asked the Chairman of Committees:Whether he will arrange to have printed on the cover page of the House of Lords

I am grateful for this suggestion. It would not be practicable, for reasons of space, to include a complete list of Questions answered on the cover page of the Official Report. However, officials are actively examining ways to include a numerical index at the back, in addition to the existing alphabetical index. I shall write to the noble Lord when the results of this work are known.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is the Official Solicitor's practice, when conducting business with legal authorities or lawyers in a jurisdiction where English is not the first language, to use English or the language of the other jurisdiction. [HL2934]

Each case is considered by the Official Solicitor individually, but in general the Official Solicitor will write in the first language of the recipient of correspondence. However, in order to contain translation costs (whether payable from public or private funds) the Official Solicitor may respond in English where it appears the authority or lawyer concerned is fluent in English or has ready translation facilities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who is responsible for setting and approving the level of tolls to be charged for use on the Birmingham northern relief road; and what criteria are used to establish the level of tolls for different classes of vehicle.[HL2962]

Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) was given a concession for the M6 toll (formerly the Birmingham northern relief road) in 1992. Under the Concession Agreement MEL is responsible for all aspects of the M6 toll's operation, including the setting of toll levels. It is obliged to comply with any applicable English and/or European Union legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether disinfecting equipment is made available to prisoners who use drugs intravenously; if so under which Prison Service order such provision is made; and how frequently prisoners are provided with such equipment.[HL2734]

Disinfecting tablets were introduced in prisons in England and Wales in September 1995 as a public health measure but were withdrawn shortly afterwards because of concerns about their safety. Following tests by the Health and Safety Executive, they were successfully reintroduced, on a trial basis, at 11 establishments in 1998–99. The Prison Service has invited tenders for a consultancy to design and implement a strategy to make disinfecting tablets available at all establishments in England and Wales over the next 12 months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether statistics are gathered on the operation of Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000; and if not, why not.[HL2821]

Statistics on stops and searches under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act are published annually in Arrests for Notifiable Offences and the Operation of Certain Police Powers under PACE. A copy of the most recent bulletin is in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given that the Home Secretary has reportedly reached agreement with members of the G8 to develop an iris-based biometrics system as an extra check to the identities of international travellers, whether due account has been taken about the limitations of the technology as expressed by the United States Department of Defence, Marcus Kuhn of Cambridge University and others.[HL3000]

In line with emerging international standards for machine readable travel documents, the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) is investigating the possible inclusion of fingerprints or iris scans as a back-up technology to facial recognition in the British passport and passport card. A tender for this work is currently being evaluated. The study will take into account all relevant information including that referred to by the noble Earl.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether those who enter the United Kingdom illegally who claim asylum and who refuse to reveal what country they have come from and what country they are claiming asylum from are allowed to proceed with their asylum claim; and what administrative procedures are followed in such cases.[HL3048]

Irrespective of the method of entry to the United Kingdom, an asylum claim is bound to fail unless a claimant can, amongst other things, demonstrate that he is outside the country of his nationality or place of habitual residence and is unable or unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country. The claim of any asylum seeker who fails to reveal what country he is claiming asylum from would therefore be refused.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements are made for accommodation and support of asylum seekers living in National Asylum Support Service contracted accommodation, after their applications have been refused, in circumstances where it is not possible to remove them to their countries of origin. [HL3064]

When an asylum seeker living in National Asylum Support Service contracted accommodation receives a final determination on their application support continues for 21 days following a negative decision in the case of single asylum seekers, support continues for families with children under 18 until they are removed or they leave the United Kingdom voluntarily or until they fail to comply with removal directions.Where it is not currently possible for a failed asylum seeker to return to their country of origin following a negative decision, an application may be made for support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is provided on a full-board basis and accommodation is generally outside the London area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the 300 sites in Iraq, provisionally identified by the United States Department of Defense as likely to hold weapons of mass destruction and how many of the further 700 sites identified by the United States State Department have so far been examined by allied forces; whether any sites, not previously identified, have been discovered and examined; and how many of these are within the area of operations of the British forces.[HL2655]

As at 20 May 2003, coalition forces had initiated investigations into 99 sites within Iraq which may be connected to programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction. Investigations have been initiated into a further 53 sites identified since the conflict began. The majority of these sites are outside of the area of operations of British forces. We expect further sites to be identified as investigations progress.I am withholding details of sites in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the recent use of C-17 sorties, they will change over the Tornado F3 airframes in the Falkland Islands; and whether the A400M will be capable of undertaking similar missions carrying the Tornado or its replacement. [HL2659]

There is a routine programme to change over Tornado F3 airframes stationed in the Falkland Islands. This can be carried out either by flying the planes direct or by transporting them disassembled in a military C-17 or a civilian-chartered AN124 aircraft. There is no extant requirement to carry a Tornado F3 or its successor (Typhoon) in an A400M aircraft. In the event that the United Kingdom decided that such a capability was desired, a loading trial would be required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 28 April (

The Manual of Military Law has not been formally withdrawn. A new manual which will deal with the law of armed conflict for all three services, and which will for the Army replace Part III of the manual (The Law of War on Land), is in course of preparation. It is intended that this manual should in due course be published as a joint service publication.Legal advisers are available to commanders at all appropriate levels in the operational chain of command, and they have access to the legal resources necessary to enable them properly to advise. The Rules of Engagement under which United Kingdom Armed Forces operate in any overseas theatre of military operations are always consistent with the UK's international law obligations, and with the provisions of UK domestic law that apply to personnel serving overseas.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 24 September 2002 (

I regret that the noble Lord has had to wait an inordinate length of time for a reply. I can confirm that I have replied today and placed a copy of my response in the Library of the House.The Ministry of Defence continues to adhere to the guidelines that all Written Questions will be answered in two weeks, and the lapse in this case is most regrettable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 6 May (

The United Kingdom is confident that our partners will abide by their obligations under international law in their treatment of prisoners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many times since 1997 and in what places have the powers contained in the Defence Act 1842 been used with regard to footpaths and bridleways; and[HL2932]Whether, in each case of the powers within the Defence Act 1842 being used, Section XVII of the Act has been complied with.[HL2933]

Since 1997 the powers contained in the Defence Act 1842 with regard to footpaths and bridleways have been used a total of three times.The locations in which the powers were used are as follows: Lakenheath; RAF Fylingdales Western Bridleway; and Chicksands.On two of these occasions at Lakenheath in 1999 and Chicksands in 1997 Section XVII of the Act has been complied with.The third case was at RAF Fylingdales in 2002. On this occasion and after legal advice Section XVII of the Act was not complied with.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to upgrade the Royal Navy's Merlin Mk1 helicopters.[HL3093]

We are pleased to announce the start of an assessment phase (AP) to be led by Lockheed Martin UK Ltd, with Westland Helicopters Ltd as strategic sub-contractor, to determine how best to sustain the capability of the Royal Navy's Merlin Mk1 helicopters for future operations. Merlin Mk1 already delivers a quantum leap in capability over the aircraft it succeeded, the Sea King Mk6, and is recognised as crucial across the spectrum of maritime operations. We anticipate an upgraded aircraft entering service towards the end of the decade, building on significant operational experience and technological advances to ensure that the full potential of this versatile and capable aircraft is realised and that it continues to meet our security challenges for decades to come. The AP, costing £18 million, will investigate the most cost-effective way to sustain this world-beating capability and the scope for enhancements to broaden the utility and versatility of the aircraft. The partnering of Lockheed Martin as prime contractor with the world-class manufacturing skills of Westland as strategic sub-contractor is believe to offer the lowest risk to the Ministry of Defence. The AP is planned to complete at the end of 2004 after which a decision will be made on the scope and programme for the demonstration and manufacture phase.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their proposed £1.4 million limit on the capital value of each individuals' pension rights will apply equally to people in the public and private sectors; and, if not, why not.[HL3009]

On 17 December 2002 the Government issued a consultation paper, Simplifying the taxation of pensions: increasing choice and flexibility, which puts forward a proposed framework of benefit rules that would apply to all tax approved pension schemes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the number of people subject to benefit sanction in whole or in part.[HL2708]

Due to the way sanction data are recorded it is not possible to say how many individuals have been subject to a sanction. The Quarterly Statistical Enquiries of Income Support and Jobseekers's Allowance provide data on the number of people subject to certain sanctions at that point in time. The latest information is in the table.

Number of people subject to benefit sanctions as at November 2002 (000s)
Jobseekers's Allowance	21.1
Income Support	10.3

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the population and the total rateable value of non-residential properties in the Blackwall ward of Tower Hamlets.[HL3043]

The Blackwall ward of Tower Hamlets was estimated to have a mid 1998 resident population of 5,300. The total rateable value of non-residential properties in the Blackwall ward amounted to £270.1 million on 1 April 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the preparedness of primary care trusts to assume responsibility for specialised commissioning has improved since the Department of Health conducted a review last year.[HL2786]

A number of activities have taken place to develop and improve primary care trust (PCT) commissioning skills since PCTs assumed responsibility for commissioning specialised services last April and took over membership of specialised commissioning groups. The National Primary and Care Trusts Development Programme (NatPaCT) has published information on improving commissioning, which includes specialised services. This will be revised on an ongoing basis.Guidance issued on 31 March 2003 reaffirms that all PCTs should belong to collaborative specialised services commissioning groups with a two-tier structure being established: Level 1 groups with planning populations between 1 million and 2 million and Level 2 groups for specialised services with planning population between 3 million and 6 million. Strategic health authorities will oversee and performance manage these collaborative specialised services commissioning arrangements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will protect spending on specialised services in real terms for a further year given the delay in publication of the Hutton review. [HL2787]

To ensure stability during 2002–03, whilst primary care trusts assumed responsibility for commissioning specialised services, primary care trusts were asked to honour previously agreed financial commitments and programmes of service reviews for specialised services. This commitment will not be extended to 2003–04.Primary care trusts will receive an extra £12.7 billion over the next three years. This amounts to an average increase over the three years of 30.83 per cent. This certainty of funding will enable health communities to plan their finances and will provide a surer foundation for PCTs to commission services in a way which will deliver improved performance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria have been determined to allocate the £50 million funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act 2003.[HL2872]

The indicative allocations for this grant have been published on the Department of Health's website, www.doh.gov.uk/reimbursement. The special grant report will be debated in the House of Commons before the parliamentary recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any local authorities have reduced their budgets for food hygiene enforcement work; if so, which ones; and whether there is correlation between any such reduction and an increase in food poisoning cases in the area concerned. [HL2907]

The information requested is not held centrally. It is for individual local authorities to set their budgets for food law enforcement work from funding received through the revenue support grant. It is for each authority to ensure that it can meet its statutory obligations and the agreed standards of food enforcement work as set out in the Food Standards Agency Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement.Under this agreement, the Food Standards Agency monitors and audits local authority work on food law enforcement, but not the budgets. For 2001, the agency identified 20 local authorities with unacceptably low levels of food law enforcement activity, or for not making any returns. Seventeen of these gave resource issues as part of the reasons for their results.The agency is not able to link budgets for food law enforcement with levels of food poisoning cases.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is being taken to save Manchester's Christie Hospital from having to introduce waiting lists for life-saving chemotherapy; and what estimate has been made of the number of cancer patients whose lives will be put at risk if chemotherapy is delayed. [HL2956]

A major review of cancer services in Greater Manchester is to be carried out in the wake of the potential increased waiting times for chemotherapy at the Christie Hospital.The review will look at the totality of cancer care in the conurbation both at the Christie Hospital and at local general hospitals. It will cover service management and clinical practice.In the mean time, it has been agreed by the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority, that chemotherapy at the Christie Hospital will continue to operate as it does at present. Waiting lists will not be introduced at the hospital and money is being redirected from other National Health Service budgets to support the hospital in this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many representations they have received about the threat posed to cancer patients by the cash shortfall faced by Manchester's Christie Hospital; and what replies have been sent.[HL2957]

According to our records there have been no representations on this issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How injury surveillance is to be continued by the National Health Service following the closure of the Home Accident Surveillance System; and what information the public health observatories are collecting on consumer product involvement in accidental injuries. [HL2964]

The report of the Accidental Injury Task Force identified a need to strengthen the surveillance of accidental injury at regional and local levels. The Home Accident Surveillance System data were not sufficiently complete to serve as the main tool for local National Health Service surveillance because they were based on a sample of 18 hospitals across the United Kingdom, and did not include injuries on the roads. We are taking forward local surveillance in discussions on the future roles of directors of public health and public health observatories. It is too soon to say whether public health observatories will collect data on product involvement in accidental injuries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they will monitor the progress on accidental injury reduction targets in

Progress on the Our Healthier Nation target to reduce the death rate from accidents is monitored using data on registered deaths collected by the Office for National Statistics, and population estimates based on the 2001 census. Progress on the target to reduce serious injury from accidents is monitored using hospital inpatient data collected by the Department of Health, and population estimates. The Home Accident Surveillance System does not provide the information required for monitoring progress on the accidental injury targets and is not used for this purpose.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will announce the results of the review on domiciliary oxygen services initiated in March 2000; and[HL2966]What conclusions they have reached concerning the provision of ambulatory oxygen for domiciliary use; and[HL2967]Whether the provision of liquid oxygen fitted with a conservation device will become a National Health Service prescribed product; and [HL2968]How much was spent on domiciliary oxygen services in each of the past five years. [HL2969]

The review of the domiciliary oxygen service is at an advanced stage. It has considered the provision of ambulatory oxygen for domiciliary use, the availability of different forms of oxygen, and the use of technologies such as conserving devices. We expect to announce our conclusions shortly.The following table gives the information requested on the costs of the domiciliary oxygen service in England to 31 March 2002. These costs, rounded to the nearest £ 100,000, comprise the costs of oxygen and the equipment to use it, the fees and rental payments to pharmacists and payments to oxygen concentrator contractors. Full information is not yet available for the year to 31 March 2003.

Year ending 31 March	Costs (£ million)
1998	32.3
1999	34.9
2000	36.3
2001	38.3
2002	42.0

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether patients' self-referral to physiotherapy in primary care has proved cost-effective; and whether such schemes will be available across the United Kingdom.[HL3006]

We understand patient self-referral to physiotherapy is already available in some localities in England and there is nothing to prevent its wider availability if those responsible for services at local level wish. The Department of Health has not initiated any formal pilot schemes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Andrews on 12 May (

The Government currently have no plans to change the law on euthanasia and assisted suicide.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What decisions have been taken by the North/ South Ministerial Council since the suspension of the devolved administration in Northern Ireland. [HL2581]

The exchanges of notes between the British and Irish Governments on 19 November 2002 provides for decisions on policies and actions relating to the implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland Limited or their respective functions to be taken by the two Governments. A list of decisions that have been taken under the exchange of notes up until 28 March was placed in the Library on 7 April. The Government will publish shortly details of further decisions taken since then.

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

The North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat accommodation was carpeted in line with Construction Service Supplies Branch guidelines at a total cost of £7,257.The £13,271 spent on other items consists of expenditure on a fax machine, photocopier rental, telephone apparatus, catering equipment, a franking machine, shredders and miscellaneous office stationery/equipment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date consultations took place with the Northern Ireland political parties before the exchange of letters with the Irish Government of 19 November 2002, which replaced the North/South Ministerial Council arrangements.[HL2738]

There were no consultations with Northern Ireland political parties on the content of the exchanges of notes between the British and Irish Governments on 19 November 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the exchange of notes with the Government of the Republic of Ireland (Treaty Series No 54 (2002 19 November 2002) allows changes of policy by the implementation bodies such as that caused by a reduction of a body's budget.[HL2582]

The exchange of notes between the British and Irish Governments on 19 November 2002 provides for decisions on policies and actions relating to the implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland Limited or their respective functions to be taken by the two Governments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who set the proportionality funding between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Irish Republic for the Cross-Border Implementation Service; and on what basis.[HL2661]

The proportionality of funding between the UK Government and the Irish Government for each of the North/South implementation bodies is determined on the basis of the assessed benefit to each jurisdiction from their activities. For calendar years 2000, 2001 and 2002 the proportionality was agreed by the Finance Ministers North and South and approved by the North/South Ministerial Council in the context of the annual budget cycle. The proportionality of funding for 2003 was agreed by the Finance Ministers North and South and approved by the British and Irish Governments under the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the two Governments dated 19 November 2002.

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

The breakdown of the details of the furnishings and fittings costs for the set up of the Special European Union Programmes Body were as follows:

Furnishings1	Amount (£)2
Belfast Office	11,200.27
Omagh Office	4,096.69
Monaghan Office	14,512.92
Fittings
Safe	1,770.47
Air Conditioning	276.23
Artwork	1,413.97
Total	33,270.55
1 Furnishings comprise desks, chairs, tables and other office furniture.
2 Figures relate to expenditure during the first year of operation (2000).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is meant in the joint statement issued in conjunction with the Irish Government on 18 December 2002 by "care and maintenance" in relation to cross-Border bodies.[HL2736]

As indicated in the statement of clarification on 18 December 2002, the British and Irish Governments intend, under the agreement contained in the exchange of notes of 19 November 2002, to take only those decisions required to ensure proper care and maintenance of the implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland in the performance of their necessary public functions. As the statement set out, the two Governments intend only to pursue the policies and actions already agreed in the North/South Ministerial Council and not to introduce any new policies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 7 April (HL2098) concerning budgets for Cross-Border Implementation Bodies, why are sterling pounds referred to as GBPs and not UKPs. [HL2767]

GBP is the standard international currency code for pounds sterling, as determined by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the worldwide federation of standardisation bodies. The codes are referred to as the ISO 4217 standard and are in general usage worldwide. The maintenance agency for ISO 4217 is the British Standards Institution.

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

The end year flexibility (EYF) scheme applies to the NI departmental expenditure limit (DEL), and as a consequence all organisations which are funded from this source can benefit in that the resources available to Northern Ireland are higher than would otherwise be the case. Within this arrangement there is automatic carry-over for some specified categories of expenditure, the largest of which is capital: for the remainder the amount carried over is returned for central redistribution to programmes early in the following financial year. In the case of North/South bodies, the budgets are set for each calendar year, as distinct from financial year, and thus there is no scope for specific EYF arrangements for their individual budgets. In practice, the contributions from Northern Ireland and Ireland to North/South bodies can be managed to address any planning issues that emerge.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who are the current members of the Cabinet Office Sub-Committee on Older People; and on what dates it has met since its establishment in 2001.[HL3020]

I refer the noble Baroness to the Written Answer I gave on 6 February 2003, Official Report, (WA 44). It has been established practice under succesive governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to ensure that any new United Nations resolution on Iraq ensures the return of Dr Blix and United Nations inspectors to play a full part in the location, destruction and eradication of manufacturing potential of and for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.[HL2751]

The Government have been actively engaged in discussions on the issue of independent verification of discoveries made by coalition forces in Iraq. Deployment of UNMOVIC and the IAEA remains an option.Dr Blix has himself said that the current situation on the ground in Iraq means that it would not be appropriate for UNMOVIC inspectors to return at present.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure that the Convention on the Future of Europe, chaired by Valéry Giscard D'Estaing, makes development spending in the eradication of world poverty central to its recommendations.[HL2791]

The UK has consistently pressed in the convention for poverty eradication to be set out as an objective for the European Union's external actions, and clearly stated as the principle objective of the European Union's development policy. This is reflected in the UK's comments on the draft treaty articles on external action, submitted on 2 May, and most recently in a paper submitted to the convention by the UK, and signed by development Ministers from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they were a party to the decision to appoint Dan Amstutz, a former senior executive of the grain exporter Cargill, to oversee the agricultural reconstruction of Iraq; and, if so, why this decision was made in preference to appointing one of the experienced agricultural development specialists available within the United Nations system.[HL2794]

Her Majesty's Government were not involved in this appointment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What specific actions they are taking to implement Security Council Resolution 1325 to safeguard the rights of women in Iraq. [HL2796]

The Government is fully committed to Resolution 1325 and wants to see women fully involved in reconstructing a new Iraq. We are building a dialogue with Iraqi women and we are exploring the possibility of holding a women's conference to produce representatives who would attend a national conference shortly afterwards. The UK-funded "Towards Freedom" television channel will soon be transmitting programmes to encourage women to participate in this process. Our military on the ground and our secondees in the Coalition's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) are aware of their responsibilities under Resolution 1325. A gender expert from the Women's Equality Unit at the Department of Trade and Industry will soon join ORHA to focus on these issues.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have made to the Government of Israel about the conduct and training of Israeli Defence Forces in recent actions leading to the death or injury of United Kingdom citizens; and with what results. [HL2797]

Given the number of recent incidents in which foreign nationals and Palestinian civilians have been injured or killed, my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr O'Brien) asked the Israeli authorities on 19 April to revise their Rules of Engagement for the Israel Defence Forces in order to avoid a repeat of such incidents. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv has also made similar representations locally to the Israeli authorities. We will continue to press for these revisions to be made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they have received from the United Nations about the cost of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in 2002; whether they will place copies of reports made by UNMOGIP to the Security Council in the Library of the House; and whether they will propose to the Security Council that UNMOGIP be asked to submit a special report on civilian casualties caused by shelling across the Line of Control. [HL2819]

The total cost to the UN for the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) for 2002 was 6,222,950 US dollars. UNMOGIP does not report directly to the United Nations Security Council. We have no plans to ask the Security Council to ask UNMOGIP to submit a special report on civilian casualties caused by shelling across the Line of Control.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What contacts they have had with Iraq's neighbours on the possible whereabouts of Saddam Hussein and unaccounted-for senior members of his regime; and whether they are confident that they are not now resident in any neighbouring country. [HL2839]

The coalition has been successful in apprehending some of the "most-wanted" figures of the Saddam Hussein regime. Our efforts continue, but it is not appropriate to disclose operational details.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in conjunction with the Governments of the United States and Norway, they are discussing with the Government of the Sudan methods for preventing breaches of the current ceasefire, and in particular the necessary clearances for flights by the Verification and Monitoring Team. [HL2846]

On 7 April the Government of Sudan lifted flight restrictions imposed on the Civilian Protection Monitoring Team in March. On 7 April the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Envoy announced that the Verification Monitoring Team's (VMT) mission to Bentiu had been suspended. This followed concerns expressed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army about the tasking of the VMT. The IGAD Special Envoy has now proposed a compromise position which we hope will be acceptable to both parties. We continue to work with the US, Norway and the mediators to ensure the operationalisation of the VMT as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Sudan Verification and Monitoring Team will be able to investigate outbreaks of violence in Darfur province. [HL2847]

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cessation of hostilities between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement does not extend to the conflict in Darfur.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any talks have taken place between the United Kingdom and Spain in relation to the territorial waters between Gibraltar and Morocco. [HL2849]

No.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to stop the large-scale demolition of Palestinian houses being carried out by the Israeli Army at Nazlat Issa in the West bank, Rafah in Gaza and Kafr Kassem in Israel. [HL2875]

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr O'Brien) has made representations to the Israeli Ambassador about the demolitions in Nazlat Issa. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has also raised the matter with the Government of Israel and continues to do so.We are greatly concerned about the destruction of Palestinian homes and property. Such actions are provocative, exacerbate tension and undermine efforts to end violence and to return to negotiations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to implement European Community Council Directive 23 of 2001, dated 12 March 2001, on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to the safeguarding of employees' rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of undertakings or businesses; and what is the reason for the delay in consultations on this directive. [HL2984]

The existing provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981—the TUPE Regulations—meet the requirements of the 2001 directive, which was a consolidation of earlier directives. The Government nevertheless proposes to amend the TUPE Regulations in order to improve their operation, and has been carrying out an extensive process of consultation on its proposals. We announced in February that the next stage in this process, formal public consulation on draft revised regulations, will take place later this year. We aim to have the revised regulations in force by April 2004. Consideration of the issue of protection of occupational pension rights on transfer is, however, being taken forward separately in the context of the reform of pensions legislation, and was addressed in the DWP/HMT Green Paper Pensions in the Workplace last December.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their plans to provide higher support levels, international centres of excellence and demonstration projects for research and development to assist United Kingdom industry develop programmes in renewable power technology including wind, wave, tidal and photovoltaic. [HL3044]

The Government have allocated £348 million for capital grants and support for research, development and demonstration programmes in sustainable energy.The Government have in addition allocated a further £28 million to the Research Councils in last year's spending review to support a new cross-council programme, "Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy" (TSEC) which should more than double Research Council investment in sustainable energy research by 2005–06. This will enable the UK Research Councils to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to research issues in the sustainable energy field, including the development of a UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) of high international standing.The TSEC programme will build on new cross-council programmes such as the SUPERGEN and Carbon Vision Programmes. SUPERGEN involves the engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Economic and Social Research (ESCR) and the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) which will jointly invest £25 million over five years in a range of sustainable energy research including marine, biomass, hydrogen, photovoltaic, fuel cells, and future networking projects. The £14 million Carbon Vision programme will be supported jointly by the Research Councils and the Carbon Trust.The DTI provides capital grants for offshore wind, bioenergy, and photovoltaics projects, and supports demonstration projects in wave and tidal energy through its Renewable Energy R&D; Programme. It supports small-scale community and household projects in a variety of renewable energy technologies through its Clear Skies programme.The Government are setting out their plans more fully in their response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Inquiry,

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the latest position regarding the restructuring of British Energy. [HL3143]

In the light of today's publication of British Energy's preliminary results for the financial year 2002–03, I am taking this opportunity to inform the House about two aspects of the restructuring plan: the value of the aid that Her Majesty's Government have agreed to give to the company based on BE's estimates of its liabilities; and the company's plan to dispose of its 50 per cent stake in Amergen, its joint venture in the US.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many late payments are outstanding from the Rural Payments Agency; and whether they will list the number of late payments or failures to pay per month over the past nine months.[HL2691]

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is responsible for the payment of IACS and non-IACS scheme. Because of different operational requirements and scheme payment deadlines the information is presented by scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is still their intention to impose a moratorium on the discharge of technetium-99 into the Irish Sea from Sellafield. [HL2759]

In December of last year, we consulted on a proposal to direct the Environment Agency to consider whether it would be possible to impose a moratorium on the discharge of technetium-99 pending the introduction of abatement technology based on the use of the chemical TPP. A number of responses from interested parties have been received, some containing new information, and further scientific analysis of this information is currently being carried out. Once that analysis has been completed, we will decide whether to direct the Environment Agency as we had proposed. We hope to make an announcement in the early summer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 10 March (

The best figures on song thrush numbers in gardens come from the RSPB's long-running "Big Garden Birdwatch". From 1979 to 2003 there was a decline of 31.1 per cent in the mean number of song thrushes recorded in each garden taking part in the survey. Comparing 2003 with 1985 (when the survey was carried out much more regularly), the decline is 57.1 per cent. These figures show that the decline in numbers occurring in gardens is similar to the overall national trend during the same period. There is the suggestion that the decline since 1985 in gardens has been greater than the national trend but a more detailed anlaysis of the data would be needed to confirm this.The BTO has carried out a garden bird survey "Garden Birdwatch" since 1995 which suggests that song thrush numbers in gardens have been roughly stable in the period 1995–2003, a trend mirrored by national Breeding Bird Survey data from all habitats.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 10 March (

The Pesticide Safety Directorate has published reviews of methiocarb (1998) and metaldehyde (1996), two of the major components of slug pellets. The report for methiocarb raised concerns regarding the effects on small mammal populations and noted a high risk to mammals. Methiocarb has high acute toxicity to birds, but considered the risks of direct poisoning of birds from slug pellets quite unlikely because of the repellants used in their manufacture. Metaldehyde was considered to pose a high risk to small mammals and birds from primary and secondary poisoning. Acute poisoning of birds can therefore result from slug pellets, although the number of recorded incidents is relatively few.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose to introduce compulsory fluoridation of water throughout England. [HL2878]

The Government have no proposals to introduce compulsory fluoridation of water throughout England. However, the Government are currently giving consideration to supporting a proposal in the Commons, embodied in Early Day Motion 247, for amendments to the Water Bill, which would require water companies to accede to requests from strategic health authorities to fluoridate drinking water in areas where the local population was in favour, and it was technically feasible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a free vote on water fluoridation will be given to Members of Parliament in advance of the Water Bill completing its passage through (a) the House of Lords and (b) the House of Commons. [HL2879]

If a proposal is brought forward in either House for Water Bill amendments to the provisions in the Water Industry Act 1991 relating to water fluoridation, consideration will be given to whether there should be free vote on the government side. How others may Whip is a matter for them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has decided to use lay testers to reduce the backlog of overdue bovine tuberculosis tests. [HL2882]

The State Veterinary Service has made a concerted effort over the last 15 months to reduce the TB testing backlog built up during the foot and mouth disease outbreak. At the end of March this year the number of overdue herd tests had been reduced to just over 4,500, down from 27,000 at the end of 2001. With continued co-operation from farmers we hope to have cleared the backlog by the summer.Non-veterinarians are not permitted under existing legislation to carry out TB testing. However, Defra is planning to consult stakeholders in the summer on proposals to permit specially trained lay-testers to carry out the procedure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the investigations by the State Veterinary Service into the health of the red deer on Baronsdown on Exmoor. [HL2903]

The Baronsdown Deer Sanctuary was inspected by officials of the State Veterinary Service on 1 April. The detailed findings of the inspection are confidential to the managers of the sanctuary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which countries in the European Union have yet to implement Directive 1997/74/EC on the welfare of laying hens; which of those countries export eggs to the United Kingdom; how much such imports cost, giving figures on an individual basis by country; and whether they will ban all egg imports from European Union countries which have not implemented the directive. [HL2904]

The United Kingdom transposed Council Directive 1999/74/EC on the welfare of laying hens, and the Commission was notified of this on 3 September 2002. Information on the level of implementation by other Member States of this directive is not available.The relative costs of eggs from those member states which have implemented the directive from those which have not cannot therefore be identified. The value of shell eggs imports from other member states for 2002 are listed below.

Member State	Value (£)
Belgium	332,176
Denmark	416,150
Finland	119,362
France	3,332,964
Germany	4,243,512
Irish Republic	367,294
Italy	60,316
Netherlands	6,662,969
Portugal	55,954
Spain	5,259,500
Sweden	60,707
Total	20,910,904

It is the responsibility of each member state to notify the European Commission of the implementation of Council directives and the Commission can take action if a member state fails to implement a directive within the required timescale. Unilateral action by the UK to ban egg imports from member states which have not implemented the directive would be illegal under the single market. Restrictions can only be applied where there is a threat to human, animal or plant health in the importing country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Press Release 4/02 of 7 January 2002 on the LEADER+ European Community Initiative, whether matched funding from government, which lasts beyond one year, is treated in government accounts as an irrevocable forward spending provision. [HL2906]

The England LEADER + Programme has a budget set out in the programme document which has been endorsed by Ministers and approved by the European Commission for the lifetime of the programme.There is therefore a commitment for Defra to match-fund this programme at endorsed levels.Departmental decisions on resource allocation are currently made annually and we expect LEADER + to receive the required funding via the normal mechanism.Although there is therefore a ministerial commitment to fund the LEADER + Programme, this does not technically constitute an "irrevocable forward spending provision."

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given that the required legislation is not yet in place, what the calendar will be for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development on marine protected areas for the United Kingdom's exclusive economic zone. [HL2961]

While the United Kingdom has not declared an Exclusive Economic Zone, this does not affect the rights that the UK may assume as a coastal state in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including an obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will set out the statistical basis for the statement made in the House of Lords on 14 May by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: "We subsidise every cow in Europe to the tune of two dollars a day" (HL Deb, col. 291); whether this figure also applies to the United Kingdom; if not, what would be the appropriate figure for the United Kingdom; and whether they will set out the statistical basis for the figure which does apply to the United Kingdom. [HL2980]

The quoted figure is based on the latest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Producer Support Estimate (PSE) for 2000 of 16.8 billion US dollars for the dairy sector. In 2000 there were estimated to be 20.7 million dairy cows suggesting support in 2000 of 2.22 or 2.04 US dollars per cow per day.The PSE is an internationally respected measure of the annual monetary value of gross transfer at the farm gate from consumers (through prices higher than world levels) and taxpayers (through direct support) arising from policy measures that support agricultural production.Using the same methodology, but looking at the UK in 2000 suggests a support figure per dairy cow of around 1.60 US dollars. This lower UK figure is a consequence of particularly low prices in the UK compared with the EU as a whole in 2000, following a sharp appreciation of sterling against the euro.