Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 2 April (WA132) concerning the budgets of the implementation bodies, which Unionist political adviser approved the three-year cut to the Language Body's budget; when and in what form was the approval; and whether they consider that changing the budgets for three years constitutes care and maintenance as accepted by the Ulster Unionist Party in order to keep the bodies working during the suspension of the Northern Ireland Executive. [HL2440]

No Unionist political adviser was asked to approve the budget for the North/South Language Body. It is not for the Government to comment on Ulster Unionist Party's understanding of these matters.

:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 2 April (WA132) concerning the budgets of the implementation bodies, when the cuts to the Language Body's budget were announced by the government of the Republic of Ireland; in what form was the announcement; whether the Irish Parliament was informed; and, if so, when and how. [HL2441]

Announcements by the Irish Government are a matter for the Irish Government.

What consultations they had with the Republic of Ireland's Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs before that department answered a written question in the Irish Parliament on 3 December 2002 and outlined a cut of 16 per cent in the Government's contribution to the Language Implementation Body. [HL2474]

The prospect of a reduction in the provision for the North/South Language Body was discussed at a meeting on 11 September 2002 of officials of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and representatives of the Body. Details were not mentioned as the estimates process was not yet completed. Officials in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure were advised on 12 November that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 2003 provision for the North/South Language Body would be £7.82 million compared to £8.27 million in 2002 Estimates Volume. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs advised the body of this a few days later.

Which Northern Ireland political party advisers have agreed to decisions of the North/South Ministerial Council since the suspension of the devolved administration in Northern Ireland; on what dates; what those decisions were; and in what form they were given and recorded. [HL2471]

Decisions of the British and Irish Government under the agreement of 19 November 2002 are not subject to agreement by political party advisers.Decisions made by the two governments under this agreement up until 28 March have been placed in the Library. I hope to publish shortly details of further decisions taken since then.

Whether they consider it appropriate that the Government of the Republic of Ireland can set budgets which include contributions by the Government of the United Kingdom. [HL2475]

The Irish Government do not set budgets which include contributions by the British Government.

Whether they will raise with the Government of China the illicit sale of babies by Chinese women reportedly attempting to avoid fines for over-quota births under China's one child policy. [HL2543]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development last discussed China's one-child policy with the Chinese State Family Planning Minister in May 2002.We are aware of media reports of the illicit trade in babies. We have made clear to the Chinese our view that family planning policies should be based on free and informed parental choice and not on coercion.

Whether they are helping the Government of Colombia and the parties to the conflict in that country to reach a humanitarian agreement forbidding the recruitment of children under 18 into armed units, and treating juvenile ex-combatants as victims rather than criminals; and if so, whether they are receiving support from UNICEF and the Corps Diplomatique in Bogota. [HL2570]

We are very concerned about this grave abuse committed by all the illegal armed groups in Colombia. We fully supported the Chairperson's Statement on Colombia at the recent Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, which condemned recruitment of children, called for their immediate demobilisation and urged Colombia to ratify the relevant protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed confllict.Through the British Embassy in Colombia, we have recently funded a Save the Children Fund project to rehabilitate and guarantee the rights of ex-combatant children in Colombia. UNICEF works with the Colombian Government to prevent the recruitment of children, and to rehabilitate and reintegrate child soldiers.

Further to the answer given by the Baroness Amos on 28 April (HL Deb, col. 445) regarding the cultivation of opium poppies in Afghanistan, whether they wish to make any correction to that answer; and what are the figures in hectares for such cultivation in the years 2001 and 2002 respectively. [HL2623]

On 28 April I undertook to provide further detail on opium cultivation in Afghanistan if necessary. This was contained in my letter to the noble Lord on 29 April.The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, reported that the level of cultivation in 2002 was 74,000 hectares (compared to 91,000 hectares in 1999, 82,000 hectares in 2000 and 8,000 hectares in 2001). The UNODC is in the process of carrying out the 2003 survey. Its results will be published in the autumn. In March 2003, the UNODC published an Opium Rapid Assessment Survey for Afghanistan. This gave an early insight into the pattern of opium poppy cultivation for the 2002–03 growing season but did not predict the level of opium poppy cultivation for 2003 or beyond. It did find however that there was a trend for farmers to cultivate opium poppy in increasingly remote and inaccessible areas.President Karzai signalled his determination to rid Afghanistan of drugs by banning the production, processing and trafficking of drugs in January 2002. A compensated eradication programme to tackle the 2002 opium poppy crop followed this, which the UK provided financial and logistical support for. The Afghan authorities believe this led to the destruction of 17,300 hectares of opium poppy, nearly 25 per cent of the poppy crop. This was the figure I referred to in the House on 28 April (

What representations they have made to the Nigerian Government with regard to the case of Amina Lawal, the mother condemned to be stoned to death for adultery by the Nigerian Supreme Court.[HL2682]

Her Majesty's Government oppose the death penalty in all circumstances. We and our EU partners regularly raise our concerns about this case with the appropriate authorities in Nigeria. On 4 September 2002, in a meeting with President Obasanjo, I expressed our concern about the harsh sentences imposed under the Sharia penal codes, emphasising the strength of feeling against them in the UK and reiterating Her Majesty's Government's opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.

Whether they will make any representations to the government of Nigeria concerning the reports of the decision to uphold the death sentence for Amina Lawal, condemned for the crime of adultery on 19 August 2002, to be buried up to her neck and stoned to death on 3 June.[HL2689]

I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer I give to the noble Earl of Listowel today (HL2682).

When the criteria for exemption for jury selection in Northern Ireland were last reviewed or reformed.[HL2584]

The Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 which came into operation on 31 July 1996 revised the law relating to the qualification for, and exemption from, jury service as well as the empanelling, summoning and balloting of jurors.

On an annual basis how many jurors are selected in Northern Ireland; and how many are actually sworn in and sit on a jury.[HL2585]

In the three legal years from September 2000 to June 2003, the total number of jurors who were summoned to attend court by juries officers in Northern Ireland were as follows:

From which databases jurors are selected in Northern Ireland. [HL2633]

Article 4 of the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 requires that in each year the Chief Electoral Officer arranges the selection by computer from the register of electors of a sufficient number of jurors for the purpose of empanelling juries.

When the quinquennial review of the Law Commission is due to report. [HL2817]

John Halliday CB submitted the report of his independent review of the Law Commission on 31 March 2003. The report praises the high quality of the commission's work while making a number of recommendations aimed at further improving the effectiveness both of the commission itself and of the overall law reform process. The Lord Chancellor welcomes the thrust of his recommendations and has asked the Ministerial Committee on the Law Commission, which I chair, to oversee the action taken on the report.Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and will be available on the Lord Chancellor's Department's website (www.lcd.gov.uk).

What are the official languages of the Republic of Cyprus; and, following the accession by Cyprus to membership of the European Union, whether each of these languages will be used officially by the European Union. [HL2593]

The official languages of the Republic of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. Greek is already an official EU language.In the event of a settlement in Cyprus, the terms of which the EU has affirmed on a number of occasions that it will accommodate, the

In what way would the rights of Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, under the Treaty of Guarantee for Cyprus, be changed as a result of the provisions in the United Nations Plan for a settlement in Cyprus. [HL2594]

The second revised United Nations Settlement Proposal of 26 February 2003 envisages an Additional Protocol amending the Treaty of Guarantee. This amendment reaffirms the full pre-existing rights of the three guarantor powers. In addition, the guarantor powers' rights would be enhanced so that in addition to the independence, territorial integrity, security and constitutional order of Cyprus being guaranteed (as per the 1960 treaty), the amended treaty would also guarantee the territorial integrity, security and constitutional order of each of the two constituent states of a United Cyprus Republic.The UN Proposal also envisages an Additional Protocol amending the Treaty of Alliance. This amendment reaffirms the rights of Greece and Turkey, as parties to the Treaty of Alliance, to retain troops on the island. In this case too the rights of both countries would be extended, through an increase in the number of troops that Greece and Turkey are permitted to station in Cyprus to 6,000 each (from 950 for Greece and 650 for Turkey in 1960). The amendment also removes references to a Tripartite Headquarters, as under the settlement Cyprus would, in other respects, be demilitarised.

Whether they will veto any motion at the United Nations Security Council to lift the current regime of international sanctions prohibiting trade with Iraq until new international sanctions have been agreed and implemented to make illegal the export of antiquities and other cultural properties from Iraq to any country and also to make illegal in any country the import, export, ownership, sale or transfer of ownership of any antiquities or cultural property of possible Iraqi origin which cannot he documented as already being outside Iraq prior to the Gulf War of 1991 and the original imposition of sanctions. [HL2642]

We support the safe return of Iraqi antiquities to Iraq and we condemn illicit trade in them. We are working with Security Council members to find the best way of protecting Iraq's cultural assets in the event of sanctions lift. However, the UK will only decide how to vote at the Security Council once a draft resolution has been presented before it.

When they will launch the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Opportunities Fund. [HL2746]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs launched the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Opportunities Fund (GOF) on 8 May to support the Government's key foreign policy objectives.The fund was established in the last spending review with an allocation of £120 million for the next three years.The GOF will be used to support existing programmes on human rights and legal reform, democracy and good governance, the environment and international security. The GOF will also support our growing science and technology work overseas.In this first financial year, we will be launching five new GOF programmes. These reflect the FCO's public service agreements for 2003–06 as well as the emerging conclusions of the FCO's longer-term strategic review. The new programmes are:governance in EU accession and candidate countries and near neighbours; counter-terrorism;engagement with the Islamic world;climate change and energy; andstengthening our relations with emerging markets.

What representations they have received from the European Union in the past two years, with regard to the tendering process to supply the police force with radiocommunication equipment. [HL2621]

No representations from the European Union have been received in the past two years about the tendering process for the The fund will bring together the resources of the Human Rights Project Fund, the Environment Fund, the Counter-Terrorism Assistance Fund and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to ensure that long-term investment is better co-ordinated and focused.Investing in positive change of this kind has never been more important. By tackling terrorism and threats to our security, promoting good governance and human rights, and addressing injustice, poverty and conflict we promote the interests of the citizens of Britain and elsewhere. In doing so, we can only contribute to a safer, fairer and more prosperous world.

What was the number of (a) reported incidences of unlawful sex with minors; and (b) convictions for unlawful sex with minors in the years 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2001. [HL2608]

The available information is contained in the table.Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Office and those for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Office. new police radiocommunications system. The case arising from earlier representations made by the European Commission was closed after the Office of Government Commerce issued guidance to UK contracting authorities in June 2001 as suggested by the Commission.

What advice the Home Office took and from whom about the health and safety aspects of the TETRA communications system; and what systems are used by the other countries in the European Union for emergency services communications.[HL2622]

The Home Office asked the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) to assess the health and safety aspects of the TETRA technology. A report was published by the NRPB's independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation in July 2001. The report concluded that, "Although areas of uncertainty remain about the biological effects of low level RF radiation in general, including modulated signals, current evidence suggests that it is unlikely that the special features of the signals from TETRA mobile terminals and repeaters pose a hazard to health".Other countries in the European Union use a variety of systems for emergency communications. Like in the United Kingdom. older systems tend to be based on analogue technology, while more recent systems are digital. TETRA is the agreed European standard for emergency services radio communications. TETRA systems for emergency services are currently being implemented in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 4 April (WA 157), why the undertaking to place in the Library of the House the proposed actions on the implementation of Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 for the establishment of a central register of those who have applied for or been granted a shotgun or firearms licence and details of the high level award criteria, has still not been met; and when they expect to do so. [HL2679]

This information was placed in the Library of the House on 1 May. I regret the delay in doing this.

Whether they will indicate in respect of each of the police forces in the United Kingdom, the method currently used to record details of individuals holding a shotgun or firearms certificate; and what, if any, action has been taken by the police forces concerned to implement the requirement of Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 for the establishment of a central register of individuals who have applied for, or been granted, a shotgun or firearms certificate. [HL2680] Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Police forces in the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) currently record details of individuals holding a shotgun or firearms certificate by means of their own "local" firearms licensing management systems. These are mainly commercial off-the-shelf systems which most forces have procured on an individual basis for the purposes of managing firearms licensing locally. These systems also manage information on guns, ammunition, security and not just on certificate holders.We have now agreed to work to produce a national firearms licensing management system which will not only incorporate a register of certificate holders but will also provide additional business benefits for the police and Home Office, principally through a more uniform national approach to firearms licensing and the ability to produce national statistics from a single source.

Whether they will list the companies which have been invited to tender for the national firearms management system required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; the date on which the tender was issued; and the date by which the response is required. [HL2681]

I understand from the Police Information Technology Organisation that six suppliers were invited to respond to the invitation to tender (ITT) for the supply of a national firearms licensing management system. The invitation was issued on 8 March 2003 and the date for responses was 16 April, later extended to 25 April 2003. The ITT and the responses received are currently being treated as commercial-in-confidence and it would not therefore be appropriate to release the names of the potential suppliers at present.

How many offences were prosecuted in the past year for which figures are available for driving on a prohibited road. [HL2683]

In England and Wales there were 4,831 prosecutions for offences of driving on a prohibited road during 2001 (latest available).Information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr Murphy).Matters related to Scotland are for the Scottish Executive.

How they intend to ensure continuing quality of clinical service by the relevant professionals.[HL2514]

Quality is at the heart of the Government's agenda for the National Health Service. NHS organisations have a statutory duty to improve the quality of health care they provide. Quality improvement is supported by: clear national standards for services and treatments; local delivery of high quality health care, through clinical governance underpinned by modernised professional self-regulation and extended lifelong learning; and effective monitoring and inspection.Clinical governance provides NHS organisations and healthcare professionals with a framework through which they are accountable for continuous quality improvement. The NHS Clinical Governance Support Team (part of the NHS Modernisation Agency) provides programmes to support the implementation throughout that service. The Commission for Health Improvement reviews clinical governance arrangements in NHS organisations, including the education, training and continuing personal and professional development of staff.The Government are committed to ensuring that standards of professional clinical competence are maintained and developed, and are working in collaboration with the professional and regulatory bodies to develop a shared framework for post-qualification learning. It is intended that the framework should be available in July 2004. Over the next three years, an extra £96 million will be made available locally to support local strategic learning and development plans and ensure that trusts deliver continuing professional development effectively.The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill currently before Parliament, retains the duty of quality for NHS bodies, and additionally provides for the Secretary of State for Health to publish standards for the provision of NHS healthcare. The Bill also enables the proposed Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (CHAI) to advise the Secretary of State on changes which it thinks should be made to the standards for the purpose of securing improvement in the quality of healthcare. The Bill proposes that CHAI will review each year the provision of healthcare by NHS bodies, and in so doing will take into account the standards set by the Secretary of State.

What action they are taking following the article in Nature (Vol 421 pp 691-2) which argues that the dose response to most toxins, including ionising radiation, is hormetic, which means that the body's response to low doses is almost always beneficial rather than harmful. [HL2571]

The hormesis theory described in the article in Nature is highly controversial. There is little evidence to support claims that exposure to low doses of toxic chemicals such as cadmium, dioxin, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nor ionising radiation, has a beneficial health effect.The approach adopted by government departments/ agencies when assessing the health risks arising from toxic chemicals is based on the assumption that for most chemicals there is a dose below which no harmful effects would be expected; that is, that there is a threshold dose. This is used in estimating safe levels of exposure. However, in the specific case of chemicals that affect the genetic material of the cell (DNA), and which may then go on to cause cancer, the prudent assumption is made that there is no threshold, and any exposure may increase cancer risk, albeit this increase may be very small at low dose levels. This is in line with the advice from the relevant, independent expert advisory committee, the Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COC).A similar approach is taken with regard to ionising radiation, since this may produce cancer by affecting DNA. Again this is in line with advice from the National Radiological Protection Board, and from the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE).The COC is currently in the process of updating its guidance on the risk assessment of chemical carcinogens and the

Whether they have undertaken any surveys among disabled people to ascertain their views on pre-natal screening programmes, eugenic abortion and pre-implementation genetic diagnosis. [HL2599]

There have been no specific surveys among disabled people. However, the voluntary body Antenatal Results and Choices is represented on the United Kingdom National Screening Committee's (NSC) antenatal screening sub-group. The aims of the antenatal screening programme are to enable parents to make informed choices about the future of the pregnancy. The decision should be made when the best interests of the woman, her partner, the future baby and the family have all been considered.Abortion is only legal in Great Britain subject to the Abortion Act 1967, as amended. Termination on the grounds of foetal abnormality is permitted where "there is substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped". The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guideline

Whether they have information of fear, particularly among disabled and seriously ill people, about campaigns to legalise euthanasia. [HL2600]

The Government continue to receive considerable correspondence from those who are in favour and those who are against campaigns to legalise euthanasia. Whilst comments and strength of opinion differ greatly, there has been little evidence of "fear" from seriously ill or disabled people themselves.The Government currently have no plans of their own to change the current law. Any proposal to change the law in this area would need to be considered very carefully.

What advice they give for determining whether a person desiring suicide should be counselled to change their mind; and whether the person's disability or non-disability is considered as a factor for such a determination. [HL2602]

The type of counselling a person contemplating suicide should receive is a matter for the practitioner concerned to determine in consultation with the individual and their family or carer. A persons's disability would be one of the factors that the practitioner would need to take into account in reaching a clinical judgment.

What was the number of— (a) reported incidences of child abuse; and (b) convictions for child abuse in the years 1966; 1968; 1969; 1970; 1980; 1990; and 2000. [HL2606]

Information detailing the number of reported incidences of child abuse in the years 1966; 1968; 1969; 1970; 1980; 1990; and 2000 is not held centrally.However, by revamping its database of serious cases, the Department of Health has a record of serious case notifications from 1 April 2002. A serious case notification concerns the death of, or serious injury to, a child where abuse and/or neglect is known or suspected to have been a factor.One hundred and twenty-one serious case notifications are recorded on the Department of Health's database between 1 April and 31 December 2002; 62 serious case notifications are recorded on the database for the period 1 January to 1 May 2003.Information on convictions for child abuse are given in the following table.

What was the number of morning-after pills prescribed, sold or supplied in the years 1990; 1995; 2000; and 2001. [HL2607]

Emergency hormonal contraception is available from a number of sources. Data on all of these are not collected centrally. In particular, data are not collected on over the counter pharmacy sales.The following tables show prescriptions for emergency hormonal contraception dispensed in family planning clinics and prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors in England.

What action they intend to take following the research undertaken in Sweden, and published in the International Journal of Oncology, providing evidence of a link between mobile phone use and brain tumours. [HL2620]

The publication of the Stewart report in May 2000 provided a comprehensive review of the possible health effects of radiofrequency (RF) exposure from the use of mobile phones. Experimental and epidemiological studies gave no indication of a risk of cancer on the basis of evidence available. The expert group did, however, note the limited amount of time that phones had been in use and the need for more research.

Whether, where a live child's head slips out of its mother during a partial-birth abortion, to continue with the abortion would be to commit infanticide. [HL2636]

We are not aware of the procedure referred to as "partial-birth abortion" being used in Great Britain. It is the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist's (RCOG) belief that this method of abortion is never used as a primary or pro-active technique and is only ever likely to be performed in unforeseen circumstances in order to reduce maternal mortality or severe morbidityThe RCOG's evidence-based guideline

Whether, where a child is born alive during an abortion, to kill it or allow it to die would be to commit infanticide or murder. [HL2637]

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' guideline Termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality in England, Wales and Scotland (1996) and letter Further issues relating to late abortion, fetal viability and registration of births and deaths (April 2001) state that for all terminations at gestational age of more than 21 weeks and six days (the threshold of viability), the method chosen should ensure that the foetus is born dead.

Whether they believe that the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 regulates a medical procedure. [HL2639]

The Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985 does not regulate a medical procedure. The Act exists to render this barbaric procedure a criminal offence if carried out for non-therapeutic reasons as set out in Section 1. The Act does however make provision for surgical interventions in exceptional circumstances if the operation is for a genuine therapeutic purpose for the physical or mental health of the patient or when it is performed on a woman in labour or who has just given birth.

How many National Health Service patients were awaiting (a) cardiac surgery, and (b) angiograms on the latest date for which figures are available. [HL2698]

At the end of December 2002, a total of 6,028 patients were waiting for elective admission for heart surgery in England.Data regarding patients waiting for angiograms is not currently held centrally.

How many National Health Service patients have been treated overseas during each month following the Department of Health press release dated 6th March 2002 (reference 2002/0118). [HL2699]

National Health Service patients can be referred for treatment abroad under the European Union-wide health-care co-ordination regulations (the E112 scheme) or through direct referral from their NHS trust.The table shows the monthly breakdown of direct referrals of NHS patients abroad, and E112 forms issued for the whole of England, Scotland and Wales. In addition, 190 patients were referred abroad as part of an overseas treatment pilot programme between January and April 2002. No monthly breakdown for the patients referred under this scheme is available.Of the direct referrals abroad, 243 patients were referred for orthopaedic procedures, and 2 patients were referred under the cardiac choice pilot.

Whether they accept the finding of the Acheson report that reductions in mortality have not been matched by any corresponding reductions in morbidity. [HL2703]

The report of Sir Donald Acheson's Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health, published in 1998, contained the finding that "Although death rates have fallen and life expectancy increased, there is little evidence that the population is experiencing less morbidity or disability than 10 or 20 years ago". This finding was largely based on morbidity data from the Office for National Statistics General Household Survey which show the prevalance of both long-standing and limiting long-standing illness increased steadily through the 1970s and early 1980s and that since the mid-1980s there has been no clear trend over time.

What is the percentage of tuberculosis sufferers who at the time of diagnosis were homeless, disentitled to benefit, or both. [HL2709]

The information requested is not collected by the Department of Health. Notifications to the Health Protection Agency do not include detail of social issues such as homelessness and benefit entitlement.

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Andrews on 30 April (WA 112), whether the reviews of all evidence regarding sexual abstinence education included those published in the United States since 1996. [HL2712]

The document referred to in the reply given by Baroness Andrews (Swann, C., Bowe, K., McCormick, G. and Kosmin, M. (2003) Evidence-Based briefing paper on teenage pregnancy and parenthood Health Development Agency) reviewed the evidence contained in reviews of what works to prevent teenage pregnancy published in English since 1996. To be included reviews had to meet certain quality criteria around transparency and replicability.

When the report will be published of the independent investigation into the case of the late Mr Cyril Mark Isaacs, which followed serious concerns raised by his widow, Mrs Elaine Isaacs, about the handling of the coroner's post mortem examination of her late husband and the retention of his brain for research. [HL2816]

We are publishing today a report by Her Majesty's Inspector of Anatomy, Dr Jeremy Metters CB, into the case of the late Mr Cyril Mark Isaacs whose brain was removed following a coroner's post mortem in 1987 without the knowledge or consent of his widow.The inspector found that Mr Isaac's brain was retained as part of an arrangement whereby the coroners' office in North Manchester would identify brains suitable for a research programme at Manchester University. The inspector also found evidence that brains were removed from adults in other locations.The Secretary of State for Health asked HM Inspector to undertake this investigation following concerns raised by Mr Isaac's widow, Mrs Elaine Isaacs. We wish to pay tribute to Mrs Isaacs for bringing this case to public attention and to say how much we regret the distress that has been caused not only to her and her family but to others whose cases are mentioned in the inspector's report.The events described in the report relate to unacceptable practices some years ago. Since then, and particularly in the light of other reports, including those into events at Alder Hey and Bristol, we have made considerable steps to improve arrangements relating to any removal, retention and use of human organs and tissue from adults or children. In doing so, we have worked very closely with many statutory, professional, family, voluntary and other bodies. We are grateful to them for helping to change the culture and practice in this area.The report makes a number of specific recommendations with implications for the National Health Service, coroners, universities and medical researchers. We shall consider these carefully in the light of action already taken in this area and then respond more formally. Following extensive consultation, we have recently published an interim framework of guidance and other materials to reflect transparent new systems founded on consent. Steps have been taken to modernise the practice of pathology and to improve the management of joint NHS and academic posts. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary is considering the report of the fundamental review of the coroner's system. We have also consulted on changes to the law on human organs and tissue, which is outmoded and inadequate. We shall introduce new legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.We appreciate that some people may be concerned about organ retention in the light of the inspector's report. We have therefore asked the Retained Organs Commission to put specific arrangements in place for anyone who wishes to make an enquiry. A helpline has been established (0800 838909).It is important that public confidence in medical research is not adversely affected by the findings in the report. Good quality research is essential if we are to meet today's public health challenges seriously. Our recently published interim statement on the use of human organs and tissue sets out clearly our expectations within the current law. This should help to reassure the public, as well as those who need to use organs and tissue for purposes that serve all our interests.We are grateful to Dr Metters for investigating this matter in such detail and for producing such a helpful and comprehensive report. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

What is the target time within which Ofsted should complete the registration process for potential childminders; how many such applications Ofsted has received throughout the United Kingdom since it took over responsibility for the registration of childminders in September 2001; and how many of these were completed within the target time; and [HL2665]

These are matters for the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). HM Chief Inspector of Schools, David Bell, will write to the noble Baroness and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

What the latest available figures are for (i) the resident population and (ii) the total rateable value for non-residential properties in each of the following wards:

Information on ward resident populations and rateable values is given in the following table.The relief from stamp duty in disadvantaged areas has already benefited thousands of individuals and businesses, as well as the communities in which they are investing.Estimates of the annual cost to the Exchequer of the abolition of stamp duty on non-residential property purchases in disadvantaged areas were based on previous yield transaction data. This did not involve specific estimates of the total current capital value of non-residential property or the rate of turnover. The estimate did not include a component for the development of new non-residential properties arising from the relief. As such transactions would not have gone ahead without the relief, there is no exchequer cost resulting from relief for such transactions.The cost of exempting 2,000 disadvantaged areas from stamp duty on the grant of new leases on nonresidential property is included in the overall estimate but is not separately identifiable.

Why they used local authority wards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but postcodes in Scotland when selecting the 2,000 disadvantaged areas for stamp duty exemption. [HL2614]

The qualifying areas for the exemption were identified by reference to the most recent national indices of deprivation at the time the original legislation was introduced. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the indices refer to electoral wards or divisions. In Scotland the index uses postcode areas. The regulations use wards and postcode areas accordingly.

Whether they will consider that communications via the electronic and print media constitute a market for the purpose of the application of European Union and United Kingdom competition rules. [HL2650]

The definition of "markets" for the purpose of applying competition law is a matter for the relevant competition authorities to determine on a case-by-case basis when considering whether a competition problem may exist. Markets are defined on the basis of economic evidence available at a given point in time.

Whether the Department of Trade and Industry will be consulting the British Veterinary Association and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association about the Competition Commission's report on the supply of prescription-only veterinary medicines before any further action is taken on the report. [HL2568]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked the Office of Fair Trading to consult with interested parties about implementation of the Competition Commission's proposed remedies. These parties will include the British Veterinary Association and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association.