asked Her Majesty's Government:How much has been spent to date per year on consultancy work by:

I have today placed the information requested by the noble Lord in the Library in relation to Waterways Ireland, the Food Safety Promotion Board and Tourism Ireland Limited. Enterprise Ireland is an Irish Government agency.

asked the Chairman of Committees: Whether he will arrange for the security gate in the Peers' Entrance to be adapted to Pugin or Gothic form. [HL5045]

No. The principle underlying the design of security gates is that they should be functional and unobtrusive, without causing damage to the historical fabric. The current gate is temporary, pending the arrival of a more effective and less obtrusive replacement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are discussing with the United States authorities the continued imprisonment without trial in Guantanamo of persons aged under 16 and over 60; and, if not, whether on humanitarian grounds they will do so; and [HL4511]Whether four children aged 13, 14 and 15, together with two men aged 88 and 98, are still held at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba); and whether they are asking the United States authorities to release the young and old prisoners. [HL4654]

The focus of the Government's discussions with the US authorities has been on how to resolve the position of all the UK detainees held in Guantanamo Bay, none of whom are juveniles. Our hope, however, is that the issues raised will be reflected in the treatment of other countries' detainees.Any situation where juveniles are held in the same conditions as adults would raise concerns. I am afraid I am unable to comment further on the detention of juveniles at Guantanamo as Her Majesty's Government do not have access to the details of the circumstances of their detention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 October (

We understand that the fact that Moazzam Begg was arrested in Pakistan in February 2002 is a matter of public record.We are not in a position to prove the information requested about whether Mr Begg fought in Afghanistan. This information is withheld under exemptions 1 and 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Data Protection Act also prevents us disclosing personal data on individual cases (exemption 15 of the code).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the European Union Foreign Minister will be able to represent and speak for the European Union at the United Nations Security Council on those occasions where there is a common European Union position as proposed in the draft European Union Constitution Treaty. [HL4729]

Article III-206 of the draft Constitutional Treaty states "when the Union has defined a position on a subject which is on the United Nations Security Council agenda, those Member States which sit on the Security Council shall request that the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs be asked to present the Union's position". This allows for a continuation of the current practice, in line with the Security Council's Rules of Procedure, whereby the presidency can speak at open meetings of the Council. Under the new treaty, the European Foreign Minister, not the presidency, would represent the Union where non-members of the Council are permitted to speak and when the Union has defined a common position on the subject of the meeting. The UK, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, would retain the right to speak in a national capacity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will describe the manner and procedure they expect to be adopted to enable Parliament to examine the outcome of the Rome conference considering a constitution for the European Union, which will enable both Houses to consider the implications of any articles therein, prior to the signing of any treaty incorporating the articles of any constitution agreed. [HL4741]

Parliament has already considered the text of the Convention on the Future of Europe, through debates in both Houses and scrutiny in the European Union Select Committee. Members of Parliament also took part in the work of the convention. During the intergovernmental conference (IGC) Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers will regularly appear before parliamentary committees, including the new IGC Standing Committee, to report on the conference's work. The IGC Standing Committee met for the first time on 20 October. Parliament of course will also have the final say on whether the resulting treaty will enter UK law.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the names of the Members of Her Majesty's Government attending the whole, or part of, the intergovernmental conference in Rome considering the draft of the proposed constitution for the European Union and the numbers and positions of officials and staff of Her Majesty's foreign and diplomatic service; and whether their attendance represents any departure from practice relating to previous negotiations of former Community and Union treaties. [HL4742]

The UK is represented at the intergovernmental conference (IGC) by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary accompanied by the Minister for Europe (Denis MacShane). They are accompanied at each session by officials and staff, in accordance with usual practice. Five Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and four accompanying staff members attended the European Council on 16–17 October, of which one session was devoted to the IGC.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any Member of Parliament not being a Minister of the Crown is concerned in negotiations, on its behalf, at the Rome conference considering the draft constitution for the European Union. [HL4743]

The only Members of Parliament participating in the IGC negotiations are Ministers of the Crown. We welcomed the role played by national Parliamentarians in the European Convention, which produced the draft text that has been the starting point for discussions at the IGC. We are also committed to engaging closely with Parliament throughout the IGC process, not least through Ministerial appearances at parliamentary committees, including the new IGC Standing Committee.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have published, or will publish, any papers presented to the constitutional conference in Rome by the Italian, or other, government, together with any response made to it or them by any Minister of the Crown. [HL4745]

The Government's position on the intergovernmental conference is set out in the White Paper A Constitutional Treaty for the EU (Cm 5934). The Italian presidency has produced a number of public documents relating to the IGC which can be found on their website at: http://www.ueitalia2003.it/EN/ConferenzaIntergovernativa The presidency may request formal public responses to some of these documents, which will be displayed both on the presidency website and on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to their statements that the proposed additions to the existing treaty provisions of the European Communities and Union do not alter the fundamental relationship between them and member states, whether their opinion is compatible with the proposed additional Article III-246 (Cm 5897, p. 120) that would permit decisions of the Council of Ministers currently requiring unanimity to be regarded as unanimous, even if there is abstention in, or absence from, such meetings by any representative of any member state. [HL4744]

Article III-246(3) of the draft Constitutional Treaty provides that:

"Abstentions by members present in person or represented shall not prevent the adoption by the Council of Ministers of acts which require unanimity."

This corresponds to Article 205(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, which states that:

"Abstentions by Members present in person or represented shall not prevent the adoption by the Council of acts which require unanimity."

The draft Constitutional Treaty therefore makes no change to the existing treaty provisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received advice from Mr Paul Bremer of terrorist activities carried out in Iraq by, or with the assistance of, agencies sponsored by the Iranian authorities; and, if so, what. [HL4799]

As coalition partners, the British Government regularly exchange views with the US authorities, including Paul Bremer, on all issues pertaining to Iraq.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the attacks on coalition forces and international humanitarian agencies in Iraq are being coordinated; and, if so, by what organisations. [HL4800]

We believe that attacks on coalition forces, and other attacks aimed at undermining reconstruction efforts and stability, are being carried out both by former regime elements and by international terrorist networks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many firearms and other portable weapons have been seized and destroyed in Kosovo by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and the Kosovo Force since these organisations were established in 1999; and what is their estimate of the number of authorised firearms in private ownership. [HL4810]

According to the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) statistics, the following weapons have been seized by the Kosovo Force (KFOR) since their arrival in Kosovo in 1999. This includes weapons handed in as part of general amnesties:

• 3,631 Rifles
• 1,249 Pistols
• 116 Support Weapons (Heavy mortars etc)
• 1,257 Anti-tank weapons
• 270 Rockets/Missiles
• 13,525 Grenades/Mines
• 17,537 Miscellaneous items (uniforms/gas masks etc)
• 766,475 Rounds of ammunition

UNMIK has also issued 164 weapon authorised cards (WAC) for defensive weapons only since 1999. UNMIK receives an average of five WAC applications per week. 35 WACs have been issued to date in 2003. A further 26,000 weapon registration cards (WRC) have been issued for hunting and recreational weapons only. There are currently 7,000 outstanding WRC applications.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made by international and state authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina towards eliminating illegal and unauthorized weapons. [HL4811]

Since 1998 the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) and the local armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have run Operation Harvest, aimed at collecting illegal small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Bosnia.In 2002 it collected 8,394 small arms (rifles, pistols and revolvers); 2,298,967 rounds of ammunition of less than 20 millimetres; 19,435 rounds of ammunition between 20 and 76 millimetres; 2,486 rounds of ammunition of more than 76 millimetres; 38,199 hand grenades, 4,156 mines; 8,163 kilograms of explosives, and 48,090 other items (mortars, mortar rounds, rifle grenades, and hand-made ordnance). UK forces have played a central role in the operation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the future plans and programmes of the south-east Europe clearing house for the control of small arms and light weapons (SEESAC), supported by the United Nations Development Programme; whether they consider these should be improved; and, if so, how. [HL4812]

SEESAC's future plans are to continue to provide operational, fund-raising and technical assistance, management information, co-ordination and overview of current and future efforts for the implementation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) activities in support of the Stability Pact Regional Implementation Plan in south-east Europe. This will include continuing to raise awareness among governments and civil society about small arms issues, and formulating national strategies for SALW control.Specific pioneering projects include the development of micro-disarmament standards, a SALW awareness support pack and SALW survey protocols. Recent research into SALW-related community-based policing, illegal SALW trafficking, detection of concealed bulk ammunition, and an evaluation of UNDP Albania SALW project will now be integrated into future SALW control work within the region.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What co-operation and assistance they, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and Europol are offering to the South Eastern Co-operation Initiative (SECI) regional centre for combating trans-border crime, based in Romania, in particular to SECI's Task Force on Small Arms and Light Weapons. [HL4841]

The UK supports the work of the Southeast European Co-operative Initiative (SECI) centre and provides valuable support in the form of liaison and technical training.HM Customs and Excise have provided full training to Albanian customs and border patrol units in the areas of small arms and light weapons (SALW) detection and smuggling. The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) (Firearms Unit) was instrumental in the development of a weapons and firearms intelligence training course to support individual countries for the SECI centre. This included training in deployable weapons intelligence units, the intelligence cycle, the Interpol Weapons and Explosives Tracing System (IWETS), a national intelligence model for SALW, a one-day participatory exercise and the detection of concealed bulk ammunition and weapons. Students from 11 countries in the region attended the course, representing national intelligence agencies, police criminal intelligence units and customs services.NCIS has also assisted in the preparation for the SECI firearms-related project and has provided valuable analysis for a project that helps to enhance the overall work of the centre.The issue of Europol's relationship with the SECI crime centre is currently being considered in working groups of the Justice and Home Affairs Council.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the outcomes of the review held in July 2003 of the United Nations conference on illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. [HL4813]

The UN biennial meeting of states on illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW) reviewed the implementation of the UN programme of action in the area to date. It helped to set the scene for progress in the fight against the misuse of SALW through which consensus on tighter controls in this area may be built, and allowed for extensive discussion outside the formal conference proceedings.The UK initiated two successful side meetings in which around 30 interested states discussed ways to strengthen international controls on small arms transfers. The meetings established a considerable degree of support for regional processes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they will ensure that electoral registration in Afghanistan proceeds in time for the national elections next summer and will be adequately supported by trained police officers and staff. [HL4828]

Voter registration in Afghanistan is the responsibility of the Interim Electoral Commission and the Joint Electoral Management Body appointed by President Karzai on 26 July, working in conjunction with the UN Assistant Mission to Afghanistan. The UK was one of the first donors to contribute towards the UN's appeal for funds to support voter registration. So far we have committed £3 million. We shall continue to monitor progress with other doners, and will work with them on meeting the UN's current estimated budget shortfall of 53 million US dollars (£32.5 million) for registration.Security is essential for preparations for the elections outside Kabul. As part of our wider £53 million commitment towards security sector reform, the UK is contributing trainers and specialist advisers to German-led efforts to build up a new Afghan national police force. Although this contribution is not directly connected to elections, the Ministry for the Interior intends to provide police to support the electoral process throughout Afghanistan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information will be available to the international donors meeting on Cameroon to be held on 29 October concerning progress towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law; and [HL4802]Whether they will raise the continued problems of independent newspapers and broadcasters at the meeting of Cameroon's international partners, to be held at Marlborough House on 31 October, in particular in light of the situation of Freedom FM, a private radio station in Cameroon, whose equipment was sealed by the Cameroon police in May; and [HL4921]

On 31 October there will be a Commonwealth-sponsored meeting of Cameroon's international partners to discuss proposals for reform and possible international assistance implementing them. The meeting will focus on electoral management, human rights, the rule of law and judicial independence, and decentralisation. We expect the issue of tackling corruption to be discussed under the rubric of legal and judicial reforms, and that the issue of freedom of expression will also be discussed under proposals to strengthen the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was discussed at the Proliferation Security Initiative meeting on 9–10 October in London. [HL4991]

Members of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) met on 9–10 October in London. Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States took part in the meeting. The London meeting built on the firm foundations laid during earlier meetings in Madrid, Brisbane and Paris.The PSI aims to expand capabilities to conduct maritime, aviation and land interdiction operations in order to help counter the threat of WMD proliferation. At the Paris meeting, PSI participants agreed a statement of interdiction principles, outlining the aims and scope of the initiative, and making clear that all action will be in accordance with international law. Following its publication, we have been drawing governments' attention to, and eliciting support for, the statement.At the London meeting, we analysed the responses to date. So far the results have been very good: over 50 countries have already expressed support for the PSI. We hope to build on this over the coming weeks and months. WMD proliferation is a global threat: we need to encourage a global response.The London meeting also agreed a short statement on the focus of the PSI efforts. This makes clear that the initiative does not target any particular country— there are no blacklists—but aims to impede and stop trafficking of WMD, their delivery systems and related materials by any state or non-state actor engaged in or supporting WMD proliferation programmes, at any time and in any place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they have taken to strengthen arrangements for government and business to share information on their security when operating in overseas markets. [HL4992]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have been working together to strengthen arrangements for government and business to share information on a wide range of issues affecting their security when operating in overseas markets. The Government recognise that business needs good information sharing to ensure that they are making the right decisions on their investments in overseas markets.Most of our embassies and high commissions already have arrangements to exchange information on security issues with locally based British business representatives and to provide information on request to business visitors. The new scheme is designed to make the service more systematic and more proactive, and will seek to ensure that all posts and FCO departments provide a consistent level of service.A major feature of the new scheme will be the establishment of a forum in the UK for regular discussion of security-related issues. A steering group consisting of FCO, CBI and British Trade International officials and business representatives will monitor the process to ensure we are fully meeting the needs of business. Details of the new scheme have been placed on the FCO, British Trade International and CBI websites with links to each other.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What evidence they have that the measures on data retention provided in Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 are still necessary to protect national security two years since the Act was passed. [HL4756]

The threat from international terrorism remains. The data retention provisions in Part 11 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 are an essential part of our response to the threat.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to expand the scope of immigration entry procedures for work permit holders. [HL5098]

On 17 June we announced the introduction of UK residence permits and in parallel to this the introduction of an entry clearance requirement for all persons who want to stay in the UK for more than six months. The entry clearance requirement is being gradually phased in over a two-year period. The first phase will require nationals of 10 specified countries to obtain entry clearance from 13 November.We have now decided to expand further the scope of the entry clearance requirement in order to streamline procedures for work permit holders. With effect from 13 November all work permit holders and training and work experience scheme (TWES) permit holders who wish to stay in the UK for more than six months should obtain entry clearance before travelling. This will enable these permit holders to be granted their full period of stay in the UK, as stated on their work permit, before they arrive here, saving them from needing to make a further application for stay shortly after arrival.There will be a grace period for work permit and TWES permit holders until 23.59 on 13 January 2004 to ensure that those who are not aware of these new arrangements are not unduly inconvenienced on arrival in the UK. During this grace period, if a work permit holder arrives in the UK without entry clearance, and would qualify for entry except for the absence of the necessary entry clearance, they will be admitted for a period of six months. During that time they will be able to apply for an extension of stay for a period up to the length of their work permit. This application will not require an accompanying second work permit application to be made by the UK employer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals they have to reform the asylum system. [HL5142]

We have today announced new legislative proposals for asylum reform. We are writing to a number of key stakeholders outlining these proposals and inviting comments. Copies of this letter will be placed in the Library and on the IND and DCA websites. The major proposals include: reform of the immigration and asylum appeals system into a single tier of appeal with restricted access to the higher courts; measures to tackle the problem of asylum seekers deliberately destroying or disposing of their documents to make unfounded claims; provisions removing NASS support from families whose claim for asylum has been rejected and enhancing the effectiveness of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner.The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 has enabled us to make significant progress in reforming the UK's nationality, immigration and asylum systems. In the asylum system this has meant that the number of people claiming asylum has halved, removals are at record levels and the number of claims awaiting an initial decision is at the lowest for a decade. The Government determined that there should be a balanced approach in asylum and immigration policy so that we bear down on those who would seek to enter the UK illegally and who make unfounded asylum claims, while ensuring effective help for refugees who need our protection. Our policy on asylum has to be seen in the wider context of managed migration, through which we are opening up routes for people to enter the UK legally. That is why we are committed to continue reform, as necessary, of the asylum system to ensure that those in need of protection are identified quickly and those who try to exploit the system are prevented from doing so.We believe that these reforms should be in place as a matter of urgency and will introduce legislation to enact the measures as soon as parliamentary time allows. We are therefore urgently seeking comments from interested parties on the proposals. We would welcome views on the proposals by 17 November.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the New Millennium Experience Company shareholding has now been transferred. [HL5141]

Further to the Written Answer I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Desai, on 17 December 2002 (Official Report, col. WA88), the shareholding in the New Millennium Experience Company was transferred from my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton to my honourable friend the Member for Streatham on 17 October 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether and when they intend to sign and then ratify Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights; and why they have not done so to date. [HL4884]

Protocol 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights is one of a number of instruments on which the UK's position is being reviewed under the interdepartmental review of human rights instruments announced by the former Lord Chancellor, my noble and learned friend Lord Irvine of Lairg, on 7 March 2002. We will report the outcome as soon as is reasonably possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current number of war widows whose husbands died in or as a consequence of the Second World War; and [HL4698]What is the current average age of war widows whose husbands died in or as a consequence of the Second World War. [HL4699]

The information requested is not available in the format requested as details of the particular conflict to which a deceased husband's death related would have no bearing upon the entitlement to a war widow's pension. The information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.A range of statistics on war pensions, including an analysis by age of the numbers of widows receiving war widows pensions, is published quarterly. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total cost, at current prices, in each of the last six years for which figures are available, of pensions paid to war widows whose husbands died before the Armed Forces Pension Scheme came into being. [HL4700]

This information is not available in the format requested and would involve the examination of approximately 40,000 individual cases and this could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why personal finance education, presently only an optional element of the national curriculum, should not be made compulsory. [HL4916]

Some aspects of personal finance education and financial literacy are covered within the citizenship curriculum, which is compulsory in secondary schools. For example, at key stage 4(14–16 year olds) pupils should be taught about how the economy functions, including the role of business and financial services. The non-statutory national framework for personal, social and health education (PSHE), which provides for personal finance education to be taught throughout key stages 1 to 4, allows teachers the flexibility to cover the wide range of topics as set out in the department's Financial Capability through Personal Financial Education guidance for schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why only 73 per cent of those who applied for pension credit in October 2003 are expected to receive it by October 2006. [HL4851]

The Government have a target for at least 3 million pensioner households to be in receipt of pension credit by 2006 (75 per cent of eligible pensioner households). However, we want all those eligible for pension credit to take up their entitlement. That is why we have designed the application process to be straightforward. All pensioners need do is telephone the pension credit application line, where details of their application will be taken. Calls are free apart from some mobiles. The application form is then sent to the customer to check, sign and return.The Pension Service is writing to every pensioner household to tell them about pension credit and to help them decide whether to apply. To support this process we are running a major TV and press advertising campaign. Specific advertising has been targeted at harder to reach groups such as carers and ethnic minorities. These include adverts on black and ethnic minority radio and TV stations, and in ethnic newspapers and magazines. Our local service is working closely with local partners such as Age Concern and Help the Aged to help ensure eligible pensioners take up their entitlement to pension credit.All those who apply before October 2004, if they are entitled, will receive payment as though they had claimed at the very start, or to the first day they could have qualified if this is later.We have already made 1.9 million awards of pension credit to pensioner households (over 2 million individuals). Of these, over 1.1 million pensioner households (over 1.3 million people) are getting more money than they did before.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How applicants who cannot operate a bank or post office card account will receive state benefits after the system of benefit payment books ceases in 2005. [HL4874]

Around 87 per cent of customers already have bank accounts. For those who do not, new easy-to-operate accounts, which are accessible at the post office, are widely available.We have always recognised that there will be a small group of people who we cannot pay directly into an account and the department is committed to developing an alternative method of payment, which is likely to be cheque based, for those who are genuinely unable to operate any type of bank account. Payment outlets for this exceptions method of payment will include post office branches.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have had any discussions with Bae Systems and other manufacturers regarding the timetable for the launch of new aircraft technology over the next 10 years and the potential effects of that technology. [HL4615]

The aerospace innovation and growth team is a current focus for industry discussions with Her Majesty's Government on the aerospace industry. Technology acquisition and its effects are at the heart of that discussion, informed by a debate about the opportunities to exploit the technology through launch of aircraft.The Government's defence industrial policy highlighted the need for better co-ordination between government, industry and academia in targeting and exploiting defence and civil (including aerospace) technology. Government and industry have since developed a joint action plan to achieve this. The work is being taken forward primarily by the National Defence and Aerospace Systems Panel, which is also the prime focus for discussion between all UK stakeholders (industry, government and the science base) over a co-ordinated UK technology acquisition strategy in defence and aerospace.The Ministry of Defence keeps in close touch with the industry over defence requirements using the National Defence Industries Council as a forum.The Department of Trade and Industry keeps in close contact with Bae Systems and other UK companies over future technology acquisition plans.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Mr Stephen Timms MP on 7 July (HC Deb, 568W), how much of the £1 billion to be spent on public sector connectivity will be spent on rural access to broadband; and whether it will be "matched" to local authority spending on schools. [HL4859]

The broadband aggregation project will set up nine regional aggregation bodies (RABs), which will be publicly owned companies and which will aggregate and procure public sector demand for broadband. Each RAB will work closely with stakeholders in their region to develop an appropriate regional strategy that will offer best value for money and the widest availability to surrounding communities. Until each RAB has developed its own strategy it is not possible to estimate how much of the £1 billion will be spent in rural areas.The RABs will work closely with the DfES, regional broadband consortia and local education authorities (LEAs). The £1 billion includes the £350 million announced by the Secretary of State for Education for educational broadband for 2003–06, on top of the £150 million for 2001–03. This £350 million includes direct funding from DfES and matched funding from local authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Mr Stephen Timms MP on 7 July (HC Deb 568W), whether the government intend to promulgate a particular system of broadband delivery in rural areas; if so, which one; and how they will deal with those areas which have already invested in a different system. [HL4860]

The Government do not intend to promulgate a particular system of broadband delivery. Our approach is to leave decisions on broadband delivery to those best placed to make them, taking account of all the relevant considerations.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether Regulation 4(3) of the Entry Level Agri-Environment (Pilot) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/838) means that the pilot will last for five years, or that it will be possible for later entrants to benefit for five years. [HL4861]

Regulation 4(3) means that any agreement that the Secretary of State enters into with an applicant can last for a maximum of five years.There are 274 participants in the entry level agri-environment scheme in four pilot areas who have entered five year agreements from 1 August 2003 to 31 July 2008. We are not planning to invite any further applications into the pilot scheme. If the evaluation of the pilot scheme shows that it was successful, the Government hope to roll out a national entry level scheme across the country from 2005. Under the new scheme commitments will run for five years from the start of the agreement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the costs of outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis in the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and up to July 2003; and [HL4730]What was the cost of administering the slaughter policy for cattle with bovine tuberculosis in the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and up to July 2003. [HL4732]

The following table shows government expenditure on administering policy and controls on bovine TB in Great Britain for the financial years 1998–99 to 2002–03. Costs to date for 2003–04 are not yet available.

Great Britain TB Expenditure (£,000)
	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Compensation	3,491	5,303	6,632	9,243	31,146
TB Testing in Cattle	7,247	8,329	8,675	3,571	12,398
Laboratory support	1,926	2,367	3,467	3,674	4,101
SVS staff (inc HQ)	6,691	5,3321	5,529	1,883	12,954
Total	19,355	21,331	24,303	18,371	60,599
1 This figure has been revised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prosecutions of illegal hare coursing took place in each of the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002; and what was the maximum fine imposed. [HL4877]

Prosecutions for illegal hare coursing cannot be separately identified on the Home Office court proceedings database, so information is largely anecdotal. For instance, in a recent case, brought primarily under Section 30 of the Game Act, an individual was fined £600 and required to forfeit his vehicle.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many illegal hare coursing events were notified to the police in each of the years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. [HL4878]

The figures for the number of notifications for trespass for the purposes of illegal hare coursing reported to the police for the years 1998–2002 are not available because trespass for this purpose is not separately identified. We understand from the police that incidents are reported on a daily basis to them, and we believe that the number of incidents reported may be much smaller than the number of illegal events taking place. Ministers have received many complaints about threats, intimidation and violence associated with illegal hare coursing and a number of police forces have developed strategies to curb the impact of this activity on local communities. The Hunting Bill contains powers to enable the police to intervene effectively in future.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have instigated research into the effect of badger behaviour on crop damage and wildlife, and in particular on threatened species such as ground nesting birds. [HL4880]

The Central Science Laboratory is currently carrying out Defra-funded research into the impact of badgers on ground nesting birds. The work involves a review of current knowledge in this area and intensive field investigations to determine levels of predation of ground nesting birds by badgers. The project will report its findings in March 2005.The impact of badgers on agricultural crops and the use of electric fencing to reduce damage problems has been investigated by the Central Science Laboratory and officials of the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The findings of this research are published in scientific journals, while advice on badger-proof fencing is available on the Defra website

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the foot and mouth outbreak, how many claims are still unsettled; and what are the total moneys outstanding. [HL4881]

There have been over 2,000 claims made against Defra by farmers, businesses and other members of the public saying they were affected in some way by the outbreaks. Defra has so far responded with a decision in all but 43 cases. The decision is disputed in a further 16 cases. It is not possible to estimate the quantum involved in the remaining cases because not all the claimants have particularised their claims and in any case Defra is defending them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there will be a national scheme for genotyping female sheep in 2003. [HL4984]

A ewe genotyping service operated under the National Scrapie Plan for Great Britain between December 2002 and 31 March 2003. We are currently considering the costs and benefits of operating a successor scheme late this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the statement on their sustainable energy policy network website that lists as "Commitment EE6" "improvements in household energy efficiency of 5 megatonnes of carbon by 2010 and a further 4–6 megatonnes of carbon by 2020" is accurate. [HL4987]

Yes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What services SchlumbergerSema provides for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [HL4914]

The department has a framework arrangement, which is also used by the Rural Payments Agency, with SchlumbergerSema for the provision of consultancy services which may include an element of systems integration where appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the fees paid to SchlumbergerSema by government departments and agencies are shown in any public accounts; and, if so, where they are recorded. [HL4965]

Government departments and agencies produce their accounts under the principles set out in the resource accounting manual, which is based on UK generally accepted accounting practice. They are not required to show amounts paid to individual suppliers in resource accounts, nor are the amounts recorded in any other public account.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many non-governmental organisations, companies or corporations, other than SchlumbergerSema, hold contracts for the provision of service and the collection of data of government departments and agencies. [HL4969]

The Office of Government Commerce does not hold centrally details of contracts awarded by government departments and agencies for the provision of services or for the collection of data. This information could only be obtained from individual departments and agencies and they would need to consider the ability to supply such information in consideration of guidance on disproportionate costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What level of sponsorship funding has been secured through the Tobacco Task Force to replace the funding of World Snooker and other sports' governing bodies following their meeting with the Prime Minister in 1997. [HL4858]

None. The Tobacco Task Force was established in 1997 to advise and support governing bodies affected by the ban on tobacco sponsorship. It was never intended that the task force should become involved in commercial contractual negotiations between sport and possible sponsors. The task force last met in October 1999. My right honourable friend the Minister for Sport wrote to its members in May 2002 to suggest that it be reconvened. He stands ready to offer advice and support to affected sports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the sum total of the national debt and the United Kingdom's balance of payments in each of the past five years. [HL4888]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On how many occasions, in the last 12 months for which figures are available, "points failure" has been the cause of recorded delays on the railways. [HL4836]

Network Rail recorded a total of 10,839 incidents of points failure which caused delays in the financial year 2002-03. The total number of incidents is not a reliable indicator of the extent of delays from this cause. Disruption arising from an individual incident can vary from a few minutes to several hours. A more detailed breakdown of the nature of each individual incident is not readily available.