asked Her Majesty's Government:What assessment they have made of the relationship between the millennium development target to reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds and similar targets for halving the proportion of people without safe water or basic sanitation. [HL3490]

The millennium targets to reduce under-five mortality and to reduce the proportion of people without safe water and basic sanitation are very closely linked. Unsafe water and poor sanitation causes high rates of diarrhoeal disease. Use of powdered milk and unsafe water instead of breastfeeding contributes to diarrhoeal disease in infants.Diarrhoeal disease is a major contributor to child mortality globally and also to high levels of under-nutrition. Provision of effective healthcare, whether in the home, the community or through formal health institutions (adequate rehydration and specific drug treatment where indicated) can treat the problem and prevent death from diarrhoea. However, it does not address the direct cause of diarrhoea. Significant progress in reducing the burden of diarrhoeal disease will only be achieved through the integrated provision of safe water, in or as near to the house as possible, sanitation and hygiene promotion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of basic skills qualifications achieved in (a) 2002–03; and (b) 2003–04 were completed by young people as part of their (i) GCSEs; and (ii) key skills. [HL3639]

Skills for Life caters for the literacy and numeracy skills needs of post-16 learners; that is, those who are no longer in compulsory education. The national strategy has an initial target to improve the skills of 750,000 adults by 2004. Individuals count towards the target if they improve their skills evidenced by achieving a relevant national qualification, including key skills in communication and application of number at Levels 1 and 2, and GCSEs in English and maths. This includes young people over the age of 16 who leave school without fulfilling their full potential and opt to retake GCSEs or key skills with LSC-funded FE providers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to ensure that parents are involved in policy decisions and programme delivery in children's centres. [HL3691]

Children's centre policy is based on the lessons from Sure Start local programmes, with their strong emphasis on parent and community involvement in shaping services. Our aim is to ensure that all Sure Start local programmes develop into children's centres and work effectively with their local authorities to share their good practice, including around parental engagement. Local authorities have been given specific responsibility to ensure that parents are consulted about the services they need, and for their delivery through children's centres. The Sure Start Unit is working closely with local authorities and will continue to promote the need for children's centres to consult regularly with parents, and review service provision as their needs change.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of families are given their first choice of primary school for their children. [HL3794]

The department does not gather statistics on the percentage of families that are given their first choice primary school for their children. Individual local education authorities may have information. Collecting reliable data is difficult because many parents apply for places at more than one school and it is not clear which is their first preference. However, co-ordinated admission arrangements, which will affect primary school intakes from September 2006, will provide LEAs with more easily accessible information on how well parental preferences are met in maintained primary schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there has been a decline in Japanese studies in United Kingdom universities; if so, what steps they are taking to reverse the decline; and what funding is being made available for that purpose. [HL3796]

According to the Higher Education Statistical Agency, the number of students taking Japanese studies in UK higher education institutions has increased from 675 in 1999–2000 to 850 in 2001–02, the latest year for which directly comparable information is available. The figure for 2002–03 of 1,255 is partly attributable to a new method of allocating students to subject groups adopted by HESA.

Enrolments to "Japanese Studies" at UK HE institutions
	Japanese Studies
Academic Year	Postgraduate	Undergraduate	Total
1999–2000	160	515	675
2000–01	150	505	655
2001–02	200	650	850
2002–03	250	1,005	1,255

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they collect statistics on the offer levels and grades required for entry to Japanese and Chinese studies courses at United Kingdom universities; and, if so, what was the average entry requirement in 2003. [HL3798]

This information is not collected centrally. Higher education institutions are autonomous organisations, responsible for admissions procedures and entry requirements to their courses. Information on the general entry requirements of individual undergraduate courses currently offered by higher education institutions is available from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service website at www.ucas.ac.uk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will announce the name of the successful bidder for the support vehicle contract before the Summer Recess; and how many times a decision on the tender has been delayed. [HL3672]

The preferred bidder for the support vehicle project will be announced as soon as possible. It is not a question of having delayed a decision; this is a major programme and it is right to take time to ensure we reach the correct one.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What would be the effect on whole costs and logistics of not ordering the recovery variants of the Ministry of Defence's support vehicle at the same time as general service cargo variants. [HL3674]

We have not investigated this hypothetical effect in detail since it is our intention to secure the order of both cargo and recovery variants concurrently.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Ministry of Defence has embarked on a 30-year analysis of security for this country focusing on the seven dimensions of the security environment: physical, socio-cultural, political, scientific and technical, economic, military, legal and moral and ethical. [HL3746]

Strategic Trends is the Ministry of Defence's on-going programme that analyses trends in the future global environment 30 years ahead in seven dimensions—physical, social, science and technology, economic, legal, political and military. The first Strategic Trends report was launched by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence in March 2003, and can be viewed on www.jdccstrategictrends.org.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who are the present occupants of the "new" (1856) wing of Somerset House, which is one of the proposed sites for a Supreme Court. [HL3750]

The New Wing, Somerset House, is currently occupied by staff of the Inland Revenue's head office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Where it is proposed that the current occupants of the "new" (1856) wing of Somerset House will move to if it becomes the location of a new Supreme Court; and what will be the cost of such a move. [HL3751]

If New Wing becomes the location of the Supreme Court, provision would need to be made for the current occupants. Possible solutions and associated costs will need to be agreed with the Inland Revenue as part of the Green Book assessment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What would be the cost of adapting the "new" (1856) wing of Somerset House for the purposes of a Supreme Court. [HL3752]

If the New Wing is selected, the cost of adapting the New Wing will be dependent on the final internal design option. The total cost, including an assessment of value for money and affordability, will form part of the final building decision.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What catering facilities will be included for:

The Statement of Requirements provides space for catering facilities. Further design work is currently underway and it is our intention that there should be access to catering facilities for each of these groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What library facilities would be provided in a Supreme Court if it is located in Somerset House; and at what cost. [HL3754]

The Statement of Requirements provides space for library facilities. The internal design of the New Wing would include library facilities that meet the needs of the Justices and court users. The estimated cost of setting up the library and providing materials for it, would be in the region of £350,000, excluding the value of materials donated from existing library resources.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they accept the findings by the Statistics Commission contained in its annual report 2003–04 (cm 6250) of breaches by government departments of the code of practice; and, if not, which findings they do not accept and for what reasons. [HL3758]

The Government fully support the National Statistics Code of Practice, and in particular strongly reject any suggestion that Ministers have acted with any ill-intent against the protocol governing pre-release access to statistics.The Government take seriously any breach of the code of practice, and HM Treasury has already instigated a number of changes to guard against future contraventions of the code, all of which were welcomed by the National Statistician.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many planning applications affecting playing fields have been referred to the Deputy Prime Minister under the Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998, detailing the Deputy Prime Minister's decision in each case. [HL3788]

In the period between December 1998, when the direction came into force and the end of March 2004, 138 applications were referred to my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State. Tabled below the outcome for those seven cases that he called in for his own determination. Of the remaining 131 applications, 119 were left to the local planning authority to decide and the other 12 were either withdrawn during his consideration of the case or were awaiting a decision on whether to call them in.

Site	Proposed Development	Decision and Date
Boundary Road/Sterrix Lane, Sefton, Merseyside.	New School Building.	Called in 10/99. Withdrawn 02/00.
Former John Wood School, Avon Road, Cannock, Staffordshire.	Retail store and associated development.	Called in 10/00. Granted 12/01 with conditions.
Former Marmion Junior School, Tamworth, Staffordshire.	Residential development.	Called in 01/01. Withdrawn 08/01.
Wigmore Sandwell, West Midlands.	Residential development.	Called in 05/01. Withdrawn 06/01.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 1 July (

The objective of the realisation account will be to maximise the asset value of the account, consistent with the Government's strategy on international debt. The details of this area to be worked out during the pilot trading fund.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Statement by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 1 July (

The intention is that the new business account should be able to remunerate its capital from current income without the need for an across-the-board increase in premium rates, thereby maintaining the current "risk reward" balance of government export credit support—that is, the remuneration rate should be affordable from current income, hence the affordable rate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to convert all measurements into the metric system. [HL3795]

All governments since 1965 have supported the principle of gradual phasing-in of metrication. This administration has however sought and secured an agreement within the EC that, where metric units are required to be used in trade, imperial units may continue in use as supplementary indications until the end of 2009. This staged approach provides those who are less comfortable with metric measurements with a fair and reasonable period of acclimatisation to the metric system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In relation to the Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) (Fees) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1300), what checks will be made of the accuracy of the estimate made by the Secretary of State of the time required for equipment testing. [HL3812]

Upon receipt of an inquiry for equipment testing, clients are given an estimate of the cost and completion time by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML). The estimate is based on the time needed to carry out the job multiplied by the hourly charge rate of the staff carrying out the work plus any additional costs such as travel and subsistence or equipment hire fees. Estimates are approved by the business team manager of the equipment testing team that undertakes the work. In the event that additional testing is subsequently required, the client is informed, his/her permission for additional testing is obtained and the cost estimate is revised accordingly. Clients are charged the actual cost of the work which is the estimated value or less if the work is completed in less time than originally estimated. The invoice issued for the work is checked by NWML's finance team.NWML is certified to ISO 9001:2000. Both the estimating and the invoicing processes are covered by quality procedures subject to periodic audit.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the provisions contained in paragraph 19(11) and (12) of the Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm Order (S.I. 2004/933) will also apply to the Lynn (S.I. 2003/2829), Norfolk (S.I. 2003/2830) and Inner Dowsing (S.I. 2003/2831) Wind Farm Orders. [HL3813]

The provisions of paragraph 19(11) and 19(12) on flood defence in the Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm Order have been included in the Norfolk and Inner Dowsing Orders (at Schedule 2 in the former and paragraph 19(11) and (12) in the latter). The Lynn Order, while containing provisions relating to the protection of the interests of the Environment Agency, does not contain the particular measures introduced by paragraph 19(11) and (12) of the Gunfleet Order.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical activities by the Home Office and its associated agencies for each year since 2001–02. [HL3385]

The Home Office Sports and Social Association (HOSSA) promotes sports and physical activities amongst staff within the Home Office. The department supports HOSSA through the provision of staff, accommodation and office services. The precise cost of this support is difficult to quantify because their costs are subsumed into other budgets and running costs. However, the estimated budgets allocated for HOSSA for the period since 2001–02 is as follows:

• 2001–02: £70,000
• 2002–03: £73,000
• 2003–04: £76,000
• 2004–05: £80,000

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 30 June (

My intention was to make it clear that the Prison Service was not a party to the decisions of the Parole Board as to whether parole was granted in individual cases. The noble Lord is correct in saying that a prison governor may, and indeed must, pass relevant information to the Parole Board about individual prisoners. This process is formalised in the "parole dossier" referred to in my earlier reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their proposed legislation to create an offence of incitement to religious hatred will include provision to abolish the offence of blasphemy. [HL3671]

No decision has been taken about this. We will be considering the issue in the light of the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offences (HL Paper 95–1), the Government's response to that report, and the subsequent House of Lords debate on 22 April 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, following the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' statement of January 2004 on "Return of rejected asylum seekers to Eritrea", they have agreed to consider fresh applications for asylum from Eritreans who had previously exhausted their rights of appeal against a refusal of leave to remain as refugees; if so, how many applications of this kind they have received; and how many of any such new applicants are in receipt of full National Asylum Support Service Support. [HL3675]

Any asylum seeker who has exhausted their appeal rights can approach the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) for further consideration. The Immigration Rules (paragraph 346 of HC 395 as amended) set out the criteria against which my right honourable friend the Home Secretary shall consider a further approach to determine whether it constitutes a fresh application for asylum. This consideration is carried out on a case-by-case basis; IND does not adopt a blanket approach to the assessment of further representations or material from the nationals of any country. An approach that relies on a particular piece of country information may or may not amount to a fresh application for asylum, depending on the nature of the information and the circumstances of the individual.As regards the number of Eritreans who have been refused asylum, exhausted their appeal rights, approached IND for reconsideration of their case, received a decision from IND that their approach will be considered as a fresh application for asylum, and as a consequence are in receipt of full NASS support, the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will take steps to speed up the issue of letters acknowledging fresh applications for asylum from Eritreans who had previously exhausted their rights of appeal. [HL3676]

There are no plans to speed up the existing process for acknowledging fresh applications for asylum from Eritrean nationals who had previously exhausted their appeal rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prisoners are currently held for periods longer than the tariff set by the trial judge; and what the length of the excess periods have been. [HL3838]

This information could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are planning to provide security measures for the 2012 Olympic Games in London similar to those planned by Science Applications International Corporation for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, including the involvement of 50,000 security staff; and [HL3847)Whether they are planning to provide security measures for the 2012 Olympic Games in London similar to those planned by Science Applications International Corporation for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, including the training of 4,000 users of the security system; and [HL3848]Whether they are planning to provide security measures for the 2012 Olympic Games in London similar to those planned by Science Applications International Corporation for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, including an electronic fence around the games with infrared and high resolution cameras to track vehicles; and [HL3849]Whether they are planning to provide security measures for the 2012 Olympic Games in London similar to those planned by Science Applications International Corporation for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, including the protection of seaports; and [HL3850]Whether they are planning to provide security measures for the 2012 Olympic Games in London similar to those planned by Science Applications International Corporation for the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, including an airship acting as an air-borne surveillance centre. [HL3851]

London's bid to stage the 2012 Olympic Games will incorporate arrangements for ensuring thoroughly planned and fully comprehensive security measures. It would be premature at this stage to speculate on the detail of the measures that will be put in place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What estimate they have made of the total cost of all security measures being planned for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. [HL3852]

Detailed security costs associated with the London 2012 Olympic Games bid are not yet available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 16 June (

The two statements are compatible. The transport needs of London go beyond those required by the 2012 Olympics bid and while we are committed to Crossrail it does not form and has never formed part of the 2012 Olympic bid.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there has been any change in their policy towards the London 2012 Olympic Bid since the statement by the Prime Minister on 25 May in response to the International Olympic Committee report on London's bid that "we are committed to Crossrail and other major London projects" and the announcement on 5 July by the Minister for Transport that "those who are mentioning Crossrail are seeking to wreck the Olympic bid". [HL3655]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given to him on 26 May 2004 [Official Report, col. WA 148].

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will increase the number of telephone lines available at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [HL3506]

Telephone lines at DVLA are divided into vehicle services and driver services. To meet the forecast increase in calls in January this year DVLA initially added 60 extra lines to the existing 160 on the vehicle service. The success of the continuous registration led to a far greater than expected demand. As a result DVLA added a further 35 lines in May. This now gives a total of 255 lines for vehicle services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made in the negotiations on the issue whether the Irish Government should pay the full cost of maintaining lighthouses and other navigational aids in Irish territorial waters. [HL3700]

Initial meetings have taken place at official level between the Department for Transport and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and with the Irish Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. We expect to hold further discussions later this year focusing on the future structure of the GLA service in the island of Ireland. The Northern Ireland Office will also be involved as the dialogue progresses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimated cost and length of new dual carriageway required for the two options for improving the A303 between Ilminster and Exeter that are being considered by the Department for Transport. [HL3785]

The length of the A303 option would be 24.5 km at an approximate cost of around £338 million; the proposed A358 option would be 14.5 km in length with an approximate cost of £246 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the environmental impact of the Segway human transporter. [HL3880]

The Segway human transporter is an electrically powered device, which operates on rechargeable batteries. It emits no harmful exhaust gases when it is being ridden, but its total environmental impact will depend, among other things, on how the electricity used to recharge the batteries has been generated (whether from coal, gas, nuclear or renewable sources), and how its batteries are disposed of at the end of its working life.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will add to the list of Zimbabwean nationals who are refused entry to the European Union a United Kingdom list of close supporters and collaborators of the régime including Mr Gideon Gono (Governor, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe), Mr Stalin Mau Mau (former Zanu-PF Parliamentary candidate), Mr Osias Bvute (Zanu PF representative on the Board of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union) and Mr Peter Chingoka (Chairman of the Board). [HL3494]

The Government's policy on Zimbabwe is to work with our international partners to form a multilateral consensus whenever possible. By doing so we demonstrate the situation in Zimbabwe is of concern throughout the EU and elsewhere and not a bilateral dispute with the UK as President Mugabe wishes to present it. The EU travel ban is one area where we have taken this approach. We keep under careful review the list of those subject to travel sanctions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their assessment of the outcome of the recent United Nations mission to the Ivory Coast led by the British Ambassador to the United Nations. [HL3599]

The UN Security Council Mission to West Africa, led by our Permanent Representative to the UN, Sir Emyr Jones-Parry, visited Côte d'Ivoire from 22 to 24 June.In Côte d'Ivoire the mission's key message was that President Gbagbo and all parties bore individual responsibility for implementing the Linas Marcoussis Peace Agreement. We welcome the new round of talks between the parties.The Security Council will monitor the situation closely and, if necessary, take measures against those who fail to honour their commitments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will encourage British academic institutions and British companies to provide technical assistance to the Turkish Cypriot administration for the conservation of the natural and archaeological environment of Northern Cyprus; and whether they will make funds available for that purpose. [HL3597]

We continue to maintain close contacts with the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus. In support of the agreed EU policy of bringing an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community, we are examining possibilities for further UK technical expertise to assist the Turkish Cypriots in a variety of areas. Conservation of the natural and archaeological environment of the whole of Cyprus is an important issue and is one of a number of priorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made with European Union partners towards the early implementation of their objective of allowing direct flights to Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus and towards allowing Turkish Cypriot exports directly from Northern Cyprus ports. [HL3598]

As I explained to the House on 8 July, in response to a mandate from the April General Affairs and External Relations Council, the Commission on 7 July published its proposals designed to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.We believe that direct trade and transport links between Northern Cyprus and the EU are central to bringing an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. We are currently examining the feasibility of direct flights.On the issue of direct trade, on which the Commission has competence, we support fully the Commission's proposals as presented on 7 July and we will be working with the Dutch Presidency and our EU partners in order to reach early agreement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make representations to the Government of Cyprus about the ability of Turkish Cypriots to vote in European Parliamentary elections and be represented in that Parliament so that the situation can be improved in time for the next elections to that Parliament. [HL3690]

I greatly regret the fact that Cyprus remains divided. The UN Secretary General's comprehensive settlement Plan stated that two of the six Cypriot seats in the European Parliament would have been allocated to Turkish Cypriots. As there was no settlement all six seats were allocated to Greek Cypriot representatives.On 7 June 2004 the EU agreed that, in the event of a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem, the mandate of the representatives of Cyprus in the European Parliament would be brought to an end. Extraordinary elections in the whole of Cyprus would be held for the remaining term of the European Parliament. Two of the six seats would then be allocated to Turkish Cypriots.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House the text of the latest version of the proposed European Union Constitution. [HL3634]

Copies of the latest text of the EU Constitutional Treaty, Presidency document CIG 86/04, were placed in the Library of the House in June, and further copies have subsequently been placed in the Vote Office. It is available online on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, www.fco.gov.uk. We will issue this text, in a slightly abridged form, as a Command Paper before the parliamentary recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Bill to ratify the treaty to establish a constitution for Europe will contain all articles of the constitution; whether it will be amendable by both Houses of Parliament; and, if not, why not. [HL3644]

The same procedure has been followed for the ratification of each EU treaty. The Government publish a Bill setting out the way that the treaty would be given effect in UK law. Parliament can vote to amend this Bill, although some of its provisions will be necessary for the UK to ratify the treaty. Parliament cannot unilaterally amend the treaty, which in this case will have 24 other signatories besides the UK.We will follow this procedure for the constitutional treaty, except that its ratification will then be subject to a referendum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the powers of the European Parliament under (a) the co-decision procedure; (b) other European Union procedures; and (c) in respect of the other European Union institutions. [HL3729]

The European Parliament (EP) has powers of co-decision where provided for in the treaty establishing the European Community (TEC). Article 251 TEC sets out the co-decision procedure, which gives the European Parliament an ability both to shape the detail of legislation and to prevent a proposed act proceeding.The EP also possesses, in a more limited area, powers of: assent (where its powers to amend a given proposal are less but its consent to it is still required), which apply for instance on enlargements of the Union; co-operation (under the procedure set out in Article 252), which apply mostly in the context of economic and monetary union; consultation (where the EP's opinion must be sought and noted, even if not acted upon); and information (where the EP is informed but cannot formally respond).The Treaty on European Union (TEU) requires that the EP be consulted on the main aspects of the common foreign and security policy, and be kept informed of developments. The EP has the power in this area to ask questions of the Council and make recommendations to it.The EP possesses a number of specific powers in respect of other EU institutions. These include: the power to request Commission proposals where it considers they are required for the implementation of the treaty (Article 192 TEC); the power to set up a committee of inquiry to investigate alleged abuses in the implementation of Community law (Article 193 TEC); the power to censure and thereby require the Commission as a whole to resign (Article 201), although this power does not extend to individual Commissioners; and the power to bring proceedings against other institutions before the ECJ (Articles 230 and 232). The EP has extensive powers over the Community budget.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which areas are subject to the co-decision procedure under (a) the Treaty of Nice; and (b) the proposed European Union Constitution. [HL3730]

In my reply to the noble Lord's Question of 17 June 2003 (Official Report, col. WA 91), I placed in the Library of the House a list of the provisions that were transferred to co-decision under each of the previous EU treaties, including the Nice Treaty. These already cover the large majority of EU legislative proposals.The new treaty would slightly amend the co-decision procedure set out in Article 251 TEC and apply it to all areas where European laws and framework laws are adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure (Article III-302). The treaty would thereby create further areas of co-decision, including laws on intellectual property (Article III-68), structural funds (III-19), the common agricultural policy (III-127.2), asylum (III-167), immigration (III-168), Eurojust (III-174), and Europol (III-177). We will supply a full list as part of our comprehensive analysis of the treaty after the final text is produced in the autumn.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the arrangements for qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers under (a) the Treaty of Nice; and (b) the proposed European Union Constitution; and when the arrangements under the Treaty of Nice will come into force. [HL3731]

The arrangements for qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers under the Treaty of Nice were superseded by new provisions in Article 12 of the 2003 Treaty of Accession, which will come into effect on 1 November 2004. Between 1 May and 31 October this year, transitional arrangements apply which are detailed in Article 26 of the 2003 Treaty of Accession.Arrangements for qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers under the draft EU constitution are set out in Article I-24 (CIG 86/04). They will come into effect on 1 November 2009, assuming the treaty is ratified by all 25 member states. From the date the EU constitution comes into effect until 1 November 2009, transitional arrangements will apply which are detailed in the

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many digital hearing aids have been distributed nationwide from National Health Service hearing aids services since the digital scheme was announced in February; and [HL3736]What is the estimated number of National Health Service patients with hearing loss who would benefit from a switch from analogue to digital hearing aids; and what percentage of these have been supplied and fitted so far; and [HL3738]Further to the remark by the Lord Ashley of Stoke on 13 February 2003 (HL Deb, col. 813), whether every National Health Service patient with hearing loss who would benefit from a switch to a digital hearing aid will be given the opportunity to switch to a digital instrument within the two year roll-out of the digital scheme; and [HL3739]To what extent private sector technicians have been involved in the digital aid scheme so far; and what National Health Service evaluation has been made for the continuance of such a partnership with the private sector, once the roll-out period is completed; and [HL3740]Whether the money ring-fenced for the digital hearing aid scheme roll-out will continue to be available for the supplying and fitting of digital hearing aids to National Health Service patients once the roll-out period is completed. [HL3741]

From the beginning of the modernising hearing aid services project in May 2000 until the end of May 2004, audiology departments fitted 267,000 hearing aids for 195,000 people as part of the project. Of these, 188,000 were fitted for 136,000 people since February 2003. We have made no estimate of the number of people who might benefit from a switch from analogue to digital hearing aids.It has proved necessary to set up a prioritisation system for the issue of digital hearing aids, which will mean that some people with analogue aids will not be fitted with new digital aids within the two-year roll out.To increase capacity, a national framework agreement was developed with private dispensers to fit National Health Service hearing aids to NHS patients, free of charge to the patient. So far 41 NHS sites have already signed up to use the scheme in 2004 with another 39 joining shortly. By the end of May 2004, private dispensers had fitted 987 NHS patients with NHS digital hearing aids. The national framework agreement runs initially for a two-year period beginning in October 2003 with an optional extension for a further three years. NHS trusts will be able to make use of the agreement as long as it is in place.Money for digital hearing aids will still be available to primary care trusts after April 2005. It will be for PCTs to decide how best to provide audiology services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated agencies for each year since 2001–02. [HL3382]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for promoting sport but Defra funds a wide range of initiatives to increase opportunities for outdoor recreation. Many of the programmes are delivered by other bodies that Defra grant-aids, in particular the Countryside Agency, the seven English National Park Authorities, the Broads Authority and the Environment Agency. Programmes include implementation of the new right of access to open country and registered common land, and improving access to water.The actual and projected expenditure for these activities by Defra-sponsored non-departmental public bodies and National Park Authorities is as follows:

	2001–02 (£ million)	2002–03 (£ million)	2003–04 (£ million)	2004–05 (£ million)
Countryside Agency	13.6	16.5	22.3	22.7
National Park Authorities (including Broads Authority)	110	111	112.5	112.5
Environment Agency	1.8	2.0	1.9	1.7
Total	25.4	29.5	36.7	36.9
1 Figures based on approximate expenditure by the Parks and Broads Authority of 35 per cent of total budgets.

In addition, Defra provides annual sums of between £12 million and £19 million to local highway authorities to meet their new rights of way obligations under Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. These payments are made through the local authority environmental protection and cultural service block grant.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether an audit has been undertaken on the number of accredited recreational facilities on the River Thames and the funding committed to their maintenance and upkeep in each year since 2000. [HL3706]

As far as we are aware, no central audit has been undertaken of accredited recreational facilities on the River Thames but the Environment Agency has provided information on the number of locks and the costs of maintaining them.There are 44 locks on the River Thames. Expenditure on their maintenance and improvement since 2000 has been as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their best estimate of the net financial contribution to the economy of leisure activity on the River Thames. [HL3708]

An economic assessment carried out by independent consultants in 2001 estimated that, in that year, boating-related activity on the non-tidal Thames employed 17,000 people and generated a spend of £85 million. Other leisure activity and tourism in the riverside wards of the non-tidal river employed 55,000 people and generated a further spend of £119 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to increase participation in sport and recreation on the rivers and waterways of the United Kingdom. [HL3710]

The Government gave a commitment to increase access to water in Working for the Essentials of Life, published in 2002. We also commissioned a study from Brighton University study to establish what recreational opportunities are currently available. The report of that study, Water-based sport and recreation: the Facts was published in 2001.The Brighton study found that supply and demand for water-based recreation is broadly in balance but it identified some unmet demand for white water and long distance routes for canoeists in some parts of the country.In light of these findings, my right honourable friend the Minister for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality asked the Countryside Agency to undertake a feasibility study into improving access for canoeists by voluntary agreement. The study focused on four pilot areas and the findings indicate that voluntary agreements can be made to work in certain circumstances. My right honourable friend is now considering the report's recommendations that agreements be completed in the pilot areas.In addition, the Environment Agency has embarked on a programme of developing regional strategies for water-based sport and recreation and its annual conservation, access and recreation reports made under the Environment Act 1995 provide information on the range of work undertaken by the agency to increase recreational opportunities.The Environment Agency is also leading on the development of strategic partnerships and alliances which include public, commercial and voluntary sectors to upgrade facilities on the agencies' navigable rivers which are backed by marketing and promotion initiatives.