asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to Lord Patten on 29 March (WA 291), which research studies indicate that only a small minority of women experience long-term post-abortion distress; and what is meant by long-term. [HL3175]

This issue is discussed on page 35 of the guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2004) and the research studies are listed on page 69. The research studies used a variety of methodologies and time periods. Copies of the guideline have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 29 March (WA 291), whether they will provide the dates of publication and all the research studies to which the Answer refers. [HL3252]

This issue is discussed on page 35 of the guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2004) and the research studies are listed on page 69. The research studies used a variety of methodologies and time periods. Copies of the guideline have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the present level and intensity of attacks on British advanced bases in Afghanistan. [HL3610]

Our response remains to keep the Taliban on the back foot through a series of operations which both degrade its capability and bring stability, extend the reach of the Afghan Government and allow reconstruction and development. Recent operations such as Operations Silver and Silicon have done just this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What studies have been made of the likely levels of combat stress among members of the British Armed Forces who have served in Afghanistan. [HL3611]

The MoD has funded the King’s College London Centre for Military Health Research (KCMHR) to undertake major research into the health of those who have served on recent operations. Ongoing work includes multiple theatres, including Afghanistan. At a time when a growing number of personnel have been deployed to more than one operational theatre, it is becoming clear that it is difficult to attribute a subsequent mental health condition (which in many cases may not present itself until months or even years later) to service on a specific deployment.

The new research mirrors that carried out by KCMHR on members of the British Armed Forces who served in the Iraq war in 2003, and which resulted in major pieces of work published in 2006, details of which can be found on the KCMHR website: www.kcl.ac.uk/kcmhr/information/publications.html. This research showed that there was no increase in psychiatric disorders seen in regular personnel deployed on the first phase of Operation TELIC compared to the rest of the UK Armed Forces and that the later Operation TELIC deployments examined were not associated with any worsening of mental health consequence compared to the initial Operation TELIC group.

A new questionnaire to gather data on those who have served in Afghanistan has already been piloted and funding approved, and the data collection phase of the research will be commencing shortly. It should be noted that the result of this research will not be available for a period of years.

A tri-service overarching review of operational stress management was carried out in 2004-05 which recognised the issues surrounding operational and combat stress. The Armed Forces have been tasked with adopting its recommendations as appropriate within their single-service provisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many men and pieces of equipment the Vector patrol vehicle can carry compared to the armoured Land Rover. [HL3620]

Vector provides greater capacity and payload, better protection and increased mobility when compared with the protected Land Rover known as Snatch; Vector can carry more equipment and an extra passenger.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assistance they are providing to the Government of Afghanistan to combat violence against women and improve family planning and maternal health; and whether they will respond to the call made by the executive director of the United Nations population fund in Kabul on 23 April for greater investment in the health and well-being of Afghanistan's women and their families. [HL3415]

DfID supports the Government of Afghanistan in their plan to meet all of the millennium development goals (MDG) by 2020. This includes MDG 3, promoting gender equality and empowering women, and MDG 5, improving maternal health. DfID is working with the Government to ensure that gender is fully addressed and integrated into the Afghanistan national development strategy (ANDS), which will provide the framework for development over the next five years. We have seconded an adviser to the ANDS secretariat, who will work closely with UNIFEM and the Ministry of Women's Affairs to ensure that gender issues are addressed. Overall, we provide 80 per cent of our current assistance (estimated to be £107 million in 2007-08) directly to the Government of Afghanistan. This helps, for example, to pay salaries of staff in the Ministry of Public Health, as well as in other government departments, and in this way supports healthcare provision in Afghanistan, including family planning and maternal health. In addition we also support gender equality at provincial level and through NGOs.

DfID has provided £17 million over the past three years (2003-06) to the Afghan Government's national solidarity programme (NSP). This programme has led to the creation of 16,000 community development councils (CDCs). Under this programme, DfID is pressing for more effort to be placed on improving women's participation in the councils. Female-only CDCs have already been established and have become fora for a discussion on issues that women could not previously discuss openly in mixed gender CDCs (for example on health, domestic violence and literacy).

So far, DfID has also provided £20 million to the Government of Afghanistan's micro-finance and investment support facility of Afghanistan (MISFA). This provides micro credit loans to more than 311,583 beneficiaries across 22 provinces, over 75 per cent are women. This supports women in developing sustainable livelihoods and therefore promotes economic independence. MISFA plans to expand to all 34 provinces by the end of 2007.

DfID has also provided £4 million to support quick impact projects (QIPs) in Helmand. These are identified by the Afghan Government, and some benefit women directly. One particular example is the construction of new midwifery facilities in Lashkar Gar.

DfID is also supporting a five-year women's empowerment programme from 2005-10, implemented by Womankind, through our Civil Society Challenge Fund. This £500,000 initiative is focused on promoting women's equal participation in governance; building awareness of women's rights among civil society and policy makers; and on providing educational, health, community and psycho-social support to those women affected by violence and conflict.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the impact of the current security measures on transit times at Heathrow Airport; and [HL3664]

What is their assessment of the impact of the current security measures on the daily number of passengers in transit at Heathrow Airport who miss their connecting flights. [HL3665]

Aviation security measures are kept under constant review. The Department for Transport is in close consultation with industry colleagues to ensure that the current measures are capable of being delivered for only as long as is necessary.

While the department is sympathetic to any passenger who might have had to queue for longer than usual, it is important that security screening is carried out properly and to the required standard.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the guidelines to security staff at Heathrow Airport on how many spot checks should be carried out. [HL3666]

My noble colleague will understand that on security grounds I am unable to reveal any measures contained within the national aviation security programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the risk that a passenger in a United Kingdom airport could pass through the walk-through security undetected with sufficient liquids strapped to the body to destroy an aircraft. [HL3667]

My noble colleague will understand that on security grounds I am unable to reveal any information that might be useful to those who seek to carry out acts of terrorism.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why passengers in transit at United Kingdom airports are required to go through secondary security arrangements when they have already been through security arrangements at the country of origin of the flight. [HL3668]

Aviation security is governed by international law, as set out in the standards and recommended practices contained in Annexe 17 to the Chicago Convention 1944 which is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), of which the UK is a member. The overriding principle is that of host state responsibility, and the UK Government are responsible for the security of civil aviation leaving UK airports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the document entitled 1QLR Internment procedure, dated 9 July 2003, as disclosed at the recent court martial of members of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and others. [HL3559]

Yes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the ability of the European Aviation Safety Agency to ensure high standards of air safety within United Kingdom air carriers and in United Kingdom airspace in comparison with that of the Civil Aviation Authority. [HL3676]

The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority, rather than the European Aviation Safety Agency, is responsible for ensuring the safety of UK airlines. Under the convention it is recognised that every state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the United Kingdom remains sovereign in the management of air safety matters with United Kingdom air carriers and in United Kingdom airspace. [HL3677]

The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the safety regulation of UK airlines. The operational safety standards which UK airlines currently have to meet are established by the CAA and are in line with the minimum standards established under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Under the convention it is recognised that every state has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What powers they possess to appoint, discipline or dismiss officials within the European Aviation Safety Agency for incompetence or failure to ensure the safety of passengers or crew of United Kingdom air carriers or of others within the United Kingdom airspace. [HL3678]

The governance arrangements for the European Aviation Safety Agency are set out in EC Regulation 1592/2002.

The regulation establishes a management board for the agency composed of one representative from each member state and one representative from the European Commission. The board has responsibility for appointing the executive director of EASA, on a proposal from the European Commission, and the directors on a proposal from the executive director.

The management board can exercise disciplinary authority over the executive director and the directors. The board can dismiss the executive director on a proposal of the European Commission and dismiss the directors on the proposal of the executive director.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to inform international passengers in transit through United Kingdom airports of the maximum allowance of one item of cabin baggage per passenger. [HL3663]

It is the responsibility of airline operators to inform passengers of security restrictions in place at any international airport at which their passengers might be transiting.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made any reassessment, since the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 24 March 2004 (WA 104), of the economic value of honey bees as pollinators. [HL3701]

The figures quoted in the noble Lord's Answer of 24 March 2004 (WA 104) were based on the 2001 economic evaluation of Defra's bee health programme. A recent re-examination of those figures suggests that the value of pollination of the commercial crops used to derive the earlier figure has dropped by some £20 million. This is due to a reduction in some of the crops used in the calculation, such as apples, cherries and runner beans. However, these figures do not take into account crops such as borage which rely on honey bee pollination. The value of pollination of wild plants by honey bees has not been calculated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have assessed the possible causes of colony collapse disorder (CCD) among honey bees; whether they have estimated the economic and environmental cost of CCD occurring in the United Kingdom; what research they are undertaking to improve their understanding of CCD; and what contingencies they have in place to reduce the possible impact of a collapse in the bee population. [HL3704]

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a generic name given to a number of major colony losses reported by no more than around 60 commercial bee farmers spread across 25 states in the USA. Currently, the UK is not suffering from similar bee health-related problems on the same scale. Nevertheless, the National Bee Unit (NBU) at Defra's central science laboratory is maintaining close contact with researchers from the USA who are investigating possible causes. Although it is not possible to develop contingency plans for unknown threats, the NBU's activities are devoted to identifying new threats and mitigating the impact of known pests and diseases.

A 2001 economic evaluation of Defra's bee health programme estimated the value of honey bees to commercial pollination at approximately £120 million, although changes in crop areas and values suggest that the value may now be lower. No valuation of the role of honey bees in relation to the pollination of wild plants is available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What budget they have allocated to the National Bee Unit each year since 1997; what proportion of that budget has been for research; and what other contributions they have made to bee research in the United Kingdom. [HL3705]

Defra was created in June 2001. Expenditure on the National Bee Unit (NBU), by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government, is as follows:

These figures do not include any expenditure on specific research projects, although some of the NBU's activity is in support of research initiatives. Defra's annual expenditure on bee health research has averaged around £210,000 since 2001.

Bee health services and research in Scotland and Northern Ireland are funded by their devolved administrations and do not involve the NBU.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will support further research into the varroa mite to assist in further understanding honey bee colony collapse disorder. [HL3706]

The term colony collapse disorder is being used in the USA to describe cases in which some very large scale commercial operations have lost a high percentage of their hives. A wide range of possible causes are being investigated by researchers in the USA.

There have been widely reported, but isolated, cases in the UK in which beekeepers have lost a high percentage of their bee colonies. However, overall percentage losses are similar to previous years, albeit reflecting the gradual increase seen in the past five years.

The National Bee Unit provides training and advice to beekeepers on the control of the varroa mite. If widespread colony collapse in the UK was attributed to failure of control methods, the need for further research to develop new control methods would be considered along with other research priorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In connection with the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and British Coal white finger litigation, which firms of solicitors made deductions from compensation awarded to claimants, either by collecting success fees, administration charges or union fees; and whether they will provide the names of each such solicitor. [HL1053]

We do not have the information regarding payments made as success fees, administration charges or union fees, as the department is not party to any agreement between claimants and their representatives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Attorney-General on 27 March (WA 255), whether the documents to which he refers in that Answer will now be published. [HL3561]

I can confirm that a copy of the judge’s remarks at the end of the prosecution case and at the end of sentence in R v Payne and others (the Baha Musa case) are now in the Libraries of both Houses.

The document entitled 1 QLR Internment procedure dated 9 July 2003 is being placed in the Library by the Ministry of Defence in answer to Question HL 3559.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their evaluation of the relative merits of household registration and individual registration in providing safeguards against electoral fraud and abuse. [HL3556]

The Government are unable to make such an evaluation of individual registration, as there is no robust evidence base. During the passage of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 the Government proposed piloting individual registration so that evidence could be collected. However, Parliament removed these provisions from the Act. Instead a scheme of postal voting identifiers was adopted with the support of all sides in Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further National Grid electricity interconnector openings will be announced in the next 12 months with countries such as France, Holland, Germany, Belgium and Ireland. [HL3642]

I understand that there are currently no National Grid announcements planned of further electricity interconnectors in the next 12 months. An interconnector is, however, contracted to open on 1 April 2010 between Great Britain and the Netherlands.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which Ministers will be attending the European Council on 22 and 23 June along with the Prime Minister. [HL3653]

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister will lead the UK delegation at the European Council meeting on 22 and 23 June. The delegation will include my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the suggestion that the European Union should hold a single seat in the United Nations Security Council with or without any changes to the present membership of the council by individual member states. [HL3641]

The charter of the UN states that only members of the UN can hold seats on the Security Council. The EU, like other regional organisations, is not a UN member. For a regional organisation to become a member, the charter would need to be amended. Even if the charter was amended to allow that, it would not be in the interests of either the EU or the UK to replace current representation on the Security Council with a single EU seat. The EU currently has five of the 15 members of the council.

The Government continue to favour reform of the Security Council to make it more representative of today's world, including permanent seats for Japan, Germany, India, Brazil and permanent African representation. The UK has also indicated its openness to interim proposals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Council of Europe member countries have ratified Protocol 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL3680]

Forty-one of the 47 Council of Europe member states have ratified Protocol 4 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which Council of Europe member countries, other than the United Kingdom, have not ratified Protocol 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL3681]

The five Council of Europe member states, other than the United Kingdom, that have not ratified Protocol 4 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms are Andorra, Greece, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current status of the European Union Galileo project; and whether it will have any military purpose. [HL3655]

At the March 2007 Transport Council, the presidency and Commission reported on the current difficulties with the current contract negotiations with the private sector concessionaire bidding to run the Galileo public/private partnership (PPP). The immediate cause of the breakdown in negotiations is disagreement about industrial work-share between the partners in the bidding consortium.

As a result of the delays, the council gave the bidding consortium a deadline of 10 May 2007 to take the necessary measures to allow the resumption of effective negotiations. At the same time, the Commission was requested to prepare an analysis of the consortium’s response and to develop alternative options for taking forward the Galileo project. A more detailed discussion on these issues will follow at the June Transport Council, where it is expected that EU member states will be asked to decide whether to continue with the current negotiations or bring them to an end and request the Commission to explore in detail alternative options for proceeding with the project.

Galileo has been defined and agreed as a civil system since the project's inception. While Galileo's open service, like that of GPS, can be accessed by all and therefore could be used by military forces, Galileo remains a civil programme under civil control. This has repeatedly been confirmed by the EU Transport Council, most recently in its October 2006 council conclusions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What estimate they have made of how many lives might be saved annually if universal availability of screening for aortic aneurysm in men aged 65 or over was rolled out across the National Health Service. [HL3485]

Based on modelling undertaken by the department for a programme screening all males for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) once they reach 65, it would be possible to prevent around 1,600 deaths related to this condition per year in England when the programme became fully operational.

The United Kingdom National Screening Committee has advised that screening for men aged 65 for AAA can be recommended in principle subject to two critical issues of reconfiguring treatment services and providing information and support to enable men to make an informed choice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the contribution of specialist gastroenterologist nurses to the provision of treatment and care for patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. [HL3686]

No assessment has been carried out centrally. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to assess the needs of their local communities and to commission services accordingly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What powers are available to trading standards officers to prevent the marketing to United Kingdom mainland consumers of unlicensed medicinal products by companies based in the Channel Islands. [HL2317]

Medicines licensing is primarily the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a Department of Health agency. The agency's contact details are:

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Market Towers

1 Nine Elms Lane

London SW8 5NQ

Tel: 020 7084 2000 Fax: 020 7084 2353

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Science and Innovation, Malcolm Wicks, on 14 April (Official Report, 175W), why grants under the low carbon buildings programme were not granted from May 2006 to March 2007 for renewable combined heat and power (CHP), micro CHP or fuel cells. [HL3587]

The low carbon buildings programme supports only technologies which are certified under the Clear Skies certification scheme. No commercially available products for micro-renewable CHP or fuel cells have sought certification under the scheme to date.

In terms of micro CHP, which is a technology with potential for the consumer market, we are awaiting the final conclusions of the Carbon Trust’s field trials, which are yet to complete. We have made alternative arrangements to consider renewable/micro CHP for large-scale projects under Stream 2B whereby an applicant must go through a due diligence process for an unaccredited system prior to a formal grant offer being made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they plan to hold new discussions with United Kingdom construction industry representatives regarding changes in building regulations, especially to part L, which would make the code for sustainable buildings for climate proofing mandatory rather than voluntary. [HL3547]

The Government are in an ongoing dialogue with the construction industry and other stakeholders and will consult them fully on any future changes to building regulations or the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes in England and Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make representations to the Government of Iraq to encourage them to abolish the use of the death penalty. [HL3644]

The United Kingdom is firmly against the use of the death penalty in all cases and under any circumstance. Since the Iraqi Interim Government re-introduced the death penalty with effect from 7 August 2004, the United Kingdom, together with the European Union, has regularly raised our policy of opposition at the highest level, including with the Iraqi President and Prime Minister. We will continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What category of damage the two United Kingdom Puma helicopters sustained in the collision north of Baghdad on 15 April; and when each is expected to be available again for operations. [HL3553]

The two Royal Air Force Puma helicopters that collided north of Baghdad on 15 April are in the process of being transported back to the United Kingdom. A formal assessment of the damage sustained to both aircraft will then be made following their arrival at MoD Boscombe Down. I will write to the noble Lord once this assessment has been undertaken and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the outcome of the recent United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees conference in Geneva concerning refugees from Iraq and those internally displaced within Iraq. [HL3280]

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) conference was successful in drawing international attention to the plight of displaced Iraqis inside Iraq and in the region and recognising the burden this places on host communities and countries. The main outcome of the conference was the Government of Iraq's commitment to take the lead in providing support and security for their citizens, including for those who have fled the country. The conference also agreed a new UN strategic framework for humanitarian action in Iraq, which will co-ordinate UN action in support of the Iraqi Government's efforts. Further assistance to support the displaced was also pledged by a number of international donors.

Since January, the UK Government have provided £10 million to support emergency relief and other services to displaced and vulnerable Iraqis. This takes our total humanitarian assistance to more than £125 million since 2003. We will continue to work closely with the Iraqi Government and our international partners to ensure that needs are met.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will seek to initiate a new United Nations Security Council resolution to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, combining a call for complete Israeli withdrawal with recognition by the Hamas Government of Israel as a legitimate state. [HL3646]

We have no current plans to initiate a new UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) relating to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We continue to stress to Israel and the Palestinian Authority that they should adhere to international law and respect all UNSCRs. We also maintain that Hamas must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, in line with the quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia) position.

Any final status issues will need to be negotiated between the parties. These negotiations should take into account all aspects of international law and key UNSCRs 242 and 338, and 1373, to which we remain committed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the impact on the Middle East peace process of proposals by United Kingdom academies to boycott Israeli universities, in view of the active research collaboration which exists between Israeli and Palestinian, Jordanian and Egyptian universities. [HL3658]

We do not believe that academic boycotts of Israel help the Middle East peace process. It is more likely that they will disrupt the links that foster peace discussions, of which research collaboration is a good example. The last boycott was of short duration and is not thought to have had a significant impact.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the likely impact the creation of an independent Kosovo would have on international organised crime within its frontiers. [HL3652]

Organised crime networks in Europe, as elsewhere in the world, have become global. South-eastern Europe and the western Balkans are far from immune, not least because of the region's strategic location on the traditional heroin trafficking route from central Asia to Europe, as well as the widespread economic deprivation throughout the region.

Networks of organised crime traverse the Balkans. They have expanded from narcotics trafficking into human trafficking, human smuggling, counterfeit currency production, cigarette smuggling and trade in other illicit materials such as pirated CDs and DVDs. These problems are common to all the countries of the region.

Kosovo's provisional institutions of self-government and police force, with the support of the international community, are working to combat organised crime. We are confident that these efforts will be maintained and intensified following implementation of a status settlement in Kosovo. Indeed, clarity over its status will help Kosovo develop the modern and robust police, immigration services, border controls and customs procedures it needs successfully to deal with these problems, as well as to start to make progress on long-term economic development.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of Mr Dominic Cronin's e-petition having received the most signatures of any e-petition currently accepting signatures on the 10 Downing Street website, they will consider amending the Licensing Act 2003 to enable less restrictive regulation of the performance of live music and dance. [HL3554]

The Government agree that music and dance should not be restricted by unnecessary licensing regulations. We do not believe that the current licensing regime is damaging these sectors or that the current regulations are unnecessary. The Licensing Act 2003 has removed unnecessary bureaucracy, such as the need to renew licences or apply for several different permissions to put on events. More venues are also now able to put on performances involving more than two musicians. Recent research has indicated that most venues wanting to put on live music have secured a licence and very few highlighted licensing requirements as a barrier.

We are monitoring the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 and will consider changes only where firm evidence demonstrates unintended and detrimental consequences. That is why we set up the Live Music Forum to monitor the impact of the Act on live music and to recommend how the Government might better promote live performances. We look forward to receiving its report shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of Waltham Forest Council's proposed cut in funding for the William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Museum.[HL3565]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is aware that Waltham Forest Council is conducting a service review of its museum, gallery and archive service. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council in London (MLA London) recently met council officers in order better to understand the background to this review, the financial constraints, and the changes to the opening hours. MLA London will continue to work constructively with the council on its proposals to maximise accessibility for the local population and the quality of the museum and gallery service, while respecting that decisions on funding and opening hours are a matter for the elected members and local community of Waltham Forest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to encourage other states in the Council of Europe to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings so that it may enter into force. [HL3638]

Thirty-six member states have signed the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. It requires 10 ratifications, eight of which must be by member states, to bring it into force. So far, seven states have ratified.

The UK signed the convention and published its national action plan on tackling human trafficking on 23 March. The Government will ratify the convention once the necessary changes to domestic legislation, processes and guidance are in place to ensure that we comply fully with its terms. We cannot specify when this will be but shall do so as soon as possible. Once the UK has ratified the convention, we shall encourage others to do the same. We shall meanwhile continue to urge other states to enter into the spirit of the convention and to implement as many of its provisions as possible, as the UK is itself doing through the action plan, until such time as the convention comes into force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were injured, and how seriously, in the incident near Crossmaglen on 8 November 2006; and how many people were arrested. [HL3654]

The PSNI has advised that no police officers were injured during the incident on 8 November 2006.

One individual was arrested as a direct result of the incident and a second individual was arrested for obstructing police during follow-up inquiries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to ensure that United Kingdom rail modernisation and high-speed technology investment keep up with the current linkage and enhancement plans being developed jointly by the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français, Deutsche Bahn and the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles engineering units in France, Germany and Spain. [HL3614]

The Government will announce this summer their high-level output specification, statement of funds available and long-term strategy for the railways. This will set out the Government's intention to increase the capacity on the network, building on recent improvements in performance and reliability.

Included will be the Government's conclusions on their manifesto commitment to look at the feasibility and affordability of a new north-south high-speed link.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make representations to the Government of Sudan about the suspension of 52 local non-governmental organisations working in the southern area of Darfur; and about the denial of access to John Holmes, the United Nations humanitarian co-ordinator, to Kassab camp, north Darfur. [HL3177]

The Government of Sudan claim that the suspension of 52 local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in south Darfur was part of a re-registration process. The UN has sought and obtained an undertaking from the Government of Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission to establish a committee to hear appeals. Many of the 52 NGOs have lodged appeals against suspension and the committee will begin hearing the cases shortly. None of the NGOs has yet requested our assistance on this matter. We remain in close touch with the UN, which is monitoring the process and stands ready to intervene if necessary.

The Government of Sudan apologised to John Holmes for blocking access to Kassab camp, stating it was a case of misunderstanding. The incident, however, underlines the serious restrictions and daily obstructions that humanitarian agencies operate under in Darfur.

The UK played a prominent role in pushing for a joint UN-Government of Sudan communiqué on facilitating humanitarian operations in Darfur, eventually achieved on 28 March 2007. We are supporting the oversight committee and now look to the Government fully to implement their commitments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they will make to the Governments of Russia and China regarding the report published by Amnesty International that Russia and China have breached United Nations Resolution 1591 by permitting attack helicopters, bombers and other weapons to be supplied to the Government of Sudan for use in Darfur. [HL3722]

We are deeply concerned by these reports by Amnesty International. Our mission to the UN is following up at the Sudan Sanctions Committee in New York.

These reports highlight the limitations in the UN arms embargo, which covers only Darfur. We are pressing Security Council partners to extend the embargo to the whole of Sudan, in line with the current EU arms embargo, if the Government of Sudan and the rebels in Darfur do not co-operate with the UN.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the priorities of the new European Social Fund programme in respect of the United Kingdom's tourism and hospitality industries; and what additional United Kingdom funds they will provide to upgrade the relevant skills and training of those working in those industries. [HL3567]

The 2007-13 European Social Fund (ESF) programme for England, administered jointly by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), aims to improve the employment prospects and skills of disadvantaged people in the labour market. It will help low-skilled people gain qualifications and skills needed by business, including those in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The devolved Administrations are responsible for their own ESF programmes, which support broadly similar activities.

Through the Sector Skills Development Agency, the DfES funds People 1st, the UK Sector Skills Council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries, to improve skills and productivity levels. Core funding of £5.8 million has been given to People 1st over three years for UK-wide activity, with additional funds for specific projects. The devolved Administrations also made funding available to People 1st last year. UK funds are also made available by a number of other agencies such as the Learning and Skills Council and the regional development agencies.

As part of its research, People 1st estimates that approximately £600 million of public funding is invested in skills via all these agencies. The challenge is to ensure that this funding is directed to industry needs and priorities, which is the purpose of the Government's support for the industry-led national skills strategies and sector qualifications strategies.

While the Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not directly fund skills and training for the tourism and hospitality industries, we recognise and value the importance of investment in skills and are working closely with People 1st to encourage public and private investment in sectoral priorities through better use of UK funds.