NOTICES AND ORDERS OF THE DAY
Items marked † are new or have been altered.
Items expected to be taken during an adjournment are marked # (lunch) or ‡ (dinner).
FRIDAY 5TH MARCH
At eleven o’clock
Executive Powers and Civil Service Bill [HL]—Second Reading [The Lord Lester of Herne Hill]
In the event of the bill being read a second time, the Lord Lester of Herne Hill to move, That the bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
Harbours Bill [HL]—Report [The Lord Berkeley]
Air Traffic Emissions Reduction Bill [HL]—Committee [The Lord Beaumont of Whitley]
Mink Keeping (Prohibition) (England) Order 2004—The Lord Whitty to move, That the Order laid before the House on 20th January be approved. [8th Report from the Joint Committee]
Milk Development Council (Amendment) Order 2004—The Lord Whitty to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 26th January be approved. [7th Report from the Joint Committee]
The Baroness Boothroyd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider the case for tighter regulations relating to the free treatment on the National Health Service of overseas visitors.
MONDAY 8TH MARCH
*The Lord Dixon-Smith—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is appropriate to use export credit guarantees to support the export of carbon-dioxide inefficient coal-fired power stations.
*The Baroness Gardner of Parkes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will monitor progress made by the National Health Service in implementing the recently published recommendations in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on the management of multiple sclerosis.
*The Lord Beaumont of Whitley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose to introduce a compulsory registration scheme for builders.
†*The Lord Wallace of Saltaire—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their view of the United States Administration’s draft Greater Middle East Initiative.
Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]—Second Reading [The Lord Falconer of Thoroton]
In the event of the bill being read a second time, the Lord Falconer of Thoroton to move, That the bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
The Lord Lloyd of Berwick—To move, as an amendment to the above motion, to leave out “Committee of the Whole House” and insert “Select Committee”.
In the Moses Room
At 3.30 pm
Patents Bill [HL]—Grand Committee [The Lord Sainsbury of Turville]
TUESDAY 9TH MARCH
*The Lord Ashley of Stoke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent improvements have been made to the financing of palliative care in hospices.
*The Lord Sharman—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to regulate Home Equity Release Schemes, in view of the increased use of such schemes.
†*The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will facilitate peace talks between India and Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir.
†*The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of their announcement concerning expanded M15 recruitment, whether they are content that there are sufficient graduates of non-European languages to meet MI5’s requirements and the continuing needs of MI6 and Government Communications Headquarters.
†Budget (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 5th February be approved.
†Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 10th February be approved.
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on the status of women in the United Kingdom.
[It is expected that the Report stage of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill will continue]
WEDNESDAY 10TH MARCH
*The Baroness Massey of Darwen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated number of women who smoke; and what action they are taking to reduce that number.
*The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what, if commercial growing of genetically modified maize is approved, will be the anticipated effect on commercial assurance schemes, organic produce and home grown vegetables.
*The Lord Blaker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to encourage the international community to recognise the importance of the Parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe in Spring 2005 being free and fair.
The Lord Skidelsky—To call attention to the role of public private partnerships in improving the performance of the public sector; and to move for papers.
The Lord Sutherland of Houndwood—To call attention to the needs of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia; and to move for papers.
Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill [HL]—Second Reading [The Lord Joffe] [5th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
In the event of the bill being read a second time, the Lord Joffe to move, That the bill be committed to a Select Committee.
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Patents Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in the Moses Room]
THURSDAY 11TH MARCH
†[Prayers will have been read]
*The Lord Sheldon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the 9th Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, they will establish appropriate boundaries between special advisers and civil servants.
*The Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to introduce legislation to amend section 25 of the Police Act 1996 on the provision of special services or to issue a code of practice or guidance on the application of that legislation by police authorities and chief officers of police.
*The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what weight is given to past performance when new railway franchises are being awarded.
*The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any decisions have been made in relation to charges for visa renewal for overseas students.
Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Continuance in force of sections 21 to 23) Order 2004—The Baroness Scotland of Asthal to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 20th January be approved. [6th Report from the Joint Committee]
The Lord Goodhart—To move, as an amendment to the above motion, at end to insert “but calls on Her Majesty’s Government to replace Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 with alternative provisions which do not require derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights.”
†Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [HL]—Further consideration on Report [The Baroness Scotland of Asthal]
†#Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2004—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 12th February be approved. [9th Report from the Joint Committee]
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Patents Bill will continue at 3.15 pm in the Moses Room]
MONDAY 15TH MARCH
*The Lord Bishop of Oxford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in accordance with the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, they will report to the Security Council of the United Nations the reported sale of biological weapons to Iraq by the United States.
*The Lord Lamont of Lerwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider siting the new Supreme Court in the Millennium Dome.
*The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the status and purpose of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s report Making it happen: The Northern Way.
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill—Second Reading [The Baroness Scotland of Asthal]
Human Rights Act 1998 (Making of a Remedial Order) Amendment Bill [HL]—Second Reading [The Lord Lester of Herne Hill]
In the Moses Room
At 4 pm
National Insurance Contributions Bill—Grand Committee [The Lord McIntosh of Haringey] [7th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
TUESDAY 16TH MARCH
*The Lord Redesdale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will address the issue of applications for entertainment licences from circuses in the forthcoming guidance to the Licensing Act 2003; and how flexibility will be incorporated into those licences.
*The Lord Tanlaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ministry of Defence has issued wind generator hazard notices to the pilots of all low-flying aircraft.
*The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose any action to assist Palestinian communities now being cut off from health services by the new security wall and settlement enclaves.
*The Lord Howell of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take following the decision of the United States Department of Treasury to designate seven Zimbabwean entities, three farms and four commercial businesses, each controlled by members of Mr Mugabe’s regime, as “Specially Designated Nationals”.
Army, Air Force and Naval Discipline Acts (Continuation) Order 2004—The Lord Bach to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 26th February be approved.
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill—Further consideration on Report [The Lord Rooker]
†‡Agricultural Statistics (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 12th February be approved.
[It is expected that any Commons Amendments to the European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill will be considered]
In the Moses Room
At 3.30 pm
Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill [HL]—Grand Committee [The Lord Sainsbury of Turville] [7th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH
The Lord Bishop of Norwich
*The Baroness Cox—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will raise with the government of the People’s Republic of China the detention of North Korean defectors and humanitarian aid workers, including Mr Takayuki Moguchi and Mr Kim Hee-Tae.
*The Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action is being taken to combat anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom.
†*The Lord Smith of Clifton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to continue to pay the salaries of Members of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly and those of their support staff after 9th April 2004 if by that date the Assembly has not been convened.
The Lord Northbourne—To call attention to the role of marriage in securing the wellbeing of the nations children and their parents in 21st century Britain; and to move for papers. [Balloted debate]
†The Lord Harrison—To call attention to the Public Library Service of the United Kingdom and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s publication, A Framework for the future; and to move for papers. [Balloted debate]
Community Legal Services (Scope) Regulations 2004—The Lord Filkin to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 12th February be approved. [9th Report from the Joint Committee]
Courts Boards Areas Order 2004—The Lord Filkin to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 26th February be approved.
Courts Boards (Appointments and Procedure) Regulations 2004—The Lord Filkin to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 26th February be approved.
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in the Moses Room]
THURSDAY 18TH MARCH
[At eleven o’clock]
*The Lord Owen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will reinsert during the Inter Governmental Conference the earlier wording in the Draft European Constitutional Treaty that explicitly rules out the President of the European Commission from being elected President of the European Court.
†*The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to reduce the numbers of those who are discharged from the army for failing a compulsory drugs test.
†*The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan.
†*The Lord Corbett of Castle Vale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to appoint 10 regional offender managers as recommended by the Carter review.
Energy Bill [HL]—Report [The Lord Whitty]
#Social Security (Basic Skills Training Pilot) Regulations 2004—The Baroness Hollis of Heigham to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 12th February be approved.
#Social Security (Intensive Activity Period 50 to 59 Pilot) Regulations 2004—The Baroness Hollis of Heigham to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 12th February be approved.
#Social Security (Intensive Activity Period 50 to 59 Pilot) (No. 2) Regulations 2004—The Baroness Hollis of Heigham to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 12th February be approved.
In the Moses Room
At 3.15 pm
Child Trust Funds Bill—Grand Committee [The Lord McIntosh of Haringey] [7th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
MONDAY 22ND MARCH
*The Lord Faulkner of Worcester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are giving to the National Railway Museum in its bid to acquire LNER Gresley A3 Pacific “Flying Scotsman” for the National Collection.
†‡The Lord Trefgarne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the change to taxation relief arrangements announced on 10th February, what assessment they have made of the number of films whose production has been delayed or cancelled as a result.
[It is expected that the Report stage of the Energy Bill will continue]
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in Committee Room 3A and 4B]
TUESDAY 23RD MARCH
*The Lord Lea of Crondall—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any negative consequences for social cohesion in the growing gap between the highest and lowest pay levels in the United Kingdom.
†*The Lord Campbell-Savours—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the head of their Efficiency Review, Sir Peter Gershon, will report to Parliament.
‡Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2004—The Lord Sainsbury of Turville to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 9th February be approved. [10th Report from the Joint Committee]
‡Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Weekly Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2004—The Lord Sainsbury of Turville to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 9th February be approved. [10th Report from the Joint Committee]
‡National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2004—The Lord Sainsbury of Turville to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 23rd February be approved.
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Child Trust Funds Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in Committee Room 3A and 4B]
WEDNESDAY 24TH MARCH
†*The Lord Northbourne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to close the academic achievement gap between boys and girls at school, given that in 2002 44 per cent of boys compared with 55 per cent of girls achieved five or more GCSE/GNVQ passes at grades A-C.
Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 (Destination of Fixed Penalties in Scotland) Order 2004—The Lord Evans of Temple Guiting to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 25th February be approved.
Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004—The Lord Evans of Temple Guiting to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 25th February be approved.
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Child Trust Funds Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in Committee Room 3A and 4B]
THURSDAY 25TH MARCH
[At eleven o’clock]
†*The Lord Peyton of Yeovil—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they believe that the Office of Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs will command the same degree of public respect as that of Lord Chancellor; and, if so, what grounds they have for so believing.
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill will continue at 3.15 pm in Committee Room 3A and 4B]
FRIDAY 26TH MARCH
[At eleven o’clock]
†The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury—To call attention to the social purpose of sentencing; and to move for papers.
Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2004—The Lord McIntosh of Haringey to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 23rd February be approved. [10th Report from the Joint Committee]
Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—The Lord McIntosh of Haringey to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 23rd February be approved. [10th Report from the Joint Committee]
Tax Credits Up-rating Regulations 2004—The Lord McIntosh of Haringey to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 23rd February be approved. [10th Report from the Joint Committee]
NO DAY NAMED
PART I
The Lord Thomas of Gresford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept the legitimacy of pre-emptive armed attack as a constituent of the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter; and, if so, whether they will define the principles upon which it will be exercised.
The Lord Northbourne—To call attention to the Government’s progress in fulfilling their commitment to be “tough on the causes of crime”; and to move for papers.
The Lord Fowler—To call attention to the role of the Global Fund in combating the world-wide spread of HIV/AIDS; and to move for papers.
The Lord Howe of Aberavon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the Prime Minister’s initiative to attract more overseas students to the United Kingdom, whether they plan to make entry and visa arrangements for such students more user-friendly.
The Baroness Stern—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the independence and accountability of H M Inspectorate of Prisons are not compromised.
The Lord Dholakia—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will establish an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Joseph Scholes at Stoke Heath Prison.
The Lord Gray of Contin—To move, That this House takes note of the Energy White Paper, published in February 2003, entitled Our Energy Future—Creating a Low Carbon Economy.
The Lord Faulkner of Worcester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve relations with Taiwan.
The Baroness Hooper—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to make changes in the Overseas Territories following the meeting of the Overseas Territories Council 2003.
The Lord Moynihan—To call attention to the case for a new Government policy for sport and recreation; and to move for papers.
The Lord Norton of Louth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to recommend the greater use of Special Public Bill Committees in the House of Lords.
The Lord Norton of Louth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the method of determining members’ allowances in local authorities.
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To call attention to political involvement in decisions affecting the university and research sectors; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Massey of Darwen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the British Medical Association report Adolescent Health, with particular regard to obesity and sexual health.
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To call attention to the provisions in statute that permit conditions such as cleft palate and cleft lip to be regarded as “serious handicaps” for the purposes of terminating the lives of the unborn after 24 weeks gestation; and to move for papers.
The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support strengthening of the United Nations.
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether enough is being done within the educational process to attract young engineers to industry, and in particular to the automotive and motorsport industries.
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made on the introduction in England of the access provisions in Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
The Earl Russell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they found it necessary to announce in 1999 a target for the eradication of child poverty, which they have now had to abandon.
The Baroness Rawlings—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on recent developments in Georgia.
The Baroness Rawlings—To call attention to the political situation in Brazil; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Rawlings—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on recent developments in Hong Kong.
The Lord Clinton-Davis—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to improve aviation security, and whether they intend to raise this issue in the appropriate international fora.
The Baroness Trumpington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they see the future of rural veterinary practices in the United Kingdom.
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will work to create as soon as possible a United Nations or multinational Interim Authority for the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
The Lord Tombs—To call attention to the practical measures required to keep the nuclear power option open, in accordance with declared Government policy; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Knight of Collingtree—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recent report from the National Audit Office on the suspension of National Health Service staff.
The Lord Wakeham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take following the Independent Review of Government Communications.
The Lord Livsey of Talgarth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to improve access to justice in mid-Wales.
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent mental health patients should be able to exercise choice in the way they are treated under the National Health Service.
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the risk-sharing scheme, designed to allow eligible patients with multiple sclerosis to have access to beta interferon and glatiramer acetate in controlled trials, is working satisfactorily.
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To call attention to the housing benefit available to those aged over 19 who are not university students but who attend a course of study for more than 16 hours a week; and to move for papers.
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To call attention to the case for the United Kingdom accepting the First Protocol to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights so as to enable individual complaints about breaches of the covenant by the United Kingdom to be considered by the United Nations Human Rights Committee; and to move for papers.
The Lord Norton of Louth—To call attention to the case for improving contact and co-operation between the two Houses of Parliament; and to move for papers.
Food Benefit Schemes (Northern Ireland) Order 2003—The Lord Clement-Jones to move to resolve, That this House calls on Her Majesty’s Government to revoke the Order laid before the House on 8th January (S.I. 2003/3202).
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made since 11th September 2001 with their programmes to expand awareness of other cultures and with global citizenship education.
The Baroness Barker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy towards access to personal information relating to individuals who receive, or have received, social care, or who have been adopted; and whether they have any proposals for change.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, together with international agencies, to shut down websites that give access to violent pornography.
PART II
MOTIONS FOR BALLOTED DEBATE
[Ballot on 31st March for debate on 21st April]
The Baroness Hooper—To call attention to recent developments in Latin America; and to move for papers.
The Lord Sheldon—To call attention to the state of the Civil Service; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Greengross—To call attention to the health of women at all stages of their lives; and to move for papers.
The Lord Wright of Richmond—To call attention to the current priorities in the Government’s conduct of foreign and Commonwealth affairs; and to move for papers.
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To call attention to the security and human rights questions posed by the actions of the government of North Korea; and to move for papers.
The Lord Grantchester—To call attention to the provision of affordable housing as part of rural regeneration; and to move for papers.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford—To call attention to the level of subsidy to European and North American farmers and the subsequent distortion of world trade patterns; and to move for papers.
The Lord Chalfont—To call attention to the governance of London in the context of its stature as a world-class capital; and to move for papers.
The Lord Barnett—To call attention to the BBC charter renewal; and to move for papers.
†The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To call attention to the claims for compensation for mineworkers and former mineworkers who suffer from emphysema, and the legal fees associated with such claims; and to move for papers.
PART III
SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS
[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]
The Viscount Colville of Culross—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Religious Offences Committee on Religious Offences in England and Wales (HL Paper 95). [10th June, Session 2002-03]
The Lord Patel—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Science and the RDAs: SETting the regional agenda (5th Report, HL Paper 140). [16th July, Session 2002-03]
The Lord Slynn of Hadley—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Corruption Bill (HL Paper 157). [31st July, Session 2002-03]
The Lord Grenfell—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee: Annual Report from the Committee (44th Report, HL Paper 191). [27th November]
The Earl of Selborne—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on European Union Waste Management Policy (47th Report, HL Paper 194). [10th December]
The Lord Peston—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on Economic Affairs on Aspects of the Economics of an Ageing Population (4th Report, HL Paper 179). [10th January]
The Baroness Harris of Richmond—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Report from the Select Committee on the European Union, Fighting illegal immigration: should carriers carry the burden? (5th Report, HL Paper 29), whether the draft directive requiring air and sea carriers to transmit data on all their passengers to border control authorities in advance of travel will contribute effectively to curbing illegal immigration without resulting in disproportionate costs for carriers and disruption for passengers. [12th February]
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
[Tabled on 4th March, or unanswered after 21 days]
[The Government Department responsible for
answering each Question is shown in brackets]
13th January
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 20th January 2003 (WA 79), the Lord Bach on 9th October 2003 (WA 67) and 8th January 2004 (WA 54) and the Lord Warner on 8th January 2004 (WA 59), whether the Secretary of State for Health, as the licence holder, and the manufacturer of the anthrax vaccine are satisfied that the vaccine was not used for troops involved in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, or the conflict with Iraq in 2003, outside the conditions of its marketing authorisation. [DoH] (HL761)
2nd February
The Lord Chadlington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ban smoking in public places. [DoH] (HL1110)
5th February
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 8th September 2003 (WA 45), how many of the 22 persons held at that date for imperative reasons of security are now still being held; where they are held; how many have been handed to the Iraqi judicial system; and how many are interned on the basis of intelligence material which is considered to make their case unsuitable for trial. [MoD] (HL1189)
The Lord Northbourne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total amount of grants made by the Child Support Fund in each of the last five years. [DfES] (HL1196)
9th February
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost of introducing new health warnings on cigarette packs to highlight the dangers of second-hand smoke. [DoH] (HL1237)
10th February
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the remarks of the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority, at the Westminster Diet and Health Forum on 4th February, that the Authority is able to undertake tasks referred to it by member states; and whether they will seek a review of the 200 or more nutrients currently on the market in the United Kingdom but omitted from the lists of permitted ingredients set out in the Food Supplements Directive. [DoH] (HL1282)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about the data considered by the European Food Safety Authority when reviewing the safe intake of vitamins and minerals; and whether such data included—
(a) similar analyses undertaken by the United Kingdom Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals; and
(b) the report of the United States Food and Nutrition Board. [DoH] (HL1283)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they account for the delay in the meeting between the Minister for Public Health and European Commissioner Byrne to discuss the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive; when they now expect a meeting to take place; and what objectives they intend to pursue at the meeting. [DoH] (HL1284)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many downgraded personnel in the armed forces are not fit for operational deployment; and whether they will include this figure in future assessments of medically downgraded personnel. [MoD] (HL1302)
11th February
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how country-of-origin labelling for beef and fish products differs from that for other meat and foodstuffs under European Union regulations. [DOH] (HL1311)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support country-of-origin labelling for all meat, poultry and fish products; and what discussions they have had with the European Commission on changes to European Union regulations to allow such labelling. [DOH] (HL1312)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what systems they have in place to ensure that Regulation (EC) No 2065/2001, as regards the labelling of fishery and aquaculture products, is enforced across the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL1314)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the labelling of colourants used in aquaculture, such as canthaxanthin, the labelling of which is obligatory in the United States; and, if so, whether they will ensure this information is forthcoming for United Kingdom consumers. [DOH] (HL1315)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the recent survey of doctors by Medix, whether it is satisfactory that 86 per cent of respondents said that consultation with them about the NHS National Plan for information technology had been non-existent or inadequate. [DoH] (HL1349)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the NHS National Plan for information technology, insofar as it may have failed to engage key stakeholders effectively in its development, is in breach of current minimum criteria introduced to attempt to avert failure of government information technology projects. [DoH] (HL1350)
12th February
The Lord Lucas—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of individuals and firms who employ agents (as a result of deceptive advertisements or otherwise) who tout for business to make registrations under the Data Protection Act 1998 on behalf of the individuals and firms. [DTI] (HL1399)
4th March
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Primary Care Trusts will not provide by April 2005 a dedicated falls service for the elderly who suffer falls as outlined in the National Service Framework for Older People. (HL1728)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence’s guidance on osteoporosis will be published and implemented; and what support they are giving to the National Health Service in developing osteoporosis aspects of the National Service Framework for Older People. (HL1729)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what methods will be used to audit the standard of services in the National Health Service with regard to osteoporosis and falls. (HL1730)
The Lord Campbell-Savours—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many private tenancies in the Borough of Allerdale are in receipt of housing benefits. (HL1731)
The Lord Campbell-Savours—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many private tenants in the Borough of Allerdale are in receipt of housing benefits. (HL1732)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many consultant toxicologists work in the National Health Service; in which institutions do they work; and how many have confidentiality agreements with Contract Research Organisations. (HL1733)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which institutions (a) that are government owned; or (b) in which National Health Service work is carried out; or (c) in which Department of Health work is funded; or (d) in which Department of Environment, Food and Regional Affairs work is funded, also operate as commercial Contract Research Organisations; and which of these institutions carry out work for agrochemical or pharmaceutical companies or contract with consultant clinical toxicologists who work in the National Health Service. (HL1734)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which institutions (a) that are government owned; or (b) in which National Health Service work is carried out; or (c) in which Department of Health funded work is carried out, or (d) in which Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs work is carried out, conduct human exposure testing for agrochemical companies or human risk assessments on agrochemicals; and whether any have contracts with Inveresk Research Group Inc or Inveresk Research (Elphinstone Research Centre) to conduct human risk assessments on agrochemicals. (HL1735)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made, with regard to North Korean migrants and refugees to the Peoples’ Republic of China, concerning its obligations under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and the protocol of 1967, particularly in respect of providing North Koreans with a reasonable opportunity to petition for asylum and in respect of ways to evaluate asylum claims and to facilitate resettlement. (HL1736)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ask the United Nations Secretary General and Security Council to request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of China’s denial of access by North Korean refugees to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (HL1737)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will promote a new United Nations resolution designating displaced North Koreans to China as a population of concern subject to protection by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (HL1738)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will promote North Korea as a priority country for inclusion in the European Union Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. (HL1739)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust House project; and what consideration they have given to assisting with the estimated costs of the project. (HL1740)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the minutes of any meetings that took place between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the National Lottery Good Causes about the early introduction of the proposed Olympic Lottery. (HL1741)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of sport and physical activity in reducing levels of overweight and obesity; and what plans they have to address levels of inactivity among children and adults. (HL1742)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether patient-carer organisations will be adequately represented on the membership of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence’s Obesity Guideline Development Group; and what plans they have to support the application for membership from a representative from The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust. (HL1743)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was UK Sport’s budget for encouraging and maintaining United Kingdom influence within international sports federations; and how much was spent on the International Representatives’ Grant Aid Programme for each year since 1997-98. (HL1744)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom individuals are in senior positions on international sports federations; what are their names, positions and organisations; and what funding they have received from UK Sport for each year since 1997-98. (HL1745)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is proposed to move the National Centre for Policing Excellence from Bramshill. (HL1746)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is the case that the National Centre for Policing Excellence is to lose 25 per cent of its annual budget. (HL1747)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff would be displaced from Bramshill due to the proposed move of the National Centre for Policing Excellence to a new location. (HL1748)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what temporary rental accommodation costs and office equipment costs will be incurred by the relocation of the National Centre for Policing Excellence. (HL1749)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the relocation costs of the National Centre for Policing Excellence would be saved if the facility remained at Bramshill. (HL1750)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government with regard to the 81 herbicides and pesticides that it will be no longer be legal to use after 31st March 2004, whether—
(a) a media campaign has been undertaken to make gardeners aware of this; and
(b) members of the public will have somewhere to take products which they have inadvertently stored. (HL1751)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they have given to beekeepers with regard to the handling of products containing the active ingredient Imicloprid. (HL1752)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what international research has been undertaken with regard to the effect of Imicloprid on bees. (HL1753)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what economic value they place on bees, as pollinators. (HL1754)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the explanatory leaflets issued by the Boundary Committee setting out the draft recommendations for unitary local authorities in Lancashire in the event of a regional assembly were distributed in some parts of the county and not in others; and on what basis the decision on where to distribute the leaflets was made. (HL1755)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there will be further public consultation by the Boundary Committee on recommendations for new unitary local authorities in Lancashire and other counties in the event that their revised recommendations are significantly different from their draft recommendations. (HL1756)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what reference material is accessed by officials dealing with asylum applications of citizens from Zimbabwe other than the six-monthly Home Office Country Information Policy Unit reports. (HL1757)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conclusions were reached from the most recent survey by Strategic Health Authorities as to the ability of National Health Service Trusts to meet the requirements of the European Working Time Directive from August 2004. (HL1758)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many new posts have been created in the Northern Ireland Electoral Office since April 2001; at what level and grade; and what specific functions do they fulfil. (HL1759)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the suspension in 1997 of the issue of deficiency notices for National Insurance Contributions, how many notices have so far been issued to warn those of working age of the deficiencies; how many have still to be issued; and whether the target completion date of June 2004 is likely to be met. (HL1760)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the suspension in 1997 of the issue of deficiency notices for National Insurance Contributions (NICs), whether those who have retired since 1997 with one or more incomplete years of NICs will be credited with the contributions which they made in each of those incomplete years. (HL1761)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment on 30th October 2003 (HC Deb, 321W), whether there are any other charges involved in supplying passports for citizens; and, if not, how the difference between the cost and the price is justified. (HL1762)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 27th October 2003 (WA 21), what was (a) the visible, and (b) the invisible trading balance between the United Kingdom and Europe and the United Kingdom and the rest of the world for each of the years 1998 to 2002. (HL1763)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment on 13th November 2003 (HC Deb, 417W) on wild bird imports, why in 2002 10,058 parrots were brought in out of a total of 25,531 for the five years 1998 to 2002; and why the figures for other wild-caught birds has risen each year since 1998, with a four-fold increase between 2001 and 2002. (HL1764)
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER AWAITING ANSWER
4th MARCH 2004
[Tabled on the dates shown]
[The Government Department responsible for
answering each Question is shown in brackets]
13th January
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 20th January 2003 (WA 79), the Lord Bach on 9th October 2003 (WA 67) and 8th January 2004 (WA 54) and the Lord Warner on 8th January 2004 (WA 59), whether the Secretary of State for Health, as the licence holder, and the manufacturer of the anthrax vaccine are satisfied that the vaccine was not used for troops involved in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, or the conflict with Iraq in 2003, outside the conditions of its marketing authorisation. [DoH] (HL761)
2nd February
The Lord Chadlington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ban smoking in public places. [DoH] (HL1110)
5th February
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 8th September 2003 (WA 45), how many of the 22 persons held at that date for imperative reasons of security are now still being held; where they are held; how many have been handed to the Iraqi judicial system; and how many are interned on the basis of intelligence material which is considered to make their case unsuitable for trial. [MoD] (HL1189)
The Lord Northbourne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total amount of grants made by the Child Support Fund in each of the last five years. [DfES] (HL1196)
9th February
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost of introducing new health warnings on cigarette packs to highlight the dangers of second-hand smoke. [DoH] (HL1237)
10th February
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the remarks of the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority, at the Westminster Diet and Health Forum on 4th February, that the Authority is able to undertake tasks referred to it by member states; and whether they will seek a review of the 200 or more nutrients currently on the market in the United Kingdom but omitted from the lists of permitted ingredients set out in the Food Supplements Directive. [DoH] (HL1282)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about the data considered by the European Food Safety Authority when reviewing the safe intake of vitamins and minerals; and whether such data included—
(a) similar analyses undertaken by the United Kingdom Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Group on Vitamins and Minerals; and
(b) the report of the United States Food and Nutrition Board. [DoH] (HL1283)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they account for the delay in the meeting between the Minister for Public Health and European Commissioner Byrne to discuss the setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of the Food Supplements Directive; when they now expect a meeting to take place; and what objectives they intend to pursue at the meeting. [DoH] (HL1284)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many downgraded personnel in the armed forces are not fit for operational deployment; and whether they will include this figure in future assessments of medically downgraded personnel. [MoD] (HL1302)
11th February
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how country-of-origin labelling for beef and fish products differs from that for other meat and foodstuffs under European Union regulations. [DOH] (HL1311)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support country-of-origin labelling for all meat, poultry and fish products; and what discussions they have had with the European Commission on changes to European Union regulations to allow such labelling. [DOH] (HL1312)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what systems they have in place to ensure that Regulation (EC) No 2065/2001, as regards the labelling of fishery and aquaculture products, is enforced across the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL1314)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the labelling of colourants used in aquaculture, such as canthaxanthin, the labelling of which is obligatory in the United States; and, if so, whether they will ensure this information is forthcoming for United Kingdom consumers. [DOH] (HL1315)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the recent survey of doctors by Medix, whether it is satisfactory that 86 per cent of respondents said that consultation with them about the NHS National Plan for information technology had been non-existent or inadequate. [DoH] (HL1349)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the NHS National Plan for information technology, insofar as it may have failed to engage key stakeholders effectively in its development, is in breach of current minimum criteria introduced to attempt to avert failure of government information technology projects. [DoH] (HL1350)
12th February
The Lord Lucas—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of individuals and firms who employ agents (as a result of deceptive advertisements or otherwise) who tout for business to make registrations under the Data Protection Act 1998 on behalf of the individuals and firms. [DTI] (HL1399)
23rd February
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prisoners in England and Wales have requested transfers to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many qualified in terms of length of sentence and other criteria; what is the average time taken to consider and approve a request; and how many prisoners were transferred in the most recent twelve months. [HO] (HL1400)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on United Nations Norms on Business Responsibility, in particular the International Labour Organisation Core Labour Standards. [FCO] (HL1401)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th February (WA 170), what has been the Government’s record in meeting the target of answering written questions within two weeks in each department, apart from the Scotland Office and the Wales Office, for each of the past five years. [LHoL] (HL1403)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 11th February (WA 155), what has been the approximate total public expenditure in relation to Lord Hutton’s inquiry; and whether they will estimate when they will publish a breakdown of the costs of the inquiry. [DCA] (HL1404)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total annual public expenditure on special advisers; and what salaries are paid to each of them. [CO] (HL1405)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have intervened in proceedings pending before the Supreme Court of the United States; and, if so, for what reasons and upon what issues. [LSLO] (HL1406)
The Lord Turnberg—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what encouragement they are giving to the Palestinian Authority to respond to the efforts of the Israeli government to withdraw settlements from the Gaza strip. [FCO] (HL1414)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, since the defeat of Saddam Hussein, what they have learned about the fate of Kuwait’s prisoners-of-war following the 1990-91 Gulf War; and what role their families will be allowed in the legal process now facing Hussein. [FCO] (HL1417)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in the Department of Health’s inquiry into the disclosures made by the Lord Owen concerning decisions taken while he was a Health Minister in regard to imports of blood for the treatment of patients with haemophilia; and when they expect the inquiry to conclude. [DoH] (HL1419)
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions the Victims’ Advisory Panel has met since March 2003. [HO] (HL1420)
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government who are the members of the Victims’ Advisory Panel; and, where appropriate, which organisations they represent. [HO] (HL1421)
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions since March 2003 the Victims’ Advisory Panel has reported directly to the Home Secretary; and whether their reports are printed or presented to Parliament by a Government Minister. [HO] (HL1422)
The Lord Clement-Jones—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to appoint an Obesity Tsar to address the problems of those who are obese, and prevent increases in their number. [DoH] (HL1426)
The Lord Clement-Jones—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how funding from the New Opportunities Fund is being used to address levels of overweight and obesity. [DoH] (HL1427)
The Lord Clement-Jones—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review their current dietary advice in the form of the “5-a-day” message to ensure that they are providing practical and adequate advice to those who are overweight and obese. [DoH] (HL1428)
The Lord Russell-Johnston—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a policy regarding refugees from the Chechen wars seeking political asylum. [HO] (HL1430)
The Lord Russell-Johnston—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many refugees of the Chechen wars have been offered political asylum to the latest convenient date. [HO] (HL1431)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current salary, plus bonuses and other expenses, paid to the Head of the Northern Ireland civil service; what is the amount paid on the same basis to an administration officer; and how each will be affected by the proposed annual increases. [NIO] (HL1432)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek the approval of the United Nations Security Council for a mandatory arms embargo on Sudan. [FCO] (HL1437)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about the response by the government of Sudan to the request by the acting High Commissioner for Human Rights for it to extend an open invitation to the fact-finding and investigative mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights to visit Sudan. [FCO] (HL1438)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 4th February (WA 104), what is the total number of staff associations within the police service; and whether a multiplicity of such associations is conducive to harmony in the police service itself, and increases confidence in the service by the general public. [HO] (HL1445)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department of Health will set national eligibility criteria for access to infertility services once the standard of those services has been set by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [DoH] (HL1448)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which body, or bodies, will be responsible for ensuring that the forthcoming National Institute for Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines for assessing and treating people with fertility problems are implemented fully across the country. [DoH] (HL1449)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy that National Health Service-funded infertility treatment should be carried out within a service that offers a full range of evidence-based investigations and treatments, in order to provide couples with the most appropriate treatment for their needs and to reduce wastage from inappropriate procedures. [DoH] (HL1450)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to pensions in payment where the pensioners retired before April 1997, what level of inflation proofing will be provided by the proposed Pension Protection Fund (PPF); and for how many people and by how much on average that inflation proofing would fall short of the inflation protection to which they would have been entitled from their pension scheme before the assumption of responsibility by the PPF. [DWP] (HL1452)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 24th June 2003 (WA 13), what are the bases on which they have arrived at their current estimated annual cost of £300 million for the Pension Protection Fund, and the reasons, including the cost effect in each case, for the reduction from the cost of £340-£375 million previously estimated. [DWP] (HL1453)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in estimating the cost of the Pension Protection Fund, what estimate they have made in respect of companies which avoid insolvency but are unable to make good underfunding in their pension schemes. [DWP] (HL1454)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the five British subjects now due to be released from Guantanamo Bay, when the Government first believed that each of them would not pose a threat to the security of the British people. [FCO] (HL1455)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they believe that each of the four British subjects not due to be released from Guantanamo Bay pose a threat to the security of the British people. [FCO] (HL1456)
24th February
The Lord Clement-Jones—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of patient profiling in improving the targeting of National Health Service resources and services to meet the needs of the overweight and obese. [DoH] (HL1458)
The Earl Russell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will give details of the changes in the Habitual Residence Test referred to in the statement by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 23rd February (HL Deb, cols. 29-32). [DWP] (HL1459)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many civil servants currently work in the dental section of the Department of Health; and how many have worked in a similar capacity during the tenure of the last four Chief Dental Officers. [DoH] (HL1460)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many letters the Department of Health have received since September 2002 from (a) members of the public, (b) Members of Parliament on behalf of constituents, and (c) peers, in regard to difficulties in accessing National Health Service dentistry. [DoH] (HL1461)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which primary care trusts the Ministers with responsibility for dentistry have met in the last nine months regarding access to National Health Service dentistry in their areas. [DoH] (HL1462)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the countries of origin of those overseas dentists who registered last year to practise dentistry in England and Wales; and what is their current policy towards encouraging foreign dentists to practise in England and Wales. [DoH] (HL1463)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with European Union accession countries regarding the movement of dental personnel to the United Kingdom. [DoH] (HL1464)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish the Dentistry Workforce Review; and why publication has been delayed. [DoH] (HL1465)
The Lord Pendry—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is being done to ensure that the right coaching opportunities exist in the United Kingdom to deliver a successful Olympic Games in 2012. [DCMS] (HL1467)
The Lord Bowness—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 18th September 2003 (HL Deb, cols. 1057-60) on constitutional reform, how many elected hereditary peers they intend should remain in the House of Lords; and by what mechanism they will be selected and nominated. [DfCA] (HL1472)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the declaration on 9th February of an amnesty and an end to military operations in Darfur, Sudan; and whether they have evidence that it is resulting in a ceasefire and the return of displaced people. [FCO] (HL1473)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost, at constant prices, of expenditure on disability benefits in each of the last ten years for which figures are available; and what is their estimate for the current year. [DWP] (HL1475)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people received help provided by local authorities under the provisions of section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 in each of the last ten years for which figures are available. [DoH] (HL1476)
The Lord Ezra—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any legal reason why VAT cannot be reduced to 5 per cent on the supply and installation by contractors of micro combined heat and power systems. [HMT] (HL1484)
The Lord Ezra—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the law that permitted VAT to be reduced to 5 per cent on micro combined heat and power systems supplied and installed by contractors as a result of grant schemes will also permit VAT to be similarly reduced on the supply and installation of such systems by contractors not as part of grant schemes. [HMT] (HL1485)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency treats Ulster Scots as a distinct ethnic group. [NIO] (HL1486)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the percentage breakdown of the staff of the Northern Ireland Equality Commission in terms of religion and gender. [NIO] (HL1488)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes have been made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s recruitment process since the start of 50/50 recruitment. [NIO] (HL1489)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many candidates from a Protestant background and how many from a Roman Catholic background have been refused entry into the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL1490)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Police Board for Northern Ireland has approved its proposal to continue the policy of 50/50 recruitment for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL1491)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their timetable for the publication of guidance by the Department for Constitutional Affairs on the exemptions from the right of access and on procedural matters under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [DfCA] (HL1492)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish their Project Initiation Document referred to in Freedom of Information (Annual report on bringing fully into force those provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which are not yet fully in force) November 2003. [DfCA] (HL1493)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consult the public before making fees regulations under sections 9, 12 and 13 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [DfCA] (HL1494)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which departments have not produced detailed training plans for their staff under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [DfCA] (HL1495)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish a Model Action Plan on the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for use across the public sector. [DfCA] (HL1496)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the Information Commissioner’s Project Plan referred to in paragraph 3.1.2 of Freedom of Information (Annual report on bringing fully into force those provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which are not yet fully in force) November 2003. [DfCA] (HL1497)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the announcement at the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit’s (NHTCU) second e-Crime Congress, what changes to the Computer Misuse Act 1990 they are contemplating to address the extent of internet crime exposed by the NHTCU’s recent survey. [HO] (HL1501)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will bring forward legislation to strengthen the Computer Misuse Act 1990, given that the Home Office has identified this as a priority. [HO] (HL1502)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to protect financial and on-line retailing enterprises from “phishing” attacks. [HO] (HL1503)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why there has been a delay in the announcement of the National e-Crime Strategy. [HO] (HL1504)
25th February
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they still accept paragraph 13 of Strand Two of the Belfast Agreement (Cm 4705) which states that the North South Ministerial Council and the Northern Ireland Assembly are mutually inter-dependent. [NIO] (HL1507)
The Lord Dixon-Smith—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what investigations they are carrying out into the health of persons living in the vicinity of wind farms. [DTI] (HL1508)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the ratio of National Health Service dentists per head of population in each year since 1997. [DoH] (HL1509)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will list the current pilot sites which are testing the new National Health Service dentistry-based contract. [DoH] (HL1510)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether dental patient registrations will be abolished from 2005. [DoH] (HL1511)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the current salary is for a Community Dental Service dentist with—
(a) one year’s experience;
(b) two to five year’s experience;
(c) five to ten year’s experience; and
(d) over ten year’s experience. [DoH] (HL1512)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what studies (a) the Treasury, and (b) the Department of Health have conducted into the way in which other European Union countries remunerate dentists. [DoH] (HL1513)
The Viscount Astor—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide information on locations of present and proposed SPECS speed cameras; and whether they will keep that list up-to-date on the Department for Transport’s website. [DfT] (HL1514)
The Viscount Astor—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there have been any prosecutions for speeding based on evidence from SPECS speed cameras; and, if so, how many. [HO] (HL1515)
The Viscount Astor—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether SPECS speed cameras have been permanently installed on roads other than the motorway network. [DfT] (HL1516)
The Lord Patten—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that health warnings are given on the packaging of food stuffs containing sugar. [DoH] (HL1517)
The Baroness Barker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether tax credits, including child tax credits, will be available for persons entering the United Kingdom from the 10 new European Union countries after 1st May. [HMT] (HL1518)
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research they have carried out to determine why there was an increase of 46 per cent for women and 10 per cent for men sentenced to prison for motoring offences in the year October 2002-October 2003. [HO] (HL1519)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what notices of changes to members’ personal interests have been received by the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides since January 2002; from which members such notices have been received; and what were the changes registered. [DEFRA] (HL1520)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 17th June 2002 (WA 57), how much funding has been received from agrochemical companies—
(a) by National Health Service Trusts;
(b) by the National Poisons Information Service Centres;
(c) for National Health Service work in either the National Poisons Information Service, the National Teratology Information Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne or their associated clinical facilities;
(d) for the training of registrars; and
(e) for any other purpose since 2000. [DoH] (HL1521)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the forthcoming review of obesity by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition will include an analysis of the contribution which the promotion of high carbohydrate foodstuffs has had on the increase in obesity; and whether it will include a review of the traditional food pyramid. [DoH] (HL1522)
The Lord Jopling—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether those responsible for the London Olympic Bid for 2012 are aware of the total cost to public funds of running each of the last three Olympic Games; and how much of that cost came from—
(d) private sources. [DCMS] (HL1524)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what statistics are collected regularly by the Home Office relating to (a) the level of alcohol-related violent crime; (b) violent offences committed in connection with licensed premises; and (c) violent offences committed under the influence of an intoxicating substance. [HO] (HL1526)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last issued advice on the management of violent patients in accident and emergency departments of hospitals; and whether they will conduct a review of the problem, in consultation with the British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine. [DoH] (HL1527)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the work of the Metropolitan Police CO14 Clubs and Vice Branch is to be subsumed within the proposed new United Kingdom-wide Serious Organised Crime Agency. [HO] (HL1528)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that the websites of the Government offices for the regions have a common look and feel. [ODPM] (HL1529)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the senior judiciary and the Immigration Appeal Authority have expressed their views on the proposal in clause 11 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Bill to remove judicial review of the decisions of the proposed Asylum and Immigration Tribunal; and, if so, what views have been expressed. [DCA] (HL1530)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23rd February (WA2), which part of the Prime Minister’s statement to the House of Commons on 28th January makes clear the reason why he decided to establish the Hutton inquiry; and whether the reason was to secure the withdrawal of an accusation against the Prime Minister. [DCA] (HL1531)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the minutes of proceedings of the Advisory Group on Implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [DCA] (HL1532)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they will take to ensure that, where Government departments and other public authorities within the scope of the Freedom of Information of Information Act 2000 decide not to supply information to the public free of charge, they will impose only charges in respect of costs reasonably attributable to the supply of information, and will make publicly available details of the charges to be levied. [DCA] (HL1533)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many casualties, both military and civilian, have occurred in Iraq as a result of unexploded ordnance such as missiles, cluster bomblets or other sub-munitions; and what assistance they are giving to agencies carrying out surveys or clearance of such ordnance. [MoD] (HL1535)
The Lord Harris of Haringey—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessments they have made of the potential vulnerability of the Critical National Infrastructure to systematic cyber-attack by terrorists or organised crime; and what initiatives they have taken to protect it. [HO] (HL1537)
The Lord Harris of Haringey—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which department is responsible for—
(a) protecting the computers and networks of the Critical National Infrastructure from systematic attack by an organised adversary;
(b) preparing a national defence plan against such an attack;
(c) directing the national response to any such attack; and
(d) managing the reconstitution of the Critical National Infrastructure in the event of it being extensively damaged following such an attack. [HO] (HL1538)
The Lord Harris of Haringey—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the national capability to—
(a) quickly detect a systematic attack on the computers and networks of the Critical National Infrastructure;
(b) to assess the manner and magnitude of such an attack; and
(c) to alert those responsible to the need for protection against the attack and what action to take. [HO] (HL1539)
The Baroness Strange—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the titles war widow or war widower will continue to be used to describe all widows or widowers whose spouses’ deaths were attributable to their service lives. [MoD] (HL1541)
The Baroness Strange—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will withdraw the war widows’ pension for those who become widowed after April 2005. [MoD] (HL1542)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 5th February (WA 114), whether they are satisfied that the police and other enforcement authorities have been able to monitor the 355 new criminal offences within the remit of the Home Office which have been created since 1997. [HO] (HL1543)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 5th February (WA 114), what has been the effect on the prison population of the 355 new criminal offences within the remit of the Home Office which have been created since 1997. [HO] (HL1544)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 5th February (WA 114), whether they will arrange to keep a central register of all new criminal offences and those offences which have been repealed. [HO] (HL1545)
The Earl of Erroll—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether funding will be available to continue the work of the Local Authority Smartcard Services e-Organisation currently working as the Standards Work Package of the National Smartcard Project in support of the e-GIF and other national and international standards, when the current funding ends on 31st March 2004. [ODPM] (HL1548)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many disabled people now receive the mobility allowance; what was the total spending on the allowance, at constant prices in each of the last ten years; and what is their estimate for the current year. [DWP] (HL1549)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial support was given to Motability, at constant prices in each of the last ten years; and what estimate they have made for the current year. [DWP] (HL1550)
The Lord Walpole—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they will use to determine whether there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest to support the applications for port developments at (a) Dibden Bay; (b) London Gateway (Shellhaven); (c) Bathside Bay; and (d) Felixstowe South; and what alternative solutions to development are being considered. [DfT] (HL1551)
26th February
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional measures they consider necessary, in the light of two fatal terrorist attacks on groups of non-governmental organisation workers in the past fortnight, to strengthen security outside Kabul and bring to justice those who are trying to prevent Afghanistan’s reconstruction. [FCO] (HL1553)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in monitoring the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 at a local level, they have statistics of ambulance call-outs relating to—
(a) incidents occurring on or in the vicinity of licensed premises;
(b) violent crimes reported following incidents occurring in such places; and
(c) patients suffering from injuries requiring treatment at accident and emergency departments following incidents occurring in such places. [DoH] (HL1554)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are giving to the government of Afghanistan on capacity building and institutional support in the legal sector, including the participation of women. [FCO] (HL1555)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ask all Ministers to put their e-mail addresses on their letter headings; and whether the Cabinet Office will include Ministers’ e-mail addresses, or those of their private secretaries, in the Cabinet Office List of Ministerial Responsibilities, and on their departmental websites. [CO] (HL1556)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Chinese authorities about the death sentence passed on a Tibetan monk, Rinpoche Tenzin Delek; and whether they will draw the attention of the United Nations Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to the procedures followed at his trial. [FCO] (HL1557)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assurances were given to the last two meetings of Bangladesh donors by Ministers of the Bangladesh government regarding the implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord; whether they consider that those assurances have been implemented, and how they intend to pursue this matter at the next donors’ meeting. [FCO] (HL1558)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed with the Post Office ways of preventing postal delivery workers from delivering party election material (other than election freepost items) while wearing their Post Office uniform; and, if not, whether they consider it desirable that this should happen. [DTI] (HL1559)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are being made with the Post Office to guarantee that freepost items for the European elections are delivered to electors in good time and, in regions with all-postal elections, at an appropriate interval before the date of despatch of the ballot papers. [DTI] (HL1560)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in regions which will have all-postal ballots for the European and local elections on 10th June, arrangements will be made for all party political broadcasts to be transmitted on a regional basis before the date of despatch of the ballot papers. [DCA] (HL1561)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Strategic Rail Authority has instructed Arriva trains to end the practice of issuing tickets that allowed day visitors to the Yorkshire Dales National Park to travel to a station on the Skipton-Carnforth line and to return from a different station on the Settle and Carlisle line (or vice versa) having walked between the two; if so, why has this facility been removed; and whether it accords with Government policy on encouraging visitors to the National Park to travel by public transport. [DfT] (HL1562)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many copies have been produced of the report Making it happen: The Northern Way together with the associated publications Creating sustainable communities: making it happen for the North East, South East, East Midlands, West Midlands, South West, London, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and East of England; what is the cost of (a) compiling, writing and editing and (b) printing and distributing these publications; to whom have these publications been circulated; and through which outlets they are available to interested members of the public and organisations. [ODPM] (HL1563)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people (full time equivalent) were employed in 2000 for purposes relating to elections (a) by the Home Office, (b) by Boundary Commissions for England and Wales, and (c) by any other relevant organisations; and how many were employed at most recent date for which figures are available (a) by the Home Office, (b) in Boundary Commissions for England and Wales, (c) by the Local Government Boundary Committee, (d) by the Electoral Commission other than the Local Government Boundary Committee, and (e) by any other relevant organisations. [DCA] (HL1564)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions the Department of Health have had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Homelessness Unit regarding the provision of dental services to homeless people. [DoH] (HL1565)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prisoners in English prisons received dental treatment in 2003. [HO] (HL1566)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many students applied to study A level chemistry last year; and what they are doing to promote an increased take-up of chemistry as a GCSE and A level subject. [DfES] (HL1567)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to announce the findings of the latest Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body pay review. [DoH] (HL1568)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last issued guidance concerning prisoners and sentences; whether this included remands in custody and the appropriate use of non-custodial sentences; and whether they will urgently consider new guidance. [HO] (HL1569)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to ensure that the people of Hong Kong continue to enjoy a high degree of autonomy and obtain full democratic rights by 2007, in accordance with relevant international agreements. [FCO] (HL1570)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why there is such a complicated booking system for patients and long waiting times for appointments for the gynaecology department of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London. [DoH] (HL1571)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are international legal rules forbidding surveillance on communications to and from United Nations offices, United Nations personnel, and the homes of foreign ambassadors; and, if so, whether the Government is bound to comply with those rules. [FCO] (HL1572)
[As amended on 1st March]
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24th February (WA 41), why the line f | 
