asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Attorney-General had access to intelligence related to weapons of mass destruction at any stage after the provision of the advice referred to in paragraph 374 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's review of intelligence on weapons of mass destruction. [HL3871]

As stated in paragraph 367 of the Butler report, I was briefed on relevant intelligence issues in September 2002 and February 2003. In addition, I have seen a number of intelligence assessments produced by the Joint Intelligence Committee subsequent to the initial advice referred to in paragraph 374 of the Report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the meetings and discussions involving the Attorney-General referred to in paragraph 377 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction stating the date of each discussion; who was present; or participated, in the conversations; and whether minutes were kept. [HL3874]

The information relating to the dates of and participants in the meetings concerns internal discussion and advice is withheld under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Records were kept of some of these discussions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date the advice given by the Attorney-General in paragraph 374 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction was given; whether he had access to intelligence, including intelligence related to weapons of mass destruction, at that time, and, if not, how the Attorney-General assessed whether or not there was an imminent threat to the United Kingdom. [HL3878]

The information requested relating to the date of my legal advice referred to in paragraph 374 of the Butler Report concerns internal discussion and advice and is withheld under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.Prior to giving this advice I had seen some intelligence assessments relating to Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction. As stated in paragraph 374 of the Butler Report, I concluded that on the basis of the information I had seen, there would be no justification for the use of force against Iraq on grounds of self-defence against an imminent threat.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In what ministerial capacity the Lord Falconer of Thoroton was present at the meeting of 13 March referred to in paragraph 381 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's

Members of the Government have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who in the Prime Minister's office asked the Attorney-General to put his view of the legal position in writing, as referred to in paragraph 378 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's

Following the Attorney-General's meeting with Jonathan Powell, Sir David Manning and Baroness Morgan on 28 February 2003, Baroness Morgan, on behalf of the Prime Minister, asked the Attorney-General to provide his advice in writing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish in full the correspondence quoted in part in paragraphs 383 and 384 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's

To the extent that parts of the correspondence referred to in paragraph 383 of the Butler report have not been disclosed, it is subject to legal professional privilege and therefore withheld under exemption 4 of the code of practice on access to government information. The substance of the letter from the Prime Minister's Private Secretary to the Legal Secretary to the Attorney-General is set out in paragraph 384.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who was present at the meeting of 13 March referred to in paragraph 381 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's

As set out in the Butler report the meeting on 13 March 2003 was attended by the Attorney-General, Lord Falconer, and Baroness Morgan. No record of the meeting was made, but the Attorney-General's view of the legal position was set out in a Written Answer in Parliament on 17 March 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who was present at the Meeting of 28 February referred to in paragraph 378 of the Lord Butler of Brockwell's

As set out in the Butler report, the meeting on 28 February 2003 was attended by the Attorney-General, Jonathan Powell, Sir David Manning and Baroness Morgan. No record of the meeting was made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 26 May (

I have nothing further to add to the answer given on 26 May (WA 133) and 6 April (WA 219).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have made to the current emergency in the Upper Nile in southern Sudan; how many people have died or are displaced as a result of fighting around Malakal; and what effect this will have on the overall peace agreement in the south. [HL3886]

DfID is very concerned by reports that civilians have been targeted and that thousands of people have been displaced in the Upper Nile region of southern Sudan. DfID is following the situation closely and we are in contact with all parties in the area, including the verification and monitoring team (VMT), which is reponsible for investigating and reporting on breaches of the cessation of hostilities.DfID raised the matter with the Sudanese Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 11 May and EU Heads of Mission, including our ambassador in Khartoum, visited on 27 May. Over £270,000 has been provided to non-governmental organisations to provide for the estimated 48,000 displaced persons in the region.Unfortunately at this time there is no information regarding the number of conflict-related deaths. DfID is encouraging all parties to respect the terms of the ceasefire and are calling on the parties to continue to work together so that a comprehensive peace agreement can be signed in the next few months. Notably in the south, DfID is pressing for dialogue between the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), other southern groups and the governmnent, in preparation for the broad-based regional government and institutions envisaged in the Machakos Protocol.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22 June (

Approval of the work of the Ulster-Scots Agency is a matter for members of the board of the North-South Language Body with responsibility for the exercise of the functions of the body through the agency. The agency did not seek government approval for the work of the agency in the United States of America.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support a policy operated by the Ulster-Scots Agency of providing resources and support to groups to make 12 July celebrations into a tourist attraction; and, if so, why the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure removed funding from the agency's requested budget for 2004 for that purpose. [HL 3866]

I have been advised by the Ulster-Scots Agency that it does not have a policy with the sole or explicit objective of promoting tourism.

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

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 23 June 2004 (WAl23). I have nothing further to add.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure plans to provide funding and resources to:

The Sports Council for Northern Ireland is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland, including the distribution of funding to individual sports. The sports council makes funding available, to (a) association football (including resources under the soccer strategy process), (b) rugby union; (c) cricket; and (d) Gaelic Athletic Association games under existing funding arrangements. Any funding beyond this will be a matter for the sports council.As the organisations listed are voluntary organisations, they do not have any statutory duty under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998). However, the sports council requires all organisations which it funds to have an equity policy in place in their constitution/articles of association. Each of these organisations has provided the sports council with a copy of their equity policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What funding Tourism Ireland has sought each year since 2000; how much was agreed each year; whether indicative budgets were set; if so, for how much; and when. [HL3592]

In 2001 Tourism Ireland Ltd (TIL) drew down set-up funding of £1.218 million. The TIL draft annual operating plans for 2002, 2003 and 2004 sought indicative funding of £29.7 million, £29.8 million and £38.1 million respectively.The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) approved the operating plans and recommended budget allocations as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any of the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies will be ceasing policies and areas of activity due to a lack of funding as a result of the May 2004 budgets; and, if so, which bodies; and [HL3704]What funds those Cross-Border Implementation Bodies, which have ceased areas of activity due to lack of funding in 2004, sought for 2004; and what funds they were granted. [HL3705]

None of the North/South Implementation Bodies has ceased policies or areas of activities due to a lack of funding as a result of the 2004 budgets.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any of the Cross-Border Implementation Bodies have indicated any intention to apply for extra funding during 2004; if so, which bodies have applied; how much they applied for; and for what purpose. [HL3591]

To date, none of the North/South Implementation Bodies have applied for extra funding in 2004. The Ulster-Scots Agency, which forms part of the Language Body, has indicated an intention to apply for extra funding in 2004, but has not yet submitted detailed proposals.

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

The purpose of the annual events listing brochure is to provide a representative sample of major events in Northern Ireland. The Maiden City Festival was regarded as a representation of the Loyal Order celebrations and was therefore included in the brochure for 2004.The Northern Ireland Tourist Board maintains a database record of the major Loyal Order parades and ensures that these are published on its consumer website.NITB has recently met with the Grand Orange Lodge to examine ways to work with it to review the promotion of the 12 July parades. NITB is currently developing detailed criteria for listing of events.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give an undertaking that future allocations of funding to agencies in the Language Implementation Board in Northern Ireland will only take place after consultation and agreement with the agencies concerned. [HL4035]

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 20 May 2004(WA 95). It may not always be possible to reach agreement with the North/South Language Body on its budget.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they arrived at the figure of £516,000 funding for the year 2004–05 for the suspended Northern Ireland Civic Forum. [HL4036]

Provision was made in the 2004–05 NI Estimates for a full year's funding for the civic forum on the basis of the forum's business plan prior to suspension. As I explained to the noble Lord during the Grand Committee debate on 20 July this was done to ensure that resources would be available in the event of early restoration. Resources will be reallocated during the year in the event of continuing suspension.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the term "reflective of the community in Northern Ireland" (as used in the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004) means; whether the term is the same as representative of the community in Northern Ireland; and how and in what way the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was representative of the community in Northern Ireland. [HL3134]

There is no statutory definition of "representative" or "reflective". The Secretary of State has a duty under Section 68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to, as far as practicable, secure that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.The Government are satisfied that in making broadly-based appointments to the commission, they have fulfilled their duty under Section 68(3).

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland requiring councils to add candidates for interview for District Police Partnerships, after the shortlisting process has been completed; and whether such a practice could properly be applied in all public appointment processes in Northern Ireland. [HL3289]

In accordance with paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 3 to the Police (NI) Act 2000 the Secretary of State may issue a code of practice containing guidelines as to the exercise by district councils and the Northern Ireland Policing Board of their functions in the nomination and appointments process for independent members of District Policing Partnerships. Under this code which issued in August 2002, and now Section 14 of Police (NI) Act 2003, the board shall secure that the board shall so far as practicable secure that the membership of the District Policing Partnerships is representative of the community in the council area.In the case of the Dungannon and South Tyrone DPP the policing hoard decided to hold a supplementary competition to achieve a pool of appointable candidates for a DPP to be established that would be representative. This was no fault of the district council. Candidates from this supplementary competition are in addition to those nominated by the council to the policing board in December 2002.Arrangements for other public appointments are governed by their respective codes of practice where appropriate and OCPA guidelines.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they have taken in response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland imposing a late applicant for interview, after the shortlisting process had been completed, for the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council's District Police Partnership. [HL3290]

The management of the appointment process for the independent members of District Policing Partnerships is a matter for the Northern Ireland Policing Board. A team of impartial assessors was appointed by the board to oversee the process. Their role was to assess the process for openness, transparency, probity and effectiveness, to ensure compliance with OCPA guidance and the code of practice for the appointment of independent members produced by the NIO, and to report to the Northern Ireland Policing Board.The impartial assessors' report was published in June 2003. They found the appointment process to be fair, robust, open and transparent. However they did make a recommendation about the handling of late applications. This recommendation will he reflected in the NIO's code of practice which is currently being revised prior to issue for consultation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which airlines now provide a regular daily service of flights between Belfast and either London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London City airports; whether there is fair and adequate competition among these airlines; and by what amounts over each of the past three years Northern Ireland Office departments have fostered that competition by supporting each airline in respect of Ministerial and Civil Service usage. [HL3453]

Research indicates that the airlines provide a regular daily service of flights between Belfast and the named airports. BMI fly between Belfast and London Heathrow, Flybe between Belfast and both London Gatwick and London City and Easyjet between Belfast and London Gatwick.Air transport services are provided by the private sector and it is government policy to let the market regulate itself with regard to competition.Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments do not have a direct contractual relationship with any airline. Travel requirements to GB destinations are typically booked through a contracted travel agent. This agent provides a service which identifies the best value air fare to meet the specific business need which includes consideration of flights by all airlines flying to the required destination.The amounts of fares paid over the last three years for each of the respective airlines to each named destination is set out in the table below:

Destination	Airline	2001–02 £	2002–03 £	2003–04 £
London Heathrow	bmi	1,224,102	1,783,093	2,183,271
London Gatwick	flybe	429,327	325,179	201,961
	easyjet	n/a	939	13,571
London City	flybe	12,989	43,974	14,124

These figures relate only to single sector flights booked through the contracted travel agency services and do not include any journeys undertaken and which were booked through other channels, as to obtain this information would be at disproportionate cost to departments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much has been spent on consultants since June 2001 by each government department in Northern Ireland. [HL3520]

The amount spent on consultants since April 2001 by each government department in Northern Ireland is as follows:

	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development	1,040,000	851,000	1,119,000

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will detail the amounts of public money paid to the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders for the purchase of buildings; and what is the present status of the property purchased. [HL3538]

The Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) is core funded by government and is one of the key service providers for the criminal justice system.To necessitate a move from their current location, NIACRO have purchased a central Belfast site on which a developer is currently constructing a new building which NIACRO will purchase on completion in December 2004.In March 2004 government made a strategic investment of £250,000 to NIACRO to contribute to the cost of the site. The title deed of the site has now passed to NIACRO. In relation to the purchase of the building, NIACRO is currently pursuing further opportunities for funding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by the Lord President on 24 February (

I refer the noble Lord to my previous answer on 24 February 2004 (Official Report col. WA 41).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 June (

Following approval of a business case it is planned that a broadcast fund of £12 million will be made available over a three-year period to support Irish language film and television production in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced on 1 July 2004 that the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission will administer the broadcast fund, which is expected to be operational by December 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether primary schools in Northern Ireland are funded by a similar formula to those in England; if not, what is the difference; and why such difference exists. [HL3636]

The system for funding primary schools in Northern Ireland is very similar to that of England, in that delegated budgets are determined by means of a formula developed and operated by the Education and Library Board (in England the Local Education Authority has this responsibility, under the Fair Funding scheme). In Northern Ireland, primary schools in the grant-maintained integrated sector are funded directly by the Department of Education.It is not possible to draw comparisons on differences in the funding formulae due to the differences in the levels of delegated responsibility, the different categories of schools, and other factors such as, for example, the relative size of schools and differing levels of social deprivation between the two countries.

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

As was made clear in my answer of 12 July (WA 118), the individuals concerned attended these meetings in their capacity as officials of their respective administrations. The contacts concerned form part of the overall policy of community engagement endorsed by those administrations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which senior civil servants in Northern Ireland are allowed to carry out activity within government other than that for which they hold an office; what are the other activities they carry out; and whether information could be supplied to Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Members of Parliament and Peers on who is working for what and when. [HL3865]

Northern Ireland civil servants are not holders of statutory offices with prescribed functions. Accordingly, they carry out any and all such functions as their employing Departments consider appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they decided to advertise for a chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission who could be full or part-time; whether they have approached any individuals about applying for the position, directly or indirectly and, if so, whom; and whether they have decided upon the person they will appoint to the post. [HL3868]

No decision has been made as to whether the post of Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission should be full or part-time. The current chief commissioner is employed full time but, if the best candidate for the post is unable to give that time commitment, the Government are prepared to consider a part-time appointment.The appointments process for a new chief commissioner is ongoing. In addition to advertising in the press, we have sought the services of consultants, Saxton Bampfylde Hever, to carry out an executive search for candidates who may be interested in applying for the post. The consultants have contacted possible candidates and alerted them to the appointments process.It has not been decided who will be appointed to the post.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have made to the World Bank and to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo about the re-zoning of the Congo forests and the expansion of industrial logging bearing in mind the need to consider the rights of the people living in the forests. [HL3930]

Officials from the Department for International Development (DfID) have been in dialogue with the World Bank about its assistance to the forestry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). From discussions with the World Bank, DfID's understanding is that the World Bank is supporting a process designed to increase transparency within the forest sector in the DRC, and curb illegal logging.The World Bank is working with the Government of DRC and other partners to ensure that forest activities are carried out in a sustainable manner with due regard to protection of the environment, and with participation of all stakeholders—especially the poor. A pilot of participatory forest zoning is under preparation and will involve considerable consultation with people living in forest areas. Securing the rights of local people and promoting the participation of local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in DRC is a particular focus.DfID has also discussed possible UK Government support to strengthen natural resource governance with the Transitional National Government (TNG) in DRC and have made the TNG aware of the need to meet the provisions of the Forest Code by ensuring the rights of local communities and ensuring commercial logging contributes to national development and poverty reduction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:To what extent United Kingdom support for civil society and local non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan will play a part in that country's future democratic process: and what plans they have for such support after the presidential parliamentary elections. [HL3993]

The UK has helped local groups engage with the democratic process in a number of ways. DfID supported the development of the new constitution in 2003 (£500,000). This included an outreach programme to make the wider community aware of the purpose of the constitution and provided a reasonable understanding of its key features. (DfID is now funding both Swiss Peace (£500,000) and the United Nations (over £13 million), who work in partnership with local non-governmental organisations and civil society groups, to deliver civic education in Afghanistan. This campaign aims to enhance public understanding and awareness of the electoral process, promote positive attitudes towards democracy and encourage greater participation of the public. It will continue after the October presidential elections, in order to raise awareness for the parliamentary elections in April 2005.The UK is funding Action Aid (£157,680) to help increase both knowledge and awareness of the rights of women and women's participation in local governance in Afghanistan. Community-level women's groups are being established and small grants made available to help build the resources and confidence of women to work together to seek solutions to common problems. These activities are being supplemented and supported by training and information sharing at the provincial level and a nationwide research project looking at the role of women in local governance in Afghanistan.DfID also funds government-led national development programmes, which are being facilitated by a range of local non-governmental organisations. An example is the National Solidarity Programme (DfID contribution was £13 million over three years), which is building the capacity of hundreds of village development councils across Afghanistan and providing the resources they need to identify and address their own development priorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What responsibilities United Kingdom personnel and civil servants had for the failure of accounting systems and records within the Development Fund for Iraq, as reported in the KPMG audit; and what audits have been commissioned by the International Monitoring and Advisory Board. [HL3994]

Under UNSCR 1483, the occupying powers shared joint responsibility for the actions of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), including management of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI). Within the CPA, the DFI account was managed by the Comptroller's Office. Following approval the Comptroller's Office handled payments from the DFI and made disbursements on the basis of directions from the authorised DFI signatories (Administrator, Administrator's Deputy and Comptroller). No UK personnel or secondees to the CPA served in the Comptroller's Office or were an authorised signatory over the DFI account.The International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMI3) oversees audits conducted by international accounting firms of (i) oil export sales, (ii) the accounting for the proceeds from oil export sales, (iii) the DFI financial statements, and (iv) the disbursement procedures for DFI resources. In March 2004 the IAMB approved the CPA's appointment of KPMG to conduct audits in two stages: first, for DFI activities through December 2003, which reported on 15 July, and, secondly, for the six-month period ended June 2004, which is currently under way.The IAMB has also taken a decision to conduct a special aduit of sole sourced contracts funded from the Development Fund for Iraq. The IAMB is expected to decide over the coming weeks if other special audits or investigations into the use of DFI assets are required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In light of recent reports by Iraq Revenue Watch, when full accounts will be published showing revenues, allocation and spending from the Development Fund for Iraq; and in particular whether they will request the United States administration to comply with International Advisory and Monitoring Board requests for information about payments of 1.5 billion dollars from the Development Fund to Halliburton. [HL4013]

A full audit of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) from 22 May 2003 to 31 December 2003 has been published, and is available on the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB) website. KPMG is currently auditing the DFI from 1 January 2004 to 28 June 2004. The report will be published on completion. information on revenues, allocation and spending from the DFI can be found on the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) website at http://www.cpa-iray.org/budget/.The IAMB is proceeding with a special audit of Development Fund for Iraq sole sourced contracts. The results from this will be available in due course. The UK Government fully support the work of the IAMB.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the opportunities and provisions for retraining individuals aged 25 to 40 who wish to change from desk-bound employment to trades where there are shortages, for example plumbing and carpentry. [HL3518]

Improving adults' access to training, whether to develop their existing career or to move into an entirely new area, is one of the aims of the skills strategy.Our skills strategy set out further opportunities and reforms to enable individuals to retrain. It committed us to develop apprenticeships for adults to meet skills needs in response to employer demand. We and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are working with sector skills councils (SSCs) that are either already licensed or expected to be so in the near future, to trial appropriate provision in a small number of sectors in England starting later this year.SSCs are influential employer bodies, licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, in consultation with Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to tackle the skills and productivity needs of their sector throughout the UK. There are SSCs covering both plumbing (SummitSkills) and carpentry (ConstructionSkills).SummitSkills aims to support employers and employees to achieve appropriate recognition of their plumbing skills. Mature apprenticeships will be introduced in some parts of the UK during 2004. The local plumbing training centre will be able to advise on the provision in each area. For Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland there are differences in provision and the local centre will provide specific guidance.ConstructionSkills has identified addressing the issue of retraining adults as a priority but the work is still at a very early stage.The Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) programme was announced in 2001. These centres, which are based within colleges and other training providers, receive extra funding to enable them to develop high quality skills training to meet employers' current and future skills needs.There are now 260 centres offering adult learners a wide and diverse range of skills training for careers in many industries including construction (including plumbing and carpentry skills), which is currently served by 40 centres (15 per cent of the network). More centres will follow as the LSC is committed to creating a network of 400 centres by March 2006.From 2006, when the full network is in place, it will provide 40,000 qualifications and awards each year at levels 2 and 3, and 800 foundation degrees. It will have increased levels of employer engagement, with 20,000 employees benefiting from tailored provision paid for by their employers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements they have to explore and evaluate all possible methods of providing support and help to children with dyslexia. [HL4034]

The department has no set procedure for evaluating methods of providing support for children with dyslexia, many of which are available as commercial services. We have, however, supported a number of research reviews by Dr Angela Fawcett of Sheffield University, which are available through our special educational needs website. We have also given grant in support of the British Dyslexia Association's international dyslexia conference, where different techniques are presented and discussed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their intention that it should be no more difficult to obtain a special school place than previously, contained in the statutory guidelines following their Special Education Needs Code of Practice, has been met; and, if so, on what evidence this conclusion is based. [HL4045]

The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 strengthened the right to a place in a mainstream school for children with statements of SEN while at the same time fully preserving parents' right to express a preference for a special school place. The statutory guidance Inclusive Schooling published in 2001 followed the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act and provided further explanation of, and guidance on, the operation of the statutory framework, setting out the reasonable steps that could be taken to ensure a child's inclusion in mainstream schools and providing examples of instances where inclusion may not be appropriate.The numbers of pupils in mainstream special schools remains broadly static with 88,930 pupils (full and part time) in 2003, down slightly from 89,790 in 2002.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which defence procurement programmes, where the prime contractor is yet to be chosen, have a value over £1 billion. [HL3842]

The following projects have formally passed their initial gate approval point, are expected to cost most than £1 billion, but have not yet down selected to a single preferred prime contractor:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide their 12-month forecast of procurement announcements of a value over £250 million. [HL3843]

The Ministry of Defence does not maintain a rolling 12-month forecast of procurement announcements. The timing of announcements depends on a number of factors, including the time required for project approvals, progress on contract negotiations and how decisions relate to the departmental financial planning cycle. It is therefore difficult to predict these announcements accurately this far in advance. However, the following announcements are expected to be made over the next six months on equipment programmes that are valued in excess of £250 million:

• C vehicles—contract
• Defence information infrastructure (future)—Preferred bidder
• Support vehicles—way ahead
• Typhoon tranche two—main gate and contract Watchkeeper—main gate and contract
• Future carrier CV(F)—confirmation of alliancing arrangements
• FSTA—way ahead

In addition, as my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence made clear in his Statement on 21 July, we are reviewing our capability requirements and plans for our future helicopter programme. We plan to make a further announcement in due course which will clarify the position.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the British troops serving in Afghanistan belong to the International Security Assistance Force under NATO command; and what additional United Kingdom forces will be sent at the time of the presidential elections in October. [HL3855]

There are some 490 personnel from the United Kingdom's Armed Forces currently serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. As with any commitment, we keep the size and composition of our contribution to the ISAF under constant review. Plans are already in hand to increase the capacity of our Provincial Reconstruction Teams in north-west Afghanistan during the election period from within our forces already deployed in the area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which Army regiments are under established strength; in each case, what is the full establishment; and what is the extent of any shortfall. [HL3891]

Information on individual regiments is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of shortfalls as at 1 June 2004 against each arm and service are given below.

Arms/Service	Requirement	June 2004 Strength	June 2004 Shortfall
Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps	5,975	5,835	-140
Royal Artillery	8,330	7,795	-535
Royal Engineers	9,160	8,850	-310
Infantry	26,185	25,840	-345
Army Air Corps	2,105	1,860	-245
Royal Army Chaplains Department	165	140	-25
Royal Logistics Corps	16,205	15,450	-755
Royal Army Medical Corps	2,920	2,665	-255
Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers	10,370	9,705	-665
Adjutant General Corps (Provost)	2,075	2,040	-35
Royal Army Veterinary Corps	190	175	-15
Royal Army Dental Corps	420	395	-25
Intelligence Corps	1,410	1,345	-65
Army Physical Training Corps	455	435	-20
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps	1,035	805	-230
Corps of Army Musicians	1,155	1,025	-130

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current strength of the Iraqi national maritime patrol force; and what vessels it has in service. [HL3892]

The "Iraqi national maritime patrol force" includes both the Iraqi Riverine Patrol Directorate (IRPD) and the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF).There are currently 459 personnel in the IRPD and the current holdings are as follows: Six Boston Whalers used for port security; six Searider Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) used for riverine patrol and port security; four Dorys used for training and port security; two ballistic RIBs with a further two due mid-Aug and the final two due four to six weeks later.There are currently 265 personnel in the ICDF with a further 125 undergoing basic training. The IDCF is currently operating five 27m Predator class Patrol Boats each with a crew of 12. It also has five 22ft Arctic RIBs and this will increase to 10 in September. These will be used for boarding operations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the arrangements for co-operation between the Iraqi national maritime patrol force and coalition forces for the protection of offshore Iraqi oil installations. [HL3893]

It is assumed that the reference to the "Iraqi national maritime patrol force" is to the Iraqi Riverine Patrol Directorate and the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF).The ICDF does not yet have a capability to protect its oil installations at sea. It is currently being trained by coalition forces through the Coalition Maritime Assistance Training Team (CMATT) and will take responsibility for oil installation security when it is in a position to do so. Coalition forces currently have full responsibility for security of the oil installations and the firm arrangements for co-operation with the ICDF are being exercised through the CMATT.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether members of the United Kingdom Armed Forces in Iraq may be called on to cooperate in the enforcement of martial law; and, if so, under whose rules of engagement would such forces operate. [HL3894]

The Iraqi Interim Government does possess the authority to declare martial law. Should United Kingdom forces undertake law enforcement activity in support of such a declaration they would do so under the UK's extant Rules of Engagement at the time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many war pensions are currently paid for still physically unexplained illnesses which are accepted as being related to service in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. [HL3923]

The information requested is not held. The war pension scheme provides no fault compensation for any illness or injury which is the result of any service in the Armed Forces regardless of theatre. Awards paid do not relate to particular diagnostic categories but reflect the assessed level of service related disablement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many war pensions are in payment to members of the control group, made up of service men and women against whom the health of a group of Gulf War veterans of identical composition has been monitored. [HL3939]

The requested information relates to personal data collected for medical research. I am therefore withholding the information under exemption 11 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many war pensions are now in payment for medical conditions related to service in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. [HL3940]

The information requested is not held. War pensions may be claimed at or beyond service termination and are paid for any disablement caused or made worse by an individual's service. They are not linked to a particular campaign and are not paid for specific diagnostic disorders. They reflect the assessed level of disablement due to all service related conditions. There are currently 2,690 war pensions in payment to people whose service includes the 1990–91 Gulf conflict.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the peer review process in relation to a link between service in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict and motor neurone disease began; and when they expect it to conclude. [HL3941]

The Government have not commissioned research specifically into the prevalence of motor neurone disease (MND) among the United Kingdom veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict.The Government are aware of two studies in the United States suggesting that US veterans who had deployed to the Gulf in 1990–91 were nearly twice as likely as their non-deployed counterparts to develop MND. The findings were published in the peer review literature last year. The small number of cases identified and the methodological constraints mean that the findings must be considered only as preliminary. Moreover, the increased risk identified was not uniform across all deployed personnel. The research does not link MND with any specific environmental factors associated with Gulf service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the letter relating to the independent public inquiry into Gulf War illnesses chaired by the Lord Lloyd of Berwick sent by a Ministry of Defence official on 14 July, as reported in the

The letter dated 14 July 2004 from the Director of the Ministry of Defence Veterans Policy Unit to researchers and review board members participating in the MoD programme of research will be placed in the Library of the House. The main purpose of the letter was to advise researchers of the Government's approach to Lord Lloyd's investigation and on the handling of research material which has yet to be published in order to maintain its scientific credibility.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the statement by the Lord Bach on 21 July that the Ministry of Defence is withdrawing four regular battalions from Northern Ireland, what plans there are for the three Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment. [HL3990]

The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions are fundamental to the Armed Forces' support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. No decisions have been taken concerning their future role, as it is premature to come to conclusions about the composition of the long-term garrison.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the International Monitoring Commission's second report, why they have announced plans for military reductions in Northern Ireland. [HL3991]

The decision to transfer two largely rear-based battalions from the command of the General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) announced on 21 July has been possible due to the improving security situation in Northern Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Earl Howe on 1 February 1996 (

Since the previous Answer in 1996, authority has been delegated to departments and agencies by the Civil Service Management Code to determine in what circumstances it is acceptable for their staff to accept directorships and as such no central list of directorships is maintained.Before assent is granted, consideration is given to conflicts of interest that might arise between the individual's areas of responsibility in the workplace and the proposed directorship.This Government encourage the interchange of individuals between the public, voluntary and private sector and the benefits that can result for all those involved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why National Health Service Wales has decided not to use National Health Service Professionals for the supply of temporary nursing staff to National Health Service trusts in Wales; and what the key factors were in this decision. [HL3936]

Full consideration was given to temporary nurse staffing issues in Wales, and in particular the significant costs incurred by the use of these staff, following the Audit Commission report, Brief Encounter—Getting the best from Temporary Nursing Staff.NHS trusts in Wales have full responsibility for the employment of temporary staff, including nurses, and make arrangements suited to their local needs rather than relying on another agent such as NHS Professionals. The National Assembly for Wales, in conjunction with Wales NHS trusts, is exploring the development and introduction of a single all-Wales contract that would reduce the levels of expenditure on agency nurse staffing in Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to bring the Freedom of Information Act 2000 fully into force. [HL3975]

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 comes fully into force on 1 January 2005.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many electors, representing what percentage of the electorate, were registered to vote by post for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament in each constituency in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available; and [HL3962]How many electors, representing what percentage of the electorate, were registered to vote by post for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament in each constituency in England at the latest date for which figures are available. [HL3963]

The independent Electoral Commission's report, Postal votes, proxy votes and spoilt ballot papers at the 2001 general election, provides the information sought for each constituency in England and Wales at the 2001 general election, and is the most recent information that is available for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament. The report can be obtained from the Electoral Commission and a copy is in the Library of each House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Court Service has not set a date for the case of Mr Quayym Raja to be referred to a judge for his minimum term of imprisonment to be reviewed, bearing in mind paragraph 28 of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in

The review of minimum terms set by the Home Secretary has been awaiting a guideline judgment from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and Practice Direction from the Lord Chief Justice. The guideline judgment was delivered on 8 July in the case of R v Sullivan & Others and the Practice Direction was issued on 29 July. I expect Mr Raja's case to be reviewed shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a list of those European states which have, and those which have not, accepted the First Optional Protocol to the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [HL4014]

I understand that the following member states of the European Union have ratified the First Optional Protocol to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The United Kingdom has not accepted the protocol.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which civil and political rights are protected by the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and not by the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL4015]

These instruments cover broadly similar areas but they are worded differently and the covenant appears in some respects to have wider scope. For example, Article 26 of the covenant appears to have a significantly broader compass than Article 14 of the convention (which is confined to discrimination in relation to the convention rights). Interpretation of the scope and application of the rights contained in the convention is a matter for the European Court of Human Rights. The covenant comes under a Human Rights Committee appointed by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the results of their consultation on the Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments. [HL4016]

The report on our Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 22 July. It is also available on my department's website at: http://www.dca.gov.uk/hract/ngo/review_2002.htm

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who authorised the installation of a mounted television screen in the waiting area of Gloucester House, part of the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) at Hatton Cross in London, where appellants and legal representatives meet in conference; how much the installation cost; and what plans there are to install similar screens in other IAA courts. [HL4033]

The installation of a mounted plasma screen into the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) hearing centre at Gloucester House was authorised as part of the procurement and fit-out process for the building, which became operational on 23 June 2003. The cost for the provision, and installation, of the plasma screen in the public waiting area of Gloucester House was £5,875 inclusive of VAT. Similar equipment is planned for the public waiting area of York House at Hatton Cross. A standard television has also been installed in the public area of the IAA hearing centre in Surbiton. The installation of television equipment into public areas provides a large range of training and customer uses to the operational hearing centre and is a component of the IAA commitment to providing a high standard of customer facilities for users. Video information regarding the IAA and entertainment, via terrestrial television, is provided for users waiting for hearings. The provision of television equipment into public areas is decided on a centre-by-centre basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that staffing reductions in the Department for Work and Pensions will not reduce access to the Social Funds at weekends or out-of-hours for the destitute; and [HL3978]Whether they have made an assessment of the likely effect of staffing reductions at the Department for Work and Pensions on the speed and accuracy of future benefit payments. [HL3980]

We are still in the early stages of planning the announced staffing reduction and there are currently no proposals regarding specific areas of the business. However, one of our key priorities will be to ensure that we maintain the quality of our front line services, including those used by our most vulnerable customers, such as the Social Fund.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How staffing reductions at the Department for Work and Pensions are likely to affect the rate of errors in the administration of the Child Support Agency. [HL3979]

Staff reductions are intended to come from operational efficiencies following significant investment in new computer and telephony systems supplied to us by EDS. We anticipate an improvement in the accuracy of work undertaken by the Child Support Agency.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they intend to combine the principles of the consultation document

The Green Paper was published on 21 July. The closing date for comments is 1 November. The Government will decide the right way forward only once the consultation period is over.The legislation governing child support is based on sound principles—every child has the right to the best possible start in life and parents have a clear responsibility to protect and provide for their children so that the children can make the most of their lives.The amount of child support that a non-resident parent is required to pay can be reduced if the child stays with him on a regular basis. The amount of the reduction depends on the extent to which the care of the child is shared by the parents.There is no tension between the proposals in the Green Paper and the principles that underpin child support.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In light of their recent proposed reductions in the number of full-time Civil Service posts, whether they intend to introduce measures to prevent job substitution using outside consultants. [HL3924]

The 2004 spending review announced that every department is required to consider and agree with the Office of Government Commerce by December 2004 how to pursue improvements in the value for money of all

(£m)
Year	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Grant-in-aid1	44.7	47.8	48.0	245.1	47.1	47.9	48.4
1 Figures for 1998–99 to 2002–03 comprise funding for BTA, ETB and ETC.
2 Since April 2001, £1.5 million per year formerly allocated to BTA has been paid to the Greater London Authority for the promotion of London as a gateway to Britain.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What guidelines are given to health authorities and primary care trusts on the definition of cause of death (other than by disease) on death certificates. [HL3951]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much they have increased their funding to Visit Britain and its predecessors year-on-year in the past seven years. [HL3987]

Visit Britain was created in April 2003 following the merger of functions between the British Tourist Authority (BTA) and the English Tourism Council (ETC), formerly the English Tourist Board (ETB). The overall grant-in-aid allocation by the department to these bodies since 1998 is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they are using the London 2012 Olympic Bid to encourage greater physical activity among the general population. [HL3988]

Bidding for and, if successful, staging the Olympics is part of the Government's wider drive to increase participation in sport and physical activity. We are working with London 2012 to harness the profile of the bid to inspire more people to get active. So far, the bid has been used to help promote activities such as the 42 regional Youth Games events across the country, including Europe's largest youth sports festival at Crystal Palace in July, where over 12,000 competitors took part.In the event of a successful bid, strategies will be developed to ensure that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are used to underpin the UK-wide participation drive lead by the Activity Co-ordination Team (ACT).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that the chairman of Sport England will consult widely with existing organisations within the world of sport, including the cricket and football foundations, before reporting on proposals to involve private and public sectors in a new National Sports Foundation. [HL3989]

The Government have asked Lord Carter of Coles to report on the scope to improve the co-ordination of public funding and commercial sponsorship of sport, including the potential to establish a National Sports Foundation, with the objective of securing greater investment into sport. The review will get under way in the next few weeks and will seek the views of individuals and organisations from across sport as well as other interested parties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they are intending to provide to the public about the costs of the options for the six counties in the north of England where it is proposed to introduce new local government structures as part of the referendum process; and [HL3825]Whether they will provide information about (a) the ongoing costs, and (b) the transitional costs, including service costs, for each of the options for the local government structures proposed by the Boundary Commission in its report of May 2004. [HL3826]

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shall, for each of the options to be put to the electorate in the north-east on 4 November, provide information about the transitional costs of implementing local government reorganisation and the potential for running cost savings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What calculations they have made of the cost of funding a statutory duty to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers, as mentioned by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Mr Keith Hill MP, in evidence to the Select Committee on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 13 July; and what further calculation they have made of the present-day value of reductions in future payments of housing benefit arising from the capital subsidies they envisage would be required under the new burdens policy. [HL4009]

Calculations of possible costs and benefits relating to a statutory duty to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers, along with consideration of other options, have been carried out as part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Gypsy and Traveller policy review. The review is still in progress and we are therefore not in a position to release further information at this time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What accounting procedures are in place for depleted uranium within the aircraft industry which satisfy the requirements of RSA93 registrations and the Ionising Radiations Regulations. [HL3433]

Premises that maintain or dismantle aircraft containing depleted uranium will need to hold registrations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Copies of these registrations can be made available to the public through Environment Agency offices. Copies are also sent to local authorities so that they can be made available to the public. The Environment Agency is encouraging the replacement of radioactive aircraft components with those made of non-radioactive materials.RSA93 requirements would apply to depleted uranium in storage, but would not apply to aircraft in service. RSA93 does not apply to depleted uranium in military aircraft. However, the Ministry of Defence has instituted arrangements for accounting for depleted uranium that are parallel to the RSA93 requirements.Accounting procedures are a matter for the aircraft industry, but the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive need to be satisfied that RSA93 and Ionising Radiations Regulations (1999) requirements are complied with.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether premises that maintain or dismantle aircraft containing depleted uranium have to be registered; and whether any such list is available to the public. [HL3434]

Premises that maintain or dismantle aircraft containing depleted uranium will need to hold registrations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Copies of these registrations can be made available to the public through Environment Agency offices. Copies are also sent to local authorities so that they can be made available to the public.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discussions government agencies and departments have had with representatives of United Kingdom airlines and the aircraft manufacturing, serving and dismantling industries to ensure all participants are aware of the issues surrounding depleted uranium use within the industry and the applicable United Kingdom law. [HL3432]

The Environment Agency has contacted major UK airlines and organisations involved in aircraft maintenance and recycling regarding the issues surrounding depleted uranium use within the industry and regulatory requirements under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. The Environment Agency is encouraging the replacement of radioactive aircraft components with those made of non-radioactive materials.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 19 May (

Offshore wind farms had received only around £0.5 million in support from the renewables obligation and climate change levy by May of this year because of the limited amount of offshore capacity actually in place at this point.Only two offshore wind farms existed when the original Question was tabled, a third at Scroby Sands was under construction and is currently undergoing final testing. The first of the two, a small 3.8 MW facility at Blyth, was constructed in 2000, and the second, the 60 MW facility at North Hoyle, was completed in November 2003, and hence had only been receiving support for just six months.This needs to be contrasted with the amount of onshore capacity receiving support at this point, around 650 MW, almost half of which had been in place since the start of the renewables obligation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that there is (a) public consultation about, and (b) pre-legislative scrutiny of, their proposal to introduce legislation banning incitement to religious hatred. [HL3759]

No decision has been taken on the handling and procedures for this proposal, which will be determined in part by the circumstances which pertain when a legislative vehicle is identified. However, the issues surrounding the case for a new offence were the subject of extensive examination during the review by the Select Committee on Religious Offences and the debate on the committee's report which took place on 22 April. The Government recognise that this is an issue of widespread interest and concern to many people. We will of course listen carefully to all views.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend the proposed legislation banning incitement to religious hatred to include only traditional religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam. [HL3760]

Details about the scope of the offence will be set out when we are in a position to publish our proposals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the proposed legislation banning incitement to religious hatred will permit a novelist to be prosecuted in circumstances similar to those which arose in Mr Salman Rushdie's case for writing

The legislation will be targeted at conduct which incites hatred of people because of their religion or beliefs. Its purpose will not be to curb utterances merely because some people may regard them as offensive. As the Home Secretary made clear in his speech to the Institute of Public Policy Research on 7 July, we are confident that concerns that legislation might prevent people debating each other's religion, or from proselytising, will prove to be unfounded.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, following the judgment in the case of

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) bases age assessments on physical appearance and available documentation. IND will always accept a full social services age assessment that also takes into account wider cultural and social factors. IND does not medically assess applicants to determine age, although it would consider a medical assessment prepared independently for an applicant by a consultant paediatrician.IND follows the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health guidance in its 1999 publication,

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure that the National Asylum Support Service website gives up-to-date information about the management, budgets and accounts of the organisation. [HL3883]

The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) website underwent a significant review in December 2003 and its content is kept updated under regular review. We do not publish individual directorate budgets or accounts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total spend of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) in 2003–04; what is its budget for 2004–05; and on what estimates of the number of asylum seekers receiving full NASS support and income-only support respectively (and in each case for what average length of time) the budget is based. [HL3882]

NASS total expenditure consisting of asylum support, administration and grant was £1,124 million for 2002–03. The final outturn for NASS for 2003–04 is not yet available.The total resource budget for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (which includes NASS) in 2004–05 is £1,657 million. The allocation of funding for NASS is not based solely on numbers of asylum seekers but takes into account a range of factors including direct and indirect support costs and cost reduction initiatives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give details of the property contracts entered into by the National Asylum Support Service, giving in each case the value of the contract, the number of dwellings to which it relates, their capacity, and the date on which the contract expires. [HL3884]

Information relating to the contracts National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has with accommodation providers cannot be released because it is commercial in confidence. However I am able to say that NASS has 22 contracts across all providers. Fourteen of the contracts are due to expire between March and November 2005. The remaining eight contracts are due to expire in 2006. In 2002–03, the last year for which figures are available, NASS spent £594 million on accommodation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the insurance policy on H M Removal Centre Harmondsworth will cover the cost of repairing the recent damage as well as additional expense incurred by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on providing alternative accommodation, together with facilities for the interviewing and, where necessary, escorting and removal of Harmondsworth inmates, while repairs are being carried out. [HL3946]

The insurance contract requires the contractor to effect insurance in respect of these expenses, and confirmation of the coverage being in place has been received. The policy should therefore respond to both damage caused and additional expenses incurred subject to the specific terms and conditions, including deductibles, of the policy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consequences they expect from any attempt to enforce the prosecution of beggars. [HL3950]

From the end of July this year, begging will be included as a trigger offence under the criminal justice interventions programme. This will mean that those charged with begging will be drug tested and will enhance their opportunities for the underlying causes of their behaviour to be addressed and to root out repeat offending by offering treatment.We need to ensure that we address the underlying causes of those who beg. If we help those who beg because of drug use to get access to effective treatment we help them, help communities and help those intimidated by begging. Better use of enforcement powers and alternative giving schemes will help to address the underlying and immediate problems.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given the commitment in the Comprehensive Spending Review to produce savings by halving the number of people applying for asylum in the United Kingdom, to what extent the Goverment can control this figure. [HL3981]

The Government recognise the limited control they have over factors that may lead to an increase in the number of people applying for asylum in the United Kingdom. Concerted effort is required on a number of fronts. The work that the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) do to reduce poverty, human rights abuse and conflict in poor or badly governed countries helps to remove the conditions which produce asylum-seeking. The Government have also put in place a range of measures designed to tackle abuse of the system which have already contributed to a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the number of new applications when compared to the peak of October 2002. The Government will continue to seek further reductions in asylum intake through relentless implementation of such measures.The range of measures includes:Juxtaposed Controls the establishment of frontier control zones in key locations overseas to enable UK immigration officers to consider and decide the admissibility of passengers prior to embarkation to the UK. Such controls currently operate at Coquelles, Calais, Dunkirk, Boulogne, Eurostar stations in France and Eurostar stations in Belgium for direct services to the UK.Deployment of new detection technology at key continental ports for the effective searching of vehicles before embarking on ships to the UK.An informed visa strategy (including direct airside transit visas) designed to establish qualification for entry before arrival, and which is kept under regular review with requirements, imposed or lifted in response to immigration pressures and wider considerations.The expansion of the airline liaison officers network abroad offering advice and training to the airlines to control the number of inadequately documented arrivals by air.Alongside this, a number of key initiatives are designed to reduce the attractiveness of the UK as an asylum-seeking destination including the non-suspensive appeals provision (NSA); the Harmondsworth fast track pilot; restricted access to NASS support (RANS).In addition measures in the Asylum & Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Bill will ensure that asylum seekers do not benefit by destroying their documents to prevent removal and will help to make the appeals system faster.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will introduce ethnic monitoring of those subjected to on-the-spot fines. [HL3982]

Fixed penalty notices for disorder, otherwise known as "on-the-spot" fines, are subject to ethnic monitoring. Police officers are required to record ethnicity on the penalty notice and the statistical returns provided to the Home Office require ethnicity to be identified.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their plan to cap the use of imprisonment is compatible with their remarks about a "liberal consensus" in penal policy. [HL3983]

The Government have no plans to cap the use of imprisonment by the courts. It is for the courts to decide when custody is the appropriate sentence. The Government have, however, consistently made clear their belief that prison should be reserved for the most serious, dangerous and seriously persistent offenders. We will ensure that there are sufficient prison places for that group. New sentencing provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 will enable dangerous violent and sexual criminals to be kept in prison until they can be managed in the community, indefinitely if necessary.For other offenders, we wish to see a reduction in the use of short ineffective sentences for lower-level offenders, where tough community penalties would be more effective in preventing reoffending and ensuring offenders pay back to the community.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have plans to reduce the time taken by police stations to respond to telephone calls. [HL3985]

We are committed to improving the quality of service the police provide to the public when they are in contact with them.Call handling is a particularly important aspect of this service. A member of the public should be able to expect the same high quality service whenever they are in contact with the police, which is responsive to their needs, irrespective of where they live.We are working with partners, including the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), to introduce minimum standards for service to the public, including the answering of telephone calls. We will also ensure that people are clear about the best way to contact the police.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether spitting is a criminal offence. [HL3986]

Spitting is a criminal offence under certain local acts, such as railway bylaws, but it is not criminalised under any legisation that has national application.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to resettle the first 500 United Nations-approved refugees under the United Kingdom Gateway Protection Programme; whether this programme has been delayed owing to administrative problems or cost; and whether it will be given priority. [HL3992]

The first refugees to be resettled in Britain under the Gateway Protection Programme arrived from Africa in March 2004. So far a total of 69 have arrived and settled in Sheffield. Further groups will be received and located in a number of towns and cities in the course of the coming months, but it is not yet possible to give the precise numbers involved. Earlier delays to the programme arose as a result of administrative problems both in Britain and in Africa; these have now been settled for the most part. The Government remain committed to the Gateway Programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in appropriate circumstances they will provide better sound insulation to properties under their control to diminish the anti-social effect of loud music. [HL4006]

The Home Office does not make any special provision for insulating properties under its control to diminish the anti-social effect of loud music. The department is not aware that there is a problem with loud music emanating from its properties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether adequate arrangements exist with the government of Kenya to pursue allegations of corruption involving United Kingdom-based companies operating in Kenya; whether the arrangements are satisfactory; and, in particular, whether the Government of Kenya have asked for the Government's assistance in pursuing their investigation of an agreement to provide Kenya with a new passport system, involving a Liverpool-based company, Saagar Associates. [HL3885]

We are responding to requests for information from the competent Kenyan authorities. The British Government have standard arrangements for dealing expeditiously with such requests. The Kenyan Government have asked us not to divulge further details in order to avoid prejudicing ongoing investigations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will propose any further initiative, either bilaterally or through the European Union, to assist the African Union to promote a lasting peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea. [HL3945]

We will continue to press Ethiopia to accept the Boundary Commission decision, which is final and binding, and press Eritrea to participate in the comprehensive political dialogue proposed by the Secretary General's Special Envoy. We are also ready to support African Union efforts to promote a lasting peace.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made with the disarmament of local or provisional militia in Afghanistan; and to what extent they are being absorbed into the national army to make up for slow recruitment and defections. [HL3728]

According to the latest figures we have from the United Nations (UN), by mid-July some 10,000 militia officers and soldiers had passed through the UN-led programme of demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration. Around 2 per cent chose to enlist in the Afghan national army (ANA) or police force as their reintegration option. A further 10 per cent will assist with de-mining. The overwhelming majority of demobilised personnel have elected to enter civilian society through vocational training, small business training or agriculture. The ANA has now expanded to four battalions consisting of around 12,000 personnel in total. ANA units regularly operate effectively alongside coalition forces on arms collection and counter-insurgency missions throughout Afghanistan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the costs of the additional provincial reconstruction teams agreed to be established in Afghanistan at the NATO summit in Istanbul on 28–29 June are to be borne collectively by NATO member states, or by the states providing the teams. [HL3947]

It is standard NATO practice for member states to fund their own deployments. Each provincial reconstruction team (PRT) run under the International Security Assistance Force is headed by a lead nation that funds its own national contingent and the infrastructure needed to support the PRT. Other troop contingents or civilian representatives from partner nations are funded by the country that provides them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the expansion of the NATO presence in Afghanistan will reduce the power of local warlords and tackle the drugs trade. [HL3948]

NATO's agreed plan for expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is based on phased expansion of the network of provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) across Afghanistan. One of the aims of the PRTs is to support the Afghan central government in extending their authority in the regions. The communique from NATO's summit in Istanbul on 28 June states that NATO will provide appropriate support, within ISAF's mandate, to the Afghan authorities in taking resolute action against the production and trafficking of narcotics.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many aid, construction and election workers were killed in Afghanistan in (a) 2003; and (b) the first six months of 2004. [HL3949]

There are no authoritative statistics, but media reporting suggests that 18 aid, construction and election workers died in 2003; and 42 died in the first six months of 2004. These totals include both foreign nationals and Afghan citizens working for the United Nations and nongovermental organisations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the recent proposal of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit for a long-term plan for security in Afghanistan. [HL4039]

We welcome the emphasis on a long-term plan for security in the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit's June briefing paper, "Minimal Investments, Minimal Results: The Failure of Security Policy in Afghanistan". We continually review our own, and partners', efforts in this area, but we believe that a long-term plan already exists and is being implemented.In the short term, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the US-led coalition are assisting the Afghan authorities to build a secure environment. NATO is currently implementing plans for expanding ISAF.In the longer term, sustainable improvement in security can only come through developing the capabilities of Afghanistan's own security and law enforcement institutions. The international community has made a long-term commitment to Security Sector Reform (SSR). The UK has been very active in this. We have committed £70 million over three years from 2003–04 to assist the Afghan authorities in their efforts to combat the production and trafficking of illegal narcotics. The UK is also active in police reconstruction; reform of the Afghan National Army; the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process; and the justice sector. As the paper points out, provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) provide both short and long-term support, helping the Afghan authorities create a more secure and stable environment and thereby facilitating SSR. We fully support the PRT "stabilisation" model promoted in the paper, and the UK PRTs in northern Afghanistan have demonstrated what it can achieve.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What European Union policy areas do not apply to non-European Union members of the European economic area under the European economic area agreement; and [HL4046]What joint European Union-European economic area institutions provide for decision-shaping and decision-making by non-European Union members of the European economic area when European Union bodies are preparing new European economic area-relevant legislation. [HL4053]

The European economic area (EEA) agreement establishes rules to facilitate the movement of goods, services, capital and persons between EU and EEA member states in an open and competitive environment. It binds EEA members into most EU single market rules.Broadly the EEA agreement does not cover the following EU policy areas: