asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are being taken to achieve accurate monitoring of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS throughout Angola. [HL2269]

Over 27 years of civil war in Angola have made the systematic monitoring of HIV prevalence extremely difficult. With the arrival of peace in April 2002, the Angolan Government are now in the process of developing a national HIV/AIDS strategy which will include, among other things, a monitoring system. UNAIDS estimates that the current prevalence of HIV infection among adults (aged between 15 and 49 years) is about 5.5 per cent and rising.Global surveillance of HIV/AIDS is a joint effort of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the joint programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), in close collaboration with national AIDS programmes and a number of other partners. DfID supports WHO and UNAIDS both financially and through collaborative efforts to scale up co-ordinated and effective responses to HIV/AIDS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions they and their international partners have had with the Government of Angola on developing an effective public health strategy to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in post-conflict Angola. [HL2330]

Until recently discussions between the international community and the Government of Angola on an effective public health strategy to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS have been limited. Although Angola developed its first national AIDS strategy in 1999, it was never effectively implemented. It was following the peace agreement in April 2002 that both the Government and donors began to focus greater attention on HIV. In November 2002, a National AIDS Commission, headed by President dos Santos, was established. The Ministry of Health, supported by UNAIDS, UNICEF and UNDP, has been tasked with preparing a national HIV/AIDS strategy, known as the Programa Estrategico Nacional (PEN). This process has only just begun and there has been no indication as to when it might be completed.Last year a country co-ordinating mechanism (CCM), comprising representatives from government, donors, multilateral agencies and NGOs, was set up to prepare an integrated proposal for support from the UN Global Fund for HIV/AIDS. However, the CCM failed to reach consensus on the details of the proposal and the deadline lapsed. Continued lack of agreement may prevent the CCM from submitting a revised proposal before the new 31 May deadline. In the meantime most bilateral donors continue to channel funding for HIV/AIDS prevention through UN agencies and NGOs.DfID is currently consulting with key partners (UNAIDS, World Bank, USAID) with a view to better supporting an effective national response.

asked Her Majesty's Government:(a) Why the Treasury has not yet instructed the Inland Revenue to abolish the limit of £150,000 for stamp duty on non-residential property purchases in disadvantaged areas of the United Kingdom, for which approval was given by the European Commission under state aid rules on 21 January; and (b) when such instruction will be issued; and [HL2287]Whether they intend the abolition of stamp duty on non-residential property in disadvantaged areas of the United Kingdom to continue beyond 31 December 2006; and, if so, when and how they will seek the approval of the European Commission under state aid rules; and [HL2288]What professional advice they have received on the effect which short-term abolition, until 2006, of stamp duty on non-residential property purchases in disadvantaged areas of the United Kingdom will have on valuations of long-term commercial property investment in those areas. [HL2289]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget that, with effect from midnight last night, this relief is extended to all non-residential property in qualifying areas. This represents a major boost not only to businesses investing in commercial premises but to the 2000 enterprise areas in which this relief is available, along with a wider package of measures which will ensure that these areas now benefit from investment which is long overdue. Individual home-buyers will continue to benefit from the relief on residential property where the consideration does not exceed £150,000.The extension of the relief to all non-residential property was subject to approval as state aid, which the European Commission has given until the renewal of the relevant guidelines in 2006. This does not preclude the Government from applying for approval to continue beyond 2006. Any such decision will be taken on the basis of evaluation of the effectiveness of the measure in promoting the regeneration of the most deprived areas of the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many females of school age became pregnant in each of the past 20 years for which figures are available. [HL2393]

The information requested falls within the reponsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have considered the long-term implications for parents and children of their policy to introduce the registration of births online. [HL2443]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in the next review of the working time regulations they will support the concerns of the Motorsport Industry Association. [HL2370]

The Government recognise the importance of the working time opt-out to the motorsport industry and other industries and will take into account their concerns when negotiating with the Commission on its review of the opt-out. Of course the Government will make certain that they are closely involved in the review process to ensure the best possible outcome for the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will appoint two new members to the Animal Procedures Committee. [HL2537]

Bob Ainsworth has appointed two new members to the Animal Procedures Committee. Mr Graham Moore was appointed from 1 December 2002. He is a veterinarian who recently retired from Pfizer UK, where he was director of animal welfare. Professor Dawn Oliver was appointed from 1 March 2003. She is a barrister and professor of constitutional law at University College London. Each member has been appointed for a four-year term. We are grateful to both for accepting membership of this important committee.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any changes will be made to the home detention curfew scheme. [HL2539]

Hilary Benn announced today a change to the home detention curfew (HDC) scheme that will provide earlier resettlement opportunities for lower risk offenders and help to deal with the pressures on the prison population.A draft order has been tabled under Section 34A(6) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (as amended) to change the requisite period that a prisoner must spend in custody before becoming eligible for HDC. This will mean that the maximum period a prisoner may spend on HDC will rise from the present three months to four-and-a-half months, according to sentence length. Since all prisoners must spend at least 25 per cent of their sentence in custody, this will mean no change in the maximum curfew length for prisoners serving between three months and under 12 months. Prisoners serving 18 months and over will be eligible for the maximum four-and-a-half month curfew period. Prisoners serving four years or more are not eligible for HDC. The order will come into force on 14 July 2003.Eligible prisoners who are assessed as suitable for HDC, and who have not already been released by the time the order comes into force, will be released in phases between 14 July and the end of August if their new HDC eligibility dates fall prior to 1 September 2003.It is extremely important to maintain public confidence in the HDC Scheme. So, at the same time as increasing the maximum curfew period, we will set a presumption that prisoners convicted of certain serious offences will not be suitable for release unless exceptional circumstances exist. Offences involving the death of the victim, attempted murder or threats to kill, serious offences involving the possession of firearms or offensive weapons, child cruelty and all racially aggravated offences will be subject to this presumption. This will also apply to prisoners convicted of any sexual offence who are not already statutorily barred from HDC.As at present, governors will release prisoners on HDC only if they pass a risk assessment and following a satisfactory home circumstances report. Public safety is of paramount importance and offenders will be released on HDC only where it is safe to do so.Under the HDC scheme prisoners serve the remainder of their custody period at home under electronic curfew, usually from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The scheme provides prisoners with a smoother and more effective re-integration into the community, enabling prisoners to be released from prison early while remaining subject to significant restrictions on their liberty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 2 April (HL2157), since when they have measured inflation by movements in the average weekly earnings of regular full-time men farm workers; and whether they would regard movements in the price of wheat as equally valid for the purpose of updating the price of a game licence. [HL2415]

My earlier Answer was intended to illustrate the relative effect of keeping the cost of a game licence constant over such a long period of time. Different indices would, of course, produce different current equivalents.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much it cost the National Health Service to reimburse patients entitled to help with the costs of travel to and from hospital in the last year for which figures are available. [HL2424]

The reimbursement of patients under the scheme to provide help with health costs is carried out by the appropriate National Health Service trust. The Department of Health does not maintain a central record of costs associated with the scheme.

asked her Majesty's Government:How many application forms for Northern Ireland electoral identity cards have been returned to applicants for correction; and how many of these have subsequently been resubmitted for processing. [HL2147]

A total of 6,993 application forms had been returned to applicants for correction by 8 April. The corrections required related either to incomplete filling of the form or because of inconsistency between the personal data provided in the application and that given for electoral registration. While the application and validation procedures do not provide a count of resubmitted forms, a record is maintained of all unresolved applications which have not yet resulted in the issue of a card. The Electoral Office will be taking special action to deal with outstanding applications during the latter part of April and early May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have in Northern Ireland as regards the use of community penalties and to reduce the use of imprisonment. [HL2378]

The Government have no specific plans to change arrangements as regards fine defaulters.As part of an overall review of the sentencing framework, the Northern Ireland Office is currently considering the range of disposals available in Northern Ireland. This will include looking at non-custodial options.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 8 April (

The Ministry of Defence, with the generous support of the Royal Mail Group, plans to introduce a free postal service to Armed Forces personnel currently serving in the Gulf.From Thursday 17 April, families will be able to post letters and packets of up to 2 kilograms in weight free of charge to BFPO addresses in the Gulf. Priority will be given to the delivery of letters, "blueys" and "blueys", which are the primary means of communication for families. Packets will be delivered to the troops as soon as is practicable depending on the operational situation.This service is designed for close family and friends. Packets can only be accepted addressed to named individual service personnel. We would urge families to limit the number of packets they send so that the system works for everybody and does not become overloaded. Those who wish to show more general support to the Armed Forces serving in the Gulf should not use the system and we would encourage them instead to contribute to the UK Armed Forces Gulf Fund (details available at www.ukforcesgulffund.org and 0800 107 0200).We are working very hard to implement the new system and need to put mechanisms in place to handle the expected increase in mail. We hope that families will be patient in the interim period, since we still need to get essential stores and equipment to the Gulf to support the front line.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What categories of people are exempt from jury service in Northern Ireland; what allowance is paid for jury service; when the allowance was last updated and on what it is based; and whether there are special arrangements for those who manage small companies and those who are self-employed. [HL2258]

Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 prescribe those persons who are exempt from jury service.Schedlue 1 disqualifies any person who has at any time been convicted by a court in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and sentenced to imprisonment for life or for a term of five years or more; or to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure or during the pleasure of the Secretary of State. It also disqualifies any person who has in the past 10 years served any part of a sentence of imprisonment or detention or been detained in a young offenders centre; had passed on him or made in respect of him a suspended sentence of imprisonment or order for detention or a community service order. Persons who at any time in the past five years have been placed on probation are also disqualified.Schedule 2 outlines those groups or persons ineligible for jury service: namely persons concerned with the administration of justice, the forces, those who suffer from mental disorder and those who are unable to understand the English language.Schedule 3 outlines those groups or persons excusable as of right from jury service: namely Members of Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive, the European Parliament, public officials, members of the clergy, professions (this category includes professors, full-time teaching staff from schools, colleges and universities, medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, midwives, veterinary practitioners and pharmaceutical chemists) and persons aged between 65 and 70 years.Jurors are entitled to claim daily travelling, meal and financial loss allowances. Each juror is supplied with a leaflet that specifies current rates. These allowances are updated annually and take into account increases in the retail prices index. The current rates were last updated on 1 August 2002 and are set out below.There are no special arrangements for those who manage small companies and those who are self-employed but such persons are entitled to the financial loss allowance as well as travelling expenses and meals on the same basis as other jurors.