asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the memorandum from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland to the Members of the Inter-department Charter Group of 2 June 2001 which referred to the use of minority languages applies to Ulster Scots as required in the Belfast agreement; and, if not, why. [HL2583]

I am not aware of a memorandum dated 2 June 2001. I would however refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 9 January (Official Report, col. WA 233) which deals with an internal minute of 21 June 2001 addressing the obligations arising under Article 10 of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In Northern Ireland Article 10 currently applies only to Irish.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a site in Carryduff has been acquired for the proposed St Ita's primary school; at what stage is the planning for this school; what is its proposed enrolment; whether funds have been allocated for the scheme; and when it is programmed to begin work on site. [HL2596]

The new St Ita's primary school was included in the Northern Ireland Office's capital programme announced in March 2001, when funding of £4.5 million was made available for the building of a 496–525 pupil school. Work on the building of the school was originally programmed to start in February 2002. Due to difficulties in obtaining full planning permission for the site at Purdysburn Road, Beechill, Castlereagh, it did not prove possible to meet this timescale. The issues surrounding planning permission have been resolved and detailed planning of the new school is well under way. It is estimated that work on site should begin in approximately six months' time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals there are to redevelop St Joseph's primary school in Carryduff; at what stage is the planning; what is the proposed enrolment; whether funds have been allocated for this school project; and when it is programmed to begin work on site. [HL2597]

The school is part of a cluster of schools being taken forward under the public/private partnerships programme. A project board has been established to oversee the project, personnel have been trained in PPP procurement procedures and consultants are currently preparing an outline business case. The long-term enrolment is between 496 and 525. As the project is still at the early planning stages a date to begin work on site has not yet been established. However, it is not expected to be before spring 2005. The project will be subject to a value-for-money deal being secured with a private sector partner.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who is responsible for assessing the impact of Northern Ireland Civil Service equality officers, and for balancing costs against measurable results [HL263I]

Priorities for government expenditure are agreed by Ministers, and departmental accounting officers are responsible for the efficiency and effectiveness of all expenditure under their control.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have reviewed the impact of Northern Ireland anti-discrimination and equality law since 1973; if so, on how many occasions; whether they have published the results of these reviews; and when they intend to review the impact of the Equality Commission established under the Northern Ireland Act 1998. [HL2632]

Northern Ireland fair employment legislation has been reviewed on two occasions, with reviews published in October 1987 and in June 1997. As a result of these reviews two White Papers were published. Fair Employment in Northern Ireland (Cm 380) was published in May 1988 and Partnership for Equality (Cm 3890) was published in March 1998. Copies of these White Papers are available in the Library.Following each review, the fair employment legislation was amended. In 1989 the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act included the extension of the law to cover indirect discrimination in employment, the introduction of compulsory monitoring by employers and the establishment of the Fair Employment Commission and the Fair Employment Tribunal. In 1998, the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 further strengthened the law and included the extension of coverage to goods, facilities and services.In relation to disability discrimination law, government set up the UK Disability Rights Task Force to consider how best to secure civil rights for disabled people and its report

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals there are to provide direct financial aid to the fishing vessels in Northern Ireland. [HL2651]

The fisheries measures in the Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity, co-funded by European Structural Funds and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development include a number of measures directly applicable to fishing vessels: decommissioning of fishing vessels; safety equipment and training; and marketing and quality on board fishing vessels.I have put forward proposals for a new fishing vessel decommissioning scheme, and possible arrangements for transitional aid for fishermen. In addition, I shall make grant-aid available towards the extension of satellite monitoring arrangements later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many MoT certificates have been issued in the last five years by each of the MoT test centres in Northern Ireland. [HL2653]

The Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency carries out the full range of statutory roadworthiness tests in Northern Ireland. These include tests on motor cars and motor cycles for which a vehicle test certificate (MoT) is issued as well as other categories such as heavy goods vehicles, taxis, buses, etc for which other certificates are issued.Information by centre is maintained on the basis of applications received. Figures for the past five years are presented in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the average waiting time for applications to be processed in each of the MoT test centres in Northern Ireland. [HL2654]

In 2002–03 the Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency had an overall target waiting time for vehicle test activity of 21 days. The table below outlines the average waiting time at each of the agency's 15 test centres during the year.

Centre	Average Waiting Times 2002–03
Armagh	16.86 Days
Ballymena	16.10 Days
Belfast	18.04 Days
Coleraine	22.25 Days
Cookstown	20.79 Days
Craigavon	12.47 Days
Downpatrick	14.67 Days
Enniskillen	23.42 Days
Larne	16.30 Days
Lisburn	14.47 Days
Londonderry	24.52 Days
Mallusk	21.49 Days
Newry	19.09 Days
Newtownards	27.11 Days
Omagh	26.43 Days
Overall Average	20.31 Days

While the overall target was met, the phased closure of test centres during the year to facilitate the installation of new vehicle test equipment has had a distorting effect on the waiting times achieved at individual centres.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who provided the funding for the range of smoking chambers which the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, has decided to build; and why the hospital has not banned smoking in common with other hospitals in Northern Ireland. [HL2660]

The Royal Hospitals Trust is funding the smoking rooms using capital resources allocated by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to health and social services trusts for use in accordance with local priorities.Since 1994 health and social services bodies have been required to operate no-smoking policies. This recognises however that, where necessary, smoking rooms should be set aside for patients and staff who cannot stop smoking.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that the railway line between Lisburn and Antrim will be maintained after the withdrawal of passenger services so that it will be available for a possible circular service in the future. [HL2756]

When regular passenger services are withdrawn from the railway line between Lisburn and Antrim at the end of June 2003, the line will be maintained to a standard that will enable trains to use it as a diversionary route in emergency circumstances, albeit under strict safety rules and speed restrictions. This arrangement will be reviewed one year on from the cessation of scheduled passenger services to ascertain actual usage of the line for diversionary purposes. The review will consider the full range of options for the future usage of the line at this stage.Further to my answer of 25 February 2003

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 30 April (

The salary ranges for the chief executives of North/South Implementation Bodies and other conditions of service were formally approved by the North/South Ministerial Council at a plenary meeting on 26 September 2000.The chief executive post for the SEUPB was assessed as being at the Senior Civil Service level. Following a recruitment exercise, the starting salary and remuneration package of the successful candidate was negotiated by the two finance departments, which resulted in a recommendation that the candidate be offered the highest salary point on the scale. This was approved by the Finance Ministers (North and South) following which the appointment was confirmed by the North/South Ministerial Council on 19 December 2000.Salary ranges for all the chief executives were based on detailed job descriptions for each post and an assessment of grading and salary levels made against the job evaluation system used within the Northern Ireland Civil Service. All the chief executive posts were assessed as falling within either the Northern Ireland Senior Civil Service level or the NICS Principal (Grade 7) level. The starting salaries were negotiated with each of the successful candidates and were agreed between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance. The table at Annex 1 shows the comparison between the SEUPB and the other CEOs' remuneration packages.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in the provision of pensions for staff of the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies. [HL2770]

The North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) at the September 2002 Plenary approved the outline of the proposed benefit structure for a common pension scheme (modelled on the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (N1)) for the North/South Implementation Bodies.Officials from both the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP), in Northern Ireland, and the Department of Finance (DoF), in the Republic of Ireland, together with the Government Actuary's Department (GAD), in Great Britain, drew up a set of draft scheme rules on behalf of the bodies. This required considering a number of complex legal and other issues surrounding the unique status of a pension scheme for all North/South bodies (including Tourism Ireland Ltd.). They also secured preliminary statutory or other approvals from a wide range of stakeholders in both the UK and Republic of Ireland, including the bodies, Revenue organisations and public sector pensions departments.The bodies and sponsoring departments are currently considering a revised draft set of rules. Following agreement by these organisations, the final clearance from the other stakeholders will be sought prior to final approval.In the meantime, the bodies are consulting with the trade unions on the introduction of the scheme, and are making the other practical arrangements necessary to administer the scheme, when approved.

asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWho are the political advisers to the North/South Ministerial Council.[HL2771]

The North/South Ministerial Council comprises Ministers from both jurisdictions who may have political advisers. There are however no political advisers to the North/South Ministerial Council as an entity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why Peace II grant money has not been made available to organisations which are Ulster Scots; whether such money can now be made available; if so, through what mechanism; and what encouragement can be given to Ulster Scots groups. [HL2775]

Peace II money has been made available to several Ulster Scots organisations and others are under consideration. Peace II funding is accessed by applying to one of the programme's measures. Applications are assessed against the relevant criteria by selection panels and successful projects offered assistance. The Peace Programme is governed by principles and actions which promote equality of opportunity, including access across all sectors of the community, as defined by Section 7.5 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. It is also targeted at those areas, sectors, communities and or groups adversely affected by the conflict. Advice and encouragement on how to apply can be obtained from the SEUPB. All organisations, including Ulster Scots organisations, across Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland can apply for funding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the number of beds available in the Health Service in Northern Ireland in all the medical specialities; and how that compares per head of the population with the rest of the United Kingdom. [HL2777]

During 2001–02 on average there were 2,335.5 available hospital beds in the medical specialities within the Health Service in Northern Ireland.In the same period there were on average 8,419.1 available hospital beds across all specialities available within the Health Service in Northern Ireland.The medical specialities are defined within the Health Service in Northern Ireland as general medicine, gastroenterology, endocrinology, haematology (clinical), rehabilitation, palliative medicine, cardiology, dermatology, thoracic medicine, infectious diseases, genito-urinary medicine, nephrology, medical oncology, neurology, rheumatology, paediatrics, paediatric neurology and dental medicine.Comparable figures for the number of beds in the medical specialities across the United Kingdom are not available.The most recent figures available across the United Kingdom for all specialities show there were 5.1 available hospital beds per 1,000 population in Northern Ireland compared with 3.7, 5.0 and 6.8 in England, Wales and Scotland respectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the proportion of the European Union's aid budget spent on the world's poorest countries in each of the past 10 years; and what action they are taking to ensure that the eradication of poverty is given the highest priority by the European Union. [HL2755]

The table below gives figures for the percentage of EC official development assistance (ODA) spent in the world's poorest countries from 1992 to 2001. Figures for 2002 will be available by June.

Proportion of EC ODA going to the worlds poorest countries 1991–2001 (£millions)
Year	Aid to poorest countries	Total EC aid	%to poorest countries
1992	1,933	2,379	72.2
1993	1,980	2,404	53.3
1994	2,376	3,087	58.7
1995	2,292	2,926	60.0

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funding they have made available for wildlife projects in Burma; and how this money is being spent.[HL2837]

The UK's environmental work consists of ensuring we contribute to improve the quality of the global environment in areas set out by the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg last year, such as sanitation and water, renewable energy, bio-diversity and oceans. Currently in Burma, the UK (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) provides funding through carefully selected agencies to protect and conserve biological and cultural diversity. These include projects on wildlife and forest conservation and creating capacity within local communities. In the current financial year 2003–04 our assistance in these areas will amount to around £122,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funds are currently available to assist internally displaced people in Burma and to provide education for Burmese refugees in refugee camps on the Burma border. [HL2838]

DfID assistance for refugees in camps on the Thai-Burma border has focused mainly on meeting food needs and on UN HCR's protection role.We are not currently supporting programmes focused exclusively on meeting the needs of displaced people inside Burma.Financial assistance last year amounted to just under £2 million. DfID is also providing support to refugees through the European Commission. In 2002, the European Commission allocated 3.5 million euros (£2.5 million) for these purposes, 20 per cent of which is attributable to the UK Government.For the financial year 2003–04, DfID's overall allocation for bilateral programmes for Burma is currently £4 million. Additional support will continue to be made available for Burmese refugees outside the country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether British officials have recently visited Guantanamo Bay. [HL2950]

British officials paid a fifth visit to Guantanamo Bay between 21 and 28 April 2003. The officials were from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Security Service.The purpose of the visit was to ask questions relevant to national security, to establish the identity and nationality of a detainee believed to be British and to check on the welfare of all UK detainees.The identity and British nationality of the detainee concerned was confirmed. There are therefore nine UK detainees in Guantanamo Bay. All were seen by the visiting officials.The FCO official saw all the UK detainees individually. US officials observed all the meetings. The FCO official passed family messages and mail to the detainees and brought replies back to the UK which have now been passed to the detainees' families. Detainees are able to send and receive mail through the camp authorities and ICRC. Delivery can be slow.The FCO official asked all the UK detainees about their health, medical and non-medical treatment, diet, accommodation, exercise and other camp facilities.The UK detainees appeared to be in sound physical health. The medical issues raised by them are being addressed by the camp's medical services. The medical facilities available to the detainees are the same as those for US military personnel at Guantanamo Bay and are of a high standard.Overall, the UK detainees thought the diet provided satisfactory though repetitive. The detainees continue to be housed in accommodation with individual sleeping, washing and toilet facilities. They continue to have access to exercise, to practise their religion and to an expanded collection of reading material, which continues to include the Koran and Bible.The FCO official did not see or hear of mistreatment of UK detainees by the camp authorities.

asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWhether any goods subject to the national arms embargo have recently been approved for export to Iran. [HL2951]

The Government have recently issued a licence for the export of night vision goggles which are of military specification. These goods are for use on the Iran/ Afghanistan border against heroin smugglers, and the export is funded by the UN Drugs Control Programme (UNDCP). The UN offices in Vienna have confirmed that this application is legitimate. Her Majesty's Government are therefore satisfied that these goods would only be used for the end-use stated, and there is no risk of these goods being diverted for use by the Iranian military.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the number of people between age 50 and retirement age, broken down by gender, who are not employed and who have been exempted from the actively seeking work rules. [HL2707]

The information requested is set out in the table:

People claiming income support aged 50 or over who are exempted from the actively seeking work rules1( '000s)
Age	Men	Women
50–59	2.6	4.1
60–64	259.2

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they introduced the variety of changes in fees payable under the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/547). [HL2763]

HM Treasury's Fees and Charges Guide says that the normal objective for charging schemes for statutory services should be full cost recovery. The various changes in the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2003 reflect this guidance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support or sponsor the European Union Disability Directive proposed for adoption in this European Year of Disabled People. [HL2859]

We are not aware of such a directive. If the EU was to propose a disability specific directive, the Government would consider it in the normal way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will allocate the £0.5 million to create a rural evidence base as announced on 7 April; what specific projects will benefit; and whether a timetable has been laid down for the results from such work. [HL2881]

The additional £0.5 million per year has been allocated to the research budget of the Rural Economies and Communities Directorate (RECD). The priorities for research are outlined in the draft RECD Research Strategy for 2003–06 which was also published on 7 April (available at http://www.defra.gov. uk/ science/S_IS/Strategy_03_06/Directorate_HTM L/RECD. asp). A detailed work programme is being developed with a timetable for delivery, and projects are let on a rolling basis. The work programme includes projects on statistics, rural productivity, and access to services such as health, education and transport. As projects are let within the RECD programme, they are listed on the Defra website at http://www2.defra.gov.uk/research/ project_data/projects.asp?M = KWS& = RE0&SCOPE = 0. Results will be made available on the same website as each project is completed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the publication, at this stage, of HM Treasury's concluded technical studies of the costs and benefits of United Kingdom entry into the eurozone would inhibit internal discussion within the Government; if so, what are their reasons for this view; and, if not, whether they will publish the studies forthwith so as to give the public access to government information. [HL2940]

Parliament has been explicitly informed through the Budget Statement, in statements to the Treasury Select Committee and in answers to Treasury Questions that the studies will be published alongside the assessment at the time of the Government's statement to Parliament on the euro on 9 June. Exemptions 2, 6 and 10 under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information apply to this request for information.

asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWhat is the current status of the bid by the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital with the Royal Free Trust for new hospital development. [HL2628]

We can confirm that the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital within the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust is one of the elements of the London Chain which is part of the national procurement exercise for independent sector diagnosis and treatment centres.The procurement exercise is on-going and invitations to negotiate for the London Chain were issued to a shortlist of independent providers at the beginning of April. The elements of the London Chain are intended to be operational by March 2005, or earlier if the independent sector can deliver accordingly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the latest estimates of financial costs to the United Kingdom for the most recent war in Iraq; and what are the latest estimates of the financial resources so far specifically earmarked by the United Kingdom for humanitarian relief, reconstruction and political rehabilitation of Iraq. [HL2753]

It would be premature to make an estimate of the final costs of the recent military campaign in Iraq but we expect any such costs to be covered by the £3 billion special reserve announced by the Chancellor in the Budget.In March the Government set aside £240 million for humanitarian assistance in Iraq. A further £60 million was set aside by the Chancellor in the Budget to support the work of the UN on the reconstruction and development of Iraq.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage by value of new leases granted on non-residential property will be in disadvantaged areas after 1 December 2003; and [HL2925]Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 May (

I regret that a reliable estimate cannot be given for the percentage by value of new leases which will be granted on non-residential property in disadvantaged areas after 1 December 2003.The estimate of abolishing stamp duty on nonresidential property in disadvantaged areas was made on an aggregate basis. Within this total, the amount attributable to new leases is too small a component to be estimated reliably.Stamp duty relief data for disadvantaged areas was used to calculate the percentage of yield attributable to these areas as a percentage of the yield for the United Kingdom as a whole while UK transaction data formed the basis for future projections of stamp duty. The data then available and the latest data, on nonresidential transactions receiving relief are as follows:

Commercial Transactions in disadvantaged wards receiving relief
	Number of claims	Amount of relief given (£)	A verage relief per claim (£)
End November 2001 to end January 2003	758	749,010	990
End January 2003 to end April 2003	354	8,433.500	23,820

Data on the capital value of new non-residential properties developed by ward are not available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 1 May (