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

asked the Chairman of Committees:What are the results of the latest review of the security of the Palace of Westminster. [HL3047]

The security of the Palace remains under constant review in the light of the changing assessment of the terrorist threat. Additional physical security to the West Front will be provided as a result of the latest assessment, consisting of concrete blockers along the line of Abingdon Street. Members will still be able to park in Old Palace Yard and there will be no change to the arrangements at the Black Rod's Garden entrance. These works will be completed during the Whitsun Recess.

In the case of underspends in areas where automatic end year flexibility (EYF) arrangements apply, the unspent resources are retained by the relevant department for use in the same area in the following financial year. Any residual underspend falls to be surrendered for central reallocation, together with other available resources, in the following financial year (usually in the first monitoring round for the year). It is therefore not possible to separately identify what any residual underspend in any year was spent on. The attached table summarises the position for 2001–02. The position for 2002–03 has not yet been determined.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 28 April (

On 29 April the Italian Government announced the dispatch of their first consignment of assistance to Iraq, to set up a hospital in Baghdad. Her Majesty's Government greatly welcome this commitment. We also welcome indications from the Italian Government of their intention to make further concrete contributions to reconstruction in Iraq. The Italian Parliament debated and approved this and other elements of Italy's contribution on 15 April.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will request the United States Government either to determine by legal process whether British citizens detained at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo are guilty of terrorist acts or to release them to Her Majesty's Government. [HL2728]

We remain in regular contact with the United States at both ministerial and official level about the situation of the detainees. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has raised the issue regularly with the US Secretary of' State, Colin Powell. We have been pressing the US to determine the future of the British detainees. We shall continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is now the policy towards multilateral action on arms control and disarmament with particular reference to nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; and what commitments on behalf of the United Kingdom remain central to their policy in each of those spheres. [HL2688]

The Government continue to regard the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (N PT), Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) as central to combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.The UK regards the NPT a key component of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. Her Majesty's Government's policy reflects widespread agreement that: the non-nuclear weapon states undertook not to acquire nuclear weapons and to put their civil programmes under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards; the five nuclear weapon states would pursue disarmament negotiations and facilitate the transfer of peaceful nuclear technology under safeguards.The BWC and the CWC are the legal foundation of the international regime which prohibits the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer and use of chemical and biological weapons. We continue to urge universal accession to both conventions. In the CWC context the UK took a leading role at the convention's First Review Conference (28 April—9 May 2003), tabling 10 papers. The UK was instrumental in ensuring a successful outcome to the Fifth Review Conference of the BWC in November 2002, which reached agreement on a work programme for the next three years. Her Majesty's Government hope that this will lead to further concrete steps to strengthen the convention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what occasions they have raised with the Chinese Government the case for a dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama; and what response they have had. [HL2723]

At the biannual UK/China human rights dialogue we regularly urge the Chinese authorities to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama. We have made clear to the Chinese authorities our view that a long-term, peaceful solution to the Tibet issue can be found only through dialogue. They maintain that they too wish to see progress in the situation. Their position remains unchanged: they are willing to open dialogue with the Dalai Lama but he must first accept that Tibet is an inalienable part of China and give up his support for Tibet's independence.At the last round of the bilateral dialogue (November 2002) at our request the Chinese provided a read out of the visit to China by senior representatives of the Dalai Lama.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many women were invited by Mr Jay Garner to the meeting held in Baghdad on 28 April to plan the future of Iraq; and whether they will propose to Mr Garner that further meetings on the proposed interim authority or on reconstruction should consist of equal numbers of men and women. [HL2678]

The US-led Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance issued invitations to participate in the meeting in Baghdad on 28 April. Twelve Iraqi women were invited. The Government are committed to promoting the inclusion of women in all phases and at all levels of the reconstruction of Iraq, in line with UN Resolution 1325 (October 2000). We propose that future meetings on the proposed interim authority should include a range of opinions and interest groups, but we cannot say whether equal numbers of men and women will attend.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make representations to the Israeli Government in relation to the recent study, undertaken by international aid donors under the auspices of the World Bank, about the adverse effects of the security walls being constructed on the West Bank upon the Palestinian economy and the human rights and freedoms of Palestinians. [HL2729]

We have instructed our Embassy in Tel Aviv to make representations to the Israeli Government on the adverse effects of the "security" fence on the Palestinian economy and on human rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 10 April (HL Deb, cols 381–2), whether they have received any information since that date about the fate of more than 600 Kuwaiti prisoners taken by the Iraqis in the first Gulf War. [HL2732]

Unfortunately we still have no further information of the Kuwaiti missing. Once information becomes available and the families involved have been informed, the information will be made public as quickly as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the publication of the Medical Research Council's review of research into Gulf veterans' illnesses. [HL3018]

The Ministry of Defence welcomes publication of the Medical Research Council's review of research into Gulf veterans' illnesses. We are grateful for the work that has gone into the review, which was conducted following a request from the MOD. We have taken particular note of the review's conclusions and recommendations for further research and will study these further in detail. The MOD notes that a number of the recommendations are scientifically complex and will approach the Medical Research Council with a view to holding detailed discussions about how they may be taken forward, the data they are expected to yield and the priorities that should be attached to them. Once this has taken place we will consult veterans and other stakeholders about the way ahead.

When the Successor Identification Friend or Foe system will be available for installation in ground attack aircraft, and what progress has been made in the Identification Friend or Foe system for armoured vehicles. [HL2657]

The Successor Identification Friend or Foe (SIFF) system is planned for installation in Tornado GR4 aircraft by early 2004 and in Harrier GR7/9 aircraft, in conjunction with the GR9 upgrade programme, from 2005. It is not planned to fit it to Jaguar.In providing for the future technical element of land combat identification, we are exploring a battlefield target identification (BTID) capability that will be compatible with NATO allies. These studies continue to make progress and the first formal investment decision (initial gate) is planned next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment is fitted to Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior Armoured Vehicles and Scimitar Reconnaissance Vehicles. [HL2658]

Combat identification is not delivered by a single system or piece of equipment, but by a combination of tactics and procedures backed up by technology. It would jeopardise operational security to reveal details of the specific equipment fitted to Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior Armoured Vehicles and Scimitar Reconnaissance Vehicles and I am therefore withholding the information under Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I can, however, confirm that the combat identification capability fitted to these vehicles is compatible and comparable with that of the US and is based on NATO standards.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Under what regulations the Secretary of State for Defence controls "nuclear premises", which are excluded from the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/403). [HL2783]

The Secretary of State for Defence controls nuclear premises, which are excluded from the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/403), by means of a Defence Council Directive for the Security of Nuclear Weapons and Special Nuclear Materials. This directive prescribes the minimum mandatory security measures for all defence nuclear materials in storage and transit in Great Britain. I am withholding further details on the directive under Exemption la (National security) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Ministry of Defence exemption to the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/403) was put in place in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Naval Manning Agency for the financial year 2003–04. [HL3017]

Key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Naval Manning Agency for the financial year 2003–04 and are shown below. The targets build upon, and are consistent with, those demanded of the NMA since its vesting in July 1996 and encompass the full range primary outputs demanded of the agency.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to call-out further Reservists for operations in Iraq. [HL3045]

In the Written Statement by my right honourable friend the Defence Secretary (Mr Hoon) on 30 April (Official Report, columns 15–16WS) in another place, we announced the call-out of up to 1,200 additional Reservists to support continuing operations within Iraq. This process is currently under way. We also acknowledged that there would be a further need for Reservists. A requirement for a further 1,500 Reservists has now been confirmed. We have authorised the issue of appropriate call-out notices. These will primarily be deployed, either as formed units or as individual reinforcements to regular units, in support of the Divisional Headquarters and its Logistic Brigade.In parallel, the process to demobilise those Reservists called up for the first phase of operations continues. To date, we have demobilised around 1,100 Reservists who have completed their required tasks. Further Reservists have returned from operations in Iraq and are currently taking the post-operational tour leave to which they are entitled, following which they will also be demobilised.There will be a continuing role for our Reserve forces in Iraq, but we expect overall numbers of Reservists required to reduce over time. This further call-out demonstrates our continuing commitment to Iraq and to the Iraqi people. In addition, we continue to plan in detail the withdrawal of forces that have completed their operational tour, and the deployment of further replacement forces to continue to fulfil our responsibilities in Iraq. We will inform the House as soon as these plans become firm. We remain determined to help the Iraqis to set the conditions for Iraq's re-emergence as a country that is both politically secure and economically stable.

How many offences were prosecuted in the last 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).There were no such prosecutions in Northern Ireland during 2000 (latest available).Matters related to Scotland are for the Scottish Executive.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What financial penalties have been imposed on the contractors for (a)Hassockfield, (b)Medway and (c)Rainsbrook secure training centres in each of the last two years; and by how much in respect of each performance measurement. [HL2825]

In the two years up to 30 April 2003, the financial penalties for contract failures totalled £6,338 in respect of Hassockfield for failure to deliver specified services; and £156.013 in respect of Medway, of which £150,597 was for places unavailable for use and £5,416 for failure to deliver specified services. Rainsbrook incurred no penalties in that period.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the average cost per week of a place at (a) Hassockfield, (b) Medway and (c) Rainsbrook secure training centres. [HL2826]Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Responsibility for commissioning and purchasing places in the juvenile secure estate rests with the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. The average weekly cost of keeping a trainee in a Secure Training Centre is (a) Hassockfield £2,474; (b) Medway £2,889; and (c) Rainsbrook £2,366.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the review by Mr J Heavens of suicides at HM Prison Brixton; and whether they have proposals for limiting deaths in custody throughout the prison system. [HL2844]

The Heavens report, a copy of which is in the Library, found no evidence that the deaths could be linked to Irish backgrounds but made recommendations covering such issues as suicide prevention procedures and support for Irish prisoners. The Director General of the Prison Service has accepted all the recommendations of the report, and these are being taken forward by the area manager for London prisons.Significant numbers of lives have been saved in recent years as a result of the prompt actions of staff. The number of prisoners resuscitated following self-harm incidents totalled 130 in 2000; 147 in 2001, 155 in 2002 and 28 so far in 2003 (up to 31 March). Emerging research findings, including interviews with prisoners who have tried to kill themselves but who subsequently failed, indicate that the strongest predictors of psychological distress concern entry to prison and perceived safety.As I said in my reply on 22 January 2003, (

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are giving financial support to the non-governmental organisations C-FAR (Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation) and Youth at Risk. [HL2848]

The National Probation Service and the Prison Service have agreed to make £150,000 available to C-FAR for this financial year (subject to confirmation of health and safety standards). This is in addition to the £20,000 previously set aside to assist with the cost of the independent evaluation of the "Life Change" programme operated by C-FAR. Of this, a payment of £10,000 has already been made by the Prison Service in 2002. The remaining £10,000 from the National Probation Service was subject to progress with the independent evaluation and will be paid shortly. C-FAR also received a payment of £ 150,000 from the Criminal Justice System Reserve in 2001–02 as a contribution to the continuing costs of the programme.The Home Office does not provide financial support to Youth at Risk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they are reluctant to extradite Adu Qatadar, Abu Hamza, Omar Bakri and Bashir Nafi, all of whom are thought to be involved in terrorism. [HL2862]

The United Kingdom takes its international obligations very seriously and, within what the law permits, will offer maximum assistance to all of its extradition partners. For obvious reasons, however, it is our policy and practice not to comment in advance of any arrest on any extradition requests.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a Bill in draft form criminalising trafficking in people for the purposes of exploitation, other than sexual. [HL2874]

In the White PaperSecure Borders, Safe Haventhe Government promised to introduce legislation on trafficking for both labour and sexual exploitation. Offences of trafficking for sexual exploitation are contained in the Sexual Offences Bill currently before Parliament. Legislation covering trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation will be introduced when parliamentary time permits.The United Kingdom played a key role in the negotiation of the 2002 EU Framework Decision on Trafficking, which commits all EU member states to the introduction of criminal offences covering trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation. A further framework decision is currently being negotiated covering trafficking in human organs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish their legislative proposals to create a legal framework of rights and obligations for unmarried cohabiting partners of the same sex. [HL2836]

The Government recognise that lack of legal status causes very real problems for same-sex partners in their daily lives. We can see clear and strong arguments in favour of a civil partnership registration scheme in England and Wales for same-sex couples, which would bring with it a package of rights and responsibilities for those who registered. We will issue a consultation document on civil partnership registration in the summer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to consult on proposals announced in the Sustainable Communities Plan to give local authorities powers to lease long-term empty homes. [HL3016]

I have today published for consultation proposals that, if enacted, would allow local authorities, in defined circumstances, to take temporary management control of some private sector empty homes.The consultation paper

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cattle have been slaughtered over the past five years as part of the campaign against tuberculosis. [HL2694]

The information requested is given in the table below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What level of duty rebate is required for biofuel to achieve 2 per cent of the market share of the United Kingdom road transport fuels. [HL2902]

Duty rebates are only one of many factors that stimulate demand for market share of any product. Other factors, such as the development of an infrastructure to supply a product, will also be important in deciding what share of a particular market a product is able to achieve.The Government have already announced a duty incentive to encourage production of biodiesel and bioethanol of 20 pence per litre relative to the main road fuel duty rates. The Government, however, have made it clear that they would not support biodiesel production at any cost, and that the duty incentive of 20 pence offers best value for money to the taxpayer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure that the United Kingdom will be able to meet the European Union indicative targets for biofuel use in 2005 and 2010. [HL2901]

The United Kingdom and other European Union member states are required, under the terms of the recently agreed Directive on the Promotion of Biofuels and other Renewable Fuels for Road Transport, to set their own indicative targets for the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels in their areas. Member states are required to set indicative targets to be met in the years 2005 and 2010, and to notify the European Commission of these targets by July 2005 and July 2006 respectively. The Government will consult key stakeholders in due course on possible indicative targets for biofuels sales and sales of other renewable fuels in the UK, as well as on the most appropriate ways of meeting these targets.The Government have already put in place a number of measures to incentivise the production and use of biofuels in the UK. These include a 20 pence per litre fuel duty incentive for biodiesel, which came into effect in July 2002. Sales of biodiesel have increased significantly as a result of this, with some 700,000 litres sold in the month of April 2003. Budget 2003 announced that a similar duty incentive in favour of bioethanol would come into effect in January 2005. It also indicated that the Government are considering how best to give further support to bioethanol produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks, which potentially offers even greater environmental benefits.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What would be the annual saving in tonnes in the output of greenhouse gases if (a) 2 per cent; and (b) 5.75 per cent of United Kingdom road transport was fuelled by biodiesel-bioethanol; and what would be the cost per tonne of these savings. [HL2959]

Studies show that the level of carbon savings from biofuels depends on factors such as the type of biomass feedstock, agricultural management and the processing method. A range of 40–60 per cent life cycle carbon savings is assumed to be realistic for the UK. Using this range gives an estimate of 0.3–0.45 megatonnes of carbon (MtC) and 0.9–1.3 MtC savings for the 2 and 5.75 per cent targets respectively. The cost figures, based on the European Commission's estimates of cost, put the cost of carbon saving at £280—£700 per tonne.The final text of the recently agreed Biofuels Directive includes 2 per cent and 5.75 per cent as reference targets for the proportion of sales which should be biofuels by 2005 and 2010 respectively. The expected carbon savings and cost per tonne saved from the introduction of biofuels at these rates have been set out in the preliminary regulatory impact assessment (RIA). A copy of the RIA, together with the Explanatory Memorandum, is available from the House Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What their projections are for the take-up of government services online arising from the recent

TheGet Startedcampaign's primary focus is to drive up levels of Internet access among key groups such as the elderly, the disabled and the unemployed. During the campaign people will be encouraged to visit the 6,000 UK online centres throughout the country offering free Internet starter sessions. Increased take-up of government services is expected to be an important longer-term outcome of the campaign as, by encouraging more people to get online, it expands the market for online government services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When it is planned to start the construction of the rail line linking the Channel Tunnel Rail Link to the West Coast Main Line north of St Pancras station. [HL2963]

Construction of the rail line linking the Channel Tunnel Rail Link to the West Coast Main Line north of St Pancras station is underway.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 13 May (

The proposed consolidated ILO maritime labour convention is still under discussion internationally. It is therefore not possible at this time to say which existing ILO instruments or parts thereof will be incorporated in the new convention when it is finalised. The entire corpus of ILO maritime instruments is being considered as part of this large-scale review. It is nevertheless the intention that the new convention should be adopted by a decision of the general conference of the ILO, convened by the governing body of the ILO, in 2005.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What investment they are making to improve National Health Service cancer services. [HL3046]

We are today announcing a £165 million investment programme in new equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. As a result, all computed tomography (CT) scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners and linear accelerators introduced before 1996 will be replaced with new modern equipment. This will give the National Health Service in England a stock of diagnostic scanners as modern as those in any country in Europe. We are also announcing today the allocation of 38 CT and 43 MRI scanners. A list of the NHS trusts in receipt of these has been placed in the Library.We have also today placed in the Library copies of a letter from the National Cancer Director and a report on investment in cancer services in 2001–02 and 2002–03.The report shows that while there was a shortfall in cancer investment in 2001–02, this was corrected in 2002–03 in line with the commitments set out in the Cancer Plan. Planned local investment in cancer alongside central budgets for 2003–04 will mean that the NHS will invest more than the £570 million provided in the Cancer Plan.