asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the more general criticisms made of the BBC coverage of the Iraq war made by Alastair Campbell represent government policy. [HL3712]

As the Prime Minister's Director of Communications said in his evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on 25 June, the BBC was responsible for some of the best journalism during the conflict in Iraq. However, as is well documented, the Government were critical of some aspects of its coverage. Mr Campbell was reflecting the Prime Minister's view.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that a Minister of the Crown, civil servant, or special adviser has been wrongfully defamed in their governing reputation by the BBC in its coverage of the Iraq war and its aftermath; and, if so, whether they have any intention to bring civil proceedings for libel. [HL3860]

Any decision to initiate libel proceedings would he conducted in accordance with the requirements of the ministerial code.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they impose restrictions on the publication for reward of the diaries or memoirs of serving or former Ministers of the Crown, civil servants or special advisers; and, if so, what are those restrictions. [HL4284]

The rules on the publication by Ministers and former Ministers of memoirs are set out in the ministerial code. Paragraph 107 states:"Ministers may not, while in office, write and publish a book on their Ministerial experience. Nor, while serving as a Minister, may they enter into any agreement to publish their memoirs on leaving their Ministerial position, without the agreement of the Prime Minister. Former Ministers are required to submit their manuscript to the Secretary of the Cabinet and to conform to the principles set out in the Radcliffe report of 1976 (Cmnd 6386)"

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 9 September (

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure had no role in the production of the DVD, "Rhyming Round Belfast".

asked the Chairman of Committees:Whether he will look into the possibility of Peers' parliamentary mail being forwarded during the recess in an envelope which is easy to open. [HL4497]

The envelopes used for forwarding Peers' mail are designed to ensure its security, and that must remain the top priority. They can be easily opened if torn along the perforated strip just below the seal. However, I have asked officials to explore the possibilities, once current stocks are used up, of either providing a new design of envelope or of printing clearer instructions on the existing design.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, prior to the Commission for Racial Equality embarking into formal investigation of the Prison Service in 2000, the Home Office had received reports from the Prison Service on racism in prisons; and, if so, why they did not fulfil their statutory responsibilities to take action to ensure its elimination, rather than referring the matter to the Commission for Racial Equality for investigation. [HL4105]

Prior to the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) investigation, the issue of racism in prisons was considered and reviewed regularly through a number of long standing arrangements and forums. The Minister for Prisons (Paul Boateng) at that time held meetings regularly with successive director-generals. They were satisfied that the Prison Service was tackling the problem of racism and that the director-general had been leading on this issue as a main priority.The Home Office wished to show its good intentions, and its desire for transparency, by inviting an independent investigation by a body such as the Commission for Racial Equality, in addition to any internal policies that it was putting in place, and any actions that it was taking, on its own initiative.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish in the

No category A prisoners have escaped since 1995. The number of category B prisoners who escaped from custody was one in 1998, seven in 1999, none in 2000, seven in 2001, six in 2002 and four in 2003, up to 17 July 2003. Escapes where the prisoner was recaptured within 15 minutes are not included.As to locations and dates of escape and recapture, the information available in respect of category B prisons is shown in the tables. The second table shows data in respect of external escorts, mostly to court or to hospital. Dates of recapture are not always recorded. Locations of recapture are not recorded on the Prison Service's incident reporting system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For each of the past 10 years for which figures are available, in how many separate trials were convictions obtained for offences involving jury-tampering. [HL4190]

The information collected centrally for England and Wales does not allow the number of separate trials in which convictions for jury-tampering were obtained to be identified.The number of persons convicted of offences of intimidating, harming or threatening to harm jurors or witnesses under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, since it came into force, is however, contained in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 September (

I refer the noble Lord to my Written Answer of 11 September 2003 (WA 143) in which I stated that the principles of the directive are applied to the Race Relations (RRA) Act 1976 in respect of claims brought in areas of the RRA that are within the scope of the directive. Therefore potential claims of unlawful discrimination which fall within the scope of the directive will be subject to the revised provisions—such as the amended definition of indirect discrimination, the new statutory definition of harassment (which corresponds to the existing case law definition), the new definition of "genuine occupational requirement", the provisions dealing with acts after a relationship has ended and with the burden of proof, and the repeal of some provisions which are contrary to the principle of equal treatment (as defined in the directive) —whereas claims which fall outside the scope of the directive will be subject to the Act's original provisions. It is our view—as reflected in the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003— that claims brought on the grounds of colour fall outside the scope of the directive.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to establish a detention centre in Northern Ireland for immigration detainees at present occupying accommodation in HM Prison Maghaberry; and [HL4275]

We have no plans to open an immigration removal centre in Northern Ireland. Immigration detainees in Northern Ireland are accommodated in HMP Maghaberry. It is our policy to transfer persons detained in Northern Ireland to immigration removal centres on the mainland unless a specific request is made to stay in Northern Ireland, in which case the detainee in question will continue to be held at HMP Maghaberry.The location of immigration detainees at HMP Maghaberry is separate from the main prison population and every effort is made to cater for their needs. These detainees are managed as untried prisoners with a more favourable regime, which is more akin to that of enhanced prisoners.The Northern Ireland Prison Service seeks to provide for different pastoral needs of the immigration detainees as well as providing access to legal representation as required. Exercise is provided morning or afternoon and alternate evenings and a teacher attends two mornings each week to provide a basic English programme. Special diets are available, a fully equipped kitchen is provided and the detainees may use the prison tuck-shop without spending limits. There is unrestricted telephone access and various voluntary organisations provide support services including financial support to the extent of £5 each week for each detainee.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many persons who have applied for asylum, or intend to do so, are at present detained in prison in Northern Ireland; and what plans they have for providing alternative accommodation for such purposes. [HL4372]

The latest available information on those detained solely under the Immigration Act shows that at 28 June 2003 there were four people held at HMP Maghaberry who had claimed asylum at some stage.Information on those people detained who may intend to claim asylum is not available.There are currently no plans to provide alternative accommodation in Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why asylum seekers are not allowed to work for the first six months of their stay in the United Kingdom, bearing in mind the national skills shortage. [HL4322]

The asylum process must be separate from measures taken to reduce the skills shortage in the United Kingdom. Generally speaking asylum seekers are not allowed to work while their claim for asylum is under consideration. Until 23 July 2002 there was a concession which allowed asylum seekers to seek permission to take employment if no decision had been made on their application within six months of it being lodged. The concession was abolished because, given the reduction in the backlog of asylum claims, there were fewer asylum seekers able to benefit.The Government have introduced and developed a number of managed migration routes such as the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme as part of a programme to tackle skills shortages in the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the number of illegal immigrants now in the United Kingdom. [HL4325]

There is currently no official estimate of the number of immigrants unlawfully present in the United Kingdom. Estimating the numbers entering Britain illegally is difficult because illegal migrants, by definition, fall outside of official statistics. Illegal migrants are motivated to ensure they remain hidden, which is a challenge to conducting research.The Home Office has commissioned a review of methods used in other countries to estimate the size of their illegal populations. The research was commissioned in order to help to define methods appropriate for the United Kingdom. On the basis of this information and the likely sources of United Kingdom information we will consider our next steps.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have on the development and funding of' the voluntary and community sector infrastructure. [HL4550]

A Home Office consultation document on the development and funding of voluntary and community sector (VCS) infrastructure in England is being published today. The Government's aim is to help to build a VCS, including social enterprise, which is fully engaged in shaping and delivering public services, underpinned by a high quality sustainable infrastructure that enables this to happen. Such support must meet the needs of a diverse sector and should complement support services available from the small business service and others.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in line with their commitment to fund elite sportsmen and sportswomen with additional Exchequer funding to the value of £10 million per annum for financial year 2001–02 to 2004–05, have fulfilled this pledge to date. [HL4338]

The Government have committed to fund our elite athletes at the same level in the four-year cycle leading up to the Athens Olympics in 2004, as in the four-year cycle leading up to the Sydney Olympics 2000 and will meet this commitment.The Government did not commit to fund elite sportsmen and sportswomen with additional Exchequer funding to the value of £10 million per annum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have implemented all the recommendations of the Cunningham report to the Prime Minister on elite sports funding. [HL4339]

The Elite Sports Funding Review chaired by Dr Cunningham made over 50 recommendations, the large majority of which are for the Sports Councils and national governing bodies of sport to take forward. The review was discussed at the Sports Cabinet on 31 October 2001, chaired by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The Cabinet brings together the Sports Ministers and Chairmen of the Sports Councils from each of the devolved administrations. At the cabinet, the Sports Councils accepted and are now implementing the overwhelming majority of the recommendations.Following the recent spending review, a ring-fenced allocation of £4.7 million for 2004–05 and 2005–06 has been provided to UK Sport to enable it to take forward some of the outstanding recommendations that involved an increase in expenditure. Some of the recommendations relate to the World Class Plans and cannot be implemented until the current four-year plans have been completed. The department will continue to work with UK Sports, the devolved administrations and Sport England to ensure that implementation of the recommendations is effective and continues to remain relevant to the changing environment of high performance sport.The Government did not commit to provide an additional £10 million of Exchequer funding to elite athletes. The Government are committed to fund elite athletes at the same level in the four-year cycle to the Athens Olympics as in the four-year cycle leading to Sydney.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to fund United Kingdom elite athletes at the same level, in real terms, as they were funded up to the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. [HL4340]

Following the success of Team GB at the Sydney Olympics the Sports Cabinet agreed that funding should remain at the same level in the four-year cycle leading up to Athens as it had been in the four-year cycle leading up to Sydney. In the four-year cycle leading up to the Sydney Games £100 million had been spent to support élite UK athletes.There is no change to this commitment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to cover the investment deficit for United Kingdom elite athletes in view of the reduction in Lottery support for the World Class Programme. [HL4341]

The Government remain committed to providing funding to UK elite athletes at the same level in the four-year cycle leading up to Athens as it had been in the four-year cycle leading up to Sydney.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the report from the Office of Public Services Reform entitled

Following the Better Government Services report, HM Treasury is in the process of finalising new guidance for government officials involved in the agency target-setting process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for future electoral pilots. [HL4549]

The Government have today introduced a Bill to allow piloting of innovative voting methods at next year's European Parliamentary elections. The European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill also provides for pilots at local elections where these are combined with and take place on the same day as elections for the European Parliament.This legislation demonstrates the Government's commitment to their goal of making voting easier and more convenient and represents a marked scaling up from previous pilots. The Bill is needed as current legislation does not allow for piloting at European parliamentary elections and the Government are keen to maintain the momentum gained through previous successful pilot schemes. Such schemes have included both all-postal ballots and multi-channelled e-voting and, at this year's local elections, were conducted in 61 local authorities covering 6.4 million eligible voters.Decisions on which regions should be chosen for next year's pilots and which methods should be used in those regions will be informed by advice from the Electoral Commission. The Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are today jointly writing to the commission with guidance on this issue. The commission—an independent body funded by Parliament—will consult with stakeholders and report back later in the year.Alongside this legislation, the Government have also today launched a consultation on implementation of next year's pilot schemes. This consultation, to be conducted by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, will outline our plans for the pilots and seek comments from local authorities and other interested parties on our proposals.Our proposals have been developed in the light of the Electoral Commission's strategic evaluation of the pilots held at the local elections earlier this year. Its report,

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the National Health Service Pension Scheme —Valuation Report 1994 to 1999. [HL4548]

We have now received and accepted the report of the Government Actuary on his investigation of the National Health Service Pension Scheme in England and Wales for the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1999. The report confirms that the rate of employer contributions should be 14 per cent from 1 April 2003.Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether one in six pupils leaving primary school is unable to swim 25 metres, despite the legal requirement to include swimming at key stage 2 in both England and Wales; and [HL4376]Whether it is the case that 20 per cent of United Kingdom state schools charge for swimming; and [HL4377]Whether they are satisfied with the level of basic water safety technique training in schools; and water programmes they have in place to improve swimming standards in schools. [HL4378]

Our Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links strategy, being implemented jointly with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. provides targeted support to enhance school swimming. A recent survey carried out jointly by the Times Educational Supplement and the Central Council for Physical Recreation found that 84 per cent, or five in six pupils are able to safely swim, at least, 25 metres by the end of key stage 2. This is a modest improvement on the position reported to us by Ofsted in 2000—When 80 per cent, or four in five pupils in England, achieved this target.In its report, Ofsted noted that only in a minority of schools was water safety and survival not covered sufficiently well. The quality of teaching was good or better in four out of five lessons and in one-third of lessons, teaching was very good. Swimming is a vital personal and social skill, and an essential part of the PE national curriculum programme of study. Our swimming strategy is taking forward all of the key recommendations made by the Swimming Advisory Group. We have:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have proposed a timetable for the ending of export subsidies on agricultural products from the European Union: whether they can foresee procedures that are likely to be agreed; whether these would be matched by the United States; and what outcomes they hope for from the Cancun negotiations. [HL4374]

The WTO ministerial Doha declaration in 2001 commits all WTO members to negotiations aimed at reductions of, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies for agricultural products.The proposals tabled for consideration at Cancun envisaged the elimination of export subsidies on certain products of particular interest to developing countries. The nature of these products and the timetable for elimination were left to be determined. The question of an end date for phasing out all forms of export subsidies was to remain under negotiation.The Government hoped for an outcome to the Cancun negotiations which would benefit farmers and consumers everywhere through a global move to freer and fairer agricultural trade. The failure to reach an agreement at Cancun is very disappointing and all parties must now reflect on how best to get the Doha process back on track. The Government remain fully committed to the Doha objectives for agriculture.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether funding programmes, such as the LEADER + European Community Initiative, which last longer than one year are treated in government accounts as an irrevocable forward spending provision. [HL4395]

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:Whether, taking into consideration the statutory duties of the Strategic Rail Authority to consult on its strategies, it is appropriate for its Director of Communications, Mr C Evans, to tell rail freight companies and the industry representative body to

"stop whingeing", as reported in the

The Strategic Rail Authority's spokesman was also quoted as saying that it was time the industry "pulled together to deliver". That is a sentiment with which I hope we can all agree.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many children under the age of 16 drown every year; whether drowning is the most common cause of accidental death among children; and what plans they have to reduce the number of deaths. [HL4379]

The Department of Transport and the Royal Life Boat Institute are supporting work undertaken by the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to collect statistics on drowning and incidents that could have led to death by drowning. The latest published data produced by RoSPA show that 42 children aged 16 years or under drowned in 2001. In 2000, 49 children drowned. The provisional figures for 2002 indicate that 47 children drowned.According to RoSPA figures drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death in children.The Department for Transport and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are providing funding of £50,000 this year to enable the secretariat to the National Water Safety Committee to improve its strategic oversight of all the initiatives to reduce the incidence of drowning.The Department for Education and Skills has produced guidance and training for Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and schools on pupil safety on educational visits and at water margins which it continues to promote. It has also funded the training of educational visits co-ordinators within schools in order to improve safety practices. All LEAs have committed to delivering this training to their schools. New guidance on swimming and water safety awareness is in preparation.The Government also sponsor the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority appointed by Parliament to inspect and licence providers of waterborne activities and plans to continue the licensing scheme in the foreseeable future.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What monitoring they undertake of the practices of contractors appointed by local authorities to administer parking penalties in their areas. [HL4423]

While the Government provide general advice to local authorities about setting up and operating decriminalised parking enforcement, responsibility for monitoring the conduct of any of their contractors involved in this work rests entirely with the relevant local authority.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What legal penalties apply to the employees of contractors appointed by local authorities to administer parking penalties in their areas who themselves commit parking, traffic or other offences in the performance of their duties. [HL4425]

An employee of a parking contractor who commits a parking or traffic offence while at work would be subject, on conviction, to the appropriate penalty for that offence as set out in the relevant legislation.