asked Her Majesty's Government:Why it was necessary to check the legal position of the appointment of the former Northern Ireland Tourist Board Chairman to Tourism Ireland, as reported in the minutes of a meeting of the North/ South and British/Irish Council issues on 14 November 2002. [HL677]

It was necessary to check whether the expiration of the term of office of the then chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board automatically terminated his holding office as a director of Tourism Ireland Limited or if he was required to formally resign from that post.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President of 11 January (

Actions as a consequence of the report are being discussed with Waterways Ireland and until they are agreed it would be inappropriate to comment.As stated in my Answer of 11 January (

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 11 January (

The investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment at Waterways Ireland commenced in November 2003 on the appointment of the joint independent investigators.The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), the Northern Ireland sponsor department, appointed Richard Buchanan in this matter for his extensive expertise in the public sector, his knowledge of personnel matters and his availability to undertake a lengthy investigation. The appointment of the other investigator is a matter for the sponsor department in the Republic of Ireland and it would be inappropriate for Her Majesty's Government to comment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17 November 2004 (

The statement made by the former Northern Ireland Minister of Culture. Arts and Leisure to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 10 September 2002 was incorrect due to an administrative error. The error is regretted and has been corrected.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 11 January (

On 30 April 2004 20 members of staff at Waterways Ireland made a collective written complaint of bullying and other problems at the body to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA), the sponsor department in the Republic of Ireland. A copy of the complaint was received by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) on 4 May 2004.The sponsor departments agreed that the complaint could not properly be dealt with while an investigation into a prior complaint was already in progress. The complaint will be dealt with by Waterways Ireland under their policy and procedures on bullying and harassment which extends to all employees at the body. It is not part of that policy to seek agreement with staff as to the method of investigation to be used. Formal complaint procedures in this matter vv ill start as soon as possible with a view to prompt conclusion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 11 January (

Actions as a consequence of the investigation report are being discussed with Waterways Ireland and until they are agreed it would be inappropriate to comment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 11 January (

The sponsor departments received allegations of bullying after the investigation had started. However, the departments agreed that they are outside the terms of reference for the investigation. A separate complaint was received in May 2004, as detailed in my answer of 11 January 2005 (WA 28). This complaint was beyond the remit of the investigation and will he dealt with by the body under internal procedures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the chief executive of Waterways Ireland was not suspended during an investigation into allegations of staff bullying, mismanagement and incorrect procedures for recruitment, in light of the suspension of other chief executives of cross-border bodies in similar circumstances. [HL916]

There were no grounds to suspend the chief executive of Waterways Ireland. No chief executive of a cross-border body has been suspended in similar circumstances.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the cost to date of the inquiries into staff bullying and mismanagement at Waterways Ireland. [HL1089]

The sponsor departments carried out a joint investigation at Waterways Ireland. The Northern Ireland sponsor department is the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and to date that department has contributed 8751.90 to the cost of the investigation. It would not be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to comment on costs incurred by the sponsor department in the Republic of Ireland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what basis a meeting of the North/South and British Irish Council on 14 November 2002 was informed that the Republic of Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs considered that the role of the North/South Ministerial Council Secretariat should be preserved; and whether they will place the advice from the Irish Government in the Library of the House. [HL944]

The meeting was so informed on the basis of a verbal discussion between the Joint Secretary (North) of NSMC and officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Further to his Written Answer on 11 October 2004 (

I am given to understand that the Iraq medal will be displayed, and the collection reorganised, when a number of other medals which are expected have been received. As I stated in my previous Answer, however, the House of Commons medal collection is a matter for the authorities of the House of Commons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the court to be constructed to try Saddam Hussein will be capable of trying other persons. [HL1172]

We expect that Saddam Hussein will be tried before the Iraqi Special Tribunal, which is part of the Iraqi criminal justice system and is composed of senior Iraqi judges. The tribunal was established to try members of the former regime accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and certain other serious crimes under existing Iraqi law including the manipulation of the judiciary, squandering public resources and the threat 1r use of force against other Arab states. It is a matter for the Iraqi judiciary to decide precisely who should be brought before which court.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Statement by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 January (

On Friday 14 January 2005, there were 4,147 females held in prison establishments in England and Wales, as recorded on the Prison Service central IT system. On the equivalent Friday in 2004, the female prison population in England and Wales was 4,307. On 14 January 2005, there were 307 females in prisons in Scotland. This compares to 319 females on the equivalent Friday in 2004. On 14 January 2005 there were 30 females in prisons in Northern Ireland, compared to 23 females on the equivalent Friday in 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in light of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

We have already indicated to the UNHCR that we will discuss the matter with other governments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their timetable for the commencement of the different parts of the Housing Act 2004, and for the issue of consultation documents, orders, circulars and other documents under the Act. [HL1052]

The provisions referred to in Section 270(1) and (2) of the Housing Act 2004 are already in force. Subject to consultation on the draft orders, and the approval of Parliament, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to bring the remaining provisions into force on the dates tabled below:

Provision/Part	Proposed Commencement
Part 1—Housing Conditions	October 05
Parts, 2, 3, 4 and 7—HMO and Selective Licensing	October 05
Part 4—Empty Dwelling Management Orders	October 05
Part 5—Home Information Packs	January 07
Part 6—Remaining Right to Buy Modifications	May 05
Part 6—Suspension of Certain Rights in connection with Anti-social Behaviour	May 05
Part 6—Extension to Introductory Tenancies	May 05
Part 6—Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments	September 2006
Part 6—Tenant Deposit Protection	July 06
Part 6—Additional power to Give Grants for Social Housing	February 05

Provision/Part	Proposed Commencement
Part 6—Allocation of Housing Accommodation by Local Authorities	April 05
Part 6—Social Housing Ombudsman for Wales	June 05

The Government will ensure that all consultation papers, draft regulations and other documents necessary for the proper implementation of the various provisions of the Act will be brought forward at the appropriate times.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many national or regional referendums have been held since 1990; on what issues; and with what outcomes. [HL1103]

There have been five national or regional referendums held since 1990. These were:The north-east of England, 4 November 2004, on whether the north-east should have an elected regional assembly. Electors in two-tier areas (County Durham and Northumberland) were also asked a second question about their preferred option for local government reorganisation in the event that an assembly was established. The result was 22.0 per cent in favour and 77.9 per cent against on a turnout of 47.7 per cent;Northern Ireland, 22 May 1998, on ratifying the Good Friday agreement. The result was 71.7 per cent in favour and 28.0 per cent against on a turnout of 81.0 per cent.London-wide, 7 May 1998, on whether there should be an elected Mayor and separately elected Assembly. The result was 72.0 per cent in favour and 28.0 per cent against on a turnout of 34.1 per cent.In Wales, 18 September 1997, on the establishment of a Welsh Assembly. The result was 50.3 per cent in favour and 49.7 per cent against on a turnout of 50.1 per cent; andIn Scotland, 11 September 1997, on whether to establish a Scottish Parliament, and whether it should have tax-raising powers. The results were: on establishing a Scottish Parliament 74.3 per cent in favour and 25.7 per cent against; and on whether it should have tax-raising powers 63.5 per cent in favour and 36.5 per cent against, on a turnout of 60.4 per cent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many requests for information were made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in the first month of its operation; and, of that total, how many resulted in the requested information being withheld [HL1121]

Government departments collect information on those freedom of information requests (Fol) which are referred to their central practitioners for consideration. Departments are required to monitor such requests and provide details of how they have been dealt with, including whether they were answered in full or refused either in whole or in part, to my department on a quarterly basis. My department will publish its first report on these statistics in late spring 2005.Because of the general public interest in the volume of Fol requests, my department has undertaken

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many responses to requests for information made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in the first month of its operation breached the deadline for response of 20 days. [HL1122]

Government departments collect information on those freedom of information (FOI) requests which are referred to their central practitioners for consideration. Departments are required to monitor such requests and provide details of how they have been dealt with, including whether the 20 working day deadline has been breached, to my department on a quarterly basis. The DCA will publish its first report on these statistics in late spring 2005.Because of the general public interest in the volume of FOI requests, my department has undertaken

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether correspondence between councillors and council officials is subject to release under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and under what circumstances; and, if so, whether this includes correspondence about the personal circumstances of members of the public on whose behalf a councillor is making enquiries, or correspondence that might be politically sensitive in relation to policy development by one political group, or in other ways. [HL1144]

All information held by public authorities is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and must be released unless an exemption applies. In the case of local government, this includes correspondence between councillors and council officials. Requests for information must be treated on a case by case basis.In general, information about individuals that falls within the meaning of "personal data" in the Data Protection Act 1998 is protected by the absolute exemption at Section 40 of the FOI Act. There is no specific exemption which applies to information which is politically sensitive. However the exemption under Section 36 of the FOI Act provides protection for information which. if released, would prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the established working hours per week of the six part-time coroners in Northern Ireland; how many weeks per year they are on duty; and what are their call-out responsibilities. [HL1148]

The Coroners (Practice and Procedure) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1963 require that, "A Coroner shall at all times hold himself ready to undertake, either by himself or his deputy, any duties in connection with deaths reported to him, inquests and post-mortem examinations". A deputy coroner is appointed to each coroners' district to assist the coroner.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the remuneration, pension entitlement and permanent secretarial support for the six part-time coroners in Northern Ireland; and what are the comparable figures for the full-time coroner for Greater Belfast. [HL1149]

Part-time coroners in Northern Ireland are remunerated similarly to part-time coroners in England and Wales, on a formula based on caseload and agreed by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Coroners. The average remuneration package for the part-time coroners in Northern Ireland is £22,964.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have costed the proposals for reform of the coroners' system in Northern Ireland; and whether they will provide a detailed analysis, including termination payments, for the six part-time coroners currently in post. [HL1150]

Reform of the coroners service in Northern Ireland is ongoing and for the greater part resource neutral. Termination payments for part-time coroners are currently the subject of negotiations between the Northern Ireland Coroners Association and the Northern Ireland Court Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the six part-time coroners in Northern Ireland have a right to pursue their current complaint on the grounds of unlawful discrimination through the courts process. [HL1151]

The part-time coroners have a right to seek independent legal advice. It would not be appropriate to comment on any legal proceedings which any of the part-time coroners may wish to pursue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as appointed judicial officers, the six part-time coroners in Northern Ireland fall within the definition of employees in order to be able to pursue their current complaint on the grounds of unlawful discrimination through an industrial tribunal. [HL 1152]

The part-time coroners have a right to independent legal advice and a right of access to the courts; accordingly, it would not be appropriate to comment on any proceedings which any of the part-time coroners may wish to pursue through an industrial tribunal or to anticipate any judicial decision in this matter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider United Kingdom law to he compatible with the obligation imposed by Article 5(4) of the European Convention on Human Rights to ensure that United Kingdom courts have the power to order the release of a person whose detention is unlawful under convention law; and. if so, what are their reasons for considering United Kingdom law to be compatible with Article 5(4) in this respect. [HL1163]

The Government believe that UK law is compatible with the obligation imposed by Article 5(4), because UK law permits courts to order the release of prisoners whose detention is unlawful under domestic law. Further, in assessing whether a detention is lawful under convention law, that convention law is to be read in light of any derogations notified to the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe under Article 15 of the European Convention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the view of local education authorities and their representative organisations to the consultation launched on 8 July 2004 which proposed that all proposals to establish new secondary schools should be open to competition. [HL1007]

Some authorities had concerns about how the arrangements for school competitions would fit in with other programmes such as the "Building Schools for the Future" initiative. There was, however, support among representative bodies and individual authorities for decisions to be made by the local school organisation committee or schools adjudicator rather than the Secretary of State. Following feedback, the department also amended proposals that in certain circumstances the Secretary of State should have a reserve power to decide competitions. It is now proposed that the schools adjudicator should make these decisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have outsourced the administration of competitions for additional secondary schools under Section 70 of the Education Act 2002. [HL1009]

Responsibility for the administration of competitions rests with local authorities. Section 70 of the Education Act 2002 requires local authorities to publish a notice inviting proposals for new schools where there is a need for an additional wholly new secondary school. The local authority has then to publish a summary of all proposals put forward, and any it wishes to make itself, giving all local people the opportunity to comment on the options.The Secretary of State is responsible for the decision on which of the proposals should be approved and has not outsourced any element of this process. In June 2004, following an open competition, the department engaged Ark Associates and the Office for Public Management to provide community engagement and event management services to raise awareness of the local competition among potential promoters of new schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of the statement that they are acting to secure a strong academic base in medical education and research, they intend to ensure students have exposure to academic medicine in the curriculum of foundation year two. [HL1096]

We acknowledge the importance of embedding awareness of academic and research medicine in the early stages of a doctor's career. Indeed, we need to establish clear career pathways to attract the right people in the right numbers into this field. We are currently assessing the best way to achieve this and we are certainly looking at placements in foundation year two.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assumptions underlie the Pre-Budget Report for interest rates in the United Kingdom, the United States, the euro-zone and Japan for each of the years 2004–05 to 2009–10. [HL1145]

As stated on page 199 of the Pre-Budget Report (Cm 6408), the interest rate assumption underlying the Treasury's public finance projections is based upon financial markets' expectations. This assumption is audited by the National Audit Office. The Treasury does not explicitly make projections of interest rates for the US, the euro-zone and Japan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assumptions about the exchange rate index underlie the Pre-Budget Report for each of the years 2004–05 to 2009–10. [HL1146]

I refer the noble Baroness to the reply I gave her on 2 February 2005 (Official Report, col. WA 49).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will provide a breakdown by type of benefit of the £3 billion of fraud and error in benefit payments referred to in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's report on the 2003–04 resource accounts for the Department for Work and Pensions. [HL1017]

Since 1997 we have saved the equivalent of over £1 billion through our efforts in reducing fraud and error. The figure of £3 billion is a broad estimate of the amount overpaid each year across all benefits. This estimate is subject to substantial rounding because fraud and error loss is not measured continuously across the less vulnerable benefits. As a result, this estimate will not necessarily reflect the reported decrease where specific benefits are examined in isolation. The resulting figure is rounded to the nearer £ billion to reflect this uncertainty. In these benefits where fraud and error is measured continuously there is a clear trend towards reduced loss.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they plan to take action to ensure that retailers who take deposits from customers are obliged to arrange fidelity insurance or similar protection to cover the consequences of insolvency of the retailer before delivery of the goods. [HL432]

We have no plans for a statutory scheme for protecting consumer prepayments in this way.The Enterprise Act 2002 gives the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) increased powers to help develop effective self-regulation through approving and promoting consumer codes of practice that meet the OFT's core criteria. Where relevant to the sector, these criteria require protection of pre-payments. The OFT is working to promote effective codes in as many sectors as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Rubini strain of mumps vaccine and the Edmonston-Zagreb, Enders or Schwarz strains of measles vaccines were ever incorporated into measles, mumps and rubella vaccines administered to children in the United Kingdom; if so, during what period; and whether any of these strains are in current use. [HL1156]

Four measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) products have been marketed and administered to children in the United Kingdom. MMR-II, and Pluserix and Immravax were introduced in 1988. Pluserix and Immravax were withdrawn in September 1992 due to reactions associated with the Urabe mumps component. Priorix was introduced in 1998.The rubini strain of mumps has never been used in any of the MMR vaccines used in the UK. The measles strains used in all MMR (and measles) vaccines are derived from the Edmonston strain (sometimes referred to as the Enders Edmonston strain) This strain has then been further attenuated and modified into a number of different strains (refer to p397 of Vaccines, 4th Edition, Editors Plotkin & Orenstein). Edmonston-Zagreb has not been used in any of the MMR vaccines used in the UK. The measles strains used in the two currently licensed vaccines are Schwarz (Priorix) and Moraten (MMR-II).

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the findings of the Rapid Review Panel concerning hospital acquired infections will be promulgated; and what large-scale multi-centre trials are planned to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new procedures and processes identified by that panel. [HL1197]

The recommendations of the Rapid Review Panel are published on the Health Protection Agency's website, together with the minutes of the panel meetings at www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/rapid_review/_default.htmWhere the Rapid Review Panel suggests further work, it is generally the company's responsibility to organise this; the panel itself does not organise product evaluations. Some evaluations may be performed as part of normal NHS purchasing and supply agency tendering exercises. Also, some products may be included in the department's research and development programme for healthcare associated infection.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the annual government contribution to the railways (a) for the last five years of British Rail and (b) for each year since privatisation; and [HL618]What was the budget for their contribution to the railways in the 2000 Ten Year Plan and for the year 2004–05; and what budget they consider appropriate for the railways to receive in succeeding years. [HL619]

Historic and forecast public spending on all modes of transport is set out in table A3 of Transport 2010 The 10 Year Plan published in July 2000 as supplemented by table A1.1 of Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report published in December 2002. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport has made a Statement setting out the funding levels for rail for the remainder of Network Rail's current regulatory control period.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proportion of Network Rail's income for the current year is expected to come (a) direct from the public sector; (b) from revenue from passenger train operators; and (c) from revenue from the private sector. [HL620]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport has today made a Statement, which includes the information requested about Network Rail's expected income for the current year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with the safety record of large, left-hand drive lorries on British motorways; and whether they have any plans to reduce the risk they pose. [HL1170]

We are not aware of evidence that left-hand drive vehicles have a worse safety record than right-hand drive vehicles. We are concerned about vision blind spots in all classes of vehicle and recognise that vision to the right-hand side of large left-hand drive vehicles may be restricted. To help address this we have agreed with European colleagues a new directive requiring newly registered large goods vehicles to be fitted with additional mirrors. These mirrors will provide better vision along the side of the vehicle and also a better downward view of the traffic adjacent to the side of the vehicle. This directive will start to take effect from January 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 12 January

Some £1.1 million was raised from the use of these telephone numbers which contributed to the cost of running DVLA including the inquiry facility.