asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their reasons for continuing to separate ministerial responsibility for criminal justice and civil justice in England and Wales into separate government departments, rather than to create a Department for Justice. [HL3420]

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister, responding to questions after his statement in another place on 18 June (Official Report 18 June 2003 col. 364) set out clearly why we do not favour the creation of a Ministry of Justice. I commend his views to the noble Lord.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 3 June (

The budgets for the North/South Implementation Bodies are planned and managed on a calendar year basis whereas Northern Ireland public expenditure is planned and managed on a financial year basis. This means that, in practical terms, it is possible to manage the Northern contribution to the budgets (as distinct from the overall budget of the bodies), with a degree of flexibility rather than by recourse to the formal end year flexibility mechanism. However, to date circumstances have not required this approach to be used.Any changes to the overall budgets for the bodies must be agreed in accordance with the arrangements established 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 3 June (

The assessment of benefits to each jurisdiction in relation to all implementation bodies is made on the basis of a number of factors including the nature and location of activities being undertaken by the bodies and the number and location of staff employed by the bodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the budget for the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat for 2002, broken down into detailed headings; how much was contributed by each government; who approved the budget; by what procedures; and on what date. [HL3250]

Details of the NSMC Joint Secretariat (North) budget allocation for 2002–03 were provided in the Answer given on 12 March 2003 (WA 186). The budget allocation is not approved at a detailed level but as a total figure.The budget is approved annually by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in accordance with the department's budget management arrangemnts, operating within the procedures for the management of public expenditure in Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have sought legal advice since 15 October 2002 on the validity of any decisions taken by the North/South Ministerial Council; if so, on which decisions they have sought advice; what were their reasons for this; and whether they will place a copy of this advice in the Library of the House. [HL3278]

The information requested is exempt from disclosure under Exemption 2 (Internal Discussion and Advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in reaching a decision on 11 June concerning future increases for the salaries of staff in Raphoe, the North/South Ministerial Council followed paragraphs 5 and 6 of its decision-making procedure dated 5 December 2002; and, if so, on what date was the consultation with the Ulster-Scots Agency. [HL34991

Representatives of the two sponsoring departments and the North/South Language Body attended a facilitation meeting on Wednesday 12 March 2003 at which the issue of staffing for the Donegal office was discussed. This was in keeping with paragraph 5 of the decision-making procedure dated 5 December 2002.There was no specific consultation on the provisions relating to future salary increases. This is a standard arrangement which had already been agreed in respect of other North/South bodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who set the budgets for the administration side of the Special European Union Programmes Body for 2000,2001,2002 and 2003; when and by whom was each approved; what were those budgets; and how much was the contribution of each government. [HL3252]

The SEUPB operates on a calendar year basis and the 2000 budget was provided for in the North in the Appropriation (NI) Order 1999 for 1999–2000 and the Appropriation Act (NI) 2000 for 2000–01 and in the South in the Appropriation Act 2000. The budgets for 2001 and 2002 were approved by NSMC. The budget for 2003 was approved by the British and Irish Governments under the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the two governments dated 19 November 2002.The detailed information requested is provided in the table below.

	Approved Amount		Total
Year	North	South	Budget	Date Approved
2000	£400k	£1.6m	£2.0m	As above
2001 (initial)	£600k	£600k	£1.2m	17 November 2000
2001 (additional)1	£663k	£445k	£1.108m	30 October 2001
2002	£875k	£875k	£ 1.75m	17 December 2001
2003	£1.11m	£910k	£2.02m	6 March 2003
1 In 2001 the body's budget was set initially at £1.2 million. During 2001, additional funds were approved, raising the total budget for 2001 to £2.308 million. These additional costs related mainly to office costs, the regional partnership board and recruitment.

The Department of Finance and Personnel informed the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat on 30 January 2003 of the budgets for all the North/South Implementation Bodies. This information was sent in a schedule, which outlined the total budget for 2003, the Northern/Southern contributions and the projected budget provisions for 2004 and 2005 in respect of each body.Under the agreement made by the exchange of notes between the British and Irish Governments on 19 November 2002, the two governments approved the recommendation for the total budget for the North/South Language Body on 26 February 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 June (

The proportionality of funding between the UK Government and the Irish Government for all North/South Implementation Bodies is reviewed as part of the normal budget process each year. To date this has not resulted in any change to the proportionality of funding for the Language Body.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals the Belfast School of Music has made for the promotion of Ulster Scots music; whether the school proposes the appointment of appropriate staff; and whom the school has consulted. [HL3325]

Dr Joe McKee, Head of Music Service in the Belfast Education and Library Board, has recently made contact with officials in the Ulster-Scots Agency to arrange a meeting at which these issues can be discussed. The City of Belfast School of Music is also actively appraising the viability of teaching the tin whistle to large groups of primary school children and in addition Dr McKee has had an initial conversation with the principal of a large north Belfast secondary school about the possibility of starting up a pipe band.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much money the reduction in the number of permanent staff saved the Northern Ireland Civil Service, by comparison between the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [HL3328]

The number of permanent staff in the Northern Ireland Civil Service increased between 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans are in place to reduce the total amount of overtime, in man years, for the Northern Ireland Civil Service in the financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05. [HL3330]

Overtime is an important means of responding to in-year pressures and there are no immediate plans to seek a reduction. It is only worked on an exceptional basis to meet pressing business need and its use is closely monitored and controlled in the context of the contribution it makes to service provision and the achievement of business objectives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much money the total increase in overtime cost the Northern Ireland Civil Service, by comparison between the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01. [HL3329]

In the Northern Ireland Civil Service a total of £29,456,890 was spent on overtime in 1999–2000 compared with £31,958,194 in 2000–01. This equates to an increase of £2,501,304.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Tourism Ireland have taken in the past year, and what steps they propose to take in the next five years, to develop tourism in Northern Ireland, particularly by United States citizens of Scots Irish background. [HL3323]

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has already mainstreamed cultural tourism as a key development and marketing priority and will continue to do so in coming years. The hoard, in conjunction with Tourism Ireland Ltd (TIL), is keen to exploit opportunities that are unique to Northern Ireland and to develop a visitor experience that is based on the region's cultural and natural attributes. The NITB recognises the Ulster Scots (known as Scots-Irish in the USA) heritage as an integral element of future tourism growth to Northern Ireland from several key markets including North America.TIL recognises the potential of Ulster Scots/Scots Irish segment to tourism in the island of Ireland. To that end, the company has commissioned research specifically on this segment by organising for the inclusion of a number of questions in the Menlo Study of Travel Behaviour, currently being undertaken in the US market, with preliminary results expected in August 2003. This study, in conjunction with a brand tracking study, which is also in the field, will assist TIL in identifying regions with best potential for this particular segment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to grant aid to tourism on the north coast of County Antrim. [HL3425]

DCAL does not directly grant aid to tourism. However, it provides part funding for events and projects which can benefit tourism in the area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 5 June (

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has minutes of the Ulster-Scots Agency board meetings of 2 November 2001 arid 25 January 2002. It does not have minutes of a board meeting on 5 November 2001.Officials from the department had advised the then Acting Chief Executive of the Ulstcr-Scots Agency on 25 October 2001 that there was no mechanism For a carry over of provision from one financial year to the next.In light of the 25 January 2002 minutes officials, on 11 February 2002, again pointed out to the Acting Chief Executive that there was no mechanism for carry over and that the department had not agreed to a carry over.All the communications with officials of the Ulster-Scots Agency referred to above were made orally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 11 June (

The information requested is provided in the table below, which relates to hospitals currently providing acute services.

Hospital	Policy	Details
Altnagelvin	No smoking
Antrim Area	No smoking
Belfast City	No smoking	Smoking areas provided for selected groups only, e.g. mental health patients.
Causeway	No smoking
Craigavon Area	No smoking	Designated smoking areas provided—under review.
Daisy Hill	No smoking
Downe	No smoking
Erne	No smoking	Designated smoking areas provided.
Green Park	No smoking
Lagan Valley	No smoking
Mater Infirmorum	No smoking
Mid-Ulster	No smoking
Royal Group	No smoking	Smoking rooms provided.
Tyrone County	No smoking	Designated smoking areas provided.
Ulster	No smoking

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many reviews of security in the Northern Ireland Office there have been in the past year, including those currently under way; who is undertaking these reviews; whether any of the reviews have reported; and when those which have not yet reported will report. [HL3607]

There has been one such review: a team from the Security Service completed an audit of security practices within the Northern Ireland Office. The report has been received and action regarding the recommendations is under way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals they have to improve the quality of housing stock in Artigarvan, County Tyrone. [HL3638]

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has responsibility for 39 properties in three estates in Artigarvan village. Twenty eight of these have had their heating systems upgraded and will be included in an external cyclical maintenance scheme planned for November 2003. The remaining 11 houses have already been modernised.Fifteen empty properties have been demolished and the area will be graded and grassed. The future use of the resulting open space will be discussed with the community.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24 June (

The Department of Education has replied to Mrs Burke in a letter dated 30 June 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that all draft statutory instruments are available on the website of Her Majesty's Stationery Office in good time before they are debated in the House. [HL3743]

Statutory Instruments are published on the HMSO website as soon as they are published in printed form. The decision whether to publish draft instruments is a matter for the department concerned and draft instruments are not always published in advance of debate in Parliament. The Government accept that it is desirable for instruments to be available to the public, as well as to Members of both Houses, before they are debated in Parliament and are considering how this might best be achieved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much they have spent in the last year promoting the use of the morning after pill in Northern Ireland. [HL3306]

No resources have been spent promoting the use of the morning after pill in Northern Ireland in the last year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they believe that widespread use of the morning after pill in Northern Ireland will reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancy; and what has led them to that conclusion. [HL3307]

There are many ways to reduce unplanned pregnancy including information, education and contraception. The morning after pill is just one of a range of contraceptive methods and it is not possible to quantify its impact on reducing unplanned pregnancy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recently changed its travel advice for Pakistan. [HL3853]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has changed its travel advice for Pakistan with effect from 7 July 2003.We previously advised British nationals other than those of Pakistani origin: against all but essential travel to Pakistan for which there is a compelling reason and where they have confidence in the security arrangements for the entire visit; against holiday travel to Pakistan; and to leave Pakistan unless they have a compelling reason to stay and unless they also have confidence in their security arrangements.We are now advising British nationals: against holiday travel unless they have family contacts there; if they are travelling to Pakistan for professional or holiday reasons, they should be very careful about, and confident of, their personal security arrangements throughout their visit.Our previous advice was drafted against the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in 2002, a number of terrorist attacks against western targets (including Pakistani Christian institutions) in 2002 and unrest in Pakistan following coalition action in Afghanistan and, more recently, in Iraq.We reviewed this advice taking into account the recent improvement in India/Pakistan relations, post-conflict stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the action taken by the Pakistani authorities against Al'Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Pakistan and the relative decrease in the number of terrorist attacks against western targets thus far this year.We believe that our advice needs to reflect these improvements, but without underplaying the risks to the British public. Our advice continues to underline that Pakistan remains a hostile environment for Western interests. It also underlines the serious risk of terrorism throughout Pakistan and the risk of indiscriminate attacks against western targets.Visibly Western targets and individuals are more vulnerable to attack than British citizens of Pakistani origin and our advice makes this clear. We are therefore advising British nationals against holiday travel unless they have family contacts in Pakistan. Our advice also highlights the need for all visitors travelling to Pakistan (for business, holiday, visiting family or other purposes) to be very careful about, and confident of, their personal security arrangements throughout their visit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as reported, imported timber from Indonesia has been ordered for the new Home Office building, in preference to homegrown hardwoods; and, if so, why Indonesian timber was ordered when oriental rain forests are at risk. [HL3231]

No timber has yet been purchased for the new building. An investigation is under way into whether the certificates obtained by the contractors covering the purchase of plywood for their own purposes complied with the requirements of government policy on the purchase of timber.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What statistics they will publish on the operation of juxtaposed controls on Eurostar and at French ports. [HL3675]

Separate statistics regarding the juxtaposed control operations are currently not available. Although the recent expansion of the casework information database to ports will facilitate the collection of data from juxtaposed controls, we will need to take time to assess the quality of the data before deciding on a method of publication.Local records show, however, that during the financial year 2002–03, 2,442 people were refused entry to the United Kingdom at the juxtaposed controls from Paris and Lille on the basis that they held inadequate documentation. The number of people refused entry at Coquelles, the juxtaposed control situated at the French end of the Channel Tunnel, for the same reason and during the same period was 2,232 and for Calais Frethun was 56.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to publish the MoD's initial findings on the recent military campaign in Iraq. [HL3856]

The Ministry of Defence is publishing today Operations in Iraq 2003: First Reflections, an initial report on the recent combat operations in Iraq. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office.This initial report provides an authoritative account of the campaign and the contribution which has been made by the UK's Armed Forces. It also reflects on the early conclusions which we can draw from the combat operations and their implications for future defence policy.Within the Ministry of Defence, a thorough examination is under way into all elements of the operations in Iraq, and gathering evidence from those involved at all levels. Detailed analysis—to inform a definitive assessment of the effectiveness of our equipment, military strategy and planning processes—will take some months to complete. The reflections in this report are therefore inevitably broad and of a provisional nature. We hope to publish a full report before the end of the year.Our Armed Forces are continuing to perform a vital and difficult job in Iraq, helping the Iraqi people to establish a functioning infrastructure and creating the conditions for a stable new government. We pay tribute to their magnificent work, which is demonstrating once again the exceptional quality and dedication of our servicemen and women.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will now enable the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to start the research work that will be needed to enable them, if invited, to embark without delay on the approval procedures for the fourth generation of nuclear reactor designs. [HL3407]

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 2 July, Official Report, cols. WA 110–111.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to consult on draft regulations under Section 21 of the Education Act 2002 on the respective roles and responsibilities of the local education authority, the governing body and the head teacher and whether they have reached any conclusions about the relationship between the prospective regulations and the code of practice on local education authority-school relations. [HL3658]

We intend to consult on draft regulations under Section 21 of the Education Act 2002 during the autumn term. The regulations will replace the existing Education (School Government) (Terms of Reference) (England) Regulations 2000 which prescribe the respective roles and responsibilities of governing bodies and head teachers. The new regulations will be extended to cover the LEA's role in the conduct of schools, both in normal circumstances and where there is cause for concern.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to introduce regulations on the control of school premises under Section 31 of the Education Act 2002. [HL3660]

The Government intend to introduce regulations on the control of school premises under Section 31 of the Education Act 2002 in September 2004. Until that time, Section 40 and Schedule 13 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 remain in force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to consult on draft regulations on the staffing of maintained schools under Sections 35 and 36 of the Education Act 2002. [HL3661]

Consultation on staffing regulations and guidance under Sections 35 and 36 of the 2002 Act is currently in progress. We are consulting the national representatives of staff, employers, governors and the Churches.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to commence the arrangements for reducing communications with schools as provided under Section 38 of the Education Act 2002. [HL3662]

The provisions (1), (2), (4) and (7) of Section 38 of the Education Act 2002 shall come into force in England on 1 October 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to make an order commencing Section 175 (duties of local education authorities and governing bodies in relation to welfare of children) of the Education Act 2002, and consult on draft guidance under subsection (4). [HL3663]

We intend to bring Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 into force on 1 April 2004, and to issue guidance to local education authorities, schools, and further education institutions about child protection arrangements to coincide with that. We plan to issue a draft of that guidance for consultation in November 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to make an order commencing Section 176 (consultation with pupils) of the Education Act 2002, and consult on draft guidance under subsection (1). [HL3676]

The order to commence Section 176 of the Education Act 2002 in September 2003 was made on 30 June 2003 (SI 2003/ 1667 (C.69)). Two advisory groups, working in parallel—a group of adults and one of young people are helping the department to develop the draft guidance. We plan to launch the public consultation process before the summer recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the one-month consultation period on the draft guidance and regulations on greater collaboration between, and federation of, maintained schools meets government guidelines on consultation. [HL3659]

The Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultation sets a standard period of 12 weeks for UK national public consultations. We take the view that the consultation on the draft guidance and regulations on greater collaboration between. and federation of, maintained schools, is not a national consultation, but a more limited exercise consulting only local education authorities, dioceses, national bodies and those schools which have told us of their interest in federation. The content is largely technical, puts into place provisions discussed by Parliament during the passage of the Education Act 2002, and follows principles already consulted on widely in other recent governance consultations. The consultation period will give respondents the opportunity to make their views known before the summer holidays—our experience is that extending education consultations into the summer holidays is not particularly helpful—and enable the regulations and guidance to be put in place from September this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the teaching grant paid to St George's Hospital Medical School and to Queen Mary's Medical School in each of the last five years. [HL3722]

The total recurrent teaching grants paid by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to St George's Hospital Medical School and to Queen Mary, University of London are shown in the table below:

£ million
	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
St George's Hospital Medical School	7.8	8.4	9.4	10.5	11.7
Queen Mary, University of London1	31.8	33.0	35.0	36.9	38.8

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 7 May (

The work goes beyond simply reinstating the grass. The ground has become compacted as a result of events and rallies that have been held there over a number of years and this has broken down the soil, affecting drainage and the ability of the grass to recover. The repairs involve removing the old soil, introducing new drainage and irrigation points, building up the surface with new soil to the required level as well as repairing damage to the footpaths.The amount spent by the promoters on reinstatement was quoted in the

asked Her Majesty's Government:What area of grass in Hyde Park had been allocated to "Star Trek" since early December 2002; and when this area will be restored to public use. [HL3592]

The area allocated to the Star Trek exhibition was approximately 2 hectares. The area was returned to public use on Friday 27 June although it will be necessary to carry out further reinstatement in September.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which events planned for Hyde Park in 2003 will restrict public access; what are the dates of such restrictions; and what are the approximate areas involved. [HL3593]

The major events being held in Hyde Park this year are:

• Bon Jovi concert—28 June (approximately 14.5 hectares)
• "Party in the Park"—6 June (approximately 14.5 hectares)
• Shania Twain—12 July (approximately 12 hectares)
• "Pride in the Park"—26 July (approximately 12 hectares)

Erection of the site for the Bon Jovi concert took seven days. Restrictions were kept to a minimum—for instance, access was maintained for those wanting to play games within the enclosure until the last day or so when movements of site traffic made it unsafe.The enclosure for Party in the Park, although reduced in size, will remain in place for both the Shania Twain concert and Pride in the Park. This will reduce the amount of disruption caused by building and dismantling infrastructure. However, between each event a footpath will be opened through the site to save pedestrians having to make a detour around the site.The site will be dismantled after 26 July, taking about seven days, and a separate site built for Proms in the Park.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to have a dialogue with the European Union Scientific Committee for Food or the European Food Safety Authority about the information requirements for dossiers submitted for the purpose of permitting the continued use beyond July 2005 of nutrients missing from the annexes of the Food Supplement Directive. [HL3444]

The Government are firmly committed to the view that, in the interests of consumer choice, the law should allow food supplements that are safe and properly labelled to be freely marketed.The Government, represented by the Food Standards Agency, are pressing the European Food Safety Authority for an urgent, substantive meeting with relevant parties to discuss dossier requirements and expect a positive response soon. The European Commission supports this move. The objectives of such a meeting would be to explain problems faced by the United Kingdom food supplements industry resulting from the omission of nutrients and nutrient sources from the annexes to the Food Supplements Directive; and to explore the potential for simplified dossiers to be presented for vitamin and mineral sources with a long history of safe use and the potential for read-across between dossiers for substances which are likely to have similar toxicological profiles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in developing integrated community equipment services. [HL3707]

Of the 150 areas in England where there are expected to be integrated community equipment services, 111 (74 per cent) are indicating currently that they will achieve local integration by the target date of April 2004. The Integrating Community Equipment Services Team are supporting the remainder to achieve integration as soon as possible. Removal of the power of councils to charge for community equipment, which came into effect 9 June 2003, will further help integration by aligning councils' equipment charging regimes with the National Health Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish their response to the second report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health, on foundation trusts. [HL3854]

The Government's response to the second report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health, on foundation trusts, Cm 5876, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to maximise the benefits of organ and tissue donation. [HL3855]

We are publishing today Saving Lives, Valuing Donors—A Transplant Framework for England, setting out our key aims for organ and tissue transplantation over the next 10 years. It describes good practice based on national and international evidence, which we believe will help save lives and maximise the benefits of organ and tissue transplantation.Copies of

asked Her Majesty's Government:As regards genetically modified plants and food, whether there is evidence:

Weeds displaying resistance to herbicide (as opposed to crop plants growing as weed-like volunteers) are a regular part of the arable landscape and a near unavoidable consequence of the use of herbicides. The problem is not specific to GM crops. World-wide over 250 biotypes of herbicide-resistant weeds are known (different resistances and/or different weeds) with over 30 in Canada alone, including such plants as wild mustard (sinapis arvensis) with known resistances to six commonly used herbicides of conventional crops.The Government are also aware of studies in Canada that have detected the occurrence of multiple-herbicide-resistant oil seed rape occurring as weed-like volunteers in fields that have previously grown herbicide-resistant oil seed rape crops. This includes volunteers with resistance to two herbicides associated with GM herbicide-tolerant oil seed rape varieties (glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium) and to one herbicide associated with a conventionally bred herbicide-tolerant oil seed rape variety (imidazlinone). If different varieties of herbicide-tolerant oil seed rape were grown in the UK we may want to take steps to prevent this occurring.The Government are also aware of evidence from North America that genes from genetically modified oil seed rape and maize can cross-pollinate with non-GM equivalent crops or sexually compatible wild relatives. Similar evidence has been collected in the UK and indeed the Government have commissioned studies into the frequency and extent of cross pollination between crops and wild relatives. Before any GM crop was approved for commercial cultivation in the UK the potential environmental impact of cross-pollination would be carefully assessed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans have they to improve welfare for greyhounds. [HL3582]

This department has begun a review of animal welfare legislation relating to captive, domestic and sporting animals. The intention is to update and consolidate the legislation into one animal welfare Act. The new legislation would be pro-active and would allow action to be taken before an animal suffers if it is not being given appropriate care. Areas for consideration under the new Bill include licensing controls to improve the welfare of racing greyhounds. My department has undertaken a public consultation and run a series of stakeholder meetings to consider the possible contents of the Bill. We aim to have a public consultation on a draft Bill early next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, following the closure of the Great Western Railway line on 19 June, compensation is payable; by whom and to whom will compensation be payable; and what will be the cost to public funds. [HL3597]

Under its track access agreements with First Great Western (FGW) and Thames Trains Ltd, Network Rail is liable to pay compensation to those train operating companies for loss of access. That will be a transaction between private sector companies, so there will be no cost to public funds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to improve the road between Southport and Ormskirk (A570) following the amalgamation and transfer of services between Southport Hospital and Ormskirk Hospital under the Ormskirk and Southport Health Trust. [HL3603]

I have asked the Acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Stephen Hickey, to write to the noble Lord.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the effect of the Strategic Rail Authority budget (a) for 2003–04; and (b) 2004–05 of transferring the Connex South East franchise to South Eastern Trains. [HL3682]

Any additional costs will be accommodated within the SRA's existing budget provision.