Public Information. The group is charged with increasing and improving the public understanding of Parliament, so fulfilling one of the strategic objectives adopted by the House of Commons Commission in October 2001 (see the commission's 24th annual report, 2001–02, p.10). It has been particularly concerned about the way in which visitors of all types (whether on business or simply to see the building) are received when they come to Parliament. Related concerns have been expressed by Members of this House in recent debates, including those initiated by the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbots, on 4 July 2001 (HL Deb., cols. 821–34) and the noble Lord, Lord Norton of Louth on 13 March 2002 (HL Deb., cols. 827–65).The decision to commission an initial feasibility study was therefore taken by the House of Commons administration. The object of the study was to assess what options were available for improving visitor facilities, not to agree a single way forward. No formal representations were made on behalf of the House of Lords, although the consultants did meet senior officials, including Black Rod, the agent of the Administration and Works Sub-Committee. The House has been kept informed throughout, and the Administration and Works Sub-Committee took note of developments on 2 July.A general notice was issued to Members of both Houses in the all-party whip on 16 May, inviting them to make their views known to the consultants, who subsequently conducted a number of interviews. No instructions were given by individual Members or groups of Members to those from the House of Lords who spoke to the consultants.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What role the Attorney-General plays in the firefighters' dispute. [HL260]

I have the power to apply to the court for an injunction to prevent threatened breaches of the criminal law. This power is to be exercised in the public interest, which I exercise in my independent judgment in my role as Attorney-General rather than as a member of government. Such an application is always exceptional and is instituted only where there is the prospect of genuine, serious and irreparable harm and I judge that it is in the public interest to make the application.It is my duty to keep under constant review the question whether to exercise this power. In order to determine where the public interest lies I may consult, as I have been doing. with my ministerial colleagues to ensure that I am properly informed as to the public interest consultations arising. I have been informed also of the views of fire authority representatives in relation to the potential threat to public safety. But the power to apply for an injunction is one for me as the Attorney-General to exercise in the public interest and the decision is for me alone.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they anticipate that a start date will be given to Turkey for accession negotiations to the European Union; and whether the new United Kingdom-Turkey Action Plan will advance such negotiations. [HL470]

The Copenhagen European Council agreed that "if the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, the European Union will open accession negotiations with Turkey without delay". Her Majesty's Government welcomes this and encourages the Turkish Government to continue with its eocnomic and political reforms in preparation. The UK Action Plan for Turkey, formally launched by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary in Ankara on 3 December, includes a wide range of bilateral reform initiatives, aimed at helping Turkey to prepare for EU membership.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response, as guarantor power, to the fact that the settlement for Cyprus proposed by the United Nations does not provide for input by the United Kingdom to the stationing of troops from foreign powers in Cyprus. [HL599]

As a guarantor power, the UK Government fully support the UN proposals for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem, including security arrangements. It is, of course, for the two sides in Cyprus to agree a settlement, but we believe the UN proposals to be workable and fair.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as guarantor power, they have no input or responsibility for minority religious groups in both northern and southern Cyprus. [HL600]

I understand that the United Nations Secretary-General's proposals make provisions for religious groups in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. I belive that the proposals are comprehensive, workable and fair. A settlement to the Cyprus problem remains the best basis for ensuring that all Cypriots enjoy the full range of civil and human rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the present United Nations proposals for a Cyprus resettlement recommend that there be two police services operational in northern Cyprus: (a) one under the control of the "component state" in North Cyprus and (b) the other under the control of the "common state" of Cyprus. [HL601]

The United Nations Secretary-General's proposals for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem provide for police forces in both the component states and the common state. They would have equal numbers of personnel and there would be extensive co-operation between them. The UK Government fully support the proposals as the basis for a settlement. However, it is for the two sides in Cyprus to agree on the details.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action has been taken by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or Her Majesty's Government's representatives in China on behalf of North Korean refugees. [HL588]

The UNHCR visited China in September to discuss how they might be able to help deal with North Koreans who cross into China. Officials from the British Embassy in Beijing visited the border region in June to assess the situation. The issue of North Korean border crossers was raised at the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in May in Beijing. The Embassy raised individual cases of detained North Koreans with the Chinese authorities in May and August.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will seek assurances from President Assad of Syria that he will (a) take all measures within his power to shut down terrorist bases and training camps in Syria and (b) curb the terrorist activities of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah; and [HL612]What consultations they have had with President Assad of Syria to bring about peace in the Middle East. [HL613]

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister and President Al-Assad discussed international efforts towards peace in the Middle East, including progress with the Quartet's Roadmap. The Prime Minister made clear his commitment to a solution based on two States, Israel and Palestine, living alongside each other in peace and security.The Prime Minister reiterated his total condemnation of acts of terrorism, including suicide attacks. He strongly urged a change in Syrian attitudes to the presence of Palestinian rejectionist groups in Syria. The Foreign Secretary also discussed the presence of these groups in Syria with Foreign Minister Shara'a, asking what Syria proposed to do to change the behaviour of these groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current state of British-Syrian relations in the light of President Assad's visit to the United Kingdom. [HL614]

UK/Syrian relations are important. Both sides are willing to invest time and effort in improving them. While we would not pretend to agree on every issue, we cannot attempt to resolve disagreements without dialogue. A candid dialogue is better than no dialogue at all.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why President Assad of Syria will meet (a) Her Majesty the Queen in Buckingham Palace and (b) the Prince of Wales. [HL615]

it is customary for a head of state, on an official visit to the United Kingdom, to have an audience with the Queen if Her Majesty is available. On this occasion a call on the Prince of Wales also seemed appropriate. President and Mrs Al-Assad have an interest in the Prince of Wales' charitable works, in particular the Prince's Trust.

Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide copies of the

Copies of the new International Centre for Prison Studies Handbook for Prison Staff have been sent to all British missions overseas. They have been asked to disseminate the publication to appropriate senior officials in ministries of justice, prisons and other relevant government administrations. The handbook is currently being translated into Russian, Spanish and Turkish. A French version is also planned in the next financial year. Once printed, UK missions in Russia and Russian-speaking countries, Turkey and South America, as well as Francophone Africa will circulate many hundreds of copies more. I have also arranged to have a copy placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Quartet engaged in the Middle East peace process has accepted the Taba proposals of January 2001 as a starting point, if not, which members of the Quartet rejected them; and on what grounds. [HL640]

We believe that the international community broadly shares our view that ideas discussed in Camp David and Taba provide a valuable framework for handling some of the issues which divide the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. The Quartet is working on a roadmap leading to a final settlement within three years, implementing the vision expressed by President Bush in June 2002. The Israeli occupation that began in 1967 will be ended through a settlement negotiated between the parties and based on UN resolutions 242 and 338, with Israeli withdrawal to secure and recognised borders and the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Taba proposals gave the Israeli government control of main roads and strategic communications in the West Bank and Gaza; and whether such control would deny the principle of the sustainability of a Palestinian state. [HL641]

There is much speculation about the positions of the parties at Taba but no official written record exists of what was discussed.As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said in another place on 16 April 2002 (

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they have taken, or intend to take, to publish or distribute an authenticated and consolidated version of the core Treaties of the European Community and Union, including the Protocols in force, as they will operate from 1 January 2003, or later, as specified in the Treaty of Nice or other treaty. [HL652]

The inter-governmental conference did not prepare a consolidated version of the Treaty of Rome, and therefore it was not included in the command paper (Cm 5090) publishing the Treaty of Nice. But we expect the Office for Official Publications of the European Union to publish a version of the consolidated treaties in due course. We will place this in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as it becomes available. Unofficial consolidated versions of the treaties are publicly available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by Baroness Amos on 10 December (

The British High Commission in Harare issued Mr Christopher Pasipamire with a visitor's visa for the UK on 14 November 2002. The visa allows stays in the UK of up to six months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the meeting on 17 December between the Foreign Secretary and relatives of the Lockerbie victims. [HL777]

On 11 July in another place my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary explained he did not see a case for a public inquiry into the Lockerbie disaster, but was going to look into whether other arrangements for scrutiny could be established.In considering what options might be available to us, we have taken the view that, to be of value, any scrutiny should be able to deliver new and useful conclusions despite the passage of time and the investigations that have already taken place.Those previous investigations have been extensive. They include a fatal accident inquiry, the US President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism, a Transport Select Committee inquiry, various internal Department of Transport reviews of aviation security, and the trial, conviction and unsuccessful appeal of al Megrahi.We have concluded that, given the absence of any significant new information, the fact that the key issues have already been extensively explored, and action taken, including substantial changes to airport procedures, it is most unlikely that any further form of inquiry would unearth further lessons to be learned, 14 years after the event, which had not already been identified by earlier investigations.The Government have therefore decided not to initiate any further form of review on Lockerbie.The Foreign Secretary explained this decision to the Lockerbie relatives at a meeting in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 17 December.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What changes have been made in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. [HL778]

Ms Cheryl Gillan MP has replaced Mr James Arbuthnot MP as a member of the delegation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What recent changes have been made to (a) the United Nations sanctions against Angola (UNITA) and Sierra Leone; and (b) the European Union sanctions against the Democratic Republics of Congo and Burma. [HL779]

Angola (UNITA)With the suport of Her Majesty's Government, the UN Security Council on 18 October 2002 unanimously adopted UN Security Council resolution 1439(2002). The resolution lifted the travel ban on members of UNITA and their immediate families listed in paragraphs 4a and 4b of UN Security Council resolution 1127(1997) from 14 November 2002. The travel ban has been suspended since May pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions 1412(2002) and 1432(2002).Resolution 1439(2002) also committed the Security Council to review all remaining measures imposed on UNITA by 19 November 2002. Following the review with the support of Her Majesty's Government, the Security Council voted unanimously to adopt United Nations Resolution 1448(2002) on 9 December 2002. This resolution lifted all remaining sanctions measures on Angola (UNITA). This is in recognition of the considerable progress made in Angola since the formal cessation of hostilities on 4 April 2002, and the broad fulfilment of the tenets of the Lusaka Peace Protocol by UNITA.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the ages of the members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and whether they will encourage the committee to include members' ages in future annual reports. [HL325]

The dates of birth of serving members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life are already a matter of public record and are set out in a number of commercial publications. For the noble Lord's ease of reference, the information is printed below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Questions for Written Answers that refer the questioner to a website for the relevant information are an appropriate and effective way of disseminating the information being sought to both the questioner and the wider public. [HL437]

The position remains as set out in the Answer to the noble Lord of 12 May 2000 (WA 242).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the EU Transport Council on 5–6 December. [HL809]

The transport segment of the Transport, Energy and Telecommunications Council was held in Brussels on 5–6 December. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Transport (John Spellar) and my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (David Jamieson) represented the United Kingdom.The Council came to an agreement on the Single European Sky package. The aim of the four regulations making up the package is to improve the efficiency of air traffic management across the EU, thereby reducing air traffic delays. The United Kingdom has been a strong supporter of this package from the outset and we are very pleased to be able to report the successful outcome. Civil/military co-operation is an important aspect of air traffic management, and the member states made a declaration agreeing to cooperate on military aspects.The Commission presented its recent communication on the consequences for European avaiation policy of the recent ECJ rulings on aviation agreements. The Commission called for rapid progress on concluding an EU-US aviation agreement, the Commissioner having written to Ministers asking them to denounce their existing agreements with the US, which, following the ECU rulings, the Commission believed were no longer valid. There was general agreement that member states and the Commission needed to discuss the consequences of the ruling urgently, including the question of a Commission mandate for negotiations with the US. COREPER was asked to work on proposals to be put to the Council.The Council agreed on a regulation providing for new levels of compensation to air passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation and delay. A majority of Ministers accepted three levels of compensation: 250 euros for all flights of 1,500km or less, 400 euros for intra-EU flights of more than 1,500km and other flights between 1,500–3,500km, and 600 euros for all other flights. These compensation levels will be reviewed four years after the regulation comes into effect. The UK voted against the regulation because in the absence of a link to the ticket price it could damage the interests of consumers of no-frills air services. During the debate, the Minister of State for Transport had voiced concern at the impact on the services of no-frills carriers, pointing out that the minimum compensation level was almost four times the average cost of a no-frills ticket. Following a suggestion from some member states that the scope of the regulation be extended to certain passengers returning to the EU from non-Community airports, it was agreed that the Commission would publish a report on this issue.Conclusions were agreed setting out the basis for the continuation of the Galileo satellite navigation project, including the tendering procedure, and addressing the importance of relations with third countries. A final decision on whether to include a public regulated service (PRS) in the project is to be taken before the end of 2003. The UK and the Netherlands entered a minutes statement stressing that they could not accept any PRS that would overlay the US GPS M-Code.The Council debated the second package of rail measures. The Presidency noted the progress that had been made on this package of five proposals, designed to progress the development of more harmonised technical standards for interoperability, harmonise safety regulation processes, to open up access to the market for all rail freight services and to establish a european rail agency. In discussion of the main outstanding issues on the safety and interoperability proposals there was a consensus for member states to be able to maintain safety levels above any harmonised minimum standard, and general support for extending the scope of the interoperability requirements. The Presidency concluded that work should continue on the package. Greece made clear that it hoped to reach agreeement during its Presidency.There was a debate on action to be taken following the "Prestige" accident. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr Jamieson), in common with other Ministers and the Commission, generally welcomed the Presidency's approach in the conclusions put to the Council. He joined others in arguing for better quality port state control inspections and expressed the UK view that in general there should be co-ordinated EU actions leading to improvements in the international regulatory framework. The conclusions reaffirmed the support of member states for the establishment of a supplementary compensation fund, developed in the IMO, to the benefit of the victims of oil pollution. This would enhance the existing international fund. The UK's concern was that the EU should not commit itself at this stage to its own fund in the event of failure of negotiations in the IMO for fear of prejudicing those negotiations, and we secured an amendment to this effect. The conclusions also include commitments to a faster phasing out of single-hulled tankers and restrictions on those carrying very heavy oil. There is to be an analysis of available double-hull tanker capacity. Also included are better implementation of port state control obligations and possible measures by member states to prohibit within 200 miles of their coasts traffic carrying dangerous and polluting goods.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the structure of the team conducting recent e-voting trails commissioned by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; and whether there are any proposals to change that structure in light of the gateway review of the trials. [HL434]

The e-voting electoral pilots held in May 2002 were undertaken by local authorities together with suppliers working under contract to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.The gateway review undertaken by the DTLR on the electoral modernisation pilot programme made a number of recommendations to improve its management, which were carefully taken into account.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Armed Forces will remain deployed to provide emergency fire cover over Christmas. [HL872]

I am pleased to announce that the Armed Forces personnel deployed on firefighting duties have been given the extended break over Christmas they richly deserve. This does not imply any reduction in our commitment to the provision of emergency fire cover during any further industrial action. However, the FBU has called off the nine-day strike it had planned to start on 16 December and has not announced any plans to strike again until 28 January. The FBU would be required to give seven days' notice of any further strike.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to repeal Section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947, as recommended by the Bain review. [HL873]

The repeal of Section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947 is an essential element of the move to risk-based fire cover which is at the centre of the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Fire Service—the Bain review. The Deputy Prime Minister announced on Monday 16 December that he would take the earliest opportunity to make the necessary amendment to the Fire Services Act. The Deputy Prime Minister is now announcing that he shall be proposing an amendment to the Local Government Bill which is currently before the House.This demonstrates the Government's commitment to fulfil our part of the programme of modernisation proposed by the Bain review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Of those convicted of racially motivated offences who are either on probation or in custody, how many are on behavioural programmes run by the Probation Service, youth offending teams or others designed to change racist offending behaviour. [HL606]

Figures for the number of offenders convicted of racially motivated offences who are attending accredited offending behaviour programmes are not currently recorded. The roll-out of OASys (the new joint prison-probation offender assessment system) and the reporting facility for the programmes database will enable more detailed information to be obtained. This will give the prison and probation services the ability to report on offenders on accredited programmes by offence type.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the operational capacity in all the prisons in England and Wales and in Wandsworth Prison respectively at the beginning of 2002 and at the latest convenient date; and what were the corresponding numbers of staff in all prisons and in Wandsworth at those dates. [HL616]

The information requested is shown in the table:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the first stage of the quinquennial review of the Meteorological Office has been completed. [HL870]

The first stage of the quinquennial review (QQR) of the Met Office has been completed. This has focused primarily on the future status of the Met Office and on the arrangements for strategic oversight by its parent department, the Ministry of Defence.The stage 1 report examined a number of alternative status options for the Met Office but concluded that the Met Office should remain a trading fund agency of the Ministry of Defence for the foreseeable future. It concluded also that there was a need for a substantial reform of the arrangements for oversight of the agency by its owner, the Secretary of State for Defence. The recommended reforms comprise the reshaping of the Defence Met Board into a UK Met Board, including in its membership representatives of the three principal civil stakeholder interests in the Met Office's product (environment, transport and civil contingencies) alongside the existing defence stakeholder interest; the adoption of a more proactive stance by the new board, with the focus on identifying in advance and resolving key strategic issues so as to provide a clear policy framework for Met Office management; and the provision of adequate administrative support to the new board.We have today given our endorsement of these recommendations, and action is now in hand to give effect to them as soon as possible. It is planned that the UK Met Board should come into existence early in 2003. A copy of the QQR Stage 1 report has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much of the additional £40 million funding for stem cell research recently announced by them will be devoted exclusively to adult stem cell research. [HL626]

The booklet Science Budget: 2003–04 to 2005–06 published on 9 December and available in the library gives further information on the proposed research, but it is too soon to say how much of the new money will be spent on specific research.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they expect rural sub-post offices to remain open if the universal bank accounts scheme is cancelled. [HL455]

Good progress continues to be made on universal banking services in advance of migration of benefit to ACT in 2003. As my right honourable friend the Minister for Competitiveness and E-commerce announced on 2 December, £450 million will be made available (from 2003 to 2006) to help the rural post office network through the transition of benefit payment to ACT. A total of £150 million will be invested in each of the three years, all of it ringfenced for support of the rural network. The package will be funded from Royal Mail Holdings accumulated surpluses as part of a package to put Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd on a commercial footing. The funding will be administered by Post Office Ltd under contract to the Government. In return, Post Office Ltd will be required to maintain the rural network and prevent avoidable closures working through their code of practice for doing so in the first instance to 2006 and to provide reasonable access for all citizens to "over the counter" services in rural areas. Subject to state aid clearance, funding will be in place in April 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In which areas of Lancashire digital hearing aids are provided by the National Health Service; what are the criteria for making decisions on whether they are provided; and when it is intended that they will be provided throughout the county. [HL339]

Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust was part of the first wave of National Health Service trusts to participate in the Department of Health's digital hearing aid project. On 22 November, the Minister of State for Community (Ms Jacqui Smith) announced a further 17 successful sites which included the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust which is now providing digital hearing aids for adults as well as for children. Arrangements are also in hand for the Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals NHS Trust to receive the necessary equipment and training to enable it to provide a digital hearing aid service.The following criteria was published before the second wave of the project: ability an willingness to modernise quickly; geographical spread; interest in providing some services from a community base; Implications for transfer of paediatric patients to an adult service.However, in practice, all sites that applied with the full support of their primary care trusts have been successful. The commitment of PCTs has been vital. Discussions are still continuing in relation to extending the digital hearing aid project nationally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the objectives of their pathology modernisation programme; and how these compare with what has been achieved by the managed network of public health laboratories. [HL572]

The Pathology Modernisation Programme is a 10 year programme to modernise pathology services and encourage larger systems of clinical pathology which will have the capacity to deal with rising demand and technological developments. The aims, which encompass National Health Service and Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories, are to improve the quality and efficiency of services, while securing sufficient medium and longer-term savings to support continuing reinvestment and development. This is consistent with the direction of development in PHLS. The main objectives of the PMP are to support NHS pathology services to respond to workforce pressures, growing demand, and the continuing development of new diagnostic technologies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the public health laboratories scheduled for transfer to their local National Health Service trusts provide food, water and environmental services to local authorities; how many hold United Kingdom Accreditation Service accreditation; and what are the comparable figures for National Health Service trust managed laboratories. [HL540]

Of the 31 Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories scheduled for transfer to National Health Service trusts, 22 analyse food, water and environmental samples for local authorities. All 22 are United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited. The other nine receive samples direct from environmental health officers, which are then forwarded to other public health laboratories for testing.We are not aware of any NHS laboratories that are UKAS accredited, since the main accreditation system for them is with Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) (CPA). Forty-seven per cent of NHS laboratories have full accreditation with CPA and a further 21 per cent have conditional accreditation.We do not have any statistical data on the number of NHS laboratories that provide a food, water or environmental service to local authorities.Eighty-seven per cent of public health laboratories in England hold full accreditation with CPA and a further 11 per cent hold conditional accreditation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the public health laboratories scheduled for transfer to their local National Health Service trusts hold contracts for providing support to National Health Service microbiology departments. [HL541]

All of the 31 laboratories scheduled to be transferred to National Health Service trusts have contracts with their local NHS trusts for providing microbiological services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment has been made of the likely impact on public health of the transfer of public health laboratories to their local National Health Service trusts. [HL543]

The transfer of some of the laboratories of the Public Health Laboratory Service to National Health Service trusts is one part of the preparation for creating the proposed health protection agency, which is itself one element of implementing the Chief Medical Officer's strategy for combating infectious diseases, Getting Ahead of the Curve. Our assessment of the impact of each element is therefore in the context of the entire strategy.The transfers of these laboratories to NHS trusts will bring public health activities within the mainstream of the NHS and thereby strengthen and enhance its arrangements for protection of public health. In particular, the transfer will strengthen the four public health functions of all NHS laboratories (reporting the occurrence of infectious diseases, submitting relevant samples to reference laboratories

for detailed testing, assisting with the investigation of outbreaks and with the development and implementation of local policies in infectious disease control) by providing the opportunity and incentive for all NHS microbiology laboratories to build on the examples of good practice in current PHLS laboratories. These transfers are essential to create a comprehensive, coherent surveillance and outbreak response system, as described in

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of public health laboratories have adopted standard methods; and what are the comparable figures for National Health Service microbiology laboratories. [HL573]

All public health laboratories have adopted standard methods. Information on the adoption of standard methods by National Health Service pathology laboratories is not collected centrally. Through its Pathology Modernisation Programme, the Department of Health is encouraging NHS pathology laboratories to adopt standard procedures and methods. We anticipate that this is one area where the example of good practice current in the PHLS will be taken up more widely as PHLS laboratories are transferred to the NHS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many public health laboratories scheduled for transfer to National Health Service trusts hold Clinical Pathology Accreditation accreditation; and how this compares with National Health Service microbiology laboratories. [HL574]

All of the 31 Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories scheduled for transfer to National Health Service trusts are accredited with Clinical Pathology Accreditation (26 unconditional and five conditional).Eighty-one NHS microbiology laboratories are accredited with Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd (CPA), plus a further 13 which are managed jointly by both the PHLS and the NHS (Source: CPA web-site).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What number of public health laboratories report to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre; what are the comparable figures for National Health Service microbiology laboratories; and what proportion of the surveillance data collected comes from each source. [HL575]

Information available from the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre shows that a total of 157,499 reports (46 per cent) were received from 191 National Health Service laboratories in 2001 and 180,503 reports (54 per cent) from 57 Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories. Additionally, CDSC received 137 reports in the same year from 24 laboratories belonging to neither the NHS nor the PHLS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been achieved as a result of the strategic review of pathology conducted by the Department of Health in 1995. [HL571]

The Strategic Review of Pathology Services, published by the then NHS Executive in 1995, focused on key issues relating to the provision and commissioning of NHS pathology services. The review emphasised local decision-making and provided a number of possible models. In addition, it flagged up some of the ways in which anticipated advances in technology were likely to impact on the pathology services, for example, through improved communication with service users and better collaboration between services. The report was widely disseminated to NHS pathology services to consider, in the light of the recommendations made, how to maintain and develop high quality, cost-effective clinical services responsive to the needs of patients and users.The NHS Plan, subsequently published in 1997, set out the vision for the NHS to offer people fast and convenient care delivered to a consistently high standard. This overtook the recommendations of the

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the spending on alcohol prevention and treatment is commensurate with the level of alcohol-related harm. [HL618]

It is difficult to arrive at an estimate of the cost to society attributable to alcohol-related harm, as there are a number of widely different factors which need to be taken into account. The majority of the funding for prevention and treatment is spent via the general budgets of primary care trusts and local social service departments, which is consistent with provision being determined following a local consideration of need. This method of funding means that it is not possible to give details of the amount spent on the prevention and treatment of alcohol misuse. However, latest estimates indicate that £95 million per year is spent on alcohol treatment in England, and that most of this funding is provided by the Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What estimate they have made of the number of deaths directly attributable to alcohol misuse in each of the years from 1994 to 2001. [HL619]

Information collected centrally about the cause of deaths does not systematically record whether a death is attributable to alcohol misuse. A number of health and lifestyle factors can contribute to diseases such as cancer, stroke and coronary heart disease, and it can be difficult to isolate alcohol consumption as the most important of these factors.Estimates of the number of deaths range between 5,000 and 40,000 deaths per annum in England and Wales, reflecting the wide range of methods of calculation used in studies covering the number of alcohol related deaths. Consequently the trend data requested are not available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When was the first licence for embryonic stern cell research issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; to whom; and for what purposes. [HL621]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority issued the first licence on 4 March 1996 to the Assisted Conception Unit al the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, later varied to the Centre for Genome Research, for the culture of multipotential human embryo cells under the purposes specified in paragraph 3(2)(a), (b) and (e) of Schedule 2 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many licences have been issued to date by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for embryonic stem cell research; to whom; and for what purposes. [HL622]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has licensed six such research projects. Three of these included proposals to derive embryonic stem cells for purposes specified under paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 2 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, and three projects proposed to derive embryonic stem cells under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001. The information on the recipients of the licenses and the purpose of the projects is in the following tables.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many licences have been issued to date by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for the creation of human embryos via cell nuclear replacement; to whom; and for what purposes. [HL623]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has issued no licences for the creation of human embryos via cell nuclear replacement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether or not they intend to direct the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to communicate to the public:

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is increasingly open in its processes, with due regard to confidentiality when this is appropriate. The authority is currently reviewing procedures for handling research applications with the aim of making the process as open and transparent as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What details they have of the blood donor in Scotland found recently to have vCJD and from whom plasma had been used to manufacture haemophilia treatment by the National Health Service; and what guidance they are giving patients who could be affected. [HL639]

Questions relating to Scotland on this particular issue are for the devolved administration. My noble friend may wish to write to the Scottish Executive about this matter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many health visitors are trained to offer advice and support to young parents and prospective parents in relation to the emotional needs of young children; and what proportion of all health visitors this represents. [HL656]

Current specialist practice programmes leading to health visitor registration include components that help to prepare practitioners to support young families. These include providing counselling and support for individuals and carers and assessing, planning, providing and evaluating healthcare interventions to meet the health-related needs of individuals, families, groups and communities. New requirements for health visitor programmes specify emotional health and well-being and managing changes and transitions such as parenthood as part of the competence framework. Health visiting practice has a strong family focus and this is likely to be reflected in the theoretical and practical elements of most pre-registration courses.Post-registration training needs are determined locally through skills auditing of teams against priority local needs and through the appraisal process. While a proportion of health visitors will have undergone additional training around the emotional needs of young children and provision of parenting support, there is no centrally held information on this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which National Health Service trusts had an income and expenditure deficit in their 2001–02 annual accounts; and what was the amount of each trusts deficit for that year. [HL678]

the information requested is given in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much transitional funding will be provided for the Health Protection Agency as it takes over the responsibilities currently provided by the Public Health Laboratory Service. [HL710]

The Secretary of State for Health has not yet decided on the allocations to the central budgets programme (where the Health Protection Agency will lie) for 2003–04 et seq. This information is therefore not yet available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the sixth report on the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. [HL867]

The sixth report to Parliament on the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS) was published today.The report, entitled

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the joint Department of Health and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry study into branded medicines. [HL868]

The joint Department of Health and Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) study into the extent of competition in the supply of branded medicines to the National Health Service was published today.An integral part of the current pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS) agreement that took effect on 1 October 1999 is a joint assessment by the department and the ABPI of the scope, pace and change and practical impact of competition in the supply and use of branded medicines for the NHS. The results of this study will be available to both the Government and the pharmaceutical industry in considering the future direction of policy on the PPRS.The study comprised seven components and work on each of the components was undertaken jointly by the department and the ABPI with some elements of the analysis contracted out to third parties. The study allowed an unprecedented level of shared data collection and analysis between the department and the branded pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom.Copies of the study, entitled

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the names of the organisations on the NHS franchising register of expertise and announce the names of the NHS trusts to be franchised following the July 2002 performance star ratings. [HL869]

National Health Service franchising is a new approach being taken by the Department of Health to find the best available managers to take over the functions of the chief executive and, where necessary, other senior management positions in, and to identify organisations which might be called upon to exercise the functions of, some of the most poorly performing NHS trusts in England. The prime goal under new franchised management arrangements will be to address the particular areas where a trust has performed poorly and to demonstrate its capacity to sustain improved performance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will arrange for all children to learn the international phonetic alphabet before they reach school leaving age. [HL695]

There are no plans to introduce the international phonetic alphabet into schools. Primary pupils, through the National Literacy Strategy (NLS), are already taught to read using a range of strategies including both synthetic and analytic phonics, as well as other strategies such as grammar and context. The NLS advocates the Searchlights model of teaching children to read which emphasises the central importance of early phonics but also accepts that children will attempt to make sense of a wide range of print and texts during the course of mastering the phonic code.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice they would offer to a waste collection or disposal authority that is currently achieving a recycling level of over 25 per cent if it wishes to encourage home composting of organic waste but is reluctant to do so because it needs to collect waste centrally in order to meet its 2005–06 recycling targets. [HL590]

The advice would be that it should strive to improve its good record, using those sustainable waste management systems that suit local conditions. The possibility of allowing home composting to count towards recycling targets is under review, subject to finding methods to monitor it stringently and fairly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they are making in reconciling their desire to see organic domestic waste recycled by waste authorities with the difficulties posed by the Animal By-Products Order. [HL591]

The Government acknowledge that the composting of catering waste has an important role to play in helping local authorities to meet their recycling targets and the Landfill Directive targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste that goes to landfill. However, composting and biogas treatment of catering waste are effectively banned at present by the Animal By-Products Order 1999 (as amended).Drawing on the results of a risk assessment commissioned by the department, a draft amending the Animal By-Products Order went out for public consultation on 20 November. The overall objective of this work is to develop a set of rules that will allow composting of catering waste to take place economically while fully protecting animal and public health.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals they have to give incentives to householders to participate in kerbside recycling schemes, or to penalise those who do not. [HL593]

The Cabinet Office Strategy Unit has recently completed a report on waste entitled Waste not, Want not which sets out a range of options including giving local authorities freedom to introduce incentive-based schemes for households to reduce waste and recycle more. These schemes could include, for example, council tax discounts or reward schemes for people who recycle or compost regularly or variable charging for household waste collection. Some local authorities have already introduced such incentive schemes. The Government are currently considering their response to the report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals they have to encourage at-home recycling as envisaged by

The only method of any significance for recycling in the home, apart from kerbside recycling, is home composting.In

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to publish the joint Department for Culture, Media and Sport/Strategy Unit report on sport and physical activity. [HL775]

'The report will be pubished today, Thursday 19 December 2002. My right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has today placed copies of the report in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made by the video-on-demand industry in establishing a self-regulatory system that will ensure adequate protection for children when video-on-demand services are deregulated. [HL818]

We are pleased to announce that the video-on-demand industry has made excellent progress with the development of a binding code of practice, and it has written to my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with details of that code. My right honourable friend is satisfied that the code represents a system that will provide adequate protection for children, and to subscribers to video-on-demand services. My right honourable friend asked the industry to keep her informed of its progress in establishing the self-regulatory system set out in the code, so that it can come fully into effect on enactment of the relevant provisions of the Communications Bill.Copies of the code of practice have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and the text is also available on the DCMS departmental website at

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish their response to the United Kingdom Youth Parliament's Manifesto and Agenda for Action 2002. [HL404]

Government departments have received the UK YP Manifesto and Agenda for Action 2002 and some departments have had meetings with representatives of the Youth Parliament. The Children and Young People's Unit will co-ordinate the Government's written response to the manifesto.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have made to the report by the Better Regulation Task Force published in July on local delivery of central policy. [HL494]

The Government's response to the Better Regulation Task Force report on local delivery of central policy was published 19 December 2002. It is available at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the recommendation in the July report by the Better Regulation Task Force on the local delivery of central policy that the Treasury and Regional Co-ordination Unit of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister should review specific areas of cross-cutting delivery has been implemented; if so, when the unit will report; and to whom. [HL495]

The Government's response to the Better Regulation Task Force report on local delivery of central policy was published 19 December 2002. It is available at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.The government response emphasises the role of spending review and delivery planning in ensuring more effective public service delivery. In addition the Regional Co-ordination Unit will draw together information from relevant departments' delivery plans, from their regional and local intelligence and from the Better Regulation Task Force report to identify which areas would benefit from an additional review of local delivery arrangements. The RCU will then work with the Treasury and other departments on a phased programme of reviews, reporting back to the task force in June 2003 and in December 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the recommendation in the July report by the Better Regulation Task Force on the local delivery of central policy that a review to map and re-engineer the delivery of skills and economic development, removing unnecessary links in the delivery chain, should be commenced within six months has been implemented. [HL496]

The Government's response to the Better Regulation Task Force report on local delivery of central policy was published 19 December 2002. It is available at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.The response sets out the Government's strong agreement that the delivery of skills programmes must be properly co-ordinated with wider economic development programmes. The Government's forthcoming skills strategy (to be published next year) will be the key mechanism for addressing this recommendation. It will provide a framework and delivery plan for meeting the economy's skills needs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have made to Recommendation 4 in the July report by the Better Regulation Task Force on the local delivery of public services that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister should help local stakeholders to understand the role of Government Offices. [HL497]

The Government's response to the Better Regulation Task Force report on local delivery of central policy was publised 19 December 2002. It is available at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.The response sets out the Government's acceptance of this recommendation. A real capacity to understand regional concerns is a major component of the value added by Government Offices. The Regional co-ordination Unit and the Government Offices have carried out a review of two-way communication as part of their efforts to understand better the needs of stakeholders, and have developed a communications strategy to drive this work forward.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give details of the London weighting allowance paid to each category of public sector worker; whether the differences in the amounts paid are objectively justifiable; and if so, on what grounds. [HL617]

HM Treasury does not hold this information centrally. It is for the various public sector employers to determine their priorities, within the resources available to them, including the way they structure pay and allowances to reflect different circumstances and requirements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the powers and prerogatives formerly with in the powers of the national parliaments or assemblies and governments, respectively, of each member state of the European Community which were transferred to the European Central Bank, or other Community institution, respectively, on their adherence to the euro currency system. [HL651]

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will estimate, in respect of the most recent year for which information is available, what would have been the additional revenue from income tax if the following rates of income tax on taxable income above the then higher rate threshold had applied: 40 per cent up to £100,000; 50 per cent on the slice of taxable income between £100,000 and £500,000; 60 per cent on the slice of taxable income between £500,000 and £1,000,000 and 70 per cent on the slice of taxable income above £1,000,000, assuming that all other parts of the tax system remain unchanged; and [HL698]What was, for the most recent year for which figures are available, the number of United Kingdom taxpayers whose personal taxable income exceeded £100,000, £250,000, £500,000, £1 million. £5 million and £10 million respectively. [HL699]

The yield from increasing income tax rates in 2002–03 to 50 per cent on the slice of taxable income between £100,000 and £500,000; 60 per cent on the slice of taxable income between £500,000 and £1,000,000 and 70 per cent on the slice of taxable income above £1,000,000, assuming that all other parts of the tax system remain unchanged is £5.7 billion^1>.The numbers of people in 2002–03 with taxable income in the various income ranges are shown in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will, from 30 September 2003 or earlier, split the role of the chairman of the Financial Services Authority into the posts of non-executive chairman and chief executive. [HL770]

I refer the noble Lord to the comments I made in the House on 17 December (Official Report, Column 535).