asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are committed to the long-term strategic support of the system of managed aggregate supply in England and the provision of evidence collected by the regional aggregates working parties and associated surveys, upon which it is based (Minerals Planning Strategy No. 1). [HL4237]

The Government’s policy on the managed aggregates supply system is set out in the “Minerals Planning Policy Statement 1: Planning and Minerals” which was published in November 2006. We have no plans to change the system of managed aggregates supply in England; nor do we have plans to change the provision of evidence collected by the regional aggregates working parties or the associated surveys that underpin the system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the extent of planned development in London and the south-east over the next 10 years; and whether they have assessed whether such development, along with developments in other English regions, will be constrained in the absence of a managed aggregates supply system. [HL4238]

The mayor’s London Plan (February 2004) and early alterations to the London Plan (December 2006) set out the extent of planned growth for the London region to 2016 as follows:

housing growth at the rate of 30,500 homes per annum to 2016; and

employment growth of 636,000 jobs from 2001-16.

Major transport proposals, set out in the London Plan in table 3C.1, and a range of supporting social infrastructure are also to be expected to underpin the expected growth.

For the south-east, current housing targets for the period up to 2016 are set out in the regional planning guidance for the south-east (RPG9, March 2001). The average annual rate of housing growth set out in the RPG9 equates to 28,050 net dwelling completions per annum.

We have commissioned the British Geological Survey to research and report on the economic, social and environmental costs of moving away from the managed aggregate supply mechanism in England. Among other issues, this research will assess whether moving away from the system would constrain major development planned in London and the south-east, as well as in other English regions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, given that three out of 10 local authorities have an allotments policy, they will consider calling a halt on allotment disposals by local authorities, at least until all local authorities have an allotments policy. [HL4217]

Local authorities are not required to have an allotment policy in order to dispose of allotments. However, in planning terms, they are required to undertake an audit of existing green spaces and make an assessment of community need for green spaces, including allotments. Existing open space should not be built on unless an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space or the buildings and land to be surplus to requirements.

Furthermore, allotments are additionally protected in law. Statutory allotments are protected via Section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925, which requires that local authorities seek the Secretary of State's consent for disposal or appropriation to another use. Consent cannot be given unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that:

the allotment in question is not necessary and is surplus to requirements;

adequate provision will be made for displaced plot holders, or that such provision is not necessary or is impracticable;

the number of people on the waiting list has been effectively taken into account; and

the authority has actively promoted and publicised the availability of allotment sites and has consulted the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.

We therefore have no plans to change current procedures to dispose of allotments.

We also encourage and work with local authorities to develop local green space strategies, which should include provision for allotments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the requested and actual funding provided to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine for each year since 2001. [HL4014]

Owing to changes in organisation, financial information in respect of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) for the period before 2003 is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate effort.

The following are the budgetary allocations and outturn—that is, actual expenditure—related to RCDM for each financial year since 2003.

The bulk of the expenditure shown above relates to the costs of RCDM personnel, but it also covers rent of facilities, nurse training and other courses at the Defence School of Healthcare Studies, and other support costs for staff and students at RCDM (such as primary healthcare, travel and subsistence and IT). The additional cost of medical stores supplied to the RCDM clinical division was as follows:

The totals quoted for RCDM costs do not include the costs of the Defence Medical Services Training Centre, a unit under the command and control of RCDM, nor the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, which has reported to RCDM since 1 February 2007.

Information about the funding initially requested each year in respect of RCDM is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate effort. However, the development of RCDM as a centre of medical excellence has been a high priority since the centre was established; actual expenditure has increased significantly over the past four years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House the United Kingdom record of the statements made at the meeting in Kathmandu on 22 November 2006 between officials of the Home Office Nationality Directorate and the Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs (Home Office reference: NY/07 1080/1125/1, FOI 6639). [HL4207]

The record of the meeting in Kathmandu on 22 November 2006 has not yet been agreed by the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once it has been agreed and we have received a copy, it will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What fees were retained by the Ethnic Minorities Citizenship Unit of the British Consulate-General, Hong Kong, for forwarding applications to the Home Office for each of the years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; what budget was available to that unit in each of those years; and what was the cost of running that unit in each of those years. [HL4223]

The British Consulate-General (BCG) in Hong Kong does not retain fees in respect of Home Office applications. The normal consular handling fees are charged, which are returned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the same way as all consular fees. The Ethnic Minority Citizenship Unit was disbanded in 1999 and re-established in 2005, when it was resourced from within existing BCG resources. It is therefore not possible to say what the costs were for handling applications in the years in question, as these were embedded in other sections of the BCG in Hong Kong.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the funding agreement targets set for the British Library in 2006-07; and what was the extent in percentage terms to which these targets were achieved. [HL4226]

The information is given in the following table.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many children of United Kingdom parents have been reported missing while abroad since 2000. [HL4196]

The majority of cases of child abduction are those which involve abduction by a parent or guardian of the child. In 2003, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office established a dedicated Child Abduction Section and we are aware of 406 consular cases involving parental or guardian child abduction from January 2004 to December 2006. We did not keep these statistics prior to the establishment of the section.

The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, formerly the Department for Constitutional Affairs, may be aware of cases where consular assistance was not sought.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of reported cases of children of United Kingdom parents missing abroad since 2000 have resulted in the safe recovery of such children. [HL4197]

There were 406 cases of parental or guardian child abduction handled by our Child Abduction Section from January 2004 to December 2006. Of these cases, 149—37 per cent—were resolved satisfactorily. We did not keep these statistics prior to the establishment of the Child Abduction Section in 2003.

These statistics cannot provide a full picture of international child abduction from the UK, as many cases are not brought to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The figures are taken from our consular database, which is a working instrument used by us to handle casework rather than to record child abduction statistics.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of reported cases of children of United Kingdom parents missing abroad since 2000 have involved United Kingdom police forces in co-operative action with foreign police authorities. [HL4198]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information centrally. The Home Office collects police recorded crime statistics on child abduction, which include offences where a child is taken or sent out of the UK without appropriate consent; however, such offences cannot be separately identified from other offences of child abduction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to alert United Kingdom parents to the risks of abduction of children in foreign countries. [HL4200]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides a wealth of information to British nationals about the risks of travelling overseas and how to minimise them. For example, we provide publications on frequently encountered difficulties, such as deaths overseas, detentions and missing persons. Our “Know Before You Go” campaign provides guidance to British nationals on how to better prepare themselves for travel overseas. Our online travel advice, available at www.fco.gov.uk/travel, provides frequently updated advice on particular issues and countries.

While we do advise readers of particular threats to their personal safety—for example, the risk of kidnapping for ransom in parts of South America—we have not identified a particular threat of child abduction for British children overseas. However, in our travel advice for some countries we do draw attention to the different legal systems relating to family law which would be applicable in parental and guardian child abduction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 21 May (WA 83) and 4 June (WA 152–53 and WA 171–74), how many prison officers have been arrested and convicted of corruption or other offences in each of the past four years in connection with their duties as prison officers at HM Prison Ashwell; and [HL4152]

Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 21 May (WA 83) and 4 June (WA 152–53 and WA 171–74), how many prison officers have been arrested and convicted of corruption or other offences in each of the past four years in connection with their duties as prison officers at HM Prison North Sea Camp; and [HL4153]

Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 21 May (WA 83) and 4 June (WA 152–53 and WA 171–74), how many prison officers have been arrested and convicted of corruption or other offences in each of the past four years in connection with their duties as prison officers at HM Prison Whatton. [HL4154]

No prison officers from HM Prisons Ashwell, North Sea Camp or Whatton have been convicted of offences in connection with their duties in the past four years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which of the items requested on the standard form for Return of Candidate’s Election Expenditure: Local government election in England and Wales, distributed by the Electoral Commission this year, are statutory requirements and which are not. [HL4112]

The following information requested on the Return of Candidate's Election Expenditure: Local government election in England and Wales is statutorily required.

on Page 1: Electoral area/local authority; date of election; name of candidate; name of election agent; and signature of agent;

Part 1—Amounts related to each type of payment;

Part 2—Name of supplier; name of person who made payment; value of item; amount paid where different from value; whether item was unpaid or disputed; certain information in the case of unpaid/disputed items;

Part 3—All information; and

Part 4—Amount provided by the candidate; donations over £50—all information; impermissible/unidentifiable donations—all information.

Any other information requested on the form is not statutorily required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the cost of wind energy and installed capacity in Germany and in the United Kingdom in 2000 and today. [HL3796]

The cost of installing and generating electricity from wind energy is very site-specific. Analysis carried out for the 2005 review of the renewables obligation—RO—showed that costs can vary from less than £50/MWh to £80/MWh depending on location. Further analysis of costs has been carried out in the context of proposals to amend the RO. This will be published alongside the energy White Paper later this month.

At the end of 2000 there was 388MW of installed capacity in the UK. This rose to 1,963MW at the end of 2006 (source: BWEA) and is now over 2GW. In Germany there was 6,112MW of installed capacity at the end of 2000 rising to 20,621 MW at the end of 2006 (source: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why they will not bring forward regulations under Section 162 of the Housing Act 2004 to suspend the implementation of home information packs while allowing energy performance certificates to proceed. [HL4047]

The introduction of home information packs on 1 August will honour our 2001 manifesto pledge. Regulations relating to home information packs and the energy performance of buildings were laid before Parliament on 11 June 2007. These regulations will implement home information packs, including energy performance certificates, on a phased basis in England and Wales from 1 August 2007.

The Home Information Pack (No. 2) Regulations 2007 include a number of transitional provisions that the Secretary of State outlined to Parliament on 22 May 2007. These are intended to ensure that the implementation of home information packs will be achieved in a way that ensures the availability of sufficient assessors and inspectors.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 make the changes necessary to bring the implementation of energy performance certificates into line with home information packs from 1 August 2007.

As well as the explanatory memoranda and impact assessments that accompany the regulations, we are placing in the Library of the House further information about how the operational delivery of the phased roll-out will take place, building on the current progress in the certification of inspectors and accreditation of assessors.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What matters will be discussed at this year's conference of the United Nations-sponsored Internet Governance Forum; and what specific issues will be raised by United Kingdom representatives. [HL3725]

The programme and agenda for the second meeting of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to be held from 12 to 15 November are currently under discussion, with a consultation meeting taking place in Geneva from 23 to 25 May. An outline programme (www. intgovforum.org/Rio_Meeting/DraftProgramme. 30.04.2007.rtf) and draft agenda (www.intgovforum.org/Draft_Rio_Schedual.html) have been published by the IGF secretariat.

The IGF includes representatives from a wide variety of backgrounds, including parliamentarians, government, the private sector and civil society, and so the matters to be discussed will be wide ranging and agreed as a result of this open consultation process.

Nominet UK, the registry for dot.uk internet domain names, has been leading a process to raise awareness among, and participation by, UK stakeholders. Issues to be raised by UK representatives at the next IGF will be decided in the light of these discussions with UK stakeholders and the outcome of IGF secretariat consultation on the proposed programme and agenda, both of which are not yet competed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they will bring forward to replace the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers system of internet domain names registration with a worldwide system reflecting all United Nations member states’ interests when the present contract expires in 2012. [HL3723]

The United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in November 2005 proposed a process of enhanced co-operation to improve the international accountability of the organisations responsible for the management of critical internet resources. This includes the operation of the international internet domain name and addressing system, which is co-ordinated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

ICANN, and its governmental advisory committee, have been making good progress in implementing the WSIS recommendations and continue to work to enhance co-operation on these issues. The Government are committed to ensuring the success of this enhanced international co-operation, and want to see that reflected in agreed procedures before 2012.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Irish Language Bill was part of the St Andrews agreement; and, if so, whether it was agreed by all parties. [HL3598]

The commitment to introduce the Irish Language Bill formed part of the St Andrews agreement. All parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly have endorsed the St Andrews agreement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the Irish Language Bill. [HL3601]

In addition to the discussions at St Andrews, about the inclusion of a proposal for Irish language legislation, the Government consulted the Irish Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, at official level, on the operation of Ireland's Official Languages Act 2003.

This is now a matter for the devolved Administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they gave an undertaking at St Andrews in October 2006 that the Northern Ireland Assembly should consider a Bill on the Irish language; whether that undertaking is binding in international law; which political parties at St Andrews supported such an undertaking; and whether providing for only one language is consistent with the principle of parity of esteem in the Belfast agreement of 10 April 1998. [HL4214]

On 13 October 2006, following multi-party talks at St Andrews, Her Majesty's Government gave an undertaking to “introduce an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language”. The St Andrews agreement formed the basis of the political settlement that resulted in the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland on 8 May 2007 and which is supported by all the parties. The principle of parity of esteem was fully respected throughout the multi-party talks at St Andrews.

Following the restoration of devolution, responsibility for Irish language issues became a matter, in the first instance, for the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Government, however, remain committed to doing all that we can to support Irish language legislation and to work with the Executive to this end.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 1 February (WA 78), when they will publish the list of gifts costing over £140 given by Ministers to foreign dignitaries since 2001 and the name of the recipient in question; and what is the reason for the delay in not publishing the list to date. [HL4157]

The list of gifts given to foreign dignitaries will be published at the same time as the annual list of ministerial gifts before the Summer Recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What would be the estimated extra cost if payments made under the financial assistance scheme, under the Government's latest proposals, were made equal to those payable to the same people if they were entitled to receive benefits under the Pension Protection Fund (a) on average over the next five and ten years; and (b)on a net present value basis. [HL4106]

(a) We estimate that the additional cash cost (compared to the budget extension) of providing PPF level benefits to all those in the financial assistance scheme would be on average £19 million per year over the next five years (from 2007-08 to 2011-12 inclusive). Over the next 10 years (from 2007-08 to 2016-17 inclusive), the average additional cash cost per year is estimated to be £25 million.

(b) We estimate that it would cost an additional £640 million in net present value terms on top of the costs of the budget extension to provide PPF-level benefits to all those in FAS.

These estimates refer to the amount that would be required to replicate, as far as possible, the benefits the PPF provides within the administrative structures of FAS.

Costs are rounded to the nearest £1 million and expressed in 2006-07 prices.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What avenues for the development of leadership in HM Prison Service are currently available or under consideration. [HL4058]

Opportunities for the development of leadership are offered at all stages of a prison officer's career. Training options begin with the introductory certificate in first-line management for those seeking their first promotion. Thereafter, specialist programmes are available at key promotion points. Senior operational managers are also invited to undertake a leadership, excellence and performance programme to develop their leadership skills further.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of newly promoted senior officers in HM Prison Service undertake the introductory certificate in management; what assistance is provided for those taking this qualification; and whether such training is undertaken in paid time. [HL4059]

The introductory certificate in first-line management is open to current, recently promoted and potential first-line managers within the Prison Service. The numbers of newly promoted senior officers undertaking the course are not recorded separately. To obtain them would incur disproportionate cost. The training takes place in paid time but the work-based assignment is expected to be written in the officer's own time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there are regular checks on the spread of sexually transmitted diseases amongst the prison population. [HL4134]

Prisoners are not routinely screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, the National Chlamydia Screening Programme operated in 49 prisons in England and Wales from 2005-06, and plans are in place to increase this number. This provides prisoners with an opportunity to voluntarily participate in a screening programme and access treatment and care if necessary.

Tests for STIs or HIV can be offered to prisoners following a risk assessment by a doctor, or other appropriately trained member of the healthcare team, if a prisoner presents with signs or symptoms of such infections or describes risk behaviour which may have exposed him or her to such infections.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether sexually transmitted diseases, in particular HIV, are more prevalent today in prisons than (a) five years ago, and (b) 10 years ago. [HL4135]

This information is not collected centrally. Prisons and prisoners are not currently identified as a specific setting or category of patient in either of the two national surveillance databases that collect data on the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections or HIV infection. Therefore, we cannot provide data on the current or previous prevalence of STIs or HIV infection among prisoners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the single line railway between Yeovil and Exeter will have two tracks throughout its length by the end of 2010. [HL4203]

This is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The noble Lord should contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his Question: John Armitt, Chief Executive, Network Rail, 40 Melton Street, London, NW1 2EE.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the planned future of the Remploy workers at the Remploy factory in Barnsley, South Yorkshire; how many are employed; and, if the plant closes or merges with other Remploy plants, whether they will take steps to find them alternative employment. [HL3998]

Remploy is proposing to close the Barnsley factory and merge it with Remploy's Sheffield factory. Remploy's Barnsley factory currently employs 40 people, which includes 38 disabled people.

Ministers have already given an undertaking that there will be no compulsory redundancies for disabled employees. Remploy will provide a support package to help employees through the transition and ensure that disabled people will continue to be able to choose to maintain meaningful employment on Remploy's terms and conditions, including membership of Remploy's final salary pension scheme.

For disabled workers at Barnsley, this will include the opportunity to transfer to Remploy's factory in Sheffield.

Remploy's proposals may change in the light of formal consultation with their trade unions and other key stakeholders. The Government will consider the company's final proposals once they have been submitted later in the year. No decisions on the future of the company will take place until then.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What resources are being allocated to the development and expansion of restorative justice within the criminal justice system. [HL4094]

The Government’s strategy is to encourage, but not require, the use of adult restorative justice whilst building the evidence base to establish the impact of its use, particularly in relation to reoffending. It has invested £5 million in the crime reduction programme restorative justice pilots and their independent evaluation. This research is expected to be completed and published this year and this will inform future strategy. It is for local criminal justice boards and other criminal justice agencies to consider how best to use their funding to meet their targets and local needs and a number of areas have established schemes to deliver adult restorative justice.

Youth offending teams (YOTs) use restorative justice as part of their work to prevent offending and increase victim satisfaction. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has set a key performance indicator that “victims participate in restorative processes in 25 per cent of relevant disposals referred to the YOT, and 85 per cent of victims participating are satisfied”. YOTs implement this work from their own resources which, during 2005-6, included YJB grant covering approximately 20 per cent of YOT resources.

Under the Treasury “invest to save”—round six—programme, £1.5 million was allocated to pilots of family group conferences to enhance the overall effectiveness of youth inclusion support panels. The FGC pilot ceased on 31 March 2007 when the three-year funding came to an end.

From April 2007 to 2010, Treasury ISB funding has been allocated to a restorative teen panels project in Preston, Lancashire and a “Restorative Justice in Residential Children's Homes” project in Leicestershire.

The YJB publication Developing Restorative Justice: An action plan sets out how restorative justice will be broadened and extended in the youth justice system.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the planned dates for the completion of digital switchover in the United Kingdom for (a) television, and (b) radio. [HL3874]

Whitehaven and the surrounding area of Copeland in Cumbria will lead on the UK's switchover to digital TV in October 2007. Switchover will then roll out TV region by TV region between autumn 2008 and the end of 2012. Within a TV region, each main transmitter and the relay stations that carry its signal will generally switchover at the same time. Most TV regions contain more than one main transmitter and switchover for each of these might take place at different times. Further detail on the timings for each main transmitter will be announced as we get closer to the regional switchover date.

There are no plans to switch off analogue radio services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of progress by London boroughs on the waste aspects of local planning documents. [HL4165]

London boroughs' progress on the waste aspects of local planning documents is kept under regular review. Planning for waste management facilities is a top priority and officials have regular engagement with boroughs to ensure progress is maintained. A majority of boroughs’ revised local development schemes—which set out the boroughs' proposed timetables for plan-making—have been signed off by the Government Office for London, and the remainder of LDS revisions will be signed off shortly. This ensures that the borough waste planning document programme is as up to date as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the cost of implementing the Welsh Language Act 1993 throughout statutory agencies and departments in Wales. [HL4044]

Departments and public bodies varied in the level of Welsh language service which they were providing or planning to provide prior to the 1993 Act. Since they would have been accommodated within existing budgets, it is not possible to make an assessment of any additional costs flowing specifically from the requirements of the Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of inquiries and correspondence to public sector bodies in Wales are received in Welsh. [HL4046]

The figures requested are not held centrally.