asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they propose that smoking chambers in the new Civil Service office accommodation near Victoria Square in Belfast should be provided for civil servants; if so, how many; and at what estimated cost. [HL832]

An agreement to lease has been signed in respect of Goodwood House in May Street, Belfast, to enable the vacation of Invest Northern Ireland staff from the former IDB House to facilitate the Victoria Square development scheme. The building does not include a smoking room.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 14 January (

The increase in Waterways Ireland's budget for 2004 is due to: (a) an allocation of £5.9 million towards building a new headquarters in Enniskillen; (b) increased running costs of £1 million and (c) a change in the euro/sterling exchange rate from £0.65 in 2003 to £0.69 in 2004.Waterways Ireland, like other cross-border bodies, continues to operate on a care and maintenance basis only while the Northern Ireland Assembly is in suspension. Therefore, while the 2004 budget contains an allocation for a new headquarters, this is still subject to approval to proceed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 15 January (

I have nothing further to add to my answer of 13 January 2004 (WA 80).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Statement by the Lord President on 13 January (

Around £12 million will be spent by the Northern Ireland administration, its agencies and sponsored organisations to address the needs of victims and survivors over the next two years. These resources will be used to raise awareness of victims' issues, secure improvements in the quality of services available to victims and survivors and to provide for support to victims and survivors groups. The support arrangements will also address the needs of victims of intimidation, punishment attacks and shootings. Separately, the Northern Ireland Office has made provision to examine and address the needs of victims who live in Great Britain, including those exiled there.The Government's aim is to ensure appropriate support to meet the needs of victims and survivors of the conflict in and about Northern Ireland. In so doing the Government do not draw a distinction between current and earlier victims.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Statement by the Lord President on 13 January (

The Northern Ireland Office has stated that following the 2002 spending review the grant available to the Police Service of Northern Ireland was set at £726.4 million for 2004–05 and £726.3 million for 2005–06. This compares to £699.5 million for 2003–04.The chief constable's human resource planning strategy envisages 5,400 officers in district command units by April 2005. This figure may be amended to reflect the creation of a crime operations department with responsibility for handling serious crimes. The improving position on sickness absence allows more officers to be available for deployment.The 11 departments of the Northern Ireland administration add that priorities and budget 2004–06 sets out the Government's priorities and spending plans in Northern Ireland for those services previously devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. This does not include the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 15 January (

The Questions to which the noble Lord refers were originally allocated to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. However, answers were in fact required from the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence.I am pleased to say that the Questions have now been answered.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the total public expenditure incurred in relation to Lord Hutton's inquiry; and how is the total made up. [HL1088]

The precise cost is still being determined and we will publish the figure once it is available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Statement which the Lord Chancellor made on 26 January (HL Deb, col. 12) on constitutional reform and judicial independence reflects a compromise negotiated between Privy Counsellors on Privy Council terms and binding in honour on all those who gave it their assent; and whether it will be subject to alteration by Parliament if circumstances change. [HL1297]

The statement reflects proposals on constitutional reform agreed between the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and myself. Its purpose was to inform Parliament of the agreed proposed transfers and the rationale for the decisions, and provide an opportunity for debate and comments which will be considered before any final proposals are put forward in legislation. It will be for Parliament to consider that legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:At which formal meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference of Member and Applicant States of the European Union requests were made to alter the voting values of an enlarged European Union Council from those already agreed and set down in the Treaty of Nice. [HL1086]

The proposals to alter the system of voting in the Council were discussed during the Convention on the Future of Europe and were included in its final product, the draft Constitutional Treaty (which was presented to Parliament on 9 July). The European Council at Thessaloniki on 19 and 20 July concluded that "the text of the draft Constitutional Treaty is a good basis for starting in the Intergovernmental Conference".

asked Her Majesty's Government:With whom, during her visit to China, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport raised the jamming of the BBC World Service Mandarin broadcasts; how many times this matter has been discussed in the United Kingdom-China human rights dialogue and elsewhere; and whether they will ask other states engaged in human rights dialogues, together with the European Union, to express the hope that the jamming will now cease.[HL1090]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport discussed this issue during her visit to China on 18–22 January with Xu Guangchun, the Director of the State Administration for Radio, Film and Television.We have raised the issue at each of the 10 human rights dialogue rounds held to date. In addition, Ministers and senior officials have also raised the issue in bilateral meetings. We shall continue to press the Chinese on this issue and on our concerns about the lack of freedom of expression in China more generally.Other countries in the EU raise a wide range of human rights issues in their human rights dialogues with China, including the right to freedom of expression in general. We have not asked other countries to raise this issue on our behalf.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the findings of the report by the Kurdish Human Rights Project,

The Kurdish Human Rights Project's report raises issues of serious concern. Prime Minister Erdogan has called for a zero tolerance approach to torture, and many of the instances of sexual abuse alleged in this report would probably fall into that category. I am sure they will be investigated with the same care which the Turkish Government have shown by their other measures to combat impunity. Those include the abolition of incommunicado detention, and reforms facilitating the prosecution of those charged with torture—which have led recently to a number of high profile cases.A decision on whether Turkey has met the criteria for opening accession negotiations will be taken by the European Council in December, on the basis of an objective and thorough report by the Commission. The UK is determined to help Turkey to pass this test, including by practical assistance to the Government's efforts to promote and protect human rights. Our programme of recent bilateral assistance to Turkey has included a project to build the capacity of non-governmental organisations campaigning for the rights of women in the south-eastern region.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 3 March 2003 (

The Government's current definition of weapons of mass destruction is the same as that given to the noble Lord in my Answer of 3 March 2003 (Offical Report, col. WA 84).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What references there are to Travellers or Gypsies in the regional planning guidance documents. HL1093]

The general presumption in regional planning guidance (RPG) had been that it should meet the housing requirements of the whole community and not distinguish or discriminate between any particular groups within the community. However, more recently, regional planning bodies have recognised the need to ensure that development plan authorities make adequate provision for Gypsies and Travellers. Policy 28 of RPG8 for the east Midlands and both the submitted policy CF6 and the revised policy CF5 in my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister's proposed changes to RPG 11 for the west Midlands refer to the needs of Gypsies and Travellers. In other regions RPG does not yet contain policies for Gypsies and Travellers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many children are now in local education authority nursery classes in (a) England and (b) Wales; and [HL1036]How many nursery classes there are in (a) England and (b) Wales; and [HL1037]What is their estimate of the number of pre-school playgroups in (a) England and (b) Wales. [HL1040]

The information is not available in the form requested.There were 331,300 children in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in England in January 2003. The number of maintained primary schools in England with nursery classes was 6,400. The number of maintained nursery schools in England was 475. The latest figures on provision for three and four year-olds in England were published in a statistical bulletin

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the monies given by local government annually to the pre-school playgroup movement in (a) England and (b) Wales. [HLI041]

This information is not held centrally. It is a matter for each local authority to determine spending in their area based on local need and circumstances. The position in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What further initiatives they propose to assist nursery education in (a) England and (b) Wales. [HL1055]

By April 2004, six months ahead of target, every three and four year-old is guaranteed a free part-time early education place in either the maintained, voluntary or private sector.We are building on the well received foundation stage as part of the national curriculum and have appointed a new Foundation Stage Director to develop and deliver expert support at regional level as part of the National Primary Strategy. Together with the registration and inspection of all settings by Ofsted, this will ensure high quality nursery education for all children.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Health and Safety Commission will take enforcement action under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 against the Royal Parks Agency for failing to keep cycle lanes in the Royal Parks of London free from snow and ice. [HL1080]

The Health and Safety Commission cannot take enforcement action under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that has statutory duties to make adequate arrangements for the enforcement of the Act and to appoint inspectors with powers to enforce health and safety law. Inspectors, however, exercise these powers in accordance with the commission's enforcement policy statement.HSE inspectors will review health and safety policies and procedures with the Royal Parks Agency to ensure de-icing treatments are being implemented in a reasonable and sensible way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment they have made of the success of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's public service agreement for the spending round 2000, to "raise significantly year on year, the average time spent on sport and physical activity by those aged 5–16." [HL1062]

As noted in the DCMS annual report 2003 (Cm. 5920), the results of Sport England's Young People and Sport National Surveys indicated that the average time per week spent on sport and physical activity by those aged five to 16 went from eight hours 23 minutes in 1999 to eight hours 12 minutes in 2002.This target was replaced following the 2002 spending review with the PSA target that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport shares with her right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to increase the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high-quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum. Detailed data are now being collected for the first time—for publication in April—on progress against the new target.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What help is being given to local authorities to further green tourism in Merseyside. [HL1126]

Tourism is a discretionary service for local authorities and is not directly funded by central government.Councils awarded beacon status for "Promoting Sustainable Tourism" will be announced on 6 April 2004. Tourism destinations across England will potentially benefit from the subsequent dissemination of examples of best practice.The

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect that the first tidal lagoon or tidal impoundment scheme will start to generate electricity; and whether they will provide funds to speed up the development of a prototype or first production model. [HL887]

The bringing forward of any scheme is a matter for the developer. Support for such a development would be available through the renewables obligation mechanism.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many British companies are currently trading with Zimbabwe; what advice is currently given to such companies; and what restrictions are in place on them. [HL1029]

UK Trade & Investment has no statistics on the number of UK companies trading with Zimbabwe. UK Trade & Investment offers general advice to UK companies wishing to trade with Zimbabwe and deals with inquiries on a responsive basis only. There is currently an EU arms embargo, but no economic or trade sanctions have been imposed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What state aid, including tax credits, subsidies and guarantees, is available to companies trading with Zimbabwe. [HL1030]

UK Trade & Investment services, some of which are subsidised, are available to companies trading with Zimbabwe. The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) does not currently make cover of any sort available to Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has a double taxation treaty with the UK. The Zimbabwean Government offer certain tax incentives to foreign investors.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will widen the opt-in provisions of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations to give companies the same legal protection against those who send unsolicited e-mails as that enjoyed by individual consumers. [HL1157]

When we consulted on implementation of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive last year, the majority view was that the opt-in consent requirement that applies to e-mail marketing to individuals should not be extended to corporate subscribers, including limited companies, because of the potential impact on business-to-business marketing. The Government's response to consultation made it clear however that we are prepared to review this in the light of working experience of the new rules. Both corporate and individual subscribers are currently covered by the requirement in the regulations not to send commercial e-mail which disguises or conceals the identity of the person on whose behalf it is sent, or does not provide a valid address to which a request that communications cease may be sent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many general practitioners there were in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years. [HL1107]

The number of all general practitioners (GP) (excluding GP retainers) in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years is shown in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much funding has been awarded by the Department of Health under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 to the United Kingdom charity Action for ME since April 2003; for what purpose the award was made; and what were the terms under which it was made; and [HL1179]Whether any funding has been awarded by the Department of Health under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 to any charities representing those with myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome other than Action for ME since April 2003; if so, how much was awarded; to which charities; and for which purpose. [HL1180]

In February 2003, Action for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) was awarded a grant of £187,000 over a three-year period to support its chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) clinical network project. The project is intended to help all those in the field to access knowledge and share best practice on meeting the needs of patients.The Association for Youth with ME was awarded a grant in 2002 of £110,000 over a three-year period in respect of its positive living project. This involves developing a training and information programme to empower children and young people via skills workshops to voice their experience, knowledge and needs of living with CFS/ME.All voluntary organisations awarded Section 64 grants provide regular progress reports showing how they meet the objectives laid down by the grant conditions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a list of payments made to farmers under the provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy. [HL964]

Payments made under the CAP and on national grants and subsidies throughout the UK are published in table 9.1 of Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2002, which is available in the Library of the House. In the UK financial year 2001–02, direct product subsidies were £1,888.2 million, other subsidies on production were £392.6 million and total capital grants, transfers and other payments were £1,828 million. In addition, market support payments were made of £555.1 million. Some of the payments were only partly EU-funded.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they have taken before and since 6 January to prevent the spread of oak death virus (

The Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993 (SI 1993/1320, as amended) sets out the controls on the import, movement and keeping of plants within the EU. The order requires all plants entering the UK from third countries to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and are subject to inspection at import. For trade within the EU, specific disease control measures are applied at the place of production and plant passports may be issued that travel with consignments allowing their free movement between member states. Such controls operate throughout the year.From May 2002 measures to control the movement of plants susceptible to the pathogenic fungus

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will pay compensation to those suffering significant loss as a result of the destruction of plants or trees infected with oak death virus (

Plant disease campaigns over many years have not incorporated compensation for the destruction of affected plants. Our judgment is that the limited resources of the plant health service are better deployed in detecting and, as necessary, controlling outbreaks, and. in carrying out research on risks and risk management measures. However, we have recently received an approach from the industry wishing to discuss possible risk-sharing mechanisms to avoid disproportionate losses to individual enterprises when action has to be taken against plant pests or diseases and we are currently considering our response to this approach.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many state veterinary surgeons were employed in each of the years 1998 to 2003. [HL1206]

The number of permanent veterinary surgeons (full-time equivalent) employed by the State Veterinary Service at 1 January each year since 1998, is given in the table below. The figures do not include state veterinary surgeons employed in other areas of Defra and its agencies. The statistics for 2002 and 2003 do not include headquarters veterinary surgeons responsible for policy development in the Animal Health and Welfare Directorate General. In addition, as at 1 January 2003 there were 58 casual and fixed-term appointee veterinary staff.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many new cases of bovine tuberculosis were recorded in 2002 and 2003. [HL1209]

The data requested are provided in the table below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the proposed changes to the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations affecting gas oil are required by reason of the flammability or the toxicity of the fuel. [HL1042]

The changes relate to the flammability of the fuel. Gas oil with a flash point of not more than 61°C is currently regulated by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 1996 as a class 3 flammable liquid. Proposed new Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 will deem gas oil with a flash point not more than 100°C to be a substance of class 3 flammable liquid.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

There are no SPECS speed cameras permanently installed on the motorway network. Temporary SPECS cameras are used at some roadworks on the motorway network. The number varies according to the roadworks in place at any one time.Electronic message signs on motorways are not fitted with speed cameras. CCTV cameras are fitted to a number of electronic signs to assist the Highways Agency in assessing the effectiveness of the signs in altering driver behaviour in response to the messages.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Department for Transport guidance specifies that SPECS speed cameras should be visible. [HL1047]

Time and distance enforcement cameras, of which the SPECS system is one, deployed by safety camera partnerships must comply with the conspicuity and visibility rules.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In light of their announcement of a review of ownership, operation, maintenance and finance of the railways in the United Kingdom, whether they will place in the Library of the House a summary of the principal arrangements made in these areas in each of the member states of the European Union, together with a list of any aspect of railway operation, finance and management subject to European Union legislative requirements. [HL1068]

The Government do not themselves collect the information requested. However, the European Commission recently commissioned from NERA Consultants a Study of the Financing of and Public Budget Contributions to Railways which includes, as background, a comparison of the arrangements on ownership, operation, maintenance and finance of the railways in the EU member states. The European Commission expects to publish the full report on its website in the near future. As soon as it does so, I shall place a copy in the Library of the House.An overview of Community legislation covering railway operations, finance and management is available on the Commission website at:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 3 February (HL985), what is the base year against which the 15–25 per cent increase in passenger journeys between London and Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow has been measured in the Strategic Rail Authority's West Coast Main Line strategy; and in which year these growth levels are likely to be achieved. [HL1141]

The base year is 2002. The Strategic Rail Authority estimates that an increase in passenger journeys within the range quoted might be achieved in some five years, though this will depend in part on such factors as the rate of national economic growth.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they can take to expedite the reintroduction of the lifts between the underground station and Terminal One at Heathrow, which have been out of commission for several months. [HL1142]

This is an operational matter for Heathrow Airport Limited, a subsidiary of BAA plc, who own the lifts in question. I understand that the lift replacement programme was extended following the discovery last November of asbestos on the site. New lift units have now been delivered and are expected to be in service by the end of March.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all harbours and terminals have now submitted waste management plans under the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Port Waste Reception Facilities) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 1809/2003) [HL1150]

After extensive consultation with representatives of the UK ports industry, it was agreed that port waste management plans conforming to the new regulations would be submitted to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency by 31 December 2003. Currently, Maritime and Coastguard Agency marine offices are reviewing the submitted port waste management plans, and any harbours or terminals with outstanding or non-compliant plans are being contacted. They are being requested to submit revised plans as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the Driving Standards Agency's target for responding to inquiries made by e-mail. [HL1216]

The Driving Standards Agency has a target to answer 97 per cent of letters and e-mails within 10 working days and is currently answering 98 per cent within that target.