asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Phil Woolas, on 5 February (Official Report, Commons 976W), whether ditch and watercourse clearance can be covered under the entry-level stewardship scheme. [HL3011]

There are ditch and half ditch management options available as part of entry-level stewardship (ELS) which include some provision for clearance. However, these would need to be adopted with other options from the scheme to achieve the necessary points total. Ditches managed by third parties, such as internal drainage boards, are not eligible. Moorland Grips are also ineligible. There is not a specific ditch and watercourse clearance option. The scheme's aim is primarily to secure widespread environmental benefits.

Ditches in ELS may be cleaned only once during the agreement period, and then only half the length of the ditch may be cleaned. The exception is where vegetation needs to be removed from the bottom of a ditch for flood prevention. This may be cut annually between September and February. Any dredging or spoil must be levelled along the bank and vegetation allowed naturally to regenerate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What additional safeguards against the transfer of foot and mouth disease through vectors such as wind, wild animals and humans would be provided by the electronic implant tagging of sheep, above those offered by double tagging and comprehensive movement records. [HL2969]

None. The electronic identification of sheep is intended to aid their traceability, not to reduce their susceptibility to disease.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Arts Council is required to provide information to them about the sexuality of members of the management committee, boards, governing bodies or councils of theatre organisations, as stated in question 22 of the Arts Council's grant form; and if so, what the justification is for this requirement. [HL3015]

Sexual orientation monitoring is not currently a formal DCMS requirement. We recognise, however, that as a responsible public body Arts Council England needs to monitor its overall grant-making programmes in terms of gender, ethnic background, disability and sexual orientation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord McKenzie of Luton on 1 April (WA 145), when the uprating arrangements for United Kingdom state pensions paid to recipients in Overseas Territories were last reviewed; what the outcome of the review was; and what the cost would be of uprating United Kingdom state pensions to recipients in Overseas Territories. [HL3018]

All the department's policies are kept under review. The UK state pension is uprated for UK pensioners living overseas where there is a reciprocal social security agreement or a legal requirement to do so. The provisions on the non-uprating of UK state pensions for some pensioners living abroad have been the subject of litigation in the domestic courts, all of which found in favour of the Government. The issue is now the subject of an application for a hearing to the European Court of Human Rights.

The cost of up rating the UK state pension for recipients residing in the British Overseas Territories where state pension is frozen would be just under £500,000¹ for 2008-09 on the assumption that the frozen pension is brought up to the current value and then up rated. The current estimate is that it would cost around £440 million to bring all frozen rate pensions up to the current rate and this would be an ongoing cost increasing year on year.

We have no plans to change the arrangements to uprate state pension for recipients residing in the British Overseas Territories.

¹ Source: March 2007 Retirement Pension and Widows Benefit administrative data, 5 per cent sample.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What control the Charity Commission exercises on the conduct and activities of interim managers, including receivers and managers, who the commission appoints to stand in for trustees of a charity; and [HL3038]

Whether they are aware of any cases, including current cases, where interim managers appointed by chairmen to stand in for trustees have committed charity funds up to (a) £100,000; (b) £500,000; (c) £1,000,000; (d) £2,000,000; and (e) over £2,000,000; and, if so, whether they will provide details and the date of each case; and [HL3039]

Whether they are aware of any cases where interim managers appointed to stand in for the trustees of a charity have acted as liquidators or in another professional role for a trading company associated with that charity; whether charity funds were used to reward interim managers for two or more such roles; and, if so, whether they will provide details and the date of each case. [HL3040]

These Questions are a matter for the Charity Commission as the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. The commission's chief executive will write to you and a copy of his response will be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department's activities.[HL3004]

It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In respect of the Department for Transport, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems; for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what the impact was on the department's activities. [HL2986]

It is not in the interests of the UK’s national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK’s IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they propose to prohibit cyclists from cycling on footpaths for safety reasons. [HL3083]

It is already an offence under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835, as amended by Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1888, to cycle on a footway (the pavement adjacent to the carriageway). The maximum fine is £500 or the police can issue a fixed penalty notice costing £30.

Cyclists have no right to cycle on a footpath away from the road but only commit an offence where local by-laws or traffic regulation orders create such an offence.

We have no plans to change the existing law relating to cyclists’ use of footpaths or footways.

There is no excuse for cyclists who put pedestrians at risk by breaking these and other road traffic laws.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 1 April (WA 147–8), whether the statement that a solution lies only in the context of a United Nations-brokered comprehensive settlement to reunite the island denoted their intention to sustain a Greek Cypriot veto and maintain the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. [HL3046]

Our objective in Cyprus is to support the UN's efforts to broker a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem. We applaud the leaders' recent agreement to restart negotiations and to open Ledra Steet. For the first time since 2004, there is a genuine prospect of progress. This must be the primary focus of our efforts. It is only through reunification of the island that the Turkish Cypriots can fully assume their rightful place in the economic and political life of Europe.

In support of the UN's efforts, the EU has an important supporting role to play, through reducing economic disparities between the two communities, and by bringing Turkish Cypriots closer to Europe. Achieving trade liberalisation with Turkish Cypriots is, in particular, an important part of these objectives. We will continue to support strongly all such initiatives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the ministerial correction by the Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire, on 5 February (Official Report, Commons, 5–6MC), what were the grades of the 575 Work and Pensions staff dismissed for unsatisfactory attendance between April 2007 and 15 November 2007; what proportion worked outside London; what percentage were aged (a) 17 to 25, (b) 26 to 35, (c) 36 to 45, (d) 46 to 55, and (e) 56 or over; and how many had a degree. [HL3013]

The information that is available on the department's personnel computer system is contained in the three tables below. Information about the number of dismissed employees who had a degree is not available. The cost of obtaining it would be disproportionate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Driving Standards Agency has given a contract for the delivery of the driving theory test to an American company and allowed the processing and storing of data to go overseas. [HL3054]

The requirement for IT-based driving theory test examination services was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union in February 2003 and 67 expressions of interest were received. Nine companies were selected to submit tenders and following a rigorous evaluation process, the contract was awarded to Pearson Driving Assessments Limited (PDA), a UK-registered company.

Data are processed on behalf of PDA in the United States by NCS Pearson Inc, another company in the Pearson group. A three-way data processor agreement covers this arrangement.

The processing and storing of data overseas is allowed because NCS Pearson Inc has “safe harbor” status. This is the standard by which US companies ensure they adhere to the eighth data protection principle of the Data Protection Act 1988 which governs the transfer of data outside the European Economic Area. Safe harbor is recognised by the Information Commissioner as providing an adequate level of protection for the purposes of that principle.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the forthcoming review of biofuels production by the Renewable Fuels Agency will include examination of greenhouse gas emissions directly and indirectly resulting from (a) the production and transport of seed; (b) the agricultural processes in growing and harvesting crops, including use of fertilisers; (c) the transport and processing of crops to produce fuel; and (d) the subsequent production and distribution of fuel; and [HL3077]

Whether the forthcoming review of biofuels production by the Renewable Fuels Agency will examine the impact of biofuel production on both the price and supply of food and animal feed. [HL3078]

The terms of reference of the Renewable Fuels Agency's review into the indirect effects of biofuels production were published on 13 March 2008 on the websites of the Department for Transport and the Renewable Fuels Agency. The terms of reference can be found at www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/rtfo/biofuelsreviewtor.

To give more detail on the scope of the review, the Renewable Fuels Agency recently published a progress bulletin. This sets out in some detail the six key questions that the review will address and also describes the individual studies that are being undertaken to help address those questions. The progress bulletin can be found on the Renewable Fuel Agency's website at www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/reportsand publications/reviewoftheindirecteffectsofbiofuels.cfm.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of the press release by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 April, how many one-stop advice centres will be established by the Energy Saving Trust to deliver the broader programme for green homes. [HL3049]

The Energy Saving Trust will be rolling out and equipping a nationwide network of 21 regional advice centres in England. These will provide a one-stop shop offering consumers a range of free and impartial advice on energy efficiency, microgeneration and renewable energy, low carbon transport, water efficiency and waste reduction, as well as a range of independent services that will help them act upon this advice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of a bid for funding from the Environmental Transformation Fund will need to be funded from a local alliance of organisations wishing to help transform the environmental performance of a street or local area. [HL3050]

On 2 April, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Environment (Hilary Benn) announced his intention to launch a “Green Neighbourhoods” competition. The competition aims to help up to 100 streets and local areas across England to reduce their carbon footprint by 60 per cent, with a focus on demonstrating what can be achieved with “hard to treat”, older housing stock.

This initiative will be delivered by the Energy Saving Trust, and backed by potentially more than £10 million over the next three years from the UK Environmental Transformation Fund. It will call for local alliances between householders, community groups, local authorities, energy suppliers, private companies, and banks to bid for funding. To receive funding from the Environmental Transformation Fund, bidders will need to join together and commit some funding from their own resources to transform the environmental performance of a street or local area.

Decisions have yet to be taken on the exact scope of the scheme and the amount of co-funding that will be required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further plans they have to assist states on the eastern boundary of the European Union through the European Union Neighbourhood Policy. [HL3045]

The UK welcomes the Commission's communication of 3 April, Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2007, and its accompanying country progress reports, and will continue to support the Commission and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partners in building on the achievements outlined.

We support the continuing development of ENP as a means of bringing security, stability and prosperity to our eastern and southern neighbours, in line with our Global Europe strategy. An important principle of ENP is differentiation, tailoring assistance to each partner's needs, capacity and ambition for its relations with the EU. We believe this approach best accommodates the interests of each individual neighbour. We want to keep the door open to EU membership for Ukraine and other European countries which might one day meet the membership criteria.

Through our annual contributions to the EU budget, the UK contributes around £120 million per annum towards the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument which supports the implementation of the ENP.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they intend to submit to the committee chaired by Felipe Gonzalez which is considering the future of Europe after the Lisbon treaty. [HL2959]

There was clear consensus at the December 2007 European Council on the mandate for the Reflection Group, namely: strengthening and modernising the European model of economic success and social responsibility, enhancing the competitiveness of the EU, the rule of law, sustainable development as a fundamental objective of the EU, global stability, migration, energy and climate protection, and the fight against global insecurity, international crime and terrorism. The Government will work with the group to ensure that this mandate is fulfilled and that the Government's Global Europe agenda is reflected in its work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they know what the legal status of the European Union flag is in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the European Union. [HL2903]

The EU flag has no legal status in the UK or the rest of the EU.

The EU flag originated on 25 October 1955 when the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly took the unanimous decision to adopt a flag as its emblem. The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers adopted it as the European flag on 8 December 1955. In 1985, the European flag was adopted as the official emblem of the then European Communities by heads of state and government. EU institutions have been using it since 1986.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What their response is to the evidence provided by Philip Balmforth concerning the disappearance of Asian girls from schools and his concerns that they have been subjected to forced marriages. [HL2990]

The Government are committed to tackling the unacceptable practice of forced marriage. Reports of children missing from schools, who may or may not be victims of forced marriage, are taken very seriously. The joint, Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit is working closely with the Department for Children, Families and Schools to raise awareness in schools of this important issue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answers by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 3 December 2007 (WA 170) and 25 March (WA 80), whether in negotiating the draft European Convention on Access to Official Documents they have sought to persuade the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights to include within an overarching framework of minimum standards: (a) a general guarantee of the right of access to official documents; (b) a general right of access to information held by legislative bodies, judicial bodies and private bodies that exercise public functions; (c) a right of access to an appellate authority to challenge a denial of access to information; and (d) a specific provision governing the reservations to the convention which may be made; and, if not, whether they regard each of these as minimum standards. [HL2868]

The Government did not make any proposals to amend the draft Convention on Access to Official Documents drawn up by the group of specialists on access to official documents (of which the UK is a member). The consensus among member states was that the draft convention should not become a “dead letter” convention, but one that established a set of principles governing the right of access to official documents which as many countries as possible could sign. The draft convention already contained a provision for a right of access to an appellate authority to challenge a denial of access to information, but the Government did seek to persuade the Steering Committee on Human Rights that the term “denial” should be interpreted broadly to encompass any situation where access to information had been made ineffective. No proposal was made to limit the areas in which a reservation may be made. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969, a state can formulate a reservation to the convention on signature and ratification as long as it is compatible with the objective and purpose of the treaty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much they spend on (a) primary mental health care, and (b) secondary mental health care; and [HL2744]

How much is spent on talking therapies in primary and secondary mental health care. [HL2745]

The total gross expenditure for mental health services in 2006-07 was £9.126 billion for all persons, according to the Department of Health resource account budgeting.

Data on primary care mental health expenditure are not collected centrally by the department.

The department does not collect data on expenditure on talking therapies centrally.

Current funding arrangements mean that strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for overall financial balance in their areas. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are allocated resources on the basis of the relative needs of their local populations. It is for PCTs, in partnership with SHAs and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Further to his Written Answer on 3 April (WA 188), why the bacon served in the River Restaurant and the cafeteria in 2 Millbank is not British. [HL3165]

The River Restaurant and 2 Millbank Cafeteria cater predominately for staff and operate with the objective of using ingredients of quality and keen purchase price in order to keep the menu pricing at an affordable level for staff. As the purchase price of English back bacon is 76 per cent higher per kilogram than the Dutch equivalent, purchase of English back bacon would not meet the objective of keeping the menu pricing at an affordable level for staff.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support the member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council seeking to protect the terms of reference of the social rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; and what is their stance on the amendment proposed by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference proposed at the seventh session of the Human Rights Council. [HL2869]

The UK supports the work of the UN Human Rights Council's special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. For this reason, the UK voted against an amendment to a resolution renewing the mandate of the special rapporteur put forward by Pakistan, on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, at the seventh session of the Human Rights Council.

We fully accept that limitations to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression may be permitted in certain circumstances under international human rights law. Other Human Rights Council mechanisms address this issue, including the newly agreed mandate of the special rapporteur on racism and religious freedom. But we were concerned at the way the amendment sought to shift the focus of the mandate away from looking at what states do in violation of the right to freedom of expression towards looking at what is appropriate for individuals to say.

Unfortunately, the amendment was carried. This led the UK and other western states to abstain on the resolution as a whole. Nevertheless, the special rapporteur's mandate was renewed for a further three years. The UK will continue to support the work of this special rapporteur.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the national identity card will contain information on, or directions to information on, (a) prison records, (b) entries on the sex offenders register, (c) anti-social behaviour orders and (d) overseas convictions; and [HL3008]

Whether identity cards issued to immigrants will contain information on criminal convictions in their countries of origin. [HL3009]

No information relating to criminal records or convictions will be held on identity cards. Identity cards will hold information relating to an individual's identity and the precise detail of the information to be contained on the card will be prescribed in regulations to be approved by Parliament under Section 6 of the Identity Cards Act 2006, and for cards issued to foreign nationals under Section 5(2)(d) of the UK Borders Act 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many members of (a) the Ulster Defence Regiment and (b) the Royal Irish Regiment were murdered in Northern Ireland from 1970 to 1998; and in each case how many led to successful convictions. [HL2410]

The following table shows that 203 members of the UDR/RIR were murdered in Northern Ireland during the period 1970 to 1998.

Details regarding convictions for such cases are not recorded.

Source: Central Statistics Unit, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Lisnasharragh.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they will take to ensure that the 2012 Olympic Games are sustainable and produce low carbon emissions. [HL2963]

In the London 2012 sustainability plan, Towards a One Planet 2012, published in November 2007, the Olympic Board sets out how it intends to achieve a sustainable Games for each of the build, staging and legacy phases. For example, the design of the Olympic Park will minimise carbon emissions and the impact of climate change in a number of ways, including the building of a 120-metre turbine and an efficient combined cooling heating and power (CCHP) plant which will have the capacity to change from gas to other low carbon and renewable fuel sources as they become available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they are making to the Government of China about international press access during the Beijing Olympics. [HL2910]

We regularly raise our concerns with the Chinese Government over media freedom, including during the visits of my right honourable friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to China earlier this year and at the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in January 2008. We welcomed the media regulations implemented in China on 1 January 2007 for foreign correspondents that temporarily lift restrictions on travel and on the requirement to seek official permission for interviews up to and during the Olympics. We hope that they will remain in place after the Olympics and be extended to China's domestic journalists, and have urged China to consider this. We believe it is in China's interests for foreign media to have proper access to what is happening in China and we encourage the Chinese authorities to ensure adequate access for media during the Olympics.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Phil Woolas, on 5 February (Official Report, Commons, 983W), why data on sulphur dioxide emissions take two years to process, verify and enter onto the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. [HL3012]

Defra published the 2006 results from the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) for UK air pollutants on 13 March 2008. Therefore, the time lag between the end of 2006 and publication of the results was a little over 14 months.

There is a vast amount of data that needs to be collected and compiled in order for the NAEI to be produced, and unfortunately this takes time. A number of important datasets are required, such as the Environment Agency's pollution inventory. This provides emissions from around 2,000 major point sources in England and Wales and, therefore, extensive compilation is required following the deadline of the end of April 2007 for operators to supply data. The NAEI also relies heavily on the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's digest of UK energy statistics, which is normally only made available at the end of July. The digest contains a comprehensive picture of energy production and use over the past five years and, therefore, this dataset takes a significant time to compile. There are also many other datasets required, some of which are not available until the autumn. The aim is to have all the input data available by the end of September at the latest, so that compilation can commence.

It then takes approximately three months to compile the emissions inventory, as it is a complex task. The NAEI provides estimates of emissions to the atmosphere for 44 pollutant species and, in addition to the latest set of data being added to the inventory, the full-time series is updated to take account of improved data and any advances in methodology used to estimate the emissions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the cost to them of all the procedures associated with a death in custody, including the investigation by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, the inquest and any other follow-up action; and [HL3041]

What is the annual cost of legal representation of Her Majesty's Government at inquests into deaths in custody. [HL3042]

The estimated costs by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman for investigating fatal incidents in prisons, young offender institutions and approved premises was £2.8 million in 2006-07. The costs of individual death in custody investigations vary widely.

Funding for coroners is provided by individual local authorities and there are no figures available centrally for the overall costs of inquests, which could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Learning from deaths in custody is a key part of the Prison Service suicide prevention strategy, and includes consideration of prison and probation investigation reports, inquest verdicts and Coroners Rule 43 reports. The follow-up action taken in respect of every death in custody will vary from case to case, and it is not possible to allocate specific costs to this action. The independently chaired forum for deaths in custody was set up in 2005 to learn lessons and effect change to prevent deaths in custody. It is made up of senior representatives of all custody providers, their respective oversight and inspectorate bodies, and other government and non-government experts and practitioners in the field. The estimated costs of running the forum are £60,000 per year.

Inquests into deaths in custody are inquisitorial fact-finding processes, heard by a coroner with a jury. Currently available costs information is only in respect of the costs of Prison Service legal representation. HM Prison Service's legal costs since April 2004 are provided in the table below. They include the costs of the Treasury Solicitor, counsel's fees and other disbursements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 1 April (WA 162) concerning appointments made by the Northern Ireland Office, which Ministers were involved in discussions with officials concerning appointments to the three non-statutory ad hoc advisory bodies in 2007. [HL3079]

The right honourable Peter Hain MP, the right honourable David Hanson MP, Paul Goggins MP and Maria Eagle MP.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the cost of oil used in the East Coast Main Line route utilisation strategy. [HL2998]

Route utilisation strategies are produced by Network Rail on behalf of the railway industry. They make use of economic data and guidance published by HM Government such as TEMPRO (Trip End Model PROjections) and WEBTAG (Web Transport Analysis Guidance) which ensures consistent evaluation of all transport-related projects. The application of this data and guidance in the East Coast Main Line route utilisation strategy is a matter for Network Rail and consequently HM Government are not aware of the precise cost of oil that was used.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 3 April (HL2703), when appraising a light rail scheme what values of time are ascribed to a car driver and a user of the prospective light rail scheme over a section of the journey. [HL3065]

Department for Transport guidance is that the value of time applied to the appraisal of schemes should vary by journey purpose.

For non-work purposes, everyone is assumed to have the same value of time on any mode. The following values are recommended: £5.04 per hour for commuting and £4.46 per hour for other journeys. The values for non-working time spent waiting for public transport is two and a half times the “commuting” and “other” values. Where walking and cycling is used as a means of interchange between modes of transport, the non-working values of time are doubled for that part of the journey. This reflects research suggesting people place a greater weight on these time savings.

For work purposes, the value of time varies by mode reflecting average differences in the income of relevant business travellers. For example, values of time of £36.96 per hour are applied to rail journeys and £26.43 per hour for journeys by car. There was insufficient data to produce a specific value of time for working journeys by light rail when these figures were calculated. Promoters will either apply the average value across all modes (£26.73 per hour) or, making a judgment informed by local circumstances, apply the values for other modes. This is reviewed by the department on a case-by-case basis.

All values are in market prices and expressed in average 2002 prices and values.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of the local highway authority road network in England and Wales is currently subject to a 20-miles-per-hour speed limit. [HL2976]

This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Local traffic authorities are responsible for setting local speed limits and have powers to introduce 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones without consent from the Secretary of State. They are not required to inform the department whenever they change a speed limit.

The department has recently commissioned a new research project on local road safety policy and practice, and some information about the implementation of 20 mph zones will be collected from local authorities as part of this study.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the number of lives potentially saved by more widespread use of 20-miles-per-hour speed limit. [HL2977]

The Transport Research Laboratory conducted two reviews of 20 mph zones in 1996 and again in 1998. The 1996 review found that 20 mph zones which incorporated traffic-calming measures achieved an average 9 mph reduction in vehicle speeds, annual accident frequency fell by 60 per cent and overall reduction in child accidents of 67 per cent.

The 1998 review looked at wider issues in terms of vehicle speeds and included 20 mph zones and 20 mph limits where there was lesser or no traffic calming. This found reductions in vehicle speeds were minimal in 20 mph speed limits as these only require repeater signs to be used.

The Department for Transport has however recently commissioned a new research project on local road safety policy and practice, and some information about the implementation of 20 mph zones will be collected from local authorities as part of this study.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they are making to the European Commission regarding their proposals to make all subsidised school milk packaging carry the European Union flag. [HL2988]

The UK, with a number of other EU member states, has successfully lobbied the European Commission to drop the proposals to require the packaging for subsidised school milk to carry the EU flag.

In the most recent draft of the proposal, discussed on 17 April, the requirement was dropped. However, the proposal requires that schools participating in the EU school milk scheme display a poster advertising the scheme and the EU subsidy. Defra will continue to liaise with interested parties and lobby the Commission ahead of the expected vote on the proposals on 22 May to ensure that any publicity requirements do not place a disproportionate burden on schools.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is meant in their statement entitled Agreement at St Andrews of 2006, in Annex D, last paragraph, by “new partnership arrangements on the basis previously announced”. [HL2992]

The joint statement by the Prime Minister and Taoiseach, on 6 April 2006, said that in the absence of restoration there would be a need for British-Irish partnerships to ensure that the Belfast (Good Friday) agreement was actively developed across its structures and functions.

As the noble Lord will be aware, devolution was restored on 8 May 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In their statement entitled Agreement at St Andrews of 2006, Annex D, in the section marked “March”, in what way they intend that the electorate should endorse the agreement. [HL2993]

The St Andrews agreement was endorsed by the electorate in the election to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 7 March 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions since 1997 HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue have either compensated or come to a tax settlement with an individual taxpayer in relation to the unauthorised disclosure of personal or corporate tax information by an officer or former officer in breach of the Official Secrets Act and codes of conduct or practice for officers of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue. [HL2841]

Neither HMRC nor the Inland Revenue hold records of tax settlements or compensation payments detailing the information requested.

Since April 2005 when HMRC was formed, the department is unaware of any settlements or payments resulting from a breach of the Official Secrets Act 1989.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On how many occasions unauthorised disclosures of tax information by its officers or former officers have been reported to HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue as acts of malfeasance of public office since records have been kept. [HL2842]

Unauthorised disclosures would not be reported as acts of malfeasance, and therefore HMRC has no information of the type requested.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether an officer or a former officer of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue disclosed information to an unauthorised person in the case of Mr Allitt of Preston, Lancashire; and [HL2843]

Whether an officer or a former officer of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue disclosed information to an unauthorised person in the case of Oyston family companies; [HL2844]

Whether an officer or a former officer of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue disclosed information to an unauthorised person in the case of Mr Gray of Preston, Lancashire; and [HL2845]

Whether an officer or a former officer of HM Revenue and Customs or the Inland Revenue disclosed information to an unauthorised person in the case of Mr McGrath of Preston, Lancashire. [HL2846]

For reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, HMRC does not comment on matters relating to individual taxpayers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what date the general intervention team of HM Revenue and Customs received evidence of malfeasance in public office by Inland Revenue officers; and what action is to be taken on this matter. [HL2872]

For reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, HMRC does not comment on matters relating to individual taxpayers.

Where allegations of malfeasance are made, they are passed to HMRC's internal governance unit to action as appropriate taking account of all of the relevant circumstances.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 April (WA 185), whether the measurement of the carbon effect of a scheme being evaluated under the new approach to appraisal will be directly proportional to the aggregated time savings and distance travelled in the “with” and “without” interventions under consideration. [HL3064]

The carbon impact of an intervention appraised under the new approach to appraisal is directly proportional to the change in the fuel consumed. For highways, fuel consumption is related to speed. The relationship with speed is not linear. Fuel consumed per kilometre is high at low speeds, initially falls as speeds increase, but then increases again.

Thus, an intervention may improve speeds (and, therefore, provide time savings) but result in either an increase or a reduction in fuel consumption and carbon. Which outcome occurs will depend on where speeds with and without the intervention lie on the fuel consumption curve.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Jim Fitzpatrick, on 18 February (Official Report, Commons col. 150W), when the study into longer, heavier vehicles will be published. [HL3010]

This is a complex project and the researchers are still examining the evidence. However, the work is drawing to a close and the report should be published in full shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they anticipate that the arrangements will be in place for imposing “on the spot” penalties for drivers of lorries registered outside the United Kingdom who breach the law. [HL3062]

The Department for Transport is working to ensure that the graduated fixed penalty and deposit scheme provisions are brought into force as soon as practicable—it is likely to be by spring 2009. Implementation of the schemes is a key priority for the department, but involves significant operational detail and a number of statutory instruments have yet to be made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much was spent by each regional development agency on rural transport in their respective regions in each of the years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. [HL2816]

The RDAs' remit does not include the specific provision of transport infrastructure. The RDA role in relation to transport is focused on influencing and aligning the investment decisions of others rather than direct delivery or funding.

Where a transport project has a clear economic benefit which is linked to the delivery of a regional economic strategy (RES) objective, a RDA may contribute to that project in a way that reflects the economic benefits associated with the RES or delivery vehicle.

Therefore, to identify spending over the past five years on specific projects involving transport services or infrastructure in rural areas would exceed the cost-benefit threshold.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 31 March (WA 140), what steps they have taken to ensure that mobile speed cameras are only located in response to community concerns or at sites where there are speeding problems and a high risk of casualties. [HL3026]

The Department for Transport (DfT) does not monitor the placement of mobile speed cameras as this is entirely a decision for local partnerships. DfT Circular 01/2007, “Use of Speed and Red-light Cameras for Traffic Enforcement: Guidance on Deployment, Visibility and Signing” makes it clear that the objective of camera deployment is to reduce deaths and injuries on roads by reducing the level and severity of speeding. The guidance highlights the effectiveness of cameras when deployed at locations with a history of accidents. A copy of the guidance is in the Library of the House and is also available on the department's website at www.dft.gov.uk. The department's guidance does not restrict or fetter the police's discretion to enforce anywhere, at any time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they have supported the enhancement and development of Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture as promised in Annex B, point six of their statement entitled Agreement at St Andrews issued in 2006. [HL2991]

The Government introduced the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, Section 15 of which amends the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to put the Executive Committee under a duty to adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and develop the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture.

Following the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007, this is now a matter for the devolved Administration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Secretary of State for Wales, Paul Murphy, on 20 March (Official Report, Commons, 1298W), how Brabners Chaffe Street LLP was in possession of evidentiary documents sent by Mr Douglas Gowan to the Environment Agency copies of which were returned to him on 13 December 2007. [HL2858]

I am informed by the Environment Agency that it had previously instructed Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, a firm of external solicitors, to act on its behalf in respect of matters of defamation and reputation.

In connection with correspondence on those issues, the Environment Agency's legal department sent documentation to Brabners Chaffe Street LLP for return to Mr Douglas Gowan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Secretary of State for Wales, Paul Murphy, on 20 March (Official Report, Commons, 1298W), whether proofs of admission of shared liability by Monsanto and Purle Brothers for the contamination of Brofiscin Quarry are (a) in the data protection turnovers recently made to Mr Gowan by the Environment Agency; and (b) held by the Rhondda Cynon Taff council. [HL2859]

I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that in the context of its investigations pursuant to Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency is unaware of any admissions of shared liability at Brofiscin Quarry.

(a) The Environment Agency has fully complied with all the subject access requests for information made by Mr Gowan pursuant to the Data Protection Act 1998. Mr Gowan has received all of the personal data to which he is entitled under the Act.

(b) I am informed by Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council that it is the responsibility of the Environment Agency Wales to deal with liability matters concerning Brofiscin Quarry. Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council is not the enforcing authority for proving liability issues at Brofiscin Quarry.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What disincentives they propose for use of plastic packaging. [HL3036]

Both sets of packaging legislation in the UK, the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 and the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 (as amended), aim to minimise the amount of packaging used in the first place, and therefore reduce all types of packaging waste. The regulations also encourage reuse of packaging and increase the recovery and recycling of packaging waste.

The Packaging Essential Requirements Regulations transpose into UK law the provisions of the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (94/62/EC) relating to the requirements which must be satisfied in order to be placed on the market. These regulations place a number of requirements on all packaging placed on the market in the UK, including a requirement that packaging shall be designed, produced and commercialised in such a way as to permit its reuse or recovery, including recycling, and to minimise its impact on the environment when packaging waste or residues from packaging waste management operations are disposed of.

The requirements guarantee the free circulation of compliant packaging on the single market. For the UK to go beyond these requirements risks contravening the directive's single market goals, as any additional measure could be regarded as a barrier to trade.

Although the Government cannot force producers to use specific materials in their packaging or products, we do encourage them to minimise packaging, use recyclable materials and take steps to ensure that these are recycled as far as possible at disposal. Almost all packaging is in fact recyclable, but whether material is actually recycled is ultimately determined by the local collection and reprocessing facilities available.

The Government are also making it easier for local authorities to plan for, and put in place, the waste infrastructure that is needed on the ground in order to reprocess more recyclable materials.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Phil Woolas MP, on 18 February (Official Report, Commons, 275W), whether the impact assessments on each draft river basin management plan will be carried out after the six-month consultations into them have finished; and, if so, when they expect those impact assessments to be published. [HL3052]

An impact assessment will accompany each draft river basin management plan and both will be subject to a six month consultation, scheduled to commence in late December 2008.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking following the recent report by Women for Women International on the incidence of domestic abuse during the past five years in Iraq. [HL2769]

The Government condemn all intimidation of, and violence against, women and are committed to supporting the development of women's rights across the globe, including in Iraq. The Iraqi Government have consistently made clear their commitment to ensuring women's rights are fully respected. The Iraqi constitution includes provisions to protect women's rights. The Iraqi Ministries of Human Rights and Women are working to ensuring women's rights are fully respected.