asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether interview panels within the Northern Ireland Civil Service are given details of sick leave records or educational qualifications of any candidates. [HL379]

Sick leave records are not made available to interview panels. Candidates with an unacceptable level of sick absence are not invited to interview.Details of educational qualifications are not provided to interview panels for general service promotion competitions. However, for some departmental or trawl competitions to fill vacancies in specialist grades, interview panels are provided with details of candidates' educational qualifications.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will call a meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly to select an Executive comprising only those parties who are committed to democratic means. [HL458]

We shall end the suspension of the devolved institutions once there is a political foundation for resumed devolved government. The Northern Ireland Assembly would meet once suspension was lifted. The selection of the Executive would follow according to the arrangements set out in the Northern Ireland Act 1998; the Secretary of State has no general power to specify which parties would be involved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the terms of the investigation into allegations of bullying, harassment and mismanagement at Waterways Ireland; and what period the investigation covered.[HL461]

Independent investigators were appointed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs jointly to carry out a thorough, detailed and impartial investigation into allegations by a member of staff of Waterways Ireland of bullying and harassment and allegations questioning recruitment and promotion practices in the body and to recommend whether further action is required. The investigation covered the period from April 2000 to December 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What qualifications were specified in the recruitment of the Chief Executive and Director of Waterways Ireland; and how many applications there were for each post. [HL489]

The number of applications for each post, according to records held by the consultants appointed in the recruiting process, were as follows:

Chief Executive:	67 applications received
Director of Operations:	24 applications received
Director of Finance & Personnel:	14 applications received
Director of Technical Services:	14 applications received
Director of Corporate Services:	29 applications received

The above posts were subject to open competition and the specifications for each post have been placed in the Library.The post of Director of Marketing and Communications at Waterways Ireland was not filled by open competition and I would refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 12 October 2004 (

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date the Northern Ireland Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure became aware of allegations of staff bullying, harassment and mismanagement at Waterways Ireland; and on what date an investigation was authorised. [HL490]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 12 October 2004 (col. WA 50 )The sponsor departments for Waterways Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in the South compiled the terms of reference for an investigation. This was put to the concerned parties in June 2003. The investigation was authorised when these terms were accepted by them in July 2003

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the investigation into harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland, all the 21 staff who complained (a) had their cases investigated; and (b) were interviewed; and what were the results of the investigation. [HL516]

The complaint that has been investigated concerns allegations made by one member of staff at Waterways Ireland. He (a) has had his case investigated and (b) was interviewed. A report on the investigation has been completed and it is being acted upon by the two sponsor departments and by Waterways Ireland.A further 20 members of staff have collectively alleged bullying and harassment at Waterways Ireland. This complaint will be dealt with by the body under internal procedures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all the complainants in the investigation into staff harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland have been informed in writing of all the findings of the investigation; and, if so, on what date. [HL519]

The complainant, who alleged harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland, was informed in writing of the findings of the investigation on 3 December 2004.A further 20 staff made a collective allegation of harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland and this will be dealt with by the body under internal procedures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to take any action against those concerned in the allegations of staff harassment and bullying at Waterways Ireland in advance of their responses to the results of the investigation. [HL520]

The report into allegations of bullying and harassment at Waterways Ireland which takes account of the responses of the individuals concerned is now complete and it is being acted upon by both sponsor departments and by the body.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What reports they have received of arms shipments to the rebels in Côte d'Ivoire. [HL542]

Since the imposition of a United Nations arms embargo on 15 November 2004, Ivorian newspapers have reported arms shipments to the Forces Nouvelles. We have not received any corroboration of these allegations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What reports they have received of the call by the Force Commander of the United Nations operations in Côte d'lvoire for that force's mandate to be reassessed. [HL586]

The Secretary-General's most recent report on the United Nations operation in Côte d'lvoire (UNOCI), published on 9 December, recommends strengthening the ability of UNOCI to implement its mandate. Measures recommended include the deployment of an additional 1,226 military personnel to join the operation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider that the United Nations Security Council is responding with sufficient speed to the situation in Côte d'lvoire. [HL587]

An arms embargo on Côte D'lvoire is in place and the Sanctions Committee of Côte d'lvoire has begun its work and held meetings on 6 and 16 December 2004. The United Nations Security Council supports the African Union (AU) peace initiative led by South African President Mbeki, and will discuss next steps on 15 January, based on his report on the AU Political and Security Committee on 10 January.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the following provisions are still in force, and binding upon the high contracting parties:

The 1960 Treaty Concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cyprus Treaty of Guarantee were both signed in Nicosia on 16 August 1960. They remain in force, and are binding upon the high contracting parties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have made representations to the Russian Government about the cases of the journalists Paul Klebnikov, Andrei Babitski, Raf Shakirov and Anna Politkovskaya; if so, with what results; and whether international organisations have had any satisfaction as regards the impunity of the journalists' attackers. [HL495]

We raised our concerns about media freedom in Russia, and specifically attacks and harassment of journalists in Russia, during out bilateral human rights discussions with the Russian Government in September 2004. We will reiterate these concerns and raise these specific cases at the next round of human rights discussions with the Russian Government in early 2005. In addition, staff at our Embassy in Moscow continue to raise concerns about media freedoms in Russia at every suitable opportunity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What priority they accord conflict resolution across the globe as part of their strategy for global security. [HL512]

The Foreign and Commonwealth's (FCO) strategy, published in 2003, included "an international system based on the rule of law, which is better able to resolve disputes and prevent conflicts", as one of the Government's eight highest strategic international priorities for the UK. In support of this objective, the FCO, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development share the following joint public service agreement target: "By 2007–08, improve effectiveness of UK and international support for conflict prevention, through addressing long-term structural causes of conflict, managing regional and national tension and violence, and supporting post-conflict reconstruction, where the UK can make a significant difference, in particular Africa, Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East".Effort to prevent and resolve conflict is fundamental to the Government's multilateral and bilateral security activity. The Government are actively engaged around the world in conflict resolution, for example in Afghanistan, west Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans. The Government are also working hard to improve multilateral institutions' willingness and ability to act effectively in preventing and resolving conflicts, including in the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and through the development of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Union security and defence capabilities. The Government will use their G8 presidency in 2005 to reinforce efforts to improve security and stability in Africa. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has welcomed the report of the UN Secretary General's High-Level Panel, published on 2 December 2004, which makes a wide range of recommendations aimed at improving the international response to threats to global peace and security. The Government will be giving the UN Secretary General firm support in taking this agenda forward.The FCO strategy and strategic priorities are available on the Internet at the following address—

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the venue, agenda and prospective participants for the forthcoming high-level London conference to discuss Palestine and Israel. [HL555]

During his visit to Israel and Palestine on 22 December, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced his intention to hold a meeting in London to support the new Palestinian leadership and help them to prepare the disengagement and to implement the road map. In particular we hope the meeting can help the new Palestinian Authority leadership to build up the Palestinian political, economic and security infrastructure which will help to underpin a future Palestinian state. We plan to invite members of the Quartet (UN, EU, US and Russia), the G8 and those who play a significant role in the ad hoc liaison committee and the International Task Force for Palestinian Reform. Details of venue and precise agenda have not yet been finalised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are confident that the new coalition administration in the Knesset will be able to conclude a full agreement with the Palestinian Authority to ensure complete sovereignty in the latter's territories. [HL557]

It is not for us to comment on Israeli internal politics. However, a coalition able to govern effectively is in everyone's interests. All final status issues must be agreed in negotiations between the two parties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the pension arrangements for former European Union Commissioners, including the amounts paid. [HL559]

Former European Union Commissioners are entitled to a pension from the day they reach 65 of 4.5 per cent of the Commissioner's final basic salary for each whole year of service in the Commission plus one-twelfth of this amount for each additional month's service, subject to a maximum of 70 per cent of the final basic salary. The pension is subject to Community tax and exempt from national taxes. Former Commissioners may start drawing their pensions from the age of 60, subject to the application of a coefficient ranging from 70 per cent at age 60 to 95 per cent at age 64. Since 1 July 2004, the basic salary of a Commissioner has been 18,233 euros a month, for Vice Presidents 20,259 euros a month, and for the President 22,366 euros a month.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which European Union institutions are eligible for immunities and tax privileges; what those immunities and privileges are; and to which European Union institutions they propose to grant similar status under the International Organisations Bill. [HL560]

The 1965 Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities ("the 1965 Protocol") conferred on the European Communities a range of privileges and immunities considered necessary for the performance by the Communities of their tasks and functions. These privileges and immunities are similar to those conferred on other international organisations and include immunity from jurisdiction, exemption from taxation, exemption from customs duties and prohibitions and restrictions on importation and exportation of articles for official use. The provisions of the 1965 protocol apply to the Communities; to their institutions (ie the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors); to the European Central Bank, the European Monetary Institute and the European Investment Bank; and in accordance with the protocol, to certain representatives of member states and certain officials and servants of the Communities. The provisions of the protocol have also been applied to bodies created under the Community and to certain officials and staff engaged in the work of such bodies. The 1965 protocol, and the privileges and immunities flowing from it, are given effect in UK law by the European Communities Act 1972. The International Organisations Bill will not alter that situation.The International Organisations Bill will, however, enable the UK to confer legal capacity and privileges and immunities on bodies established under powers conferred under Title V (Provisions on a Common Foreign and Security Policy) or Title VI (Provisions on Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters) of the Treaty on European Union, and on certain categories of individuals connected with those bodies. At present three bodies exist on which privileges and immunities will be conferred pursuant to Clause 5 of the International Organisations Bill. They are: ATHENA, the EU Satellite Centre and the Institute for Security Studies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they define the "other persons connected with the body, and members of their families who form part of their households" to whom they propose to grant immunity under Clause 5(3)(b) of their International Organisations Bill; and to how many United Kingdom residents they expect such immunity to apply. [HL561]

Clause 5(3)(b) will cover, among others, persons employed by, or serving under, the body as experts or as persons engaged on missions for it, representatives to the body, representatives on, or members of, any subordinate body or sub-committee, family members of these persons and family members of officers or staff of the body. As ATHENA, the EU Satellite Centre and Institute for Security Studies are all based outside the United Kingdom, it is expected that few, if any, UK residents connected with those bodies will enjoy immunity.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether present or former eligible members of Her Majesty's forces will be entitled to wear the medal recently awarded by the government of Malaysia to all Commonwealth ex-servicemen who served in either the emergency or the confrontation between 1957 and 1966. [HL582]

No. HMG's rules on the acceptance and wearing of foreign awards preclude the acceptance of medals for events in the distant past or more than five years previously. In addition, the rules do not allow for a foreign award to be accepted if a British award has been given for the same service. Eligible veterans of the Emergency or Confrontation in Malaya should already have received the Malaya Bar to their General Service Medal.All British citizens require permission from HMG to accept and wear foreign state awards. HMG have, to date, received no request from the Malaysian Government for this medal to be presented to British ex-servicemen who are veterans of the Emergency or Confrontation in Malaya.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 16 March 2003 (

The population of foreign nationals, as recorded on the Prison Service central IT system, in prison establishments in England and Wales was 8,996 on 31 October 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the number and proportion of first offenders given:

The figures in the attached table are calculated from data held

Number and proportion of first time offenders receiving community penalties, by year
	Community service orders/Community Punishment orders			Probation/Community rehabilitation orders			All community penalties
Year	Number in sample	Estimated number in year	%	Number in sample	Estimated Number year	%	Number in Sample	Estimated Number year	%
1992	Data not available
1993	534	9,254	9	420	7,279	7	1,173	20,328	20
1994	515	10,298	9	482	9,638	9	1,218	24,355	22
1995	519	11,243	9	492	10,658	9	1,281	27,750	22
1996	1,086	14,118	8	1,115	14,495	8	2,797	36,361	20
1997	1,331	17,303	9	2,456	31,928	8	3,120	40,560	21
1998	1,256	16,328	9	1,145	14,885	9	3,042	39,546	23
1999	1,427	18,551	10	1,260	16,380	9	3,444	44,772	24
2000	1,563	20,319	11	1,403	18,239	9	3,716	48,308	25
2001	1,623	21,099	10	1,360	17,680	9	4,353	56,589	28
2002	1,420	18,460	11	860	11,180	7	4,159	54,067	32
2003	Data not available

All community penalties include the following: Community rehabilitation orders, supervision orders, community punishment orders, attendance centre orders, community rehabilitation and punishment orders, curfew orders, reparation orders (since June 2000), action plan orders (since June 2000) or drug treatment and testing orders (since October 2000) and referral orders (since April 2002).The data are based on a sample taken from the Offenders Index. From 1996 onwards 4-week samples were taken. Before 1996 the size of the sample varied.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the number and proportion of offenders convicted of indictable offences who were given custodial sentences by:

Persons sentenced for indictable offences at all courts, those sentenced to immediate custody and the custodial sentence rate, 1992–2003
England and Wales	Number of persons
	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
The Crown Court
Total number sentenced	81,117	66,980	68,462	71,518	70,864	76,509	77,023	73,852	70,921	68,671	72,870	72,571
Number given custody	36,057	33,074	36,011	40,181	43,425	46,623	47,085	46,400	45,304	43,599	45,865	43,490
Percentage given custody	44.5	49.4	52.6	56.2	61.3	60.9	61.1	62.8	63.9	63.5	62.9	59.9
Magistrates' courts
Total number sentenced	241,416	238,241	243,595	228,890	227,983	241,021	262,613	266,452	253,961	253,195	262,653	259,895
Number given custody	11,796	13,898	17,339	20,195	22,019	25,237	30,227	33,388	35,480	36,674	39,286	37,304
Percentage given custody	4.9	5.8	7.1	8.8	9.7	10.5	11.5	12.5	14.0	14.5	15 0	14.4
All courts
Total number sentenced	322,533	305,221	312,057	300,408	298,847	317,530	339,636	340,304	324,882	321.866	335,523	332,466
Number given custody	47,853	46,972	53,350	60,376	65,444	71,860	77,312	79,788	80,784	80,273	85,151	80,794
Percentage given custody	14.8	15.4	17.1	20.1	21.9	22.6	22.8	23.4	24.9	24.9	25.4	24.3

The information requested, relating to England and Wales, is contained in the table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will place in the Library of the House a drawing of the accommodation for religious activities at the Bicester accommodation centre, showing the amount of space allocated to each religion. [HL59]

A copy of the drawing has been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to publish further guidelines on how to deal with suspected human trafficking. [HL219]

The Government are committed to ensuring guidance is available on how to deal with cases where human trafficking is suspected.The Home Office has already published a best practice toolkit on trafficking that acts as a guide for immigration officers, police and other professionals who might potentially deal with the victims of trafficking, whether they are adults or children. In particular, it helps those concerned to treat victims of trafficking fairly and appropriately. This toolkit is available on the Internet, and the paper version was updated and republished at the beginning of this year.All immigration officers who work on the immigration vice teams receive specially designed training and a period of one-to-one mentoring. This ensures that they are aware of issues relating to human trafficking. The Immigration Service has also issued a best practice guide that provides guidance on what immigration officers should do if they identify suspected trafficking at ports.The Association of Chief Police Officers has produced internal guidance on trafficking called

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the basic qualifications required for human trafficking caseworkers in the United Kingdom. [HL220]

The minimum qualifications required for caseworkers recruited by external competition who consider asylum claims are two A-levels and five GCSEs including English. All such caseworkers receive comprehensive training, including how to question applicants about their journey to the United Kingdom, which may include trafficking issues, and how to deal with victims of torture and other forms of serious abuse such as trafficking.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that female legal representation is made available at the initial interview of victims in cases where human trafficking has been suspected. [HL221]

While every effort is made to ensure that interviews are conducted in a manner that is appropriate and professional, it would not be possible to guarantee that female legal representation is available. Where individuals are arrested during the course of police or immigration operations, they are taken to the police station to be interviewed. They have the right to speak to an independent solicitor, free of charge, via the Duty Solicitor scheme. This is an independent scheme and the Immigration Service has no control over who is sent to represent the victim. Alternatively, the victim may request that a solicitor of her choice is called to represent her.Where a victim of trafficking is supported under the Poppy Project, interviews are conducted at the properties of Eaves Housing. It is open to the individual to have a legal representative present, and this would be organised by the victim, or representatives from the project, and would be of their choosing. In addition the Immigration Service will, wherever possible, provide female interpreters to assist with the interview.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many times they have withdrawn objections to asylum applicants where it is suspected that the applicant has been the victim of human trafficking. [HL222]

Asylum applications from victims of trafficking are, as with all such applications, considered on their individual merits. Caseworkers will decide whether the applicant has demonstrated a well-founded fear of persecution in their country for the reasons set out in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. If the applicant does not qualify for refugee status consideration will be given to whether they qualify for humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. The consideration of both humanitarian protection and discretionary leave will include an assessment of whether the applicant's human rights would be infringed were they to be removed from the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which countries are designated under Section 193 of the Extradition Act 2003, which allows extradition to take place where it is provided for under an international treaty, in the absence of formal extradition arrangements. [HL244]

A designation order to designate countries under Section 193 of the Extradition Act 2003 is about to be laid before Parliament.This order will be subject to the negative resolution procedure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the rationale for the requirement to introduce biometrics in order to comply with international travel and passport regulations. [HL254]

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has for some years been working on placing biometrics in passports, stored in an electronic form. This is to facilitate faster and more effective passenger processing while also enhancing the security of the travel document. The United Kingdom is working to comply with this new standard as well as ensure we maintain our US visa waiver status by expediting this programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many stabbings, incidents involving the use or threatened use of firearms, and other offences of violence against the person were reported to the police as occurring in the West End central and Charing Cross police sectors on the night of 20–21 November betwen 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. [HL278]

This information is not kept centrally. I have asked the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to write to the noble Lord.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their policy regarding asylum claimants arriving in the United Kingdom from the Democratic Republic of Congo; and whether it is their practice to return unsuccessful applicants from the whole of that country, or from certain provinces only. [HL286]

All applications from Congolese nationals are considered on their individual merits and we will grant asylum or other forms of leave where appropriate. Where applicants have their asylum claims refused and have any appeal dismissed they can in our view return safely to the DRC.All returns of DRC nationals are made to Kinshasa Airport, which is open to international flights. Returns are not made to any other part of the country due to the poor security situation that exists in large parts of the country and the poor transport infrastructure. The question of whether to return unsuccessful applicants who originate from outside Kinshasa is considered in the light of the individual circumstances in each case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many men, women and children respectively, in how many detention centres, were in detention under the Immigration Acts at the most convenient recent date; how many of the women were pregnant; and how many in total were held in prisons. [HL287]

Information on persons recorded as being in detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers as at 25 September 2004 is shown in the following table.On 25 September 2004, 40 children were detained solely under Immigration Act powers. Of these, 30 were held at Oakington Reception Centre and five at Tinsley House. The remaining cases were either age dispute cases held at other immigration removal centres while their age assessements were being carried out, or young children held at mother and baby units in prisons with their mother while awaiting removal. Further details of these cases (less than three in total) cannot be disclosed due to national statistics protocols on confidentiality.There are no data available on the number of detained women who were pregnant. Pregnant women would not normally be considered suitable for detention, unless there is the clear prospect of early removal and medical advice suggests no question of confinement prior to this. Pregnant women (less than 26 weeks) may also be detained as part of the fast-track asylum process at Oakington Reception Centre.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Immigration Act detainees have been held (a) for more than six months; and (b) longer than one year. [HL289]

Information on the number of persons recorded as being in detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers as at 25 September 2004, by length of detention, is shown in the following table.

Persons recorded as being in detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers as at 25 September 2004, by length of detention.(1)(2)
Number of individuals
Length of detention(3)(4)	Total detainee	of whom: asylum seekers(5)	minors(6)
14days or less	565	420	25
15to 29 days	215	155	5
1 month to less than 2 months	195	155	5
2 months to less than 3 months	80	50	—
3 months to less than 4 months	100	85	5
4 month to less than 6 months	100	75	—
6 months to less than 1 year	125	100	—
1 year or more	80	60	—
Total	1,460	1,105	40
(1) Figures exclude persons detained in police cells and those in dual detention.
(2) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with *= 1 or 2.
(3) Relates to current period of detention only.
(4) 2 months is defined as 61 days; 4 months is defined as 122 days; 6 months is defined as 182 days.
(5) Persons detained under Immigration Act powers who are recorded as having sought asylum at some stage.
(6) People recorded as being under 18 on 25 September 2004.

Information on numbers detained, by length of detention, is published on a quarterly and annual basis on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at

asked Her Majesty's Government:

The ministerial authorisation signed on 23 April 2001 by the then Immigration Minister (Mrs Roche) which allowed immigration officers to discriminate in the examination of passengers from certain specified ethnic or national groups was revoked on 11 June 2002. Immigration officers were advised on 12 June that they were no longer permitted to use ethnic or national origin as a basis for affording extra scrutiny to arriving passengers or prioritising workload. Data on the ethnic or national origin of passengers are not collated centrally and it is therefore not possible to say how many such persons have been granted or refused entry.A separate authorisation was made on 24 February this year and extended on 24 May to enable immigration officers to prioritise the examination of passengers of Somali national origin. The aim of this measure was to establish how many in-country asylum applications claiming to be Somali, apparently without documentation, enter the UK. This exercise began on 22 March and concluded on 22 August.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there is any financial assistance available to meet the travel expenses incurred by close relatives visiting inmates in prisons and young offenders' institutions; 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. [HL347]

Assistance to help meet the travel expenses of prisoners' close relatives and partners when visiting a prison or young offenders' institution in England and Wales is available through the HM Prison Service, Assisted Prison Visits Scheme. Help may also be available to the prisoner's only regular visitor. To qualify for assistance the visitor must meet the criteria on relationship and income as set out in the rules.In 2003–04 expenditure on grants to qualifying visitors, including direct costs such as bank charges, was £1,822,499. The number of individuals who claimed assistance is not collated centrally. However, the total number of visits assisted was 61,318.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many individuals have been prosecuted and convicted of destroying travel documents in an attempt to stay in the United Kingdom. [HL369]

Between 29 September 2004 and 29 November there have been 124 people charged under Section 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004. During the same period there have been 36 convictions.The difference is due to the number of cases currently proceeding through the courts.The figures provided are obtained from locally collated management information and may be subject to change.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many persons have been imprisoned to date for breaching Anti-social Behaviour Orders. [HL422]

The number of persons who have received a custodial sentence for breach of an ASBO, as reported to the Home Office in England and Wales, from 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2002, is 223. Later figures are not yet available. Persons breaching on more than one occasion during the period are counted once. The figure is based on the severest penalty imposed across all breaches.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cases to date concerning anti-social behaviour orders have been heard in the absence of the defendants; and whether this practice contravenes the European Convention on Human rights. [HL423]

Courts do not collect this information.ASBO hearings may take place in the absence of the defendant if the defendant fails to turn up for the court hearing. The normal rules of the magistrates' court will apply in this situation. Section 55 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 sets out what may happen in the case of non-appearance of a defendant at any court hearing. The hearing may go ahead in the absence of the defendant, or it may be adjourned. There are provisions for issuing a warrant for the arrest of the defendant to ensure his or her attendance at the hearing. We are confident the practice is compatible with the ECHR.Applications for interim anti-social behaviour orders may be made without notice to the defendant. The jurisprudence of the European Convention on Human Rights recognises that victims and witnesses, as well as defendants, have rights and need protection. In deciding whether to grant an interim anti-social behavour order without notice to the defendant the courts must balance the rights of the defendant against those other rights. Furthermore an interim order made without notice has no effect until the defendant receives a copy; he or she can then apply to have the order varied or discharged. An interim order will only remain in force until the court decides whether or not to make a full order, where the defendant will have the opportunity to defend himself or herself We have included provisions in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill which give courts the power to require a defendant to return to court for consideration of an order on conviction if the order is not made when the sentence is passed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for reducing overcrowding in the 82 prisons currently suffering from that problem. [HL425]

We are addressing population pressures by a range of measures. First, we are increasing capacity in the prisons estate. A number of projects are underway including building around 2,400 additional public sector prison places at existing prisons by 2006. A new private sector prison, HMP Peterborough is due to open in March 2005. Following the spending review, funding has now been announced for the start of a new building programme commencing in 2005–06 to create an additional 1,300 prison places.As well as expanding prison capacity, we are looking to provide more effective options for sentencers to ensure that prison is reserved for dangerous and persistent offenders. We will also ensure that better targeted, more effective and demanding community penalities and properly enforced fines are available for other serious offenders. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 supports this approach by providing for community orders and improved frameworks for suspended and short sentences via custody plus and custody minus and through intermittent custody.Finally, we are, with the Sentencing Guidelines Council, working with sentencers to address regional variations in sentencing as well as seeking to ensure that sentences are targeted effectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What provision for bereavement counselling is made in young offender institutions. [HL510]

Many prisons, including young offender institutions, have arrangements with local bereavement agencies, such as CRUSE, to provide individual bereavement counselling for prisoners bereaved while in custody.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many recruits to the Armed Forces in the last year have previously been placed in local authority care. [HL378]

The Armed Forces are an equal opportunities employer and recruit young men and women regardless of their social background. The information requested on how many recruits to the Armed Forces in the past year have previously been placed in local authority care is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate effort.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What records the Ministry of Defence collects and collates for its own purposes on the type and severity of injuries to, and illnesses of, members of the Armed Forces. [HL430]

Currently, the only data relating to injuries to and illness of members of the Armed Forces collated and held centrally is on the medical downgrading of Service personnel. The Defence Medical Services are working hard to ensure easier access to healthcare records through the introduction of a new information management system, the Defence Medical Information Capability Programme (DMICP).DMICP is designed to provide the DMS with a modern and efficient information system that is coherent across primary, secondary and dental healthcare boundaries, and is useable both in peacetime and on operations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For each local education authority in England and Wales, what is the current backlog of school building repair work. [HL367]

The following table shows school buildings maintenance requirements for each English local education authority. The figures are derived from data supplied to the department by authorities, based on their condition assessments. In addition to backlog repair work, the figures cover work needed over a five-year period from the date of the assessments, including cyclical and scheduled maintenance.Central government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under £700 million in 1996ȓ97 to £4.9 billion this year and will rise further to £6.3 billion by 2007ȓ08. Progress is being made year by year in improving the quality of the school building stock.

Schools maintenance requirements
	£
Barking and Dagenham	44,222,497
Barnet	58,603,516
Barnsley	47,377,891
Bath and North East Somerset	17,672,104
Bedfordshire	74,270,969
Bexley	35,247,167
Birmingham	338,036,375
Blackburn with Darwen	26,590,050
Blackpool	21,402,538
Bolton	44,117,191
Bournemouth	13,262,327
Bracknell Forest	14,343,860
Bradford	112,036,642
Brent	33,459,172
Brighton and Hove	21,667,673
Bristol, City of	77,466,174
Bromley	39,801,557
Buckinghamshire	54,121,211
Bury	42,449,317
Calderdale	37,353,404
Cambridgeshire	39,569,409
Camden	17,268,774
Cheshire	66,938,233
City of London	[1]
Ccrnwall	146,972,745
Coventry	31,478,511
Croydon	22,269,907
Cumbria	62,161,197
Darlington	22,193,948
Derby	56,113,188
Derbyshire	129,542,559
Devon	87,228,805
Doncaster	59,152,824
Dorset	73,090,428
Dudley	22,261,560
Durham	106,241,188
Ealing	37,065,046
East Riding of Yorkshire	90,490,815
East Sussex	28,509,456
Enfield	39,640,750
Essex	197,634,312
Gateshead	22,732,259
Gloucestershire	51,072,003
Greenwich	49,255,654
Hackney	42,775,383
Halton	26,868,923
Hammersmith and Fulham	17,079,357
Hampshire	240,085,161
Haringey	39,297,795
Harrow	23,790,537
Hartlepool	15,007,057
Havering	48,416,933

asked Her Majesty's Government:For each local education authority in England and Wales, how many temporary buildings are currently used on school premises. [HL368]

The following table shows numbers of temporary buildings on school premises for each English local education authority. The figures are derived from data supplied to the department by authorities. Not all temporary buildings are used for teaching. They may accommodate one or more classrooms.Central government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under £700 million in 1996–97 to £4.9 billion this year and will rise further to over £6.3 billion by 2007–08. Progress is being made year by year in improving the quality of the school building stock. The bulk of schools capital is now allocated by formula to authorities and schools so that they can addresss their local priorities, including the replacement of decayed temporary accommodation, on which we have set a high priority.Modern, high quality mobile or demountable classrooms provide a good environment for teaching and learning where there is short-term need. They might, for instance, be needed to cope with a short-term increase in pupil numbers, or where extensive remodelling or rebuilding of permanent accommodation means providing temporary accommodation on the school site, rather than transporting children elsewhere.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the United Kingdom's sixteenth position in tests conducted by the Programme for International Student Assessment, there will be any change to the education curriculum. [HL409]

It is the view of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the body overseeing the running of PISA, that the data for the United Kingdom from the 2003 study cannot be reliably compared with other countries' scores or with UK PISA results from 2000. It would therefore not be appropriate to try to construct a ranking for the UK against the advice of the OECD, still less to draw conclusions from doing so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the decision was taken to make modern languages non-compulsory for children over the age of 14 in secondary education. [HL411]

The recent changes to the national curriculum for 14 to 16 year-olds, with modern foreign languages and design and technology becoming entitlement areas as opposed to compulsory requirements, were undertaken to provide greater flexibility, allowing schools to offer programmes that better meet their students' individual needs and strengths. We recognise the importance of modern foreign languages. That is why all students have a statutory entitlement to follow a languages course should they wish to do so and schools can of course retain compulsion if they so wish.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they propose to take to counter the decline in take-up of modern language studies:

The changes to the statutory curriculum at key stage 4 were introduced to enable schools to offer more choice and flexibility to their pupils, facilitating the introduction of new types of learning— in particular more vocational approaches. This was proving difficult within the constraints of the previous requirements. The flexibility in the new curriculum creates space for students to pursue learning programmes that reflect their aspirations and needs as well as maintaining a strong grasp of the basics. In this new flexibility students have an entitlement to follow a course in modern foreign languages.The changes at key stage 4 should not impact on our able and enthusiastic linguists, who we expect will continue to study languages at GCSE, A-level and beyond. Our ambition for key stage 2 learning is that we engage pupils when we know that they are more receptive, so that we maximise their potential for language learning. Our National Languages Strategy puts forward a vision of high-quality language learning for all, regardless of gender, supported by a new national recognition scheme—the Languages Ladder. In doing so it is in fact seeking to reconfigure the existing curriculum, extending pupils' language learning experience into key stage 2 and supporting a more flexible and personalised curriculum for the 14 to 19 phase.Provision of a varied and personalised range of courses is being supported by new arrangements in relation to accreditation. It is now possible for students in all maintained schools and of both genders to be assessed through a wide range of non-traditional schemes, which have been given numerical equivalences by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. This includes a number of level 1 and level 2 qualifications. It also underpins the proposed reforms of the 14 to 19 agenda as set out in Mike Tomlinson's report.There are currently 62 specialist language colleges in the north-east, north-west and York and Humber regions with more interest from schools in applying for this specialism in the current round.There are also a number of innovative MFL-related projects taking place in the north. For example, the Sheffield-based VIPs pilot scheme aims to equip students with language skills directly transferable to the world of work. Students are allocated to an international company and visit the company during the academic year. They have a "mentor" within the company who will offer face-to-face and e-mail support. All students follow a language course leading to NVQ qualifications.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many schools meet the government standard of modern languages teaching in primary schools of one 20-minute lesson per week. [HL413]

On 30 September this year the Department for Education and Skills published the results of research, undertaken in the 2002–03 academic year, into the extent and nature of foreign language learning activities at key stage 2. This research highlighted that 44 per cent of all schools teaching key stage 2 pupils in England were offering language learning programmes in some form, with 35 per cent using curriculum time to do so. Approximately 3 per cent of schools were making a 20-minute per week provision for foreign language learning for their key stage 2 pupils.The 44 per cent figure represents a significant increase since the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and University of Warwick published research in 2000 that stated that 20 per cent of primary schools were teaching foreign languages.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure that primary schools have enough teachers qualified in modern languages tuition to meet the government standard of modern languages teaching. [HL414]

There has been considerable progress on the development of language learning in primary schools, underpinned by the launch in December 2002 of the Government's National Languages Strategy for England. The strategy recognises the importance of developing a workforce to implement primary language learning, and much of our work to date has focussed on this area.In developing a school workforce, we are building up a cadre of both specialist teachers and non-teacher specialists to support primary language learning. 580 places have been allocated this year for primary initial teacher training with a specialism in French, German, Spanish or Italian, and we intend to expand this programme further next year. This means that over 1,200 teacher trainees will have been trained by the end of this year. In addition we have allocated 50 primary MFL places a year to the Graduate Teacher Programme.For existing teachers, we have funded primary MFL advanced skills teacher posts and are working with the TTA to develop and pilot CPD courses for existing primary teachers to enhance language skills and MFL pedagogy.For non-teacher specialists, we are working with the British Council to extend the foreign language assistants programme into primary schools, and are developing training for teaching assistants to support primary language learning.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which specialist sports colleges have not been redesignated in the past three years; and for what reasons. [HL415]

One sports college (Compton High School & Sports College) has been de-designated in the past three years—because the school closed in 2003 and West London Academy, Ealing opened in its place. Academies are not eligible for specialist school status as such but do have specialisms—in this case, enterprise & sports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in their consultation on the Disability Discrimination Bill they consulted Macmillan Cancer Relief, and [HL600]Which organisations they have consulted on the Disability Discrimination Bill. [HL601]

Many of the provisions in the Disability Discrimination Bill were the subject of proposals in the Government's 2001 consultation document Towards Inclusionߞcivil rights for disabled people (Department for Education and Employment, March 2001). That document was mailed to around 6,000 interested bodies and organisations including organisations of and for disabled people, employers, service providers, trade and employer representative bodies, trade unions, public authorities and voluntary organisations.In December 2003, we published the draft Disability Discrimination Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny. The draft Bill was considered by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament in early 2004 and attracted around 125 written and oral submissions to the committee, including a submission from Macmillan Cancer Relief. A revised Bill, covering further measures that the Government accepted following the Joint Committee's report (Joint Committee on the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill, 27 May, HC 352-I, HL Paper 82-I), was introduced into Parliament on 15 November.In July 2004 and December 2004, we published two further consultation documents which included proposals for using regulation-making powers contained in the Bill. The first document

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many, and which, government departments and agencies are currently using 0870 telephone numbers for the purposes of public communication with their offices. [HL434]

The Office for Government Contracts Buying Services (OGCBS) draws up framework contracts for government departments to purchase telephony services. These do not stipulate what kinds of services individual departments should choose, and so there is no centrally held information on which government departments and agencies currently use 0870 numbers.The independent regulator the Office of Communications (Ofcom) allocates 0870 numbers to eligible network communications providers in units of 10.000 numbers. Those providers then allocate individual numbers to end-users either directly or through resellers. Although Ofcom knows who is reponsible for all number blocks it has no record of individual 0870 number end-users, including government departments and agencies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements are in place to ensure fair rates of remuneration for general practitioners working in community hospitals. [HL564]

The pay of general practitioners working in community hospitals is decided locally by the relevant employer or commissioner for these services. The NHS Confederation (representing NHS employers) has recently looked at this issue as part of a study into the terms and conditions of non consultant career grade doctors. The confederation has recommended that there should be more appropriate and flexible use of existing options for setting appropriate local remuneration for doctors undertaking this hospital work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there have been any studies into the effects of an increase in the badger population on hedgehog and ground-nesting bird populations; and, if there have been such studies, what have been the conclusions. [HL300]

Badgers are known to predate on ground nesting birds, although such predation is likely to be largely opportunistic. The impact of badger predation on bird populations has not been specifically quantified, but is not thought significantly to affect populations nationally. Locally, however, the situation may be different.Bird remains are typically found in about 7.5 per cent of badger dung in the UK, and diet studies confirm that badgers eat eggs, nestlings and adult birds. These studies are unable to distinguish between scavenged and killed birds, and do not quantify the importance of birds in the badger diet.Defra is currently funding research aimed at providing a scientifically vigorous assessment of the importance of badger predation for ground nesting birds. The project involves a review of current knowledge and intensive field investigations to assess the extent of predation by badgers. The project, which is being undertaken by the Central Science Laboratory, will report its findings in March 2005.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the cost of repairing damage to canal banks caused by badgers for each year since 1997; and what is the estimated cost of repairing recent damage, attributed to badgers, to the bank of the Llangollen Canal. [HL492]

No records of damage to canal banks by badgers are kept by navigation authorities. British Waterways has advised that repairs to the bank of the Llangollen Canal are likely to be in the region of £500,000. It is probable that the damage was caused by badgers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to make a formal announcement on the future of the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council; and when they expect the council to be operating as an independent body. [HL528]

As has previously been made clear, Ministers have decided that the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council's administrative ties with British Waterways should be severed and that the council should be reconstituted as an independent body reporting to and supported by government. The main role of the new council will be to provide a source of strategic advice to government, navigation authorities and other waterway bodies about the inland waterways generally.The Government now plan to use the proposed Modernising Rural Delivery Bill to provide the legislative changes necessary to implement these decisions and will make a more detailed announcement when the draft Bill is published. The changes would take effect early in 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total of payments made to farmers under the integrated administration and control system scheme of the Common Agricultural Policy in each of the past three years; and what is their estimate of payments to be made in each of the next three years under the single farm payment scheme of the modified common agricultural policy. [HL590]

The table below sets out figures for expenditure by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) under schemes covered by the integrated administration and control system (IACS) of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in each of the past three years. Also set out below is the estimated expenditure by RPA for claimants under the single payment scheme (SPS) of the modified CAP in each of the next three years. The devolved administrations make payments under these schemes in other parts of the UK. The figures include payments to claimants who have land both in England and in one of the devolved areas of the UK.

Expenditure paid under IACS for the past three financial years
Scheme	2001–02£000	2002–03£000	2003–04£000
Arable Area Payments	874,590	903,935	983,427
Beef Special Premium	121,674	133,487	124,437
Extensification Payment	51,698	54,056	55,620
Sheep Annual Premium	66,347	108,574	117,229
Slaughter Premium	50,505	73,442	91,840
Suckler Cow Premium	91,584	78,445	102,513
Dairy Premium	N/A	N/A	103,606
Total	1,256,398	1,351,939	1,578,672