asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer by Lord Rooker on 8 February (Official Report, cols. 788–90), whether they can expand or develop on the issue of the transit of turkeys from Hungary to Norfolk or vice-versa, in light of any new information they may have received. [HL2152]

We are examining all possible routes of transmission. Our current understanding is summarised in two reports, involving the Food Standards Agency, the Health Protection Agency, the Meat Hygiene Service as well as Defra, published on 16 February. Copies of these reports are available in the Library of the House.

Investigations are still ongoing and nothing can be ruled out at this time. It is likely that the final report will not be completed for a few weeks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of benefit expenditure in total, and by gender, in 1998-99 prices and as a percentage goes to (a) the working age population in (i) contributing benefits; (ii) income-related non-contributory benefits; and (iii) other non-contributory benefits; (b) over working age in (i) contributing benefits; (ii) income-related non-contributory benefits; and (iii) other non-contributory benefits; and (c) all benefit expenditure in (i) contributing benefits; (ii) income-related non-contributory benefits; and (iii) other non-contributory benefits. [HL1709]

The available information is in the tables.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are sending material to schools, in accordance with Sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996, to balance the views contained in the documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth”. [HL2046]

The film, “An Inconvenient Truth”, will form part of a pack of resources on climate change linked to the national curriculum. The resources will encourage pupil inquiry and investigation to explore different points of view in order to form their own conclusions. The pack will complement other resources being developed as part of the DfES Year of Action on Sustainable Schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the report, Growing Up Matters, by the Commission for Social Care Inspection which outlines its concerns over the transition of young people with complex disabilities into adult services; and, if so, what steps they will take to implement the recommendation contained in the report as soon as possible. [HL2162]

The Government welcome the Commission for Social Care Inspection's report Growing Up Matters: Better transition planning for young people with complex needs.

Much is already being done to co-ordinate priorities across departments to ensure polices support joint work on transitions, including action in response to the cross-government report of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People, where good practice guidance on multi-agency transition planning at a local level will be made available in 2007. Transition is also identified as a key issue within the joint HM Treasury and DfES review of children and young people. Growing Up Matters will be a valuable contribution to this review, the outcomes of which will inform the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Directors of Adult Social Services will have an essential leadership role in taking forward the Government's vision for adult social care set out in Independence, Well-being and Choice. Working alongside the director of children's services, directors of adult social services will ensure that all the social care needs of individuals in communities are given equal emphasis. Guidance on the statutory chief officer's post of the director of adult services published by the Department of Health in 2006 required local authorities to ensure that “The Director of Adult Services and the Director of Children's Services have put adequate arrangements in place to ensure that all young people with long-term social care needs have been assessed and, where eligible, receive a service which meets their need throughout their transition to becoming adults”.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are supporting the efforts of the United Nations Population Fund to end female genital mutilation. [HL2066]

Globally, an estimated 120 million to 140 million women and girls have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM), with an estimated further 2 million added each year. It has serious consequences, including high risk of infection, long-term disability, and can cause severe problems in childbirth, including death for the mother and baby.

The UK Government are strongly committed to eliminating FGM as part of improving women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. The practice breaks UN conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action urged governments to prohibit FGM and protect women and children from such dangerous practices.

We do support the work of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to end FGM. We also support several other international organisations working in sexual and reproductive health and rights, such as the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), to support community-led initiatives which challenge FGM. With them, we are seeking to intensify international and national efforts to stop the practice in all its forms and to champion the rights of woman and girls. DfID recognises this as a critical prerequisite for the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs). In 2005-06 DfID provided £30 million to support the work of UNFPA.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to publish the report they commissioned on the effect of community treatment orders in other countries. [HL1503]

The department has commissioned a literature review, which looks at international experiences of implementing community treatment orders. We have not yet received the final report of the review from the independent researcher. We do, however, intend to publish the literature review as soon as we can after it is completed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 30 January (WA 39), whether the cost benefit of delaying the redundancy programme represents the £100 million created by the National Health Service to reduce the forecast deficit for the current financial year; and, if so, how much revenue saving previously assumed has now been taken into the detriment of the current forecast of £394 million for the current financial year. [HL2003]

As reported in the quarter three National Health Service finance report, published on 20 February 2007, strategic health authorities (SHAs) have identified savings of at least £450 million through their continued prudent management of central NHS programme budgets. These savings are available to offset the deduction made to NHS resources in the current financial year in respect of prior year overspends, so that, at quarter three, the NHS is forecasting a net surplus of £13 million.

In the quarter two NHS finance report, the department recognised savings of £350 million from the SHAs’ management of these central NHS budgets, but noted that SHAs expected to deliver at least a further £100 million. This £100 million has now been confirmed, allowing the full £450 million to be recognised at quarter three. This additional £100 million is not related to redundancies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of the proposed sporting facilities in the Olympic Park will be able to host European or world championship events in legacy mode. [HL1720]

Decisions on the legacy use of the sports venues on the Olympic Park are yet to be finalised in every case. This includes consideration of future capability for hosting European and world championship events.

However, decisions have been taken about the legacy use of the hockey centre and a 10,000-seat sports arena which mean that these venues will be capable of hosting European and world championship events.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prisoners given a life sentence between 1999 and 2003 still await a decision on the minimum length of time they will be required to serve before they are eligible to apply for parole. [HL2002]

The latest information taken from the life imprisonment minimum term (LIMIT) section database shows that 236 prisoners who were convicted between 1999 and 2003 and given a mandatory life sentence are still awaiting a minimum term decision by the High Court. Schedule 22 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 also provides for an application for review of tariff set by the Home Secretary by existing life sentence prisoners. Of those prisoners convicted between 1999 and 2003 who have applied for their tariff to be reviewed by the High Court, 156 are outstanding.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether their response to the European Commission's proposed amendments to the directive on the Community's railways, 2004/49/EC, will ensure that (a) the weight of any safety measure is taken into account so that a balance is achieved between fuel efficiency and safety; and (b) the issue will be drawn to the attention of the domestic safety authorities and manufacturers. [HL2085]

The Government will consider all relevant implications when responding to the European Commission. The UK rail safety authorities and the industry are aware of and are being consulted on the proposals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support the use of Stratford International station by Eurostar trains; and, if so, what steps they will take to ensure this objective is achieved; and [HL2093]

What estimate they have made of the impact to the local and regional economies if Eurostar trains were not to stop at Stratford International station. [HL2094]

Eurostar is a private company. The Government have no formal powers over Eurostar's operating decisions. Eurostar is, however, under an obligation to operate a sound commercial business, and as such it will tailor its services to suit current demand as well as seeking to grow demand for the future.

We understand from Eurostar that it does intend to operate services from Stratford International as soon as there is a commercial case to do so. This is likely to be when the planned regeneration of the lands around the station is under way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the average travelling time by train between London and (a) Chelmsford; (b) Guildford; (c) Maidstone; (d) Hertford; (e) Bedford; (f) Brighton; (g) Croydon; (h) Sevenoaks; (i) Watford; (j) Maidenhead; (k) Southend; (l) Reading; (m) Stevenage; (n) Bromley; (o) Hastings; (p) Basingstoke; and (q) Winchester in (i) 2006; (ii) 1996; (iii) 1986; and (iv) 1976. [HL2095]

The average journey times from London to the destinations requested is shown in the table below:

It is not possible to provide the information for 1976 and 1986, as the department does not have access to the data for these years. More modern rolling stock introduced since 1996 is subject to different operating and safety procedures relative to the stock it replaced.

Much of this modern rolling stock has power-operated doors, which can increase station dwell times, relative to the older, slam-door stock it replaced.

The introduction of additional stops and the increased dwell time demanded by improved safety procedures may have marginally increased some journey times.

The table below gives the moving annual average level of punctuality achieved by operating companies that serve these stations. The data are for the year running from 11 December 2005 to 6 January 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether both the management of the movement of animals between and within the United Kingdom and the quarantine provisions within the United Kingdom provide an appropriate level of protection to the public against a potential biological weapon. [HL1716]

To prevent the introduction of a biological disease, the Animal Health Act 1981 and other legislation provide wide-ranging powers to implement and enforce a variety of robust control measures. These include the imposition of quarantine and movement controls on animals and premises, which provide an effective means of protecting the public and other animals while investigations are carried out.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What decision has been taken by European Union Ministers about continuing the targeted measures regarding travel abroad by leading Zimbabweans and about the sequestration of various Zimbabwean-owned assets. [HL2165]

On 19 February EU members states unanimously agreed to roll over the EU targeted measures against Zimbabwe for a further year. This is the right decision—the situation in Zimbabwe has not improved over the past year.

The targeted measures place real and significant pressure on the regime. They have the support of the Zimbabwean political opposition and non-governmental organisations. They send a firm message that the EU is concerned at the human rights abuses and failures of governance in Zimbabwe. Until Mugabe addresses the urgent need for reform, instead of punishing his people for voicing their concerns, we will continue to argue for the targeted measures to be maintained. It is important to note that these measures are not economic sanctions, but are aimed at specific individuals within the Mugabe regime. The regime's claims to the contrary are merely a smokescreen for its own policy failures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the estimated value of the assets owned by Zimbabwean citizens that have been sequestrated under the measures taken by the European Union. [HL2166]

Information is available only on those assets frozen in the United Kingdom. To date, 42 accounts have been frozen containing approximately £172,000. This measure, together with a travel ban and arms embargo, sends a very clear message to Mugabe and the others on the list that until there are real and meaningful changes in Zimbabwe, the regime will continue to face international isolation. The situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated further over the past year. As a result, EU member states have unanimously agreed to extend the targeted measures for the sixth year running.