asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will offer financial and technical support to the Government of Somaliland for the parliamentary elections scheduled there in March 2005; and what further encouragement the Commission for Africa will extend to Somaliland for its continuing development of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. [HL4491]

DfID has advised the Somaliland Authorities that we are ready to consider technical support to the parliamentary elections due next year, in collaboration with other donors. It will be for the commissioners to decide on the contents of the Commission for Africa report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel on humanitarian issues affecting the populations of Gaza and the West Bank, including issues of access to hospitals and medical facilities and to olive groves for the harvesting of this year's crop. [HL4614]

The Government, both bilaterally and through the EU, have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our concerns about the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian Territory. Ministers have stressed to the Israeli Government their obligations under international law to avoid causing humanitarian suffering, and to ensure free access by humanitarian agencies in delivering vital humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.Now the olive harvest has begun, DfID will monitor that situation closely too.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, following general improvements in the Russian economy and in average prosperity, they will provide continuing aid for the most disadvantaged groups in Russia such as alcoholics, street children, orphans and children with disabilities. [HL4681]

As part of DfID's programme in Russia, we are working in two regions through Oblast partnership programmes. These programmes include work on addressing the problems of street children, orphans and children with disabilities:Families and children at risk—a component of Leningrad Oblast (Region) partnership programme being implemented during 2004–07 with a budget of approximately £1 million.Targeted social assistance—a component of Nizhny Novgorod partnership programme being implemented during 2004–06 with a budget of approximately £1,800,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consult with the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Damascus and Amman to ensure that adequate assistance is afforded to Chaldo-Assyrian Christians who have recently fled from Iraq. [HL4610]

DfID is currently in the process of liaising with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in order to establish a clearer picture of UNHCR's intentions vis-à-vis this group of refugees.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they are taking, in conjunction with the interim Government of Iraq and the United States, to protect the lives of Chaldo-Assyrian Christians from murder, and their church buildings from destruction by bombs. [HL4609]

UK and US officials in Iraq regularly meet representatives of the Christian communities, as we do other communities, and we have raised our concerns about their treatment with the Iraqi authorities. Our missions in Iraq are monitoring the situation closely. We will continue to support and train the Iraqi security forces to uphold the law of the land and the human rights of all Iraqis, as set down in the transitional administrative law, which remains valid until a new constitution is agreed by an elected Iraqi Assembly after January 2005. We are also supporting various initiatives to encourage dialogue between the representatives of different faiths and sects in Iraq to strengthen co-operation between the many moderates on all sides and to prevent extremists from raising sectarian tensions.We have joined Christian and Muslim leaders in Iraq in condemning the recent deplorable attacks on Christian churches and communities. We also welcomed a statement from Iraq's senior Shia Muslim leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, calling for an end to the attacks and for the need to respect the rights of Christians and those of other religious faiths and their right to live in Iraq peacefully.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that an autonomous region near Mosul should be established for the Chaldo-Assyrian ethnic and religious minority; and whether they will ensure that special provision is made for this minority in any future constitution of Iraq. [HL4611]

Iraq's future constitution and state structure is a matter for the Iraqis to debate and decide in the transitional National Assembly to be elected in January 2005. We will urge the Iraqis to ensure that the fundamental rights of all its citizens are protected, regardless of their sect or ethnicity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What cutbacks have been made in overseas Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff appointments during the years 1999–2004, up to the end of September 2004. [HL4524]

None. During the period for which full details are available financial year 2000–01 financial year 2003–04, total UK based Foreign and Commonwealth Office appointments increased by 16 full-time equivalents.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel concerning the plan to withdraw settlements from Gaza and the risk that this will increase settlements in the West Bank contrary to the road map as currently proposed. [HL4593]

The UK sees Israel's plan to withdraw all settlements from Gaza and some from the West Bank as a positive step. We also believe both Israel and the Palestinian Authority should implement their obligations under the road map. The road map requires that Israel freeze all settlement activity including the naural growth of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001. At their 11 October meeting, EU Foreign Ministers reiterated their view that Israeli withdrawal must be implemented in accordance with the five elements laid down by the European Council in March 2004. One of these elements is that any withdrawal should not involve a transfer of settlement activity to the West Bank. The UK has repeatedly pressed its concerns about continued settlement construction with the Israeli Government, and will continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will press for early elections in the Palestinian Authority to ensure that the leadership of the authority can play a key role in the future peace process. [HL4595]

We have, both bilaterally and through the EU, pressed the Palestinian Authority to hold early, credible and comprehensive elections.At the 11 October General Affairs External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting, EU Foreign Ministers expressed the Council's support for the Palestinian elections, which should conform to international standards, and noted the process of voter registration currently underway. The Council also expressed the opinion that the elections should be held in one step in order to expedite the development of accountable structures of government in the Occupied Territories. The European Union stands ready to further support and assist in the Palestinian electoral process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What faith-based courses are offered in H M Prisons, giving in each case the prison; the faith; the objectives of the course; the methods of evaluating the achievement of the objective; the number of prisoners who have so far completed the course in 2004; and the alternatives available to prisoners with a conscientious objection to the particular faith concerned. [HL4329]

Comprehensive records of faith-based offending-related courses in prisons are not currently held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, Sycamore Tree, a Christian-based course on victim awareness accredited by the Open College Network, is delivered through the chaplaincy in 37 prisons. Two prisons, Swaleside and the Verne, operate Kainos Communities, which are Christian-based and incorporate rehabilitative and therapeutic programmes.Sycamore Tree is a restorative justice programme developed by Prison Fellowship, a registered charity, to help prisoners to accept responsibility for personal action towards their victims and the community. It is based on Christian values such as truth, integrity and responsibility but does not explicitly promote faith and is open to adherents of any or no faith tradition. The aim of the programme is to change prisoners' behaviour and attitudes. Two types of evaluation are used. CRIME-PICS II is used at the beginning and end of the programme to monitor attitudinal change and prisoners also complete a Prison Fellowship end of programme evaluation form. Prison Fellowship advises that approximately 500 prisoners have attended the programme since 1 April 2004. Alternative victim awareness courses are available at some prisons. Improved information will become available centrally from a database being established under Prison Service Order (PSO) 4350 on effective regime interventions.Kainos Communities involve prisoners living for between six and 18 months as part of a supportive community with group work, where they can discuss their current and offending-related behaviour and learn to take responsibility for their own actions and deal with conflict without violence, as well as having access to other courses. Kainos accepts applications from any prisoner regardless of race or religion. The objectives are to create a safe living environment where prisoners can improve their social functioning and employability. Data are collected to determine whether a prisoner is making progress or if he is violating community standards and staff complete evaluation reports on each course attended. There have been 52 Kainos completions at Swaleside in 2004 and 40 at the Verne. Kainos at both prisons are seeking validation through their respective area managers under PSO 4350.The multi-faith chaplaincy teams also run a range of religious education classes and courses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the allegations published in the

Joseph Scholes died aged 16 at Stoke Heath young offender institution on 24 March 2002 while serving a two-year detention and training order. A coroner's inquest on 30 April 2004 returned a verdict of "Accidental death in part contributed to because the risk was not properly recognised and appropriate precautions were not taken to prevent it". The jury stated that, on the evidence presented, the care given to Joseph at Stoke Heath by medical, nursing and other prison staff was appropriate, but that they considered unsuitable the safer clothing provided for Joseph.Prison Service policy is that normal clothing must not be removed from at-risk prisoners as a matter of course, but as necessary for the immediate safety of the prisoner, and then for the shortest time possible. During his first four days at Stoke Heath, while Joseph was located in the healthcare centre in a cell that had elements of safer cell design and was covered by CCTV, it was considered necessary, for his own protection, for Joseph to wear safer (or protective) clothing. He was not wearing such clothing at the time of his death.My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Paul Goggins), announced on 16 September (Hansard col. 159WS) measures taken to ensure that matters raised by the coroner in this case received further consideration. These included the appointment of David Lambert, a former Chief Inspector of Social Services, to examine operational issues on the inquest identified. Mr Lambert's remit includes the appropriateness of safer cell clothing for young offenders at risk of self-harm.There have been a number of key improvements in the care of juveniles in prisons and my honourable friend has made clear his intention to share with Mrs Scholes the learning from this tragic case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the practical differences in treatment and conditions between the use of strip cells in the management of prisoners thought to be at risk of suicide of self-harm and the use of safe cells for that purpose; and [HL4528]Whether they consider the use of (a) strip cells; and (b) safe cells is compatible with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights; and, if so, what are their reasons. [HL4529]

The Government do not believe that the use of unfurnished cells (the preferred term) or safer cells (the term used) violates Article 3. An unfurnished (or special) cell is a cell from which the usual furniture has been removed and which is either totally unfurnished or does not contain basic items of furniture such as a table and chair. Its use is carefully circumscribed and regulated, with safeguards in place. This accommodation is not used as a punishment but for the temporary confinement of a violent or refractory prisoner if it is judged necessary to try to prevent the prisoner injuring another prisoner or staff, damaging property, creating a disturbance, or from self-injury.Prison Service policy is that prisoners identified as being at risk of suicide or self-harm should not be placed in an unfurnished cell, unless in exceptional circumstances they are additionally identified as violent or refractory. In such cases, prisons are required to decide on the appropriate supervision measures to be in place to ensure the safety of the prisoner during the period they remain in that accommodation. Guidelines are being developed to reinforce the need to exhaust all alternative methods of care in such cases before resorting to the use of an unfurnished cell.Safer cells are cells which have specially designed furniture and fixtures which are manufactured and installed to make the attachment of ligatures very difficult, and access to window bars prevented via non-opening windows with integral ventilation grills. The design of these cells can help prisoners and assist staff to manage those distressed prisoners at particular risk of attempting to kill themselves through impulsive acts.All prisoners identified at risk of suicide or self-harm are cared for through the use of a care planning system (currently being reviewed with piloted changes) that aims to provide each prisoner with an individual support plan to meet their needs. This occurs regardless of the type of accommodation they are located in. Such plans might include the utilisation of special support for any mental health and/or drugs/alcohol problems, use of regime activities, problem solving around any personal safety issues, strengthening ties with or re-engaging with family, peer support, or help with resettlement issues.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the approximate total area of land on which farmers permit military training to take place; what is the number and location of such sites; and what the impact on training arrangements would be if such permission were to be withdrawn. [HL4427]

I have assumed that the noble Lord is referring to all landowners rather than farmers specifically in his question. Information on the approximate total area of land on which landowners permit military training to take place and the total number of sites involved is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. I can, however, provide estimates of the approximate number of landowners and general location of sites where military training is permitted to take place in the table below. It should be noted that arrangements for military training are covered by a variety of means ranging from formal leases to periodic ad hoc agreements with landowners and are liable to change on an annual basis.The impact of the loss of opportunities for training on private land is being considered. We would seek to mitigate any major potential adverse effects by relocating a significant amount of this training to MoD-owned land. However, it is too early to assess the full effects of withdrawal of landowners' permissions to the MoD as a whole.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied that neither the use of organophosphates as pesticides nor of pyridostigmine bromide to protect against nerve gas could have exposed troops involved in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict to neurotoxins; and when pyridostigmine bromide was last given to British troops. [HL4496]

Our approach continues to be guided by the balance of scientific evidence available. No case of acute organophosphate poisoning was recorded in UK troops in the Gulf in 1990–91. The current balance of evidence does not support the existence of adverse health effects arising from long-term low dose organophosphate exposure.The published peer-reviewed scientific evidence confirms that there can be short-term effects associated with pyridostigmine, and these were identified in personnel in the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. However, the adverse effects reduce and disappear when the use of pyridostigmine bromide is discontinued. Pyridostigmine bromide in the form of nerve agent pre-treatment set (NAPS) tablets was last issued to Service personnel deployed during OP TELIC in 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What visits of Royal Navy vessels to Chilean ports were planned for July and August this year; and which of those visits actually took place. [HL4512]

There were no visits by Royal Navy vessels to Chilean ports during July and August this year. A visit from HMS "Leeds Castle" was planned, but in the event, the port visit offered by the Chilean authorities proved impractical due to time and distance constraints.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the detailed disposal programme for Royal Navy vessels up to the end of 2007. [HL4513]

On current plans, the fleet ships and submarines listed will reach the end of their service lives on the following dates and will then be disposed of:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the detailed disposal programme for Royal Navy aircraft up to the end of 2007. [HL4514]

There are no plans to dispose of Royal Navy fixed-wing aircraft in the period up to the end of 2007. The Sea Harrier FA2 aircraft, which form part of joint force Harrier and come under the command and control of RAF strike command, will be withdrawn from service by 31 March 2006 and will be available subsequently for disposal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the detailed disposal programme for Royal Navy helicopters up to the end of 2007. [HL4515]

The only planned disposal of Royal Navy helicopters between now and the end of 2007 are the withdrawal from service of the remaining two Sea King Mk6 aircraft. This will take place by March 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How long Colonel Bhatt worked for the Medical Assessment Programme of the Ministry of Defence; and when and why he ceased to do so. [HL4547]

Colonel Bhatt worked as a service consultant physician in the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme from November 1996 to June 1997. As was made clear in paragraph 14 of the Gulf Veterans' Illnesses: A New Beginning document, published on 14 July 1997, he left at his own request to go to another post.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Royal Navy was responsible for certifying the seaworthiness of the Canadian submarine HMCS "Chicoutimi" (formerly HMS "Upholder") before it set sail for Canada recently. [HL4577]

Following refurbishment and reactivation, HMCS "Chicoutimi" (formerly HMS "Upholder") met all appropriate Royal Navy standards for acceptance and operational service, by the handover to the Canadians on 2 October 2004. The Royal Navy endorsed the submarine's clearance for sea using the Royal Navy's acceptance procedures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to undertake a revaluation of domestic properties in England for the purpose of council tax. [HL4663]

The revaluation of the English domestic property stock will start after the antecedent valuation date (AVD) that being 1 April 2005. Thereafter a new property list based on the values as at the AVD will be published in draft on 1 September 2006, six months before the list comes into force for council tax billing purposes on 1 April 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What would have been the total cost this year if the ceilings applied to the new formula grant scheme for local authorities in England, broken down by class of authority, had not been applied and floors had been maintained. [HL4666]

The White Paper Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services announced our intention of having floors and ceilings within the local government finance settlement. The floors ensure that all authorities receive a reasonable increase in grant each year on a like-for-like basis. These must be paid for within the total amount of grant that goes to authorities each year. If there had been no ceilings then the full cost of the floor would have to have been met by the scaling factor.The total cost of floors for each floor and ceiling group for 2004–05 is tabled below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much diabetes types 1 and 2 cost the National Health Service annually; whether they will institute a universal screening programme for type 2 diabetes; and whether they will provide funding for the self-monitoring of blood glucose for those with type 2 diabetes. [HL4575]

The recent report by Wanless Securing good health for the whole population: Final report—February 2004 states that the total cost of treating type 1 and type 2 diabetes is £1.3 billion per year.The evidence does not support general population screening for type 2 diabetes. There is emerging evidence to suggest that it may be clinically and cost effective to screen specific sub-groups of the population who are at high risk of developing diabetes. The National Service Framework for Diabetes: Delivery Strategy committed the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) to advise the Department of Health by 2005 on the most effective policy for screening for type 2 diabetes. The NSC is undertaking a project to assess the feasibility of screening in primary care those at greatest risk of diabetes.The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance of management of type 2 diabetes—blood glucose in September 2002. Funding to meet recommendations of the NICE has been included in the allocations made to primary care trusts for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. However, this funding is not separately identified. The total of PCT allocations is £45 billion for 2003–04, £49.3 billion for 2004–05 and £53.9 billion for 2005–06. This represents an increase of £12.7 billion or an average of 30.8 per cent over the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06. Therefore the Secretary of State for Health expects patients treated under the criteria in the NICE guidance to have their therapy funded by the PCT trust.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What special measures they will introduce for those in the Asian population over 60 who contract diabetes. [HL4576]

The Government are aware that people of south Asian origin are up to six times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.The explicit objectives of the National Service Framework for Diabetes include the provision of services that are person centred, enabling people with diabetes to adopt a healthier lifestyle and to manage their own diabetes through education and support that recognises the importance of lifestyle, culture and religion, and where necessary, tackles the adverse impact of material disadvantage and social exclusion. Services should be equitable, planned to meet the needs of the population, including specific groups within the population, and appropriate to needs of the individual. Therefore, primary care trusts will need to develop services that reflect these principles by looking at diversity and need in their own populations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in the light of the effect that epilepsy has on a child's ability to learn and memorise, they issue advice to examination boards, local education authorities and schools to ensure sympathetic treatment of children suffering from epilepsy. [HL4565]

Guidance on how to ensure that candidates with special medical conditions such as epilepsy have appropriate access to examinations is issued by the Joint Council for Qualifications. The joint council's current guidance is published in the document Regulations and Guidance Relating to Candidates who are Eligible for Adjustments in Examinations; which is available at http:/www.jcgg.org.uk/index2.asp.The DfES and DoH joint guidance

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many canals in England and Wales are used solely for leisure and tourism. [HL4562]

Canals in England and Wales are used for a variety of purposes but predominantly for leisure and tourist activities such as boating, walking, cycling and angling. They therefore make an important contribution to tourism in this country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the lowest quantity of cigarettes or alcohol brought into this country for personal consumption which has been confiscated by HM Customs and Excise. [HL4591]

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Travellers entering the UK from countries outside the EU are entitled to a statutory allowance and Customs may seize any quantity of cigarettes or alcohol over these limits.For a transitional period limits also remain in place on the amount of tobacco products that travellers can bring back from eight of the member states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004, and again, any amounts in excess of these restrictions may be seized.Customs do not confiscate EU duty paid tobacco and alcohol from travellers entering the UK from the existing pre 1 May 2004 member states of the EU where they believe those goods are for their own use.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is appropriate that a general medical practitioner whose registration was suspended by the General Medical Council in February 2000 should continue to be a medical adviser to the War Pensions Appeal Tribunal. [HL4441]

There may be grounds for the Lord Chancellor to remove a medical member of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal who has had their registration suspended by the General Medical Council. Such suspension may invalidate their statutory qualifications as a tribunal member, or otherwise raise doubts as to their suitability for the position.It would, of course, be impossible to comment on whether a particular general medical practitioner should be suspended from their position as a medical member of the tribunal until the full facts of the matter have been assessed. If the noble Countess has a particular case in mind, I invite her to write back to me with further details so the matter can be properly investigated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who appoints Lord Lieutenants and High Sheriffs; and what are their duties. [HL4525]

High Sheriffs in most of England and Wales are appointed by Her Majesty in Council. Their formal role is now largely ceremonial but they are also involved in the encouragement of charitable and community work in their respective counties. They receive no remuneration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cases of death were awaiting inquest in Northern Ireland on 1 September; and what steps are being taken to reduce the backlog in such cases awaiting inquest in Northern Ireland. [HL4570]

Information on the number of cases awaiting inquest in Northern Ireland is not available as the decision to hold an inquest is a discretionary power exercised by the coroner. It is only when a coroner has carried out investigations into the death that he can reach a decision whether or not to hold an inquest or dispose of the case by other means.An increase of the coronial judicial complement of one additional full-time deputy and one additional part-time coroner was made in October 2001 to address backlogs and the handling of complex inquests. Also, in order to improve the administrative support for the Coroners Service, a number of additional staff have been appointed to court offices to provide enhanced administrative support for part-time coroners. In more complex cases, counsel are appointed to assist the coroner with the presentation of evidence at inquests.In February 2004, the Northern Ireland Court Service published for public consultation proposals for administrative redesign of the Coroners Service. These proposals are intended to modernise and improve the service to relatives of the deceased person.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration they have given to the publication by John Grooms, a charity providing services for people with disabilities, of

The recommendations made by the John Grooms charity span the interests of a number of government departments. As the report was published only very recently, departments are still studying the report and its recommendations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the coming into force of the Export Control Act 2002, what plans they have for full extra-territorial control over the United Kingdom arms brokers operating from overseas, thus evading licensing. [HL4375]

Under the Trade in Goods (Embargoed Destinations) Order 2004 and the Trade in Goods (Control) Order 2003, implemented under the Export Control Act 2002, fully extraterritorial controls already apply on UK persons anywhere in the world who seek to trade in military equipment to destinations under a full arms embargo imposed by the EU, OSCE or UK (additional extraterritorial controls on trade to destinations subject to UN embargo are in place under the UN Act 1946), and to those who seek to trade in long-range missiles and their component parts or in torture equipment to any destination.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which British Internet service companies have followed the lead of British Telecom by installing software to block material showing child pornography; and how many have not yet done so. [HL4353]

The UK has led the world in having Internet service industries (both fixed and mobile), government and law enforcement agencies working together to reduce child pornography on the Internet. According to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), less then 1 per cent of child pornography on the Internet is hosted in the UK.The Government encourage any measure which BT or any other Internet service providers can take to reduce the availability of child abuse images. However, the Government do not have a list of companies that have chosen to follow BT's lead in the blocking of Internet material containing child pornography.DTI and Home Office Ministers have met with representatives of Internet service providers to discuss how to further reduce access to child abuse images online and this dialogue continues. I understand that, like BT, Vodafone blocks access to sites listed by the IWF and that other service providers are considering similar measures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:According to what criteria they can intervene in takeovers of football clubs by non-United Kingdom citizens; and whether they are giving any consideration to strengthening their power to intervene. [HL4494]

Mergers and takeovers are considered by the independent competition authorities against a competition test. Ministers can intervene only in cases which raise tightly defined "public interest considerations". The only considerations currently specified relate to national security and media mergers. There are no public interest considerations relevant to takeovers of football clubs, or to takeovers generally by non-UK citizens, in the Enterprise Act and there are no plans to change this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action is open to them to prevent Manchester United Football Club being taken over by a single owner. [HL4495]

Under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002 it is for the independent competition authorities to determine whether an acquisition of Manchester United Football Club, if it reaches the qualifying thresholds for investigation, should be allowed to proceed. The legislation does not draw a distinction between how single acquirers and groups of acquirers should be treated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many combined heat and power plants are currently operational; and what were the respective figures for the years 1999 to 2003. [HL4480]

The figures below show the number of CHP schemes in operation at the end of each year since 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will reach their combined heat and power plants target for the current year; and, if not, by what percentage they will fail. [HL4481]

The Government target for combined heat and power, announced in 2000, is to achieve at least 10,000 megawatts of good quality CHP capacity by 2010. There are no interim targets but the Government will continue to monitor progress towards its 2010 target.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what criteria their new scoring scheme for defending coastal defence was based; and [HL4478]Whether the new scoring scheme for defending coastal defence takes into account any way of properly valuing heritage or historical sites; and whether local opinions are taken into account. [HL4479]

The Government provide grant aid for flood and coastal defence improvement projects promoted by the operating authorities—the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards—subject to eligibility criteria which includes meeting a set threshold priority score. A revised scoring system took effect from April 2003, to apply equally to coastal and inland projects.Proposed projects are allocated a score based on a combination of three elements—(i) benefits as compared to cost, (ii) the number of people protected as measured by the number of households at risk and (iii) protection and enhancement of environmental assets. Both (ii) and (iii) are measured per unit of project cost. Additionally, the score can be modified slightly to reflect (a) risk, (b) vulnerability of people in the area and (c) protection of heritage assets.Estimation of project benefits and scores is a matter for the relevant operating authority using the Government's appraisal guidance which is published on the Defra website. Authorities are encouraged to quantify benefits arising from protection of all assets as far as possible, including heritage assets. Higher benefits will tend to increase a project's priority score.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have plans to lift the mandatory retirement age of 60 for civil servants. [HL4392]

In line with all employers in the public and private sector, the Government believe that the Civil Service should be allowed to determine retirement age policy with regard to its business needs while giving staff as much choice as possible about when they retire. Departments and agencies are free to set the normal retirement age for their own staff subject only to the requirement that the minimum age at which civil servants can retire with an unreduced pension is currently 60.Against this background, 80 per cent of the Civil Service now has the option to remain in work until 65, and a further 11 per cent has the option to remain in work on short service concessions. Those departments and agencies which have decided that there is a strong case for retaining a retirement age of 60 in the current circumstances will be expected to continue to reexamine the issue and look positively at offering more flexibility to older staff.The normal retirement age for the senior Civil Service is 60. However, heads of departments and agency chief executives have the flexibility to retain members of the senior Civil Service beyond 60 if they judge it to be in the public interest and are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties.Once the Department of Trade and Industry announces the consequences for retirement age in the UK of implementing the EU Directive on Equal Treatment, the Civil Service will need to review its arrangements to ensure compliance with any revision to the legal framework.While retirement age and pension age are not necessarily the same, they are linked. The Government's Green Paper,