Written Answers of 7 July 2004

  Cross-Border Implementation Bodies
  Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13 May (WA 47) concerning the grant scheme of the Irish Language Agency, which of the Cross-Border Implementation bodies which provide grants have had their grant schemes approved; when such approval was given; and which schemes have yet to be approved. [HL2891]
  The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): Ministerial approval of grant schemes was signified, in the case of the Trade and Business Development Body, on 23 January 2002; and in relation to the SEUPB's PEACE and INTERREG programmes on 20 June 2001 and 9 October 2002 respectively. Proposals in respect of the grant schemes of the Irish Language and Ulster-Scots Agencies have not yet been submitted to the North/South Ministerial Council for approval.

  North/South Language Body
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 20 May (WA 95), whether they will provide minutes of the consultations held in preparation of the 2004 North/South Language Body budget. [HL3023]

  Baroness Amos:
  I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 23 April 2004 (WA 63). I have nothing further to add to this.

  Ulster-Scots Agency
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23 April (WA 63) concerning disclosure of information under part 2, paragraph 2 (mutual discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, whether it is possible to disclose numbers of meetings to the chairman of the agency with whom the discussions were held. [HL3170]

  Baroness Amos:
  As the former chairman of the board of the Ulster-Scots Agency the noble Lord will already be aware of the number of meetings about the 2004 budget which took place between his agency and DCAL officials during his tenure of office. There were five.

  Lord Laird
  asked her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 10 June (WA 42) concerning budgets
  WA80
  for cross-Border implementation bodies, why £600,000, which was to be used to continue a policy agreed by the North/South Ministerial Council, was removed from the budget for 2004 requested by the Ulster-Scots Agency. [HL3303]

  Baroness Amos:
  I have nothing further to add to my Answers on 17 June 2004 (WA 80) and on 26 May 2004 (WA 134).

  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the staff of the North/South Ministerial Executive have recently indicated dissatisfaction with the grants offered by the Ulster-Scots Agency. [HL3306]

  Baroness Amos:
  The issuing of grants by the Ulster-Scots Agency is not a matter in which the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat has any locus.

  Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What steps they are taking to ensure that the Ulster-Scots Agency is positively represented to the media by the staff of the North/South Ministerial Council in Armagh. [HL3405]

  Baroness Amos:
  It is not a function of the North/ South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat to make any representations to the media in relation to the North/South Implementation Bodies.

  Northern Ireland: Equality Officers
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many equality officers are employed in each of the 10 Northern Ireland departments and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister; when each post was created; and what are the duties of these officers. [HL 3237]

  Baroness Amos:
  Since 1999 one official in each of the 11 departments of the Northern Ireland administration has been nominated as equality officer for their department and as such the primary point of contact in relation to their department's equality scheme. This role is often undertaken alongside their other duties.

  The 11 nominated equality officers are supported in their range of duties by 43 officials in a variety of administrative grades.

  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What is the cost of the equality officer posts in each of the 10 Northern Ireland departments and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. [HL3238]
  WA81
  Baroness Amos:
  The total salary cost for the 11 equality officers in the departments of the Northern Ireland administration is currently £681,290.

  Departments of the Northern Ireland administration estimate that cost of the time spent in working on equality duties by the equality officers and the staff supporting them is £1,078,500.

  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will state the gender, age, ethnic origins and community background of the equality officers employed in the 10 Northern Ireland departments and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the part of Northern Ireland (if any) with which they regard themselves as being most closely associated. [HL3239]

  Baroness Amos:
  In line with Part 11 Paragraph 12 (Privacy of an individual) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it would be inappropriate to disclose this information.

  Northern Ireland: Language Implementation Body
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the two agencies in the Language Implementation Body are allowed to promote those items within their remits on an equal basis and with the equality and parity of esteem recognised in the Belfast Agreement of 1998. [HL3317]

  Baroness Amos:
  The two agencies of the Language Implementation Body are funded to carry out their functions as defined in the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

  Northern Ireland: Fair Employment Provisions in Schools
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why they pressed for the exemptions in Article 15(2) of Council Directive 2000/78/EC; what representations they received on this matter from the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland; and whether they propose to continue to rely on this provision in respect of teachers and equality legislation. [HL3318]

  Baroness Amos:
  The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (FETO) prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religious belief or political opinion. Fair employment legislation in Northern Ireland, since its inception in 1976, has not applied to the employment of teachers in schools. This was in recognition of the denominationally based nature of education in Northern Ireland and took account of the views of the Churches that children should be educated in a school which paid full regard to the child's religion and the attitude of parents that
  WA82
  their children should be educated in an environment which had full regard for the religion of the family.

  The proposed EC Directive 2000/78/EC would have meant that the exemption in FETO would have had to be removed without having regard to the issues and sensitivities of the local community in relation to the education of their children and the complexion of their schools.

  The exemption in FETO for the employment of teachers was much wider than that permitted under the religion or belief aspects of the directive but following negotiations with the European Commission special provision was made for Northern Ireland in relation to teachers. The directive provides that the exemption should relate only to the recruitment of teachers, rather than their terms of employment.

  The Fair Employment and Treatment Order (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003, which came into operation on 10 December 2003, removed the blanket exemption for the employment of schoolteachers and restricted the exemption to the recruitment of teachers in schools.

  The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in response to the OFMDFM consultation on Implementing EU Equality Obligations in Northern Ireland in April 2003 noted the draft regulations to amend FETO. The commission also stated it was of the view that the teachers' exemption should be removed in its entirety.

  Under Article 71(2) of FETO the commission is required to keep under review the exemption in relation to employment as a teacher in a school. In discharging this duty the commission is permitted under Article 71(3) of FETO to conduct investigations. Such an investigation was launched in October 2003 and it is anticipated that an investigation report will be published in the autumn 2004

  Whether or not there should continue to be an exemption in relation to the recruitment of teachers is a matter which will be considered in the context of the single equality Bill, taking into account advice from the Equality Commission and other interested parties.

  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When the Equality Commission and its predecessor bodies since 1973 discharged the statutory duty of keeping under review the exclusion of teachers from equality protection in Northern Ireland; what consultations the commission has undertaken on this matter; and what reports have been published. [HL3305]

  Baroness Amos:
  The chief executive of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  Northern Ireland: Single Equality Legislation
  Lord Ouseley
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will outline the benefits to the people of Northern Ireland likely to arise from the proposed introduction of single equality legislation. [HL3362]

  Baroness Amos:
  Single equality legislation will provide the people of Northern Ireland with clear, comprehensive and accessible anti-discrimination legislation in one single instrument.

  Northern Ireland: Funding of Newspaper Publishing Companies
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17 June (WA 81), what were the amounts of the state funding for each newspaper in Northern Ireland in each applicable year. [HL3407]

  Baroness Amos:
  Further to the information provided in the answer to WA 81, set out below are details of funding made available by departments of the Northern Ireland administration during the period 1999–2004 for newspaper publishing companies in Belfast.

  Funding of Newspaper Publishing Companies 1999–2004

  Company

  Year Funded

  Funder

  Amount Funded

  Andersonstown News

  1999

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  £5,095

  Preas an Phobail Ltd

  2000

  1Department of Finance and Personnel/Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

  £33,500

  Flagship Media Group Ltd

  2000

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  £6,773

  The Mirror Group

  2000

  Department for Employment Learning

  £5,936

  Andersonstown News Group

  2000

  Department for Social Development

  £70,000

  Andersonstown News

  2000

  Local Enterprise Development

  £7,500

  Andersonstown News

  2000–01

  Department for Social Development

  £277,375

  WA84

  Funding of Newspaper Publishing Companies 1999-2004

  Company

  Year Funded

  Funder

  Amount Funded

  Preas an Phobail Ltd

  2000

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  £15,000

  Preas an Phobail Ltd

  2001

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  £15,026

  Flagship Media Group Ltd

  2001

  Local Enterprise Development Unit

  £4,500

  Shankill Community Media Ltd

  2002–04

  Department for Social Development

  £32,544

  Shankill Community Media Ltd

  2003

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  £95,429

  East Belfast Publishing Ltd

  2003

  Department of Finance and Personnel

  £250,464

  Shankill Community Media Ltd

  2004

  Invest NI

  £28,602

  1Department of Finance and Personnel had responsibility for funding until December 1999. This then transferred to the office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister under devolution.
  Funding has been made available to Preas an Phobail by Foras na Gaeilge (the Irish Language Agency of the North/South Implementation Body). Foras na Gaeilge is funded jointly by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCGRA) in the Republic of Ireland. DCAL contributes 25 per cent and DCGRA contributes 75 per cent of funding. During the period 1999–2004 Foras na Gaeilge made available to Preas an Phobail £512,558 for the publication of Lá. DCAL's contribution in each year is provided below.

  Company

  Funding Year

  Funder

  Amount Funded

  Preas an Phobail Ltd

  2000

  Foras na Gaeilge

  £7,936

  Preas an Phobail Ltd

  2001

  Foras na Gaeilge

  £32,140

  Preas an Phobail Ltd

  2002

  Foras na Gaeilge

  £30,624

  Preas an Phobail Ltd

  2003

  Foras na Gaeilge

  £38,988

  Preas an Phobail Ltd

  2004(covers up to 30 June 2004)

  Foras na Gaeilge

  £18,451

  Northern Ireland: Meeting of Permanent Secretaries
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What was the purpose of the "Away Day" for Northern Ireland department permanent secretaries on 13 February; what was the cost of the exercise; how many staff participated; what venue was used; and how long the event lasted. [HL3459]

  Baroness Amos:
  Permanent secretaries of Northern Ireland departments meet weekly to consider key strategic and management issues facing the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The 13 February meeting began at 8.45 a.m., was held in an Annex of the Dunadry Hotel, involved 19 staff, who attended all day or for part of the day, concluded at 4.45 p.m. and cost £430.20 for food and facilities.

  Northern Ireland: Planning Applications
  Lord Kilclooney
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When the Planning Service received Application No. 0/2004/0239 from Gosford Housing Association for conversion of a flat at 1 Barrack Hill, Armagh City; when Armagh City Council will be consulted; when the planning determination is expected; and what are the reasons for the period of time being taken to make the determination. [HL3470]

  Baroness Amos:
  Planning application O/2004/0239/ F was received on 27 February 2004 from Gosford Housing Association. It is anticipated that Armagh City Council will be consulted at the council meeting in August and a decision notice will issue thereafter.

  The short delay in processing this application is due to the unprecedented increase in the number of planning applications in this area which in turn led to a substantial increase in the caseload of each planning officer.

  Tourism Ireland
  Lord Laird
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What were the targets set for Tourism Ireland to increase the number of tourists visiting Northern Ireland in each year since 2000; and how the targets compare to the results. [HL3499]

  Baroness Amos:
  Actual overseas visitor numbers in 2000 were 1,292,000 and in 2001 were 1,311,000. The 2001 figure represents Tourism Ireland's baseline figure.

  Tourism Ireland took over responsibility for overseas marketing in 2002.
  WA86
  The targets and actual overseas visitor numbers for Northern Ireland were:

  2002

  2003

  Target

  1,401,000

  1,515,000

  Actual

  1,411.000

  1,610,000

  Afghanistan: NATO Involvement
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What response they are making to the letter addressed to members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation by 54 non-governmental organisations calling for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation "to do more to address the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan". [HL3417]

  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:
  As announced at the NATO summit in Istanbul on 28–29 June, NATO will expand the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in stages across Afghanistan through the establishment of additional provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs). ISAF will also provide enhanced support to the Afghan authorities during the elections currently scheduled to take place in September. The UK fully supports NATO security efforts in Afghanistan and currently contributes around 400 troops to ISAF operations under NATO command. The two UK-led PRTs in Mazar-e Sharif and Meymana will transfer to NATO authority as soon as practicable.

  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What measures they will support at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit to combat drug growers and traffickers, private militias and terrorist groups in Afghanistan. [HL3418]

  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:
  The UK fully supports the implementation of NATO's agreed plan for expansion of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) announced at the Istanbul summit on 28–29 June. This is based on the phased expansion of the network of provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) across Afghanistan. The two UK-led PRTs in Mazar-e Sharif and Meymana will transfer to NATO authority as soon as practicable and the UK will also provide a forward support base for all PRTs in the north. PRTs aim to help to improve the security environment in the areas in which they operate and to extend the remit of the Afghan transitional administration. This underpins efforts to demobilise and disarm Afghan militia forces. The UK particularly welcomes NATO's commitment to provide appropriate support, within ISAF's mandate, to the Afghan authorities in taking resolute action against the production and trafficking of narcotics.

  Afghanistan: Security Situation
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they agree with M Jean Arnault, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan, that "Afghanistan has become more volatile". [HL3419]

  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:
  Our assessment is that the security situation in Afghanistan remains fragile. But we would not assess the situation as significantly more volatile now. It is, sadly, not surprising that, in the period leading to the elections, those elements which are opposed to the Bonn process and a peaceful political transition will attempt to disrupt the election preparations through violent means.

  We and our international partners remain committed to working with the Afghan Government to improve security, both in the run-up to elections and in the longer term. NATO's recent agreement on the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force is evidence of that commitment.

  Afghanistan: Militia Forces
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What proportion of Afghan irregular military forces they estimate will have been demobilised by 30 June; and how this compares with the target set at the Berlin conference. [HL3420]

  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:
  According to UN figures, a total of 9,719 officers and soldiers had been demobilised by 24 June. On this basis, around 20 per cent of the total number of Afghan militia forces will have been demobilised by 30 June. This clearly falls well below the ambitious target of 40 per cent demobilisation by 30 June set by President Karzai at the Berlin Conference. But it still represents solid progress within the difficult circumstances prevailing in Afghanistan.

  Home Detention Curfew Scheme
  Baroness Anelay of St Johns
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many offences were committed by prisoners while released on the home detention curfew scheme since January 1999; what were the category of the offences committed by prisoners while released on the scheme; and how many offences were similar in character to those for which the prisoners had originally been sentenced. [HL2938]

  The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal):
  As of 30 April 2004, 92,280 prisoners have been placed on the home detention curfew scheme since the scheme was introduced in January 1999. To 30 April, 1,977 of those prisoners have been reported to the Home Office as having been
  WA88
  cautioned or convicted or awaiting prosecution for an offence committed while they were subject to the scheme. Table 1 gives a breakdown of those offences and table 2 gives a breakdown of offences that were similar in character to the index offence.

  Breakdown of all further offences

  Total

  28 January 1999 to 31 April 2004

  Total

  3,623

  Violent Against the Person

  462

  Sexual Offences

  9

  Burglary

  163

  Robbery

  47

  Theft and Handling

  866

  Fraud and Forgery

  119

  Drug Offences

  306

  Motoring Offences

  964

  Other

  687

  Breakdown of all further charges incurred on HDC which are similar to the most serious index offence

  Total

  28 January 1999 to 31 April 2004

  Total

  664

  Violent Against the Person

  56

  Sexual Offences

  0

  Burglary/Theft/Fraud/Forgery

  440

  Drug Offences

  49

  Motoring Offences

  103

  Other

  16

  Criminal Justice Act 2003: Removal of Foreign Prisoners
  Lord Hylton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  In how many cases in each of the past two years use was made of the provision for deporting foreign national prisoners four and a half months before the expiry of their sentence. [HL3064]

  Baroness Scotland of Asthal:
  The Criminal Justice Act 2003 introduces new provisions to enable certain foreign national prisoners who are liable to removal to be removed up to four and a half months before their normal release date. This power came into force on 14 June hence data relating to the number of times it has been used are unavailable.

  Yarl's Wood
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 June (WA 148), what plans they have for applying the recommendations to the rest of the immigration detention estate. [HL3446]

  Baroness Scotland of Asthal:
  Lessons learnt from the Prison and Probation Ombudsman's report into the allegations of racism, abuse and violence at the Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre are, where necessary, being promulgated across the rest of the detention estate.

  Civil Servants: Politically Sensitive Information
  Lord Marlesford
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether senior civil servants and senior military officers are given general guidance or training on how to judge whether to bring to the attention of Ministers politically sensitive documents or information which they receive from officials of foreign governments; and [HL2770]

  Whether instructions have been given to the Civil Service and to military commands to ensure that Ministers are made aware of politically sensitive information which is received by officials or other employees of the Government. [HL2772]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach):
  All civil servants are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Civil Service Code, paragraph 5 of which requires civil servants to "… make all information relevant to a decision available to them" [Ministers]. Through the Civil Service Code civil servants are therefore expected to use their judgment and experience to bring any relevant information to a Minister's attention. The working relationships which exist in the Ministry of Defence ensure that military officers receive appropriate advice on matters which may require bringing to a Minister's attention from their civilian counterparts.

  Iraq: Red Cross Report
  Lord Marlesford
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether:

  the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence;

  the Chief of the Defence Staff;

  the Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and

  the Secretary of the Cabinet were aware of, and if so approved, the initial decision that the International Committee of the Red Cross February interim report to Ambassador Bremer on coalition facilities in Iraq should not be shown to Ministers; and on what date it was shown to Ministers. [HL2769]

  Lord Bach:
  The International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) report on the treatment by the coalition forces of prisoners of war and other protected persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during arrest, internment and interrogation, dated 10 February 2004, was formally passed to Ambassador Bremer and Lieutenant General Sanchez on 26 February. An advance copy was passed to the senior British military representative in Iraq and to the Office of the United Kingdom Special Representative. The senior British military representative passed a copy of
  WA90
  the report to HQ MND(SE) on 13 February and to PJHQ on 16 February, and posted a copy to the Ministry of Defence that arrived on 27 February. The Office of the UK Special Representative was assured that allegations involving misconduct by UK forces were already under investigation as were investigations into allegations involving US forces.

  The report covered visits that had taken place between three and 11 months earlier. Arrangements had changed significantly since then and the report did not raise any specific cases for the UK which had not already been addressed. A separate report, specifically for the UK, was anticipated and MoD officials took the view that it would be prudent to wait for this report and then provide Ministers with an up-to-date picture and advice on how the UK should respond. Senior officials were not party to this decision.

  Defence Ministers were already aware of those issues in the ICRC interim report concerning UK Armed Forces some five months previously, and steps had already been taken to address the specific concerns raised. A copy of the report was sent to defence Ministers' offices on 7 May 2004 and the Foreign Secretary and FCO senior officials were made aware of the report on the weekend of 8–9 May 2004.

  Iraq: Treatment of Prisoners
  Lord Lamont of Lerwick
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they have been kept informed of the conditions in which members of the previous Iraqi Government, including Mr Tariq Aziz, are held, and of how they are interrogated; whether these conditions are appropriate; and whether they accord with the Geneva Convention relating to prisoners of war. [HL2789]

  Lord Bach:
  Conditions in which Iraqis detained by US forces are held are a matter for them to comment on. However, the United States is a signatory to the Geneva Conventions and we are not aware of any allegations that members of the previous Iraqi Government have been mistreated.

  Armed Forces: Recruitment
  Lord Astor of Hever
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What quotas have been set for particular specialisms at individual Armed Forces' recruiting offices. [HL3312]

  Lord Bach:
  The information is not held centrally in the format requested. The Armed Forces do not set recruiting quotas for individual recruiting offices. They do, however, have recruiting targets, which are based on the current and future manning plans for each Service.

  Royal Fleet Auxiliary: DLH Launcher
  Lord Mackenzie of Culkein
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the DLH launcher will be fitted to vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary so that they may be equipped to use MK251 decoy rounds. [HL3533]

  Lord Bach:
  It is planned to fit the DLH launcher to three vessels of the current Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet during 2006 and 2007. Whether these vessels will then subsequently carry the MK251 active decoy round will be dependent on the nature of operations in which they would be likely to be involved. Decisions on the future fit of the DLH launcher to other RFA vessels have yet to be made.

  Ministry of Defence Police: Officers Serving Abroad
  Lord Mackenzie of Culkein
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many officers of the Ministry of Defence police are serving abroad; and how many are deployed in each overseas country. [HL3535]

  Lord Bach:
  Eighty-three Ministry of Defence police officers are currently serving overseas. Of these, 60 are in Kosovo, 18 in Iraq, three in Kenya and two are on Pitcairn Island.

  Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston: Laser Facility
  Lord Stoddart of Swindon
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What were the circumstances of the project to build a replacement laser facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, which necessitated a 21-day public consultation. [HL3552]

  Lord Bach:
  Following the re-submission on 13 April to West Berkshire District Council of a notice of proposed development, and voluntary supporting environmental information relating to the proposed replacement laser facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, public notices were posted outside the facility for a statutory period of 21 days from 30 April to 21 May. This is in accordance with the practice of treating notices of proposed development submitted to local planning authorities by Her Majesty's Government in the same way as planning applications submitted under the Town and Country Planning Acts.

  Lord Stoddart of Swindon
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the Ministry of Defence in its planning application to build a replacement laser facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, provided details of any possible increases of nuclear
  WA92
  discharges to air, soil or water arising from the new plant. [HL3553]

  Lord Bach:
  Although not required by statute, the MoD voluntarily supplied with its notice of proposed development an environmental assessment of the impact of the proposed replacement laser facility at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston. This included details of the possible discharges to air, soil or water arising from the replacement plant.

  Teletherapy Units
  Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether all hospitals, research establishments and universities possessing linear accelerators, other accelerators or teletherapy units have the appropriate RSA93 registration. [HL3447]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner):
  Registration to keep and use radioactive materials under the 1993 Radioactive Substances Act is applicable to linear accelerators and other teletherapy units only when those contain depleted uranium (DU) or other radioactive materials. Where this is the case the premises and materials must be registered.

  The uranium was used in the construction of head shields, which restrict the leakage of radiations from these machines and in collimators used to shape or limit the useful beam. However, the great majority of such machines in use within the National Health Service today are relatively new and do not carry DU as manufacturers have moved to the use of alternative high-density metals. Accordingly registration of these machines is not applicable.

  In addition to linear accelerators described above, a small number of cobalt 60 units remain in NHS hospitals. These require registration in respect of both the renewable cobalt 60 radioactive source used and any DU present.

  Taken together the NHS in recent times has about 12 machines to which RSA registration is applicable. Of these about half are in day-to-day use and the remainder are awaiting removal or are retained as part of contingency plans to ensure continued availability of treatment capacity. Several of these are scheduled for replacement under the current central procurement scheme, which is intended to modernise and expand the asset base in this area.

  All of the major teletherapy equipment suppliers are clearly aware of the need to assist the NHS by providing appropriate information on the use of DU and audit trails are in place. Each NHS trust has a local duty to register sources with the Environment Agency (England and Wales) and this work is carried out under the supervision of radiation protection advisers appointed under the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999.
  WA93
  Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether linear accelerators and teletherapy machines are clearly labelled to indicate the presence of depleted uranium. [HL3448]

  Lord Warner:
  The treatment room housing the teletherapy machine will be a controlled area under the 1999 Ionising Radiations Regulations and will carry notices at the entrance, complying with the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and BS 5378.

  The medical and dental guidance notes "A good practice guide on all aspects of ionising radiation protection in the clinical environment"specifically asks that the presence of depleted uranium (DU) in a teletherapy machine be noted in the radiation safety local rules. These rules will also be reflected in maintenance protocols and documentation.

  The DU components themselves are stamped with an identification code in order to facilitate the individual tracking of items or components in the event that they are removed for service reasons. These stamps are also essential in audit trails, which are used to maintain records of the use and location of the material throughout its life. Internal radioactive materials labelling, within the head of the apparatus, is used where the manufacturer, service organisation or local radiation protection adviser considers that a hazard might arise.

  Local Exercise Action Pilot Programme
  Lord Moynihan
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 29 March (WA 139), which sports organisations are involved with the local exercise action pilot schemes. [HL3486]

  Lord Warner:
  At a national level the Department of Health is working in partnership and jointly funding the local exercise action pilot (LEAP) programme with Sport England, England's national sports development agency. The active involvement of local strategic partnerships, which include sport and leisure providers, is central to the LEAP model and there are examples across the 10 pilots of sport organisations working in partnership with the lead primary care trusts. For example, sports partnerships including national governing bodies, sport development teams, leisure services, private gyms and the voluntary sports sector are making a valuable contribution to the development of interventions such as National Health Service exercise referral schemes within a number of the pilots.

  In addition, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) has been closely involved in the development of the Plymouth free swimming pilot and the local ASA officer is supporting the work of Plymouth City Leisure Services and Plymouth PCT.

  Two of the 10 pilots are also based in sport action zones.

  Thiomersal
  Lord Mackenzie of Culkein
  asked Her Majesty's Goverment:

  Whether they will follow the examples of regulators in Europe and the United States in recommending the phasing out of the use of thiomersal in vaccines to reduce exposure to mercury as much as possible. [HL3530]

  Lord Warner:
  The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) updated its advice on use of thiomersal in vaccines in March 2004. It continues to advise that development of vaccines without thiomersal, or with the lowest possible levels of thiomersal and other mercury-containing preservatives, should continue to be promoted. However, it also acknowledges that during some manufacturing processes the use of organic mercury compounds is necessary and, in such cases, residual levels might be present in the final product. The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation endorse the EMEA position. In line with this recommendation, a number of UK-licensed vaccines have recently had levels of thiomersal reduced or removed completely from the manufacture of the component antigens or from the final vaccine. The CSM continues to advise that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks, if any, of exposure to thiomersal-containing vaccines.

  Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  Lord Henley
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What research they have commissioned into the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma in England. [HL3561]

  Lord Warner:
  The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology. The Department of Health contributes to the strategies and priorities of the MRC by meeting the National Health Service costs of the MRC's research (and of research funded by charities). The department also directly funds research to support policy development in health and social care, and to support effective practice in the NHS.

  The MRC has recently funded a study on the molecular pathogenesis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and its relationship to human papillomavirus infection.

  Over 75 per cent of the department's total expenditure on health research, including on cancer, is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects, including some

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  concerned with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research

  Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Sport Budget
  Lord Moynihan
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What is the departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its associated agencies for each year since 2001–02. [HL3384]

  The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker):
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises that sport can play an important role in neighbourhood renewal. It has recently published three documents relating to sport and neighbourhood renewal:

  Joint Working in Sport and Neighbourhood Renewal—a study into the nature of joint working between sport and neighbourhood renewal practitioners.

  Teaming Up—a guide to joint working between sport and neighbourhood renewal practitioners that makes the case for linking sport and regeneration activities and provides some practical advice on how to do it.

  Street Games—a report about the street games initiative to get young people involved in regular sporting activities through properly mentored community football games.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also aware that some regeneration expenditure is spent on sport interventions. To minimise reporting burden, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not require detailed breakdown of expenditure spent specifically on sport projects. However, the Association of London Government reports that 11 per cent of London's 2002–03 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund allocation was dedicated to culture, a category that encompasses sport.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has specific responsibility for the Fire Service College. The college operates a leisure centre which is available to students and local residents. This provides a swimming pool; multi-gym; sports hall; squash courts; tennis courts; and playing fields. The budgets for the leisure centre were:

  £

  Year

  Cost

  Income

  Net Cost

  2002–03

  225,000

  120,000

  105,000

  2003–04

  232,000

  120,000

  112,000

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also has a departmental sports and recreation club, SPARTA, for which it provides administration resources to cover the managing of the club. The budget for this was £63,000 in 2002–03 and £63,000 in 2003–04.

  North-east: Physical Activity
  Lord Moynihan
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What was the level of participation in physical activity in the north-east region prior to the commencement of the Everyday Sport campaign; what is the budget for the campaign; and what targets have been set against which the campaign will be evaluated. [HL3483]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey):
  Approximately 30 per cent of the population in the north-east region are considered to be reasonably active; Sport England has earmarked £250,000 from its budget this financial year for the campaign; the evaluation will measure awareness of the campaign, intention to increase physical activity levels and identify barriers to participation.

  British Waterways: Office Accommodation
  Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
  Whether the recent reported letting of office space at Paddington at over £40 per square foot to the British Waterways board either required or received approval from HM Treasury in accordance with paragraph 10.3 of the Lyons report. [HL3429]
  Lord McIntosh of Haringey:
  British Waterways was not required to consult HM Treasury on this matter since the office accommodation in question was required to provide local services.

  Benefit Claim Procedures: Rural Proofing
  Baroness Byford
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  When they intend to apply rural proofing to benefit claim procedures within the Department for Work and Pensions. [HL3476]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham):
  The department is modernising the services we provide to our customers. We are providing improved access to services and benefits through telephone centres and the Internet. Jobcentre Plus has new, dedicated caller offices. The Pension Service local service provides appointment-based surgeries in locations regularly visited by pensioners such as local community centres, Welfare Rights and Age Concern outlets.

  We are committed to ensuring that everyone is able to access our services, whether they live in urban or rural areas. Increased accessibility is one of our key objectives in modernising welfare delivery. This modernisation is helping us to deliver the commitment made in the rural White Paper to ensure access to "high quality public services—services often delivered in new ways, and through new outlets".
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  The decisions we make about where and how we deliver services are based upon consultation with our partners. These include local authorities and regional development agencies, and reflect local circumstances and most importantly, the needs of the local community. The consideration of rural issues is an integral part of the consultation process.

  The rural proofing checklist produced by the Countryside Agency forms part of the initial planning process and, where appropriate, the Countryside Agency itself is consulted as a stakeholder. We produce an internal annual rural proofing report for the Countryside Agency; this includes examples of how the department has addressed service delivery issues in rural areas. We also regularly discuss policy development and implementation with Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the Countryside Agency.

  Horses: Slaughter for Human Consumption
  Lord Willoughby de Broke
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many of the 6,000 to 10,000 horses slaughtered in the United Kingdom for human consumption are for consumption in the United Kingdom. [HL3175]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty):
  None are recorded as being for human consumption in the United Kingdom.

  Pesticides Safety Directorate
  Baroness Byford
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Further to the Written Statement in the House of Commons on 25 May (HC Deb. 75WS), what European Union legislation and regulation they anticipate in 2004–05 to which the Pesticides Safety Directorate will be expected to have an input. [HL3488]

  Lord Whitty:
  During this period the Government anticipate the following European Union legislation and regulation to which PSD will be expected to have an input:

  the revision of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the authorisation of plant protection products;

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  a new regulation of the European Parliament and the Council concerning maximum residue levels for pesticides;

  a new thematic strategy on sustainable pesticide use under the Sixth Environmental Action Programme;

  decision on the authorisation of plant protection products under Directive 91/414/EEC;

  decisions to set new maximum residue levels and amend existing ones.

  Cormorants
  Lord Mason of Barnsley
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many landowners and managers of fisheries have applied for a licence to shoot cormorants in each of the past five years. [HL3541]

  Lord Whitty:
  The numbers of applications received in the past five years is as follows. The annual figures are taken from 1 April each year to the following 31 March.

  Number of applications

  1999–2000

  106

  2000–01

  132

  2001–02

  136

  2002–03

  184

  2003–04

  165

  Eggs: Mercosur Negotiations
  Baroness Byford
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What action they are taking to support the United Kingdom egg industry in the trade negotiations between the European Union and the Mercosur countries. [HL3565]

  Lord Whitty:
  We have already made clear to the Commission our concerns regarding the inclusion of eggs and egg products on the list of goods from which tariffs will be removed in the EU's market access offer to Mercosur.

  The EU's offer, which has now been submitted, is an ambitious one, covering a wide range of products. However it is conditional and the Commission has suggested that it could be scaled back if we do not get a satisfactory response from Mercosur. In such circumstances there may be an opportunity to take account of these concerns.

  I have asked my officials to keep the British Egg Industry Council posted on developments.