asked Her Majesty's Government:On how many occasions the Police Service of Northern Ireland disclosed relevant non-conviction information following a Pre-Employment Consultancy Service check in each of the years 2001, 2002 and 2003. [HL1182]

The Chief Constable has informed me that relevant non-conviction information was supplied to the Pre-Employment Consultancy Service on approximately three occasions in 2001, three occasions in 2002 and four occasions in 2003.(NB. This does not include other checks which the PSNI conducts including those for the education boards).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all relevant non-conviction information relating to the protection of children has been back-recorded to the Police Service of Northern Ireland Integrated Criminal Intelligence System. [HL1184]

The Chief Constable has informed me that relevant non-conviction information has been analysed on a daily basis since January 1999 and where appropriate, it has been recorded on the Police Service of Northern Ireland Integrated Criminal Intelligence System.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any poultry products from countries from which imports are banned have been seized in the United Kingdom over the last four months. [HL1317]

Imports of poultry products from all countries outside the EU were prohibited with effect from 1 January 2003 apart from (a) commercial consignments which are from those countries which have establishments approved to export poultry to the EU and which are introduced to the United Kingdom via a border inspection post, and (b) small quantities for personal consumption which may be imported from a limited number of the European countries that are not members of the EU.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the eight most common causes of failure in respect of government information technology projects referred to recently by Peter Gershon, head of the Office of Government Commerce; and [HL1347]What specific responsibilities Ministers have in the form of recently introduced mandatory checklist, to avoid failure of "mission-critical" information technology projects. [HL1348]

The information requested is listed in the Centre of Excellence Information Pack v3.0 on the OGC website http://www.ogc.gov.uk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of allegations of oligopoly pricing in the provision of rolling stock to the railway industry, whether they will consider leasing outside the present three rolling stock companies. [HL1355]

There is no legal or structural requirement for train operating companies to acquire their rolling stock through one of the rolling stock companies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the Goodison report:

The Government will carefully consider Sir Nicholas Goodison's recommendations ahead of Budget 2004 and as part of the 2004 spending review.

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. [HL1003]

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:When the national 1985 standards of fire cover will be withdrawn and replaced by fire cover arrangements based upon individual integrated risk management plans drawn up by the fire authorities in England and Wales; and who will be responsible for ensuring that the new fire cover arrangements are as efficient and effective as the 1985 standards. [HL1369]

The recommended standards of fire cover will be superseded from 1 April 2004 when fire and rescue authorities implement their first agreed integrated risk management plans. These plans will detail locally determined response standards on the basis of authorities' assessment of risks to the community.Fire and rescue authorities have responsibility for making provision for fire fighting purposes to efficiently meet all normal requirements.The Audit Commission will be responsible for assessing performance and will introduce a new inspection regime for the Fire and Rescue Service in co-operation with the Fire Service Inspectorate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they respond to the call from Len Hynds of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit for reform of sentencing policy in respect of hackers breaking into computer systems. [HL1346]

We believe that the current sentencing framework provides the courts with the flexibility to pass robust and appropriate sentences that reflect the full range of circumstances in each case.Changes will however be made to Section 1 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to increase the penalty threshold, to allow for the effective punishment of all acts undertaken by hackers and others in committing this offence. This and other changes to the Act will be bought forward when parliamentary time allows.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of those arrested in November and December 2003 on suspicion of terrorist offences had at some point applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. [HL1392]

A total of 43 people were arrested in November and December 2003 on suspicion of terrorist offences. Of these, 12 have been positively identified as current or former asylum seekers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the Afghans who landed at Stansted Airport in February 2000 in a hijacked aircraft are still in Britain; and what their immigration status is now. [HL1393]

Of the 170 people on the hijacked plane, 89 have returned (voluntarily) to Afghanistan and 22, including 13 dependants, have been granted asylum.The remaining 59 are still in the UK, most pending completion of appeals or legal processes of one kind or another. Of this 59, the accused hijackers and their families comprise 34 people. Nine of the hijackers were convicted and imprisoned until recently. In the case of these nine hijackers their convictions have now been oveturned by the Court of Appeal. Action will be taken to remove them once it is clear that there is no legal or other barrier to their removal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many student midwives there were in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available; and for each of those academic years:

Information on the whole-time equivalent pre-registration midwifery student population in each year since 1998–99, the first available year, and the available information on the number and cost of bursaries to midwifery students are shown in the tables.

National Health Service Bursary holders on Pre-Registration Midwifery Courses in England—Academic Years 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04
	2001–02			2002–03			2003–04
	Degree	Diploma	Total	Degree	Diploma	Total	Degree	Diploma	Total
Number of Students	1,397	1,348	2,745	1,647	1,515	3,162	1,785	1,581	3,366
Amount Awarded	£5,085,620	£7,740,142	£12,825,762	£6,532,824	£9,040,312	£15,573,136	£7,478,963	£9,937,008	£17,415,970
Amount Paid	£5,034,305	£7,504,971	£12,539,276	£6,418,088	£8,394,751	£14,812,839	£3,108,505	£4,118,150	£7,226,655
Average Award	£3,640	£5,742	£4,672	£3,966	£5,967	£4,925	£4,190	£6,285	£5,174
Average Paid	£3,604	£5,567	£4,568	£3,897	£5,541	£4,685	£1,741	£2,605	£2,147

1. Due to the phased take-up of Midwifery students, Student Grants Unit (SGU) are only able to provide comparable data for academic years 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04. (Prior to academic year 2001–02 the administation of NHS Bursaries was the joint responsibility of SGU and the Higher Education Institutions).2. Figures for 2003–04 relate only for the 5 month period September 2003 to January 2004 only, so do not include a cohort of students.3. Figures do not include the shortened 2nd registration programme (who need to be a registered nurse to undertake the programme) or midwives on secondment as these would not attract a bursary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider organised, large-scale commercialisation of cockle harvesting is sustainable. [HL1252]

Sustainability is difficult to define for a cockle fishery, since wind conditions, storms and other environmental factors combine to cause cockle stocks to vary from year to year even in the absence of fishing. This natural variability may sometimes be of a magnitude that does not permit sustainable fishing. Nevertheless, the existence of sustained, large-scale commercial fisheries for cockles clearly demonstrates that sustainable harvesting is possible under good management. Local sea fisheries committees are responsible for managing fisheries, including cockle fisheries, out to six miles in England and Wales and seek to ensure sustainable exploitation of local stocks within this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the consultation on the draft framework and guidance on local signage required to implement the new access rights, which was issued in December 2003, had a closing date of 30 January 2004; and [HL1290]

The Countryside Agency is working hard to ensure that all processes are in place before the commencement of the new open access rights this September. The agency has been working proactively with a diverse range of stakeholders, including the Ramblers Association, the MoD, the Forestry Commission, English Nature, the National Trust, national park authorities and the Country Land and Business Association to develop the draft local signage framework.The agency recognises the valuable contribution which local access forums can make to the signage framework and their important role in advising on recreation and access strategies. However, the agency is also concerned that national guidance on signage is available to access authorities in the lead regions by May 2004, so that they have time to prepare for commencement. A full consultation period of three months would not have allowed the agency to meet this deadline.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs budget overspend last year; and what is the expected overspend for this year. [HL1303]

The department did not overspend last year, and we do not anticipate an overspend this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimated number of wild boar in the United Kingdom; and [HL1327]In which areas of the United Kingdom they believe wild boar may be located.[HL1328]

Only three areas in the United Kingdom are currently considered to hold small populations of free-living wild boar.The locations and approximate number of animals involved are:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy on trade in live wild caged birds.[HL1370]

Movements of captive birds between member states of the European Community, or into the Community from third countries, are subject to conditions and controls laid down in Community law. These import conditions ensure that only animals which are officially certified as being free from serious disease can be traded within or into the Community.Animals which are traded between member states must be checked before they leave to ensure that only those complying with EC rules move from one member state to another.Although single market rules permit free movement of animals, the authorities in an importing member state may conduct spot checks on imported consignments at the point of destination, or elsewhere if there is a suspicion of any irregularity.In the case of animals imported into the European Community from outside the EU, consignments may only be imported through an approved border inspection post and must undergo checks by an official veterinarian to ensure that they comply with import requirements before they are permitted to enter into free circulation within the Community. There is also a requirement for captive birds to complete a 30-day post-import quarantine period which includes two veterinary visits for clinical examinations (visits are more frequent if the disease situation requires it) and testing for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.The European Commission is also empowered to take emergency safeguard measures in the event of an outbreak of disease or any serious threat to public or animal health in either another member state or in a third country.The transport of all animals, including wild caged birds, is governed by Community rules which are implemented in the UK by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997. This requires that animals must not be transported in a way that could cause injury or unnecessary suffering and governs the construction and maintenance of means of transport and receptacles.Birds imported and exported for commercial purposes would require documentation and show their origin and ownership and place of departure and destination.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many live wild birds have been imported directly into the European Union during the past five years from each of Thailand, Cambodia. Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, China, South Korea and Vietnam; and how many of those birds imported into the European Union have subsequently been imported into the United Kingdom. [HL1372]

We are unable to provide figures for the actual number of wild birds imported into the European Union from the said countries. Defra does not have access to data on the number of animals imported into other member states.Animals imported from third countries must enter the European Community via a border inspection post (BIP) and must undergo checks by an official veterinarian followed by a 30-day post-import quarantine period with veterinary inspection and testing to ensure that they comply with import requirements before they are permitted to enter free circulation within the Community. Under single market provisions, birds imported into the EU and subsequently moved into the UK would be traded as EU birds so there would be no record of their non-EU origin.