asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in light of the shortage of Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) workers for the horticultural industry, they will raise the number of SAWS permits presently permissible. [HL4339]

The SAWS quota for 2007, which was announced on 24 October 2006, is 16,250. The Government have no plans to increase this quota. However, this is not the only source for agricultural workers. Migrants from a number of other routes, such as working holidaymakers and dependants of workers, are free to work in the UK. For example, 284,000 students, who are able to work for 20 hours a week in term-time and full time in holidays, came to the UK in 2005. The horticultural industry is also able to recruit workers from all over Europe, including Poland and the other seven states that acceded to the EU in 2004. From July 2004 to March 2007, 23,970 workers who registered with the worker registration scheme, required of workers from the 2004 accession states, registered as being employed in farm worker/farm hand occupations; over that same period, 62,900 workers in all registered to work in agriculture.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department of Health will be supporting financially the Year of Food and Farming; and, if so, what budgetary allocation has been made. [HL4338]

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provides the core funding for the Year of Food and Farming. Although the Department of Health has not made a direct financial contribution, it has supported the year by, for example, ensuring strong links with the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills Healthy Schools programme, for which £13 million has been allocated this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have issued any directive relating to routine testing to detect overgrowth of candida albicans in children diagnosed with autism syndrome disorder; and what research they have carried out or commissioned into the effect that repeated exposure to antibiotics has on the body's ability to control overgrowth of candida albicans; and [HL4274]

Whether they have carried out or commissioned research on the possibility that high or repeated doses of antibiotics in very young children suffering from intestinal tract infection may destroy the body's natural defences against the overgrowth of candida albicans, causing behavioural problems and possibly triggering autism syndrome disorder; and [HL4275]

Whether they have carried out or commissioned research on the possibility that overgrowth of candida albicans in young children can cause toxicity in the body leading to impairment of the central nervous and immune systems which may, in turn, contribute to the increasing incidence of autism syndrome disorder. [HL4276]

The department has not issued any directive relating to routine testing to detect overgrowth of candida albicans in children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders.

One of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Innovation, part of the Department of Trade and Industry.

In 2005-06 the MRC spent over £1.1 million on research on autism and autistic spectrum disorders. None of the currently funded research relates directly to possible links between overgrowth of candida albicans and autism.

Autism research remains a priority for both the department and the MRC. However, despite holding a workshop on the gut and autism as part of a joint department/MRC initiative to stimulate activity, to date no applications for competitive study in this area have been received.

Although the MRC is not currently funding any research directly relating to the use of antibiotics in gut flora and fauna, it has received applications relating to host-pathogen interactions, development of antibiotic resistance and development of bacterial virulence.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made representations to the Government of Bangladesh concerning their refusal to allow the United Nations special rapporteur on trafficking in persons, Mrs Sigma Huda, to leave Bangladesh in fulfilment of her mandate; if not, whether they will do so; and whether they have been in touch with the United Nations Secretary-General concerning a possible breach of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities (Article 22, Section 6) by the Government of Bangladesh in relation to this refusal. [HL4277]

Mrs Huda is currently on bail, having been charged with corruption. The caretaker Government's decision not to allow her to leave Bangladesh is connected to this case. We believe that the Bangladesh Supreme Court has upheld the decision. We understand that, although there is no connection to Mrs Huda's role as a UN special rapporteur, senior UN officials are discussing the issue with the Bangladesh authorities in the context of the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities. In these circumstances, we do not think it appropriate to make specific representations to the Bangladesh Government.

Through our missions in Dhaka, we and EU partners have consistently urged the Bangladesh Government, the Armed Forces and the law enforcement agencies to act impartially, with respect for human rights, freedoms and the rule of law.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the number of businesses which will be threatened by the European Union's proposed ban on making mercury barometers. [HL4364]

We are aware of three companies in the UK that manufacture new mercury barometers for sale to the public. Under the proposed directive, the sale of new mercury devices for scientific and industrial use will not be affected and there will still be a market for restoration and repair of all mercury instruments. We are aware of at least one UK company that provides parts, tools and supplies to barometer repairers. A two-year derogation will allow industry time to make changes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will enter into a dialogue with British barometer makers before proceeding with the proposed ban on making new mercury barometers. [HL4368]

The Government initiated dialogue with UK barometer makers before and after the European Commission adopted its proposal for restrictions on the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury on 23 February 2006.

I also discussed the EC’s proposals with the noble Lords, Lord Glenarthur and Lord Boston, and industry experts at a meeting on 19 June.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make representations to the BBC board of trustees concerning the balance of opinions provided on controversial Middle Eastern questions. [HL4400]

No. The BBC’s charter and agreement place a clear responsibility on the BBC trust to ensure due accuracy and impartiality in the corporation’s reporting.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they monitor the 1998 Belfast agreement and ensure that all aspects are being implemented. [HL4443]

The Government remain committed to full implementation of the Belfast agreement and the St Andrews agreement. The Secretary of State meets the First Minister and Deputy First Minister regularly to discuss Northern Ireland matters. He also regularly meets the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs in the context of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and bilaterally.

Section 11 of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 provided for the establishment of a committee to examine matters relating to the functioning of the Assembly and Executive Committee. This committee is required to make a report to the Secretary of State, Assembly and Executive Committee on the operation of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly by May 2015.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many (a) male, and (b) female interviewers and interpreters were available for use by the Border and Immigration Agency at the most recent date for which figures are available. [HL3991]

Border and Immigration Agency management information indicates that approximately 5,400 staff conduct interviews with people who are subject to immigration control, including screening and public caller interviews. Information about the gender of those based within Border Control, around 3,200 staff, is not collated. Of the remaining interviewers, just under 50 per cent are male and just over 50 per cent are female.

The number of freelance interpreters registered on the Border and Immigration Agency’s central database on 25 May 2007 was 2,063, of whom 46 per cent are male and 54 per cent female.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why no response has been received by Mr KTL (Home Office ref: L1107153) to his letter before claim, received on 18 April by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate Judicial Review Management Unit in Croydon; and whether they will now grant his application for British citizenship. [HL3815]

I will write to the noble Lord shortly explaining the details in this case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to ensure that applicants for British citizenship at the British consulate-general in Hong Kong have their statements correctly recorded and submitted to the Home Office. [HL4208]

It is recognised that there is potential to improve the timeliness and efficiency of the existing process for submitting applications for British citizenship to the Home Office via the British consulate-general in Hong Kong. The nationality team of the Border and Immigration Agency considers it a high priority and is working in partnership with colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to improve the process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Home Office Nationality Directorate will establish, as was the case between 1 July 1997 and 30 June 1999, a dedicated unit in Hong Kong to deal with British citizenship applications to ensure quality and consistency in decision-making in light of the increase in applications anticipated from solely British nationals of Nepalese descent.[HL4224]

There are no plans to set up a dedicated unit in Hong Kong. We are confident that efficiency and consistency will be achieved by processing these applications within the Border and Immigration Agency nationality team.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What official guidance has been given to the public, and relevant agencies, about the legal position on the physical punishment of children by their parents since the coming into force of the Children Act 2004. [HL4392]

The relevant change in legislation introduced by Section 58 of the Children Act 2004 was debated thoroughly in both Houses.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has issued strengthened guidance to Crown prosecutors on cases of assault. The guidance now includes the concept of disparity between the parties as an aggravating factor. This means that, where an adult assaults a child, this will often be prosecuted as assault occasioning actual bodily harm, even though the same act against an adult would have been prosecuted as common assault. The “reasonable chastisement” defence is not available for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The Government have now announced a review to seek the views of parents on physical punishment and evidence from those working with children and families on the practical consequences of the changes in the law brought about by Section 58 of the Children Act 2004. The review is due to report in the autumn.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What records they hold of incidents of domestic violence sanctioned by religious authorities and of forced marriages taking place in, or involving persons who subsequently come to reside in, the United Kingdom. [HL4173]

Data on domestic violence incidents where it is alleged that the crimes were sanctioned by religious authorities is not collected centrally.

However, the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit receives around 5,000 enquiries and handles approximately 300 cases of forced marriage a year. The unit also assists reluctant sponsors (those forced into marriage and subsequently forced to sponsor a visa application) and has dealt with more than 100 such cases since May 2006. The Forced Marriage Unit assists British and, where possible, dual nationals but does not handle cases involving foreign nationals.

Freely given consent is a prerequisite of all Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh marriages, and forced marriages are not sanctioned by any major world religion. The Forced Marriage Unit does not hold records relating to the religious affiliation of its cases. The unit is, however, committed to encouraging leaders of faith communities to speak out against forced marriage, and it runs a substantial programme of outreach and awareness-raising work with a wide range of faith communities across the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the report of the European Commission on intercept evidence will be considered before preparation of any draft Bill on the subject. [HL4288]

The Government have announced a review of intercept as evidence on privy counsellor terms. The review will consider all relevant material.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What records they have for each of the last five years of prosecutions and convictions of public officials for offences relating to their public duties. [HL3958]

Records held within Home Office headquarters, the Border and Immigration Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau show that 15 members of staff have been convicted in the past five years for offences relating to their public duties.

These were cases of serious or gross misconduct that had led to the breakdown of trust between the department and the employee; they included deception, facilitation and fraud.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether parents of children with special needs are able to recover their costs incurred in appealing to a Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. [HL4396]

Parents appealing to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal are not able to recoup the costs they incur when making an appeal. The tribunal will pay parents’ and their witnesses’ travel expenses associated with attending the tribunal hearing. In rare circumstances, where the tribunal believes that a party to an appeal has acted unreasonably or deliberately wasted the tribunal’s time, it may order it to meet the other party’s costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Approximately how much they estimate the average motorist might have to spend to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by one tonne per year, assuming the motorist continues to drive the same mileage. [HL4426]

It is impossible to provide a meaningful estimate, as it would depend on individual car ownership, driving patterns and type of fuels used. There are in fact measures that motorists can take to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that either cost no money or will save money. For example, the “Act On CO₂” communications campaign promotes simple tips for driving behaviour, such as correctly inflating tyres, using gears effectively and removing unnecessary clutter from cars, which together can reduce CO₂ emissions by 8 per cent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What evidence is being taken into account in the review of the drink-drive limit. [HL4432]

The report of the second three-year review of the Government's road safety strategy, published in February 2007, explains that the Government are planning a public consultation process on drinking and driving later this year, including ways in which enforcement of laws against drinking and driving might be made easier for the police. We will consider carefully the need for evidence relating to any proposal made in the consultation paper.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they have spent on public education campaigns against drink-driving in each year from 2000 to date. [HL4435]

The dangers of drink-driving form a key part of the Government's THINK! road safety campaign.

Since the department was formed in 2002, we have spent the following each fiscal year:

Since 2005, we have also worked closely with a range of businesses to reinforce our drink-drive messages, and we estimate that these partnerships, details of which are contained in the department's annual report, which has been placed in the Library of the House, have delivered us several million pounds worth of free extra media value.

Following departmental reorganisations, provision of total expenditure figures for prior to 2002 would involve disproportionate costs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many diagnostic and research licences for the creation of pure hybrids up to the two-cell stage have been permitted since 1990 under Section 4(1)(c) and paragraph 1(1)(f) of Schedule 2 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; when these licences were issued; how many clinics requested such licences; how many clinics were granted such licences; what animals were used; how many such hybrids have been created; and when the last such licences for both categories were granted. [HL4251]

Information held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is available electronically from 1998 onwards on licences granted. Information on licences issued between 1990 and 1998 can be supplied only at disproportionate cost, as can information on unsuccessful applications.

Since 1998 there have been a total of 64 diagnostic and research licences issued for the hamster egg penetration test. Fifty-two of these were for treatment and storage, and 12 were for research. Licences have been issued to 13 centres, and the last licences were issued on 7 March 2001 for treatment and storage and 25 May 2001 for research.

No information is held on how many hamster egg penetration tests have been carried out under the licences issued.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the last licences for the hamster egg penetration test (HEPT), permitted under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, were granted and when they expired; and whether the HEPT has been superseded by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. [HL4340]

No centre is currently licensed to perform hamster egg penetration testing using human sperm. No applications to perform such a procedure are pending.

The last such licence to be issued was a research licence awarded jointly to the Assisted Conception Unit at King’s College Hospital and the School of Biomedical Sciences, King’s College, on 31 May 2001. The licence has now expired, and both centres have closed.

There is no evidence available to make any inference as to whether intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection has directly superseded the hamster egg penetration test.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What they calculate to be the approximate cost of physical adaptations to the average house to enable the householder to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by one tonne per year, disregarding any reasonable economies in energy usage the householder might make. [HL4425]

An average house is assumed to have three bedrooms and be semi-detached, typically with empty cavity walls and less than 100 mm of loft insulation. Insulating the cavity walls and topping up the loft insulation to 270 mm would save about one tonne of carbon dioxide, and about £140, a year, besides improving the comfort. It would cost around £700 to install.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Health and Safety Executive has sub-contracted its regulatory pre-licensing assessment of new nuclear reactor designs to Serco Assurance; and [HL4422]

What residual responsibility for the safety of new nuclear reactor designs will remain with the Health and Safety Executive after sub-contracting its regulatory role to Serco Assurance; and [HL4423]

Under what authority the Health and Safety Executive is entitled to sub-contract its regulatory pre-licensing assessment of new nuclear reactor designs to Serco Assurance; and whether this sub-contract has the Government's express approval. [HL4424]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not sub-contracted regulatory pre-licensing assessment of new nuclear reactor designs to Serco Assurance or to any other body.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Council Directive 2004/113/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services excludes from its scope sex discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities or services at a place (permanently or for the time being) occupied or used for the purposes of an organised religion; and [HL4348]

What is the justification for excluding from the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 sex discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities or services at a place (permanently or for the time being) occupied or used for the purposes of an organised religion. [HL4349]

With regard to paragraph B.5 of Annex B of the Discrimination Law Review A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain, in what respects Council Directive 2004/113/EC does not cover services and facilities provided at a place occupied or used for the purposes of an organised religion. [HL4356]

Recital 11 of Council Directive 2004/113/EC states that “services” should be taken to be those within the meaning of Article 50 of the EC treaty, which refers to them as services normally provided for remuneration or related to activities of a commercial or industrial nature or provided by craftsmen or professionals. We consider the types of services generally provided at a place occupied or used for the purposes of organised religion, for example churches, mosques and synagogues, do not fall within Article 50 because they will generally relate to religious observance and practice; for example, communal worship and religious teaching. Recital 3 of the directive gives further guidance in making clear that, while prohibiting discrimination, it is important to respect other fundamental rights and freedoms including freedom of religion. We therefore consider these matters to be outside the scope of the directive and have sought to make this clear in the draft regulations on which we are consulting.

It should, however, be noted that our proposals for implementing the directive—such as introducing the directive-based definition of indirect sex discrimination and extending protection from direct discrimination on grounds of gender reassignment—will apply to organisations that provide goods, facilities, services or premises to the public, including any that may do so in a way that reflects the tenets of a particular faith or belief, and to religious organisations, such as churches, where the service or facility is provided to the public but the nature of the service is not directly related to religious observance or worship. Generally it will be unlawful for such organisations to discriminate against a person because of their sex or on grounds of gender reassignment. Limited exceptions to this will be, for example, where voluntary bodies or charitable organisations confer benefits on one sex only and to do so is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What evidence they took into account in deciding, for the purposes of the consultation on the Discrimination Law Review, that “evidence does not support legislation mandating equal pay reviews”, as stated in paragraph 3.7 of A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain, published in June. [HL4358]

The Government have considered the evidence from a range of sources as set out in the Women and Work Commission's report, Shaping a Fairer Future, published in February 2006, into the causes of the gender pay gap.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have reviewed the effectiveness or otherwise of existing equal pay legislation in securing equal pay for men and women; if so, what is the outcome of their review; and, if not, why they have not done so. [HL4359]

The Discrimination Law Review has considered the effectiveness of the law on equal pay. The gender pay gap has narrowed significantly since equal pay law came into effect in 1970, and the number of equal pay cases being brought has risen substantially in recent years, showing that more women are accessing their legal rights to equal pay. However, the review has concluded that equal pay law is constrained by its complexity.

In our consultation document A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain, we propose that the law should be updated and simplified to provide greater clarity for individuals and employers about their rights and responsibilities, and seek views on how this might be done.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why they propose to impose duties on public authority employers but not on large private sector employers in addressing the gender pay gap; and whether this difference of treatment will result in less protection for those working for large private sector employers than those working for public authorities. [HL4360]

The law on equal pay applies to employers in both the public and private sectors. Our consultation document A Framework for Fairness. Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain proposes simplifying and updating the law, which will help businesses to comply with their responsibilities.

Positive duties on private sector employers to promote equality between women and men would create a significant regulatory burden. Experience suggests that businesses deliver good practice most effectively where they are persuaded of the business benefits. Through our consultation we are seeking views on a number of proposals to promote good equality practice in the private sector.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the consultation paper A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain, published in June, contains no questions about measures to reform existing legislation so as to secure equal pay between men and women for equal work. [HL4361]

Our consultation document seeks views on how the law on equal pay can be simplified and updated. This will provide employers with greater clarity about their legal responsibilities for paying men and women equally for equal work and will lead to greater compliance with the law.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 21 May (WA 74), who was their representative in the high-level group on the future of justice and home affairs after the Hague programme set up by the German presidency.[HL4034]

The first ministerial meeting of the high-level group on the future development of justice and home affairs took place in Eltville, Germany, on 20 to 21 May. The Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC attended as the common law representative. A further meeting of the group will take place in Brussels on 25 June, at which Baroness Scotland is also expected to attend.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the number of illegal female circumcisions occurring in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; whether they are investigating all allegations; and what measures they are taking to encourage reporting of this matter. [HL4172]

Data on the number of illegal female circumcisions in the United Kingdom is not collected centrally.

The investigation of allegations of female genital mutilation (FGM) is an operational matter for the police. However, Home Office guidance (HOC 10/2004) specifically advises the police that it is not acceptable to leave suspected FGM cases un-investigated.

The police are taking FGM seriously. For example, through Project Azure, the Metropolitan Police Service, in conjunction with the Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development (FORWARD), Africans United against Child Abuse (AFRUCA) and other partners, are working to inform all parents/carers that the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 makes it illegal to participate in any sort of arrangement for FGM to be performed, either inside or outside the UK.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of their undertaking to place the conclusions of the previous meeting of the G6 Interior Ministers in the Library of the House, why the conclusions of the meeting in Venice on 11 and 12 May were not placed in the Library. [HL4310]

The conclusions of the meeting in Venice on 11 and 12 May were placed on the Home Office website shortly after the G6 ministerial meeting. Regrettably, however, they were not placed in the Library, something which will be done as a matter of course following future meetings of the G6.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further steps they will take to consult citizens on the document Effective Consultation, issued by the Cabinet Office on 14 June.[HL4448]

The Government have been promoting the review of government consultation policy to known stakeholders, including bodies representing citizens of various backgrounds and consumer organisations.

In addition to submitting formal responses to the Effective Consultation paper, views can be shared with the Government via an online discussion forum, on which several citizens have already expressed views on how the Government conduct their consultation exercises. The Cabinet Office will continue to promote this channel via regional and specialist media. The Cabinet Office is also arranging workshops around the country and is investigating ways in which intermediary organisations can be used to arrange dialogue between officials and citizens on the topic of government consultations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they seek to ensure that government purchasing, both direct and through contractors, gives preference to minerals and timber produced under good health and safety standards and respects sustainable forestry and the natural environment of mines. [HL4086]

Since July 2000 the Government have sought to purchase timber and wood products that derive from trees that are legally harvested in forests and plantations that are sustainably managed.

The criteria used to define “legal” timber require compliance by both the forest management organisation and any contractors with local and national legal requirements including health and safety.

OGC’s common minimum standards and Achieving Excellence in Construction guidance on sustainability set out standards by which the public sector can procure and deliver construction projects that best promote sustainable development. They include commitments to use materials that contribute to the Government's sustainability goals as well as recycling aggregates in construction.

Defra’s general conditions of contract require its contractors to comply with health and safety legislation when supplying goods and services. It is likely that a similar condition is applied by other central departments.

The Government’s recently published Sustainable Procurement Action Plan includes an objective to move towards government supply chains that respect biodiversity and deliver wider sustainable development goals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether mercury will continue to be used in amalgam fillings for teeth. [HL4363]

Dental amalgam has been in use for more than 150 years to restore teeth in millions of patients and, apart from rare instances of hypersensitivity, no adverse reactions have been identified. Alternative dental restorative materials are not so easily, quickly and reliably placed; neither are they so durable. Due to improvements in oral health, the number of restorations is decreasing, with the result that the safe management and disposal of dental amalgam is more easily achieved.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect the Bailiwick of Jersey to review its existing medicines legislation to bring it into line with relevant European Union directives; and what assistance they intend to give the bailiwick in that process; and [HL4385]

By what date the Bailiwicks of (a) Jersey and (b) Guernsey are required to have introduced legislation to implement the European Union (i) food supplements directive; (ii) nutrition and health claims made on food regulation; and (iii) current medicines directives; and [HL4386]

When Ministers last met with representatives of the Governments of the Bailiwicks of (a) Jersey and (b) Guernsey; and whether those meetings afforded an opportunity to discuss the need for (i) Jersey to bring its medicines legislation into line with current European Union legislation, and (ii) Guernsey to introduce medicines legislation; and [HL4387]

What action is being taken by (a) the Food Standards Agency; (b) the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency; and (c) the Ministry of Justice in relation to the need under Protocol 3 of the Treaty of the European Union for the Bailiwick of Jersey to review its existing medicines legislation and for the Bailiwick of Guernsey to introduce such legislation; and by what date they expect the two Bailiwicks to be fully compliant with treaty obligations in relation to medicines and food legislation; and [HL4388]

Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the response from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to the recent consultation by the Bailiwick of Guernsey on its draft medicines legislation; and what are the main points of that response; and [HL4389]

Whether they will invite the Governments of Guernsey and Jersey to attend a meeting with the Health Food Manufacturers' Association to discuss issues relating to the trade in food supplements and unlicensed medicinal products. [HL4390]

The Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation, the food supplements directive and the medicines directive remove barriers to the free movement of goods within the European Union (EU) by regulating content, sale and labelling of products. Jersey and Guernsey are not part of the EU; instead, they have a relationship with the EU provided by Protocol 3 of the United Kingdom's (UK) treaty of accession to the European Community. Discussions on exactly how the requirements of these directives apply to the Channel Islands are continuing between the UK and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey.

The Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey have not said when they will review current legislation or introduce new legislation to implement the requirements of the directives and the regulation. If the island Governments agree that the directives and regulation apply to them, the dates for implementation set within the original EU legislation would apply.

The Ministry of Justice is supporting the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in their communications with the Channel Islands over these directives, and has had correspondence with the chief executive of Guernsey on this issue. The MHRA and its lawyers will give advice and assistance as requested by the Bailiwicks to implement medicines directives.

The Lord Chancellor met the Chief Minister of Guernsey on 24 April this year. Many issues were discussed, including the UK's view on both the medicines directive and the food supplements directive. The Lord Chancellor last met the Chief Minister of Jersey at a dinner he hosted on 22 February. The opportunity to discuss these directives did not arise.

The FSA, MHRA and Ministry of Justice have met the Health Food Manufacturers' Association to discuss issues relating to the trade in food supplements and unlicensed medicinal products via the Channel Islands. Further information has been requested to assist in discussions with the island Governments. There are no plans to invite the Governments of Guernsey and Jersey to a meeting with the Health Food Manufacturers’ Association.

A copy of the MHRA's response to the consultation by the Bailiwick of Guernsey on its draft medicines legislation will be placed in the Library. The MHRA, in its response, said that the proposed legislation did not implement the medicines directive; it offered assistance to the Bailiwick of Guernsey in implementing the directive and asked for the Bailiwick's proposed timescale.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many National Health Service patients have died after being infected while in hospital in each of the last seven years. [HL4383]

Information on numbers of deaths from infections contracted in hospital is not available. Death certificates rarely specify the place where an infection was acquired. Death certificates do, however, record the place of death. The Office for National Statistics publishes analyses of deaths in England and Wales with meticillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or clostridium difficile (C. difficile) mentioned on the death certificate. The following tables present the number of death certificates mentioning MRSA from 1999-2005 and C. difficile in 1999 and from 2001-2005 by place of death. Information on C. difficile is not available for 2000 (please see note 3).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what dates the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation sub-group on vaccines relating to human papilloma viruses has met in 2007; and when the next meeting is due to take place. [HL4335]

The human papilloma virus sub-group of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) met on 28 February 2007. Further meetings of the sub-group will be scheduled as required.

The sub-group's advice will be reported to the main JCVI committee for its consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether West Middlesex NHS University Hospital's quota system for the taking on of new maternity cases according to the expected birth date is consistent with the recommendations set out in Maternity Matters—Choice, Access and Continuity of Care in a Safe Service, published on 3 April; and [HL4299]

How many expectant mothers the West Middlesex NHS University Hospital has referred to other hospitals in the last year due to the operation of a quota system for the taking on of new maternity cases according to the expected birth date by the hospital. [HL4300]

Maternity Matters: Choice, Access and Continuity of Care in a Safe Service does not set any quotas for the taking on of new maternity cases. This is a matter for local decision, taking into account the needs of the local population and workforce capacity.

Data for numbers of expectant mothers referred to other hospitals by West Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust due to the operation of a quota system is not held centrally. Primary care trusts have been told that they must use 2007-08 to assess current services, identify gaps and any barriers to service development and to set out their local strategy for meeting these commitments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many cases of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus have been recorded in care homes in England in each of the last five years.[HL4297]

The information requested is not collected by the department.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 8 May (WA 247), whether they have assessed the extent to which the move of funding for podiatric care for diabetics from the secondary to the primary sector will impact adversely on the success (acknowledged in the National Health Service publication, Diabetic Foot Guide) of the hospital-based multi-disciplinary teams for diabetic foot care; and whether they will take steps to ensure that diabetes foot care services will not be adversely affected by the financial constraints that prevail in some primary care trusts. [HL4260]

No assessment has been made. The provision of podiatry services for people with diabetes is a matter for local consideration, which should take into account the needs of the local population.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Through which bodies or mechanisms other than the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council do the Government support stem cell research; how much money was invested in stem cell research during the last financial year by such bodies or mechanisms; how much of this was for adult stem cell research and how much of this was for human embryonic stem cell research; what are the totals spent via such bodies or mechanisms to date; and who have been the main beneficiaries. [HL4077]

The following bodies, other than the BBSRC and the MRC, provide government support for stem cell research:

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Scottish Executive, The R&D office for Health and Personal Social Services Northern Ireland, Yorkshire Forward, the East of England Development Agency, the North West Development Agency, the London Development Agency, One North East, the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry.

The bodies invested a total of £12.08 million in stem cell research during the last financial year. See table below:

The amount spent on stem cell research by the bodies other than BBSRC and MRC is £21.12 million. The main beneficiaries were UK research organisations and companies that are researching and advancing the therapeutic use of stem cells and research active organisations in the National Health Service (NHS).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there are any bodies or mechanisms that have previously been used to provide government support for stem cell research but no longer do so; if so, what are the names of any such bodies or mechanisms; what were the totals invested by these bodies or mechanisms; how much money from these totals was invested in adult stem cell therapy; and how much was invested in human embryonic stem cell therapy. [HL4078]

The bodies that have previously provided government support for stem cell research continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What practical steps are being taken to increase the number of beds in transplant centres throughout England and Wales. [HL4315]

Decisions on the number of beds required in transplant centres are made locally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to require heritage institutions to provide up-to-date and comprehensive valuations of their assets; whether they have assessed the extent to which any requirement is necessary and any possible financial and administrative burdens; how such information could subsequently be kept accurate and up to date; and how such a requirement can be reconciled with the charitable status of such institutions. [HL4465]

Heritage institutions already have valuations for many of their assets that are updated annually through indexation and are subject to professional valuations every five years. Many heritage assets and artefacts are not currently valued. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in conjunction with its heritage sectors, is actively engaged in dialogue with Her Majesty’s Treasury and the Accounting Standards Board (ASB) on the proposals set out in the ASB's Financial Reporting Exposure Draft 40, entitled Accounting for Heritage Assets (www.frc.org.uk/images/uploaded/documents/Exp%20Draft%20web%20 optimised1.pdf). I am arranging for copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

This dialogue includes assessing the proposed new requirement to report collections at valuation in annual accounts, where it is practicable to obtain a valuation, as well as the benefits to be derived from such valuations and the potential costs involved. No attempt has been made to date to quantify these costs. If such collections are to be valued, they will require quinquennial revaluations in line with accounting standards. We foresee no impact on the charitable status of the institutions.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

On how many occasions in the last 50 years a Select Committee of the House of Lords has rejected a report of one of its sub-committees. [HL4446]

A sub-committee is appointed by its Select Committee to consider a particular issue and to return to the Select Committee with recommendations. The Select Committee, which will normally include one or more representatives of the sub-committee among its members, will consider the recommendations made and decide whether a report should be made to the House. The Select Committee may also invite the sub-committee to consider an issue further. In the event of a report being made, the text of the report will be agreed by the Select Committee on the basis of the recommendations of the sub-committee.

Given this assimilative approach, it is not possible to quantify the occasions when the recommendations of a sub-committee have not been incorporated into a Select Committee report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which local authorities in housing market renewal Pathfinder areas have provided assistance for home owners who are required to move as a result of demolition of their homes, when they need to bridge the financial gap between the market value paid for their existing property and the cost of purchasing a replacement property by means of (a) grants, and (b) loans; and how many such loans or grants have so far been provided by each local authority. [HL4402]

Data on local authority provision of grants and loans is shown in the following table:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What evidence they have of the effect of the buy-to-let market in housing market renewal Pathfinder areas on house prices, house conditions, social conditions and community structures; and whether they intend to commission research on these matters. [HL4404]

The department regularly monitors market conditions and market drivers in the housing market renewal Pathfinder areas. As part of an ongoing national evaluation of the market renewal programme by Ecotec, a paper on buy-to-let activity was published in March 2007, National Evaluation of Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders, Thematic Paper, Buy-to-Let Housing Market in the HMR Pathfinders. We will continue to keep market conditions under review as we consider the next stages of the programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice they have given to housing market renewal Pathfinders on providing assistance for home owners who are required to move as a result of demolition of their homes, when they need to bridge the financial gap between the market value paid for their existing property and the cost of purchasing a replacement property; and, in particular, whether such assistance should be provided by means of grants or loans or other means. [HL4403]

Advice on the operation of the housing market renewal programme is provided through regular correspondence and meetings with the Pathfinders. Pathfinders are expected to have regard to a number of factors in determining the relocation packages they offer to residents affected by demolition, including community consultation and value for money. Decisions on whether to provide grants, loans or other specific types of support for these residents are matters for local consideration by the Pathfinders and local authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, under the terms of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill, animal chimeras, where human cells are inserted into animal embryos, will be unregulated; and, if so, whether the Bill permits their transfer to an animal womb; and [HL4341]

Whether the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill permits a procedure involving tetraploid complementation using an animal embryo consisting of tetraploid animal cells with diploid human cells added, thereby enabling the resulting human embryo to develop in an animal womb; and, if not, which clauses of the draft Bill would prevent this; and [HL4342]

Whether the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill permits animal chimeras consisting of animal embryos with added human embryonic stem cells, which could develop human gametes or brain cells in the growing entity, to be implanted into animals; and, if not, which clauses in the draft Bill would prevent this; and [HL4343]

Whether the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill permits animal chimeras generated from animal embryos consisting of any proportion of animal and human cells to be implanted into an animal; and, if not, which clauses in the draft Bill would prevent, limit or regulate such a procedure. [HL4344]

As indicated in the introduction of the Command Paper, Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill (Cm 7087), we propose that the creation of chimera embryos, which are produced by the addition of animal cells to a human embryo, as defined in new Section 4A(5)(d) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, set out in Clause 17(2) of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill, may be authorised by research licence.

Chimera embryos created by the addition of human cells to an animal embryo are not within the regulatory framework set out in the draft Bill. These chimeras, made using animal embryos, are regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 at such time as they become a protected animal under that Act. Any embryos not considered to be a protected animal do not come within the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. This position is both the existing and prospective position regarding animal inter-species research.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 an animal will become a protected animal from the halfway point of its gestation.

The placement of an animal-human chimera embryo in an animal’s uterus is a regulated procedure under the 1986 Act and so would fall within its scope.

New Sections 4A(1) and 4A(4), set out in Clause 17(2) of the draft Bill, propose a prohibition on the implantation of human-animal chimera embryos, as defined in new Section 4A(5)(d), in the uterus of a human or of an animal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the proposed new Section 4A(5)(e) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 set out in Clause 17(2) of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill is intended to apply only to conventional hybrids generated by cross-species fertilisation. [HL4345]

True hybrids, created by the cross-fertilisation of human and animal gametes, are captured by the proposed new Section 4A(5)(a), set out in Clause 17(2) of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill and are therefore exempt from the scope of new Section 4A(5)(e). New Section 4A(5)(e) captures those embryos created to be genetically identical to a true hybrid without the application of cross-species fertilisation.

New Section 4A(5)(e) also captures any other combination of human-animal genetic material, outside of the inter-species categories in proposed new Section 4A(5)(a) to (d), that contains at least a haploid set of human chromosomes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether animal chimeras are (a) subject to the 14-day rule; (b) unregulated until half the gestation period of the animal, after which they would fall under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; (c) permitted to be taken to term in an animal womb and be born, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and, if not, what legislation would prevent animal chimeras being taken to term. [HL4350]

As indicated in the introduction of the Command Paper Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill (Cm 7087), we propose that the creation of chimera embryos which are produced by the addition of animal cells to a human embryo, as defined in new Section 4A(5)(d) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, set out in Clause 17(2) of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill, may be authorised by research licence.

Chimera embryos created by the addition of human cells to an animal embryo are not within the regulatory framework as set out in the draft Bill and are therefore not subject to the 14-day rule.

These chimeras made using animal embryos are regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 at such time as they become a protected animal under that Act. Any embryos not considered to be a protected animal do not come within the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. This position is both the existing and prospective position regarding animal inter-species research.

Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, an animal will become a protected animal from the halfway point of its gestation.

The placement of an embryo into an animal's uterus for an experimental or other scientific purpose is a regulated procedure for the recipient animal under the 1986 Act and so would fall within its scope whether or not the pregnancy is subsequently terminated.

Chimera embryos placed into the uterus that develop beyond halfway through gestation will also themselves be deemed to be protected animals having undergone regulated procedures. Any such animal use would have to be carried out within a licensed programme of work that had been subject to a proper cost-benefit assessment as required by Section 5(4) of the 1986 Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the proposed new Section 4A(5)(e) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, set out in Clause 17(2) of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill, would apply equally to an inter-species embryo at any stage of pre-implantation development that contains haploid human chromosomes or any multiple thereof (whether euploid or aneuploid) and genetic material from another species either in the same cells or in different constituent cells and regardless of the chromosomal ploidy of contributing material from another species; and [HL4351]

Whether the proposed new Section 4A(5)(e) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, set out in Clause 17(2) of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill, would apply to any interspecies embryo containing any possible number or combination of copies of the haploid complement of human chromosomes and those of another species; and, if so, whether the Down's mouse model (containing a human chromosome and the diploid complement of a mouse) would now be illegal, as the corresponding interspecies embryo must be implanted in the womb of an animal. [HL4352]

The intention of the proposed new Section 4A(5)(e) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, set out in Clause 17(2) of the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill, is to ensure that the creation of interspecies embryos with at least a haploid set of human chromosomes are caught by the regulatory provisions of the Act. It is not intended to capture animal embryos altered at a later stage to contain human cells.

The purpose of publishing the Bill in draft form is to enable the policies and principles it contains, and its detailed drafting, to be tested and reviewed if appropriate. We are reviewing the detailed drafting of new Section 4A(5)(e), taking into account, for instance, the report of the Academy of Medical Sciences on hybrids, published on 17 June 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people have been prevented from travelling to the United Kingdom by airline liaison officers in each year since 2003. [HL4304]

Over the past five years, our international network of airline liaison officers have assisted in preventing nearly 180,000 inadequately documented passengers from boarding planes.

This is broken down as follows:

33,551 in 2003

31,380 in 2004

32,032 in 2005

50,803 in 2006; and

23,806 in 2007 (to May).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice they have given to local authorities about preventing destitution and homelessness of failed asylum-seeking mothers with small children and about the separation of such a mother from a breastfeeding infant. [HL4178]

The Border and Immigration Agency has not issued specific guidance to local authorities about preventing destitution and homelessness of failed asylum-seeking mothers with small children and about the separation of such a mother from a breastfeeding infant.

However, the Border and Immigration Agency has issued guidance to local authorities to assist them when accessing migrants’ eligibility for local authority services, including help with accommodation.

Local authorities are required to carry out an assessment of a person’s need to establish whether they have a need for support and, where relevant, a human rights assessment to establish whether there is an obligation to provide support to prevent a breach of such a person’s human rights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many immigration applications were dealt with at Lunar House, Croydon, in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2006. [HL4145]

Immigration applications are dealt with in a number of locations across the country, and there are numerous teams within Lunar House dealing with a range of different immigration applications. Information regarding decisions on immigration applications is not collated by location and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many permanent, trained staff are employed at Lunar House, Croydon. [HL4146]

According to records held on the Home Office computerised resource system, called Adelphi, at 31 May 2007, there were 2,194 full-time equivalent permanent staff employed at Lunar House, Croydon. Staff receive a range of training to support them in their roles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many temporary staff are employed at Lunar House, Croydon; how many of them conduct interviews about visa arrangements; and what training they receive. [HL4147]

According to records held on the Home Office computerised resource system, called Adelphi, at 31 May 2007, 10 casual staff and 221 agency workers were deployed at Lunar House, none in roles where they would be expected to conduct visa interviews. They receive a range of training to support them in their roles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 February (WA 186), whether they will give the uniform resource locator (URL) of the consultation document on proposals for the reform of the immigration and support system for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors. [HL4093]

The consultation document relating to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, Planning Better Outcomes and Support for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, was published on 1 March. Copies have been placed in the Library. The uniform resource locator needed to access the document electronically is: www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandpolicy/consultation documents/currentconsultations

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any members or ex-members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army have been allowed to retain pistols, rifles or sub-machine guns for personal protection or other use; if so, how many and what types of weapons have been retained; what type of civilian firearms certificate was required; and with what restrictions. [HL4407]

I refer the noble Lord to the statement by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning that,

“the IRA has met its commitment to put all its arms beyond use in a manner for by the legislation”.

Any person who seeks to hold a firearm for personal protection or other use must fulfil the suitability requirements contained in Article 2 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 in order to legally possess firearms.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the future management of, and resultant revenues from, Iraq's oil industry is a matter solely for the people of Iraq; to what extent the Government have been involved in the drafting of Iraq's new oil law; what representations the Government have made in relation to the drafting of Iraq's new oil law; and to what extent British oil interests were taken into account in any such representations. [HL4272]

It is for the Iraqi Government and Parliament to decide how best to manage Iraq's hydrocarbons sector. The UK has an interest in promoting the effective management of this sector because of its critical importance to Iraq's political reconciliation process and future prosperity.

The current draft law is a result of negotiations between representatives of all Iraq's main political parties. The UK has during those negotiations encouraged balanced, technically unambiguous legislation, acceptable to Iraq's main political parties, which will provide a legal framework to facilitate much-needed investment in Iraq's oil industry, domestic and international.

Were commercial opportunities to become available after the passage of the hydrocarbons legislation, we would be keen to promote UK companies and their expertise in the oil and gas sector.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 19 June (WA 42) concerning the Irish Language Bill, which lobby groups called for such a Bill; how those lobby groups consulted the Government; and on what dates. [HL4442]

Lobbying has come primarily from POBAL, which produced a draft Irish language Bill in February 2006. It has used that as the basis for its response to consultation by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on Irish language legislation held in December 2006 and June 2007.

On the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly, responsibility for this matter passed to the devolved Administration, and information on Irish language issues is held by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept the latest map of the West Bank produced by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs as a definitive map of Israeli occupation and expansion of settlements since 1967; and what conclusions they have drawn from the map. [HL4269]

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provides detailed, accurate and up-to-date reference maps on issues such as barriers, settlements and access. We use the OCHA maps for reference purposes.

We remain concerned about continued settlement activity in the West Bank. 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 continue to raise this with the Israeli Government.

The UK, along with EU partners, will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed by both parties.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have calculated the area of the West Bank devoted to newly expanded settlements and related roads and infrastructure in and around East Jerusalem in the last five years; and what representations they have made to the Government of Israel about this. [HL4270]

We have not calculated the expansion of settlements and the related infrastructure in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the past five years. However, according to Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organisation, during 2006 there was no change in the number of official settlements. The pace of building in the settlements in 2006 remained similar to that recorded for 2005 and for previous years. This has resulted in approximately a 5 per cent growth in the number of settlers.

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.

The EU expressed its concern at the continued settlement activity in the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 23 April. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary also raised her concerns with the Israeli Defence Minister, Amir Peretz, on 6 February during her visit to the region.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to receive the results of the scientific research project into the biological control of Japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica); and what procedures they intend to use to consider them. [HL4375]

The four-year scientific research project is due to report before the end of this year. Should a viable control organism be identified, there is no commitment to release it. If a proposed control agent is not already present in the UK, it will be necessary to produce a pest risk assessment and obtain a derogation from European plant health legislation to allow its release. If an animal agent was identified, that would also need to be licensed for release under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. A group of independent experts would be appointed to critically evaluate the research findings and data before any decision was made on seeking authority to release.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they propose to introduce stronger legal powers for use against landowners and occupiers who allow the uncontrolled spread of Japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica) on their land. [HL4376]

There is no statutory requirement for landowners to remove Japanese knotweed from their property. However, because of its potential harm to native species, it is listed in Schedule 9 and subject to Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These provisions make it an offence to plant, or cause this species to grow, in the wild. In addition, under the cross-compliance requirements, landowners claiming the single farm payment must take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread of Japanese knotweed on their land and from their land on to adjoining land.

No further powers are planned to require landowners to stop the spread of the plant on their land, but Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 provides local authorities with a discretionary power to require landowners to clean up,

“land adversely affecting the amenity of the neighbourhood”.

This could be relevant to the control of Japanese knotweed. Local authorities also have the power to undertake clean-up works themselves under Section 215 and to recover costs from the landowner.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they propose to make The Knotweed Code of Practice: Managing Japanese Knotweed on Development Sites mandatory, and to extend it to vacant and disused land that has planning permission or is zoned for development. [HL4377]

The Knotweed Code of Practice is intended to help the developer of any land, or anyone involved in the haulage industry, to manage Japanese knotweed, or soil containing it, within current legal requirements.

We have no plans to make compliance with the code mandatory. However the Secretary of State may approve any code of practice relating to species covered by Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This would make any such code admissible in any court proceedings and it would have to be taken into account by a court in any case in which it appears to the court to be relevant. The Japanese knotweed code is one that we will be considering for such approval.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 can be used to require the owner or occupier of land to secure the removal of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) from that land. [HL4378]

Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 provides local authorities with a discretionary power to require landowners to clean up,

“land adversely affecting the amenity of the neighbourhood”.

This could be relevant to the control of Japanese knotweed.

Local authorities also have the power to undertake clean-up works themselves under Section 215 and to recover costs from the landowner. The decision whether to take action in individual cases is a matter for the local authority concerned.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What specific training and of what length is given to (a) police officers; (b) probation officers; and (c) prison officers to identify people with learning difficulties and disabilities. [HL4023]

There are a number of national programmes in place in relation to specific training undertaken by police officers to identify people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Probationers during their initial police learning and development programme (IPLDP) are taught specific modules covering this area. These include, by way of illustration, interviewing victims and witnesses who have learning difficulties or disability issues. This training is applied contextually via case studies throughout. As well as having its own specifically developed modules, the IPLDP is structured in such a way that it links to other resources.

An example of this is the requirement for all student officers to complete the e-learning element of the police race and diversity learning and development programme (PRDLDP) module relating to disability. It takes approximately two days to cover these modules.

The PRDLDP is a major programme aimed at improving police performance in race and diversity. It applies to all police officers, staff and the wider police family. The programme, through force-based diversity training and a new and comprehensive range of e-learning materials, will ensure that every member of the police service can achieve the relevant national occupational standards (NOS) relating to fostering and promoting race and diversity. It identifies six key strands of diversity, including one which focuses specifically upon “Disability and the Police”. This module of PRDLDP is entirely dedicated to police learning relating to disability. The training programme is contextualised to reflect different situations to ensure the programme and the accompanying learning materials are relevant both to individual roles and to the needs of the local community.

NPIA Design and Development is about to release the safer detention programme for custody officers, which strongly links to IPLDP. The safer detention programme has a number of references to learning difficulties and disabilities, which are in four modules lasting a total of two days and three hours. In addition, individual forces will augment this training depending on local needs and particular circumstances.

The training of probation and prison officers is a matter for the Ministry of Justice.

The training for probation officers lasts two years. During this training, diversity is a consistent theme, and both academic emphasis and practical experience are focused on identifying all barriers to progression while in contact with the service. These would include any issues around learning difficulties and disability.

No specific training is given to prison officers in identifying people with learning difficulties but, under Prison Service Order 2855, governors must ensure that procedures exist for prisoners to be able to disclose disability, including learning disabilities, both on reception and subsequently. Each prison must have a disability liaison officer to ensure that disabled prisoners’ needs are met.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many statutory instruments have been laid before Parliament and brought into force since June 1997; and how many of them remain in force. [HL4330]

The following table provides details of the number of UK statutory instruments laid before Parliament and brought into force in each year from 2004 to 2006 and for 2007 to date:

Central records on the number of instruments laid before Parliament were not maintained prior to 2004. No centralised records are maintained of the number of statutory instruments that have been revoked. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many government Bills have been enacted since June 1997; and how many of them remain in force. [HL4331]

The following table provides details of the government Bills that have been brought into force in each year from June 1997 to 2006, and for 2007 to date, and the number that remain in force:

Of the 35 government Acts no longer in force, 21 were Appropriation Acts or Consolidated Fund Acts, two have been repealed as a result of the enactment of legislation by the Scottish Parliament, two Acts have been repealed as a result of the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland, and one was repealed by a consolidation Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they plan to prevent the import of mercury thermometers and barometers. [HL4365]

The new directive to restrict the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury will not prevent the import of mercury thermometers and barometers. However, such instruments could not be sold to the public if it meant they were being placed on the market in the EU for the first time. These restrictions will not apply to antique instruments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the quantity of mercury introduced into the atmosphere each year in the United Kingdom as a result of cremations. [HL4366]

The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory gives the following figures for the emission of mercury from crematoria from 1970 to 2005:

We have introduced controls over mercury emissions from new crematoria, and covering 50 per cent of cremations at existing crematoria (by the end of 2012), following two consultations. Consultation papers are available from the Defra website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their estimate of the quantity of mercury ending up in landfill sites from the disposal of low energy light bulbs. [HL4367]

Defra has not made any specific estimate of the quantity of mercury in landfill sites as a result of the disposal of low-energy light bulbs.

Energy-efficient light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury (less than 5 milligrams per lamp) and should be disposed of responsibly by local authorities and in accordance with waste regulations.

From 1 July this year, long-life bulbs, where collected with other waste electrical equipment, will need to be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. Under the WEEE permitting regulations, and subject to transitional arrangements which end on 1 July this year, mercury must be removed from energy-efficient light bulbs where they are collected separately. From 1 July, a minimum of 80 per cent by weight of the materials will have to be recycled or recovered.

The Government’s market transformation programme estimates that, as a result of these regulations being in place, the total mercury entering the waste stream from fluorescent lamps, both domestic and commercial, will be reduced from about 0.6 tonnes per year in 2005 to about 0.08 tonnes in 2020.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What provision is made by the National Health Service to combat childhood obesity. [HL4334]

It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to determine the best use of their funding allocation to best meet the needs of their local population. This has been devolved to PCTs as they, with their practice-based commissioners, are best placed to understand the needs of their local populations.

However, the Government continue to support the National Health Service, and we have provided this through: care pathways for NHS primary care professionals and a self-help guide for patients, Your Weight Your Health; the National Heart Forum’s toolkit, Lightening the Load: Tackling Overweight and Obesity, to support areas in producing local obesity strategies; the national step-o-meter programme; and commissioning the general practitioner physical activity questionnaire, to identify patients who might benefit from advice and interventions to increase physical activity and local exercise action pilots.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has also published guidance on the physical activity public health interventions and on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children. The guidance give a series of wide-ranging recommendations that cover the NHS, and we will ensure that the NICE recommendations are disseminated to the NHS and local authorities and partners in the local community so that they are used to strengthen local action plans to tackle obesity in children and adults.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 12 June (WA 244), what is meant by the statement that “employees whose posts are redundant will be entitled to the Civil Service pension scheme”; how the terms of a pension scheme apply to redundancy; and what those terms entail. [HL4328]

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

Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician and Registrar General, to Lord James of Blackheath.

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Question further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 12 June (WA 244), what is meant by the statement that,

“employees whose posts are redundant will be entitled to the Civil Service pension scheme”;

how the terms of a pension scheme apply to redundancy; and what those terms entail. (HL4328)

The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) is managed centrally by the Cabinet Office on behalf of all government departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).

Within the PCSPS there is the Civil Service compensation scheme (CSCS), which determines how early departures out of the Civil Service are managed. The CSCS provides compensation for civil servants retired early. It covers most permanent civil servants, including those who have opted out of all Civil Service pension arrangements.

The CSCS can provide payments under the following categories:

compulsory early retirement—for staff aged 50 or over who are made redundant;

compulsory early severance—for staff age under 50 who are made redundant;

flexible early retirement—for staff who retire after age 50 because of limited efficiency, limited postability or departmental restructuring;

flexible early severance—for staff who leave before age 50 because of limited efficiency, limited postability or departmental restructuring; and

approved early retirement—this allows departments with surplus staff to invite volunteers for early retirement from those aged 50 (age 55 for new joiners on or after 6 April 2006) and over with five years’ qualifying service. Staff aged 55 with over 25 years’ service can also apply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the additional cost to the Exchequer of the decision of the Chancellor to stay in hotels, and other commercial premises, with his team, when on government business in other national capitals, rather than United Kingdom embassies, between 1 May 1997 and 30 April 2007. [HL4384]

No such figure exists.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the findings of the report published by Help the Aged on 13 June, entitled Spotlight on Older People in the UK, which stated that over one-fifth of older people are now living in poverty and 11 per cent in severe poverty. [HL4322]

The Government's first priority for pensioners was to tackle the number of pensioners living in poverty. We have made considerable progress; since 1997, the number of pensioners living in relative poverty has fallen by 1.1 million, from 2.9 million to 1.8 million. Now, for the first time in a period of sustained growth, once housing costs are accounted for, a pensioner is no more likely to be in poverty than anyone else in society.

Minimum income guarantee, pension credit, winter fuel payments and a 7 per cent real-terms increase in the value of the basic state pension have all contributed to improving pensioner incomes. Pension credit means that no pensioner has to get by on less than £119.05 a week, or £181.70 for couples.

But we are not complacent; we realise that there is more to do to ensure that pensioners get the money they are entitled to and to strengthen state pensions as a foundation for private saving. The Pensions Bill, which we are currently taking through Parliament, will make state pensions more universal and more generous and will enshrine our commitment to uprate the pension credit standard minimum guarantee in line with earnings growth in primary legislation. These reforms will be complemented by our proposed new system of personal accounts, which are intended to extend the benefits of low-cost savings to those without access to a good occupational pension.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many committees, discussion groups or other forums for consideration are involved in any decision by the Olympic National Lottery Fund to release resources to the Olympic Delivery Authority; and how many individuals are involved in considering those decisions. [HL4415]

The Olympic Lottery Distributor is the body responsible for distributing funds from the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund, and it has made a number of grants to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). While decisions on the release of lottery moneys are entirely a matter for the Olympic Lottery Distributor’s board, which comprises five members, the distributor seeks to work in co-operation with the other funders of the ODA, including the Government, the Greater London Authority and the London Development Agency. This necessarily involves a range of discussions with those bodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will seek to co-ordinate an approach by the European Union to the Government of Pakistan concerning the repeal of the blasphemy laws and the proposed draft Bill on apostasy. [HL4313]

The EU is already in regular dialogue with the Government of Pakistan on a range of human rights issues, including the reform of discriminatory legislation and the situation of religious minorities in Pakistan. Together with EU partners, we consistently call for Pakistan to promote the rights of minorities and to reform discriminatory legislation such as the blasphemy laws. We will continue to monitor the progress of the draft Apostasy Bill.

We have welcomed Pakistan’s stated commitment to human rights for all its citizens, and, together with the EU, we will encourage it to make further concrete steps towards this goal.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will appoint a national child trafficking rapporteur to protect the interests of asylum-seeking and trafficked children. [HL4337]

The Government published their UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking on 23 March 2007. As the action plan states, the Government do not support the appointment of a rapporteur to advise on how their child trafficking strategy should be progressed. There already exist cross-government ministerial arrangements for monitoring progress made in tackling child trafficking, such as the inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking and the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Advisory Group.

The independent Children's Commissioner for England has taken an active interest in child trafficking.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 5 June (WA 188), whether any of the three indictable cases against former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary resulting from the work of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland over the past six years has led to a conviction. [HL4291]

The Police Ombudsman has advised that two of the three indictable cases against former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary resulting from the work of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland have led to a conviction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the reasons for the revocation by the Commons Registration (General) (Amendment) (England) (Revocation) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/1553) of the Commons Registration (General) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/1032). [HL4347]

The revocation was necessary to maintain the existing regime for searching registers of common land. The Government originally planned to deregulate the present statutory commons search, by replacing it with a modification to the existing non-statutory local authority searches questionnaire (“form CON29 part II”). This followed agreement with the Law Society, the Local Government Association and others controlling the use and content of that form. These changes were due to be introduced on 1 June 2007 at the same time as other modifications required as a consequence of the introduction of home information packs (HIPs).

Following the announcement of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 22 May to defer the introduction of HIPs, the controlling parties decided to defer the introduction of the modified searches questionnaire pending further discussions, and it was therefore unacceptable to proceed with the abolition of the existing statutory search mechanism.

We hope to proceed with these deregulatory measures later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Under what circumstances they would (a) proscribe, and (b) not proscribe a rebel organisation. [HL4309]

The Secretary of State, under Part II of the Terrorism Act 2000, has the power to proscribe any organisation that he believes is concerned in terrorism. An organisation is “concerned in terrorism” if it commits or participates in acts of terrorism, prepares for, promotes, encourages or is otherwise concerned in terrorism. The definition of “promotes or encourages terrorism” was extended by the Terrorism Act 2006 to include the unlawful glorification of terrorism.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 14 June (WA 276), whether the existence of the single line railway between Yeovil and Exeter is of benefit to the economy of south-western England. [HL4438]

The Exeter-Yeovil line forms part of the long-distance link between the west of England and London Waterloo. Network Rail plans to upgrade the line in October 2009 to enable an hourly Exeter-London Waterloo service to operate in December 2009. This should contribute to the future economic development of south-west England.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the United Kingdom's investment in research and development compares to that of other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nations. [HL4176]

The latest estimates of gross expenditure on research and development as a percentage of gross domestic product for the UK and for OECD countries as a whole are given in the table below: