asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they and the states providing troops to UNMEE have made to Ethiopia and Eritrea concerning access restrictions and other kinds of non-cooperation; and whether they will ask for the extension of the mandate for ceasefire verification, frontier demarcation and demining. [HL1057]

We have consistently supported UNMEE and the UN process. We have made representations bilaterally and support representations made by the SRSG and UNMEE Force Commander calling for full cooperation from the parties and for restrictions on UNMEE to be lifted. We also participate in the Friends of UNMEE Group in New York, along with troop contributors. We will support the extension of UNMEE's mandate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they intend to halt the rise in the prison population, particularly in the numbers of women and young persons. [HL757]

It is for the courts to decide in individual cases whether a prison sentence is appropriate or not. But we have always been clear that a custodial sentence should be given for dangerous violent and sexual offenders and for those who persistently offend. Protecting the public is a priority and dangerous offenders should go to prison for as long as public protection requires. However, it is equally important, whether a custodial sentence is given or not, that steps are taken to break the cycle of offending behaviour. Whatever sentence is passed, it should be accompanied by interventions to address the causes of the offender's behaviour.We are taking forward the

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures are being taken to reduce the rising number of incidents of attempted suicide and self-harm in HM Prisons. [HL1058]

The general prison population contains a large number of prisoners with a combination of psychiatric disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, family background and relationship problems and histories of self-harm and previous abuse, all of which raise their risk of suicide and self-harm. Good care and support from staff save many lives but such instances go largely unreported. The Prison Service's approach, in close partnership with outside organisations such as the Samaritans, is to identify better and support those who seem at greatest risk, with an approach that focuses on staff/prisoner relationships and the physical environment.The Prison Service's suicide prevention and self-harm reduction programme includes a series of interrelated projects to improve pre-reception, reception and induction arrangements; inter-agency information exchange; prisoner care; detoxification; prisoner peer support, and the learning from investigations into deaths in custody.Piloting of these projects is focused on six establishments—Wandsworth, Feltham, Eastwood Park, Leeds, Winchester and Birmingham—although others are involved in aspects of the work. An investment of £21.69 million over the three-year programme from April 2001 is allowing physical improvements to be made at these six sites, for example to reception and induction areas, and through the installation of more first night centres, safer cells, crisis suites and gated cells that enable staff to watch at-risk prisoners closely. The programme will be subject to an independent quantitative and qualitative evaluation.Thirty full-time suicide prevention co-ordinators (SPCs) have been trained and located in the most high risk establishments, and a further 99 mostly part-time SPCs are now operating across the estate. There has been a continuing increase in the numbers of listeners being recruited in high-risk establishments, with 608 new listeners recruited within these establishments between 1 October 2001 and 31 March 2002 alone, and further recruitment and training are taking place. Listeners are prisoner volunteers who are selected, trained and supported by Samaritans to offer confidential support to their fellow prisoners who may be at risk of suicide or self-harm or otherwise in distress.Between August 2001 and June 2002 a new healthcare screening procedure was piloted in 10 local prisons. Of the 10 establishments, six were adult male remand prisons (Leeds, Wandsworth, Holme House, Liverpool, Manchester and Durham), two were for female remand prisoners (Eastwood Park and New Hall) and two were young offender institutions (Feltham and Glen Parva). The two female prisons include both adults and women aged 16–21 years. An evaluation of the pilot project supported implementation of the new reception screening arrangements across the estate and a rolling programme is planned commencing in April 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 6 March 2001

The proportion of prisoners held over 100 miles from home area has remained constant at 17 per cent since March 2001. However, due to an 11 per cent increase in prison population during this period the number of prisoners held over 100 miles from their home area has increased by 1,400 to 12,400 prisoners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will now publish the report by Stephen Moore on the fire at Yarl's Wood detention centre on 14 February 2001, together with the reports on the fire by the Bedfordshire Police and the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service; and what decision they have made about bringing the undamaged part of the detention centre into operation. [HL1084]

Stephen Moore's terms of reference require him to take full account of inquiries being undertaken by the Bedfordshire police and the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. 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. Consideration is therefore still being given as to when the report can be completed and published.

asked Her Majesty's Government:If they intend to make any changes to the right to buy scheme. [HL1225]

The Government fully support the aspiration of the great majority to own their home (there are now nearly 1 million more homeowners than there were in 1997) and we continue to provide a range of schemes to assist still more people into home ownership.The Government are fully committed to the principle of the right to buy, which has enabled 1.5 million tenants to own their house or flat, and have helped create stable, mixed communities, but the scheme must be kept up to date to reflect the current housing market. Right to buy has changed litttle since it was introduced in 1980, and the Government are particularly concerned about exploitation of the rules and about the way the scheme is now working in areas of high demand for housing.Right to buy imposes a substantial long-term burden on the public purse (last year's sales will, in due course, result in a long run cost of some £850 million) so it is vital that it meets its objectives effectively. The Government have therefore decided to act to tackle abuses and to reduce the scheme's adverse impact on the availability of affordable housing, in both urban and rural areas.My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister intends to reduce the maximum discounts available to tenants in 42 areas that are under the greatest housing market pressure, as evidenced by a high incidence of homelessness and high house prices, and where there is also evidence of abuse of the scheme. The areas concerned, mainly urban and all in the South and East of England, are listed below. The maximum discount will be cut to £16,000, the same as the maximum discount available to assured tenants of housing associations under the right to acquire scheme.Office of the Deputy Prime Minister officials have today written to all the local authorities concerned and to any housing associations in those areas to whom the social housing stock has been transferred consulting them on our intentions. A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library of the House. It provides each local authority with the opportunity to provide reasons why the change should not be made in their area. All representations received will be considered carefully.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Under paragraphs 5(4)(a) and (b) of the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002, how long a period will be allowed to elapse in each case before the enforcement authority may take the measures referred to in paragraph 5(1). [HL875]

Regulation 5 of SI 2002 No 2013 enables UK enforcement authorities to take action against online service providers established in other EEA member states on a case by case basis where there is a grave and serious risk to public policy, in particular crime prevention or investigation, public health, public security or consumer protection. Use of this derogation is subject to certain conditions. Among other things, enforcement authorities must normally first ask the member state concerned to take action, and can only proceed with the action if the member state concerned does not, for whatever reason, take enforcement action itself or it is inadequate.Neither the directive nor the UK implementing regulations specify how much time the other member state concerned must be given to act. However, in emergency cases enforcement authorities are able to bypass the prior request requirement and take action immediately.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What date explanatory booklets and guidance on the Flexible Working Regulations will be available. [HL1170]

The Flexible Working Regulations come into force on 6 April 2003.In preparation for this, summary guidance on the Flexible Working Regulations has been available since August 2002 in both hard copy and on the DTI website.Detailed guidance, which will include case studies and set of sample best practice forms to help employees make a valid application and employers handle the request properly, has been tested with key stakeholders. The aim is to have the finalised guidance available on the DTI website by the beginning of February, with a hard copy and an interactive website version by the middle of February.The Acas helpline 08457 47 47 47, which provides advice and guidance on all employment issues, is already covering the new regulations. All helpline staff have received initial training and further more detailed training will be completed by the middle of February.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When will the United Kingdom space strategy be published. [HL1194]

The draft United Kingdom space strategy Space for science, enterprise and environment is being published today. It sets out proposals to enhance the UK's standing in space exploration, to promote the use of space in government and commerce and to develop innovative space systems. The public is invited to comment on the draft by 30 April. Copies of the strategy and guidance on how to respond are available on the website of the British National Space Centre www.bnsc.gov.uk. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

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

The system of appointment of Queen's Counsel identifies those solicitors or barristers who demonstrate outstanding advocacy, legal and professional skills in court and are specialists in their chosen field. Solicitors who need to instruct counsel for a complex case in a specialism or jurisdiction with which they are not familiar are aided by the quality mark of QC which allows them to distinguish which advocate will be able to handle that case most effectively on behalf of their client (the consumer). Consumers who wish to seek direct access to advocacy services may well be uninformed as to who best to instruct and can be guided by the quality mark represented by Queen's Counsel status. This quality mark also enables the consumer, or solicitor, to switch to new advocates with confidence, thereby facilitating competition and helping to create an open market for providers of advocacy services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their proposals for the amalgamation of divisions of the General Commissioners of Income Tax in Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. [HL1195]

On 21 January 2003, I made an order under Section 2(6) of the Taxes Management Act 1970 amalgamating a number of divisions in Berkshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire as follows. The Newbury, Reading, Slough, Windsor and Wokingham divisions shall be merged into one new division to be called the Berkshire division. The North East Wiltshire and Cirencester divisions shall be merged into one new division to be called the Thamesmead Division. This comes into force on 1 February 2003.That order also gives effect from 1 April 2003 to the merger of Huntingdon and St Ives divisions into one new division to be called Huntingdon and St Ives.All the amalgamations were made at the request of the General Commissioners in all the divisions with the aim of improving the organisational efficiency of the divisions concerned. I have placed a copy of the older amalgamating the divisions in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report

The Ram doctrine, which is set out in a memorandum dated 2 November 1945 from the then First. Parliamentary Counsel, Granville Ram, states that a Minister of the Crown may exercise any powers that the Crown has power to exercise, except in so far as the Minister is precluded by statute from so doing, either expressly or by necessary implication. Generally, legally privileged advice to government is not disclosed but, given the age of the advice, we are content to do so in this case and the text of the memorandum has been made available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they would consider it to be in the public interest for British political parties and parliamentary elections to be funded by business interests; and, if not, what are their reasons for this view. [HL944]

The Government's current policy on the funding of political parties follows the recommendations which the Committee on Standards in Public Life made in its 1998 report. The Government have since introduced rules on openness and transparency in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The independent Electoral Commission, which is charged with a statutory obligation to review and report on matters relating to the regulation and funding of political parties, has begun a review of the arguments for and against state funding and a cap on donations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to extend the Atomic Weapons Establishment contract. [HL1224]

We have decided that, following detailed negotiations, and as allowed for in the announcement of the existing 10-year contract for the management and operation of the Atomic Weapons Establishment with AWE Management Limited, the contract should be extended to 25 years and that the contractor should, where necessary, have access to private capital. The extended contract will continue to give overriding priority to safety and security. The resultant long-term partnering arrangement will allow the optimisation of investment in capital projects and will result in improved facilities, environmental improvements and efficiency gains.Aldermaston and Burghfield will continue as nuclear licensed sites, subject to independent regulation by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency. The Ministry of Defence Compliance Officer will also retain the authority and responsibility to cancel the contract and to instruct the contractor to cease operations if there is a serious breach of MoD's requirements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to involve regional directors of public health in the implementation of the recommendations in the report

The report recommended that regional directors of public health should co-ordinate injury prevention at regional level. The report also highlighted the role of public health observatories. This is one of a wide range of public health responsibilities being discussed with regional directors of public health.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 19 December 2002 (

The batches of clotting factor concentrates manufactured by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service from the plasma taken from a donor who subsequently developed vCJD were distributed to haemophilia centres in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Patients treated with these products living in Scotland and Northern Ireland have been contacted by their clinicians. A small number of patients who received these implicated products are now living in England. Information has been passed to their local haemophilia centres so that they can be contacted. We are not aware of any cases involving patients living in Wales. There was extensive correspondence on this case between the secretariat of the CJD Incidents Panel and the various Scottish bodies involved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What research has taken place into allergic reactions to thimerosal/mercury-based vaccines, especially among infant children. [HL1024]

There is a substantial body of published research on allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions associated with thiomersal. This research has shown that thiomersal, which is contained in some vaccines used in infants, can cause mild hypersensitivity reactions that typically include skin rashes or local swelling at the site of injection. Severe hypersensitivity reactions to thiomersal-containing vaccines, such as those involving swelling of the face and wheezing, are rare. A list of relevant publications has been placed in the Library.The European Medicines Evaluation Agency's Scientific Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) reviewed the safety of medicinal products containing thiormersal in 1999. The CPMP advised that there is no evidence of harm caused by the level of thiomersal exposure from vaccines. Given the known association between thiomersal and hypersensitivity reactions, the CPMP advised that warnings about these reactions should be provided in the product information for thiomersal-containing vaccines.As with all medicinal products, the Medicines Control Agency and Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) keeps the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines under continual review. The CSM reviewed the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines in 2001 and advised that, with the exception of hypersensitivity reactions, there is no evidence of harm from thiomersal contained in vaccines. Therefore, the CSM advised that the benefits of immunisation with thiomersal-containing vaccines outweigh any potential risks of vaccination.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will confirm the National Audit Office's figure of £4.4 billion of outstanding claims against the National Health Service for negligence; and what estimate they have made of the cost per year over 10 years of the Haemophilia Society's proposals for compensating people infected with hepatitis by contaminated National Health Service blood products. [HL1134]

We can confirm that the National Audit Office's reported figure of £4.4 billion of outstanding claims against the National Health Service for clinical negligence in 2000–01 is correct. The estimated cost of the Haemophilia Society's proposal is £52.26 million per year over 10 years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the Provisional IRA is still involved in recruiting, re-arming, training, targeting and punishment beatings; and, if so, in what activities. [HL950]

We continue to judge that the PIRA ceasefire remains in place but, as the Prime Minister made clear in his speech in Belfast on 17 October, in the Government's view the IRA remains an active paramilitary organisation. We cannot tolerate paramilitary activity in any form. Everyone has to make a commitment to achieving their objectives by exclusively peaceful means—real, total and permanent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the dates of the closure of (a) O'Neill Memorial School, Castlereagh and (b) Castle Gardens School, Newtownards; and what proposals there are for the future use of these buildings or their disposal. [HL960]

O'Neill Memorial Primary School, Castlereagh and Castle Gardens Primary School, Newtownards both closed with effect from 31 August 2002.The South-Eastern Education and Library Board does not own these properties but is pursuing the possibility of retention of the two properties for continued educational purposes, subject to legal formalities being satisfactorily resolved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the present enrolment at. Abbey Primary School, Newtownards; how many applicants for enrolment for the academic year beginning September 2002 were refused; and what proposals there are to replace the temporary classrooms at this new school. [HL976]

The current enrolment at Abbey Primary School, Newtownards is 594; seven applicants were refused admission for September 2002. There are no immediate plans to replace the temporary accommodation at the school.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Waterways Ireland has any plans to restore and re-open the Ulster Canal as a tourist attraction. [HL991]

Waterways Ireland has no plans to restore and re-open the Ulster Canal, but the question of funding is at present being explored by independent consultants.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the role of the Armagh Protestant Board of Education at the Royal School, Armagh; when this board came into existence; and what is its statutory basis. [HL1001]

I understand that the Armagh Protestant Board of Education owns and manages the Royal School Armagh, subject to the legislation governing all schools. It was established by an educational endowment scheme made under the Educational Endowments (Ireland) Act 1885 for the government and management of the endowments of the Ulster Royal Schools (including Armagh Royal School) and was approved by Order in Council on 22 May 1891.

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

Regrettably the list of organisations consulted by Waterways Ireland regarding the equality scheme was accidentally omitted from my previous Written Answer (WA 173). The list in question is now set out below:

• External stakeholders
• Waterways interest groups (5)
• Lough Erne Advisory Consultative Group
• Lower Bann Advisory Committee
• Ulster Waterways Group
• Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (Northern Ireland Branch)
• Erne Charter Boat Association
• Other interest groups (18)
• ATGWU (Ireland)
• Arthur Cox (NI) Ltd
• Carrickcraft
• Coalisland Canal Restoration Committee
• Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network
• Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside
• Ferguson McIlveen Consulting Engineers
• Fermanagh Wetlands Project
• Fisheries Sectoral Development Programme
• GMB
• Letterbreen Development Association
• National Trust
• Owen Aillew Diving Club
• Rossigh Angling Club
• Ulster Wildlife Trust
• Stormont Strategy
• Tourist Development International
• Ulster Waterways Group
• University of Ulster School of Environmental Studies
• Central Government Departments (15)
• The Northern Ireland Office
• The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the other nine Northern Ireland departments
• The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
• Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (for information only)
• Department of Finance (for information only)
• Department of Justice Equality and Law (for information only)
• North/South Implementation Bodies (5)
• District Councils in Northern Ireland (26)
• Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland (5)
• Health and Social Services Councils in Northern Ireland (4)
• Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland (4)
• Political parties (10): (listed in alphabetical order)
• Alliance Party
• D.U.P
• N.I. Unionist Party
• N.I. Womens' Coalition Party
• P.U.P
• S.D.L.P
• Sinn Fein
• U.D.P
• U.K. Unionist Party
• U.U.P
• Organisations representing a wide range of interests in Northern Ireland (64)
• 174 Trust
• Arts Council NI
• Association of Chief Officers of Voluntary
• Associations
• Association of Independent Advice Centres
• Belfast Regeneration Office
• Catholics Bishops Commission on Justice and Peace
• Centre for Voluntary Action Studies
• Chrysalis Women's Centre
• Church of Ireland
• Combat Poverty Action Group Northern Ireland
• Committee on the Administration of Justice
• Community Care Forum
• Community Development Centre
• Community Relations Council (NI)
• Community Relations Training/Learning Consortium
• Community Technical Aid
• Community Work Education and Training Network
• Corrymeela Community
• Democratic Dialogue
• Employers' Forum on Disability
• Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
• Equality Forum NI
• Equality Unit
• Fermanagh Shadow Council
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• International Fund for Ireland Communities in Action Project
• Law Centre NI
• Londonderry Regeneration Initiative
• Methodist Church in Ireland
• National Lottery Charities Board
• Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network
• Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
• Northern Ireland Committee—Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC-ICTU)
• Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
• Northern Ireland Economic Council
• Northern Ireland Environmental Link
• Northern Ireland Housing Executive
• Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
• Northern Ireland Inter-Faith Forum
• Northern Ireland Partnership Board
• Northern Ireland Pre-school Playgroup Association
• Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
• Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust
• Northern Ireland Volunteer Development Agency
• Northern Ireland Youth Forum
• Playboard
• Presbyterian Church in Ireland
• Proteus
• Salvation Army
• Share Centre
• Sports Council Northern Ireland
• Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards
• Sustainable Northern Ireland Programme
• The Local Government Staff Commission for NI
• Training for Women Network
• Ulster People's College
• Ulster Scots Heritage Council
• UNISON
• Voluntary Activity Unit
• Workers Educational Association Northern Ireland
• Worknet
• Youth Council for Northern Ireland
• Youthnet
• Target groups (155)
• Action Cancer
• Action for Dysphasic Adults
• Action MS
• Age Concern
• Age Sector Reference Group
• AIDS Helpline
• Amputees Association of Northern Ireland
• Ar Ais Ar An Omaigh
• Ar Ais Aris
• Armagh Travellers Support Group
• Arthritis Care
• ASBAH
• Asthma Society
• Baha'i Community
• Barnado's
• Belfast Islamic Centre
• Belfast Traveller Sites Project
• Belfast Travellers' Education and Development
• Group
• Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre
• Body Positive
• British Deaf Association NI
• British Diabetic Association
• British Epilepsy Association
• British Sport Association for the Disabled (BSAD)
• Brook Advisory Centre
• Brownlow Community Trust
• Cairde
• Carafriend
• Carers National Association
• Catholic Boy Scouts Foundation NI
• Chest, Heart and Stroke Organisation
• Child Care Northern Ireland
• Child Poverty Action Group
• Childline NI
• Children's Law Centre (NI)
• Chinese Chamber of Commerce (NI)
• Chinese Health Project
• Clogher Valley Rural Centre
• Coalition on Sexual Orientation
• Coiste na n-Iarchimi
• Community Development and Health Network
• Confederation of Community Groups
• Confederation of Community Groups Newry
• Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network
• Craigavon Asian Women and Children Association
• Craigavon Travellers' Support Committee
• Craigavon Vietnamese Group
• CRUSE Bereavement NI
• Cumann na Meirleach
• Cystic Fibrosis Trust
• Derry Travellers' Support Group
• Derry Well Women
• Disability Action
• Down's Syndrome Association
• Dyslexic Association of Northern Ireland
• East Down Rural Community Network
• Extern
• Family Farm Development Ltd
• Family Planning Association NI
• Fermanagh Rural Community Network
• Fermanagh Women's Network
• First Key
• Focus on Family
• Forum for Action on Substance Abuse
• Foyle Friend
• Gay and Lesbian Youth NI
• Gingerbread NI
• Glen Road Heights Women's Group
• Goitse
• Guide Association
• Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikh Temple
• Health Action Zone
• Help the Aged
• Huntington's Disease Association
• Iar Chimi Phear Manach
• Indian Community Centre
• Industrial Therapy Organisation
• Irish Central Border Area Network
• Japan Society of NI
• La Societa Italiana Irlands del Nord
• Lesbian Line
• LUPUS Group
• Lurgan Council for Voluntary Action
• ME Association
• MENCAP
• Mid-Ulster Women's Network
• Monagh Road Women's Steering Group
• Multi-Cultural Resource Centre (NI)
• Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Muscular Dystrophy Group of GB and NI
• Northern Ireland Association of Mental Health
• Newry and Mourne Senior Citizens' Consortium
• Newry and Mourne Women
• Newry Interagency Consortium for Travellers
• Newry Travellers' Early Years Action Group
• Newtownabbey Senior Citizens' Forum
• NIACRO
• North West Ethnic Communities Association
• North West Forum of People with Disabilities (2)
• Northern Ireland African Cutural Centre
• Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities
• Northern Ireland Council for the Homeless
• Northern Ireland Disability Council
• Northern Ireland Filipino Association
• Northern Ireland Filipino Community in Action
• Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association
• Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation
• Northern Ireland Women's European Platform
• NSPCC (NI)
• NUS USI
• Oi-Kwan Chinese Women's Group
• Omagh Women's Area Network
• Organisation for the Unemployed
• Parents and Professionals and Autism
• PHAB
• Pobal
• Praxis
• Putting Children First
• Queer Space
• Regeneration of South Armagh Rural Development Council
• RNIB
• RNID
• Save the Children
• Scouting Association NI
• SENSE Northern Ireland
• Shelter
• Simon Community
• Society for Speech Impaired
• South Armagh Farmers and Residents Association
• Southern Travellers' Early Years Partners
• Sperrin Lakeland Senior Citizens' Consortium
• Strabane Community Network
• Swedish Society of Northern Ireland
• Tar Abhaile
• Tar Anall Uir Cinn Trá
• The Cedar Foundation (formerly NICOD)
• The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
• The Rainbow Project
• The Special Olympics (Northern Ireland Branch)
• The Women's Centre
• Traveller Movement Northern Ireland
• Travellers Support Group for Playgroup Workers
• University of the Third Age
• Victim Support
• Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC)
• Wah Hep Community Association
• WAVE
• West Belfast Economic Forum
• Women Seen and Heard
• Women's Forum NI
• Women's Information Group
• Women's Resource and Development Agency
• Women's Support Network
• Young Help NI
• Youth Action Forum NI
• Individuals (14)
• Bell, David
• Campbell, Daniel
• Cavanagh, John
• Hewitt, David
• King, T
• Magee, John
• McGinn, Pat
• McGlaughlin, Glen
• McGuigan, Sean
• McQuillian, Henry
• Morgan. Francis
• ó Gribin, Éamon
• Payne, John
• Sheridan, N

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 9 January (

Investigation into this outstanding matter is continuing. It involves issues of sensitivity for the individuals concerned and it would not be appropriate to give details.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their targets for the growth of integrated education in Northern Ireland; and what resources have been allocated to them. [HL1051]

The target is for an average annual 10 per cent growth in enrolments in integrated schools in response to parental demand. In pursuit of this target, we fund the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education to develop proposals for new integrated schools and it is expected that the department will provide funding of £467,000 in the next financial year to the council. In addition, some £3.5 million has been provided to the Integrated Education Fund to support the development of the sector.Funding will also continue to be made available, as and when necessary, for new integrated school projects which satisfy the normal viability criteria.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the recent total relay of the railway track between Belfast and Dublin, how many speed restrictions apply; and why they are appropriate on a relaid track. [HL1067]

Translink has advised that there are five temporary speed restrictions currently in place on the Belfast to Dublin railway line, between Belfast and the border. One is related to vandalism and one to settlement caused by badger activity. The remaining three are in place for operational reasons including maintenance work.Approximately 50 per cent of the track that runs from Belfast to the Border was relaid during the mid to late 1990s and none of the temporary speed restrictions relates to track that was relaid.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What restrictions there are on enrolment at the Royal School, Armagh; how the number of boarders at this school impacts upon total enrolment; and whether an increase in the number of boarders at the school means that there must be a restriction on the number of day pupils at the school. [HL962]

The Department of Education (Northern Ireland) has approved admission and enrolment numbers of 100 and 650 respectively for the Royal School, Armagh, lit is a matter for the school to determine the number of places it sets aside for boarders within these approved numbers subject to the provisions of the Secondary School (Admissions Criteria) Regulations (NI)) 1997. These permit a school with a boarding department to give priority to boarding pupils without regard to transfer procedure grades but only to the extent of not exceeding the number of pupils enrolled in a school's boarding department on 21 September 1990 or 2 October 1997, whichever is the greater. Any increase in the number of boarders will restrict the number of day pupils at the school.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 9 January (

It emerged following publication of the proposals that they did not constitute the basis of a fully acceptable way forward. The positions of the parties on the detail of these proposals are a matter for them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any new appointees to the Civil Service in any part of the United Kingdom are required to take an oath of allegiance; if so, which parts of the Civil Service require this; who they require to take this; and to whom it is made. [HL1116]

Under the terms of the Civil Service Code, members of the Home Civil Service owe their loyalty to the administration in which they serve.No civil servant in the UK is required to take an oath of allegiance.