asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prosecutions for incitement to racial hatred there have been in each of the last five years. [HL384]

The offences of incitement to racial hatred are set out in Part III of the Public Order Act 1986, Sections 18 to 23. In relation to offences of incitement to racial hatred, five prosecutions were commenced in 2000, three prosecutions were commenced in 2001, one prosecution was commenced in 2002, no prosecutions were commenced in 2003 and one prosecution has been commenced to date in 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 18 November (

There has been a significant number of studies on this subject over the years and it would not be practicable to list every piece of research or every commissioning body. However, there have been two recent, comprehensive and authoritative analyses of these issues which have been published by public bodies in Northern Ireland.The report,

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 18 November (

Within the labour market, there are three crucial measurement areas relating to: employment, unemployment, and economic inactivity.Each of these three labour market measures can be expressed in terms of rates for individual groups and comparisons made across groups. Taking the labour market as a whole, it is not possible to say that one measure is more significant than another as they reflect separate yet interrelated components of the labour market.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was their reason for obtaining an exemption from the European Equal Treatment Directive 2000/78/EC in relation to the employment of teachers in Northern Ireland. [HL216]

As stated in my Answer of 7 July (WA 81) an exemption from the Employment Directive: Council Directive 2000/78/EC was obtained only in relation to the recruitment of teachers in schools in Northern Ireland.European Equal Treatment Directive 2000/78/EC as initially proposed would have meant that the exemption in the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 would have had to be removed without having regard to the issues and sensitivities of the local community in relation to the education of their children and the complexion of their schools.Following negotiations with the European Commission it was agreed that in order to maintain a balance of opportunity in employment for teachers in Northern Ireland while furthering the reconciliation of historical differences between the major religious communities, the provisions on religion or belief in the directive should not apply to the recruitment of teachers in schools in Northern Ireland in so far as is expressly authorised by national legislation.This change was introduced by the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 which came into operation on 10 December 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7 September (

I understand that the Ulster-Scots Agency withheld publication of one edition of the Ulster-Scot newspaper, earlier this year.This was an interim and precautionary step taken by the agency's board at a time when it was reviewing its budget as part of the normal in-year expenditure profiling process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How much funding each cross-border implementation body has been allocated for 2005, treating the two parts of the Language Body as two separate bodies; and what the percentage increase is since 2004. [HL261]

Funding allocations for the North/South implementation bodies for 2005 have not yet been finalised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the proposed allocation of funding to the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for each of the next three years. [HL303]

I refer the noble Lord to the publication Draft priorities and Budget 2005–08 for the information requested.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Against what criteria the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland considers the results of consultation about funding. [HL308]

The overarching principles that influence consultations on funding are contained within the DCAL corporate strategy and its public service agreement. It is a fundamental requirement for bodies seeking funding from DCAL to demonstrate how their organisations, and their integral business plans, will contribute to the strategic aims of the department.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are encouraging the Northern Ireland departments to support London's hid for the Olympic Games of 2012; and, if so, in view of the cutbacks of funding proposed for the Sports Council, how the departments are able to provide such support. [HL307]

The Government have asked all Northern Ireland departments to support the bid and subsequently the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has set up a regional inter-departmental coordinating steering group. In relation to the question of funding no decision has been made. The proposals set out in the draft priorities and budget 2005–08 were the subject of consultation and the final budget position is under consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many "glossy" documents, including consultative documents, each Northern Ireland Office department has produced in each of the last three years; and what has been the cost. [HL321]

The Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Administration commission produce a very large number of documents in a wide range of formats.The information sought by the noble Lord could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 2 December (

The report contains personal information and information provided in confidence and therefore it would be inappropriate, under Paragraphs 12 (Privacy of an Individual) and 14 (Information given in Confidence) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, to place a copy in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 1 December (

The underspend in 2003–04 mainly reflected slippages in both the capital investment programme and executive programme fund projects. These slippages have been honoured in 2004–05 to continue or complete the relevant projects or schemes and the money allocated for them has been fully used.A determined programme of action is in place to reduce hospital waiting lists and waiting times across Northern Ireland. This has resulted in 95 per cent of patients receiving their treatment within 12 months and almost 75 per cent within three months. Moreover, inpatient and day-case waiting lists have fallen by 10,000 over the past two years. A regional steering group has been established to oversee a significant regional programme of work to further reduce waiting times. Targets have been set to ensure that by 31 March 2005, other than in exceptional circumstances, no patient is waiting for in-patient or day-case treatment for more than 18 months, and by March 2006, no longer than 15 months. An additional £8.5 million was allocated in 2004–05 to support this work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the alleged destruction of information and documents by government departments, as reported in the

All organisations responsible for public records carry out the disposal of records not identified as worthy of permanent preservation according to agreed disposal schedules. The mechanism covering disposals of public records is set out in Section 3 of the Public Records Act 1958, which places a duty upon every person responsible for such records to make arrangements for their safe-keeping and for the selection of any records which ought to be permanently preserved.Departmental action to select records worthy of permanent preservation, and to destroy those not selected, is carried out under the guidance, coordination and supervision of the Keeper of Public Records and trained National Archives staff. The National Archives (TNA) has developed a raft of policies and guidance in the area of records management and selection. Precise criteria for the disposal of public records vary from department to department, in accordance with their business needs.Further information can be obtained from the National Archives website at:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to provide the Royal Navy with fast patrol vessels having a substantially smaller displacement and a lower cost than conventional frigates and destroyers. [HL176]

The type and size of the future and surface combatant (FSC) platforms will be driven by the future capability requirement. The FSC project is still in its concept phase. No decision has yet been taken about the timescale for delivering the FSC capability and studies continue to develop ideas for the platform solution.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many officer cadets from foreign countries have been accepted for officer training at:

The table below shows how many officer cadets from foreign countries have undertaken training, from 2000 to 2004, at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and Royal Air Force College, Cranwell.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the mission of the Ministry of Defence campaign Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers. [HL292]

The SaBRE campaign is a Ministry of Defence funded national marketing campaign which was launched in 2002. It aims to win and maintain the support of employers for the volunteer reserves and its goal is to ensure that 80 per cent of reservists in employment work for supportive employers. SaBRE's principal aim is, therefore, to gain the support of employers who are unsupportive, or whose support is unknown. It also works to ensure that supportive employers remain so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What financial provision is made by the Ministry of Defence for the campaign Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers. [HL293]

For the financial year 2004–05, £2,643 million has been allocated to the SaBRE campaign.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What increase in resources for the campaign Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers was made by the Ministry of Defence in Order to meet increased activity levels arising from Operation TELIC. [HL294]

In recognition of the increased mobilisation associated with Operation TELIC, in the financial year 2003–04, expenditure was increased by £230,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether financial assistance is available to meet the travel expenses incurred by parents visiting their sick children or elderly relatives in National Health Service hospitals; if so, what amount was expended for this purpose in the latest year for which figures are available; and in relation to how many people. [HL343]

The hospital travel costs scheme funds transport to hospital for patients, and an escort where medically necessary, where the patient is in receipt of certain benefits or on a low income. Although assistance with travel costs for visiting relatives is not included in the scope of the scheme, hospitals have the discretion to give this assistance for patients who have a clinical need for visitors and in many cases already do so.Financial expenditure figures for the hospital travel costs scheme are not collected centrally at the Department of Health.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What accommodation, if any, is available in National Health Service hospitals for a parent needing to maintain close contact with a sick child; and [HL344]Whether departmental guidance is issued to National Health Service trusts about appropriate financial arrangements for accommodating parents needing to maintain close contact with a sick child; and [HL345]What evidence is there that parental stays in hospital, on the advice of professional staff, have any impact in reducing the length of stay in hospital of a sick child. [HL346]

Accommodation is generally available for parents attending their sick children in hospital. This ranges from separate overnight facilities to folding beds by the child's bed and use of a sitting room, kitchen and washing facilities. The nature of the accommodation usually reflects the child's needs and length of stay. The National Service Framework for Children: Standard .for Hospital Services issued in April 2003 states that facilities should cater for parents and siblings with suitable provision for overnight stays and access to meals and relaxation. No charge should be made for accommodation. A number of papers note the beneficial effects of parental access to their children whilst in hospital and subsequently in managing the transition from hospital to home, safely and without delay.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the members of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and its advisers have professional connections with the architectural and property development industries; if so, what are those connections; and whether individuals with any such connections: (a) declare them; and (b) take no part in any discussion on projects in which there might be a perceived conflict of interest. [HL290]

In setting up the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recognised that for it to be a credible organisation with the professions, CABE needed to include active representatives from a number of relevant fields. Therefore commissioners and their advisers have professional connections with the architectural and property development industries.The Cabinet Office's

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the current terms of reference of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. [HL291]

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) is a company limited by guarantee (company no: 3831652). Under its memorandum and articles of association, the objects of CABE are:

• 3.1 to advance, for the public benefit, by whatever means are thought fit and whether charitable or not charitable, education including aesthetic education in architecture, design, management and maintenance in the built environment by, in particular,
• (a) promoting and encouraging the attainment of high standards in all areas of architecture, design, management and maintenance in the built environment; and
• (b) promoting an understanding and appreciation of architecture, design, management and maintenance in the built environment.
• 3.2 to provide, for the benefit of the community, by whatever means are thought fit, public works, services and amenities; and
• 3.3 generally to further, by whatever means are thought fit, any other purpose beneficial to the community relating to architecture, design management and maintenance in the built environment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans have been made, if any, to commemorate next year the Battle of Trafalgar 1805; and, if plans are not yet in hand, whether they propose to hold such a commemoration. [HL333]

The bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar is the inspiration for SeaBritain 2005, a national celebration of Britain's maritime heritage and links with the sea. SeaBritain 2005 is an initiative led by the National Maritime Museum, in partnership with many leading national and regional bodies, including VisitBritain, the Official Nelson Commemorations Committee, the Royal Navy and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.At the heart of

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 28 October (

There is no estimate of the actual shortfall in trained book conservators for the requirements of UK national and regional libraries, museums and archives. However, DCMS is supporting the development of two sector skills councils (for lifelong learning and creative and cultural industries), which will be responsible for mapping the skills of the UK workforce, and identifying any gaps such as book conservation.The British Library needs to recruit a minimum of four new book conservators each year to maintain existing levels, and estimates that only three graduates from this field each year go on to work in UK public sector conservation centres. To address this shortfall the British Library plans to offer its own conservation courses from 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they believe that the cleanliness of the streets and roads in the London area will be a factor in the decision on Britain's application to host the 2012 Olympic Games; and, if so, what steps they are taking to improve the present situation. [HL404]

In evaluating London's bid to stage the 2012 Olympic Games, the IOC will assess its strength across the 17 themes contained within London's candidature file (which was laid before the House on 19 November). As part of the bidding process London 2012 is working with the London boroughs and Transport for London to ensure we project a positive image of the city—and ensuring the everyday business of keeping London's streets clean is part of that.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they will take to cause Brittany Ferries to change its policy of refusing to carry guide or help dogs on its services from British ports. [HL275]

Department for Transport officials met with the management team at Brittany Ferries earlier this year to discuss the company's policy on the carriage of assistance dogs.Following that meeting Brittany Ferries agreed to set up a trial with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA). We understand that the trial is due to take place this month. We will follow up with Brittany Ferries and the GDBA when the results of that trial are reported.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the cost of providing badger runs and repairing railway embankments damaged by badgers for each of the railway regions for each year since 1997. [HL298]

This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail will respond directly to the noble Countess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 1 December (

Policies relating to the prevention of suicides on the railways are kept under constant review. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the independent railway health and safety regulator, continues to take a proactive approach to ensuring that unauthorised access to the railway infrastructure is minimised. However, it is virtually impossible to prevent a determined individual from gaining access to the railway.The rail industry's Rail Fatality Management Group works with other agencies, including mental health organisations, to deal with the problem of suicides on the railways. The group is working to develop guidelines for preventing suicides and handling their aftermath.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the permit fees payable by utility companies who wish to dig up the highway, laid down in the Traffic Management Act 2004, are sufficient to cover the costs to local government of administering the permit scheme, particularly in high cost areas such as London. [HL312]

The level of permit fees has yet to be agreed. That level will need to take account of highway authorities' existing duties in assessing the cost to them of operating permit schemes, and hence any fees to be paid. We intend going out to public consultation on the proposed level of the fee and other details of permit schemes shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the fixed penalty fines laid down in the Traffic Management Act 2004 for breaches of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 are sufficient, in view of the fact that these criminal offences are pursued through the magistrates' courts where the costs incurred by highway authorities exceed the likely fines imposed. [HL313]

The Traffic Management Act 2004 increased the maximum fine for offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 which are prosecuted through the courts from level 3 (£1,000) to level 4 or 5 (£2,500 or £5,000 respectively). The new maximum fines have been brought in by the first commencement order under the 2004 Act for offences occurring on or after 4 October 2004. It is too early to say what effect this will have on the level of prosecutions by street authorities.The 2004 Act also introduced a system of fixed penalty notices for breaches of seven offences under the 1991 Act. This is intended to provide street authorities with an alternative system of pursuing offences without recourse to the magistrates' courts. The aim will be to set a fixed penalty level which will act as a deterrent to possible offenders, yet will be low enough to make payment attractive so as to avoid involving the courts. The Department for Transport plans to consult shortly on the proposals for fixed penalty notices, including the level of penalty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend that the flexibility for local authorities to use the net revenue from parking enforcement penalty notices issued under the Traffic Management Act 2004 should extend to all functions or be confined to those relating to transport. [HL374]

Section 95 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (application of surplus income from parking places) was commenced on 4 October 2004 so that all authorities can now spend surplus income on local environmental improvements as well as provision of public passenger transport service and road improvements. We intend to make regulations in 2005 giving prescribed local authorities the freedom to spend surplus income for any purpose for which they may lawfully incur expenditure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What public sector funding has been sought to finance the construction of the proposed Great Yarmouth outer harbour. [HL335]

Funding to finance the construction of the proposed Great Yarmouth outer harbour is being sought from the East of England Development Agency, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Norfolk County Council and the objective 2 east of England programme of the European Regional Development Fund.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many dogs will be permitted on a legal shoot, involving more than one person, once the Hunting Act 2004 comes into force. [HL239]

A shooting party may employ as many dogs as it likes, provided they are not used for hunting prohibited under the Hunting Act 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place a copy of the Pesticides Safety Directorate's

The report on PSD's recent exercise, seeking information from approval holders on all reports and enquiries that they received during 2002 on the possible effects of pesticides on human health, is still in the course of completion. It has been seen in draft by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and comments made by committee members are now being taken on board in producing the final report.The Pesticides Safety Directorate intends to publish it as soon as possible and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House at that time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prosecutions for speeding there have been in each United Kingdom police authority since 1 January 2003. [HL34]

Information for England and Wales and Scotland, for 2002 (latest available) is given in Table A and B respectively. Figures for 2003 will not be available until early in 2005.The number of Northern Ireland prosecutions for speeding during the calendar year 2002 was 3,384. Information for 2003 will not be available until January 2005.