asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2439), why charges for eggs have been raised by 30 per cent and for milk and bovine and soliped carcasses by 9 per cent; and whether this reflects a situation that has been wrong for a number of years. [HL917]

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) consults annually on the proposed adjustments to the charges for surveillance of animal foodstuffs for residues of veterinary medicines and unauthorised substances. The charges seek to recover income from the individual sectors to cover the costs of collecting and analysing the samples and operating the programme in accordance with EU requirements.

The charges to the egg industry for the financial year 2007-08 were raised by 6 per cent—not 30 per cent. This reflects an agreement between the VMD and the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC), whereby the BEIC pays the whole charge for the egg industry and collects the money from its members as it judges appropriate. The resulting savings in administrative overheads from charging one body rather than several hundred individual egg packers means that the increases are kept much lower. However, the option of charging the higher amount is retained in the Statutory Instrument in case the agreement with the BEIC ends and the VMD has to resume charging individual businesses.

In respect of charges in general, the VMD noted in its consultation exercise for the 2004-05 financial year that a number of imbalances between sectors had arisen in previous years, be addressed in the following years. This is being done. The VMD is aware of the difficulties faced by the agriculture industry and makes every effort to continually improve the efficiency of the programme. In the forthcoming review of the legislation which needed to governing the surveillance programme the VMD will take every opportunity to press for the programme to move to a more risk-based approach in taking samples.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Export Regulations) 2007 (SI 2007/2489) which came into force at 11pm on 24 August 2007, why the section on prohibition of personal exports effective until 25 August 2007 under the Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2375) was not included; and [HL915]

With reference to the Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No. 2) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2375), the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Export Regulations) 2007 (SI 2007/2489) and the Import and Export Restrictions (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) (No. 3) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2712), whether the prohibition on personal exports of banned items was non-operational from 11pm on 24 August until 8pm on 13 September; whether any such personal exports took place between 25 August and 13 September; and, if so, what they were composed of and in what quantities. [HL916]

Personal exports were permitted between 25 August and 13 September, as the foot and mouth disease (FMD) restrictions only applied to a small area surrounding the initial outbreak. Information concerning the type and quantity of personal exports from Great Britain (GB) is not recorded.

Restrictions (including the personal export ban) on the whole of GB were reinstated on 13 September, following the discovery of further FMD outbreaks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Zoonoses (Monitoring) (England) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/2399), whether any inspector who marks an animal will either use a non-invasive method or hold a veterinary qualification; and whether the same will be true of any inspector who takes a sample from a wild animal. [HL918]

Under the Zoonoses (Monitoring) Regulations 2007, an inspector means any person appointed to be an inspector for the purposes of these regulations by the Secretary of State or a local authority. This person would not necessarily have to be a veterinary surgeon. Defra ensures that inspectors required to mark any animal, whether for research or as part of a monitoring programme, are properly trained. Most animal marking techniques used in monitoring (such as paint spraying) are non-invasive. A frequently used invasive method, ear tagging, is straightforward and can be performed by farm operators or trained animal health staff. Any use of such methods would need to comply with animal welfare legislation.

To ensure full protection for wild animals, Regulation 6 of the Zoonoses (Monitoring) Regulations 2007 makes Natural England a statutory consultee. Natural England is a non-departmental public body which can advise on the impact of monitoring and survey work on the wild animal populations. This includes the practicalities in relation to wild animal control and protection, sampling of animals and application of any marks. Animal welfare would be an important consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order 2007 (SI 2007/2183), why the Deer Act 1991 has been amended in Section 6 by a new subsection (6) creating a permission to injure Chinese water deer or muntjac provided a certain type of rifle and bullet is used. [HL913]

The purpose of Section 6(6) of the Deer Act 1991, introduced by the Regulatory Reform (Deer) (England and Wales) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/2183) is to provide a defence, in the case of Chinese water deer or muntjac and provided the specified types of rifle and bullet are used, to the offence contained in Section 4(2)(a) of taking, killing or injuring deer by means, inter alia, of a firearm or ammunition described in Schedule 2. Its effect is to specify, as minima, a slightly less powerful rifle and the weight of soft or hollow-nosed bullets that may be used against these smaller types of deer, as compared with those specified for larger types of deer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have assessed the likely impact on song birds of the granting by Natural England of licences to permit the release of approximately 250 grey squirrels into the United Kingdom countryside. [HL881]

In fulfilling its statutory role in licensing non-native releases under Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, Natural England assesses any actual or potential impact on our native species, including songbirds, and the environment.

During 2007 Natural England has licensed the release of up to 250 grey squirrels for the purposes of animal welfare and rehabilitation. These are animals which were originally taken from the wild for treatment, or that were immediately released, at the same location, for example after being entangled in wire netting. On average over a year, around 4,000 grey squirrels are born and die every day, which I hope puts the licensing activity into some perspective.

Any risk to song birds that licensed releases of grey squirrels represents is considered to be negligible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 11 December (HL762), why the public consultation does not include web-tagging as a candidate to be added to the list of exempted procedures. [HL934]

The consultation letter accompanying the consultation on the draft Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 invites comments on both the draft regulations proposing to add wing-tagging of birds for conservation purposes to the list of exempted procedures, and the impact assessment on this proposal. The intended effect of this amendment is to allow conservationists to continue using the most effective form of identification for birds, often involved in reintroduction programmes.

Since we went to consultation we have been approached to include web-tagging in the list of exempted procedures, and we are now considering this request.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the Ministry of Defence intends to meet its target to have 110,000 single living accommodation bed spaces at grade 1 or 2 standards by 2012-13. [HL723]

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence is currently considering the department's estate development plan (EDP).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the projected in-service dates for the two new aircraft carriers. [HL910]

As announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence in the other place on 25 July 2007, (Official Report, col. 865),the two new aircraft carriers are expected to enter service in 2014 and 2016.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether orders will be given in the near future for two Type 45 destroyers to make up the eight indicated in the original order. [HL911]

We currently have a contract for six Type 45 destroyers and a decision has yet to be made on a further order. The decision and its timing will be based on a range of factors including requirements, affordability, value for money and the wider context of the defence industrial strategy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What support arrangements exist for family members of service personnel receiving treatment at the National Health Service Selly Oak hospital. [HL549]

The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine has allocated six rooms in one wing of the hospital for relatives of service personnel who are listed “very seriously ill” or “seriously ill” where relatives can stay while visiting a patient (five accommodation rooms, plus a “quiet room”). Depending on availability, relatives of non-listed patients may also stay in these rooms, but priority is given to the relatives of listed patients. Further accommodation is available on the Selly Oak site in four flats which can be used as family rooms. The flats have benefited from refurbishment funded by the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.

If there is a medical recommendation that relatives should stay with a patient, the MoD meets travel and subsistence costs for two relatives for an appropriate period. In the absence of a medical recommendation, the individual's unit may still reimburse costs involved in appropriate circumstances.

The Defence Medical Welfare Service and unit welfare officers also play important roles in supporting the families of military patients. Families are assigned a visiting officer, who is trained in this role and will be aware of the families' entitlements, and who acts as the link between them and the service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 13 June (WA 251), whether the military- managed wards at the National Health Service Selly Oak hospital achieved full operating capability in the summer of 2007; what further plans exist to continue improving the capabilities of the ward; and over what timescale these plans will be carried out. [HL550]

Working closely with the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, the military managed ward within the S4 trauma/orthopaedic ward at Selly Oak had achieved the desired operational capability by last July. A total of 39 military nurses had been appointed, in addition to NHS civilian staff serving on the ward. To strengthen the military presence at Birmingham, a Standing Joint Commander (Medical) and a military ward master for S4 had been appointed. The layout of the ward had been changed to produce a separate 12 bed partitioned area for military patients. Over the previous year military welfare and psychiatric support to all military patients in the Birmingham area had been boosted.

We intend to continue our partnership with the NHS in the development of a military ward in the new Birmingham hospital that will replace Selly Oak from 2010. We are discussing detailed arrangements with the University Hospital Birmingham Trust. The new ward will allow military patients to be nursed together in four-bed units and we intend that the military ethos within the ward will be enhanced. The nurses will be predominantly military, as now, working with civilian NHS counterparts, and they will continue to nurse civilian patients when required. We also intend to have dedicated reception arrangements for visitors to the military ward, and to include rehabilitation facilities within it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 5 June (WA 181) and 13 June (WA 251), whether the works project to partition off a section of the military-managed ward at the National Health Service Selly Oak hospital has been completed; and whether there is, or has been, any overflow of service personnel into civilian wards since completion of this works project. [HL551]

The works project to partition off a section of the military-managed ward at Selly Oak to create a clinical focus for military patients was completed last July. Military patients requiring trauma or orthopaedic treatment are generally accommodated together in the partitioned-off section of the military-managed ward when clinically appropriate. On occasions where numbers of injured service personnel have exceeded the number of beds available in the partitioned area, they are accommodated elsewhere on the ward, where they are cared for by the same military and civilian nursing team. Military patients who have different clinical requirements are accommodated on other wards, where they will still receive frequent visits from military nursing staff.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there is a memorandum of understanding or similar document between the Ministry of Defence and the National Health Service setting out the special needs of the Armed Forces as recognised by the NHS relating to the military-managed ward in Selly Oak Hospital. [HL1051]

There is no such document relating specifically to the military-managed ward in Selly Oak Hospital. Provision of healthcare to military patients by the University Hospital of Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT) is governed principally by a service level agreement that covers the treatment of all military patients in the trust's hospitals.

The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine has worked in close consultation with UHBFT to develop the full operating capability of the military-managed ward. That capability has been achieved through the work of UHBFT civilian staff and the additional numbers of military staff provided by the department. UHBFT fully understands the special needs of seriously injured military patients and ensures that its staff help to meet those needs.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the short take-off and vertical landing aircraft variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is still the preferred choice of fighter aircraft for the new carriers. [HL912]

Yes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received any reports, since January 2003, of insurance companies unilaterally seeking to change the conditions of an existing life insurance policy so that liability in the event of death or injury of a service person arising from military operations is reduced; and, if so, (i) what their advice to servicemen would be regarding the effectiveness of such changes; and (ii) whether they would regard such changes as fair. [HL242]

The MoD provides a good death in service benefits from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and compensation for injury in service through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. Commercial insurance is for those requiring additional cover. MoD cannot advise individuals whether to take out insurance or on the effectiveness of particular schemes as such matters are regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

In the run up to Operation TELIC, insurance companies did react to what they saw as the increased risk to Service personnel. Usually this was by closing their schemes to new applicants, or by increasing premiums. Some did, however, change benefits for existing policyholders deployed on operations by, for example, excluding cover for death caused by the use of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons. These were commercial decisions made by companies. Consequently, members of such schemes who were already on operations, or about to deploy on operations, were disadvantaged. In response to this, the MoD developed, and launched, a new life insurance scheme called Service Life Insurance (SLI). The SLI scheme, under a unique partnering arrangement with the scheme providers, guarantees worldwide war and terrorism cover, regardless of an individual's likelihood of operational deployment. There are no exclusions for death caused by the use of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Ministry of Defence expects to achieve manning balance for all the armed services. [HL724]

The Royal Navy is expected to achieve manning balance during financial year 2009-10, while the Army is not expected to achieve manning balance before January 2010. Current forecasts estimate that the RAF will reach manning balance by 1 April 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many consolatory payments have been made by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency to the dependants of war pensioners who have died since serving in the 1990-91 Gulf War and other recent deployments; and of what amounts. [HL811]

One consolatory payment of £500 has been made by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, or its predecessors, to the dependants of war pensioners who have died since serving in the 1990-91 Gulf War and other recent deployments. However records in respect of these payments are only kept from 1997 to date.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ensure that, in implementing the powers given in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, no change to the structure of tribunals will remove the protection given to the Armed Forces by the existence of an independent and specialised tribunal for war pensions appeals. [HL877]

I can confirm that appeal rights will not be undermined as a result of the Government's proposals. There will be no loss of independence or dilution of expertise.

The 2007 Act puts in place a two-tier structure for most jurisdictions: a first-tier tribunal and an upper tribunal. The Government propose that existing judges and members of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal will transfer to the first-tier tribunal, where they will continue to hear war pensions appeals.

While under the 2007 Act judges and members of the new tribunals will be able to sit in any of the jurisdictions to which they are assigned, chamber presidents will decide how best to use the judges' and members within a chamber in order to match their experience and expertise to the needs of the chamber. Only those with the necessary training and expertise will be allowed to hear war pensions appeals.

The Government are also proposing to extend appeal rights by providing a new onward right of appeal from the first-tier tribunal to the upper tribunal in respect of assessment cases. At present the only remedy is judicial review.

The Government are currently consulting on these proposals and we welcome comments from all interested parties, including the ex-service organisations. The consultation document, Transforming Tribunals, is available on the Ministry of Justice website at www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp3007.htm. The consultation closes on 22 February 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Given that the proposals set out in the consultation paper Transforming Tribunals would lead to the abolition of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal for England and Wales, whether they will ensure that there is the widest consultation with ex-service organisations before any such proposals are taken forward. [HL878]

The Transforming Tribunals consultation began on 28 November and will end on 22 February 2008. The Government welcome and will consider carefully representations from all interested parties, including ex-service organisations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ensure that, in implementing the powers given in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, the right to an independent and specialised Tribunal for War Pensions appeals enjoyed by members of the Armed Forces in Scotland and Northern Ireland, whose tribunals are not affected by the Act, will also continue to be enjoyed by members of the Armed Forces in England and Wales. [HL879]

I can confirm that appeal rights will not be undermined as a result of the Government's proposals. There will be no loss of independence or dilution of expertise.

The 2007 Act puts in place a two-tier structure for most jurisdictions: a first-tier tribunal and an upper tribunal. The Government propose that existing judges and members of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal in England and Wales will transfer to the first-tier tribunal, where they will continue to hear war pensions appeals.

While under the 2007 Act judges and members of the new tribunals will be able to sit in any of the jurisdictions to which they are assigned, chamber presidents will decide how best to use the judges and members within a chamber in order to match their experience and expertise to the needs of the chamber. Only those with the necessary training and expertise will be allowed to hear war pensions appeals.

The Government are also proposing to extend appeal rights by providing a new onward right of appeal from the first-tier tribunal to the upper tribunal in respect of assessment cases. At present the only remedy is judicial review.

The Government are currently consulting on these proposals and we welcome comments from all interested parties, including the ex-service organisations. The consultation document, Transforming Tribunals, is available at on the Ministry of Justice website at www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp3007.htm. The consultation closes on 22 February 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the comments by Sir David Hare reported in the Mail on Sunday on 16 December, whether the apparent decision of the BBC to request critical comments about the Queen to be broadcast on the night of her death is compatible with its status as a corporation set up under royal charter. [HL1057]

Within the framework of the royal charter, the BBC is an independent body and operational decisions are the responsibility of the BBC.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will estimate the cost of amending benefit rules so that, where a person is in receipt of benefits and they undertake some paid involvement as allowed when requested by a public authority (a) the reimbursed expenses for a replacement carer, child care, provision of a personal assistant or support worker are treated as necessary expenses; (b) the reimbursed costs of travel from home to the place of involvement are treated as necessary expenses; (c) where a person chooses to advise the public authority on a voluntary basis, the application of the national earnings rule is removed; (d) payment for involvement is paid on either a monthly, quarterly or annual basis rather than weekly; and (e) people living in residential care are allowed to keep any payments received. [HL1031]

It is not possible to estimate costs for the measures suggested owing to the lack of data.

Reasonable expenses paid to a customer who is engaged in volunteer activity of this kind can be wholly disregarded. Any expenses relating directly to paid activity can only be disregarded if they are wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred in the performance of the work being undertaken. Each case is considered on its merits.

The rules try to strike a balance between providing incentives for those who are ready to return to employment, security for those who are unable to work, and fair treatment and support for those who can take limited steps towards work.

We are aware of the difficulties these rules may pose for some of our disabled customers. We are reviewing the rules in question and expect to make an announcement in the new year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the number of complaints received and dealt with by the Legal Complaints Service in connection with the British Coal litigation; and, if so, what was the number and outcome of such cases. [HL801]

Our understanding is that the Legal Complaints Service (LSC) has received 2,884 complaints to date, of which 2,038 have been closed. Of this 2,038, 1,051 have resulted in payments in excess of £720,000 being recovered for former miners or their relatives. 987 matters were closed due to reasons such as the complainant resolving the matter with the solicitor without LCS assistance, the complaint being outside the LCS jurisdiction; i.e. the complaint was against a union, or the complainant not responding.

The LCS has recently completed a number of pilot information sessions for former miners in Kevin Barron MP’s Rother Valley constituency. This has resulted in a further 330 complaints. Consideration is being given to extending this initiative to other areas. The LCS has a meeting with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in mid-December and my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Bridget Prentice) in early January to discuss the next steps.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many claimants are still awaiting their final payments of compensation in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and British Coal vibration white finger litigation; and when each scheme will be dissolved. [HL803]

The department received 592,000 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) claims, of which 103,564, (17 per cent) are yet to be settled by payment, denial or withdrawal. The department also received 170,000 vibration white finger claims, of which 8,453 (5 per cent) are yet to be settled by payment, denial or withdrawal.

The department anticipates that around 300 VWF claims may still be outstanding by April 2008 and a similar position for COPD claims in spring 2009.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their latest assessment of the administrative, logistical and legal expenditure incurred in handling cases under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and British Coal vibration white finger litigation and the current total outlay in respect of compensation paid to claimants under each such scheme. [HL805]

The department's administrative costs cannot be broken down by scheme. However, the total administrative cost for the coal health compensation schemes as at 31 October 2007 is £524 million. This covers the costs of the department's contractors and external legal advice.

The additional costs with respect to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and vibration white finger claims as at 31 October 2007 is shown below:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What orders have been made under the Children and Adoption Act 2006 pursuant to Section 1 (contact activity directions), Section 4 (enforcement orders) and Section 5 (compensation for financial loss). [HL1071]

The Children and Adoption Act 2006 received Royal Assent on 21 June 2006. The courts' ability to make contact activity directions and conditions, enforcement orders and orders requiring an individual to pay compensation in respect of financial loss are all dependent on the full implementation of Part 1 of the Act.

The provisions in Part 1 relating to family assistance orders and risk assessments (Sections 6 and 7 of the 2006 Act) were implemented from 1 October 2007. The Government will shortly be making a Written Ministerial Statement outlining the timetable for implementation of the remaining provisions in Part 1 of the Act, including those relating to contact activities, enforcement and compensation for financial loss.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further steps they will take to reduce the exposure of young children to inappropriate television advertising. [HL923]

Under the Communications Act 2003 Ofcom has a statutory duty to protect children and the responsibility for the regulation of broadcast advertising.

More broadly, the Government have announced as part of the recently published Children's Plan that they will commission a new independent assessment of evidence relating to the impact on children of their changing commercial environment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the comments by Lord Evans of Temple Guiting on 8 June (Official Report, col. 1407) and the answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 29 November (Official Report, col. 1297) that “we need a ban on all high-fat, salty and sugary foods before the 9 pm watershed”, what evidence has led to this change in policy on a pre-watershed ban on television advertising of such foods. [HL948]

A large number of associations have called on the Government for a pre-9 pm watershed ban on the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar foods. Ofcom conducted a regulatory impact assessment and concluded that a pre-9 pm watershed ban would be disproportionate. Government policy in this area is continuously under review. We are monitoring the impact of current Ofcom regulations on advertising to children, and we have always been clear that if we do not see significant progress in the nature and balance of food promotion, then we will look again at how we can make faster progress as part of our drive to tackle obesity and promote healthier lifestyles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the United Kingdom contribution towards scarcity of allocations in the second phase of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme is less than in the first phase. [HL685]

The UK contribution to scarcity of allowances is not less in Phase II than in Phase I. The cap is higher in Phase II due to the inclusion of 9.5MtCO₂ from activities not included in Phase I. But this does not mean that the contribution to scarcity is less. The levels of scarcity reflect how much reduction is required from business as usual projections to meet the cap.

A comparison of the level of scarcity shows that in Phase I the UK allocation to installations covered by the scheme was 65MtCO₂ less than what was required in business as usual projections. This represents an annual effort of 21.66MtCO₂.

In Phase II the UK allocation to installations covered by the scheme is 145MtCO₂ less than what will be required in business as usual projections. This represents an annual effort of 29MtCO₂.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To which companies and in what proportions United Kingdom allocations will be distributed in phase two of the European Emissions Trading Scheme. [HL738]

The UK's EU ETS Phase II National Allocation Plan (NAP) provides full details of all the UK installations that have been allocated phase II allowances and the number of allowances each will receive.

The NAP is published in full on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climate change/trading/eu/operators/phase-2.htm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have assessed the relative effectiveness of measuring the United Kingdom's contribution to global greenhouse gas levels on the basis of United Kingdom greenhouse gas consumption rather than greenhouse gas production; and [HL898]

What assessment they have made of the proposal that the United Kingdom should be in part responsible for greenhouse gas emissions involved in the manufacturing of goods consumed in the United Kingdom but produced abroad. [HL899]

As part of its sustainable consumption and production evidence programme, Defra commissions research to enable a better understanding of the environmental impacts of UK-consumed products along their supply chains. One study under way is investigating the possibility of developing an indicator for greenhouse gas emissions embedded in imported goods and commodities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will provide additional funding for the Swansea University GLIMPSE project's current research programmes into glacier melting and its effects on global warming. [HL888]

My department has no plans to fund the GLIMPSE project directly.

I understand that Swansea University's GLIMPSE team has significant funding from the Leverhulme Trust for its important climate research better to understand the dynamics of the Greenland ice sheet, and has several other research grants from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) which support this work.

Jointly with the Ministry of Defence, my department funds significant climate research and modelling at the Met Office Hadley Centre (MOHC). MOHC works closely with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), other NERC institutes and NERC-funded academic groups to improve understanding of the response of ice sheets to climate change; as well as to improve representations of ice sheets in climate models.

This integrating work will be strengthened through the new Met Office / NERC Joint Climate Research Programme and I anticipate that this will include close co-operation with the Swansea team.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many crimes have taken place in Northern Ireland in the past 12 months which involved the use of a knife; and how many convictions there have been in connection with these crimes. [HL784]

Table 1 gives the number of crimes recorded where a knife was involved in the crime, regardless of how the knife was used, and the number of these crimes cleared by means of a charge or summons between 1 December 2006 and 30 November 2007.

Court prosecution and conviction datasets do not contain background information in relation to the commission of an offence so it is not possible to separately identify the number of convictions for offences in which a knife was involved. It is only possible to provide prosecution and conviction statistics for those offences which, in their definition, refer to an “offensive weapon” or “article with blade or point”, within which knives are included.

Prosecution and conviction data, documented in table 2, are given for the calendar year 2005 (the latest available year) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.

1. Figures are provisional and will be subject to change.

2. Based on Home Office counting rules, the two figures provided above cannot be presented as a clearance rate.

3. Recorded crime data denote each offence as it has been initially recorded and this may differ from the offence for which a suspect or suspects are subsequently proceeded against in the courts.

Source: PSNI

Source: NIO, Statistics and Research Branch

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What information they have received concerning the recent murder of Paul Quinn. [HL393]

The murder of Paul Quinn is currently under investigation by the An Garda Siochana and the PSNI are co-operating very closely with the investigation. In view of this it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 22 October (WA 76), whether they will place in the Library of the House a description of what is included in each defence output category. [HL364]

There is no detailed description available of what is included in each defence output category.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 3 December (WA 158), whether there is a material difference of substance between the expressions travel document information (TDI), other passenger information (OPI) and passenger name records (PNR); and, if so, what categories of information are encompassed by or included in TDI and OPI respectively. [HL900]

The term travel document information (TDI) refers to specified biographical information (name, date of birth, nationality, gender, travel document type, state of issue number and expiry date) relating to a passenger. This information is contained in the machine readable zone (MRZ) of suitably equipped travel documents.

Other passenger information (OPI) relates to any other data relating to a passenger held by a carrier in its reservations system and may include, for example, the date on which a reservation was made and payment method.

Passenger name records (PNR) are an industry term used by scheduled air carriers to describe the reservation details held by them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the announcement by the Prime Minister in Kampala that £50 million will be made available for scholarships to students from developing countries, they will confirm that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will maintain its support for Commonwealth scholarships for students from those countries that are ineligible for assistance from the Department for International Development. [HL882]

I am pleased to inform the noble Lord that we will maintain our commitment to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan in 2008-09 at £2.05 million, the same amount as this year.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they have any plans to change the voting system in the United Kingdom to allow for a more plural representation of parties in the House of Commons. [HL767]

There are currently no plans to change the voting system for the House of Commons. However, the Government will be publishing a review of the new voting systems introduced in the UK since 1997 to inform this debate. The review considers the experience of the voting systems introduced for the Scottish Parliament, the Assemblies for Wales and Northern Ireland, the European Parliament, the London Assembly and the London Mayoral elections since 1997. The Minister of State for Justice, Michael Wills MP, announced on 11 December 2007 that the Government have completed the review and that it is being made ready for publication in January 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 3 December (WA 160) regarding the lack of women donating eggs specifically for research, how the annual number of registered egg donors for treatment has varied since 2000; how this compares with that reported for sperm donors over the same period; and what assessment they have made of the possible factors underlying any observed differences. [HL863]

The table below sets out the number of sperm and egg donors since 2000, from data provided to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The number of sperm donors has remained relatively stable over that period but the number of egg donors has reduced. We have made no specific analysis of the reasons, but we are supporting the National Gamete Donation Trust to assess and spread good practice on donor recruitment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 5 December (WA 195–6) regarding information held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on the number of eggs retrieved from each patient, how many in vitro fertilisation patients have produced 20 or more eggs at each licensed centre; and what are the highest recorded numbers of eggs obtained from individual patients overall, together with the frequency with which such numbers of eggs have been obtained. [HL866]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 18 December, (Official Report, col. WA 116).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which department or organisation should investigate the apparent discrepancies in numbers of eggs used for research that were brought to the attention of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on 18 September 2006, given that a letter from the head of research regulation (dated August 2007) states that the HFEA “cannot give a definitive explanation” and also given that the HFEA has yet to describe steps that had already been taken in following a peer reviewer's recommendation to monitor the number of embryos used at the centre concerned. [HL867]

We do not believe that any investigation, of the type indicated in the noble Lord's Question, is required. We are satisfied that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is discharging its duties effectively with regard to the regulation of the use of human eggs donated for research purposes, where the research requires a licence from the HFEA under the provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 28 June (WA 160), whether any data on human embryos created using cell nuclear replacement has been made available to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority by research centres; and, if so, how many embryos have been created by those centres. [HL868]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 28 June, (Official Report, col. WA 160). The information is not routinely collected by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The HFEA publishes inspection reports on licensed research centres that contain statistical information on embryo usage. This would include information on embryos created by cell nuclear replacement for research purposes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the reply by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 10 December (Official Report, col. 20) relating to whether there is an error in paragraph 9 of Schedule 3 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill regarding the use of the term “child donor” instead of “patient”, whether they intend to change the wording of this paragraph to be consistent with that for adults in the following new paragraph 10, and to reflect the intention that the stored gametes of the child are to be for their own subsequent fertility treatment, rather than for donation either for research or someone else's fertility treatment. [HL904]

The Government will consider the noble Lord's comments on the appropriateness of the term “child donor” in the context of the proposed new paragraph 9 of Schedule 3 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, inserted by paragraph 12, Schedule 3 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To which companies the revenue raised from buyouts under the renewables obligation has been distributed and in what quantities. [HL871]

In 2006-07 the buyout fund was £234,439,084. This was distributed between 28 licensed electricity suppliers. Details of the amount of buyout payments recycled and the names of the companies to which these payments have been made are published by Ofgem each year in the renewables obligation annual report. Copies of these reports can be found at: http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/Morelnformation.aspx?docid=73&refer= Sustainability/Environmnt/RenewablObl. The report for 2006-07 will not be published until early 2008 but details of buyout payments can be found in the Ofgem press release on this matter at http://www.ofgem. gov.uk/Media/PressRel/Documents1/ofgem42.pdf.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In light of the positive appraisal of feed-in tariffs in the 2005 Imperial College Centre for Energy, Policy and Technology report commissioned by the Department for Trade and Industry, why they have not been introduced instead of or in tandem with the renewables obligation. [HL872]

BERR is not aware of such a report produced in 2005. However, the 2003 Imperial College Centre for Energy, Policy and Technology report noted that countries with a mix of investment subsidies, fiscal incentive and feed-in laws were generally doing well in terms of encouraging renewable generation. However, the report also noted that quota systems such as the renewables obligation (RO) were in their infancy and might in time prove to be a successful driver for deployment.

Since its introduction in 2002 we have seen renewable generation under the RO more than double from 1.8 per cent in 2002 to 4.4 per cent in 2006. It is a 25-year mechanism and bringing in an alternative so soon after its introduction would undermine investor confidence, potentially resulting in delays to the commissioning of existing and planned projects due to uncertainty over the regulatory regime.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether fiscal incentives to encourage the purchase of electricity from renewable sources are not feasible because of the lack of supply of electricity from renewable sources. [HL873]

There are a number of fiscal incentives to encourage renewable generation. Renewable generators are exempt from the Climate Change Levy; there is a reduced rate of VAT on microgeneration technologies; microgenerators are also exempt from income tax on any renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) which they sell and electricity which they export; and homes meeting the zero-carbon criteria are exempt from stamp duty up to £500,000.

The renewables obligation is the Government's key mechanism for encouraging new renewable generating capacity. While this is not a fiscal incentive, electricity suppliers are required to purchase electricity from renewable sources and then sell this on to their customers or pay a penalty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the feasibility study into the Severn Barrage, promised by the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on 25 September, will commence; what the process of consultation will be; and whether they will ensure that the study is broad enough to consider all the sustainable options sufficiently thoroughly to establish the optimum solution on both cost and sustainability grounds. [HL788]

I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my honourable friend the Minister for Energy in the other place on 3 December 2007, Official Report col. 908W, to the honourable Member for Tewkesbury.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the proposed new power station at Port Talbot will use imported wood chips as opposed to home-grown alternatives. [HL534]

The sourcing of fuel generally is a commercial matter for the company concerned. The Port Talbot plant, however, is subject to sustainability conditions to ensure that any wood for generation comes from an “approved forest certification scheme”—a scheme approved as satisfying the UK Government's requirements for the procurement of sustainable and legal timber. The company is also required to provide evidence to the relevant planning authority that the fuel has come from such sustainable sources.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Bank of England last intervened in support of the exchange rate of the euro; what was the cost of this intervention; and how much of this amount has since been refunded. [HL1023]

Intervention was last undertaken on 22 September 2000 when the Bank of England, acting as the Government's agent, purchased €85 million against £50 million. This action was taken as part of a concerted intervention by the G7 monetary authorities because of the shared concern about the potential implications of movements in the euro for the world economy. This is explained in the UK official holdings of international reserves publication 4 October 2001¹.

The Government do not comment on the cost of individual transactions.

¹ www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches/press/2000/press_107_00.cfm

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the undertakings given by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 14 November 2005 (Official Report, cols. 861–3), what progress has been made in commissioning and carrying out research into decisions made by the family court on contact arrangements between a child and his or her non-resident parent. [HL1072]

Following the undertaking given during the passage of the (then) Children and Adoption Bill, the Government commissioned a research project “Making orders for contact between children and parents with whom they do not share a household”. This research is currently underway. The research centres on an analysis of data from just over 300 court files across 11 family courts in England and Wales. This will be supplemented by an analysis of hearing transcripts for a percentage of the files involved, which will provide more detail in respect of the evidence and argument used to inform the court's decision. Short interviews with members of the judiciary, lawyers and CAFCASS officers have also been conducted. The work is progressing well and it is expected that the final report will be completed in the early part of 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there are any definitions in English law of the responsibilities of a parent other than that in the Children Act 1989; and, if so, in which statutes they are to be found. [HL967]

The meaning of “parental responsibility” is set out in the Children Act 1989. However, other legislation places responsibilities on parents, such as the requirement of the Education Act 1996 to ensure that parents enable their children to receive education. A full search of all statutes would be a substantial undertaking and can only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What they estimate to be the anticipated total and annual cost savings of the FiReControl project; and how this figure differs from the earliest made estimate. [HL846]

The annual savings on running costs, once the RCCs are up and running, have been estimated at £23 million in both the outline and 2007 versions of the business case. When calculating total project savings, these annual savings need to be set against the Government's total investment in FiReControl—currently estimated at £350 million.

The FiReControl outline business case published in 2005 estimated total overall savings of £42 million (net present value over 15 years). The current business case published in 2007, which follows the award of the IT contract and signing of the buildings lease agreements, provides much greater levels of certainty, and estimates an overall cost of £32 million (net present value over 17 years).

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have received concerning the willingness of the Environment Agency to ensure that relevant data on flood risk are made available to those with an interest. [HL572]

The Environment Agency makes its flood mapping available on the internet and works with the Association of British Insurers to make data on flood likelihood, and other relevant information, available to the insurance industry to implement the statement of principles.

The Environment Agency also makes relevant flood mapping available to other organisations including local authorities and regional government, for use at all levels of spatial and development planning, and for emergency planning; internal drainage boards; emergency services; and utilities, for resilience planning. The data are also available under licence for use for commercial purposes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to increase the number of flood defences that are in target condition. [HL573]

The Government fund a programme of investment through operating authorities (the Environment Agency, local authorities and internal drainage boards) to increase the proportion of assets in target condition. The programme comprises maintenance, repair and improvements, and is prioritised on the basis of the assets’ contribution to flood risk. The condition of 95 per cent of the Environment Agency flood defence assets is fair or better, as evidenced this summer when 99.8 per cent of the assets tested by the 2007 summer floods performed as expected.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the contribution to flooding made by problems with (a) urban drainage; (b) sewers; (c) gullies; and (d) spillways. [HL678]

The Environment Agency estimates that around 60 per cent of property flooding in the summer was due to surface water, which would have been caused by a combination of these issues. No further breakdown is available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had with the insurance industry on the future of flood insurance cover in the United Kingdom. [HL503]

The Association of British Insurers (ABI)'s statement of principles sets out the commitments made by ABI members towards the continued availability of flood insurance cover, together with associated commitments by the Government on effective flood risk management. We have a continuing dialogue with the insurance industry at both ministerial and official level and have agreed to work with the ABI to review the statement over the coming months.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider additional measures to focus public attention on the measurement of saturated fat contents in foodstuffs for sale in British shops; and, if so, what specific steps could be included. [HL884]

The Government have a number of initiatives in place to help consumers be aware of and reduce their intake of saturated fats, including the use of traffic light colour-coded front of pack labels.

Consumer awareness about saturated fat is a key element of the Food Standards Agency's draft saturated fat and energy intake programme, which is being developed for publication early next year. In support of the programme, the FSA has commissioned research into the style of consumer messages that will help to raise awareness about saturated fat in the diet and help consumers to reduce their intakes. This research will be published early next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the reasons for delaying the coming into force of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 until autumn 2008. [HL964]

The Government are working to implement the Act as speedily as possible. As the Government stated during the passage of the Bill, implementation of any legislation requires a significant programme of work. In overview, this programme of work will include the development of the necessary court rules and forms, the setting up of the appropriate court processing systems, guidance developed for staff and judicial training undertaken. The views of the public will also be taken into account and the Government have already published a public consultation on the issue of who should be a relevant third party to forced marriage proceedings. The implementation plan therefore includes the time needed to prepare staff and the judiciary and to ensure that support systems are in position once the Act comes into force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are their plans for ensuring that the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 is implemented effectively. [HL965]

The Government have recently announced that the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 will be brought into force in autumn 2008. During the next year there are plans to ensure that the necessary court rules and forms are developed, appropriate court processing systems put in place, guidance developed for staff and judicial training undertaken. The views of the public will also be taken into account and the Government have already published a public consultation on the issue of who should be a relevant third party to forced marriage proceedings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What civil protection will be given to the victims of forced marriage during the period before the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 is brought into force. [HL966]

The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 adds to the existing civil protection that is already available to victims of forced marriage. This includes civil remedies under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and non-molestation orders under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996 as well as injunctions. Applications for protection under the Children Act 1989 and High Court wardship proceedings may be made in the case of victims of forced marriage who are children.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many requests for information the Northern Ireland Office has received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and how many have been granted. [HL809]

Since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into operation on 1 January 2005, until 30 June 2007 the Northern Ireland Office has received a total of 507 requests.

The following information applies for the Northern Ireland Office until 30 June 2007:

The remaining balance of requests constitutes those which have been withheld in full, transferred to other departments and a small number that are current.

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) has committed to publishing quarterly updates in relation to departmental performance under FOI, including information on both the volume and outcome of requests. The bulletins up to the 2007 second quarter can be found on the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm and in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the case of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies have been taken to date as a result of the Gershon review, what is the total departmental bill for each type of redundancy; and what is the natural wastage during the Gershon period to date for the department.[HL988]

In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport there have been no (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies as a result of the Gershon review. The natural wastage during the Gershon period from April 2005 to 31 March 2007 is shown in the table below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the case of the Treasury, how many (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies have been taken to date as a result of the Gershon review, what is the total departmental bill for each type of redundancy; and what is the natural wastage during the Gershon period to date for the department. [HL987]

Since 2004 HM Treasury has made the following number of redundancies:

Please note, figures for 2007-08 are as at 30 September 2007 and estimates for costs in the current financial year are unavailable.

HM Treasury systems do not distinguish between voluntary and compulsory redundancies. Identifying redundancies between these classifications can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the case of the Wales Office, how many (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory redundancies have been taken to date as a result of the Gershon review; what is the total departmental bill for each type of redundancy; and what is the natural wastage during the Gershon period to date for the department. [HL1063]

None.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Secretary of State for Defence has a diary secretary provided at public expense. [HL812]

Yes.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In what proportions the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Secretary of State for Wales, Mr Peter Hain MP, has divided his time between those two offices. [HL950]

The Secretary of State for Work and Pension and for Wales divides his time between the two roles as necessary and appropriate to discharge his responsibilities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are experiencing delays in securing the return of former British residents detained at Guantanamo Bay; and, if so, what are the reasons for such a delay. [HL962]

In August this year, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to US Secretary of State Rice to request the release and return of five men, who while not British nationals, had close links to the UK having been lawfully resident here prior to their detention in Guantanamo Bay. Three of these men, Mr Sameur, Mr El Banna and Mr Deghayes, returned to the UK on the evening of 19 December 2007.

The US has so far declined to agree the request for the release and return of a fourth man, Mr Aamer, and we are no longer in active discussions regarding his transfer to the UK. We are still discussing with the US the case of a fifth man, Mr Mohammed, although again the US Government are not inclined to agree to his release and return because of security concerns.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of the 8,000 cord blood transplants which have taken been place worldwide have been performed in the United Kingdom.[HL832]

This information is not held centrally. However, the NHS Cord Blood Bank estimates that around 150 transplants using material from cord blood have been undertaken in the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many blood disorders have been successfully treated in the United Kingdom using cord blood. [HL833]

The department does not hold this information. Cord blood units are used to treat the same diseases as those treated by bone marrow transplant; that is to say, acute leukaemia, immunodeficiencies and metabolic defects.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of women donating cord blood, (a) how many NHS hospitals allow this procedure; (b) how many of these are outside London; (c) how many NHS hospitals there are in total in the United Kingdom; (d) what public funds have been allocated to develop these services; and (e) how long it will be before there is a national network of hospitals able to collect blood. [HL834]

Currently the NHS Cord Blood Bank collects cord blood stem cells from four collection sites—Barnet General, Northwick Park, Luton and Dunstable and Watford General hospitals. Luton and Dunstable and Watford General are not covered by London NHS trusts. Department funding for the NHS Cord Blood Bank from 2006-09 is approximately £10 million.

The aim of the NHS Cord Blood Bank is to redress the imbalance of minority groups that are represented on bone marrow registries by focusing collection at hospitals with high ethnic diversity and high delivery rates. As a consequence, approximately 40 per cent of donations in the NHS Cord Blood Bank derive from ethnic minority mothers, contrasting with approximately 3 to 4 per cent ethnic minority bone marrow donors present in the British Bone Marrow Registry, hence increasing the potential matches for patients from diverse ethnic groups.

All the cord blood units stored in the NHS Cord Blood Bank are available to NHS patients across the country. For these reasons, it is not considered necessary to collect cord blood from all hospitals.

The development of these services is kept under regular review and the Government will continue to support this work in the best way possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What would be the justification or rationale for the creation of saviour siblings, as provided for in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, if there existed in the United Kingdom a coherent and effective cord blood service. [HL835]

The NHS Cord Blood Bank has been set up to complement bone marrow registries. In most cases, if a patient requires a stem cell transplant, cord blood is used only if an appropriate matched bone marrow donor cannot be found. Only 25 to 35 per cent of patients have a matched sibling. The chances of obtaining matched stem cells from an unrelated donor vary, depending on the ethnic origin of the patient. Therefore, matching is greatly improved when the donor and recipient have the same ethnic and racial background.

Since the majority of the 10 million unrelated donors available in registries worldwide at present are of white caucasoid ethnic background, most patients from this racial group have more than a 90 per cent chance of finding a matched, unrelated donor. However, this figure falls substantially for patients from ethnic minorities, who have only a 30 to 40 per cent chance of finding a good match.

The aim of the NHS Cord Blood Bank is to redress the imbalance of minority groups that are represented on bone marrow registries by focusing collection at hospitals with high ethnic diversity and high delivery rates. As a consequence, approximately 40 per cent of donations in the NHS Cord Blood Bank derive from ethnic minority mothers, contrasting with approximately 3 to 4 per cent ethnic minority bone marrow donors presently in the British Bone Marrow Registry, hence increasing the potential matches for patients from diverse ethnic groups.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) currently licenses, on a case-by-case basis, the screening of embryos where the intention is that the resulting baby's umbilical cord blood stem cells, or bone marrow stem cells, will be used to treat an existing sibling who has a life-threatening or serious illness.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill clarifies the scope of the HFEA to make such decisions by introducing five purposes for which embryos can be tested under a treatment licence. One of the purposes is for tissue typing (the creation of a “saviour sibling”). In practice tissue typing is only ever considered when all other options are exhausted; in other words, when there are no matched donors on the registry or within the family.

This may be the case when someone has a particularly rare tissue type. Even if there were a greater supply of cord blood available for treatment, it would still be possible that no match would be found. Therefore, it may still be necessary to use embryo testing to find an embryo that would result in a child with matched tissue whose cord blood cells could be used to treat a sick older sibling.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment has been made by the Ministry of Defence of the effectiveness of using hydroxyl radical generators which reproduce the disinfecting qualities of open air in protecting service men and women from airborne pathogens. [HL1038]

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, which provides scientific advice for the Ministry of Defence, has not undertaken any specific research to assess the effectiveness of hydroxyl radical generators which reproduce the disinfecting qualities of open air.

However, as part of its watching brief on new scientific developments, DSTL has undertaken preliminary studies to examine the effectiveness of commercially available disinfection equipment including that which generates vaporous hydrogen peroxide. One of these studies on behalf of the Government Decontamination Service has assessed the performance, and applicability, of these types of systems for the decontamination and remediation of buildings following a terrorist attack using chemical or biological weapons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to investigate the decision-making process by which the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation received legal aid funding; and [HL975]

Whether the legal aid funding of the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation was an appropriate use of public money; and [HL977]

Whether the payment of legal aid fees in excess of £1 million in connection with the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation to Augustus Ullstein QC, Simeon Maskey QC and Jeremy Stuart-Smith QC was an appropriate use of public money. [HL978]

Decisions about funding in civil cases are entirely a matter for the Legal Services Commission (LSC). As such, Ministers do not intervene in or comment on decisions made about the grant of funding in individual cases. The LSC makes individual funding decisions in accordance with the governing legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Legal Services Commission, in accordance with its press statement of 1 October 2003, has sent to the Medical Research Council research paid for by legal aid in connection with the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation. [HL976]

The Legal Services Commission has not sent the research in the MMR/MR vaccines litigation to the Medical Research Council (MRC). It was proposed to release the research to the MRC. However this can only be disclosed with the consent of the clients, or the solicitors acting on their behalf. I understand that such consent has not so far been forthcoming.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to recover fees paid for research funded by legal aid in connection with the measles, mumps and rubella and measles and rubella vaccines litigation. [HL979]

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has no plans to recover legal aid fees paid for research in the MMR/MR vaccine litigation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many registered hearing aid dispensers are employed in the private sector; and [HL958]

What estimate they have made of the total number of people in need of digital hearing aids; and how many of these already have hearing aids fitted. [HL959]

Information on the number of private hearing aid dispensers is not held centrally.

We have made no estimate of the number of people in need of digital hearing aids or how many of these already have hearing aids fitted.

The total number of people waiting for an audiological assessment has fallen from 140,000 in March 2007 to 81,000 in October 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 5 December (WA 202), in the light of devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland and Welsh Assemblies, and with 70 per cent of all legislation originating in the European Union, whether they will institute an inquiry into the necessity of having 646 elected Members of Parliament and 750 peers. [HL972]

The Government have no plans for such an inquiry, for the reasons set out in my noble friend's Answer. The number of Scottish MPs was reduced to 59 at the last election. Following the fifth general review of parliamentary constituencies in Wales, which was completed in January 2005, the total number of constituencies remained at 40. In its fifth periodical report, on 31 October 2006, the Boundary Commission for England recommended an increase of four constituencies, bringing the total number to 533. On membership of the House of Lords, the Government are committed to working to deliver the House of Commons' preference for a wholly or mainly elected second chamber. Among the questions which it will have to consider during that process will be the optimum size of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of their commitment to tackling climate change, whether they will consider keeping a central register of enforcement by local authorities of energy efficiency requirements under Part L of the Building Regulations. [HL858]

Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for each local authority in England and Wales. Most enforcement is carried out informally through the provision of advice and guidance. Local authorities have formal powers to prosecute breaches of Building Regulations or to serve a notice requiring work to be brought into compliance with the standards in the regulations. In the vast majority of cases it is not necessary for these formal powers to be used to ensure compliance.

Information on formal enforcement actions is available from local authorities. The Government do not consider that the cost of setting up and maintaining a central register would be justified.

To enhance the ability of local authorities to prosecute breaches of Part L of the Building Regulations in appropriate cases the Government intend within the next few months to lay regulations to extend the time limit within which such prosecutions must be taken from six months to two years. This extension should act as a further deterrent and encourage a higher level of compliance.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of the 160,000 homes to be built in the London Thames Gateway development they forecast will be zero-carbon homes meeting level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. [HL857]

The Code for Sustainable Homes (the code) is a voluntary set of sustainable design principles covering performance of new homes in nine key areas, including energy and CO₂ emissions, water, materials, surface water run-off, waste, pollution, health & well-being, management and ecology.

New homes that are assessed against the code receive a 1-6 star rating. A 1-star home is built to higher sustainability standards than those set out in current Building Regulations whilst a 6-star home is a truly sustainable, zero-carbon home. The criteria on how to achieve each star rating are set out in detail in Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical Guide, available on the Communities and Local Government's website at: www.communities.gov.uk/thecode.

We have also set a timetable and strategy for making all new homes zero-carbon—equivalent to code level 6 for energy efficiency—by 2016 through Building Regulations.

In the November 2007 Thames Gateway Delivery Plan, we stated the Government's desire to establish it as an eco-region putting sustainability at the heart of everything we do there. While we have not forecast the Code for Sustainable Homes ratings for the homes in the Thames Gateway to 2016, we will be working with partners and stakeholders to support delivery of homes that meet exacting environmental standards.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is meant by the term “father” in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. [HL956]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill re-enacts the existing provisions set out in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 in relation to a child conceived as a result of assisted conception treatment and who is treated as the father of that child, where donor sperm is used. The woman's husband is the child's father, unless it can be shown that he did not consent to her treatment.

Clauses 36 and 37 of the Bill replace similar provisions in the 1990 Act which enable an unmarried man to be the father of a donor-conceived child if he is “treated together” with the mother in a licensed clinic. New provisions in the Bill require the couple each to have given consent by the time the embryo or gametes are placed in the woman, for the man to be treated as the father of any resulting child.

The Bill maintains the principle set out in the 1990 Act that if an unmarried couple carry out self-insemination with donor sperm outside a licensed treatment centre or non-medical fertility service, the male partner would not be the legal parent. In this situation, the man would have to acquire formal parental responsibility; for example, by adopting the child.

Clause 41 ensures that any man who acts as a sperm donor will not be treated as the legal father of any child born. Clause 38 reaffirms the position that where a person is treated as a child's father under the 1990 Act, no other person is to be treated as the father; for example, a sperm donor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Precisely how many service personnel deployed in the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan respectively have (a) been killed; (b) been wounded or injured by enemy action or in accidents; and (c) contracted illnesses due to disease. [HL901]

Since the start of hostilities, there have been 174 UK military fatalities resulting from operations in Iraq and 86 resulting from operations in Afghanistan.

Between 1 January 2006 and 30 November 2007, centrally held records for Iraq indicate that 292 personnel were admitted to a UK or coalition medical facility having been wounded in action and 2,234 personnel were admitted suffering from disease or non-battle injury.

Between 1 January 2006 and 30 November 2007, centrally held records for Afghanistan indicate that 307 personnel were admitted to a UK or coalition medical facility having been wounded in action and 721 personnel were admitted suffering from disease or non-battle injury.

Work is currently in hand to verify and validate information on medical facility admissions prior to January 2006. Once these data have been compiled, they will be added to the Ministry of Defence website.

All of the above information is published and updated regularly on the Ministry of Defence website at: http://www.mod.uk/Defencelnternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they encourage diplomatic and parliamentary contacts and dialogue with non-violent Islamic political parties and groups throughout the Middle East and North Africa. [HL1045]

British officials engage with a variety of non-violent Islamic parties and groups across the Middle East and North Africa. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office makes the Government's view on individual Islamic parties and groups clear to parliamentarians, but it is up to individual parliamentarians to decide with whom they have contact.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they and the members of the quartet are taking to ensure the resumption of normal supplies of fuel to Gaza for cooking, health and transport.[HL849]

There is a pressing need to overcome the obstacles to re-opening Gaza's crossings, for humanitarian goods, trade and people. The quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) has expressed concern over the continued closure of major crossing points. The UN is actively involved in trying to find a solution. The EU has called “on all parties to work towards an opening of the crossings in and out of Gaza”. I refer the noble Lord to the Statement made by my right honourable friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for International Development on 30 October detailing our concerns. The text of the Statement can be found at www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391629&a=KArticle&aid=1193597605085&year=2007&month=2007-10-01.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development discussed the situation in Gaza with the Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, during his recent visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories from 9 to 11 December.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will assist the negotiation of a comprehensive ceasefire for Gaza, with a view to making possible access in and out of the Gaza Strip, and to preventing further loss of life on all sides. [HL1048]

We remain extremely concerned by the political and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We strongly condemn the continuing rocket attacks against Israel, which put Israeli lives at risk every day. However, measures taken by Israel in response must be consistent with international humanitarian law and must not cause suffering to innocent civilians.

Gaza is an integral part of a future Palestinian state. We would welcome a ceasefire in Gaza and the resumption of control by the legitimate Palestinian security forces. Given the crucial importance of reopening the crossing points for humanitarian goods, trade and people, we continue to press for a solution to this problem and call on all sides to assume their responsibilities in addressing this situation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ensure that recent United States initiatives on an eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement do not reduce the active and current role of the quartet participants. [HL921]

The quartet (US, UN, EU and Russia) will continue to play an important political role in supporting this process. An important aspect of the quartet's work is focused on efforts to lay the foundation for the establishment of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state. We are working closely with our international partners to support the US-led process that was initiated at Annapolis. All our efforts are behind this. As both sides have made clear, it is for them to work out a solution. But the international community has offered its support and encouragement and the UK stands ready to help them to move forward.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of the extent to which the post-Annapolis processes will help Israel to show an increased willingness to comply with United Nations resolutions past and present, and the United States to avoid future vetoes of such resolutions. [HL925]

We welcome the commitment shown by Israel, the Palestinians and the United States at Annapolis. On 30 November, the UN Security Council warmly welcomed Annapolis and encouraged the parties to pursue their obligations, and will be following developments carefully. This marks the start of a process. We have to work to ensure that the process leads to a comprehensive peace settlement. All our efforts are behind this. As both parties have made clear, it is for them to work out a solution.

We continue to call on the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to adhere to international law and respect all UN Security Council resolutions. We press for the implementation of all Security Council resolutions by all the parties, and we remain committed to their aims. We continue to support a peaceful negotiated, two-state solution in keeping with the road map and Security Council resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1435 and 1515.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there have been further Jewish settlements in the West Bank since the Middle East conference at Annapolis, Maryland; and, if so, whether they have made any representations to the Government of Israel regarding such settlements. [HL933]

We are concerned by the announcement on 4 December by the Israeli housing ministry about new housing tenders for the Har Homa settlement in east Jerusalem. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about this new tender with the Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on 7 December. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development also raised our concerns about this issue with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak during his recent visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 10 December. On 11 December, the EU presidency issued a declaration on behalf of the EU about the Har Homa settlement which “urges Israel to honour the commitments under the Road Map and to avoid activities that could prejudge a final status agreement on Jerusalem or undermine progress towards this goal”.

The UK continues to make clear that settlements are illegal under international law and settlement construction is an obstacle to peace. The road map makes clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction, including the “natural growth” of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in light of the acute shortage of prison places, they will review all the criminal offences created since 1997 carrying a prison sentence; and whether they will instruct all government departments to be mindful of the shortage when framing legislative proposals to create new imprisonable criminal offences. [HL973]

It is the responsibility of the Government to have accommodation in prison for all those offenders sent there by the courts. However, the Government's view is that prison should be reserved for serious, dangerous and violent offenders; others are normally better punished in the community. My right honourable friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice announced on 5 December a package of building and other measures designed to achieve a better balance between supply and demand. The Government do not consider that it would be helpful to review all offences created since any particular date, but all departments that propose new offences are required to refer these to the Ministry of Justice for consideration of prison population implications. We are reviewing these arrangements to see if they might be made more effective.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the last year, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has made representations to any section of Government concerning proposals for the use of Irish or Ulster-Scots languages; and, if so, to whom, when, and for what purpose. [HL782]

I can confirm that the chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission wrote to the Secretary of State on 15 October 2007 to set out the Commission's views on Irish language legislation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has had face-to-face discussions with the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure concerning issues of language; and, if so, with whom, when and what was discussed. [HL808]

As the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission remains independent from government, I have asked the chief commissioner to write to the noble Lord on this issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment the Department for Communities and Local Government has made of the ability of small unitary authorities to commission specialist services and facilities, such as special schools and fostering and adoption services. [HL593]

The Department for Communities and Local Government has not made any assessment of this issue.

However, the existing smallest unitary authorities (those with a population less than 120,000) are achieving good standards of service delivery for children's services and adult social care, and most have achieved a three or four-star rating overall in the comprehensive performance assessment for 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the current position regarding the sale of the Ministry of Defence land and buildings in the vicinity of Chelsea barracks; whether the proceeds will be used to provide better accommodation for service personnel; and, if not, for what purpose the proceeds will be used. [HL668]

On 5 April 2007, the Ministry of Defence exchanged contracts for the sale of the 5.2 hectares (12.8 acres) Chelsea Barracks site with Project Blue (Guernsey) Ltd. Completion is due on 31 January 2008. The Ministry of Defence is currently disposing of no other land or buildings within the vicinity of the site.

The MoD will retain the full receipts from the sale of Chelsea Barracks. This will be invested fully in service accommodation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many requests for mutual legal assistance were received from the United States in the latest year for which the statistics are available; and what were the average and maximum times taken to deal with them. [HL831]

The Home Office has received 50 requests for mutual legal assistance from the US since 1 January 2007. Of these, 37 were new requests and 13 were supplementary to earlier requests.

“Deal with” has been taken to mean either referral by the Home Office to an executing authority or refusal to accede to a request. Of the 37 new requests received, 32 have been dealt with and five are pending.

Of the 32, the maximum length of time taken to deal with the request was 31 working days and the average length of time was 7.7 working days.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Royal Navy vessels have been seized in the Gulf by Iran in the past 10 years; and how many of them have been returned to the United Kingdom. [HL1022]

Iran has seized a total of four Royal Navy boats in two separate incidents in 2004 and 2007. We have raised the matter with the Iranian authorities on a number of occasions, and continue to press for their return.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland has any role in the selection of drivers for the official car of the Regional Development Minister, Mr Conor Murphy. [HL931]

PSNI has no involvement in the selection of official drivers for Northern Ireland's Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland provide any drivers for the official cars of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive. [HL932]

The PSNI provides protection for those Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive who qualify for armed police close protection. The provision of drivers for other Ministers is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether (a) the Police Service of Northern Ireland, or (b) the Army oppose the removal of the security barrier across Abbey Street in Armagh City. [HL930]