Written Answers of 3 March 1998

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
  Iraq
  Iraq
  Qualified Majority Voting
  Qualified Majority Voting
  Vietnam
  Vietnam
  Amsterdam Treaty (Tapes)
  Amsterdam Treaty (Tapes)
  Visa Waiting Times (Beijing)
  Visa Waiting Times (Beijing)
  Ethical Foreign Policy
  Ethical Foreign Policy
  Gibraltar
  Gibraltar
HOME DEPARTMENT
  Voting Systems
  Voting Systems
  Low Newton Prison
  Low Newton Prison
  Cannabis
  Cannabis
  Victim Support Schemes
  Victim Support Schemes
  Domestic Violence
  Domestic Violence
  Arson
  Arson
  Cyclists
  Cyclists
  Metropolitan Police
  Metropolitan Police
  Hillgrove Farm
  Hillgrove Farm
  Crime Reporting
  Crime Reporting
  Under-age Sex (Prosecutions)
  Under-age Sex (Prosecutions)
  Animal Experiments
  Animal Experiments
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Car Parking
  Car Parking
  Police Manpower (Essex)
  Police Manpower (Essex)
  Electoral Procedures
  Electoral Procedures
  Parking Restrictions
  Parking Restrictions
  Crime (Witnesses and Victims)
  Crime (Witnesses and Victims)
  Gambling
  Gambling
  Private Detectives
  Private Detectives
  Correspondence
  Correspondence
  European Convention Human Rights
  European Convention Human Rights
  Prisoners (Literacy)
  Prisoners (Literacy)
  Proportional Representation
  Proportional Representation
  Sex Offenders
  Sex Offenders
  Totalisator Board
  Totalisator Board
NORTHERN IRELAND
  Health and Food Safety Research
  Health and Food Safety Research
  Civil Servants
  Civil Servants
  Finbar Ross
  Finbar Ross
  Works of Art
  Works of Art
  Vehicle Registration Numbers
  Vehicle Registration Numbers
  Inward Investment
  Inward Investment
  Parades Commission
  Parades Commission
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
  Petroleum Stocks
  Petroleum Stocks
  Exports (Iran)
  Exports (Iran)
  Energy Saving
  Energy Saving
  Dounreay
  Dounreay
  Inward Investment
  Inward Investment
  Radio Communications Agency
  Radio Communications Agency
  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Industrial Tribunals (Cost)
  Industrial Tribunals (Cost)
  Business Links
  Business Links
  Free Zone (North Korea)
  Free Zone (North Korea)
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
  Mid-Essex Local Radio
  Mid-Essex Local Radio
  Overseas Travel
  Overseas Travel
  Touring Opera Companies
  Touring Opera Companies
  Empty Properties
  Empty Properties
  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
DEFENCE
  Anthrax
  Anthrax
  Overseas Visits
  Overseas Visits
  Holy Loch
  Holy Loch
  Group Captain Ingle
  Group Captain Ingle
  RAF Menwith Hill
  RAF Menwith Hill
  Land Ranges
  Land Ranges
  Conferences
  Conferences
  Staff Qualifications
  Staff Qualifications
  European Regional Test Centre
  European Regional Test Centre
  Prisoners of War (Pay)
  Prisoners of War (Pay)
  Chinese Nationals
  Chinese Nationals
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
  Barristers
  Barristers
  Specialist Counsel
  Specialist Counsel
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
  Development
  Development
  Water Charging
  Water Charging
  Local Government Finance
  Local Government Finance
  Greater London Authority
  Greater London Authority
  Regional Development Agencies
  Regional Development Agencies
  Offices of the Regions
  Offices of the Regions
  Housing (North-east Lancashire)
  Housing (North-east Lancashire)
  Parish Councils
  Parish Councils
  House Building
  House Building
  Local Government Reform
  Local Government Reform
  High Explosives
  High Explosives
  Local Authorities (Best Value)
  Local Authorities (Best Value)
  Speed Cameras
  Speed Cameras
  Train Services (Punctuality)
  Train Services (Punctuality)
  Road Schemes
  Road Schemes
  Cars (Fuel Efficiency)
  Cars (Fuel Efficiency)
  Drink Driving
  Drink Driving
  Channel Tunnel
  Channel Tunnel
  Radioactive Material (Air Transport)
  Radioactive Material (Air Transport)
  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Channel Tunnel Rail Link
  Speed Limits
  Speed Limits
  Fishing Industry
  Fishing Industry
  Freight (Rail Transport)
  Freight (Rail Transport)
  House Purchase
  House Purchase
  China
  China
  Ministerial Travel
  Ministerial Travel
  White Asbestos
  White Asbestos
  Travellers
  Travellers
  Damp Homes
  Damp Homes
  London City Airport
  London City Airport
  Community Alarm Schemes
  Community Alarm Schemes
  Smuggling
  Smuggling
  Taxi Drivers (London)
  Taxi Drivers (London)
  Leaseholders
  Leaseholders
  Mileage Rates
  Mileage Rates
  Car Parking
  Car Parking
  Northumberland National Park
  Northumberland National Park
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Employee Travel
  Employee Travel
  Land Development
  Land Development
  Social Housing
  Social Housing
  Planning Guidelines
  Planning Guidelines
  Council Tax (Carers Discount)
  Council Tax (Carers Discount)
  Minicabs
  Minicabs
  Car Advertising
  Car Advertising
  Social Housing
  Social Housing
  Council Tax
  Council Tax
  Correspondence (Femco Projects Ltd.)
  Correspondence (Femco Projects Ltd.)
  Police Officers (Stansted Airport)
  Police Officers (Stansted Airport)
  Second Homes
  Second Homes
  Green Belt (Planning Consents)
  Green Belt (Planning Consents)
HEALTH
  Cancer Surgery
  Cancer Surgery
  Homeopathic Treatments
  Homeopathic Treatments
  Legal Actions
  Legal Actions
  NHS Trusts
  NHS Trusts
  Nurses and Midwives
  Nurses and Midwives
  Community Care
  Community Care
  Pen Needles
  Pen Needles
  Children's Hospices
  Children's Hospices
  Continence Products
  Continence Products
  Smoking
  Smoking
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Employee Travel
  Employee Travel
  Car Parking
  Car Parking
  General Practitioners
  General Practitioners
TREASURY
  Individual Savings Accounts
  Individual Savings Accounts
  Inheritance Tax (Heritage Property)
  Inheritance Tax (Heritage Property)
  Film Industry
  Film Industry
  Labour Statistics
  Labour Statistics
  Alcohol and Tobacco Fraud Review
  Alcohol and Tobacco Fraud Review
  Excise Duties
  Excise Duties
  Exchange Rate
  Exchange Rate
  National Insurance
  National Insurance
  Local Government Finance (Scotland)
  Local Government Finance (Scotland)
  Travel Insurance
  Travel Insurance
  EAGGF Fund
  EAGGF Fund
  Abortions
  Abortions
  Retail Petrol Industry
  Retail Petrol Industry
  Single Currency
  Single Currency
  Earnings
  Earnings
  Car Parking
  Car Parking
SCOTLAND
  Birds
  Birds
  Ministerial Transport
  Ministerial Transport
  Absenteeism
  Absenteeism
  CBI Scotland
  CBI Scotland
  Market Testing
  Market Testing
  Gaelic Broadcasting
  Gaelic Broadcasting
  Spend to Save Scheme
  Spend to Save Scheme
  Petrol Stations
  Petrol Stations
  Empty Properties
  Empty Properties
  National Galleries of Scotland
  National Galleries of Scotland
  Phosphorous Bombs
  Phosphorous Bombs
  Beaufort's Dyke
  Beaufort's Dyke
  St. Ninian's Isle
  St. Ninian's Isle
  Scalloway Castle
  Scalloway Castle
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Land Use Statistics
  Land Use Statistics
  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
  Elderly People
  Elderly People
  NHS Waiting Lists
  NHS Waiting Lists
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
  Millennium Compliance
  Millennium Compliance
  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  Commonwealth Development Corporation
  North Korea
  North Korea
  Yemen
  Yemen
  Women
  Women
  Polio
  Polio
  UN Development Agencies
  UN Development Agencies
  Employee Travel
  Employee Travel
  World Poverty
  World Poverty
  Afghanistan
  Afghanistan
  Africa (HIV)
  Africa (HIV)
  Multilateral Contributions
  Multilateral Contributions
  Child Labour
  Child Labour
  Car Parking
  Car Parking
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Land Mines
  Land Mines
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
  Fisheries Enforcement
  Fisheries Enforcement
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Arable Area Payments Scheme
  Unpasteurised Milk
  Unpasteurised Milk
  Central Science Laboratory
  Central Science Laboratory
  Food Science Research Contracts
  Food Science Research Contracts
  Fishing Industry
  Fishing Industry
  Departmental Report
  Departmental Report
  Calshot Oyster Fishery
  Calshot Oyster Fishery
  Vitamin Supplements
  Vitamin Supplements
  Farm Subsidies
  Farm Subsidies
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
  Legal Aid (CJD)
  Legal Aid (CJD)
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Legal Aid Board
  Legal Aid Board
  Car Parking
  Car Parking
  Employee Travel
  Employee Travel
  Recovery of Costs
  Recovery of Costs
PRIME MINISTER
  Iraq
  Iraq
  Millennium Dome
  Millennium Dome
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
  Remploy
  Remploy
  New Deal (Employer Agreements)
  New Deal (Employer Agreements)
  Access to Work
  Access to Work
  Schools (Toilet Facilities)
  Schools (Toilet Facilities)
  Class Sizes (Northumberland)
  Class Sizes (Northumberland)
  Failing Schools
  Failing Schools
  Family Credit
  Family Credit
  Work Permits
  Work Permits
SOCIAL SECURITY
  Discretionary Social Fund
  Discretionary Social Fund
  Benefit Integrity Project
  Benefit Integrity Project
  N. T. Lawless
  N. T. Lawless
  Parking Car
  Parking Car
  Benefits Agency Medical Service
  Benefits Agency Medical Service
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Employee Travel
  Employee Travel
  Pension Review
  Pension Review
  Ministerial Visits
  Ministerial Visits
  Lone Parents
  Lone Parents
  Buildings Refurbishment
  Buildings Refurbishment
WALES
  Beef Ban
  Beef Ban
  Council Tax
  Council Tax
  Welsh Language
  Welsh Language
  Abortion
  Abortion
  Hospital Appointments
  Hospital Appointments
  Merchant Designs Manufacturing
  Merchant Designs Manufacturing
  Rural Economy
  Rural Economy
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Employee Travel
  Employee Travel
  Parking Car
  Parking Car
  Air Quality
  Air Quality
  Out-of-town Developments
  Out-of-town Developments
  Designated Land (Development)
  Designated Land (Development)
  Empty Properties
  Empty Properties
  Planning Applications
  Planning Applications
  Social Housing
  Social Housing
  Millennium Compliance
  Millennium Compliance
  Computer Systems
  Computer Systems
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
  Millennium Compliance
  Millennium Compliance
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Green Transport Co-ordinator
  Car Parking
  Car Parking
  Age Profiles
  Age Profiles
  Open Government
  Open Government

  Voting Systems
  Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the results of the study commissioned in respect of electors' views on voting systems will be made available. [HL898]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)
  My right honourable friend has arranged for a copy of the results to be placed in the Library.

  Guardsmen Fisher and Wright
  Lord Boyd-Carpenter
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether consideration has now been given to the appeals of two Scots Guardsmen, Fisher and Wright, and whether it is now intended to release them; and whether they will give reasons for their detention. [HL687]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Dubs)
  The current appeals by Guardsmen Fisher and Wright take the form of a judicial review of the Secretary of State's decision of 27 October 1997 that the cases of the Guardsmen should be referred back to the Life Sentence Review Board in October 1998. Leave was granted for the judicial review on Monday 26 January. No date has yet been set for the hearing.

  There are currently no plans to release Fisher and Wright. As to reasons for their detention I would refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my honourable friend, Adam Ingram, the Minister responsible for life sentence prisoners in Northern Ireland, in another place, in reply to a Question from my honourable friend the Member for Linlithgow on 12 January 1998 (Official Report, cols. 82 and 83).

  Deer Farming in Scotland: Support
  Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What are their policies to support deer farming in Scotland. [HL761]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)
  The Government recognise that any support for deer farming in Scotland must be within the framework of existing UK and EC legislation. The industry is being encouraged to pursue possible grant assistance through the Marketing Development Scheme to assist in the marketing of venison as a healthy alternative to other meats. Financial WA 154
  assistance has also recently been provided to support the newly opened Deer Farming Training Centre at Barony College, near Dumfries, the first such centre to be opened in the UK.

  Armed Forces: Protection against Biological and Chemical Agents
  Lord Craig of Radley
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What policy they have adopted to protect members of the Armed Forces who might become involved in any new conflict with Iraq from the dangers of exposure to biological or chemical agents. [HL576]

  The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert)
  The measures being taken at any given time to protect UK forces against chemical and biological weapons are based upon the prevailing operational circumstances and the latest threat assessment. In the light of Iraq's failure to account properly for its acknowledged programmes to acquire weapons of mass destruction, a range of equipment—chemical and biological agent detectors, warning and reporting systems, individual and collective protection, decontamination equipment, and medical countermeasures—has already been sent to the Gulf theatre for use by UK forces if necessary.

  In order that MoD has access to the best possible medical and scientific advice, we have established an independent Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures, chaired by Professor Peter Blain of Newcastle University and made up of leading outside medical experts. Having sought and received advice from the new group on the current situation, we have decided that UK service personnel and MoD civilians in the Gulf region should be strongly recommended to accept immunisation against anthrax. The vaccination programme will commence later this week and involve personnel receiving three injections over the next six weeks and a fourth injection after a further six months, using the UK manufactured and licensed anthrax vaccine. No other vaccine will be co-administered with the anthrax vaccine and special arrangements have been made to ensure that the medical records of all those involved are properly annotated to register whether they receive the vaccine.

  The US and Canadian Governments are providing vaccination for their forces in the region in the same timescale, and are making similar announcements.

  My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence has written to those Service personnel and civilians who are being advised to accept anthrax immunisation explaining the background to this decision. A copy of the text of his letter and the accompanying information leaflet are being placed in the Library of the House.

  Beef on the Bone: Review of SEAC Advice
  Lord Willoughby de Broke
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When they expect to subject to peer review the conclusions of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee relating to the advice to Ministers on bone-in beef; and [HL693]

  When they expect to publish the data on which the conclusions and advice of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee to Ministers on bone-in beef were based. [HL694]

  The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)
  The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee decided their advice to Ministers in the light of further findings of a continuing experiment to examine the spread of infectivity and the occurrence of pathological changes in cattle exposed orally to infection with bovine spongiform encephalopathy and of an independently conducted risk assessment. The experimental results were subject to peer review and preliminary observations were published in the Veterinary Record on 31 January 1998 (G.A.H. Wells et al, p103–106). Final observations await completion of the experiment. The risk assessment was commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on behalf of the committee and was published by the technical consultancy company which did the work, Det Norske Veritas Limited. A copy of their report is available on the Internet at http://www.dnv.com.

  BSE: Phillips Inquiry
  Lord Luke
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the terms of reference for the Phillips Inquiry on BSE include a requirement that current and former officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food shall be called to give evidence to the inquiry. [HL787]

  Lord Donoughue
  No. The inquiry has no statutory powers to require people to help or to attend. However, my right honourable friend the Minister has called for all concerned to co-operate fully with the inquiry and has confirmed that serving and retired officials would be expected to do so.

  Lord Luke
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  In the event that officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are not required to give evidence to the Phillips Inquiry on BSE but wish to do so on a voluntary basis, what is the procedure they should follow. [HL788]

  Lord Donoughue
  The Permanent Secretary has already informed all members of the department that they should feel entirely free to make representations direct to the inquiry. He has also publicised the inquiry's address and telephone number.

  Ivermectin
  Lord Moran
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they are aware of the findings about the toxicity of ivermectin to marine life reported in The Times on 23 February; and, if so, whether they intend to ban it or restrict its use in the marine environment. [HL790]

  Lord Donoughue
  The Government are aware of this report, although our understanding is that it has yet to be formally published. However, there is currently no veterinary medicinal product authorised for use in the marine environment which contains ivermectin. If any application for authorisation of such a veterinary medicinal product were submitted, then this report would be considered along with all of the other data relevant to that application.

  Hospital and Community Health Services: Resource Allocations
  Lord Rea
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What factors are taken into account and what mathematical formula is currently used to calculate the allocation of resources to health authorities for hospital and community health services; how many times and in what way this formula has changed from that originally recommended by the Resource Allocation Working Party (RAWP); and whether further change in the formula is contemplated to take into account evidence that uptake of some services by relatively deprived groups does not fully reflect their increased morbidity. [HL727]

  The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)
  I have written to the noble Lord today on this issue.

  A.40: Speed Limit Reduction
  Lord Burnham
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why the speed limit on the six-lane A.40 has been cut to 40 mph from Greenford to Park Royal. [HL775]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman)
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to the noble Lord.

  Letter to Lord Burnham from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. L. Haynes, dated 3 March 1998.

  The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question about the reasons for the new 40 mph speed limit on the A.40 between Greenford and Park Royal.

  The Highways Agency undertook a review of speed limits on the A.40 which looked at accidents between

  WA 157
  the Hanger Lane Underpass and Target Roundabout. In at least 40 per cent. of cases, speed was a contributory factor. Therefore the reduction in speed limits has been implemented to help prevent accidents and injuries.

  French Transport Strike: Compensation Payments
  The Earl of Haddington
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  On what date they anticipate all claims to be settled by the French Government in respect of payments promised to British transport companies who were caught up in the French transport strike; and whether they expect interest on outstanding debts to be recovered. [HL847]

  Baroness Hayman
  We know that the French authorities are now working to expedite the consideration of claims and to decide them as quickly as possible. Our officials are continuing to work closely with the authorities to ensure that valid claims are dealt with fairly and within the framework of French law, which we understand does not provide for the payment of interest.

  Landlord and Tenant Act 1954: Law Commission Recommendations
  Baroness Miller of Hendon
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they have any plans to implement the recommendation of the Law Commission made in its report dated 4 November 1992 to modify the strict time limits set out in Section 29 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 in order to save unnecessary expenditure of time of both lawyers and the courts, as well as costs. [HL765]

  Baroness Hayman
  The Government are looking closely at the recommendations in this report, many of which are obviously sensible. We will announce our conclusions in due course. Implementation would require primary legislation.

  Gypsy Families and Council Housing
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will ask local authorities in England and Wales to keep records of gypsy families moving into, and out of, council housing. [HL730]

  Baroness Hayman
  We have no plans to do so. Gypsy families have exactly the same rights of access to council housing as anyone else, and we see no need to ask local authorities to keep such records.

  Second Homes
  Lord Monkswell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many United Kingdom households have two or more homes. [HL776]

  Baroness Hayman
  The information available is for households living in Great Britain, an estimated 250,000 of whom owned or rented a second home in Great Britain in 1996–97. This figure excludes second homes owned or rented in Great Britain by people living abroad or in Northern Ireland. The information is from the Survey of English Housing and the ONS Omnibus Survey.

  Household Statistics: Bedrooms
  Lord Monkswell
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many United Kingdom households have homes with three or more bedrooms; and [HL777]

  How many United Kingdom households with two or more children live in homes with fewer than three bedrooms. [HL778]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter to Lord Monkswell from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Dr. T. Holt, dated 3 March 1998.

  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent questions on United Kingdom households with three or more bedrooms and with two or more children living in homes with less than three bedrooms.

  During 1996–97, 61 per cent. of households in Great Britain lived in accommodation which had three or more bedrooms. For this same year, among families in Great Britain with two or more dependent children, 13 per cent. of these families lived in accommodation with fewer than three bedrooms.

  These statistics are taken from the 1996 General Household Survey for Great Britain. Equivalent data are not compiled for the United Kingdom.

  Duty-free Shopping in the EU
  Lord Morris of Manchester
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will review the impending abolition of duty free shopping by travellers between Member States of the European Union as previously agreed by their finance Ministers. [HL714]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  The decision to end duty-free shopping within the European Union on 30 June 1999 was taken by the Council of Finance Ministers in 1991. Any review of that decision has to be for the Council as a whole. The Government have
  WA 159
  previously said that they will not stand in the way of any proposal for a Commission study into the impact of abolition, particularly if this were also to examine the nature of any successor regime to duty free.

  Mis-sold Personal Pensions: Compensation
  Baroness Castle of Blackburn
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  In view of the latest figures published by the Treasury on 12 February on the compensation paid to the 600,000 people who were mis-sold personal pensions and the warning by the Economic Secretary that in some cases they still leave much to be desired, what further progress has been made in this matter. [HL670]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  The Government's objective is to see that all those investors who were mis-sold a personal pension receive prompt redress. To this end, the Government have since June 1997 collected and published each month figures from the firms with most cases to review, showing the progress each has made. The latest figures, covering the period to the end of January 1998, were published on 12 February.WA 160
  These show that progress continues to be made, with 60 per cent. of their cases requiring review resolved. Most of the firms concerned have now resolved over half the cases identified for priority review.

  However, there is no room for complacency, many cases remain unresolved, and we fully support the regulators in their ongoing efforts to ensure that all firms deal with their caseloads quickly and fairly.

  VAT Zero-rating: Exclusion of Architects' and Surveyors' Services
  The Earl of Harrowby
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why the services of an architect or surveyor are excluded from VAT zero rating in Schedule 8, Group 6 (Protected Buildings), Item 2 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994. [HL734]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey
  Only services performed in the course of the construction of a building are zero-rated. The services of architects and surveyors are not regarded as being directly connected to the actual construction of a building and are therefore excluded from zero-rating.