of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government: What discussions they have held with the Goverńments of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to encourage social and civil development. [HL26]

There have been discussions with the Governments of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). This aims to build a partnership between governments, commercial enterprises and civil society organisations with the aim of increasing transparency of revenues generated from extracted industries (oil, gas and mining). Both governments have indicated their support for the initiative and are currently considering how best to implement it.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 19 November (WA 323) concerning North/South Implementation Bodies, why the staff costs of the Special European Union Programmes Body increased by over 100 per cent between 2001 and 2002. [HL98]

Staff costs for the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) increased by 56 per cent between 2001 (£587,574) and 2002 (£914,491). Average SEUPB staff numbers increased from 21 to 33 (57 per cent) over the same period.Beginning late 2001, the SEUPB undertook a series of recruitment exercises to bring the number of permanent staff up to the NSMC approved complement. Many of the civil servants seconded to the SEUPB at the time of its establishment were thus able to return to their departments. The SEUPB also recruited temporary staff during 2002 to cover maternity leave and short-term peaks in workload. In addition, former Northern Ireland Partnership Board staff were seconded to the SEUPB during the first half of 2002 to complete work on the closure of PEACE I.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13 November (WA 207), whether the delay in granting approval to appoint an educational language officer is satisfactory. [HL174]

The board of the Ulster-Scots Agency has considered a draft job description and has indicated that it requires amendments. The sponsor departments will continue to assist the agency to obtain the necessary approvals once a job description has been agreed by the agency.

asked Her Majesty's Government: How many ombudsmen are currently employed in Northern Ireland; and how much they cost. [HL181]

There are two ombudsmen in Northern Ireland—the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints (also known as the Northern Ireland Ombudsman) and the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. The total gross expenditure of their two offices for 2002–03 was £1,077,000 and £6,859,000 respectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government: How many oversight commissioners there are in Northern Ireland; and how much they cost. [HL182]

The following bodies have oversight roles in Northern Ireland:

asked Her Majesty's Government: Why mobile gear fishing has been banned in Strangford Lough; what consultation was held with interested parties prior to the ban; and when the report on the horse mussel community in Strangford Lough will be made available. [HL268]

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development had to act quickly to introduce an immediate ban on mobile fishing gear in Strangford Lough, to avoid further possible damage to ecological features which underpinned the designation of the lough as a candidate Special Area of Conservation.The ban is consistent with the Department's obligations under the Habitats Directive. Regrettably there was not time for the consultation normally expected in these circumstances.The Department of the Environment will shortly publish an interim report on the horse mussel community in Strangford Lough. This will set out the results of a diving survey carried out in summer 2003, and is part of a wider investigation into the ecological status of the lough which is due to report in February 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What are their latest estimates of the funds needed for the reconstruction of Afghanistan; and what is the total sum so far pledged by the international community. [HL296]

A needs assessment for the reconstruction of Afghanistan was undertaken by the World Bank, the United Nations and the Asia Development Bank. It estimated that 10 billion US dollars would be required over five years.The international donor community met in Tokyo in January 2002 and pledged 4.5 billion dollars for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Afghan Government have now reported that this total has increased to over 5.9 billion dollars. This does not, however, represent the full amount that will be provided over that period, as some donors are only able to pledge for periods shorter than five years.The Afghanistan Transitional Administration is currently undertaking a revised needs assessment, which is likely to be presented in early 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether it is correct that Cambodia, Georgia, Haiti and Afghanistan do not qualify for debt relief, although they are eligible under the rules of heavily indebted poor countries; and, if so, what action they will take to remedy this. [HL314]

The list of countries eligible for debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative is not fixed. Any country can be added to the list if it meets the three eligibility criteria: the country must be eligible only for concessional lending from the IMF and World Bank; it must face an unsustainable debt burden after the application of traditional debt relief mechanisms; and it must have demonstrated its commitment to poverty reduction.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will provide a table showing the external debts of heavily indebted poor countries in 1983 and in 2003 and indicating for each country (a) debts at beginning and end of the period; (b) amount of both principal and interest written off; (c) amount of current debt per head of population; (d) current average income per person; and (e) the amount of debt likely to be remitted in each country over the next two years, as a result of negotiations pending. [HL315]

The table below shows data for the 27 heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) that have qualified for debt relief under the enhanced HIPC initiative. These are the only HIPCs in which the IMF and World Bank have carried out debt sustainability analyses. Most of the HIPC countries that have still to qualify for the relief have yet to emerge from prolonged conflict and accurate figures are not available.A meaningful comparison between debt levels in 1983 and 2003 is almost impossible, as the figures for these years have been calculated in different ways. Furthermore, figures for 1983 are based on 1983 prices and those for 2003 are based on 2003 prices.

the Leader of the House: What figures are available relating to the additional costs of the works programme, the Line of Route and related matters arising out of sittings of the House in

The total additional costs arising from the September sittings of the House in 2003 cannot yet be assessed. This is largely because the major works contracts running through the summe are not yet complete and, until they are, contractors will not submit claims for expenditure resulting from any delay and disruption. These claims may then be disputed. Most contracts were also let on the basis of a September sitting, not a 12-week recess.The House authorities estimate that the contracts were some £160,000 more expensive than they would have been, which amounts to about 1 per cent of the average summer works spend, and is due mainly to the need to accelerate work on certain areas required by Members during the sittings.No useful forecast can be made for September 2004 while the figures for 2003 are unknown. Some costs will be unavoidable if only one House sits.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether Invest Northern Ireland has had any contact with IKEA to locate a base in Northern Ireland; and whether any support has been extended to IKEA for such new investment. [HL340]

Invest Northern Ireland has had no direct contact with IKEA regarding an investment within the retail sector in Northern Ireland. No financial assistance has been extended to IKEA as the retail sector is not within Invest Northern Ireland's remit for support.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will publish the attendance records at commission meetings of all the members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission since 1999; and what measurement they have used to calculate the success of the work of the commission and of its individual members. [HL361]

Minutes of all commission meetings from 1 March 1999 to the present are available on the commissions's website www.nihrc.org. Each set of minutes lists those commissioners who attended each meeting. Since 2003, the attendance of each commissioner has also been recorded in the commission's annual report (laid before this House in July 2003).The commission is required by paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to submit an annual report to the Secretary of State. The report shows how the commission has performed its functions during the year in accordance with its statutory role and responsibilities. The Secretary of State is required to lay a copy of this report before Parliament.The contribution of individual commission members is a matter for the Chief Commissioner.

asked Her Majesty's Government: When the Senior Salaries Review Body will next review parliamentary pay and allowances. [HL483]

In 1996 the Senior Salaries Review Body recommended that Parliamentary pay and allowances should be reviewed every three years, commencing in 2000. In line with this recommendation my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has recently written to John Baker, the Chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body, asking the body to report next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will publish the full composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union. [HL484]

The United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 September (WA 35), what work is being done inside prisons to help the 31 per cent of prisoners who were opiate users before conviction. [HL27]

A comprehensive range of drug treatment services is available to drug misusers in prisons, including opiate misusers. These services include: detoxification (a clinical service which is available at all local/remand prisons); counselling, assessment, referral, advice and through-care services (CARATs)—a low-level intervention that provides a gateway assessment, referral and support service to prisoners both within custody and upon their initial release and is available at all prisons; and intensive drug treatment programmes (60 of which are available across the prison estate).

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 September (WA 36), whether they intend to expand the high intensity training programme to other young offenders institutions. [HL28]

The high intensity training programme is currently being run at Thorn Cross young offender institution. Funds were allocated from the Spending Review 2000 settlement to extend the programme to Deerbolt young offender institution. The planning for the extension and related reconstruction work is under way and the programme is planned to start in June 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 13 November (WA 214) concerning visitors centres in prisons, whether they will publish the letter therein referred to in the Official Report.[HL48]

I can confirm that a copy of my reply will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 November (WA 292) concerning HM Inspector of Prisons, whether they will arrange for the publication in the Official Report of the letter referred to therein. [HL51]

I can confirm that a copy of the letter will be placed in the Official Report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether new criminal offences have been created by

No new criminal offences were created by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The Anti-social Behaviour Act created a number of new offences:

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will give reasons why, after three adjournments of the case of Mr Lumituri Shala on 30 October, an "all options" pre-sentence report was not available when he appeared on a charge of driving while disqualified at East Berkshire Magistrates' Court sitting in Bracknell; what implications arise from this case: and what actions will result. [HL159]

It is not normal practice to comment on an individual case which is referred to the National Probation Service. I have asked the Director General of the National Probation Service to request a report of the circumstances from the Chief Officer for the Thames Valley area and I will write to the noble Lord when this has been received.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the increasing cost of countering terrorism should be funded by council taxpayers through the police precepts. [HL241]

The annual police funding settlement provides grant support for the full range of policing services and takes account of the financial pressures on all police authorities. Details of the provisional police funding settlement for 2004-05 were announced on 19 November. On top of the settlement, additional grants totalling £69 million are being made available to police authorities to counter terrorism.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they consider the demolition of flats adjacent to one occupied by a person suspected or accused of terrorism, or other collective punishments, constitute crimes under international humanitarian law; and, if so, what action they are able to take in respect of recent events in the occupied West Bank. [HL210]

The destruction of Palestinian infrastructure for the purpose of collective punishment is contrary to international humanitarian law. Furthermore, we believe such actions are provocative, and serve only to exacerbate tension and undermine efforts to bring about an end to violence and a return to negotiations. We have called on the Government of Israel to stop these demolitions and to ensure their actions in the Occupied Territories fall within international law. I last raised my concerns about the demolition of Palestinian homes with Israel's Ambassador, Mr Zvi Shtauber, on 22 October.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What are the specific proposals for the role of the United Nations in the evolution of political institutions in Iraq. [HL256]

The vital role of the United Nations in Iraq has been set out in Security Council Resolutions 1483, 1500 and 1511. In particular, UNSCR 1511 requested the Secretary-General to make available, as circumstances allow, the resources of the United Nations to support Iraqi institutions in drafting a new constitution and in the holding of democratic elections.On 15 November, the President of the Iraqi Governing Council announced the new plan outlining the timetable for the drafting of the constitution and holding of elections. He also asked the Security Council to appoint a new Special Representative to Iraq, and formally requested a UN role in support of the political process.In his report of 10 December, Kofi Annan announced the appointment of Ross Mountain as interim UN Special Representative to Iraq and set out his views on the UN role in Iraq, outlining the UN's willingness to lend its assistance to the electoral and constitutional processes, subject to circumstances and an Iraqi request. He also set out a wide range of potential UN activities in humanitarian, development, human rights and civil society fields. We welcome the UN position, and will work with the Secretary-General to ensure the UN can play a vital role as set out in UNSCR 1511, in particular in support of the political process.

asked Her Majesty's Government: When the United Kingdom will ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. [HL412]

The United Kingdom ratified the optional protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) when our permanent representative to the UN deposited the instrument of ratification with the UN Secretary-General on 10 December.The UK will become the first member of the European Union and the third country in the world to ratify the optional protocol. The UK believes that the protocol will promote a more intensive and concerted approach to eradicate torture through a preventive system of regular, independent visits to places of detention. We will now undertake a campaign urging other countries to sign, ratify and implement both the Convention Against Torture and the optional protocol. The protocol will come into force when 20 countries have ratified it.The UK is committed to the fight against torture. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's anti-torture initiative, launched in 1998, continues to provide a focus for us on this issue. The UK played an important role in securing the adoption of the optional protocol in 2002 by undertaking extensive lobbying of countries around the world to support the protocol. The follow-up to our ratification of the OPCAT will be an important part of the current phase of the initiative.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will review the basis of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel advice and security strategy for its posts abroad. [HL413]

There is to be a review of the basis of the FCO's travel advice, and an internal review of the FCO's security strategy for its posts abroad. Terms of reference are annexed. The conclusion of the travel advice review will be placed before both Houses.Since September 11, 2001, it has been increasingly clear that we face a form of international terrorism which aims not only to take life randomly by suicide attack, but which seeks to use fear and instability to undermine the freedom and prosperity which the terrorists hate.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they have recently made any exemptions to the United Nations or European Union arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of Congo. [HL414]

Following consultations with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry issued a licence for the export to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of body armour and military helmets. This equipment will be used by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who are part of the United Nations operation in the DRC.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What plans they have to pay further ex-gratia compensation for the incorrect deduction of tax from Service attributable pensions. [HL446]

:The report of the internal inquiry into the incorrect deduction of tax from Service attributable pensions recommended that, in addition to the Inland Revenue refund and repayment supplement, consideration should be given to further compensation for those affected by the error. The Inland Revenue allowed a significant concession in waiving the time limits that normally apply in refunds of tax. However, representations have been made that the Ministry of Defence should pay further compensation to those pensioners for whom the effect of the error persisted over a considerable number of years. The Government accept that, where individuals suffer a financial loss as a result of the Government's administrative errors, then the onus is on that department to restore those individuals to the position they would have enjoyed had the errors not occurred. The Ministry of Defence has already accepted responsibility for the errors which led to tax being wrongly deducted and has apologised unreservedly. We further accept that, in certain cases, payments made so far have not provided full compensation for the cost of the errors to individuals.We have therefore decided that further ex-gratia compensation will be paid to those who were in receipt of pensions outside the normal six-year Inland Revenue repayment period. Compensation will be calculated by applying compound interest, using the retail prices index plus 2 per cent, to the tax wrongly deducted, net of the estimated repayment by the Inland Revenue. We will also pay ex-gratia compensation, calculated in the same way, to those who suffered from the related error of delays in payment of benefits under the Armed Forces pension scheme, including using the Inland Revenue repayment formula for compensation for errors within the normal six-year period. Payment will be made as quickly as possible.It will, however, take some months to complete all payments because the necessary data on each individual are held mainly on manual records. We deeply regret the errors made but we hope that this offer of compensation will draw matters to a satisfactory conclusion.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What the final recommendations are of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Board on the pay of Service medical and dental officers. [HL480]

The supplement to the 2003 report of the Armed Forces' Pay Review Body making final recommendations on the pay of Service medical and dental officers has been published today. Copies of the supplement are available in the Vote Office and the Library of the House.The review body recommends a final increase of 6.8 per cent for all Regular and Reserve defence medical services medical and dental officers, in addition to the 3.2 per cent interim award already implemented on 1 April 2003, representing a total increase of 10 per cent. The review body also recommends a pay increase of 3.225 per cent for medical and dental cadets and an out-of-hours supplementary payment of £8,500 to junior doctors. In addition, the review body recommends that there should be no further increase in the values of sustained

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, and if so to what extent, girls are performing better in maintained schools than boys; and whether, if this is the case, there are significant variations in this respect between ethnic groups. [HL249]

The tables below show, for pupils in maintained schools in England, the attainment of boys, girls and all pupils from different ethnic backgrounds at key stages 1, 2 and 3 and GCSE/ GNVQ in 2002. The figures indicate the proportions of pupils achieving:

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether all children are being taught in school the responsibilities and consequences attendant on the conception of a child; and if so, whether they consider that this education is successful; and [HL326]Whether they consider that young people are adequately educated and prepared for responsibilities of parenthood. [HL327]

Through personal, social and health education (PSHE) all pupils should learn about taking on responsibility and the consequences of their actions in relation to sexual activity and parenthood. Sex and relationship education should give young people a clear understanding of the arguments for delaying sexual activity. There has been a 10 per cent fall in the under-18 conception rate since 1998. This is an encouraging sign of progress in implementing the teenage pregnancy strategy, a key element of which is improved sex and relationship education.The Government believe that parents are the principal providers of guidance about parenting and family life. The introduction of citizenship education alongside the PSHE framework, providing for pupils to be taught about responsibilities whether moral, social, or parental, effectively complement the personal and social development of pupils provided at home.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the Department of Health has planned a recruitment drive to attract specialist speech therapists [HL136]

The Government are implementing a range of measures to recruit more healthcare professionals, including speech and language therapists. These include improving pay and conditions, encouraging the National Health Service to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer, increasing training, investing in childcare and continuing professional development, attracting back returners and running national and international recruitment campaigns. As at September 2002, there were 5,960 speech and language therapists employed in the NHS, an increase of 1,089 or 22 per cent since 1997.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What data are available on the number of prescriptions written in England for English residents, but taken to chemists in Wales to dispense so as to avoid prescription charges. [HL288]

The data available in England are in respect of the total number of items prescribed in Wales and dispensed in the community in England. Data in respect of items prescribed in England and dispensed in Wales are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government: How the Department of Health is working with the National Assembly for Wales to avoid abuse of free prescriptions for under 25 year-olds in Wales. [HL289]

The Department of Health has regular contacts with the National Assembly for Wales at all levels on a wide range of health issues. However, prescription charges and exemption arrangements within Wales are a matter for the National Assembly itself.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will publish a comparative table showing hospital waiting lists in England and Wales. [HL334]

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether there is a difference in the definition of waiting lists and waiting times for specific specialities and services between England and Wales. [HL352]

For England waiting times information is collected from all National Health Service trusts and primary care trusts where these organisations provide either a consultant-led inpatient service or a consultant-led outpatient service or both. The information is collected at specialty level and covers waits for elective inpatient admission and first consultant outpatient appointment following general practitioner or general dental practitioner referral. The information is also collected on a commissioner basis and primary care trusts submit specialty level data on patients waiting for services for which they have commissioned.Waiting lists for England are published by English commissioners and providers on the following website

asked Her Majesty's Government: What steps they are taking to ensure the security of the ballot in elections held by postal voting. [HL141]

There are already in place arrangements designed to protect the security of postal votes, in that postal voters are required to include with their returned ballot paper a declaration verifying their identity.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they consider that the use of radio frequency identification tags on consumer goods represents risk to civil liberty and privacy; and, if so, whether they have any plans to initiate an inquiry into such use. [HL153]

The use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on consumer goods does not represent a risk to civil liberty or privacy. RFID tags merely identify objects and where such data are associated with personal information the provisions of the Data Protection Act apply. The Department of Trade and Industry sees no need for an inquiry into the use of RFID technologies at this time.The Department of Trade and Industry is monitoring trends and developments in the use of RFID technology and is engaged with RFID technology suppliers, users, consumer and civil liberties representatives, the Home Office and the Department of Constitutional Affairs to identify real and perceived risks and agree means of addressing these.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the UK space strategy 2003–06 and beyond has been published. [HL447]

The UK space strategy 2003–06 and beyond was published on 16 December. It was agreed after wide consultation in government and the space community and with other interested parties. It sets out our objectives of enhancing the UK's standing in astronomy, planetary and environmental sciences; stimulating increased productivity by promoting the use of space in government, science and commerce; and developing innovative space systems to deliver sustainable improvement in quality of life. Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses, and on the BNSC website www.bnsc.gov.uk

asked Her Majesty's Government: What the outcome was of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council held on 1–2 December. [HL444]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Andrew Smith, Member for Oxford East), my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumers (Gerry Sutcliffe, Member for Bradford South), and my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Health (John Hutton, Member for Barrow and Furness) represented the UK.The Council reached partial political agreement on the articles of a new regulation to replace Regulation 1408/71 co-ordinating social security systems for people moving from one member state to another. In particular, member states reached a compromise on unemployment benefit for people who live in a member state other than the one where they last worked. This relates to a reimbursement system that member states have agreed to: the last state of work will reimburse part of the unemployment benefit paid by the state of residence. The UK retains a parliamentary scrutiny on this regulation.The Council discussed the Commission communication on structural indicators for next year's spring Council and took note of the opinions of the Economic Policy Committee, the Working Group on Environment, Employment Committee and Social Protection Committee. The presidency invited the General Affairs and External Relations Council to adopt joint conclusions as close as possible to the existing draft.The Council adopted conclusions on disability, on immigration, integration and employment and on gender equality indicators. The Council also agreed a general approach on a Council decision establishing a Social Protection Committee. Council noted the other business items without comment.In the consumer affairs part of the Council, a resolution on the safety of services was adopted without comment. There was a general policy discussion on the proposed EC Regulation on Consumer Protection Co-operation, and the UK supported the proposal.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will provide an estimate of the projected revenue to the Exchequer resulting from the proposed Olympic lottery game. [HL197]

In the event of a successful London Olympic bid, Camelot's estimates, as reviewed by the National Lottery Commission, are that new Olympic lottery games could raise £750 million towards the costs of staging the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Lottery duty of 12 per cent of total sales would be deducted, in line with the current arrangements for all National Lottery games, resulting in estimated gross revenue to the Exchequer of approximately £340 million. However, the net increase in revenue to the Exchequer is likely to be significantly lower, perhaps in the region of £140 million. This estimate is based on Camelot's assessment that over half of new Olympic lottery sales might represent diversion from existing lottery games.

asked Her Majesty's Government: When the Doomsday Book of sports grounds will be finalised and printed. [HL284]

The Doomsday Book of Sports Facilities will be operational in summer 2004 through a dedicated website.Final information on pools and sports halls will then be added in over the following months and it is expected that the database will be completed in 2005.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether university and college sports grounds will be included in the Doomsday Book of sports grounds. [HL286]

University and college sports grounds will be recorded in the Doomsday Book, provided they fall under one of the categories of facilities which are to be included in the book.Facilities to be included are: sports halls, swimming pools; indoor tennis facilities; indoor bowls facilities; athletics tracks; synthetic turf pitches; health and fitness facilities; playing fields; and golf courses.

asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether a statement has been made under the Human Rights Act 1998 in connection with the Consolidated Fund Bill. [HL482]

I have made a statement under Section 19(l)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1988 that, in my view, the provisions of the Consolidated Fund Bill are compatible with the convention rights. A copy of the statement has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government: What measures they are taking to work with transport providers to ensure that disabled people have ease of access to all forms of public transport. [HL291]

The Department for Transport is in regular contact with the transport industries, both manufacturers and operators, on all aspects of transport policy that affects the mobility of disabled people.

asked Her Majesty's Government: (a) what was the total amount of equity investment by W S Atkins plc or its subsidiaries in Connect Roads Limited; (b) when that investment was made; (c) for how much and when that equity investment was sold; and (d) what drawback or profit share arrangements were in place in respect of that investment; and, if none, why not. [HL319]

I understand that W S Atkins was a minority shareholder in the holding company Connect Roads Limited. Her Majesty's Government do not have private finance roads contracts with Connect Roads Limited, only with subsidiaries of the holding company. Details of W S Atkins's investment in Connect Roads Limited are a commercial matter for the companies concerned to which Her Majesty's Government are not privy.Contracts were awarded to the subsidiaries of the holding company, Connect Road A50 Limited and Connect Road A30/A35 Limited, on 20 May 1996 and 24 July 1996 respectively.The purchase of W S Atkins's equity investment by Balfour Beatty was announced on 21 November 2003. The amount paid is a commercial matter for the companies concerned to which Her Majesty's Government are not privy.The contracts do not provide for profit sharing or clawback in cases of changes of ownership of share capital. Such transactions do not constitute refinancing.

asked Her Majesty's Government: In what circumstances it was envisaged that the Secretary of State could have recorded further changes of vehicle keeper after he had issued a certificate of destruction under the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2635). [HL349]

Once a certificate of destruction ("CoD") has been issued for a vehicle there should be no further activity on the record—it is effectively deregistered. However, administrative arrangements will ensure that re-registration can take place where there has been a genuine mistake in the identity of the notified vehicle.

asked Her Majesty's Government: How many rail passenger fatalities; there were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [HL350]

Details of the numbers of passenger fatalities on Britain's railways in the 10 years 1993–94 to 2002–03 provided by the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate are set out in the table below:

asked Her Majesty's Government: When they will publish an updated measurement of compliance with the regulatory impact assessment process. [HL487]

An updated measurement of the level of compliance with the regulatory impact assessment process is today being placed on the website of the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit. An exercise in November 2003 to establish a snapshot of the level of compliance provided a figure of 100 per cent. We will keep this under regular review.