asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 6 April (

I refer the noble Lord to the final paragraph of the Answer given on 6 April (WA 219).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What resources are available in Northern Ireland in terms of (a) personnel, and (b) funding to the Organised Crime Task Force and to the Asset Recovery Agency; and whether they intend to increase such resources.[HL2673]

The Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) is a coalition of law enforcement and other government agencies, including the Assets Recovery Agency, which is chaired by the Northern Ireland Office Security Minister. Each partner agency of the OCTF, allocates necessary resources, as appropriate, from within general organisational funding to meet agreed OCTF priorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23 April (

Paragraph 2 of Part II, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information provides that information about internal discussion and advice is exempt from disclosure if to do so would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion. Information on the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency was withheld for that reason.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure removed the funding from the Ulster-Scots Agency budget for 2004, when a proportion of it was specifically aimed at resolving the annual dispute at Drumcree. [HL2746]

The Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure did not remove money from the Ulster-Scots Agency's budget for 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why there has been a delay in the creation of a pension arrangement for staff of cross-border implementation bodies; what assurances have been offered to staff; and what legal basis such assurances have.[HL2735]

The process of establishing a pension scheme for the North/South bodies has been lengthy due to the number of complex legal and other issues surrounding the unique status of this cross-border scheme, which have had to be actioned and resolved in consultation with a number of stakeholders in both the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.All staff have been assured that, where they are eligible to join the scheme, membership will be made retrospective to when they joined the relevant body. Benefits which may become due prior to the scheme coming into effect will be calculated and paid on the basis of the draft scheme rules at the time the rights accrue.The Government are satisfied that the assurances provide the staff of the North/South implementation bodies with sufficient safeguards pending the implementation of the North/South pension scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment has been made of Centrica's demand that gas prices be increased by up to 20 per cent in Northern Ireland. [HL2800]

The cost to Phoenix Natural Gas of its wholesale gas purchases for the Northern Ireland market is a contractual matter between the company and its supplier. Centrica has not demanded that retail gas prices in Northern Ireland be increased. Phoenix Natural Gas proposed a 20 per cent gas price increase for domestic and small industrial and commercial customers with effect from 1 April 2004, but this was suspended following a meeting with Barry Gardiner on 8 April 2004. Phoenix is continuing negotiations with Centrica about the wholesale gas price.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What importance they place on maintaining a viable natural gas industry in Northern Ireland. [HL2801]

Her Majesty's Government remain committed to promoting the development and maintenance of an efficient, economic and co-ordinated gas industry in Northern Ireland. Financial support has been provided to assist the development of a new gas network infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Gas licensees receive no additional financial support from government and their ability to fund their ongoing activities is monitored by the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the cost of producing the Northern Ireland Prison Service's corporate plan and business plan on CD-ROM; and how this compares with the cost of printing and distributing a similar number of paper copies. [HL2832]

For several years the Northern Ireland Prison Service has produced its corporate and business plan and annual report and accounts in an e-card format, reducing the number of hard copies to be printed.This year we printed 300 hard copies of the 2004–07 corporate plan at £8.50 per copy. This compares with a unit cost of £4.50 for producing 600 copies of the same report in an e-card format

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 10 May (

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board's (NITB) strategic framework for action will drive the tourism agenda for the next three years and will provide a focus and impetus to the growth and delivery of tourism to all areas of Northern Ireland.In line with NITB's corporate plan, the framework's target is to increase visitor tourism revenue by 6 per cent every year, visitor numbers by 7 per cent every year and to increase Northern Ireland's share of visitors to the island of Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 10 May (

The business case was supplied to the department on 22 April 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12 May (

The information requested is provided in the tables below. Table 1 details the amounts allocated to projects under Measure 4.1, and table 2 details the allocations under Measure 5.2 of the Peace II Programme:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the distinctive character of individual schools will be preserved if the Costello report into education is implemented in Northern Ireland.[HL2958]

All schools in Northern Ireland have their own individual and distinctive ethos and character. The new post-primary arrangements will seek to build on these and will create greater flexibility so that schools can develop or enhance their own distinctive character.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the cost of the implementation of the Costello report into education in Northern Ireland.[HL2960]

The shape of future post-primary arrangements will emerge from discussions involving schools and managing authorities at local level. It is not therefore possible to provide an overall assessment of cost at this point. Additional resources will be required and these will be matters which Ministers will consider as part of this year's spending review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the event that the Costello report into education is implemented, how parents will be able to exercise a choice if, when schools are oversubscribed, the final decision for the placement of a child at secondary school could depend on a postcode or random computer selection. [HL3007]

Currently, over-subscribed schools use admissions criteria to determine who will be admitted. Many schools already use distance or random selection as their final criterion. No decisions have yet been taken on the admissions criteria to be used under the new arrangements and the aim is to have proposals available for consultation by the end of this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the event that the Costello report into education is implemented and a system of multi-institutions is established, how schools will be able to exercise responsibility for the welfare and safety of pupils while they are travelling to, or receiving lessons at, other locations.[HL3008]

Many schools and further education colleges have experience of these issues from the key stage 4 flexibility arrangements. Pupil safety and welfare are of prime importance and will be examined further as part of the pilots on school/further education collaboration in the coming school year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Sudan (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2004 does not prohibit the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of restricted goods. [HL2561]

The Sudan (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2004 was made to implement the Overseas Territories Common Position 2004/31/CFSP adopted by the European Union. The common position, inter alia, provides that it shall be prohibited to grant, sell, supply or transfer technical assistance, brokering services and other services related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, directly or indirectly to any person, entity or body in, or for use in, Sudan. Implementation of this obligation was inadvertently omitted from the order. The Government will be amending the order as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given that the Turkish Cypriots have voted to accept the Annan plan, whether they will permit without delay direct flights between northern Cyprus and United Kingdom airports. [HL2825]

The Government believe steps should be taken as quickly as possible to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. On 26 April 2004, the General Affairs and External Relations Council invited the European Commission to "bring foward comprehensive proposals, with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island [of Cyprus] and on improving contact between the two communities and with the EU". We look forward to seeing these proposals. We are considering these issues too and see significant benefits in direct links between the northern part of Cyprus and other parts of the EU if this can be done in a safe and effective way, respecting the legitimate concerns and interests of all involved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, given that the Turkish Cypriots have voted to accept the Annan plan, they will extend to Turkish Cypriot students access to education in the United Kingdom on the same basis and at the same cost as that extended to Greek Cypriot students.[HL2842]

All Cypriots are EU citizens. The whole island joined the EU on 1 May. However, the acquis was suspended in the north of the island.Any Cypriot with a Republic of Cyprus passport has the same right to education in the United Kingdom on the same basis and at the same cost as that extended to Greek Cypriot students.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to train the Iraqi police in the United Kingdom zone in crowd control and the minimum use of force, especially as regards firearms.[HL2830]

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will include in their critical dialogue with Iran the cases of Mr Ahmad Batebi, a student serving a 15-year sentence in Evin Prison, and of Mr Arzhang Davoudi, imprisoned following a brief meeting with Mr Batebi.[HL2879]

We have serious concerns about human rights violations in Iran and individual human rights cases form an important part of the EU-Iran human rights dialogue. We continue to monitor the cases of these two men very closely.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are making representations to the Government of Iran following the execution of two members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran, Mr Jahil Zeivai on 4 December 2003 and Mr Ramin Sharifi on 6 December 2003, the latter allegedly without trial.[HL2909]

We have serious concerns about the use of the death penalty in Iran, and the treatment of members of Iran's ethnic minorities, including the Kurds. The EU has raised these concerns with the Iranian authorities through the EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue. We have not made representations about the cases of Mr Zeivai and Mr Sharifi, for which we do not have independent corroboration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What weight they attach to the identification by the United Nations of Darfur as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis"; and whether they will set out their policy in relation to human rights violations by the Janjaweed militia in this province of Sudan. [HL2858]

The Government are fully seized of the seriousness of the situation and the Department for International Development has committed over £16.5 million in response to the crisis.Our priority has been to stop the fighting, so we are urging the parties to ensure their full compliance with the 8 April ceasefire agreement. For the Sudanese Government, this includes neutralising the Janjaweed. My right honourable friends, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development, and my honourable friend the Minister for Africa (Chris Mullin), made clear to the Sudanese Foreign Minister when he visited London on 11 May that the Sudanese Government needed to act now to rein in the Janjaweed. Quick deployment of the African Union-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism is also key, as we expect it to have a positive impact on the security situation and in particular the protection of civilians. Should the Sudanese Government fail to take these steps, we will need to consider with all partners what further pressure can be brought to bear. We, and our EU partners, have made clear that all alleged attacks should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Olympic Advisory Group on security planning believes the Greek Government is doing everything possible to ensure a safe and secure Olympic Games in Athens.[HL2902]

Since its inception in 2000 the Olympic Advisory Group (OAG) has been advising and offering training to the Greek Government in connection with its security preparations for the Olympic Games. The UK is a member of the OAG; the others are the US, Australia, Germany, France, Spain and Israel.The UK is satisfied that the Greeks are working hard towards the goal of ensuring that the Games will take place in a safe and secure environment. Greece is spending over £500 million on security alone.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How United Kingdom experts were involved in training some 2,000 Greek officials involved with the Olympic Games over the past three years. [HL2903]

UK officials have been giving security-related training to Greek officials to help Greece with its preparations for the Olympic Games. Much of this has been co-ordinated through the Olympic Advisory Group (OAG). Some of the training was specifically requested by the Greek authorities and some was proposed by UK officials and the officials of other OAG countries.It is difficult to provide exact numbers but collectively the OAG has delivered and been involved in over 100 training courses, workshops, seminars and other events.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are confident that adequate security measures will be in place to ensure full protection to the Prime Minister and visiting dignitaries in Piraeus harbour during the Athens Olympic Games.[HL2904]

We do not discuss the details of security arrangements for visits overseas by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 1(a) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information whose disclosure would harm national security.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider NATO's offer of maritime and AWACS reconnaissance, the work of the Athens Organising Committee, the priority afforded to security by the Greek Government, and the contribution made by the United Kingdom-led seven-nation Olympic Advisory Group, are adequate to ensure protection to athletes, visiting dignitaries and residents of Athens in the run-up to, and for the duration of, the Olympic Games. [HL2905]

The Greek authorities and their international partners, including those in the Olympic Advisory Group and NATO, are all working hard to help to ensure that the Games take place in a safe and secure environment. However, for reasons I am sure you will understand, we do not comment in detail on security matters. I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 1(a) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information, which covers information whose disclosure would harm national security.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the future of the old embassy compound in Baghdad following the completion of the new embassy; and whether they will consider its use for housing cultural organisations, such as the British Council and the British School of Archaeology in Iraq, which have been maintained in Iraq by European nations, including the United Kingdom.[HL2914]

It is too soon to say if the old embassy site could be made available to the British Council or other organisations. The security situation remains too insecure to reoccupy. We shall keep the future of this site under review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to introduce legislation to forbid religious discrimination beyond the employment field, so as to match the protection given by the Race Relations Act.[HL2620]

While the Government's mind is not closed to such a possibility, we have no current plans to do so. The provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act in relation to freedom of religion already provide some protection for religious communities. The coming into force of the Article 13 regulations in December has provided new protection against religious discrimination in employment and training.For the future, the Government are progressing the equalities agenda by working towards the creation of a single equalities body in 2006. Faith equality will be included within the body's remit and the White Paper

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether human rights legislation prevents government and local authorities banning or restricting the use of loudhailers in public: what is the nature and scope of such restrictions as may be permitted by the legislation.[HL2840]

There is legislation in place to restrict the use of loudhailers in public. Section 62 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 governs the use of loudhailers in the streets, and prohibits their use between 9.00 pm and 8.00 am.There is also a City of Westminster by-law, which makes it an offence to cause or permit to be made any loud or continuous noise by operating an amplifier or similar instrument, after being warned to desist by a constable.The Government believe that this legislation is compliant with the right to freedom of expression and assembly under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The right to freedom of expression is not absolute and the rights of others not to be subjected to noisy protests must be taken into account. The legislation finds an appropriate balance between these conflicting rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With reference to the table on page 30 of their consultation paper

Details of the legal status of firearms used in recorded crimes are not generally available, but it is thought that most, if not all, will be illegally held.

to ask Her Majesty's Government:Following the accident on the A23 on 16 May in which eight people were killed:

Following inquiries to the Highways Agency and Sussex Police, I understand that the position is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following recent reports concerning the radiation contamination from depleted uranium shells of United States troops serving in Iraq, what checks for radiation contamination are being undertaken by British service personnel; and what is their estimate of the number of British and Iraqi service personnel and civilians who may be similarly contaminated. [HL2444]

The Ministry of Defence policy is to offer biological monitoring to all military personnel and MoD civilians on operations where depleted uranium was used. These personnel are offered a test for total uranium in the urine followed by a test for uranium isotopes in the urine if the test for total uranium gives anomalous results. The isotope test determines whether the uranium is depleted. The isotope test is offered straight away if personnel are known to have been exposed to DU or there is a high probability that they have been exposed. So far just under 300 personnel have taken up this offer and have been tested. Of those, only a small number have been found to be excreting DU in their urine. These are personnel who were involved in blue-on-blue incidents and have shrapnel injuries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 4 May (

Under the terms of the mediated settlement on the Royal Air Force Centrifuge, the Ministry of Defence has received no compensation from Environmental Tectonics Corporation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What mechanisms exist to communicate the deliberations of the Defence Industries Council to the rest of the defence industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises.[HL2994]

The Defence Industries Council (DIC) is an industry body whose purpose is to represent the interests of the UK defence industry. The DIC is supported by four trade associations—the Society of British Aerospace Companies, Intellect, the Defence Manufacturers Association and the Society of Maritime Industries. The method of communication with its members is a matter for the DIC. The DIC meets formally with the Government at the National Defence Industries Council, which normally meets twice a year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what date they expect (a) all of Britain's motorways, and (b) all of the dual carriageway sections of Britain's non-motorway standard trunk roads, to have been surfaced or resurfaced with noise-deadening materials.[HL2648]

As indicated in the Government's 10-year transport plan, quieter surfaces should be installed on over 60 per cent (2,500 miles) of the English strategic road network (motorways and trunk roads), including all concrete stretches by April 2011, subject to the availability of funds. Carriageways are being resurfaced with quieter materials as maintenance becomes due to keep them in a safe and serviceable (available for use) condition. However, where concrete carriageways will not require maintenance by April 2011, their resurfacing is being prioritised to address those locations where the most homes are affected by traffic noise first. In addition, quieter surfaces will be used in all new major junction improvements, bypasses and road widenings. On the basis of current maintenance expectations for the strategic road network, nearly all dual carriageway sections should be resurfaced by around 2015.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they antipicate that work on the East London Line extension will be completed before the 2012 Olympic Games; and, if so, what is the proposed timetable; and[HL3001]Whether Crossrail can now be expedited to be ready for a 2012 Olympic Games in London. [HL3006]

The 2012 Olympic bid does not and never has assumed Crossrail. A robust transport solution for the Olympics can be delivered without Crossrail.On Crossrail, my right honourable friend is currently considering Adrian Montague's findings, which will be published in due course.The Strategic Rail Authority has puts its procurement proposals for the East London Line project to the department. The proposals raise a range of important issues that will need to be considered carefully in the context of the spending review later this year. No timetable has been set for the completion of works.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in pursuance of their powers to investigate the causes of fires, authorised officers as defined in the Fire and Rescue Services Bill will collect data on the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream of persons injured in fires; and how the procedures for doing so are to be defined. [HL2999]

The Fire and Rescue Services Bill would give no power to fire investigation officers to take samples of body fluids from any person.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot.[HL2737]

The Government have no plans to celebrate this anniversary. However, officials within Parliament are planning an exhibition to mark the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot which will be held in Westminster Hall between July and December 2005. The purpose of the exhibition will be to provide a serious and dispassionate introduction to the plot in a location central to the actual scene of the historical events. It will seek to engage the interest of the public in parliamentary history and with the work of Parliament. Some of the national museums and galleries will also be participating in this initiative, and mounting displays of their own material in connection with the quater-centenary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many electricity power stations fuelled by coal have been constructed since 1990 or are under construction by British construction firms in overseas countries using funding guaranteed by the export credit guarantee system; and[HL2928]How many electricity power stations fuelled by oil have been constructed since 1990 or are under construction by British construction firms in overseas countries using funding guaranteed by the export credit guarantee system; and[HL2929]How many electricity power stations fuelled by natural gas have been constructed since 1990 or are under construction by British construction firms in overseas countries using funding guaranteed by the export credit guarantee system; and [HL2930]What is the annual or estimated annual emission in tonnes of carbon dioxide by coal-fired power stations constructed since 1990 or under construction whose funding was guaranteed by the export credit guarantee system; and [HL2931]What is the annual or estimated annual emission in tonnes of carbon dioxide by oil-fired power stations constructed since 1990 or under construction whose funding was guaranteed by the export credit guarantee system; and [HL2932]What is the annual or estimated annual emission in tonnes of carbon dioxide by gas-fired power stations constructed since 1990 or under construction whose funding was guaranteed by the export credit guarantee system. [HL2933]

ECGD only has readily available information for those power projects for which guarantees have been issued since 1997. It would not be possible to obtain the details of projects from 1990 to 1996 except at disproportionate cost.The table below shows the number of fossil fuel power stations supported by ECGD since 1997 and their approximate annual carbon dioxide emissions upon completion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which agrochemical companies, if any, are currently collaborating with the Medical Research Council (MRC) in any of its activities under the MRC Technology Strategic Plan to work with industry. [HL2971]

The MRC currently has one formal collaborative arrangement with an agrochemical company. This is between DuPont Crop Protection and a team at the MRC Functional Genetics Unit in Oxford. The purpose of this collaboration is to use the nematode worm (C.elegans) as a model system for identifying and validating the target genes of new insecticide lead compounds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 11 May (

We do not have information on any non-government sources of funding which DrugScope may have received.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the total costs of operating the North Yorkshire air ambulance service in the past four years; and what proportion of that cost can be attributed to the attendance at accidents caused by speeding motorcyclists. [HL2936]

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity and the information requested is not collected centrally.