asked Her Majesty's Government:

What attempts they have made to improve the Afghan drug programme's success in reducing the production of opium. [HL2619]

Tackling the narcotics industry is at the heart of UK efforts in Afghanistan. We are supporting the Government of Afghanistan's National Drug Control Strategy, which is based on approaches that have worked in Thailand and Pakistan. Over the period 2005-08, we will spend in excess of £290 million to support counter-narcotics, including £130 million to promote the development of alternative livelihoods for Afghan farmers. There has been some success: improvements in security and governance in the north, centre and east of Afghanistan have led to a dramatic reduction in poppy cultivation. The Afghan Government are aiming for at least half of provinces to become poppy-free in 2008 (from 13 in 2007 to 17 in 2008). We are working to sustain these gains and are focusing our efforts on the south where poppy cultivation is becoming increasingly linked with insecurity and the insurgency.

UK support includes:

enhancing interdiction efforts to disrupt the operations of drugs networks and to weaken their links to the insurgency;

assistance to Afghanistan's Poppy Eradication Force, including incentives to governors to undertake eradication of poppy cultivation;

expertise to strengthen the criminal justice system, which has processed over 500 narcotics cases;

providing 59 policing experts to Afghanistan to help train the Afghan National Police and the Counter Narcotics Police of Afghanistan;

funding drug treatment centres in six provinces, which have treated over 5,450 addicts; and

funding the National Solidarity Programme, which has financed over 34,816 projects including: water supply and sanitation; transport; irrigation; power; agriculture; education; rural development; public building; and health and emergency response.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have considered the concerns expressed by the United States General Accountability Office in their recent annual report on the progress of the Joint Strike Fighter project; and what is their assessment of the implications of these concerns for the participation by the United Kingdom in that project. [HL2582]

It is normal in a programme of this size and technical complexity that reports may emerge concerning programme progress. As the only level one partner in the Joint Strike Fighter programme, the UK continues to be closely involved in all aspects of the programme to ensure that our key user requirements are met. Our next major investment decision is scheduled for early 2009, when we will decide whether the programme has matured sufficiently, from a performance, cost and time perspective, to justify the UK purchasing aircraft to participate in joint US/UK operational test and evaluation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have sought the opinions of Berwick-upon-Tweed on the proposal to transfer the town to Scotland; if so, what was the result; and if not, why not. [HL2587]

There is no proposal to transfer Berwick-upon-Tweed, which has been considered to be part of England since 1482, to Scotland.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What the status of British subject means; when it was introduced; and in what way it differs from British citizen status. [HL2519]

The term “British subject” has been in use since the 18th century.

Within the British Nationality Act 1981, the current nationality legislation, the term “British subject” applies only to two groups: (a) persons who derive the status by reason of a connection with the Republic of Ireland before 1949 and who have claimed the right to remain British subjects; (b) certain persons closely connected with the former British India who have not acquired any alternative citizenship.

British subjects can hold a United Kingdom passport and seek consular protection, in the same way as other British nationals. All British citizens have the right of abode in the United Kingdom, but only certain British subjects (those with a United Kingdom born parent or who were married before 1 January 1983 to a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies). For EC purposes only those British subjects with a right of abode under the Immigration Act 1971 are classed as United Kingdom nationals and are thus entitled to free movement rights.

British subjects are entitled to be registered as British citizens, subject to their meeting a number of residence requirements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 11 March (WA 220) concerning British citizens, what is meant by “citizens of Eire”; and whether such citizenship was a condition of taking up British subject status. [HL2590]

It is not necessary to be a citizen of Eire under relevant nationality legislation in order to qualify for British subject status.

“Citizens of Eire” are defined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1935 and the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1937.

Those who were citizens of Eire on 1 January 1949 could opt to remain a British subject under the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1948. Such people continue to have that right under the British Nationality Act 1981.

British subject status under the 1981 Act also includes people who did not acquire the citizenship of a country that became independent of the United Kingdom on or before commencement of the British Nationality Act 1948.

They therefore became British subjects without citizenship under the British Nationality Act 1948 and on 1 January 1983 they became British subjects under the 1981 Act if they had not acquired another nationality in the interim.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the suggestion made by Lord Goldsmith in Citizenship: Our common bond that there may be scope for re-examination of the residual categories of British citizenship with a view to ratifying Protocol 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL2591]

The Border and Immigration Agency is currently addressing the requirements for simplification of United Kingdom immigration law. This has involved consideration of amendments to specific parts of the current nationality statutory framework, including entitlement to the right of abode under the Immigration Act 1971 within the United Kingdom and Islands.

We will consider Lord Goldsmith's recommendations in more detail before deciding whether to re-examine the residual categories of British citizenship.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To which country an otherwise stateless British Overseas citizen, British National (Overseas), British subject or British protected person belongs. [HL2594]

British Overseas citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), British subjects and British protected persons are entitled to British passports, and consular protection when travelling overseas.

Certain British subjects have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. Other British subjects, British Overseas citizens, British Nationals (Overseas) and British protected persons are subject to UK immigration control. Any people in these categories would need to have entry clearance in order to enter the UK for more than six months and would have to apply for leave to remain in the same way as any other foreign national if they wished to extend their stay.

All of these nationals have an entitlement to registration based on a period of five years’ residence in the United Kingdom. British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons additionally have an entitlement to register if they have no other nationality, and British Nationals (Overseas), British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons can apply for registration under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 if they have no other nationality and are ordinarily resident in Hong Kong.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Under what circumstances someone outside the United Kingdom whose father was a British subject and who is now married and lives in the United Kingdom can obtain British citizenship. [HL2629]

The provisions for the acquisition of British citizenship are contained in the British Nationality Act 1981. Whether a person will qualify for British citizenship depends on various factors, including the person's current nationality status and length of residence in the United Kingdom.

For example, a person may be entitled to be registered as a British citizen if he or she:

holds a form of British nationality and has lived in the United Kingdom lawfully for five years, or has no other nationality;

was born stateless and has remained stateless.

Those who wish to acquire British citizenship but are not eligible for registration may apply for naturalisation at the Home Secretary's discretion if they can meet certain residence and other requirements set out in the 1981 Act. Those who are married to a British citizen must be of good character and have a satisfactory knowledge of the English language and life in the United Kingdom. They must also have lived lawfully in the United Kingdom, without long absences, for at least three years and be free from immigration conditions by the time they apply.

A number of leaflets, which explain different aspects of British nationality law, are available on the Home Office website at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk. In particular, further information about registration for British nationals is in leaflet BN12; information about registration of stateless persons is in leaflet BN5; information about the requirements for naturalisation is in leaflet BN7.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they or the Commonwealth propose to offer assistance to the Government of Cameroon to deal with the causes of the recent unrest and disorder. [HL2595]

We attribute the recent unrest and disorder in Cameroon to the dissatisfaction of many of its citizens at the poor economic performance and standards of living, and to frustration at the lack of free and fair debate over proposed constitutional amendments to remove limits on presidential terms in office.

We support the efforts for reform in Cameroon, especially reform of the electoral system, the fight against corruption and the improvement of the climate for business and investment. Our High Commission in Yaounde has run a number of projects in the area of democracy, human rights, good governance and making the justice system more effective. Further assistance on electoral reform has been promised to the Government of Cameroon, once an independent elections body is in place. Our High Commission also advises British companies considering business in Cameroon.

The Commonwealth has been closely involved in assisting the Government of Cameroon on electoral reform since its report on the presidential election of 2004. A Commonwealth team was in Cameroon in late February for further discussions on this subject.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, has received from Mr Ken Mack on the vulnerability of disabled and frail elderly people living in local authority, private or charitably owned care homes; what reply has been sent; and what action they are taking on this matter. [HL2505]

My right honourable friend has received a number of representations from Mr Mack, most recently in a letter dated 7 March 2007. A reply was sent to Mr Mack on Wednesday 26 March 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In each of the last five years, how many children aged (a) 0–5, (b) 5–7, (c) 7–9, (d) 9–11, (e) 11–13, (f) 13–15 and (g) 16–18 were diagnosed with a mental health problem. [HL2674]

The Office for National Statistics 2004 survey of mental health of children and young people in Great Britain looked at the prevalence of mental health disorders. It found that 10 per cent of young people aged 5 to 16 years had a clinically diagnosed mental disorder. This was further broken down to 8 per cent of 5 to 10 year-olds and 12 per cent of 11 to 16 year-olds.

There were no differences in prevalence between 1999 and 2004 in overall proportions of children with a mental disorder. The 1999 figures were captured in the 2000 mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain survey.

Both these publications are available in the Library.

Information is not collected by this department on the number of people diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What has been the impact of the climate change levy on small business. [HL2643]

Government data for the levy cannot be broken down by company size. However, the climate change levy package provides a range of measures that can help SMEs to improve their energy efficiency. For example, the Carbon Trust provides technical advice and support to businesses. The Energy Efficiency Loan scheme (aimed at SMEs) provides a cost-effective way for SMEs to upgrade existing equipment by providing access to interest-free loans for qualifying energy products.

SMEs are also eligible for enhanced capital allowances on their investment in energy-saving technologies. Over 1,400 products now qualify for Enhanced Capital Allowances, and SMEs can further apply for research grants to help them develop new low-carbon technologies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the impact of the climate change levy is being regularly reviewed. [HL2644]

The full impact of the levy package was set out in detail in the climate change levy package, published alongside the Budget in 2006. The report includes the results of independent modelling by Cambridge Econometrics, who were commissioned by the Government to evaluate the impact of the levy.

The Government keep all taxes under review as part of the Budget process. The Government also continue to assess the best methods to encourage businesses to improve their energy efficiency.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many community justice courts they intend to open in 2008; and where. [HL2539]

We have already established 13 community justice projects. The first, the Community Justice Centre in north Liverpool, was launched in October 2005. The second, at Salford Magistrates' Court was launched in November 2005. In 2007 we launched nine more across England and Wales and a further two were launched in London in January this year.

We now intend to use all these projects to test the community justice concept so that it can then be spread wider across the court system. We have already applied lessons from north Liverpool to improve case management and speed up cases in the magistrates' courts. This year we will take lessons from the community justice projects to deliver a programme to make the magistrates' courts more responsive to the communities they serve. We will also use learning from the projects to test and cost the impact of problem-solving approaches with a view to tying in to overall work on tackling reoffending.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have to require credit card operators to provide essential information clearly on credit card statements. [HL2585]

Under the information requirements provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 2006 card providers will be obliged to give their customers clearer and more regular information on the state of their accounts in order to help them identify potential problems before it is too late. For example, from October 2008, statements must also include information about the consequences of failing to make repayments, or of only making minimum repayments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will instruct the Migration Advisory Committee to consider the production of a separate labour shortage list occupation for London, given the different nature of its labour market, as they are doing for Scotland. [HL2513]

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been established to provide independent and evidence-based advice to government on specific sectors and occupations in the labour market where shortages exist which can sensibly be filled by migration.

As part of its work plan for this year, the MAC has been asked to produce shortage occupation lists for UK and Scotland only (tier 2 skilled employment). These lists comprise occupations where, in the MAC's view, there are shortages which can sensibly be filled by enabling employers to recruit migrants.

The Government may, from time to time, ask the MAC to advise on other matters relating to migration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures have been introduced to reduce the difference in costs between those paying for fuel on pre-payment meters and those paying by direct debit. [HL2506]

Ofgem is currently conducting a probe into the energy market, the results of which will be published shortly. If the evidence shows that prepayment meter users are treated less favourably than other customers in respect of their charges for energy, we will look to Ofgem and the energy suppliers to come forward with proposals to reduce any disadvantage. If sufficient progress is not made by winter 2008-09, the Secretary of State is prepared to use his existing statutory powers with a view to reducing the differential between prepayment and other forms of payment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people living in the city of Manchester pay for fuel on pre-payment meters; and how many pay by direct debit. [HL2507]

The information requested is not available; the smallest area that includes Manchester for which splits of customers by payment type is the North West. The most up-to-date information is held in the Quarterly Energy Prices December 2007 at www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/prices/index.html on tables 2.4.2 and 2.5.2 and relates to September 2007. This shows the following proportions of households paying by each payment type in the north-west.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they propose to take to provide additional assistance to households in fuel poverty. [HL2255]

The Government remain committed to our fuel poverty targets and announced further measures in the Budget to increase the level of assistance offered by energy companies to their vulnerable customers from £56 million to £150 million a year and to tackle the increasing cost differential between prepayment meters and other forms of payment.

The Government also announced a one-off payment in addition to the winter fuel payments, payable to all pensioners, of £100 to over-80s and £50 to over-60s households for 2008-09.

The Government keep the current fuel poverty strategy under review and are committed to exploring new ways in which we can tackle fuel poverty.

In addition, the carbon emissions reduction target requires energy suppliers to achieve 40 per cent of their carbon savings through priority households, with an expected value of £1.5 billion of resources directed to this group over three years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further steps they propose to meet the target of removing all vulnerable people from fuel poverty by 2010. [HL2307]

The Government continue to do all that is reasonably practicable to meet the target of removing all vulnerable people from fuel poverty by 2010.

We have in place a strong package of measures, with spend on energy efficiency for those on low incomes for the period 2008-11 projected to be in excess of £2.3 billion. This is in addition to the winter fuel payments, payable to all pensioners, to which the Chancellor has in his recent Budget added a one-off payment of £100 to over-80s households and £50 to over-60s households for 2008-09.

The Government also announced further action to help vulnerable groups deal with rising energy prices. Energy companies currently spend around £50 million a year on social programmes. We would like to see that figure rising over the period ahead to at least £150 million a year. Acting with the companies and Ofgem, we will draw up a plan for voluntary and statutory action to achieve that. To underpin this as necessary, the Government will legislate to require companies to make a fair contribution.

In addition to these measures, Ofgem is currently conducting a probe into the energy market, the results of which will be published shortly. If the evidence shows that prepayment meter users are treated less favourably than other customers in respect of their charges for energy, then we will look to Ofgem and the energy suppliers to come forward with proposals to reduce any disadvantage. If sufficient progress is not made by winter 2008-09, the Secretary of State is prepared to use his existing statutory powers with a view to reducing the differential between prepayment and other forms of payment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Now that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has identified a commercial opportunity through the sale of its assets at some 18 sites in Britain, when they will produce a revised estimate of the cost of nuclear decommissioning taking into account the fact that the re-use of existing nuclear sites for nuclear purposes eliminates the need to return the site to greenfield status. [HL2579]

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) announced on 6 March that it was in the process of assessing the market interest in its assets, consistent with its requirement to ensure maximum value to the taxpayer. Interested parties should respond to the NDA by 3 April, but no final decision has been taken on whether any assets will be sold.

As no decision has yet been taken, the site end states as set out in the NDA strategy remain unchanged.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the load factor of the installed and working capacity of the United Kingdom's wind turbine generators during January and February 2008; and whether the load factor was affected by the anti-cyclones during that period. [HL2577]

The department publishes energy statistics, including load factors for generation on an annual basis, within the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES). The department does not produce monthly statistics.

The most recent copy of DUKES contains the figures for the year ending December 2006 and can be found at http://stats.berr.gov.uk/energystats/dukes07.pdf.

Figures for the year ending December 2007 will be available in the summer 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many of the wind turbines so far installed in the United Kingdom are covered by decommissioning agreements to take effect at the end of their working lives, requiring their dismantling and the restoration of the land by the removal of concrete bases and access roads. [HL2578]

Decommissioning conditions are applied to onshore wind farm planning permissions to ensure restoration of the site to the satisfaction of the local authority once the planning permission lifetime has expired. It is common practice for developers to enter into agreements pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to ensure funds are available for such decommissioning work.

The depth to which concrete bases should be dismantled and whether access roads should be included in the decommissioning will depend on such factors as the environmental conditions at the site and the utility of retaining access roads following decommissioning of the wind farm.

Decommissioning of offshore renewable energy installations (OREIs), including offshore wind farms, is governed by the regime set out under the Energy Act 2004 (EA 2004) which gives the Secretary of State the power to impose decommissioning requirements on any person who is party to a proposal to construct, extend or operate an OREI. This person must then provide the Secretary of State with information on decommissioning, including how they intend to remove the installation when it comes to the end of its useful life, and how they intend to pay for it. All OREIs consented after June 2006 are subject to these requirements. A small number of installations were consented prior to June 2006 and are not covered by the scope of the EA 2004 provisions. However, these developments have decommissioning requirements contained within their lease from the Crown Estate, one of the necessary requirements for construction.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Environment Agency Wales is aware of allegations of obstruction of justice involving the Water Research Centre; whether officials from Environment Agency Wales met staff of the Water Research Centre on 29 November 2007; and whether both the Environment Agency Wales and Monsanto are clients of the Water Research Centre. [HL2260]

The Environment Agency is unaware of any formal allegations of obstruction of justice against the Water Research Centre. The Environment Agency is a large organisation and its staff regularly meet many individuals and organisations. Accordingly, it is unable to confirm whether a meeting took place with the Water Research Centre on the 29 November 2007. The Environment Agency confirms that it has a number of contracts and frameworks with the Water Research Centre for various consultancy services across England and Wales. It is not able to respond on behalf of Monsanto.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Upon what legal authority and on whose instructions certain original documents and evidentiary proofs belonging to Mr Douglas Gowan were destroyed by the Environment Agency Wales on or around 2 January. [HL2261]

The Environment Agency has not destroyed any original documents or evidentiary proofs belonging to Mr Douglas Gowan. Where original documents and evidentiary proofs had been received by the Environment Agency from Mr Gowan, they have been returned to him. On the 2 November 2007, Mr Gowan requested that all copies of those originals be “shredded”. The Environment Agency has complied with that request.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Upon what authority and by whom Brabners solicitors were instructed to correspond with Mr Douglas Gowan and to return to him certain copies of original documents that had been sent as evidence to the Environment Agency Wales. [HL2262]

The Environment Agency instructed a firm of external solicitors, Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, to act on its behalf in respect of statements made by Mr Douglas Gowan regarding an employee of the Environment Agency. Mr Gowan's request for the return of his original documents was made in his correspondence with that firm. The Environment Agency therefore instructed that all the original documentation provided to it and in its possession be returned through Brabners Chaffe Street LLP.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Upon what authority and on whose instructions e-mail correspondence from Mr Douglas Gowan to individuals in the Environment Agency, the Environment Agency Wales, Members of the House of Lords and others was intercepted and on occasions diverted; whether specific instructions were issued to three engineers to set up a gateway to facilitate the interception on or around 30 October 2007; and whether such interception was legal. [HL2263]

The Environment Agency has not intercepted or diverted e-mail correspondence from Mr Douglas Gowan to Members of the House of Lords or others. The Environment Agency has, since November 2007, filtered e-mail correspondence sent by Mr Gowan to various Environment Agency e-mail addresses into a centrally managed Environment Agency e-mail account. On or about 30 October 2007, the Environment Agency confirms that it instructed its e-mail gateway provider to set up this arrangement. How the Environment Agency chooses to manage the communications sent to and received by its members of staff is an internal and entirely legitimate operational matter.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the lines of accountability for the Director of Environment Agency Wales and his staff in relation to the Board of the Environment Agency, the National Assembly for Wales, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Parliament. [HL2531]

All employees of the Environment Agency are accountable through the chief executive to the board of the Environment Agency, and through that board to the sponsoring departments in England and Wales. The Environment Agency is accountable for its activities in England to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is, in turn, accountable to Parliament for these activities. The Environment Agency is accountable to Welsh Ministers for its activities in Wales.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many European Union directives or regulations were transposed into United Kingdom law without the opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny or debate in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, and (c) 2007. [HL2282]

All European Union directives and regulations agreed in the Council of Ministers are subject to parliamentary scrutiny before agreement. In exceptional cases, where this has not been possible, for example in cases of emergency or when Parliament is in recess, the Government will explain this in writing to the chairman of the Scrutiny Committees of both Houses.

The number of directives and regulations agreed by the Council of Ministers before the completion of scrutiny procedures were:

2005—eight directives and 16 regulations;

2006—two directives and 16 regulations; and

2007—none in the period January to June 2007. Figures for July to December are not yet available.

Regulations are directly applicable and therefore do not need to be transposed into UK law. Directives require transposition and would need to be subsequently implemented, for example, by way of measures made under Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. These are subject to scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the House of Lords Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it would be compatible with enjoyment of the right to family life without discrimination, protected by Articles 14 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998, to prevent British citizens being joined in this country by their foreign spouses until their spouses had reached the age of 21; and [HL2496]

Whether it would be compatible with enjoyment of the right to family life without discrimination, protected by Articles 14 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998, to prevent British citizens from being joined in this country by their foreign spouses unless their spouses were fluent in the English language. [HL2497]

The consultation papers Marriage to Partners from Overseas and Marriage Visas: Pre Entry English Requirement for Spouses were launched on 5 December 2007.

The first consultation contains proposals to raise the minimum age to which you can sponsor a person from overseas for a marriage visa from 18 to 21. The same age increase would apply to the person being sponsored. The latter consultation examines the case for introducing a pre-entry language requirement for those applying for a spouse visa and planning to settle in the UK including what the level of English proficiency should be.

The consultation period for these proposals concluded on 27 February 2008 and we are now assessing the responses.

Careful consideration will be given to the compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 as the proposals are taken forward.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will permit the building of eco-towns on flood plains. [HL2608]

One of the seven key criteria that the Government set out in the eco-towns prospectus, published alongside the housing Green Paper last July, covered environmental issues. As part of this the Government have said that PPS25: Development & Flood Risk should be taken into account when considering proposals. This will ensure that any development proposed on flood plains is considered in the usual way as part of the planning process.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to encourage “buy local” food campaigns to reduce unnecessary imports. [HL2631]

We have helped to support local sourcing with funding for a range of measures, which allow regional and local food producers to overcome barriers to the effective marketing of their products. Examples include “meet the buyer” events, encouragement of food hubs and shared distribution facilities, and key training seminars.

Support from Defra has been boosted by the regional development agencies (RDAs), helping activities to do with the promotion of quality regional and local food culture. The level and type of RDA funding reflects each region's priorities as set out in regional economic strategies. RDAs are also responsible for the delivery of various aspects of Defra's rural development programme for England (RDPE). Support is available under the RDPE to improve the competitiveness of a wide range of rural businesses, which can include local and regional food producers.

We have also commissioned research aimed at enabling policy makers, support organisations and the supply chain to better understand the regional and local food sector. One of these projects will investigate the practicalities and benefits of local food production. Other work will examine consumer attitudes and actual purchasing behaviour. The results will be published on our website.

Finally, Defra's ongoing public sector food procurement initiative (PSFPI) was launched in 2003 to help deliver the Government's sustainable farming and food strategy. This aims to increase opportunities for small and local producers to tender for contracts to supply food to the public sector. Our funding for this initiative supports workshops for buyers and suppliers, regional pilot projects to develop the supply side, and a range of guidance materials aimed at both food producers and public sector buyers. More information on the PSFPI can be found on the Defra website.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 26 February (Official Report, col. 572), what evidence they received between July 2007 and February 2008 which led them to decide against setting up a supercasino as proposed by them in July 2007. [HL2280]

In reaching his decision not to proceed with the regional casino, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport considered all relevant matters, including the following report and studies referred to in his Statement on casino policy to the House of Commons on 26 February (Official Report, col. 903):

the Gambling Commission's British Gambling Prevalence Study 2007;

the report of the Department for Communities and Local Government entitled Review of Alternative Approaches to Regional Casino-Led Regeneration; and

the Scoping Study for a UK Gambling Act 2005 Impact Assessment Framework by Lancaster University and others.

Copies of these reports are available in the House Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the official figure for the number of Alzheimer's disease sufferers in Britain. [HL2597]

The number of people with Alzheimer's disease is not collected centrally. However, the Dementia UK report generated by the London School of Economics and the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London and published by the Alzheimer's Society in February 2007 estimated there were 700,000 people with dementia in the UK as of last February.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the drug Aricept is available through the National Health Service only to those who suffer from the more severe form of Alzheimer's disease. [HL2598]

On 22 November 2006, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued a technology appraisal on the drugs Aricept, Ebixa, Exelon and Reminyl for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. NICE recommends the drugs Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl as an option for use in the treatment of moderate stage Alzheimer's disease only.

The NICE guidance recommends that patients already receiving the drug Aricept for either mild or more severe Alzheimer's disease can continue on them until they, their carers and/or their clinicians feel it is appropriate to stop.

Healthcare professionals are expected to take NICE's guidance into account when reaching a clinical judgment on the best treatment for their patients. The NICE guidance allows clinicians' individual responsibility to make clinical decisions about individual patients.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any online access to the central register of identity card holders will be available via the police national computer. [HL2396]

In order to maintain the necessarily high level of security of the national identity register, it will not be possible to access the register online. The Identity Cards Act 2006 permits requests from UK security and law enforcement agencies for the provision of information held on the national identity register. This would permit information to be provided for the purposes of criminal proceedings and investigations where justified.

The provisions make it clear that the Secretary of State would always have the discretion to refuse such a request and such requests would still be conducted in line with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

No third party organisation, including the police, will have online access to the information on the national identity register. Any request from a third party organisation for the verification or provision of data will be made to the Identity and Passport Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On the latest figures available, how many people have been in administrative detention (a) for over six months; (b) for more than nine months; and (c) in excess of one year; and whether they will place in the Library of the House all relevant statistics on these matters. [HL2564]

Statistics on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September 2006 have been published in table 6.3 of the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2006 Command Paper. These are the latest published figures available on all persons detained broken down by length of detention.

Owing to a change in the system in which information is collected, statistics on all persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers broken down by length of detention have not been available since September 2006.

Copies of the aforementioned publication are available from the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the comments by the Children’s Society and the Refugee Council about the Border and Immigration Agency's Clan Ebor project for unsuccessful asylum applicants; and what action they will take as a result. [HL2502]

The aim of the project was to encourage the voluntary departure of families whose asylum applications had been refused and had exhausted all their appeal rights. The views of stakeholders, including the Children's Society and the Refugee Council, were taken into account in the course of the project and some changes made to the process as a result. The project has now ended, although we continue to work with stakeholders to identify how we can better promote voluntary return for all asylum applicants whose applications have been refused and have no lawful basis on which to remain in this country.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their assessment of Iran's nuclear weapons capability. [HL2420]

Most recently the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general's report of 22 February highlighted a number of issues that it said were “of serious concern and critical to an assessment of a possible military dimension to Iran's nuclear programme”. The IAEA report also makes it clear that Iran is not suspending enrichment activities as required by UN Security Council resolutions and is not implementing the additional protocol to its comprehensive safeguards agreement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Afghan citizens have been killed or injured by British air and ground fire since 2001; and [HL2566]

How many Iraqi citizens have been killed or injured by British air and ground fire since 2003. [HL2568]

The Government do not collate figures for civilian casualties in either Afghanistan or Iraq. Every effort is made to avoid civilian casualties in both theatres, and any that are the result of action by UK Armed Forces are always a matter of profound regret.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What their assessment is of the current power-sharing Government in Kenya. [HL2616]

We welcome the power-sharing agreement signed by President Kibaki and the leader of the opposition, Raila Odinga, on 28 February 2008. We join the international community in thanking Kofi Annan and his team for their outstanding efforts in brokering this deal.

But the hard work must continue. Real leadership, patience and tolerance is necessary to ensure that the agreement sticks and is implemented in full. We welcome signs that this is happening, including the constitutional reforms passed on 18 March 2008 involving creating the office of Prime Minister. We hope that the new coalition government will be formed in the coming days.

My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has already made it clear that the UK is ready to work closely with the new Kenyan Government once it is formed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps the Northern Ireland Office has taken over the past five years to make its employees and property more environmentally friendly. [HL2544]

The Northern Ireland Office takes seriously its responsibilities with regard to the sustainability agenda. In making its employees more environmentally aware and its property more environmentally friendly, it has undertaken extensive action, particularly in the areas of recycling, and in reducing our carbon emissions through greater use of energy from renewable sources.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the remit of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission would prevent it considering the human rights of people murdered or injured by terrorist action. [HL2514]

I am advised that there is nothing in the functions of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as set out by Section 69 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, that prevents it considering the human rights of people murdered or injured by terrorist action.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has spent on advertising each year since its creation; and what are the details of such expenditure. [HL2517]

I am advised that the total expenditure spent by the commission on advertising, promotions, publications and general communications since its establishment is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When was the last visit by a United Kingdom Prime Minister to (a) Dubai; (b) Abu Dhabi; (c) Bahrain; and (d) Oman. [HL2549]

Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When was the last visit by a United Kingdom Foreign Secretary to (a) Dubai; (b) Abu Dhabi; (c) Bahrain; and (d) Oman. [HL2550]

The last visits by a Foreign Secretary to Dubai and Abu Dhabi were made by my right honourable friend the then Foreign Secretary (Margaret Beckett) in March 2007.

The last visit by a Foreign Secretary to Bahrain was made by my right honourable friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr Jack Straw) in October 2005.

The last visit by a Foreign Secretary to Oman was made by my right honourable friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr Jack Straw) in March 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many (a) subject and (b) citizen passports were issued by the British embassy in Dublin in each of the five years from 2001. [HL2627]

The number of passports issued through our embassy in Dublin in the five financial years from 2001 is provided in the table below:

Data are not available for financial year 2001-02, as we did not begin to keep records until financial year 2002-03.

We do not hold data on whether passports were issued to British subjects or British citizens in these financial years.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What work they have undertaken, or plan to undertake, to ensure that the HM Prison Service is meeting its responsibilities under the disability equality duty with regard to prisoners with learning disabilities and learning difficulties. [HL2561]

HM Prison Service will shortly be issuing a revised Prison Service Order (PSO) 2855 Prisoners with Disabilities, to expand on and update existing instructions. The PSO explains the duties and responsibilities the Prison Service has for prisoners with disabilities under the Disability Discrimination Act. This includes prisoners with learning disabilities. It sets out those actions which must be undertaken by prison staff to ensure that these duties are met.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the outturn expenditure for (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; (b) the Department for International Development; and (c) the BBC World Service, in each of the past five years. [HL2681]

The latest available information for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development was published alongside the Budget at tables 2, 3 and 4 of Public Expenditure Annual Outturns—National Statistics release 12 March 2008, copies of which are in the Library and can be accessed via the Treasury's public website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.

The latest available information relating to the BBC World Service, which is a public corporation and part of the overall FCO group, is set out in the FCO departmental report, copies of which are in the Library and can be accessed via the FCO's public website, www.fco.gov.uk.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions they have had with the Government of Sudan regarding the United Nations African Mission in Darfur not having free movement at night. [HL2617]

Under the Status of Forces Agreement signed on 9 February between the UN, African Union (AU) and the Government of Sudan, the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) vehicles have “full and unrestricted freedom of movement” throughout Darfur, including at night. We understand that UNAMID has now started night patrols.

The UN, AU and the Government of Sudan continue to negotiate over limitations on UNAMID flights. We have, in regular contacts with the Government of Sudan, most recently on 17 March and during my visit to Sudan on 28 January-1 February, pressed the Government of Sudan to co-operate fully with the UN and AU over UNAMID, and we call on the Government of Sudan to remove limitations on flights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When Operation Zest will complete repairs to Calshot Harbour on Tristan da Cunha. [HL2637]

The Royal Engineers are expected to complete the emergency repairs to Calshot Harbour on Tristan da Cunha by 31 March 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) what assessment they have made of the impact of the fire on 13 February at Ovenstone's fish processing plant on Tristan da Cunha on the island's fishing industry; and (b) whether a replacement facility will be available for the start of the next Tristan rock lobster fishing season. [HL2638]

The fire on 13 February 2008 destroyed the lobster-processing facility on Tristan da Cunha owned by Ovenstone, the lobster concession holder. As the fire occurred towards the end of the current fishing season, we expect the impact on Tristan's economy to be minimal. The next fishing season will begin as normal in July 2008. Ovenstone are planning to process the next season's quota aboard its vessel, the “Kelso”, rather than on-island. Therefore, we do not expect any reduction of the income Tristan derives from lobster fishing. Some casual staff employed at the facility will be unemployed until the facility is rebuilt, but regular employees will continue to be paid by Ovenstone.

Ovenstone is currently designing and planning the construction of the new processing facility. It plans for the new facility to be open in time for the 2009 fishing season.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the total cost to date of legal advice and legal actions by the Environment Agency and the Environment Agency Wales in their pursuit of legal action against Monsanto and Solutia Inc in the United Kingdom and the United States for remediation of Brofiscin quarry and other legacy sites. [HL2571]

The total cost to date of legal advice and legal actions by the Environment Agency pursuant to its legal investigations of Solutia/Monsanto as a potential “Appropriate Person” under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 is approximately £109,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the proposal for minimum standards of water efficiency in new buildings put out to consultation in December 2006 has been adopted; if so, whether it has been adopted as proposed; and whether it will affect the type and number of appliances that may be installed. [HL2647]

The Government announced in July 2007 that they would introduce an amendment to the building regulations to set a whole building performance standard for water efficiency in new homes of 125 litres per person per day. This standard will be in force and effective from April 2009 as part of a wider suite of changes to the relevant section of the building regulations.

There will be no comparable standard for non-domestic buildings in line with the consultation findings that there was insufficient evidence on which meaningful and robust standards could be based.

Because we have adopted a calculated performance standard for new homes, builders will have considerable flexibility in how they choose to meet that standard. There will be no restriction on the number of appliances that can be installed, or on the type—provided that they comply with existing fittings standards—but they will need to offset higher water-using appliances and larger numbers of appliances with more efficient ones in order to achieve the whole home performance standard.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the World Health Organisation safety plan was last amended; and whether it takes account of the dangers of the deliberate introduction of harmful substances. [HL2209]

Chapter 4 of the World Health Organisation's drinking water guidelines on water safety plans was first published in 2004 and updated in 2006. Deliberate contamination is a hazard which is recognised within the original and the updated advice.

In England and Wales, water safety plans are regulated through the Water Supply (Water Quality) Amendment Regulations 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures they have taken within the international community to ensure that presidential elections in Zimbabwe on 29 March are free and fair. [HL2621]

We continue to monitor the situation in Zimbabwe and are urging states and regional organisations that have been invited to observe the elections to ensure that they meet international standards and the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) own principles and guidelines on elections. We have emphasised that endorsing a rigged election would damage both SADC's and the African Union's credibility.