asked Her Majesty's Government:

What response they will make to recent requests from representatives of United Kingdom farmers for European Union suspension of set-aside payments next year to overcome cereals and wheat supply deficiencies. [HL4701]

The Government have signalled to our European Union partners that constraints on production such as set-aside should be eliminated as part of the CAP reform “health check”, the results of which would come into force, at the earliest, in 2009. It is important that any implications for the environment and the Rural Payments Agency's administration of the single payment scheme, to which set-aside is directly linked, are fully considered as part of the health-check discussions.

Farming organisations have argued that the set-aside rate should be set at 0 per cent for 2008, and the Commission are considering this. With the main UK harvest yet to get under way, the Government are still assessing the situation before taking a view on whether such a temporary change, in advance of a more fundamental review in the health check, would be appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which local authorities have not yet submitted an action plan to improve air quality; and what action is being taken in each case to protect the health of citizens in those areas. [HL4560]

Local authorities have statutory duties for local air quality management (LAQM) under the Environment Act 1995. They are required to carry out regular reviews and assessments of air quality in their area against standards and objectives in the national air quality strategy and which have been prescribed in regulations for the purpose of LAQM. Where it is found these are unlikely to be met, authorities must designate air quality management areas (AQMAs) and prepare and implement remedial action plans to tackle the problem. Under LAQM, local authorities that have air quality management areas must produce an action plan between 12 to 18 months following designation of their AQMAs, as set out in policy guidance LAQM.PG(03). Authorities have been required to take account of the guidance in carrying out their duties since February 2003.

Defra also encourages authorities whose draft action plan primarily relates to local road transport to integrate them into their local transport plans (LTP). A number of local authorities have taken this opportunity and have integrated their action plan in their LTP.

Most local authorities have met the deadlines and have submitted their action plan to Defra. To date, Defra has received 134 action plans from local authorities. However, 24 authorities have yet to produce an action plan.

Where local authorities are late in providing plans, Defra engages with them to seek to understand the reasons for such delays. Defra has established contact with the majority of the authorities that are late in providing action plans. The table below sets out their progress to date. In some cases, Defra has agreed extensions to the original deadlines.

LAQM is an ongoing system and local authorities are continually endeavouring to protect the health of citizens in their areas through improving air quality. At the same time, the Government are committed to delivering cleaner air to protect peoples' health and the environment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Army has ready access to a suitable video to aid training in conduct after capture. [HL4600]

Conduct after capture training is now known as resistance training and is provided for by the level A survival, evasion, resistance (to interrogation) and extraction (SERE) training package. This training is delivered using a video/DVD. It is readily available to all service personnel, and is mandatory for all units prior to deployment on operations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to enable working parents to spend quality time with their school-age children with the Every Child Matters strategy. [HL4656]

The Every Child Matters strategy aims to support all parents in the choices they make about caring for their children, recognising that parents are the most important influence on children's outcomes. The Every Parent Matters document published in March 2007 sets out the ways in which the Government provide support to parents, from their children's earliest years to the challenges of adolescence. It includes increased investment in programmes to help parents make the most of the time they spend with their children and play a full and positive part in their children's learning and development. This can take a variety of forms including structured parenting programmes in the growing number of schools offering extended services, the new National Academy for Parenting Practitioners ensuring the workforce has the skills necessary for supporting parents, and informal advice provided by Parentline Plus.

In responding to parents' needs, the Government acknowledge the diversity of family circumstances and the increasing role played by fathers. It is for parents to determine the right balance between work and family commitments. The Government's approach includes encouragement for flexible working, which many employers extend voluntarily to parents of school-age children.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent the British Council has assisted and financially supported (a) education; (b) the arts; (c) environmental or scientific programmes; and (d) community initiatives in (i) the Republic of Cyprus, and (ii) Northern Cyprus in each of the three years since 24 April 2004. [HL4625]

The information requested by the noble Lord is as follows:

Education

Northern Cyprus funding—Financial Year (FY) 2006-07: £56,000.

FYs 2004-05 to 2006-07—Eight Turkish Cypriots have attended the European Research Institute course in Birmingham.

Republic of Cyprus funding—FY 2006-07: £7,500.

Arts

Although the majority of arts events are held in the Republic of Cyprus, participants are invited from both communities.

Funding for events based in Northern Cyprus —FY 2005-06: £9,000 in project work.

Funding for events based in the Republic of Cyprus —FY 2006-07: £16,500 in project work, and £6,000 in travel grants to organisations/individuals to increase their exposure to the UK.

FY 2005-06: £1,500 in project work, and £5,000 in travel grants to organisations to support UK artists.

FY 2004-05: £61,900 in project work.

Environmental or scientific programmes

Republic of Cyprus funding—£12,000 over the three financial years covered by the Question.

Community initiatives

Northern Cyprus funding—£202,500 over the three financial years (funded by the EU and managed by the British Council).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent the British Council has supported visits to the United Kingdom by those involved in (a) the arts; (b) sport; (c) educational advancement; and (d) medical research in Northern Cyprus in each of the three years since 24 April 2004. [HL4626]

Since 2004, a total of six teachers from Northern Cyprus attended short courses and seminars as part of professional development, as well as international seminars, courses and training programmes in the UK. Eight Turkish Cypriots have attended the European Research Institute course in Birmingham.

The British Council provided a travel grant for one visitor from Northern Cyprus to attend the British Educational Training and Technology Exhibition, the world’s largest educational technology event; the Greenwich Youth Summit in London; and a Pilgrims English Language Course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent the British Council has assisted practically or financially in the teaching of English in (a) primary, and (b) secondary schools in Northern Cyprus during each of the three years since 24 April 2004. [HL4627]

The British Council supports the professional development of teachers in primary and secondary education by giving them opportunities and/or grants to attend seminars and training worldwide.

Primary Education

In 2004, the British Council, in collaboration with the Turkish Cypriot educational authorities, initiated a three-year reform project (costing £50,000) to improve English language teaching in primary education in three major areas: curriculum, materials and resources, and professional development.

Secondary Education

The British Council provided consultancy to the Turkish Cypriot educational authorities to look at their current English language training curriculum in secondary schools in 2005, with a UK English language expert working with a local education team.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Ministers will maintain the precedent set by the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Jack Straw, when he visited the President of Northern Cyprus, Mr Mehmet Ali Tallat; and whether they will formally invite President Tallat to visit Westminster during 2007. [HL4628]

The Government give high priority to supporting the UN in its efforts to find a just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem that benefits all Cypriots. Only by engaging with both communities in Cyprus can we help make progress towards this objective. Officials and Ministers will therefore maintain dialogue with representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community at all levels, both in Cyprus and in the UK. This naturally includes the Turkish Cypriot leader. This does not change our long established policy of non-recognition of the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will increase the human and financial research resources provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to clarify the connections between ecological processes and the provision of ecosystem management and services. [HL4519]

Defra's evidence and innovation strategy⁽¹⁾ sets out the department's main research priorities. This includes work to boost our understanding of the links between ecological processes and the provision of ecosystem services, and determining the state and trends of ecosystems⁽²⁾.

Defra is also involved in broader partnerships in this area. These include the living with environmental change programme, and the recently approved NERC/ESRC transdisciplinary seminar series framing ecosystem services and human well-being (FRESH). One of FRESH's objectives is to “understand how ecological processes generate ecosystem services and associated economic and social benefits at different spatial and temporal scales”.

By the end of 2007, Defra plans to publish an action plan for embedding an ecosystems approach to policy-making and delivery in England. This will require active engagement with delivery bodies, relevant parts of government, and other partners.

⁽¹⁾ Defra 2006, Our Approach to Evidence and Innovation.

⁽²⁾ NR0107 England's terrestrial ecosystem services and the rationale for an ecosystem-based approach.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 January (WA 129–30), why data on the number of embryos created using cell nuclear replacement (cloning) as part of a research project are not routinely collected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, regardless of the grant of a particular licence in the first instance. [HL4585]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 28 June 2007, Official Report, col. WA 160. I have nothing further to add to that Answer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 January (WA 204) and 26 June (WA 129-30), whether the remit of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority extends to the responsibility for licensing human embryo research which is prohibited by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and whether the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill would be required in order for the research project R0153 to be licensed by the regulatory authority. [HL4624]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is an independent statutory body with the responsibility for making decisions relating to licensing of research projects under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Human embryo research can only be licensed by the HFEA if it is shown to be necessary or desirable for one of the research purposes in the 1990 Act as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001.

Research purposes are:

to promote advances in the treatment of infertility;

to increase knowledge about the causes of congenital diseases;

to increase knowledge about the causes of miscarriage;

to enhance knowledge in the development of more effective contraception;

detection of genetic or chromosomal abnormalities before implantation;

to increase knowledge about the development of embryos;

to increase knowledge about serious disease; or

to enable any such knowledge to be applied in developing treatment for serious disease.

The HFEA granted licence R0153 to the Centre at Life, Newcastle, following appeal. A summary of how it reached this decision is available on the HFEA website at www.hfea.gov.uk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the annual report and accounts 2005-06 of the Environment Agency, whether the Buncefield oil terminal had been assessed, prior to its destruction, under the operator and pollution risk appraisal system; if so, which band it was placed in; how many other such terminals have been risk assessed; and what bands they are in. [HL4545]

Operator and pollution risk appraisal (OPRA) is a risk screening methodology developed for the Environment Agency's regulation of industry under the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994.

The Buncefield oil terminal was not regulated by the Environment Agency under either of these pieces of legislation and, as such, was not assessed against OPRA. The depot was regulated under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 by the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive, which acted as the competent authorities. It also had a permit in relation to air emissions from the local authority, Dacorum Borough Council.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they propose to make services for dementia patients a priority for physical and mental health providers. [HL4666]

The Government are committed to improving older people's mental health services. The components of a comprehensive older people's mental health service for health and social care services is outlined in the department's service development guide, Everybody's Business.

In addition to this, the department is reviewing what more needs to be done to improve services for people with dementia in line with the findings and conclusions of the recently published National Audit Office report, Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their current estimate of the volume and value of drugs supplied under prescription to non-British nationals in the United Kingdom which are then taken abroad for consumption by, or sale to, third parties. [HL4530]

The department does not collect this information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they will take to ensure that citizens of the United Kingdom are free to exercise their right to marry or associate with individuals of whom their families disapprove without threat of violence or death. [HL4719]

Forced marriages are an abuse of fundamental human rights and cannot be justified on religious or cultural grounds. They are very different from arranged marriages, where both parties give their full and free consent.

In 2005, the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) was established as the UK’s one-stop shop for developing government policy on forced marriage, co-ordinating awareness-raising projects and providing support, information and protection to those at risk. The FMU handles approximately 250 to 300 cases per year, 15 per cent of which involve men. The FMU also assists reluctant sponsors—those forced into marriage and subsequently forced to sponsor a visa application—and has dealt with over 100 cases since May 2006.

Given the serious risk that forced marriage can present to victims, the FMU works closely with other agencies across the UK, including the police and social services, to ensure that the right level of protection is provided. Guidelines for police officers and social workers, as well as registrars and health and education professionals, have been developed and published by the FMU. More information on the work of the FMU, and copies of these guidelines, can be found at www.fco.gov.uk/forcedmarriage.

The Government are also supporting the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill that is going through Parliament. This will provide enhanced civil protection for vulnerable men, women and children threatened with forced marriage and will send out a clear message that forced marriage will not be tolerated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they will take to ensure that citizens of the United Kingdom are free to exercise their right to change their religion without threat of violence or death. [HL4718]

The United Kingdom has a long-held commitment to the freedom of worship and belief. Our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights are incorporated into the Human Rights Act 1998. There is already extensive public order legislation that deals with threats of this kind; it is an offence under the Public Order Act 1986 for anyone to use unlawful direct harassment or threats against another, whatever the reason. The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 makes it an offence to use threatening words or behaviour with the intention of stirring up religious hatred. There is also the protection afforded by common-law offences which outlaw inciting the commission of any criminal offence, and by statutory offences of soliciting to murder.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which enactments have been, by order of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (a) amended; (b) repealed; (c) revoked; or (d) disapplied under the provisions of Section 5(1) of the Local Government Act 2000. [HL4622]

Section 5(1) of the Local Government Act 2000 empowers the Secretary of State by order to amend, repeal, revoke or disapply any enactment which they believe prevents or obstructs local authorities exercising their powers to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their areas. No such orders have been made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which enactments have been, by order of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (a) amended; (b) repealed; (c) revoked; or (d) disapplied under the provisions of Section 6(1) of the Local Government Act 2000. [HL4623]

Section 6(1) of the Local Government Act 2000 gives a power which enables the Secretary of State to modify legislation that requires local authorities to prepare or produce plans or strategies.

For all English local authorities, the Community Care Plans (Disapplication) (England) Order 2003 disapplied Section 46(1) and (2) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990—(community care plans).

The Local Authorities’ Plans and Strategies (Disapplication) (England) Order 2005 disapplied the following legislation for all English local authorities categorised as “excellent” as a result of the comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) by means of Local Authorities (Categorisation) (England) Orders:

Section 4(1) of the Homelessness Act 2002—(homelessness strategies);

Sections 2, 3(2) and 5 of the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995—(home energy conservation reports);

Section 40(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 —(youth justice plans);

Section 60 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000—(rights of way improvement plans);

Sections 108(3) and 110(1) of the Transport Act 2000—(local transport plans and bus strategies) and

Section 84(2)(b) of the Environment Act 1995—(action plans in relation to air quality).

The Government will extend all the above measures to exempt all relevant local authorities categorised as four star under the CPA from producing these plans and the following measures to all relevant “good” or three-star local authorities: homelessness strategies, home energy conservation reports and youth justice plans.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What guidance they issued to local authorities under Section 3(5) of the Local Government Act 2000; when they issued such guidance; and which parts of such guidance are still extant. [HL4620]

The guidance to local authorities, Power to Promote or Improve Economic, Social or Environmental Well-Being, was issued under Section 3(5) of the Local Government Act 2000 on 27 March 2001.

While the whole document is still extant, the guidance is under review and will be modified in due course to reflect the addition of eligible parish councils to principal councils as those which will be able to exercise the power to promote well-being, pending the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill receiving Royal Assent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which strategies, plans, frameworks and similar documents local authorities in England are statutorily responsible for producing; on what legislation the responsibility is based; and to which classes of local authorities they apply in each case. [HL4621]

A summary of the current local authority plan requirements is set out in the table below.

As a result of central government work on plan rationalisation, 75 per cent of local authority plan requirements have been removed since 2002, and this was confirmed in the Process Evaluation of Community Strategies and Plan Rationalisation, published in September 2006, of which copies are available in the House of Lords Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 25 June (WA 111), whether, after 2009, United Kingdom residents will be allowed (a) to acquire new mercury thermometers or barometers while travelling in countries or territories outside the European Union and bring them back to the United Kingdom for their personal use; and (b) to acquire such instruments from countries or territories outside the European Union for their personal use via mail order or internet. [HL4531]

The proposed new directive to restrict the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury:

(a) will not prevent UK residents acquiring new fever thermometers or new barometers while travelling in countries or territories outside the EU and bringing them back to the UK for their personal use—such instruments will not have been placed on the market in the EU—and;

(b) will mean that UK residents cannot acquire such instruments from countries or territories outside the EU for their personal use via mail order or the internet where the offering by mail order or the internet places those instruments on the market in the EU. Such marketing within the EU will be prevented.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have for the national development of services for (a) frail older people, and (b) people with dementia. [HL4665]

The Government are committed to improving older people's services including frail older people and people with dementia.

There have been significant improvements in services for frail older people since the publication of the National Service Framework for Older People in March 2001. By removing age as a barrier to accessing specialist care, older people have been among the main beneficiaries from the investment in national health services. This is reflected in increased access to services and treatments relating to key conditions associated with old age, and the investment in community services such as intermediate care, which have helped bridge the gap between hospital and home as well as reduced delayed discharge.

The department's publication A Recipe for Care—Not a Single Ingredient, published in January 2007, builds on the successes of the NSF for older people, which outlines the clinical case for better service redesign to meet the needs of frail older people. In addition to this the department aims to ensure, through the Dignity in Care campaign, that all older people in all care settings are treated with respect for their dignity by promoting changes to culture, system and outcome.

The department's service development guide, Everybody's Business, sets out the components of a comprehensive older people's mental health service for health and social care services to implement.

Also, the department is reviewing what more needs to be done to improve services for people with dementia, in line with the findings and conclusions of the recently published National Audit Office report, Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures acute service providers can take to address the needs of older people with delirium. [HL4668]

The Government recognise that delirium and confusion is a common problem for older people entering hospital, and many of these patients are older people with complex needs.

The Royal College of Physicians has recently produced guidelines called The Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Delirium in Older People to improve delirium management in acute settings.

Work is in hand to publish an urgent and emergency care framework, which will draw attention to the importance of managing the needs of older people with confusion and delirium.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have, in light of the British Geriatrics Society’s Behind Closed Doors campaign, to ensure that the human rights of older people are met. [HL4669]

In recognition of the need for care services to better respect the privacy and dignity of older people, last year the Government launched the Dignity in Care campaign. The campaign aims to raise the profile of, and help care providers to take action to address, issues such as supporting people to use the toilet in private.

In response to the campaign, the health and social care inspectorates are giving a much higher priority to dignity in their inspections, thereby sending a strong signal to providers and commissioners that they will be held to account for the way they provide their services.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the function within the United Kingdom road network of the A329(M) south of the M4 motorway; and why it was built; and [HL4687]

What is the function within the United Kingdom road network of the A322 south of the A329(M) motorway; and [HL4688]

Whether the section of the A322 between the M4 and M3 can accommodate any abnormal load complying with the technical requirements of the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) Order; and [HL4689]

Whether abnormal loads that cannot use the A322 between the M3 and M4 motorways will often be obliged to use the M25; and [HL4690]

What is their assessment of the congestion on the M25 motorway between the M3 and M4 motorways; and whether all necessary steps are taken to reduce such congestion. [HL4691]

The A329(M) and the A322 are both roads which are not part of the motorway and all-purpose trunk road network, and as such are maintained by the relevant local highway authorities. They are designated as primary routes under Section 1 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, and in the opinion of the Secretary of State for Transport provide, outside of the motorway and trunk road network, the most satisfactory route for through traffic between places of traffic importance.

The Department for Transport does not hold records of the suitability of the A322 or A329(M) to accommodate abnormal loads, as these roads are the responsibility of the local highway authorities through which they pass. For abnormal loads falling within the terms of the Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) Order 2003, it is for the haulier to notify the relevant local highway authorities, owners of structures and police of the route over which an abnormal load would pass, and to propose an alternative route if its initial route is refused. Structure owners and highway authorities are notified to ensure that abnormal loads will not pose a danger to structures and highways during a move.

The assessment of the congestion on the M25 motorway between the M3 and M4 motorways, in line with the PSA journey time reliability target, is that the worst 10 per cent of journeys travelling clockwise experience a delay of five minutes and 44 seconds, and anti-clockwise a delay of eight minutes and 22 seconds, for each 10 miles.

Congestion may be caused by incidents, planned roadworks and limited capacity. To reduce incident-related congestion, Highways Agency traffic officers now patrol the M25, helping to clear incidents more quickly. Roadworks are planned to keep as many lanes as possible open and work is carried out at night whenever possible. This section has recently been widened to five lanes to address capacity issues and has variable compulsory speed limits which smooth traffic flow. The Highways Agency manages information for customers through a telephone information line and the internet to enable journeys to be planned to avoid congestion where possible.

In addition, the Highways Agency is conducting a trial new road layout at the junction between the M25 and the M3 (junction 12, M25) to give an extra lane to traffic joining the M3 coastbound from the M25. This reduces traffic queuing to leave the M25 at this junction, especially in the anti-clockwise direction. The Highways Agency is also considering schemes at either end of the stretch of the M25 between junctions 12 and 15 in order to alleviate congestion.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the maximum time for which trucks are permitted to park on lay-bys which are part of the public highway. [HL4564]

The maximum time for which a vehicle is permitted to park on lay-bys which are part of the public highway will depend on whether there are any waiting or loading restrictions. It is for the relevant highway authority to consider whether any restrictions should apply. Such restrictions require a traffic regulation order and may apply to different classes of vehicle and can provide for both the time of the day, and the duration, for which specified vehicles may or may not park.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will propose, as part of their programme of constitutional reform, that the royal prerogative should no longer be used in decision-making on overseas territories. [HL4683]

The royal prerogative is the only currently available basis to legislate in respect of ceded overseas territories, and may continue to be used for the exercise of reserved powers in relation to other overseas territories. To rework the system by which overseas territories are governed would require the introduction of primary legislation in Parliament, perhaps in relation to each overseas territory. Such a course of action would require careful consultation with the Executive, legislature and population of each of the populated overseas territories. There is very little impetus behind such a venture from the populated overseas territories, many of which are currently in the midst of, or have recently completed, a constitutional review process with the United Kingdom under the current governance arrangements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will raise the issue of the closure of the prison on Imrali Island in the European Union-Turkey dialogue and in other appropriate human rights fora. [HL4638]

The UK is a strong supporter of Turkey’s EU accession process and we continue to have a close dialogue with the Turkish Government on reforms necessary to meet EU standards, including on human rights and conditions of detention. There are currently no plans to raise the issue of the closure of the prison on Imrali Island in the context of the EU/Turkey dialogue or in any human rights fora.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the estimated population of Turkish ethnicity in London; and how many visas were issued in each of the last three years to Turks wishing to reside in the United Kingdom.[HL4505]

Figures provided by the Office of National Statistics show that there are 37,827 people of Turkish ethnicity living in London.

Please note that these statistics have not been published and should be used for information purposes only.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the Government of Uzbekistan regarding their continued use of the death penalty. [HL4679]

In August 2005, the Government of Uzbekistan announced that the death penalty would be abolished from 1 January 2008.

While this is a significant step, the legislation does not state clearly what will happen to those prisoners already on death row. According to the Uzbek Government, no executions have been carried out since February 2005. Some human rights groups claim that the Uzbek authorities have begun to commute the sentences in certain cases from the death penalty to life imprisonment, though we have not been able to verify this. Concerns remain about the conditions in which prisoners on death row are kept. Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are identified as particular dangers. There have also been reports that prisoners have not had proper access to legal assistance.

Our embassy in Tashkent monitors the human rights situation in Uzbekistan closely. Our ambassador, Iain Kelly, discussed UK concerns on human rights in Uzbekistan with both Foreign Minister Norov during his introductory meeting on 5 June, and President Karimov during the presentation of his credentials on 8 June. The EU has made regular representations urging the Government of Uzbekistan to stop the use of the death penalty, pending full abolition. This was last discussed at the EU-Uzbekistan human rights dialogue in May. However, the position of the Government of Uzbekistan is that a freeze on the use of the death penalty would be inhumane—that their policy is to go straight to full abolition, and in the mean time to focus on measures to prepare for the abolition of the death penalty such as legislative amendments, education and training.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the findings of the investigation by UKvisas into the disappearance of files containing sensitive personal information sent to London by diplomatic posts, recommended by the independent monitor for entry clearance in paragraph 62 of her report of March 2007. [HL4522]

The conclusion of the investigation was that the file packages were incorrectly addressed. All the files in question have been traced and accounted for.

New instructions have been issued to overseas missions, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office internal postal service and the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, to ensure that individual files for the independent monitor reach UKvisas direct in future.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which diplomatic missions (a) are now collecting visa applicants' biometric and other data, and (b) will be doing so at the completion of phase two of the biometric visa project; and under what data protection rules these data are held and shared.[HL4589]

The table below lists all posts which are currently collecting visa applicants' biometric and other data, as at the end of June 2007.

At the completion of phase two of the biometric programme in UKvisas, every visa-issuing post will be collecting visa applicants' biometric and other data.

The data are processed and held in accordance with the data protection principles within the Data Protection Act 1998. In common with other agencies which collect and retain fingerprints under the Immigration Acts, the data may be shared with the police and other government agencies in the prevention or investigation of crime and to protect national security. Any disclosure is made in accordance with the Data Protection Act and where appropriate the Human Rights Act 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which diplomatic missions subcontract the collection and transmission of visa applicants' biometric and other data; and, in each case, what are the names and details of the commercial partners. [HL4590]

At the end of June 2007, the posts for which VFS is collecting biometric and other data are:

VFS (India) Private Ltd—Corporate Office, Moderna House, 2nd floor, VIP Industries Complex, 88 C Old Prabhadevi Road, Mumbai-400025, India.

At the end of June 2007, the posts for which CSC is collecting biometric and other data are:

CSC Computer Sciences Ltd—Royal Pavilion, Wellesley Road, Aldershot, GU11 1PZ, United Kingdom

^* At Amman in Jordan, CSC is working with the incumbent outsourced partner DHL until the end of July 2007, at which point the operation will be operated solely by CSC.

DHL—Airport Road, Amman, PO Box 927111

^** In Kingston, CSC has subcontracted delivery of application forms and applicant documentation to DHL at 34 Trafalgar Road, Kingston, 10, Jamaica.

The CSC and VFS global contracts are intended to replace a number of incumbent subcontractors, whose contracts were negotiated in recent years at a country level by individual posts. These suppliers perform a variety of outsourced services associated with visa application-handling in certain countries, including in many cases the capture of application data. However, they do not collect biometric data in those countries. As at the end of June 2007, these incumbent suppliers are:

The supplier details are:

VFS (India) Private Ltd—Corporate Office, Moderna House, 2nd floor, VIP Industries Complex, 88 C Old Prabhadevi Road, Mumbai-400025, India.

Abtran—Building 4, University Technology Centre, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.

CCS—c/o Total System Solutions, Level 1 29 Coolaroo Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066 Australia.

Gerry/FedEx—43/l/D Block 6 Razi Road PECHS Karachi, Pakistan.

Setur—Setur Servis Turistik, AS Baglarbasi Kisikli Cad. No 26, Altunizade, 34718 Istanbul.

TNT (Bekk Courier)—20 Oybek Street, Tashkent 700015, Uzbekistan.

VHS (Kenya)—House No. 3, Walyaki Close, off Walyaki Way, Nairobi.

Worldwide Trading Group—248 Logts Bt. 34, No. 4 Said Hamdine, Hydra, Algiers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the code of practice applying to contractors involved in the processing and transmission of visa applicants' biometric and other personal data; what information they have about breaches of security by such contractors; and whether they have considered possible amendments to the contracts or code of practice for these operations. [HL4591]

The processing of visa applicants’ personal data by contractors is governed by obligations set out in a specific schedule in contracts entered into with the contractors. The obligations in the current contract require the contractors to meet all the requirements of the Data Protection Act. These contracts contain sensitive commercial information. Their release would damage the Government's ability to gain maximum value for money from the contracts.

The subject of alleged security breaches relating to a contractor’s online visa application facility is currently being investigated by an independent investigator. A report of this investigation will be laid before Parliament. As such it is not appropriate to comment further in advance of the investigator's report. We will respond to all the recommendations of the independent investigator, including any in relation to a possible code of practice or amendments to the contracts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the call from the Archbishop of Bulawayo for the United Kingdom to invade Zimbabwe. [HL4680]

We believe that change by peaceful means is still the best approach to resolving the current crisis. Zimbabwe desperately needs policy reform to reverse its current decline. We are supporting the efforts of all those working for democratic change in Zimbabwe.