Written Answers of 28 June 2004

  Guernsey: Contribution to UK Defence
  Lord Smith of Clifton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What contribution Guernsey makes, financial or otherwise, to the United Kingdom's defence; and how this contribution is calculated. [HL3243]

  The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton):
  Since 1 April 1987, Guernsey has made a voluntary annual contribution towards the costs of defence and international representation undertaken by the United Kingdom. The contribution has two elements. The insular authorities have assumed responsibility for the maintenance of the Alderney breakwater (which was completed in 1865 to shelter the British fleet). Prior to April 1987 the cost of maintaining the breakwater was met by Her Majesty's Government. At 2003 prices the average annual cost since 1987 associated with the breakwater is £780,000. Guernsey also remits to the UK the fees collected for the issue of British passports. These amounted to £216,201 in 2003.

  Lord Smith of Clifton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the United Kingdom has any defence role with regard to Braye Harbour in Braye Bay behind the Alderney breakwater. [HL3244]

  Lord Falconer of Thoroton:
  The United Kingdom is responsible for the defence of all of the Channel Islands, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes Alderney, and the Bailiwick of Jersey. There is no specific defence role with regard to Braye Harbour.

  Lord Smith of Clifton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How Guernsey's maintenance of the Alderney breakwater, at an approximate cost of £450,000 per annum, contributes to the defence of the United Kingdom and to meeting the United Kingdom's NATO commitments. [HL3245]

  Lord Falconer of Thoroton:
  The cost of maintaining the Alderney breakwater, borne by the insular authorities since 1987, is one part of the voluntary annual contribution made by Guernsey towards defence and overseas representation, which are the responsibility of the United Kingdom. This contribution is not linked to any specific defence expenditure.
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  Bosnia-Herzegovina: EU Presence
  Lord Astor of Hever
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the letter detailing the future scope of the European Union Bosnian Mission recently signed in Brussels between the Dutch, Luxembourg and British delegations and the Bosnian Prime Minister. [HL3275]

  The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean):
  We are not aware of any such letter.

  Lord Astor of Hever
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What NATO presence is expected in Bosnia-Herzegovina when the European Union takes over the SFOR operation there; and what will be the British contribution to it. [HL3276]

  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:
  No final decisions have yet been taken on the size of the NATO presence which we expect will stay on in Bosnia-Herzegovina once SFOR withdraws. We expect the NATO presence to be a few hundred strong, and that it will focus on defence reform and some operational tasks including detaining indicted war criminals and counter-terrorism. The UK intends to support the continuing NATO presence by seconding a small number of staff to the NATO HQ in Sarajevo although no firm decisions have yet been taken. The UK's main military commitment in Bosnia will, however, be through the proposed EU-led military mission, for which we have offered to take the first lead.

  Bosnia-Herzegovina: War Criminals
  Lord Astor of Hever
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What mandate has been given to SFOR by the North Atlantic Council to assist the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; and whether this mandate has been fulfilled; and [HL3277]

  What mandate has been given to SFOR by the North Atlantic Council to assist the Bosnian authorities in apprehending the alleged war criminals still living in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and [HL3278]

  What plans there are for the formation of a special NATO force tasked with apprehending war criminals in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [HL3279]

  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:
  NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR) is authorised to apprehend persons indicted for war crimes (PIFWCs) in the course of its normal duties. This authorisation stems from its mandate under the Dayton peace accords and UN Security Council resolutions to ensure peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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  We expect the NATO presence to comprise a few hundred personnel, and focus on defence reform. We also expect that it will undertake some operational tasks including playing a role in detaining PIFWCs and counter-terrorism activities.

  Iran: Recruitment of Suicide Bombers
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether, as participants in the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, they have received reports about the recruitment of suicide bombers in Tehran and the arrest of would-be bombers on the Iran-Iraq border. [HL3310]

  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:
  We have made strong representations to the Iranian authorities about the recruitment of suicide bombers in Tehran. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Kharrazi about this, and Her Majesty's Ambassador in Tehran reinforced the message with Mr Kharrazi's deputy.

  We made clear that this recruitment was unacceptable and went well beyond the acceptable limits of free speech. It was a clear incitement to terrorism, including attacks on coalition forces in Iraq.

  The Iranian reponse has been that this did not represent official Iranian government policy. Nevertheless, we remain deeply unhappy that such an event should ever have been allowed to take place at all.

  Israel and Palestine: Public Opinion
  Lord Hylton
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether they are evaluating the results of large-scale testing of public opinion in Israel and Palestine by One Voice; and what conclusions they draw from it. [HL3348]

  Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:
  We are aware of the work of One Voice and commend the initiative, which gives Israelis and Palestinians a chance to look beyond the conflict to areas of common ground. We hope the initiative will engender further debate and create an environment of hope for the future.

  Like the Geneva Accord and People's Voice initiatives, this shows yet again the longing for peace and a just resolution of the conflict which exists amongst Israelis and Palestinians. We keep this in mind as we continue our efforts to restart a sustainable peace process.

  Home Office: Purchase of Alcohol
  Lord Avebury
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How much was spent on purchasing alcohol by the Home Office in each of the financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03. [HL2824]
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  The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal):
  The information requested is not held centrally, and to obtain would incur disproportionate cost. However it is Home Office policy that alcohol should not be provided from public funds for staff at official events held during normal working hours except where senior management celebrate success and achievement.

  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Baroness Stern
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How many young people under the age of 18 were held in custody for breach of an anti-social behaviour order as their primary offence between January and March; and [HL3218]

  How many young people under the age of 18 were held in custody for breach of an anti-social behaviour order as their primary offence since 19 April; and [HL3219]

  How many young people under the age of 18 were held in custody for breach of an anti-social behaviour order as their primary offence between 31 May and 6 June; and [HL3220]

  How many young people under the age of 18 they estimate will be held in custody for a breach of an anti-social behaviour order as their primary offence during the year 2004–05. [HL3221]

  Baroness Scotland of Asthal:
  The Youth Justice Board has provided the following which relates to England and Wales:

  Prior to 21 April 2004 the YJB did not keep a separate record of anti-social behaviour order breaches.

  Information on the number of young people under the age of 18 who entered custody for breach of an ASBO as their primary offence between January and March 2004 is, therefore, not available.

  Between 21 April 2004 and 16 June 2004, 26 offenders aged under 18 entered custody under sentence and 42 entered custody on remand with a breach of an ASBO as their primary offence.

  Between 31 May 2004 and 6 June 2004, three offenders aged under 18 entered custody under sentence and eight entered custody on remand with a breach of an ASBO as their primary offence.

  An estimate of the number of young people under the age of 18 who will be held in custody for a breach of an ASBO as their primary offence during the year 2004–05 is not available.

  Custody in this context covers those held in local authority secure children's homes, secure training centres and Prison Service establishments.
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  Iraq: Treatment of Prisoners
  Lord Lamont of Lerwick
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Why the practice of hooding prisoners at the moment of arrest has been used in Iraq; and why it was not stopped by Ministers when it was reported on television. [HL2786]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach):
  The practice of temporarily obscuring the vision of an apprehended person is used for security reasons, for example, to prevent those persons who have been apprehended from recognising locations. The MoD does not believe that using hoods in such circumstances is illegal. None the less direction was given in September 2003 that UK forces should completely cease the practice and that blindfolds should be used instead.

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

  Further to the statement by the Lord Bach on 16 June (HL Deb, col. 752) that "there is a pause on some recruits starting their phase one basic training courses. That is likely to be in place until October", how they reconcile this with his later statement that "there will not be a postponement of basic training until October" and that "there is certainly no ban on recruiting" (HL Deb, col. 753). [HL3314]

  Lord Bach:
  There is no ban on recruitment and no one expressing a wish to join the Army is turned away. Some individuals who have successfully passed through the recruit selection process may be given a date to commence their phase one (basic) training later in the year. This practice, which has been introduced as an expedient to help to maintain balance in Army manpower numbers, is likely to continue until October.

  Water Fluoridation
  Earl Baldwin of Bewdley asked Her Majesty's Government:
  Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 31 January 2001 ( WA 66), and in view of the promotional role of the British Fluoridation Society, what financial contributions they have made or will make to the society for the years 2003—04 and 2004—5; and whether they intend to continue to make contributions; and [HL3247]
  Whether they have yet decided whether or not to provide funding to enable the York review of water fluoridation, conducted in 2000 by the National Health Service Centre of Reviews and Dissemination, to be incorporated in the Cochrane Library, together with future fluoridation studies as they become available. [HL3248]
  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner):
  The School of Dental Sciences at the University of Newcastle has today announced the results of a study comparing the bioavailability (absorption) of fluoride in water in which fluoride occurs naturally with artificially fluoridated water. The report of the study, copies of which have been placed in the Library, shows that the researchers found no evidence for any differences between the absorption of fluoride ingested in artificially fluoridated drinking water and in drinking water in which the fluoride is present naturally at fluoride concentrations close to one part per million. Nor did they find any evidence for difference between the absorption of fluoride from hard and soft waters at these fluoride concentrations.

  These findings provide further reassurance of the safety of fluoridated water. All water contains some fluoride and about half a million people in an area stretching from Hartlepool in the north-east to Essex receive naturally fluoridated water at concentrations close to the one part per million level at which water is artificially fluoridated. No health effects, other than enhanced resistance to tooth decay, have been detected in residents of this naturally fluoridated area.

  In the report Water Fluoridation and Health, published in September 2002, the Medical Research Council made the investigation of the bioavailability of fluoride its first priority for further research. With the favourable outcome of this study the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Dental Officer have been able to complete their advice on the implications of the MRC report for policy on fluoridation.

  The advice confirms that government should continue to support research to strengthen the evidence base on the benefits to oral health and safety of fluoridation. In this connection CMO/CDO recommend that the research community is consulted about:

  developing a scientifically robust design for evaluation of potential new fluoridation schemes under the Water Act 2003;

  investigating cancer rates in relation to fluoride in water;

  other research projects that would contribute to the evidence base—eg dental fluorosis, adult dental health, impact of water fluoridation on quality of life; and economic impact; and

  monitoring fluoride exposure using data already collected as part of the national diet and nutrition survey and future such surveys to be used to monitor fluoride exposure.

  Further research on fluoridation would need to be considered against other priority calls on the Department of Health's research and development budget.

  The favourable outcome to the research on bioavailability has also enabled us to take decisions on the management of research information on fluoridation. The department already funds the National Primary Care Research and Development

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  Centre at Manchester University. The oral health unit, which has been established within the centre, will be responsible for maintaining a national information base on research studies on fluoridation taking account of the report of the systematic review of water fluoridation carried out by York University. The unit is associated with the Cochrane Oral Health Centre which is also sited at the University of Manchester.

  The function of the British Fluoridation Society is now to promote the benefits of the fluoridation of water in reducing tooth decay. To this end we have allocated £85,000 to the society in 2003–04 and have committed £87,000 for 2004–05.

  Permanent Vegetative State
  Lord Patten
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether the use within the National Health Service of the adjective "vegetative" to describe a long-term clinical state from which some patients recover in whole or in part is discriminatory towards those patients. [HL3270]

  Lord Warner:
  The term permanent vegetative state (PVS) is a well established medical diagnostic term with clear criteria and definitions set out in guidance from the Royal College of Physicians and internationally recognised bodies. When PVS was first described, there was some uncertainty on how to diagnose the condition. There were some cases of people who it was thought could be in PVS and who did recover. Following analysis of people who have and who have not recovered, diagnosis of PVS is more certain.

  Union Flag: Armagh Courthouse
  Lord Kilclooney
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What arrangements are in place to fly the Union flag at the courthouse in Armagh City; who has responsibility to implement these arrangements; and whether the Union flag was flown at the courthouse on the date of Her Majesty's official birthday. [HL3259]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin):
  The flying of flags on courthouses in Northern Ireland is regulated by Flags Regulations (NI) 2000 as amended by the Flags Regulations (NI) Amendment 2002. The Northern Ireland Court Service issues instructions to court security officers when the Union flag should be flown. The Union flag was not flown at Armagh courthouse on 12 June 2004 due to an administrative oversight.

  Hyde Park
  Lord Berkeley
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What area is to be fenced off to the public for a forthcoming event in Hyde Park, London; how long the public will be excluded from the area; and how much income the Royal Parks Agency expects to
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  receive from the organisers of the event; and [HL3285]

  Why contractors are permitted to park their cars on the North Carriageway in Hyde Park; and [HL3286]

  Why the Royal Parks Agency has given priority to parking for contractors' cars over cycles on the North Carriageway in Hyde Park by closing that road to westbound cycles; and what alternative route has been signposted. [HL3287]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey):
  The area that has been fenced off covers 14.7 hectares.

  The enclosed area will not be completely closed to the public except on concert days. From 28 June until 5 July the fencing at the Marble Arch end of the site will be removed, opening half the site to the public. From 5 July the site will return to its current size until 13 July, when it will be reduced by one-third until the final concert on 15 July and it is expected to have been completely removed by 21 July. One footpath across the site will be kept throughout that period open except on concert days.

  The Royal Parks will receive in excess of £1.1 million from concerts in Hyde Park this summer.

  Contractors building the concert site come from all over the country. They are allowed to park on North Carriage Drive because it is close to the site they work on and there is nowhere else they can park within reasonable distance. Allowing them to park close to the site reduces the site construction period and consequently disruption to park users and avoids the need to take parking spaces out of public use.

  No alternative route has been signposted and cyclists travelling from east to west will be able to continue on the Marble Arch gyratory system, leaving at the next exit and travelling along Bayswater Road, which runs parallel to North Carriage Drive.

  Picketts Lock
  Lord Moynihan
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What is the source of funding for plans to provide £4 million for Picketts Lock from 2003 to 2005; why the funding is being given; what the money is to be spent on and by whom; who will monitor the expenditure; and why it is entered as a separate expenditure within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport annual report 2004. [HL3295]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey:
  The £4 million funding for Picketts Lock will come from the capital modernisation fund and will be used to create a Lee Valley Regional Athletic Centre that will benefit not only elite athletes but also local school children and the surrounding community.

  The money will be used by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority which proposes to build an indoor 200 metre track with spectator seating, a 132 metre sprint track, a throws area and an outdoor 400 metre track

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  also with spectator seating. Spending for the project will be monitored by Sport England.

  The expenditure is listed separately in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport annual report as the project does not fall under any other DCMS non-departmental public body grant in aid allocation.

  Sport: Participation
  Lord Moynihan
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  How the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is monitoring its 2002 public service agreement to increase significantly the take-up of sporting opportunities by new users aged 20 and above from "priority groups".[HL3297]

  Lord McIntosh of Haringey:
  One of Sport England's objectives is to "increase participation in sport in order to improve the health of the nation, with a particular focus on priority groups". Sport England's delivery of this objective is measured against a number of key performance indicators set out in its funding agreement with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). DCMS officials monitor progress through monthly meetings with Sport England and by reviewing the report and accounts that Sport England is required to submit to the department annually.

  Public Spaces
  Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  Whether, in accordance with the local government White Paper 2001 and the spending review 2002, they have published a strategy for reviewing the powers and responsibilities that
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  govern the provision and maintenance of public spaces, including beaches.[HL3282]

  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty):
  On 31 October 2002, Defra published the consultation paper, Living Places: Powers, Rights Responsibilities. This consultation set out a number of options for reforming legislation relating to public space. A summary of the consultation responses was published in July 2003. Defra has made clear that should new or amended legislation be necessary or desirable following this consultation we would seek to introduce it if a suitable legislative opportunity arose.

  Environment: Public Awareness Campaigns
  Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
  asked Her Majesty's Government:

  What campaigns they or their agencies are planning to run between June and October 2004 with the aim of raising public awareness of environmental, countryside and marine issues. [HL3283]

  Lord Whitty:
  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs gives an annual grant to the environmental charity ENCAMS, which will launch a youth litter, graffiti and abandoned vehicle campaign during the period June to October 2004. Major countryside campaigns run during this period by the department and the Countryside Agency will include the promotion of a new Countryside Code and the new statutory right of access to open country and registered common land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. In addition, the department will be participating in National Parks Week, which is being co-ordinated by the Association of National Park Authorities. There are no specific campaigns aimed at the marine environment.