asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the collection of information for the Racist Incident Monitoring Annual Report, they will ask the police authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service to identify the racial or religious origin of both perpetrator and victim; and whether they will extend the tables in the annual report to show this information for each offence category. [HL1208]

Her Majesty's Government have no immediate plans to ask the police authorities and the Crown Prosecution Service to identify the racial or religious origin of the perpetrator and victim, in order that such information may be included in the Racist Incident Monitoring Annual Report.Some information on the ethnicity of defendants is currently recorded by the police and Crown Prosecution Service, based on self-classification.We recognise this is an issue that needs to be addressed and this will be the subject of further review and consultation.Any possible extension to the tables in the annual report will he considered as part of an overall review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support the recommendations contained in the report by the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur, Sudan, headed by Judge Antonio Cassese as regards the International Criminal Court. [HL1164]

Our preference is for the situation in Darfur to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), as recommended by the International Commission of Inquiry. Since Sudan is not a state party to the ICC statute, and is unlikely to refer the situation to the court, a decision by the Security Council will be required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the referral to the International Criminal Court of those responsible for the deaths of an estimated 218,000 people in Darfur, Sudan. [HL1173]

I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave the noble Lord, the Lord Lester of Herne Hill today [HL1164].

asked Her Majesty's Government:According to the United Nations annual poppy crop survey in Afghanistan, what was the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in hectares and tonnes in Afghanistan in each year from 2000 to 2004. [HL1282]

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan. It has reported levels of cultivation and production since 1999 as follows:

	Hectares	Tonnes
1999	91,000	4,600
2000	82,000	3,300
2001	8,000	185
2002	74,000	3,400
2003	80,000	3,600
2004	131,000	4,200

The UNODC figures for 1999, 2000 and 2001 were recorded under the Taliban regime. The low level of cultivation and low production figure in 2001 reflect the Taliban ban on opium cultivation; the ban did not however address the underlying causes of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, which was enforced with a mix of threat and bribery and drove up the price of opium, benefiting those with opium stockpiles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they are taking to ensure that there are procedures in place to require the United Nations Security Council and the World Health Organisation to work together without delay in the event of a serious outbreak of infectious disease. [HL1333]

This question was raised in the recent report of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change.The UN Secretary—General will be reporting in March on the way ahead for implementing recommendations of the high level panel. The UK will discuss these issues with the UN Secretariat and other stakeholders, including member states, in preparation for the UN Millennium Review Summit at New York in September. We welcome this recommendation and will work to ensure an effective and co-ordinated UN response to an outbreak of infectious disease.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are making representations to the government of Zimbabwe concerning:

We continue to be concerned about the government of Zimbabwe's failure to ensure conditions for a free and fair election. Obstacles to candidate registration, the government of Zimbabwe's unwillingness to admit election observers from a broad range of countries and the errors in the electoral roll add to our concerns. Together with our European Union and other partners, we continue to lobby the government of Zimbabwe and regional neighbours on the need for Zimbabwe to adhere to the electoral guidelines which all South African Development Community members have signed up to.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Prison Service's suicide prevention strategy applies to immigration detention centres. [HL1075]

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) have separate procedures that contain elements taken from the Prison Service. Immigration Service removal centres operate under the terms of the Detention Centre Rules 2001. All detainees entering immigration detention are subject to a risk assessment that includes the risks of suicide and self-harm. Anyone who is identified at any point as presenting a risk of suicide will be treated in line with the centre's suicide and self-harm procedures, which are supported by the IND operating standard on the prevention of suicide and self-harm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people have committed suicide since May 2004 in prisons and in immigration detention centres; and what steps are being taken to prevent such deaths. [HL1076]

There has been one apparent self-inflicted death in an immigration removal centre, and 63 in Prison Service establishments since 1 May 2004 (up to end 31 January 2005). This includes deaths where it appears the individual acted specifically to take his or her own life, not just those that receive a suicide verdict at inquest. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigates all deaths in Prison Service establishments and Immigration Service removal centres.Reducing the number of apparently self-inflicted deaths in prisons is a key priority. More is being done to prevent such tragedies than ever before. On 31 March 2004, I announced how the development of the suicide prevention strategy which aims to "Reduce distress and promote the well-being of all who live and work in prisons".

asked Her Majesty's Government:In relation to the arrival in the United Kingdom of any person holding a valid passport of a member state of the European Union, what is the current basis of any provision whereby entry can be postponed or denied, together with any similar provision within the European Constitution. [HL1108]

EC Council Directive 68/360 provides that an EU national must be admitted to the United Kingdom on production of a valid passport or identity card. Article 39 of the EC Treaty and EC Council Directive 64/221 allows the United Kingdom to derogate from this if there is reason to believe that an EU national poses a threat to public policy, public security or public health.Article 111-133 of the European Constitution contains the same public policy, public security and public health derogation to that which is contained in Article 39 of the EC Treaty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What specific examples of words, behaviour, publications, plays or broadcasts which have come to the attention of the police or the Crown Prosecution Service over the past four years could have been prosecuted under the proposed offences of incitement to racial hatred under Clause 122 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill. [HL1114]

As incitement to religious hatred is not currently an offence, and has not been in the past, individual cases have not been reviewed against the tests set out above and hence, it is not possible to say whether such events could have been prosecuted as incitement to religious hatred.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many directions to disperse in the Metropolitan Police area have been made under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 to disperse groups and remove persons under 16 to their place of residence. [HL1181]

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that, between January and December 2004, the Metropolitan Police authorised 61 areas under Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. In these areas, 3,312 people were dispersed and 149 young people under the age of 16 were taken home.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many arrests have been made under the Terrorism Act 2000; how many of those arrested:

Statistics provided to the Home Office by the police on arrests and charges from 11 September 2001 until 31 December 2004 under the Terrorism Act 2000 are on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk/terrorism/. (These are compiled from recent police records and are therefore subject to change as cases go through the system.)

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 February

The review of intercept as evidence considered in particular the intercept regimes of the US, Australia, the Netherlands and France. These countries were selected as representing a range of criminal justice regimes in which intercept is used evidentially.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 February

The legal regimes of the US and Australia are adversarial in nature, those of the Netherlands and France inquisitorial.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Army and the Royal Air Force hold ski or snowboard championships; if so, where and when they take place; how many people attend and on what basis; and at what cost to public funds. [HL1060]

Both Army and the Royal Air Force hold ski and snowboard championships. Costs of attending are largely met by those Army/RAF personnel participating, but under triservice regulations, they are entitled to claim an allowance towards their food and travel.The Army Alpine Skiing Championships were held at Serre Chevalier between 20 and 28 January with 132 competitors and officials being involved. The Army Snowboard Championships were held at Stubaital, Austria 13 to 21 December with 120 competitors and officials. Two hundred competitors took part in the Army Nordic Championships held at Ruhpolding 20 January to 4 February. These events were preceded by corps and divisional championships held at different European venues earlier in January. The costs to public funds of all Army events are estimated to be a maximum of £386,000.The Royal Air Force Championships took place in Saalbach, Austria between 8 and 22 January. Some 758 RAF personnel attended Saalbach at an estimated maximum costs to public funds of £94,000. A team of 12 RAF also participated in Army-organised Nordic Championships at a cost of £8,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total amount of lost leave in 1996–97 and 2003–04 for personnel in the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and Royal Marines. [HL1237]

The information requested is not held centrally. However, DASA undertakes an annual survey of leave. This survey is used to produce an estimate of the average number of leave days lost per person for each service, shown in the table below.

Average Number of Annual Leave Days Lost
	Naval service	Army	RAF
1996–97	1.0	4.3	3.0
2003–04	0.5	3.4	1.4

(1) Naval Service includes the Royal Navy and the Royal MarinesDirect comparisons between 1996–97 and 2003–04 should not be made due to changes in leave allowance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will release all details of the hydrographical surveys carried out on the hull of the aircraft carrier HMS "Dasher", which exploded and sank in the Firth of Clyde on 27 March 1943. [HL1300]

Surveys carried out on and around the hull of HMS "Dasher", up to and including information concerning the wreck provided to the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office in October 2000, are available for public inspection at the UK Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton TA1 2DN. Details on access to this site are available on the UK Hydrographic Office's website www.ukho.gov.uk.The wreck was examined by a diving party in March 1982 and positively identified as HMS "Dasher". A later survey was conducted in March 1984. HMS "Dasher" was designated as a protected military wreck by Statutory Instrument 1761–02.Copies of the information available for public inspection can be provided to private researchers (the costs for this service can be supplied on request to

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their general policy on the installation of defensive suites to military transport aircraft; and how extensively they are installed. [HL1327]

Military transport aircraft are fitted with defensive aids suites appropriate to their role for any given mission or operation. As a general policy, sets of equipment are procured for a proportion of each fleet as it is prohibitive to procure a fleet-wide fit. All of the Hercules C-130K fleet and about half of the 25 Hercules C-130J fleet are equipped with infra-red defensive countermeasures. Additionally, some of these aircraft have an enhanced defensive capability. Tristar passenger aircraft and the C-17 transport aircraft were all recently fitted with advanced defensive countermeasures for operations in Iraq. Further details of systems fitted to individual aircraft are classified.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Filkin on 23 February 2004

The Government do not believe that electors in England experience a democratic deficit compared to those in Scotland. England continues to have a strong voice at Westminster with over 80 per cent of the Members of the UK Parliament representing English constituencies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 4 February

Further to my previous Answer, the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, as no central record is kept of databases maintained by government departments. Many departments maintain several databases holding personal information on individuals for differing purposes. For example, my own department's court service maintains a database of court records; the Home Office, inter alia, holds separate information in respect of immigration, passports and the prisons service; and the DWP has separate databases on retirement pension, income support, child support, invalidity benefit and many others.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the United Kingdom does not pay annual increases in respect of expatriate retirement pensions, in line with other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries; and [HL1297]What criteria are used to decide that annual increases in expatriate retirement pensions should be paid in some countries, such as Malta, Jamaica and the United States, but not in others, such as Australia, Canada and South Africa; and [HL1298]Whether the matter of indexation of United Kingdom retirement pensions has been raised in bilateral discussions between the United Kingdom and Australian governments since 1997; and, if so, with what outcome. [HLI299]

The UK state pension is payable to all those who satisfy the conditions of entitlement regardless of where they choose to live during retirement. Where a person is living outside the UK the state pension is uprated if there is a legal requirement or a reciprocal agreement to do so. In some respects these arrangements are more generous than those applied to the payment of pensions abroad by other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries; for example, restricting the exportability of the pension to claims made from within the country and paying exported pensions at a lower rate.However, the non-uprating of state pensions in certain countries is the subject of an appeal to the House of Lords from a decision of the Court of Appeal which found in favour of the Government. We will respond accordingly at the hearing which is set for 28 February and 1 March this year.Since 1997, there have been two meetings between the UK and Australian governments at which the issue of the uprating of UK state pensions to persons living in Australia was discussed.At the first meeting on 12 July 1999, the Australian government stated their intention to terminate the reciprocal social security agreement with the UK, giving the reason as the refusal of successive British governments to uprate UK state pensions paid in Australia. Formal notification was of this given on 1 March 2000 and the agreement was terminated from 1 March 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 27 January

The publication of Sir John's report was followed by a more major review of government policies which impact on innovation. The innovation report was published in December 2003 and examined investment by the Government in R&D and wider innovation across the whole UK economy.One of the main findings of the report was that a step change was needed in the way government supported research and development to enable us to achieve real impact from our investment.The DTI's subsequent business support review led to the development of a number of generic support products within the technology strategy, no longer linked to individual sectors such as construction, but focusing the funds we have available on supporting industry-led technological development in areas with clear market focus and delivering broader public benefits. This mirrored Sir John Fairclough's recommendation that funding programmes should he targeted at competitiveness issues and should withdraw from short-term knowledge-transfer and incremental improvement.It is too early to say what level of support the construction industry will be able to obtain from the new strategy, and how this will compare to the previous levels of funding available to the sector.A number of the competitions to date have had a clear relevance to the construction industry and the modem built environment is recognised by the Technology Strategy Board as a key area for improvement. The onus is however on the sector itself to take advantage of funding opportunities as they arise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they intend to replace the 28 per cent of the United Kingdom's nuclear generating capacity which was available in 2000 and which will be shut down by 2014. [HL1258]

The Government believe that a market-based approach is the best way of delivering energy security, including through the provision, maintenance and replacement of electricity generating capacity to meet demand, and that this approach is working well.We expect that market signals will show when new build is both needed and economically viable.Recent announcements show that the market is already thinking about the need for new build to meet future demand. For example, Centrica is proposing to build a new power station in south west England and E.ON recently announced plans for an upgrade of its generating facility on the Isle of Grain (from part-time oil-fired generation, to full-time gas-fired generation).For the market to work effectively, market participants need to know that the Government will let it work. As set out in the energy White Paper, the Government will not intervene in the operation of the market except in extreme circumstances such as to avert, as a last resort, a potentially serious risk to safety.However, through the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS), the DTI and Ofgem continually monitor developments in the market, and look for ways of helping the market to work effectively to deliver secure energy supplies. We also provide valuable information to market participants, which can help them to plan investment decisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their estimate of the time it would take for a new nuclear power station to become operational from the date when a decision was made to build one (a) on an existing or former site; and (b) on a new site. [HL1259]

The estimated time to construct and commission a nuclear power station, from decision to build, through to the electricity generation stage, is between 10 to 15 years. It is difficult to state with more precision the time taken due to many influencing factors including: the location of the site; the type of reactor to be built; the length of time for the approvals processes; and the length of time for any public inquiry. The time taken for the building of a new plant on an existing site would be expected to be less, when compared to a new site, due to the grid connection infrastructure already being in place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 25 January

I refer the noble Lord to the response I gave him on Tuesday 25 January, (Official Report, col. WA 156). There are no paid or unpaid Labour Party officials working in the Cabinet Office in support of the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 February

All requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. including information relating to records of meetings are considered on a case-by-case basis. The Freedom of Information Act operates on the presumption that all information held by public authorities should be available, subject to the 24 exemptions of the Act. Whether or not information is exempt under the Act requires the exercise of judgment in each case. The majority of the exemptions also require that the public interest in releasing the information should be weighed against the public interest in withholding it. If the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in withholding it, the information must be disclosed. The assessment of the public interest has to be made in all the circumstances of the case, on a case-by-case basis as far as each request is concerned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current retiring age for those employed at each government agency. [HL1266]

In line with all employers in the public and private sector, the Government believe that the Civil Service should be allowed to determine retirement age policy with regard to its business needs while giving staff as much choice as possible about when they retire.Departments and agencies are free to set the normal retirement age for their own staff subject only to the requirement that the minimum age at which civil servants can retire with an unreduced pension is currently 60.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will encourage government agencies to allow employees who wish to continue to work beyond the standard retiring age to be allowed to do so, subject to continued capability of those concerned. [HL1267]

In line with all employers in the public and private sector, the Government believe that the Civil Service should be allowed to determine retirement age policy with regard to its business needs whilst giving staff as much choice as possible about when they retire.Departments and agencies are free to set the normal retirement age for their own staff subject only to the requirement that the minimum age at which civil servants can retire with an unreduced pension is currently 60.Against this background, 80 per cent of the Civil Service below the Senior Civil Service now has the option to remain in work until 65, and a further 11 per cent has the option to remain in work on short service concessions.Those departments and agencies that have decided that there is a strong case in the current circumstances for retaining a retirement age of 60 for staff will be expected to continue to re-examine the issue and look positively at offering more flexibilities to older staff before they are required to do so by the introduction of regulations in response to the EU Directive on Equal Treatment in October 2006.The normal retirement age for the Senior Civil Service is 60. However, heads of departments and agency chief executives have the flexibility to retain members of the Senior Civil Service beyond 60 if they judge it to be in the public interest and are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties. Retirement and pension ages for SCS will be the subject of review before October 2006 to conform with planned legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who was consulted in the drafting of the regulations requiring consultation of local communities prior to the introduction of water fluoridation; and when they are planning to publish those regulations. [HL1179]

We laid regulations before Parliament on 22 February. The bodies listed as follows received copies of our consultation document.

• British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry
• British Dental Association
• British Dental Health Foundation
• British Fluoridation Society
• British Medical Association
• British Society for Dental Research
• British Society for Paediatric Dentistry
• Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
• Electoral Reform Society
• Faculty of Dental Surgery
• Faculty of General Dental Practitioners
• Faculty of Public Health Medicine

• General Dental Council
• Health Development Agency
• Local Government Association
• National Association for Dentistry in Health Authorities and Trusts
• National Pure Water Association
• NHS Confederation
• Oral Health Promotion Research Group
• Patients Association
• Regional Directors of Public Health
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Strategic Health Authority Chief Executives
• Strategic Health Authority dental leads
• Strategic Health Authority Regional Director of Public Health
• UK Public Health Association
• Water UK

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 31 January

The Government have great sympathy for the pain and hardship suffered by the widows of those inadvertently infected with hepatitis C. However, it has always been clear that the ex gratia payment scheme is for those living with the virus and is not designed to compensate for bereavement.The schemes administered by the Skipton Fund and the Macfarlane Trust have been established for different purposes and are two distinct schemes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their objective that courts should observe a principle of non-intervention in decisions by medical practitioners which are dependent partly or wholly on considerations concerning the best allocation of scarce resources; and, if so:

The Question raises issues that are to be considered by the court in the appeal General Medical Council v Oliver Leslie Burke and others so it is inappropriate for the Government to comment in advance of the hearing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, for the protection of patients, they intend to make clinical indemnity insurance mandatory for dentists in professional practice; and, if so, whether they intend to make it mandatory for this cover to remain in force after dentists have ceased practising. [HL1343]

The order we will lay before Parliament this spring will make such cover compulsory. The order will give the General Dental Council the power to specify in statutory rules, which will be subject to parliamentary approval, the types of cover sufficient to provide proper protection for patients' interests.