asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to advertise for a replacement for the post of a Director of the Sport Directorate at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. [HL1978]

A decision on how the vacant Director of Sport post is to be filled will be made in April. Appointments at this level can be made following an internal competition amongst existing members of the Senior Civil Service, an open recruitment competition or through a secondment arrangement agreed with the Civil Service Commissioners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Director of the Sport Directorate at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has departed before the end of his contract. [HL1979]

The Director of Sport resigned at the end of February after being offered and accepting an appointment outside the Civil Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the cost of recruiting the last Director of the Sport Directorate at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. [HL1980]

The cost of recruiting the last Director of Sport in 2002 was £18,958; this relates to the cost of advertising the post in the national press. All other elements of the recruitment competition were managed internally by existing DCMS staff within normal departmental running costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to amend the Mental Health Act 1983 so as to eliminate any difference in treatment between same-sex cohabitants and opposite-sex cohabitants. [HL2083]

There is no difference in the treatment of same-sex cohabitants and opposite-sex cohabitants under the Mental Health Act 1983.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What interest rate is paid on sums repaid to patients or the heirs of patients who were wrongly denied National Health Service continuing care; and [HL2085]Whether any moneys repaid to patients or the heirs of patients as a result of the patients being wrongly denied National Health Service continuing care include interest. [HL2087]

The Department of Health has recommended that restitution payments for fully funded National Health Service continuing care should include interest. However, the calculation of levels of interest and the final amount of restitution to be paid is subject to local determination.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funding has been made available to strategic health authorities to refund patients or the heirs of patients wrongly denied National Health Service continuing care. [HL2086]

Funding was made available to strategic health authorities to cover the estimated costs of restitution claims for patients inappropriately denied fully funded NHS continuing care. The Department of Health does not routinely publish details of estimated costs of a specific service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have, as part of delivering the National Older People's Strategy, to support the Centre for Policy on Ageing. [HL2089]

Between 1998 and 2002, the Department of Health's older people programme, through the Section 64 scheme, provided £235,500 to the Centre for Policy on Ageing. This included core funding for the organisation of £202,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of each category of medical staff (including doctors, nurses, ambulance staff) have been vaccinated for smallpox, so as to enable them to deal with a terrorist attack. [HL2155]

A total of 283 people in England have been vaccinated against smallpox as part of our contingency planning. Of these people: 140 are doctors, 123 are nurses, 18 are scientists, and two are from other occupations. The vaccination programme is ongoing, and the vaccination of ambulance workers will begin shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they did not require a modelling study to clarify the effect on individual sectors before coming forward with their common agricultural policy payments scheme for severely disadvantaged areas. [HL1970]

We have done a considerable amount of economic analysis to underpin the decision announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 February in an oral Statement in another place. Some has already been published on our website. A fuller version will be published shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much of the fruit consumed in the United Kingdom is produced in the United Kingdom. [HL2056]

Overall UK-produced fruit accounted for 9 per cent of the total fruit supply in the UK in 2002.The main fruits produced on a commercial scale in the UK include apples (dessert and culinary), pears, plums, cherries, and soft fruit, primarily strawberries, raspberries and blackcurrants. The fruit may be consumed as the raw whole fruit or processed prior to consumption. The most recent published UK production figures for these fruit for the calendar year 2002 are shown in table 1. For other fruits for example oranges, bananas, peaches, nectarines, grapes, and pineapples, the UK is virtually entirely dependent on imports.Customs and Excise trade information does not distinguish exports of fruit produced in the UK from re-exports of imported fruit. Food consumption survey data do not distinguish UK and imported produce. This makes it difficult to provide accurate information on consumption of UK produced fruit. Therefore information has been presented to show the proportion of the total supply of fruit in the UK that is represented by UK production. The total supply of fruit takes into account UK production, exports/re-exports and imports (trade data based on fresh produce). Figures are given in table 1.

Table 1 UK fruit production and supply 2002
Fruit	UK production ('000 tonnes)	Total supply ('000 tonnes)	UK production as a percentage of the total UK supply
apples	176.7	610.3	29
pears	34.2	141.2	24
plums	12.2	158.1	8
cherries	1.3	17.4	8
total soft fruit	62.6	105.7	59
of which:
strawberries	38.4	74.9	51
raspberries	6.8	11.8	59

asked Her Majesty's Government:What strategy the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has to encourage more home fruit production; whether their proposed treatment of fruit growers under the common agricultural policy reforms provide further encouragement for this sector; and, if so, in what way. [HL2057]

The reform of the common agricultural policy agreed last June will decouple agricultural support payments from production decisions and leave farmers and growers free to respond to market demand for their produce.The department does not seek to provide direct incentives for the production of fruit but is working with the Department of Health to draw the attention of growers to market opportunities created by the Five-a-Day programme and the National School Fruit Scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many signatory states have so far ratified the International Plant Protection Convention of 17 November 1997 to prevent the spread and introduction of pests to plants and plant products; which states have done so; and when they deposited their instruments of ratification. [HL2063]

56 states have so far accepted the changes to the International Plant Protection Convention which were agreed by the 1997 FAO Conference. Fifty-five of these states are listed in the third table of the IPPC website at http://www.fao.org/Legal/treaties/004s-e.htm and the dates of their instruments of acceptance are also included. The UK has recently sent official acceptance of the changes but this has yet to appear on the website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is withholding £55.698 million from private business following the foot and mouth disease outbreak; and [HL2103]How many businesses are still awaiting payment following the foot and mouth disease outbreak. [HL2104]

I refer the noble Earl to the answers I gave in response to the Topical Oral Question from the Lord Rotherwick on 21 January, cols. 1026–28 in the Official Report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has spent on professional services to investigate the validity of payment claims submitted by businesses following the foot and mouth disease outbreak. [HL2105]

I refer the noble Earl to the Answer I gave in response to the Topical Oral Question from the Lord Rotherwick on 21 January, (HL Deb, cols. 1026–28).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will safeguard the disused rail track bed between Bedford and Sandy to facilitate the possible reopening of the rail link between Oxford and Cambridge. [HL2014]

No. The London to South Midlands Multi-Modal study considered the potential for reopening the east-west rail link. The study concluded that while such schemes could merit further consideration in the longer term, the Government would not ask the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) to carry out further work on them at this stage. The projects are not, therefore, being pursued at present, although the Government have subsequently received and are considering a business case for the western section. Local authorities have the power to safeguard routes and alignments for such projects should they so wish.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What account they will take of the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic rail freight interchange policy when formulating their planning and transport policies. [HL2015]

The policy document is primarily for the guidance of planning authorities and private sector developers. It provides a framework to promote and facilitate the delivery of strategic rail freight interchanges in a way that is consistent with the Government's wider economic and environmental objectives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When information will be available on the Crossrail benchmark scheme; and whether an explanation will be given of the process of evaluating the route options; and [HL2114]Why no account has been taken of the regeneration benefits of a north-west London option in the Crossrail proposals; whether there are any prospects of including such benefits in the analysis; and what significance is now attached to the social inclusion objective of Crossrail; and [HL2115]Whether the business case for Crossrail took account of the population changes arising from major developments at Wembley and other northwest London locations; and [HL2116]What assessment has been made of the impact on the west London economy and on road congestion of not extending Crossrail through north-west London; and what assumptions have been made in respect of capacity and overcrowding on the routes that could benefit from the west London Crossrail route options. [HL2157]

I understand that in developing its Crossrail business case, Cross London Rail Link Limited (CLRL) considered a number of route options and took into account a wide range of factors, including transport and regeneration benefits, before settling on its preferred scheme design. The review established by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport under Adrian Montague's chairmanship has evaluated all aspects of CLRL's Crossrail business case. My right honourable friend is now considering Adrian Montague's advice and will make an announcement in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What new tourist initiatives have been undertaken by Tourism Ireland since 1 January 2003 which will affect the Scots Irish market in the United States.[HL1716]

Tourism Ireland Limited (TIL) recognises the tourism potential of the Scots Irish segment and during 2003 it commissioned specific research in the United States. A marketing plan is being developed to specifically reach those with Scots Irish ancestry. In December 2003 an advertising campaign was undertaken in 12 newspapers across five states and further advertising will appear this month in the Presbyterians Today and Scottish Life magazines. Direct marketing will also take place in April 2004 including methods of focusing on the Scots Irish and in particular those with Ulster Scots surnames.In addition, in 2004, TIL will be distributing publications by the Ulster-Scots Agency to marketing staff and US tour operators who are being encouraged to develop new products for marketing to the Scots Irish market in the US. Two major Scottish clan events are under consideration for promotional attendance by Tourism Ireland, carrying Northern Ireland tourism literature. Discussions have taken place with the Ulster-Scots Agency regarding participation at such events.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether research is under way on how to improve the operation of taxis in Northern Ireland; if so, what are its terms of reference; and when the research will be completed. [HL2058]

In November 2002 the Department of Environment launched the Northern Ireland review of taxi regulation. The terms of reference of the review are "To examine comprehensively the principles, mechanisms and practices which are features of the present regulatory system within which taxi services in Northern Ireland are operated and to make recommendations aimed at creating an effective and equitable regulatory framework which promotes road and public safety and fair competition." The review will report its findings and recommendations in a public consultation document to be issued later this spring.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What guidance they are giving to the England and Wales Cricket Board over its scheduled tour of Zimbabwe. [HL1955]

The decision as to whether to tour Zimbabwe is for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to the ECB on 22 January drawing the ECB's attention to the human rights situation in Zimbabwe and the resulting isolation of that country's government by the international community. He noted that the EU, the US and others maintain targeted restrictive measures against leading members of the Zimbabwe regime, and that the UK has taken a leading role on this issue; and advised the ECB to consider whether a high profile England cricket tour at this time would be consistent with that approach.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of the statement by Mr Mukesh Kapila, the United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Sudan, in Nairobi on 19 March that the conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region "is now the world's greatest humanitarian and human rights catastrophe", whether they will now discuss with other members of the United Nations Security Council possible courses of action under Articles 39 to 41 of the United Nations Charter. [HL2048]

We are in contact with other members of the UN Security Council about the situation in Darfur, western Sudan. We are working very closely with both the US and our EU partners to try to get the parties to declare a ceasefire, preferably with international monitoring, and to resume talks to find a peaceful solution to Darfur's problems.The Government and the opposition groups have now agreed to attend ceasefire talks in Chad. We hope that these talks will start in the next few days. The Chadians will chair, with the EU and the US attending as facilitators. This is an important first step in resolving the crisis in Darfur. Given these current efforts, we do not consider that action under Articles 39 to 41 of the United Nations Charter would be appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the numbers of cases reviewed under each category for review under local authority circular LAC 2004(5) together with the outcome of the reviews including the number of children successfully reunited with their birth families and the number in each category who remain the subject of dispute between local authorities and birth parents. [HL1993]

The Government plan, with the assistance of the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) to undertake surveys of councils with social services responsibilities, in order to ascertain the effect of the guidance issued in local authority circular LAC 2004(5). These surveys will be undertaken after both the four-week period and the 12-week period referred to in the circular. The surveys will be undertaken during April 2004 and July 2004 respectively. Given the likelihood that plans for the reunification of children with their birth parents will take many months to complete, whether linked to the guidance in this circular, or more generally, we do not intend to seek this information through these surveys. Further, the local authority circular did not address the issue of children who are the subject of dispute between local authorities and birth parents. Hence, the surveys that will be undertaken will not address this issue. The results of both surveys will be placed in the Library of the House of Lords and the Library of the other place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the questionnaire survey sent to schools which formed the basis of the analysis in the report

A copy of the 2003–04 PE, school sport and club links survey questionnaire has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses, as has a copy of The Impact of School Sport Partnerships which reported early findings. The results of the full survey will be published in April.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will invite the European Union to widen the Erasmus programme to include students from Israel and the Palestinian Authority. [HL2017]

Eligibility to take part in the Erasmus student exchange programme, as a strand of the European Community's Socrates education and training programme, is confined to students from the member states, the other European Economic Area countries and the accession countries. However, students and higher education institutions from Israel and the Palestinian Authority are eligible to participate in the wider higher education cooperation arrangements under the European Community's Tempus programme and through student and researcher scholarships and partnerships between higher education institutions in the new Erasmus Mundus programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many applications for legal aid for judicial review in connection with asylum cases were made in each quarter of the past two years; and how many were granted. [HL1915]

The Legal Services Commission does not record information on applications for funding certificates in such a way as to be able to define which applications are specifically for judicial review. Neither does it differentiate asylum from wider immigration cases. However, the total number of applications made for immigration and asylum cases in each quarter of the last two years was as follows:

Number of immigration and asylum applications
	2002–03
1st Quarter	852
2nd Quarter	886
3rd Quarter	881
4th Quarter	907

	2003–04
1st Quarter	837
2nd Quarter	882
3rd Quarter	821
4th Quarter1	329
1 Data up to February 2004.

The number of certificates subsequently issued in immigration and asylum and those for judicial review over the past two years was as follows:

Asylum and immigration certificates issued Asylum and immigration certificates issued for judicial review
	2002–03
1st Quarter	722
	682
2nd Quarter	736
	670
3rd Quarter	650
	568
4th Quarter	812
	744

	2003–04
1st Quarter	521
	453
2nd Quarter	636
	570
3rd Quarter	591
	419
4th Quarter1	251
	129
1 Data up to February 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Lord Chancellor has written to the lay members of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) purporting to dismiss them, when the proposal to get rid of the IAT has not been approved by Parliament. [HL1935]

The proposal to unify the appeal system for asylum and immigration appeals is, of course, subject to parliamentary approval. However, in announcing their proposals, the Government decided to advise lay members of its intention that the new, unified tribunal should comprise legally qualified members only. This was not done to pre-empt the will of Parliament but to provide lay members with adequate notice that the Government did not envisage a role for them in the new tribunal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they have taken to measure the accuracy of information relating to proposals to close sub-post offices in Northern Ireland. [HL2075]

The public consultation process enables any factual inaccuracies in the proposals to be identified and Postwatch closely monitors every individual closure proposal including factual accuracy of information from a consumer perspective.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the United Kingdom is dependent on gas supplies from Russia; and, if so, to what extent. [HL2124]

The UK imports no natural gas directly from Russia at present. Russia supplies gas (physically and contractually) into the north-west European continental gas market. It is therefore possible that a relatively small amount of the gas delivered through the Bacton-Zeebrugge interconnector is physically sourced from Russia.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of the United Kingdom's power supplies are generated through the United Kingdom's nuclear power stations at this time. [HL2125]

In 2003 it was estimated that 22 per cent of the electricity supplied in the United Kingdom was from nuclear sources; the same proportion as in 2002.