asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they have developed a strategy for the implementation of the combat identification policy and a timetabled plan for developing a credible target identification system; and [HL4325]

What assurance they have received from allies involved in the development of joint combat identification solutions that decisions on the system will be taken in a timely manner, with particular reference to the battlefield target identification system; and what financial investment the United Kingdom has made to date in developing the battlefield target identification system; and [HL4326]

What were the results of Exercise Urgent Quest held in September and October 2005; and what are the implications for the battlefield target identification system. [HL4327]

The department’s combat identification programme includes an implementation strategy. For the target identification element of capability, it is clear that no single system would address all the issues within the priority areas of ground-to-ground and air-to-ground engagements. Together with allies, we have therefore identified a range of potential target identification technologies. Credible target identification systems based on these interoperable technologies will be considered and timetabled plans developed as appropriate for approval at investment decision points.

We are working closely with allies to co-ordinate the fielding of interoperable national combat identification solutions, such as the battlefield target identification system (BTIS). Through NATO, we receive information about allies’ plans and we continue to press as necessary for timely decisions, although ultimately each nation’s planning process will determine outcomes.

To date, expenditure of some £11 million is attributable to the UK BTIS programme and associated risk-reduction work.

Exercise Urgent Quest in 2005 provided allies with the key information to enable decisions to be made on the selection of solutions for target identification requirements, including the UK’s BTIS programme. Moreover, it identified the technologies that should not be pursued as they were immature or lacked utility.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What are the names and official addresses of the chairman, vice-chairman and secretariats of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission; whether this information and its annual reports are published on the websites of the United Kingdom and French departments for transport; and, if so, what are their web addresses.[HL4481]

The Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (the IGC) is chaired on an annual alternating basis by the head of the French delegation and the head of the UK delegation. The head of the French delegation, who currently chairs the IGC, is M Marc Abadie; the head of the UK delegation is Roy Griffins CB.

The official address of the French secretariat is:

Secrétariat Général au Tunnel sous la Manche

22 rue du Général Foy

75008 Paris.

The official address of the UK secretariat is:

Zone 5/29, Great Minster House

76 Marsham Street

London SW1P 4DR.

This information has not been published on the Department for Transport’s website but is freely available to interested parties. There have been no annual reports of the Intergovernmental Commission.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they are reviewing the penalties for drink-drive offences. [HL4433]

The penalties for these offences are kept under review, and the penalty for causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs was increased from 10 to 14 years in 2004. The Road Safety Act 2006 contains provision for serious, including repeat, drink-drive offenders to be made to retake the driving test at the end of their period of disqualification. It also makes provision for the courts, when imposing disqualification as a penalty, to order a reduced period of disqualification if it also makes an order requiring the offender to comply with the conditions of an alcohol ignition interlock programme.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

For the latest period (being three months or longer) for which records are easily available, what number of votes were recorded by Members whose titles begin with A to J and K to Z; and, if there is a marked disparity in the numbers, whether he will propose change in voting arrangements. [HL4539]

The votes recorded to date since the beginning of the current Session are as follows:

There are no plans to amend the voting arrangements.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Over which passenger franchises there is a requirement for the franchisees to implement smartcard ticketing; and whether they intend to require all other franchisees to provide this facility to be operational before the start of the Olympic Games in 2012. [HL4482]

A requirement to provide smartcard ticketing has been included in the South West Trains franchise. It has also been included in the East Midlands and West Midlands franchises. However, there are no plans to require existing franchises to offer smartcard ticketing.