asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether United Kingdom airlines are required to produce risk assessments relating to exposures of passengers and crew to contaminated air in aircraft under health and safety legislation; if so, by which official body these are examined and approved; and whether the risk assessments are publicly available. [HL1389]

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require UK-based airlines to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees and of others, such as passengers, affected by their work.

There is no requirement to submit risk assessments for examination and approval by an official body or make them publicly available. Employers may, however, be asked to produce risk assessments for scrutiny in the course of specific inspection or enforcement activity by an official body.

The official bodies concerned with the application of general health and safety duties on aircraft in the UK are the Civil Aviation Authority and the Health and Safety Executive (or the Health and Safety Executive (Northern Ireland)).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they are contributing to the work of the European Union Environment Agency in Copenhagen on policies to deal with global warming within the sixth Environment Action Programme. [HL1480]

The Government participate fully within the European Environment Agency's (EEA-Copenhagen) Environmental Information and Observation Network (EIONET), including on any provision of data for matters relating to the sixth Environmental Action Programme. We also help with the assessment activities that support the programme's own priority actions related to the thematic work being done on subjects such as climate change.

The European Commission is currently in the process of conducting a mid-term review of the sixth Environment Action Programme. The Government are contributing to this review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the constraints on permitting attendance of members of the public at, and participation in, open meetings of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. [HL1387]

Members of the public are able to apply to attend, as observers, meetings of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) subject to constraints of space. Members of the public attending COT meetings are asked to abide by a code of conduct for observers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment is complying with its code of conduct by not responding to a complaint dated 3 July 2006 from Dr Leonie Coxon that her evidence to the committee had been misrepresented by it. [HL1388]

The deputy chairman of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) responded, in accordance with the committee’s code of conduct, to a complaint dated 3 July 2006 from Dr Leonie Coxon on 5 July 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has members with occupational health or clinical expertise; and, if not, whether they have concluded that such expertise is unnecessary for the effective evaluation of the clinical effects on humans and animals of exposure to toxic chemicals. [HL1391]

The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has several members with clinical expertise and one member with expertise in assessment of occupational health.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What courses are provided by the National School of Government on the constitution and constitutional law; and how many officials of the Department for Constitutional Affairs have been on such courses in the past six months. [HL1244]

This is a matter for the National School of Government. The national school’s principal and chief executive will write to the noble Lord and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library for the reference of noble Lords.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which body provides government funding in Northern Ireland to groups offering help and support to dyslexia sufferers; and how much has been paid to these groups in each of the past five years.[HL1469]

There is no specific body that provides government funding in Northern Ireland to groups offering help and support to people with dyslexia. However, during the past five years Northern Ireland departments have provided the following funding to dyslexia organisations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the effects of recent public campaigns to switch off electric lights and appliances to reduce electricity bills. [HL1478]

The Energy Saving Trust (EST), which is funded by my department to promote energy efficiency in the household sector, runs campaigns aimed at encouraging consumers to take energy-saving action. EST's evaluation of its current “Save Your 20 per cent” campaign is ongoing. For 2005-06, EST suggests that savings of more than 200,000 tonnes of carbon each year were influenced by its consumer-facing activities. Of this, 4,000 tonnes of carbon each year was attributed to 480,000 people switching off lights in unoccupied rooms (numbers turning off appliances were not recorded).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will take steps to encourage greater use of retrofitted energy saving systems in old domestic buildings. [HL1334]

Through the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC), we require energy suppliers to meet targets for the promotion of improvements in household energy efficiency in Great Britain. They do this by encouraging and assisting consumers to take up energy efficiency measures like insulation.

For the most vulnerable members of society in private sector housing, the Government's Warm Front scheme provides a grant for the installation of energy efficiency measures. An evaluation of various options for further help for older, harder to treat, properties is underway.

Detail of grants and offers for energy efficiency measures, including under EEC and Warm Front, are available, by postcode, on the Energy Saving Trust (EST) website. The EST is funded by Defra to promote and support energy efficiency in the household sector.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the current Eco-Management and Audit Scheme logo system for United Kingdom and European companies' products is an efficient way of indicating effective environmental best practice to customers. [HL1477]

The European Union (EU) Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary environmental registration scheme that aims to encourage organisations to improve their environmental performance. Organisations are encouraged to implement an environmental management system and to issue a public statement on their performance.

EMAS is not designed to apply to products and, with very few exceptions, the scheme's logo does not appear on products. There is, however, a separate EU scheme—the ecolabel—which has been designed for that purpose and which is currently available for more than 20 different categories of product.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the European Union is considering any plans to form an air force or a navy.[HL1406]

The EU is not considering any plans to form a European air force or navy. Forces for EU crisis management operations are provided by member states on a voluntary basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the undertaking given on 18 December 2006 by Lord Rooker (HL Deb, col. 1878), when they will place in the Library of the House a list of the current European Union initiatives which depend for their legal base on Article 308 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community.[HL1408]

A list of current European Union proposals which depend on Article 308 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community as a legal base has now been placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the proposal from the German presidency of the European Union that police forces in the European Union should have the power to pursue criminals across borders and to have access to each others confidential records, including DNA information; whether Parliament will be consulted before such a proposal is agreed; and, if so, by what method.[HL1443]

I believe that the noble Lord is referring to the German presidency's plans to transpose the Prüm convention into EU law. The presidency initiated a discussion on this topic at the Informal Justice and Home Affairs Council in Dresden on 15 and 16 January but has not yet tabled formal proposals.

The Prüm convention was signed on 27 May 2005 by France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Belgium. It is designed to intensify cross-border police co-operation, especially in the fight against terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal migration.

The Prüm Convention offers the potential to improve the exchange of information on DNA, fingerprints and vehicle registrations, which would have a real impact on our ability to bring serious criminals to justice. The Government support better practical co-operation between the police forces of member states and will carefully consider any formal proposals that the German presidency puts forward to transpose the convention into EU law.

The exact process as to how Prüm or some of its provisions could be brought into the EU framework has yet to be agreed. Any EU instrument covering the transposition of the Prüm convention into EU law would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny. Ministers have given evidence on the Prüm convention to the Select Committee on the European Union, with my right honourable friend the Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, appearing before the committee on 18 December 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 17 January (WA 156) concerning flooding in Enniskillen, whether any damage occurred in the incidents of water ponding; and, if so, to whom, and from what source, compensation was paid as a result. [HL1482]

The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the noble Lord in response to this question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 17 January (WA 156) concerning flooding in Enniskillen, whether any damage occurred in the incidents of water ponding; and, if so, to whom, and from what source, compensation was paid as a result.

As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

I am advised that there are no records of damage resulting from the isolated incidents of water ponding in the Queen Elizabeth Road, Enniskillen. The issue of compensation has, therefore, not arisen.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements have been made for the disposal of the stocks of curd cheese at Bowland Dairy Products Ltd. [HL864]

In accordance with Commission decision 2006/694/EC, all the curd cheese held at Bowland Dairy Products Ltd was designated either as category 2 or category 3 animal by-product depending on the nature of the milk from which it was made, and has been disposed of in accordance with animal by-products legislation under the control of the local authority. There is now no curd cheese on the premises.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations the Food Standards Agency has received about its proposals to label food with traffic light colours; and, in particular, whether it has received representations from the makers of specialist food products on the possibility that the traffic light system could result in arbitrary criticism of products.[HL1423]

The Food Standards Agency received 121 responses to public consultations on front-of-pack nutritional signposting. Summaries of these responses can be found on the agency's website.

In addition, more than 332 small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 50 employees were contacted to find out how the agency's proposals would affect their businesses. A small number of responses were received; these did not highlight any concerns about arbitrary criticism of products. No representations have been received from makers of speciality food products.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they will ensure that gambling jurisdictions in the European Union and European Economic Area exercise the same degree of regulatory control over online gambling as that envisaged for the United Kingdom by the Gambling Commission. [HL1325]

The Gambling Act 2005 puts in place the strongest ever regulatory regime for the UK gambling industry. Although it is outside the Government's power to ensure that other jurisdictions exercise the same degree of regulatory control as the UK, we intend to lead the way in raising standards in remote gambling worldwide and in protecting consumers. To this end, on 31 October 2006, the Government hosted an international summit for more than 30 jurisdictions and the process of establishing international standards in now underway. The Gambling Commission will continue to share the UK Government’s approach with their equivalent organisations abroad through its membership of the International Association of Gambling Regulators.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make representations to the Gambling Commission to hold talks with gambling regulators in Gibraltar and Malta to ensure that the standards of online gambling regulation in those jurisdictions are comparable to those in the United Kingdom. [HL1326]

The Government work very closely with the Gambling Commission on all issues relating to online gambling. Representatives from both Gibraltar and Malta attended the Government’s international remote gambling summit held on 31 October 2006 where they, along with many other jurisdictions, indicated that they fully support the UK Government's intention to raise standards in online gambling regulation. Following the summit, we will continue to involve Malta and Gibraltar in the process for establishing international standards, which is now underway. The Gambling Commission will also continue to meet representatives of Gibraltar and Malta through their membership of the International Association of Gambling Regulators.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much each of the Government Offices for the Regions spends annually on internal administration; and what is this figure expressed as a percentage of the total annual budget of each government office. [HL1135]

The total administrative funding of the government offices in 2006-07 was estimated at £127.99 million. This covers all running costs including staff costs, accommodation, et cetera.

The government offices receive programme funding from seven sponsor departments. We do not hold financial data on all sponsor departments’ programme fund expenditure which is channelled through government offices centrally. Total programme funding from Communities and Local Government for 2006-07 was estimated at £1.13 billion.

In line with the government office review, management of programme funds forms only one element of the offices' role in the regions. The offices also have a key role in negotiating and brokering local area agreements and regional strategies, for example. The estimated total administrative costs for each government office for 2006-07 are given below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Warner on 18 December 2006 (WA 243) concerning Alfred Morris House, the rehabilitation unit at Taunton, what consultation the Secretary of State for Health had with patients and their families before acting on Mr Jeremy Bell's formal request to her to undertake a review of the Taunton and Somerset National Health Service Trust's proposals. [HL1303]

This is a local matter for Taunton and Somerset National Health Service Trust. It is the responsibility of local NHS organisations to plan and develop services in order to meet the needs of their health economy.

South West Strategic Health Authority has advised officials that the trust consulted widely with staff on plans to relocate the neurological rehabilitation service from the Alfred Morris House to the Duchess Building.

NHS bodies are under a duty to consult overview and scrutiny committees on any plans to make substantial variations to NHS services. These committees have the power to refer any proposal to the Secretary of State for Health if they believe that the plans are not in the interest of the health service. The SHA reports that the Somerset Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee was kept fully informed of the plans, and its view was that the service reorganisation did not constitute a significant variation in service and so did not require the full consultation periods.

The service is being relocated, not closed, and the SHA provides further assurances that the trust will continue to provide a specialist neurological rehabilitation service, which will continue to be delivered by staff with the appropriate skills, knowledge and experience.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many cases of clostridium difficile were reported in National Health Service mental illness hospitals in (a) 2005, and (b) 2006.[HL1421]

These data are not collected centrally. NHS mental health trusts are not included in the mandatory surveillance schemes for healthcare associated infections, including clostridium difficile.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the number of recorded cases of childhood asthma in each of the past 10 years in each parliamentary constituency in (a) Kent, and (b) Essex; and [HL1498]

What are the number of recorded cases of adult respiratory diseases in each of the past 10 years in each parliamentary constituency in (a) Kent, and (b) Essex. [HL1499]

Information on the number of cases of adult respiratory disease and childhood asthma is not collected centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For each National Health Service acute hospital in the last convenient period, how many stroke patients out of the total were scanned (a) within three hours of admission, and (b) within 24 hours of admission; and whether each acute hospital is able routinely to scan patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. [HL971]

Data on how many stroke patients out of the total were scanned within three hours of admission are not collected centrally.

The number of stroke patients out of the total that were scanned within 24 hours of admission is detailed within the concise report of the Royal College of Physicians’s (RCP) National Sentinel Stroke Audit 2004. Copies have been placed in the Library. The report of the 2006 clinical audit is due to be published in March 2007.

The percentage of acute hospitals able routinely to scan patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week is shown in the attached table. This table is an extract from the RCP's National Sentinel Stroke Audit, Phase 1 Organisational Audit 2006 published in August 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the terms of reference for Lord Triesman's role as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Returns; and whether it is intended that Lord Triesman will make Statements to the House of Lords on any of his work in that capacity. [HL1487]

I am placing in the Library of the House a copy of my right honourable friend the Prime Minister's letter of appointment which outlines the terms of reference for my role. I will make Statements to the House as and when it is necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 13 December (WA 208) concerning InterTradeIreland, whether they will place the minutes of the review meetings between the body and its sponsor departments in the Library of the House.[HL921]

I have arranged for the minutes of meetings which have taken place from 1 January 2005 to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to attract investment to County Fermanagh. [HL1224]

The Government, through Invest NI, promote Northern Ireland as an attractive and viable location for foreign direct investment. They also work to stimulate the development and growth of local businesses and entrepreneurial activity. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITS) works to secure investment in tourism.

Invest NI works closely with local stakeholders to encourage them to develop regional propositions to maximise the attractiveness of their area for potential investors.

This strategy has resulted in more than £4.2 million of assistance being offered towards total planned inward investment of £15.4 million in the Fermanagh District Council area in the four years to March 2006. Through its Accelerating Entrepreneurship Strategy, Invest NI has also assisted the creation of more than 670 new enterprises which have generated around £20 million of additional turnover in Fermanagh businesses.

Invest NI has offered assistance of £3.5 million towards the £20.5 million golf resort development at Castle Hume. This project, in its first five years alone, is forecast to deliver £18 million of out of state tourism spend and 122 jobs to the Fermanagh area.

The NITB has also secured £623,000 of support for Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism through the Peace II programme and £3 million under the Natural Rural Resource Tourism Initiative. Under the Tourism Development Scheme 2006-08, five projects in Fermanagh have been shortlisted for financial assistance support totalling around £642,000.

The “Destination Fermanagh” initiative provides the basis for investing in Fermanagh's tourism product in the long term. This unique partnership between NITB, Fermanagh District Council and the industry in the county will play a key role in helping Fermanagh secure its place as one of Ireland's premier visitor destinations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Ministers in the Government of Iraq are supporters of Hojatoleslam Muqtada Al-Sadr; and what are their portfolios.[HL1587]

There are six Sadrist Ministers, three Cabinet Ministers, and three Ministers of State, in the Iraqi Government:

Dr Yua'arab Nathim Al-Ubaidi (Agriculture)

Dr Ali al-Shammari (Health)

Dr Karim Mahdi Salih (Transport)

Dr Liwa Sumaysim (Minister of State, Tourism and Antiquities)

Dr Sa'ad Tahir Abd Khalaf al-Hashimi (Minister of State, Governorate Affairs)

Engineer Adil al-Asadi (Minister of State for Civil Society Affairs).

Following their self-imposed suspension from government and Parliament in protest at Prime Minister Maliki's meeting with President Bush in Amman in November 2006, the Sadrist members returned to Parliament on 21 January 2007. However, the return of the Sadrist Ministers to their previous positions is not yet resolved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the recent Government of the United States references to Iran and Syria, following the suggestion by the Iraq Study Group that these two countries should be more actively involved in giving advice on how to resolve the problems in Iraq. [HL1536]

As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary told the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committees on 11 January, the UK continues to have greater direct engagement with Iran and Syria than the US, but the messages we are conveying are not different. As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has said, Syria and Iran face a strategic choice between whether to play a constructive role in the region or face isolation. We welcome the direct engagement that the Iraqi Government have pushed with both countries in recent months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will propose that the Shebaa Farms near the border between Lebanon and Israel be placed under United Nations jurisdiction until their exact status can be determined. [HL1530]

My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have had wide ranging discussions with the UN Secretary-General and other UN officials about the situation in Lebanon, including the Shebaa Farms.

The UK supports UN Security Council Resolutions 1680 and 1701 which both call for action by Lebanon and Syria to delineate their common border, especially where the border is uncertain or disputed.

The UN has now confirmed that it is working to establish the cartographic, legal and political implications of Lebanon's proposal to place the Shebaa Farms under UN jurisdiction until border delineation and Lebanese sovereignty over them are fully settled.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they and the European Union are in touch with the Arab League and with the Governments of Egypt and Jordan on the appropriate measures to advance a comprehensive Middle Eastern peace settlement. [HL1529]

The UK and our European partners are in regular contact with the Arab League and the Governments of Egypt and Jordan. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has visited the region twice in recent months, and met King Abdullah of Jordan on 6 November 2006, and President Mubarak of Egypt on 16 December 2006. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary met President Mubarak and the Arab League Secretary-General on 7 September 2006, and also hopes to visit the region soon. We continue to engage closely with the parties, and regional and international partners, on how to advance the Middle East peace process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made, or will make, representations to the Government of Israel about the proposal that withheld customs and VAT moneys should be paid into an escrow account, against which the Palestinian presidency would have the right to borrow. [HL1527]

We welcome Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas’s meeting on 23 December 2006 and the resulting release of US$ 100 million in Palestinian tax revenues. We continue to call on Israel to release all revenues withheld since 18 February 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the impact that the reopening of Gaza airport, and the short-haul airport at Kalandia, would have on the Middle East peace process; and whether they have assessed the probable costs or made proposals as regards the re-opening of these airports. [HL1528]

The UK has recently funded the World Bank to carry out an investment climate assessment of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Its main finding is that shrinking market access and lack of free movement are the main constraints to growth. Palestinian firms must have secure and predictable access to international markets to be able to grow. The economic impact of providing access through airports or other transit routes would therefore be very large. However, we have made no recent assessment of the probable costs of re-opening these airports, but we have noted the assessments made by international financial institutions.

Our ambassador in Tel Aviv and our consul-general in Jerusalem regularly raise our concerns about a wide range of issues, including access to markets, with the Israeli Government and Palestinian President Abbas. Together with our international partners, we continue to call for both sides to implement the November 2005 agreement on movement and access, which recognises the importance of re-opening Gaza airport. My right honourable friends the Secretary of State for International Development and the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about freedom of movement and economic access with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni, on 13 December 2006 and 2 January respectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Government of Israel's recent issue of tenders for 44 new housing units in Ma’aleh Adumim constitutes settlement expansion and is therefore in breach of international law; if so, on how many occasions they have made representations to the Government of the United States on this issue; and with what results.[HL1452]

We are concerned about the announcement of new housing units in Ma’aleh Adumim. Settlements are illegal under international law and settlement construction is an obstacle to peace. The road map is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction, including the “natural growth” of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001. We are working closely with the US to re-launch the political process and move the peace process forward. My right honourable friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary discussed this with US Secretary of State Rice on 18 January.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements exist for notifying appropriate government departments and law enforcement agencies of individuals who change their names; and [HL1411]

Which government agency is responsible for registering the name change of an individual so that the name change becomes lawful. [HL1413]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter to Lord Marlesford from the National Statistician, dated January 2007.

As Registrar-General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking which government agency is responsible for registering the name change of an individual so that the name change becomes lawful, and what arrangements exist for notifying appropriate government departments and law enforcement agencies of individuals who change their names. (HL1413 & HL1411)

There is no government agency that is responsible for registering the change of name of individuals. There is no requirement to register a name change in order for it to become lawful. An individual may choose to make a statutory declaration or deed poll in order to provide evidence of their change of name. There is no central record of all name changes. Individuals are responsible for notifying relevant agencies that they have changed their names.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have considered a reduction or abolition of the 12 per cent tax on purchase of a National Lottery ticket in order to meet any costs associated with the raising of funds for the 2012 Olympic Games in addition to the £1.5 billion already committed; and [HL1359]

Why there is a 12 per cent tax on purchasing a ticket to play the National Lottery; and in what ways the money raised by this tax is utilised. [HL1360]

The taxation of the lottery is a principle that has been accepted by Parliament since the lottery was established in 1994. The lottery is a mainstream gambling activity and should, like other gambling activities, make a contribution to revenues for the funding of essential public services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Warner on 8 January (WA 32–3) whether, without the writing back of the £350 million contingency established by strategic health authorities, the actual National Health Service cash deficit for the current fiscal year is £444 million; and [HL1158]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Warner on 8 January (WA 32–3), whether the £350 million contingency established by the strategic health authorities is separate from the £350 million contingency released to secure the net deficit forecast of £94 million for the current financial year; and [HL1159]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Warner on 8 January (WA 32–3) that the £350 million contingency “has not been created from new funding provided by the department” in the current financial year, whether the contingency was provided as a charge against National Health Service funding included for the previous fiscal year; and [HL1160]

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Warner on 8 January (WA 32–3), whether all or any of the two contingencies of £350 million from either 2005–06 or 2006–07 were charged to the closing accounts for the financial year 2005–06. [HL1162]

The £94 million net deficit reported at quarter two, 2006-07, reflects the financial position of the NHS overall, including the impact of the £350 million contingency established by SHAs through their prudent management of NHS central budget programme funding devolved to them by the department.

SHAs have created one contingency through their management of central budgets. This contingency currently stands at £350 million and has been set against the overall financial position of the NHS, though at quarter two, SHAs reported their ability to create an additional £100 million through their continued management of the central budget programme.

The contingency is not related to previous financial years, either as a charge to NHS funding or as a charge to the final accounts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the visit of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to the offices of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 16 January, whether he indicated that he would remove the safeguards on new powers for the commission by amending the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill, currently before Parliament.[HL1472]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland met the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 16 January. During discussions of the work of the commission, the commissioners raised a number of concerns about the new powers for the commission, which are set out in the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill.

The Secretary of State was interested to hear the views of the commission. He did not indicate that he would remove the safeguards on the new powers. He did confirm that the Government would consider any amendments proposed as the Bill passes through Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Under what standing orders the Bill of Rights Forum which met in Northern Ireland on 18 December 2006 operates; and on what basis the voting is operated. [HL1223]

The Minister of State for Northern Ireland (David Hanson) chaired the inaugural meeting of the forum on 18 December as an interim arrangement.

The Government's clear view is that it should be for the independent chair and the forum members themselves to determine the forum's own procedures, including how voting is operated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the cost to the Northern Ireland departments and the Northern Ireland Office of the translation of documents from English into Irish. [HL872]

The average cost to the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Office for the translation of documents from English to Irish is 14 pence per word.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will take further steps to encourage product life cycle research into an expansion of inputs from recyclable and renewable items to reduce the incidence of unnecessary waste in finished industrial and commercial products. [HL1475]

Defra is developing a holistic approach to tackling the most significant environmental impacts of products across their whole life cycle. This includes, but is not restricted to, addressing the waste impacts of products.

The Market Transformation Programme (MTP) supports government policy on sustainable products. The Government are funding the MTP through the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme to do more work aimed at reducing waste impacts through action taken at the design stage of the supply chain.

In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry Technology Programme funds research and development into new technologies. Funds provided via the BREW Programme are helping to encourage more innovative approaches to product design to reduce unnecessary waste in their manufacture and use.

Remanufacture involves re-engineering end-of-life goods into as-new condition. It offers potential for improving business resource efficiency and profitability. An on-going pilot project under the BREW Programme is helping to expand knowledge in this area. We are currently discussing, with managers of the pilot project, how this work can be taken forward.

The government-funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has also been established to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, removing the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.

WRAP's market development work includes developing new uses for recycled materials. For example, in its Manufacturing Programme, WRAP has committed to deliver three major projects over the next two years which aim to switch significant manufacturing processes from using virgin material to recycled material input. WRAP is also undertaking research and feasibility studies to identify further opportunities for manufacturers to use production based on recycled, rather than virgin, materials.

The Innovation Fund established under WRAP's Retail Programme aims to stimulate innovation in packaging and product design. Examples of innovation have included new technologies, reducing the weight of packaging and incorporating recycled content into packaging.

The Review of England's Waste Strategy will discuss further the Government's approach in these areas.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will take steps to improve traffic flow at peak times at the Knocknagoney roundabout in East Belfast. [HL1384]

The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the noble Lord in response to this Question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about whether they will take steps to improve traffic flow at peak times at the Knocknagoney roundabout in East Belfast. As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

As you will be aware, the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP), published in November 2004, takes forward the strategic initiatives of the Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland, which was accepted by the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2002. The BMTP sets out transport proposals for the Belfast metropolitan area to be implemented or commenced by 2015. It also supports the development proposals contained in the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan, which was published by the Department of the Environment in 2004.

The BMTP identified a number of road improvement schemes considered necessary to remove existing bottlenecks and improve traffic flows on the road network. Although none of the improvement schemes directly affects the Tillysburn/Knocknagoney junction, there are proposals to widen the Sydenham bypass that will assist traffic flows in this area. Details of the proposals in the BMTP can be obtained from the BMTP website https://pronet.wsatkins.co.uk/bmtp/.

In the more immediate future, Roads Service has approved road modifications, as part of a planning application submitted by Tesco, which will amend the A2 approach to the junction from the Holywood direction and provide additional capacity at the A2/Knocknagoney Road junction. Subject to the availability of funding, Roads Service is also considering improvements to the road layout at the A55 Outer Ring/Holywood Road junction and the lane configuration between this junction and Tillysburn, as part of our 2007-08 traffic management works programme.

When completed, it is anticipated that these schemes will contribute to an improvement of traffic conditions in and around the Tillysburn junction and help reduce congestion in the area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to improve traffic flow in Donemana, County Tyrone. [HL1386]

The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the noble Lord in response to this Question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question regarding what proposals they have to improve traffic flow in Donemana, County Tyrone. As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

The traffic problems encountered in the village of Donemana are relatively minor, when compared with traffic problems generated in the larger towns and cities across Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, it is recognised that problems are occasionally experienced within the village. It is also noted that, although some waiting restrictions are in place in the village, a lack of enforcement has resulted in these being abused.

You will be aware that Roads Service has recently taken over responsibility for enforcement of waiting restrictions across Northern Ireland. I am pleased to confirm that, as a result of this, villages such as Donemana will be given increased levels of enforcement. Given the rural nature of the village and the relative lack of traffic problems, future enforcement action will not be on a full-time basis, but it should be sufficient to encourage those currently ignoring the waiting restrictions to use the adjacent car park, where there is clearly adequate capacity to meet the village's needs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the Government of Saudi Arabia following the arrest and deportation of 49 members of the Ahmadiyya community, including an eight-month old child. [HL1332]

Our embassy in Riyadh found no evidence to support the claim of illegal detention and deportation of 49 members of the Ahmadiyya community.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the mandate for the Youth Sport Trust initiative to establish the National Council for School Sport Secondment; what is the membership of the council; what is its annual budget; what outcomes it has delivered; and what was the tender process which led to the award of this initiative by the Government.[HL1398]

The National Council for School Sport (NCSS) is not a government body. Requests for details regarding the membership of its council, its annual budget and the outcomes it has delivered should be addressed directly to the NCSS, 1st Floor, Sir John Beckwith Building, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE1 1 3TU.

The Youth Sport Trust (YST) is a registered charity that supports the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in delivering the National School Sport Strategy. This work includes the modernisation of competitive sport in schools, through the introduction of competition managers into school sport partnerships and the local implementation of the national schools competition framework.

The YST agreed to second a member of its staff to work with the NCSS on the competitive sport element of the strategy. Since 2002-03, DfES has allocated the following grants to the YST from the National School Sport budget to support this secondment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to further the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe's recommendation to create an ad hoc committee of experts to consider in depth the subjects of secret services, air traffic and state immunity. [HL1558]

We have carefully considered the recommendations made by the secretary-general. However, as stated in the Written Answer my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Kim Howells, gave to the honourable Member for Chichester (Mr Andrew Tyrie) in another place on 23 November 2006 (Official Report, col. 245W), the Government believe that domestic legislation and international legal instruments already exist to deal satisfactorily with the concerns he has raised. We stand by this statement and continue to believe that there is no need to create new mechanisms such as those the secretary-general proposes. My honourable friend the Minister of State, Kim Howells, sent a letter to the secretary-general on 23 January outlining the Government's position in detail.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much of the £1 million per annum six-year discounted travel scheme announced by UK Sport on 2 June 2006 has been spent so far by the Olympic governing bodies of sport; and how much has been claimed by each of the 35 Olympic governing bodies for the 450 athletes announced to be beneficiaries of this scheme.[HL1394]

The Flying Start scheme announced on 2 June 2006 is a partnership between UK Sport and Virgin Atlantic to offer discounted flights and other in-kind benefits to Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the UK Sport Podium Programme, their coaches and support staff. Initially launched for one year only, Virgin considered the total value of the scheme overall to be £1 million per annum.

In the time since launch, more than 650 flights have been booked under the scheme. Virgin estimates the combined value of the flight discounts and other in-kind benefits taken so far to be £290,000. Fifteen sports have benefited from the scheme, which are as follows:

Archery

Athletics

Badminton

Bob Skeleton

Canoeing

Disability Athletics

Disability Sailing

Disability Tennis

Diving

Equestrian

Modern Pentathlon

Ice Skating

Sailing

Shooting

Triathlon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any employees of UK Sport or the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have benefited from the discounted travel scheme announced by UK Sport on 2 June 2006.[HL1395]

The Virgin Flying Start scheme announced on 2 June 2006 is not open to any employees of UK Sport or the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is provided solely for podium-level athletes on UK Sport's World Class Performance Programme, together with the chief executive, performance director and up to three nominated coaches or managers from the Olympic and Paralympic governing bodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the value of the discounted travel scheme received by the 12 “future champs” identified by UK Sport in the first six months since the launch of the scheme; and who are the recipients of the allowances.[HL1396]

The 12 athletes were selected independently by Virgin Atlantic and are not part of the joint partnership with UK Sport. There is therefore no information available on the value of the scheme to them. The 12 athletes selected independently by Virgin Atlantic are: Caitlin McClatchey, David Carry, Mark Cavendish, Oliver Freeman, Emily Pidgeon, Rachael Gatford, Nathan Stephens, Shelly Woods, Giles Scott, Martyn Rooney, Jane Campbell and Wade Bennett-Jackson.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have evidence of violations of the 2005 agreement concerning southern Sudan; and, if so, what action they will propose. [HL1594]

The parties have made some progress on implementing the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) but there have been delays and deadlines have been missed. There have also been clear violations of the CPA's security arrangements which have been reported to the well established and effective ceasefire monitoring mechanism. Such violations have mostly related to failures to redeploy troops, integrate non-regular armed groups and form joint integrated units on time. There has also been a serious outbreak of violence in Malakal, southern Sudan, in late November 2006—representing the most severe violation of the CPA's security arrangements to date. The UK supports the parties in delivering their security commitments under the CPA by chairing the Security Working Group in the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC).

We are deeply concerned at the overall slow progress being made to deliver the CPA. This could lead to future violations and deadlines within the agreement being missed. The Government are pressing the CPA parties, both bilaterally and through the AEC, to implement the agreement in full. We are also providing substantial development assistance through the Department for International Development in support of the CPA.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to implement the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe's recommendations on the issue of secret detention and transport of detainees suspected of terrorist acts. [HL1557]

We have carefully considered the recommendations made by the secretary-general. However, as stated in the Written Answer my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Kim Howells, gave to the honourable Member for Chichester (Mr Andrew Tyrie) in another place on 23 November 2006 (Official Report, col. 245W), the Government believe that domestic legislation and international legal instruments already exist to deal satisfactorily with the concerns he has raised. We stand by this statement and continue to believe that there is no need to create new mechanisms such as those the secretary-general proposes. My honourable friend the Minister of State, Kim Howells, sent a letter to the secretary-general on 23 January outlining the Government's position in detail.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had since 2004 with the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the status of the Ulster Scots language. [HL1280]

On-going discussions take place between Northern Ireland civil servants and Irish Government officials about the operations of the North/South Language Body which may include matters relating to the Ulster-Scots language.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the extent of fly-tipping in Northern Ireland by county; what are the costs incurred in cleaning up fly-tipping; what steps have been taken to counter the problem; what is the extent of fly-tipping in Northern Ireland emanating from the Republic of Ireland; and what representations have been made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland on this issue. [HL425]

Fly-tipping tends to be casual, occasional dumping by householders but not all councils maintain the necessary data on its prevalence. The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) is seeking councils' agreement to the operation of a database used successfully throughout Great Britain into which all councils and regulatory bodies can input details of fly-tipping incidents.

As regards large-scale, illegal dumping, since EHS took over responsibility for waste management in December 2003, it has received almost 4,000 reports of such incidents. EHS has taken 173 successful prosecutions against illegal operators, generating more than £200,000 in fines to date.

Clean-up costs are not known but it is estimated that 250,000 tonnes of illegally disposed waste from the Republic of Ireland are likely to cost more than £25 million to clean up. Under EC legislation, RoI has primary responsibility for dealing with any of its waste illegally deposited in Northern Ireland.

Officials from Northern Ireland and the Republic have agreed actions designed to strengthen the response in both jurisdictions to any existing or future illegal movements. EHS has set up a dedicated environment crime team, which is working closely with its counterparts in other regulatory bodies such as the PSNI and district councils and in the Republic of Ireland. New legislation will be introduced in spring 2007 and will provide stronger investigative powers and greater financial penalties.