To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budget is for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for the financial year 2002–03. [57782]

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has a budget of £1.2 million for the year 2002–03. The Northern Ireland Office will continue to consider seriously, against other pressures on its resources, bids for increased funding, provided they are supported by an appropriate business case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will publish the Government's response to the recommendations made by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission under section 69(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. [57780]

I have today laid copies of the Government's draft response in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. The Government are publishing the document for consultation to allow others to have their say. Comments are being sought by 16 August 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what level of remuneration is paid to members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and what time commitment is required of them. [57781]

Part-time members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are expected to spend four to five days each month on Commission duties. From the Commission's establishment in 1999, Commissioners have received £8,000 per year for this work. With effect from 1 April 2002, this rate will increase to £10,000 per year.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, for what reason the register of interests relating to the Church Commissioners is not available for public inspection; and if he will make a statement [55477]

The Church Commissioners' Board of Governors introduced a register of interests in June 2000 in line with good practice. It is available for inspection on request by MPs, Government officials, members of the Church of England's General Synod and Commissioners and other committee members, reflecting the Commissioners' accountability to the Church and Parliament. Its operation and availability will stay under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department takes the lead in policies connected with UK membership of UNESCO; and if she will make a statement concerning co-operation with other Government Departments in this matter. [56336]

My Department is the sponsoring Department for UK relations with UNESCO. It pays the UK's share of UNESCO's assessed budget. The Government's top priority for UNESCO is the achievement of the millennium development goals for education. We co-ordinate closely and regularly with other UK Government Departments and with the parallel Departments in the devolved Administrations with an interest in UNESCO's work.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to her Department was of employing staff in (a) London and (b) the south east from employment agencies in each year since 1997. [56512]

The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much assistance the Government have given to the Global Environmental Facility in each of the last five years. [56658]

The UK has provided the following financial assistance to the Global Environmental Facility:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have received assistance from the Global Environmental Facility in each of the last five years; and how much they received. [56659]

The figures are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on research into innovative water technologies and water conservation techniques for the agriculture sector in the past five years; and if she will list each research project. [56660]

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance her Department gave to (a) South Africa, (b) Uganda and (c) Nigeria for sustainable water supplies and sanitation systems in (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02. [56661]

In financial year 2000–01 the Department gave the following financial assistance for sustainable water supplies and sanitation systems:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much assistance her Department provided in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 to support anti-corruption bureaux in developing countries; and if she will list them. [56662]

Our planned and operational support for anti-corruption bureaux in developing countries in 2000–01 and 2001–02 using figures available from our central management information system includes the following:

The Department for International Development funds a substantial programme of knowledge and research in water-related issues. Over the past five years £5 million has been allocated to innovative water technologies and water conservation techniques for the agricultural sector. Specific projects include:We are also currently developing support to the new Independent Corrupt Practices Commission in Nigeria.Support for anti-corruption bureaux is normally only one part of wider programmes of activity to bear down on corruption.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress of the Africa trade and poverty programme. [56664]

The trade and poverty programme (TPP) aims to build capacity in sub-Saharan African countries and regional organisations for trade reforms which support poverty reduction. Detailed proposals for capacity building projects have been prepared in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Botswana and the East African community. The project design process has itself been contributing in these countries to better co-ordination between trade policy and poverty reduction and to building the national understanding and ownership of the projects which is vital for their success. Full implementation of these projects is expected to start in July 2002. DFID is also working on possible TPP projects with Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia and the Southern African trade network and plans to make visits to assess interest in Nigeria in June and with the West African Economic and Monetary Union shortly after.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her assessment was of the outcomes of the UN Special Session on Children (UNGASS) which took place in New York in May. [56667]

The UNGASS helped to raise the profile of child poverty and child rights issues. It provided an opportunity for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister for Children and Young People and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development to advocate UK views and network with others. But negotiations on the outcomes document were difficult. The outcomes document is good on HIV/AIDS, gender equality and education. But we were not able to secure optimal language on reproductive health and child rights in the face of strong American opposition. The language on reproductive health and child rights is acceptable and the best that could be agreed by all UN member states, but is not as strong as we would ideally have liked.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards the implementation of national strategies for sustainable development for developing countries; and which countries have strategies in place. [56668]

DFID has been supporting the development of National Strategies for sustainable development (NSSDs) initially through working with colleagues at the OECD/DAC to produce policy guidance on this topic. This work has been taken up by the United Nations who have now developed their own policy guidance. This will be a priority issue at the World Summit on sustainable development later this year.One conclusion of work so far is that developing strategies is more of a process than preparing a document that sits on a shelf. Moreover, the label does not matter. If a national strategy adheres to an agreed set of principles or characteristics of strategic processes for sustainability, then that strategy in effect becomes a NSSD. In this way, poverty reduction strategies that exhibit these characteristics (such as the integration of environmental, economic and social considerations) can be considered NSSDs.As a consequence, it is not easy to quantify how many NSSDs are in place because they are identified by characteristics not labels.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mandate of the European Development Fund Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55383]

The European Development Fund Committee (EDF) examines community aid for development co-operation in the ACP countries and the overseas countries and territories (OCT). EU-ACP co-operation is now governed by the Cotonou Agreement, signed in June 2000. The Cotonou Agreement's main objectives are the reduction and eventual eradication of poverty and the gradual integration of ACP countries into the global economy, while adhering to the aims of sustainable development.Article 21 of the Cotonou Agreement establishes the role of the EDF Committee. The Committee's tasks cover:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on the Special System of Assistance to traditional ACP Suppliers of Bananas is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability` and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55382]

Council Regulation (EC) No. 856/1999 establishes a special framework of assistance (SFA) for traditional ACP suppliers of bananas. It was adopted on 22 April 1999. The Regulation provides for financial and technical assistance to 12 ACP countries, taking account of changes in the marketing arrangements for bananas in Europe following the amendments to the import regime introduced on 1 January 1999.A Commission decision fixing the amounts available in 1999 under the special framework of assistance for a total of 45 million euro was published on 30 September 1999. A second Commission decision was made on 18 July 2000 for the 2000 budget line (44.5 million euro).The overall objective of this programme of assistance is to improve competitiveness of traditional ACP banana production. The Council Regulation aims to achieve this goal by funding projects designed to increase banana productivity. Funding is also available for diversification where no opportunities for sustainable increase in banana production exists. The method for calculating eligibility for funds is based upon a competitivity gap formula.Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1609/1999 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the Council Regulation was adopted on 22 July 1999. Article 6 of this regulation states that the Commission will be assisted by the geographically determined committee competent for development. This role is taken by the European Development Fund Committee (EDF) sitting as the Advisory Committee on Special Systems of Assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas.In the past 12 months this committee has met once. The United Kingdom is represented by officials from the Department for International Development. As matters for consideration of this committee are always scheduled within an existing EDF Committee meeting, no additional charge to public funds is incurred in connection with attending this committee.Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mandate of the Committee on Food Security and Food Aid is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55380]

Council Regulation (EC) No. 1292/96 of 27 June 1996 establishes the framework for European Community food aid policy, management and food aid operations. Article 26 of the regulation states that the Commission shall be assisted by a Food and Security and Food Aid Committee composed of representatives of the member states chaired by a representative of the Commission.The committee is responsible for examining any implications for recipient countries of proposals to commit funds for food security, analysis and monitoring food security policies and examining proposals for joint initiatives with other Community instruments.In the past 12 months the committee has met three times. The United Kingdom is represented by officials from the Department for International Development. Travel costs for DFID officials to attend meetings of the committee are met by the European Commission. Other costs incurred for attending this committee totalled £420 in the past 12 months.The European Community's budget for food security and food aid operations in 2001 was 455 million euros and for 2002 has been set at 435 million euros. The United Kingdom's share of this is approximately 18 per cent. This figure includes the United Kingdom's mandatory contribution of £19 million under the terms of the 1999 Food Aid Convention.Food security and food aid operations are of three main types; dealing with immediate food shortages, longer term operations to support food security and operations to improve early warning systems and storage programmes. Areas to have recently experienced severe food shortages include Ecuador, DPR Korea, Georgia, West Bank and Gaza, Burkina Faso and Afghanistan.Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mandate of the Committee on Implementation of Humanitarian Aid Operations is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55350]

The European Union's mandate to The European Community Humanitarian Organisation (as set out in Regulation (CE) No. 1257/96) is to provide emergency assistance and relief to the victims of natural disasters or armed conflict outside the European Union.The Humanitarian Aid Committee (HAC) meets on average once a month, excluding August (and often December). In addition to this, each presidency usually holds an informal HAC to discuss issues of substance in more detail. Including both formal and informal HACs there have been 12 meetings over the last 12 months. The UK is represented by officials from the Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department, DFID. The annual cost to public funds of the Committee's work is approximately £5,000.Items due for discussion at the next HAC on 23 May include the Global Plan 2002 for Sahrawi Refugees in Algeria, a report on ECHO's recent evaluation of UNHCR activities, a report on the recent ECHO Mission to Zimbabwe, and the Commission's non-paper on the interplay between Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid in crisis situations.Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mandate of the Committee on Financial and Technical Assistance and Economic Co-Operation with Developing Countries in Asia and Latin America is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55385]

Council Regulation (EC) No. 443/92 25 February 1992 establishes the framework for European Community financial and technical assistance, and economic co-operation with the countries of Asia and Latin America. Article 15 of the regulation states that the Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of representatives of the member states chaired by a representative of the Commission.The committee considers and delivers an opinion, by qualified majority voting, on development assistance financing proposals for country and regional strategies, projects and programmes in Asia and Latin America.In the past 12 months the committee has met 11 times. The United Kingdom is represented by officials from the Department for International Development. Travel costs for DFID officials to attend meetings of the committee are met by the European Commission. Other costs incurred for attending this committee totalled £1,800 in the past 12 months.EU development co-operation assistance in Asian has been focused on direct poverty reduction measures, for example through support for rural development, infrastructure and institutional capacity building. The environment sector has also received support with substantial programmes devoted to areas such as forest protection, biodiversity and environmental technology. The health and education sectors also feature significantly in EC efforts aimed at poverty reduction. Priority is given to the poorest populations, and to the poorer areas of developing countries, with a view to supporting economic activities that lead to sustainable development.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mandate of the MED Committee Financial and Technical co-operation between the Community and Mediterranean non-member countries is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55386]

Council Regulation (EC) No. 2698/2000 of 27 November 2000 amended an existing regulation setting out the terms of financial and technical measures to promote reform of economic and social structures in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. Article 11 of the regulation establishes the roles of a management committee composed of representatives of the member states, the European Bank (EIB), chaired by a representative of the Commission.The priorities for MEDA resources are support for economic transition with the aim of wider implementation of free trade through increasing competitiveness with a view to achieving sustainable economic growth, particularly through development of the private sector; support to economic transition; and strengthening the socio-economic balance: the aim is to alleviate the short-term costs of economic transition through appropriate measures in the fields of social policy.The committee considers and delivers an opinion, by qualified majority voting, on development assistance financing proposals for country and regional strategies, projects and programmes in the MED region.In the past 12 months the committee has met eight times. The United Kingdom is represented by officials from the Department for International Development. Travel costs for DFID officials to attend meetings of the committee are met by the European Commission. Other costs incurred for attending this committee totalled £1,260 in the past 12 months.Together with the member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the mandate of the Committee on aid for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (CAROS) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is: what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [55390]

The mandate of the CARDS Committee is to oversee the implementation of Council Regulation 2666/2000 of 5 December 2000, which established CARDS. It determines the strategy framework for CARDS, and approves annual and multi-annual allocations to country and regional programmes.The committee has met eight times in the last year. The UK is represented by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the UK Permanent Representation to the European Commission.The annual cost to public funds of the committee's work principally comprises the work of DFID officials in assessing and discussing with the EC strategy and programme proposals, as well as the costs of attendance at meetings of the committee. The CARDS budget for 2001–06 is euro 4.65 billion, of which the UK's share is 18.8 per cent., or approximately £540 million. We do not keep records to show the proportion of staff time committed to CARDS.CARDS programmes or work related to them are subject to scrutiny by Select Committees of Parliament. Under Council Decision 1999/468/EC the EC has undertaken to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first such report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February (Commission Document 5685/02). We have encouraged the EC to make available on its website a record of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library certificates showing that timber used for the doors, doorframes and window frames in the refurbishment of her Department's buildings came from a certified, sustainable source. [55260]

Timber for the doors and doorframes (no wooden window frames were fitted) were supplied by Shadbolt and Sons. Shadbolts are founder members of the WWF 1995+ group, which is one of the groups listed under the current DEFRA guidance "Greening Government Operations—Green Guide for Buyers, Action Sheet on Wood". The group has the target to source all its timbers from sources with certified sustainable management, and works closely with the Forest Stewardship Council. DFID's requirement followed the BREEAM guidelines at the time, that softwood and temperate hardwoods were to be from sustainable sources, but certificates were not requested. The Sapele veneers used in this project were not certified as they came from existing stocks obtained in 1983, and were supplied with the consent of WWF.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, (1) pursuant to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on 23 April 2002, Official Report, column 207W, what her estimate is of the number of History National Curriculum (Key Stages 2 to 5) schools with internet access to the website at http://www.learningcurve.pro.gov.uk/FocusOn/census/; [55911](2) pursuant to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on 23 April 2002,

We have supported £657 million of expenditure on ICT by schools between 1998 and 2002, with a further £710 million to follow between 2002 and 2004. This funding is intended to help schools to achieve the objectives agreed with their local education authority and set out in their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development plan. We would expect these plans to address measures for connecting to the internet, so that schools can access the wealth of cultural, scientific and intellectual material to be found on the internet. The percentage of schools with internet connection was published in the Statistics of Education—Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2001; 97 per cent. of schools are connected to the internet.Producers of educational content are encouraged to link their resources to the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) portal. The sites on the NGfL portal are required to conform to a set of ground rules and a code of conduct. However, it is the responsibility of the site developers to ensure that their content is accurate. As with other forms of information media, the decision on which sites to use lies with schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many deaf children were taught (a) with British sign language and (b) without access to British sign language in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [56493]

The Department does not collect this information centrally. However, an interim report from the National Evaluation of Support Options for Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Children in 1999 suggests the following percentages of deaf children, with average hearing loss, born between 1980 and 1994 used British sign language within their education programmes:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of profoundly deaf young people achieved (a) five A to C GCSE grades and (b) five A to G GCSE grades, broken down by local authority in the last four years.[56492]

The Department currently does not collect this information centrally, though we shall shortly be consulting on whether and how data on different types of special educational needs could be collected. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, the data requested might be collected from January 2004.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the future of learning partnerships. [57610]

In November 2001 the Government launched a consultation on the future role of learning partnerships. In the light of that consultation, I wrote to chairs of learning partnerships on 29 April 2002 setting out our future vision for partnerships and new funding and support arrangements. The Government believe learning partnerships have a key role in promoting provider collaboration to deliver better lifelong learning in local areas, and in working with a wide range of partners to maximise the contribution of learning to local regeneration. The Government also wish to see better links between learning partnerships and the Learning and Skills Council. From April 2003 funding for learning partnerships, currently channelled through Government Offices, will be directed through the Learning and Skills Council. I have placed a copy of my letter to chairs in the Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were in service in Buckinghamshire in (a) January 2001 and (b) January 2002. [55690]

There were 4,020 full-time equivalent¹ teachers in service in the maintained schools sector in Buckinghamshire in January 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by her Department on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers and officials in each of the five years. [52739]

[holding answer 26 April 2002]: This Department has not delivered training by RADA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by his Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52713]

[holding answer 26 April 2002]: The Department for Education and Skills are only able to provide information for the last three years. During that period the Learning Academy spent the following amounts on leadership training for officials:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by her Department on voice coaching for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years.[52700]

[holding answer 26 April 2002]: Ministers in this Department are able to take advantage of the programmes for Ministers organised by the Centre for Management and Policy Studies (CMPS) in the Cabinet Office.In addition the Department has provided presentation skills training for officials if their job requires it but not voice training. We are unable to provide figures as our records are not broken down into that amount of detail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to make education maintenance allowances available to young people in Warrington, North; and if she will make a statement. [56679]

We will be taking decisions on any future extension of the scheme on the basis of the rigorous evaluation currently being conducted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when her Department will introduce measures to raise rural awareness through staff (a) training, (b) development and (c) secondments as part of overall rural proofing measures as set out in the Countryside Agency's report, Rural Proofing in 2001–02. [54416]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Rural Affairs on 9 May 2002, Official Report, column 274W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Greece concerning the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens. [53822]

I received a letter from Professor Evangelos Venizelos, Minister of Culture of Greece on 21 June 2001, and I replied to him on 15 July 2001. I have had no discussions with the Government of Greece on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will announce the name of the person chosen to be Chairman of the European Capital of Culture 2008 Advisory Panel. [55454]

On 8 May my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the appointment of Sir Jeremy Isaacs, the former chief executive of Channel Four and general director of the Royal Opera House, as the chairman of the European Capital of Culture 2008 Advisory Panel.The broadcaster Sue MacGregor and Judith Mayhew, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee at the Corporation of London, will be deputy chairs. Further appointments to the panel will be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect of the current allocation process for lottery funds on the accumulation of unspent funds; and if she will make a statement. [56141]

The National Lottery has raised approximately £12.65 billion for good causes since its launch in November 1994, around £9.1 billion of which has been spent by the National Lottery distributing bodies. This leaves a balance of about £3.55 billion which distributors have not yet drawn down from the National Lottery Distribution Fund, although at the end of March 2002 distributors' total commitments stood at over £4.12 billion, some £570 million more than the balance held in the fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what factors underlay the decision to reject the recommendation of the Rothschild Commission on Gambling that a charitable foundation would be the most appropriate and effective system for allocating Lottery money; and if she will make a statement. [56142]

Following publication of a White Paper on the National Lottery in 1992 and the consultation which followed it was concluded that establishing the Lottery as a charity would blur the lines of accountability, and that under charity law many of the good causes beneficiaries which were not charities would not be eligible for funding.Given the substantial sums of money involved—far in excess of those estimated by the Rothschild Commission—separate distributing bodies for each of the good causes were considered more appropriate, using existing bodies where possible so as not to duplicate expertise or run counter to existing strategies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to ensure that all young people aged seven to 21 years have the opportunity to participate in arts and sports through Government or Lottery funded programmes; and if she will make a statement. [56143]

One of the Department's four strategic priorities is to enhance access to a fuller cultural and sporting life for children and young people. To meet this aim DCMS is working closely with DfES and Lottery distributors to deliver a number of key initiatives, including: a sporting entitlement to ensure that all children have access to two hours a week of high quality school sport and physical education; the school sports co-ordinator programme, specialist sports colleges and the New Opportunities Fund Sport and PE in School Programme to improve sports provision in schools; Creative Partnerships, a new initiative linking schools with cultural organisations which is being established in 16 deprived areas across England; Space for Sport and Arts which will improve facilities in primary schools in deprived areas; and the music entitlement which will give all primary school pupils the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of the underspend of Lottery money for good causes on long-term sales of tickets; and if she will make a statement. [56140]

No specific assessment has been made. However, the Government regard it as important that the public should have confidence that Lottery funding is bringing the maximum benefit to good causes, and have asked the distributors to take steps to transfer committed funds to grant recipients as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on Sport England's plans in respect of Crystal Palace sports stadium, with special reference to the financial implications of surrendering its lease. [57088]

Sport England has conducted a strategic review of all its national centres to ensure that they, and the resources required to run them, are utilised to the best effect. Sport England will shortly be meeting the London borough of Bromley, which owns the freehold of the Crystal Palace centre, to discuss a number of issues including the future development of the centre. I understand that no firm decisions have yet been taken in respect of the centre's future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions in the last six months members of her Department have met their Italian counterparts; and what subjects were discussed. [56894]

I can confirm that neither Ministers nor officials have taken part in any bilateral meetings with their Italian counterparts during the last six months.However, DCMS Ministers and officials regularly meet their counterparts from European Union member states, including Italy, at a wide range of EU meetings. These include formal and informal meetings of the Council of Ministers, working groups, committees and meetings on specific issues such as sport, tourism, cultural and audiovisual policy. We also meet in other forums, such as the Council of Europe, the World Anti-Doping Agency and UNESCO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether medical officers from the reserve forces are to be called out for mobilised service in support of deployed operations; and if he will make a statement. [57611]

The Government have authorised the compulsory call out of anaesthetists, general surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons from the volunteer reserve forces to support military operations in the Balkans and

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of each version of the internal guidance which have been drawn up by his Department since 1 January 1999 to assist staff in his Department to answer subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998. [53386]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Lord Chancellor's Department (Mr. Wills) gave on 25 April 2002, Official Report, column 446W to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. McCabe).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further plans he has to place warships in extended readiness or on standby in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [56192]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 May 2002, Official Report, columns 963–64W and to the answer I gave on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 14W to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray).On current plans no further warships will be placed at extended readiness during the next 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign nationals left the British Army in each of the last 10 years broken down by nationality; and what their average length of service was. [55446]

The tables show officer and soldier exits. Nationality at birth is not available on flow data before 1997 so only the last six financial years have been shown. These figures represent those individuals who left the British Army. Calculations have been made using the mean length of service of those personnel at the time they left and are only produced for populations of 10 or more.