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).
WEDNESDAY 28TH APRIL
At half-past two o’clock
*The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the effect of excluding orchards from the Single Payment Scheme to be introduced under the Common Agricultural Policy reforms from 2005.
*The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will assist the new South African government in reducing acute poverty and high unemployment.
*The Lord Goodhart—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce whether there are to be any further appointments to the rank of Queen’s Counsel.
*The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in view of the current situation in Darfur, Sudan, they will consult with other members of the United Nations Security Council with a view to agreeing a Resolution under Chapter VII of the Charter.
*The Lord Elton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what disciplinary steps have been taken following the death in custody at Rainsbrook Secure Centre, on Monday 19th April, of 15-year-old Gareth Myatt.
†Business of the House—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That the debate on the motion in the name of the Lord Sheppard of Didgemere set down for today shall be limited to 2 hours and that in the name of the Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville to 3 hours.
The Lord Sheppard of Didgemere—To call attention to the governance of London; and to move for papers.
The Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville—To call attention to the situation in Northern Ireland; and to move for papers.
European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2004—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 18th March be approved. [15th Report from the Joint Committee]
Non-Domestic Rating (Chargeable Amounts) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004—The Lord Bassam of Brighton to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 22nd March be approved. [13th Report from the Joint Committee]
Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2004—The Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 19th April be approved. [15th Report from the Joint Committee]
Competition Act 1998 (Determination of Turnover for Penalties) (Amendment) Order 2004—The Lord Triesman to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 31st March be approved. [15th Report from the Joint Committee]
Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004—The Lord Triesman to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 31st March be approved. [15th Report from the Joint Committee]
Competition Act 1998 (Land Agreements Exclusion and Revocation) Order 2004—The Lord Triesman to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 19th April be approved. [15th Report from the Joint Committee]
THURSDAY 29TH APRIL
[At eleven o’clock]
[Prayers will have been read]
*The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they now expect their new Disability Discrimination Bill to be presented to Parliament.
*The Lord Clinton-Davis—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Prime Minister has any plans to meet Senator John Kerry before the United States presidential election.
*The Lord Beaumont of Whitley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to appoint an independent supermarket watchdog.
†*The Lord Howell of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have put to their European Union partners for an alternative treaty, setting out and simplifying appropriate rules for an enlarged Union, in the event of failure to agree the current draft Constitutional Treaty or to ratify it by one or more Member States.
†Fire and Rescue Services Bill—The Lord Rooker to move, That it be an instruction to the Grand Committee to which the Fire and Rescue Services Bill has been committed that they consider the bill in the following order:
Clauses 1 to 52
Schedule 1
Clause 53 | Schedule 2
Clauses 54 to 62. |
†Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL]—Consideration of Commons Amendments [The Lord President (Baroness Amos)]
Employment Relations Bill—Second Reading [The Lord Sainsbury of Turville]
In the event of the bill being read a second time, the Lord Sainsbury of Turville to move, That the bill be committed to a Grand Committee.
†European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement on Enlargement of the European Economic Area) Order 2004—The Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 26th April be approved. [16th Report from the Joint Committee]
Health Protection Agency Bill [HL]—Third Reading [The Lord Warner]
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, Session 2002-03, HL Paper 140).
In the Moses Room
At 3.15 pm
†Traffic Management Bill—Further consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Davies of Oldham] [13th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
TUESDAY 4TH MAY
*The Lord Higgins—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made in preventing the export of live horses for slaughter.
*The Baroness Turner of Camden—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they are refusing extra money for refurbishment of council homes in cases where tenants have voted against transferring housing management to an Arms Length Management Organisation; and whether they object to direct council management.
*The Earl Russell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will lay a duty on other departments entering future public spending rounds to consider the implications of their decisions for the Department for Work and Pensions.
*The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any influence over the proposed sale by Group 4 Falck of their subsidiary Global Solutions Limited, which operates H M Prisons Wolds, Altcourse and Rye Hill, and the Immigration Detention Centres Oakington, Campsfield House and Yarl’s Wood.
Child Trust Funds Bill—Third Reading [The Lord McIntosh of Haringey]
†Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill—House to be again in Committee [The Baroness Scotland of Asthal] [12th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
Children Bill [HL]—Committee [The Baroness Ashton of Upholland]
WEDNESDAY 5TH MAY
*The Baroness Knight of Collingtree—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1031), laid before the House on 1st April, will change the law in relation to the protection of patients and their right to decline to be used in clinical trials.
*The Lord Tombs—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the likely total cumulative cost to electricity customers, by the end of 2010, 2015 and 2020 respectively, of the Government’s renewable energy strategy, assuming that the target for 2010 and the aspiration for 2020 are both met.
*The Lord Faulkner of Worcester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the security and crowd control arrangements being made for the Euro 2004 football championships in Portugal are expected to be sufficient.
The Baroness Thornton—To call attention to the role which central Government plays in supporting local communities; and to move for papers.
The Viscount Chandos—To call attention to the role which political parties play in public life; and to move for papers.
THURSDAY 6TH MAY
[At eleven o’clock]
†*The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they respond to the report published by Libri, a charity for libraries, concerning the well-being of public libraries in the United Kingdom.
†*The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the opening of BT’s directory enquiry service to competition has had on the number of enquiries made by telephone customers.
[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Children Bill will continue]
In the Moses Room
At 3.15 pm
Fire and Rescue Service Bill—Grand Committee [The Lord Rooker] [13th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
MONDAY 10TH MAY
*The Lord Lamont of Lerwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of legislation put before Parliament in recent years has originated from the European Union.
*The Lord Ezra—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why their document Energy Efficiency—The Government’s Plan for Action lowers the expected savings in household carbon emissions by 2010 which were set out in the Energy White Paper.
*The Baroness Barker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to develop the work of the Criminal Records Bureau.
Higher Education Bill—Committee [The Baroness Ashton of Upholland] [14th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
‡The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support strengthening of the United Nations.
In the Moses Room
At 3.30 pm
Civil Partnership Bill [HL]—Grand Committee [The Baroness Scotland of Asthal]
TUESDAY 11TH MAY
*The Lord Ashley of Stoke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have studied OFCOM’s proposals for the future of subtitling television programmes.
*The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether local education authorities will be required to consult with parents before the introduction of a six-term year.
*The Lady Saltoun of Abernethy—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to taking the United Kingdom out of the Common Fisheries Policy.
†*The Baroness Scott of Needham Market—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take to assist rural bus services.
WEDNESDAY 12TH MAY
†*The Lord Roberts of Conwy—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether official data relating to public services show that productivity has fallen since 1997 by 10 per cent overall and by 15 to 20 per cent in health and education.
The Lord Lucas—To call attention to the review of housing supply by Kate Barker (March 2004); and to move for papers. [Balloted debate]
The Lord Avebury—To call attention to the burdens of alcohol abuse on local authorities, police, ambulance services and accident and emergency departments; and to move for papers. [Balloted debate]
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. [11th Report from the Joint Committee]
Naval Discipline Act 1957 (Remedial) Order 2004—The Lord Bach to move, That the Order laid before the House on 15th January be approved.
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Civil Partnership Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in the Moses Room]
THURSDAY 13TH MAY
[At eleven o’clock]
†*The Baroness Cox—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to reports of continuing violations of human rights of ethnic national groups in Burma by the State Peace and Development Council.
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Civil Partnership Bill will continue at 3.15 pm in the Moses Room]
MONDAY 17TH MAY
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Civil Partnership Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in the Moses Room]
TUESDAY 18TH MAY
*The Lord Lea of Crondall—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether newspaper proprietors should have more influence over the development of public policy than Parliament.
NO DAY NAMED
PART I
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 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 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 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 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.
The Baroness Whitaker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the United Nations should be strengthened to respond to current threats to world peace and security.
The Baroness Buscombe—To call attention to the significance of intellectual property rights protection for the creative industries; and to move for papers.
The Lord Mitchell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to reduce the incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome.
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are being taken to develop an international strategy to end the killing of street children in Central and South America.
The Baroness Whitaker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they respond to recent initiatives to strengthen the United Nations in the face of current threats to world peace and security.
The Lord Dearing—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes are desirable to schools’ inspections so that they make the best possible contribution to the quality, effectiveness and well-being of education.
The Baroness Cox—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received any reports on discussions between the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and leaders of ethnic national groups within Burma.
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to how business rates for small businesses are levied.
The Lord Harrison—To call attention to Her Majesty’s Government’s contribution to maintaining the architectural heritage of England’s churches, and to how their functions as places of worship can be sympathetically combined with other ways of serving the whole of their local communities; and to move for papers.
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to mark the publication of the new Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as a record of those men and women who have shaped Britain’s past.
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 Lord Lea of Crondall—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what benefits have been gained by people at work in Britain arising from the signing of the European Union Social Chapter in 1997.
Draft Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 and Draft Guidance to Police Officers on the Operation of Closure Powers in Part 8 of the Licensing Act 2003—The Lord Redesdale to move, That this House regrets Her Majesty’s Government’s decision to lay the draft Guidance on 23rd March, before they have laid Orders under sections 55, 92, 100, 110 and 133 of and Schedule 8 to the Licensing Act 2003, which set out the level of fees which applicants for licences will be required to pay licensing authorities.
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they agree with the First Report from the Committee for Privileges, Code of Conduct and Members’ Interests, and in particular its recommendation that members of the House in receipt of pensions from the European Union do not normally need to declare such pensions as a financial interest when taking part in debates on European Union matters; and, if so, why.
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the present bio-security arrangements for the control of disease in agriculture and horticulture are adequate.
The Baroness Hooper—To call attention to recent developments in Latin America; 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 Lofthouse of Pontefract—To call attention to the claims for compensation for mineworkers and former mineworkers who suffer from bronchitis and emphysema, and the legal fees associated with such claims; and to move for papers.
The Lord Dubs—To call attention to the enlargement of the European Union on 1st May 2004 and to what Her Majesty’s Government could do to ensure that the British people are kept fully informed of issues affecting Britain’s membership; and to move for papers.
Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004—The Earl Howe to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House on 1st April, be annulled (S.I. 2004/1031).
The Lord Dholakia—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report by the Commission on Women and the Criminal Justice System.
†The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To call attention to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the consequences of the referendum on the Annan Plan; and to move for papers.
†The Baroness Northover—To call attention to the case for assistance to deal with the increasing number of orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere; and to move for papers.
†The Baroness Gale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to improve the position of women in prison.
PART II
SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS
[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]
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 Lord Scott of Foscote—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on The Future Role of the European Court of Justice (6th Report, HL Paper 47). [15th March]
The Lord Williamson of Horton—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on The Working Time Directive: a Response to the European Commission’s Review (9th Report, HL Paper 67). [8th April]
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
[Tabled on 27th April, or unanswered after 21 days]
[The Government department responsible for
answering each Question is shown in brackets]
11th March
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which officials of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure have since 2000 travelled outside the British Isles on authorised business; what was the purpose of each visit; and how much did each visit cost. [NIO] (HL1884)
17th March
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether business regulation has grown since they took office in 1997; and, if so, by what factor. [DTI] (HL1958)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the extra costs on business since 1997 by way of (a) taxation; and (b) regulation. [DTI] (HL1959)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information the Department of Health has on potential adverse consequences for individual service men and women involved in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict of the Ministry of Defence having planned the timing of their anthrax immunisations differently from those in the marketing authorisation and the giving of fewer immunisations than were recommended. [DoH] (HL1961)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Iraqis working as interpreters or translators for British forces have been murdered since March last year. [MoD] (HL1963)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what compensation is paid to the families of Iraqis murdered while working as interpreters or translators for British forces. [MoD] (HL1964)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many car bombs have been intercepted by security forces in Basra this month . [MoD] (HL1965)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether all outstanding claims, following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, have been settled; if not, how many remain outstanding; and to what financial value. [DEFRA] (HL1968)
18th March
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the distribution of Local Authority Circular LAC(2004)5-Review of Children’s Cases, they will ensure that medical and social workers working with children are aware of issues arising over the medical evidence for Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy, also known as Fabricated or Induced Illness in Children, by issuing supplementary guidance. [DfES] (HL1992)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they give to parents who are precluded from working with children because their child or children have been put on “At Risk” registers as a result of evidence of Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy, also known as Fabricated or Induced Illness in Children, even when their case has not been tested in the courts. [DfES] (HL1995)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they have paid to paramilitary prisoners support groups in each year since 1999. [NIO] (HL2010)
22nd March
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government to whom the Special European Programmes Body allocated peace funding during 2003; for what purpose; what percentage was allocated in Northern Ireland; and whether the system of grant allocation was approved by the North South Ministerial Council. [NIO] (HL2059)
The Lord Eames—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that all avenues of approach have been attempted to solve the impasse at Drumcree in the light of the recent remarks by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland regarding the forthcoming “marching season” in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL2070)
23rd March
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to amend the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 so as to eliminate any difference between same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. [DTI] (HL2082)
The Lord Bishop of Oxford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 12th March (HL Deb, cols. 1-3), whether they will report to the Security Council of the United Nations the export by the United States of anthrax and botulinum toxin, the principle components of Iraqi bio-weapons programmes, to Iraq given that at the time United States Senators had witnessed Iraq’s crimes against Iran and that such materials could be reproduced to produce such weapons. [FCO] (HL2094)
The Earl of Courtown—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been charged with fraud in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak; and of them how many of these are farmers or slaughtermen. [DEFRA] (HL2106)
25th March
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ban the sale of electric shock dog collars. [DEFRA] (HL2162)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they have done to publicise the safe return of refugees and asylum-seekers to their own countries and communities, so as to counteract any public perception that all asylum-seekers and migrants are coming one way. [HO] (HL2169)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure stopped the Ulster Scots Agency’s policy of targeting social need by removing the appropriate section of its budget for the year 2004. [NIO] (HL2194)
26th March
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the grant scheme for the Irish Language Agency was approved by the North South Ministerial Council. [NIO] (HL2207)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the published views of Mr Matt Cavanagh, Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, that race and sex discrimination may be “rational” and questioning the desirability of the anti-discrimination legislation, represent the views of the Government. [HO] (HL2217)
29th March
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22nd March (WA 74) concerning cigarette-related fires in Northern Ireland, how many fires were started by means other than cigarettes; and by what other means. [NIO] (HL2232)
The Viscount Goschen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1st March (WA 89-90), whether they will establish a running cumulative record of the costs and benefits of regulations introduced, derived from individual regulatory impact assessments. [DTI] (HL2237)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimates they have made of the cost of the ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products on the assumptions that (a) 6,000 and (b) 7,000 people will benefit. [DoH] (HL2238)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will invite the European Commission to publish details of the re-admission agreements with third states (for asylum seekers and others) which it is negotiating on behalf of member states. [HO] (HL2250)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission—
(a) why the Secretary of State has not filled vacancies on the Commission, including some dating back to September 2002;
(b) whether it is true that vacancies will not be filled before March 2005; and, if so, why; and
(c) why they have not issued a definitive response to the Commission’s “Review of Powers”, submitted in 2001; and when they intend to reply. [NIO] (HL2252)
30th March
The Lord Chan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will waive the extension of visa fee of £150 for overseas post-graduate students pursuing a Masters in Business Administration and other courses where the graduation ceremony for successful students takes place many months after the conclusion of the course. [HO] (HL2263)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 11th March (WA 190), whether they will give a breakdown of the figure of £706, being the average cost of supervising and administering 40 hours of community service. [HO] (HL2270)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29th March (WA 127) concerning the budget of the Ulster Scots Agency, what “approved actions” means; by whom such actions are approved; and on what basis. [NIO] (HL2276)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29th March (WA 127) concerning the budget of the Ulster Scots Agency, where the information was obtained to support the statement that “Proportionality was maintained at the same level as in previous years as no new factors have emerged”. [NIO] (HL2277)
31st March
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each of the last three years for which figures are available, what was the total number of abortions performed in England and Wales, and in Scotland; how many were performed in National Health Service hospitals; and how many in private hospitals. [DoH] (HL2286)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each of the last three years for which figures are available, what was the cost of performing abortions in National Health Service hospitals and in private hospitals. [DoH] (HL2287)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total number of abortions performed under the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990); and, of these, how many were performed to save the life of the mother. [DoH] (HL2288)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the efficiency of the administration of community service punishment was last reviewed; and which government agency is responsible for the matter. [HO] (HL2296)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether litter clearance is a suitable activity for offenders sentenced to community service punishment. [HO] (HL2297)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was total government expenditure on defence in the years 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03 and what are the expected totals for 2003-04 and 2004-05, expressed in a table showing the figures in current and constant terms and indicating the percentage of Gross Domestic Product for each year. [MoD] (HL2298)
The Lord Acton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 25th March (WA 109-10), whether they will ensure that prison governors are aware of the advantages to prisoners of a system of educated prisoners teaching illiterate prisoners to read, as promoted by the Shannon Trust and other organisations. [HO] (HL2301)
The Lord Kilclooney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what areas of (a) Dhekelia and (b) Akrotiri Sovereign Bases in Cyprus will be transferred to the Cypriot authorities as part of a new settlement in Cyprus; and what areas will be transferred to the areas controlled by (i) Greek Cypriots and (ii) Turkish Cypriots. [MoD] (HL2316)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to develop east/west links between the island of Ireland and the British Isles following the Belfast Agreement of 1998. [NIO] (HL2320)
The Lord Rea—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome in the United Kingdom in recent years; and what comparative statistics are available from other countries. [DoH] (HL2321)
1st April
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the case of failed asylum seekers who are unable to return to Zimbabwe because of the human rights situation there, they will use their power to grant a temporary right to remain in the United Kingdom. [HO] (HL2325)
5th April
The Lord Pendry—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the terms “play and recreation”, as set out in the green paper Every Child Matters, will be included on the face of the Children Bill and not left to interpretation. [DfES] (HL2398)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the 6,000 varieties of apples registered in national apple lists are still available in British supermarkets; and what percentage of apples sold in British supermarkets are British-sourced. [DEFRA] (HL2400)
6th April
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the letter of 6th February from the Legal Services Commission to practitioners, enclosing the immigration specification that imposes financial thresholds on asylum and immigration legal aid with effect from 1st May, how many practitioners have stopped undertaking legal aid work; and how many will undertake work on behalf of the detainees in Lindholme. [DCA] (HL2414)
The Lord Patten—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the frontiers of the United Kingdom are secure against (a) organised crime; and (b) illegal immigration. [HO] (HL2415)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5th April (WA 183) concerning the 2004 budgets for Cross Border Bodies, why a lesser percentage increase over 2003 was agreed for the Ulster Scots Agency than the Irish Language Agency. [NIO] (HL2416)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5th April (WA 184) which stated that a Written Answer on 10th March 2003 concerning Waterways Ireland was incorrect due to an administrative error, whether they are confident that no other parliamentary answers concerning Waterways Ireland have been incorrect due to similar errors since its creation in 1999. [NIO] (HL2419)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any estimates of the number of Roma people who may seek to enter the United Kingdom following the enlargement of the European Union on 1st May 2004; and whether they have made any contingency plans for the reception and accommodation of these immigrants. [HO] (HL2423)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which are ports of entry (by air, sea and rail) into the United Kingdom, indicating in respect of each whether or not the passports of those arriving may be read or recorded electronically; and when such reading or recording started. [HO] (HL2424)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether those applying for new, or renewed, passports now have such passports sent to them by registered mail. [HO] (HL2425)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what charge is made for the replacement of a lost or stolen United Kingdom passport; whether such charge covers the total cost of replacing the passport; and whether there is any element of penalty included in the charge. [HO] (HL2426)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is desirable that the Registrar of Births and Deaths should inform the Passport Office of deaths in order that any valid passport held by a deceased person can be cancelled; if so, whether legislation is needed to facilitate this; and, if so, whether they expect to introduce such legislation. [HO] (HL2427)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are in place for the cancellation of the validity of a passport held by a deceased person; how many passports of deceased persons have been returned to the authorities for cancellation in the last twelve months; and how many passports have been cancelled as a consequence of the decease of holders. [HO] (HL2428)
The Lord Inglewood—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans there are for passports issued by member states of the European Union to include biometric detail. [HO] (HL2431)
The Baroness Maddock—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to reach their target that 85 per cent of 19 year-olds achieve a Level 2 qualification. [DfES] (HL2434)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 24th March (WA 101), how many trusts in the National Health Service anticipate significant difficulties in complying with the European Working Time Directive, as currently interpreted, to the extent that a viable plan for compliance has not yet been agreed with a strategic health authority. [DoH] (HL2438)
27th April
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conclusions were reached on the future of the United Kingdom’s anti-doping agency at the meeting of the Sports Cabinet on Tuesday 20th April. (HL2558)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are involved in discussions concerning the withdrawal of Turkish armed forces, now in occupation of northern Cyprus; and what is the relationship between this and Turkey’s application for membership of the European Union. (HL2559)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the World Bank has considered and drawn conclusions from the Review by Mr Emil Salim of oil and mining projects; and what impact the Review will have on the Government’s foreign and investment policies. (HL2560)
The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Sudan (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2004 does not prohibit the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of restricted goods. (HL2561)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, of the outstanding £14 billion owed by taxpayers at 31st March 2003 as set out in the National Audit Office publication The Recovery of Debt by the Inland Revenue, what were the amounts outstanding—
(a) between one and two years;
(b) between two and three years;
(c) between three and four years;
(d) between four and five years; and
distinguishing in each case between PAYE, Self-Assessed Income Tax and Corporation Tax; and what were the comparable figures at 31st March for each of the previous five years. (HL2562)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek an increase in the contributions made by member states of the Council of Europe to ensure that the European Court of Human Rights has sufficient resources. [FCO] (HL2563)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the current arrangements for contingency legal fees and no-win-no-fee are working satisfactorily in the interests of litigants and of the due administration of justice. (HL2564)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that determinations of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission are published. (HL2565)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Community Legal Service is meeting its aim of fulfilling the need of legal services for all. (HL2566)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the outcome of the telephone conversation between the Minister for Public Health and Commissioner Byrne on 12th March in relation to the Food Supplements Directive; and whether a date has been set for a meeting between the Minister and the Commissioner to take forward further discussions. (HL2567)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the Budget announcement of additional funding of £200 million for clinical research over a four year period and the further announcement that £100 million of this sum will be routed to the Medical Research Council through the Department of Health, what steps are being taken to ensure that the remaining £100 million will be made available to the Council. (HL2568)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what terms Northern Ireland civil servants are able to obtain legal representation by the Crown for cases arising from actions taken in the course of their duties; how these terms differ between Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments; and what are the corresponding terms applicable to civil servants seconded to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. (HL2569)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14th January (WA 87-88), how many United Kingdom armed forces personnel have been tested for total uranium in their urine; how many have had a follow-up isotope test; and what were the results of the follow-up tests. (HL2570)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14th January (WA 87-88), how many personnel have been offered both the uranium and the follow-up isotope tests from the outset; and how many have taken up the offer. (HL2571)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14th January (WA 87-88), what monitoring of water is taking place within Iraq to determine whether ground water or watercourses are contaminated with depleted uranium. (HL2572)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14th January (WA 87-88), whether the United Nations Environment Programme has begun the full environment field survey which was planned for 2004 and which will include depleted uranium; and how much they have budgeted to part fund the survey. (HL2573)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are medical liaison physicians for each surgical directorate in National Health Service hospitals, especially for patients over 65, to advise on peri-operative care. (HL2574)
The Baroness Golding—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review. (HL2575)
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER AWAITING ANSWER
27th APRIL 2004
[Tabled on the dates shown]
[The Government department responsible for
answering each Question is shown in brackets]
11th March
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which officials of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure have since 2000 travelled outside the British Isles on authorised business; what was the purpose of each visit; and how much did each visit cost. [NIO] (HL1884)
17th March
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether business regulation has grown since they took office in 1997; and, if so, by what factor. [DTI] (HL1958)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the extra costs on business since 1997 by way of (a) taxation; and (b) regulation. [DTI] (HL1959)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information the Department of Health has on potential adverse consequences for individual service men and women involved in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict of the Ministry of Defence having planned the timing of their anthrax immunisations differently from those in the marketing authorisation and the giving of fewer immunisations than were recommended. [DoH] (HL1961)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Iraqis working as interpreters or translators for British forces have been murdered since March last year. [MoD] (HL1963)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what compensation is paid to the families of Iraqis murdered while working as interpreters or translators for British forces. [MoD] (HL1964)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many car bombs have been intercepted by security forces in Basra this month . [MoD] (HL1965)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether all outstanding claims, following the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, have been settled; if not, how many remain outstanding; and to what financial value. [DEFRA] (HL1968)
18th March
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the distribution of Local Authority Circular LAC(2004)5-Review of Children’s Cases, they will ensure that medical and social workers working with children are aware of issues arising over the medical evidence for Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy, also known as Fabricated or Induced Illness in Children, by issuing supplementary guidance. [DfES] (HL1992)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they give to parents who are precluded from working with children because their child or children have been put on “At Risk” registers as a result of evidence of Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy, also known as Fabricated or Induced Illness in Children, even when their case has not been tested in the courts. [DfES] (HL1995)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they have paid to paramilitary prisoners support groups in each year since 1999. [NIO] (HL2010)
22nd March
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government to whom the Special European Programmes Body allocated peace funding during 2003; for what purpose; what percentage was allocated in Northern Ireland; and whether the system of grant allocation was approved by the North South Ministerial Council. [NIO] (HL2059)
The Lord Eames—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that all avenues of approach have been attempted to solve the impasse at Drumcree in the light of the recent remarks by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland regarding the forthcoming “marching season” in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL2070)
23rd March
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to amend the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 so as to eliminate any difference between same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. [DTI] (HL2082)
The Lord Bishop of Oxford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 12th March (HL Deb, cols. 1-3), whether they will report to the Security Council of the United Nations the export by the United States of anthrax and botulinum toxin, the principle components of Iraqi bio-weapons programmes, to Iraq given that at the time United States Senators had witnessed Iraq’s crimes against Iran and that such materials could be reproduced to produce such weapons. [FCO] (HL2094)
The Earl of Courtown—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been charged with fraud in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak; and of them how many of these are farmers or slaughtermen. [DEFRA] (HL2106)
25th March
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ban the sale of electric shock dog collars. [DEFRA] (HL2162)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they have done to publicise the safe return of refugees and asylum-seekers to their own countries and communities, so as to counteract any public perception that all asylum-seekers and migrants are coming one way. [HO] (HL2169)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure stopped the Ulster Scots Agency’s policy of targeting social need by removing the appropriate section of its budget for the year 2004. [NIO] (HL2194)
26th March
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the grant scheme for the Irish Language Agency was approved by the North South Ministerial Council. [NIO] (HL2207)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the published views of Mr Matt Cavanagh, Special Adviser to the Home Secretary, that race and sex discrimination may be “rational” and questioning the desirability of the anti-discrimination legislation, represent the views of the Government. [HO] (HL2217)
29th March
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22nd March (WA 74) concerning cigarette-related fires in Northern Ireland, how many fires were started by means other than cigarettes; and by what other means. [NIO] (HL2232)
The Viscount Goschen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1st March (WA 89-90), whether they will establish a running cumulative record of the costs and benefits of regulations introduced, derived from individual regulatory impact assessments. [DTI] (HL2237)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimates they have made of the cost of the ex gratia payments scheme for hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products on the assumptions that (a) 6,000 and (b) 7,000 people will benefit. [DoH] (HL2238)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will invite the European Commission to publish details of the re-admission agreements with third states (for asylum seekers and others) which it is negotiating on behalf of member states. [HO] (HL2250)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission—
(a) why the Secretary of State has not filled vacancies on the Commission, including some dating back to September 2002;
(b) whether it is true that vacancies will not be filled before March 2005; and, if so, why; and
(c) why they have not issued a definitive response to the Commission’s “Review of Powers”, submitted in 2001; and when they intend to reply. [NIO] (HL2252)
30th March
The Lord Chan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will waive the extension of visa fee of £150 for overseas post-graduate students pursuing a Masters in Business Administration and other courses where the graduation ceremony for successful students takes place many months after the conclusion of the course. [HO] (HL2263)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 11th March (WA 190), whether they will give a breakdown of the figure of £706, being the average cost of supervising and administering 40 hours of community service. [HO] (HL2270)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29th March (WA 127) concerning the budget of the Ulster Scots Agency, what “approved actions” means; by whom such actions are approved; and on what basis. [NIO] (HL2276)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29th March (WA 127) concerning the budget of the Ulster Scots Agency, where the information was obtained to support the statement that “Proportionality was maintained at the same level as in previous years as no new factors have emerged”. [NIO] (HL2277)
31st March
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each of the last three years for which figures are available, what was the total number of abortions performed in England and Wales, and in Scotland; how many were performed in National Health Service hospitals; and how many in private hospitals. [DoH] (HL2286)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each of the last three years for which figures are available, what was the cost of performing abortions in National Health Service hospitals and in private hospitals. [DoH] (HL2287)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total number of abortions performed under the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990); and, of these, how many were performed to save the life of the mother. [DoH] (HL2288)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the efficiency of the administration of community service punishment was last reviewed; and which government agency is responsible for the matter. [HO] (HL2296)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether litter clearance is a suitable activity for offenders sentenced to community service punishment. [HO] (HL2297)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was total government expenditure on defence in the years 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03 and what are the expected totals for 2003-04 and 2004-05, expressed in a table showing the figures in current and constant terms and indicating the percentage of Gross Domestic Product for each year. [MoD] (HL2298)
The Lord Acton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 25th March (WA 109-10), whether they will ensure that prison governors are aware of the advantages to prisoners of a system of educated prisoners teaching illiterate prisoners to read, as promoted by the Shannon Trust and other organisations. [HO] (HL2301)
The Lord Kilclooney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what areas of (a) Dhekelia and (b) Akrotiri Sovereign Bases in Cyprus will be transferred to the Cypriot authorities as part of a new settlement in Cyprus; and what areas will be transferred to the areas controlled by (i) Greek Cypriots and (ii) Turkish Cypriots. [MoD] (HL2316)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to develop east/west links between the island of Ireland and the British Isles following the Belfast Agreement of 1998. [NIO] (HL2320)
The Lord Rea—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome in the United Kingdom in recent years; and what comparative statistics are available from other countries. [DoH] (HL2321)
1st April
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the case of failed asylum seekers who are unable to return to Zimbabwe because of the human rights situation there, they will use their power to grant a temporary right to remain in the United Kingdom. [HO] (HL2325)
5th April
The Lord Pendry—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the terms “play and recreation”, as set out in the green paper Every Child Matters, will be included on the face of the Children Bill and not left to interpretation. [DfES] (HL2398)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the 6,000 varieties of apples registered in national apple lists are still available in British supermarkets; and what percentage of apples sold in British supermarkets are British-sourced. [DEFRA] (HL2400)
6th April
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the letter of 6th February from the Legal Services Commission to practitioners, enclosing the immigration specification that imposes financial thresholds on asylum and immigration legal aid with effect from 1st May, how many practitioners have stopped undertaking legal aid work; and how many will undertake work on behalf of the detainees in Lindholme. [DCA] (HL2414)
The Lord Patten—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the frontiers of the United Kingdom are secure against (a) organised crime; and (b) illegal immigration. [HO] (HL2415)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5th April (WA 183) concerning the 2004 budgets for Cross Border Bodies, why a lesser percentage increase over 2003 was agreed for the Ulster Scots Agency than the Irish Language Agency. [NIO] (HL2416)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5th April (WA 184) which stated that a Written Answer on 10th March 2003 concerning Waterways Ireland was incorrect due to an administrative error, whether they are confident that no other parliamentary answers concerning Waterways Ireland have been incorrect due to similar errors since its creation in 1999. [NIO] (HL2419)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any estimates of the number of Roma people who may seek to enter the United Kingdom following the enlargement of the European Union on 1st May 2004; and whether they have made any contingency plans for the reception and accommodation of these immigrants. [HO] (HL2423)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which are ports of entry (by air, sea and rail) into the United Kingdom, indicating in respect of each whether or not the passports of those arriving may be read or recorded electronically; and when such reading or recording started. [HO] (HL2424)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether those applying for new, or renewed, passports now have such passports sent to them by registered mail. [HO] (HL2425)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what charge is made for the replacement of a lost or stolen United Kingdom passport; whether such charge covers the total cost of replacing the passport; and whether there is any element of penalty included in the charge. [HO] (HL2426)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is desirable that the Registrar of Births and Deaths should inform the Passport Office of deaths in order that any valid passport held by a deceased person can be cancelled; if so, whether legislation is needed to facilitate this; and, if so, whether they expect to introduce such legislation. [HO] (HL2427)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are in place for the cancellation of the validity of a passport held by a deceased person; how many passports of deceased persons have been returned to the authorities for cancellation in the last twelve months; and how many passports have been cancelled as a consequence of the decease of holders. [HO] (HL2428)
The Lord Inglewood—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans there are for passports issued by member states of the European Union to include biometric detail. [HO] (HL2431)
The Baroness Maddock—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to reach their target that 85 per cent of 19 year-olds achieve a Level 2 qualification. [DfES] (HL2434)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 24th March (WA 101), how many trusts in the National Health Service anticipate significant difficulties in complying with the European Working Time Directive, as currently interpreted, to the extent that a viable plan for compliance has not yet been agreed with a strategic health authority. [DoH] (HL2438)
19th April
The Lord Eames—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of recent deaths of sports personalities in Northern Ireland, they will institute and encourage scientific investigation of the condition referred to as sudden adult death syndrome. [DoH] (HL2439)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessments have been made, in the context of the Pensions Bill, of the impact that reducing Limited Price Indexation will have on the number of pensioners eligible for means-tested benefits if inflation exceeds 2.5 per cent. [DWP] (HL2440)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the rates of poverty among people aged over 80 are likely to be affected by the reduction in Limited Price Indexation as outlined in the Pensions Bill. [DWP] (HL2441)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the context of the Pensions Bill, how they will ensure that the Pension Protection Fund Levy is not a burden on individual pension scheme members. [DWP] (HL2442)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government from where, if the Pensions Bill becomes law as now drafted, the extra resources required by final salary pension schemes to pay the Pension Protection Fund Levy are to come. [DWP] (HL2443)
The Lord Judd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following recent reports concerning the radiation contamination from depleted uranium shells of United States troops serving in Iraq, what checks for radiation contamination are being undertaken by British service personnel; and what is their estimate of the number of British and Iraqi service personnel and civilians who may be similarly contaminated. [MoD] (HL2444)
The Lord Judd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the significance of the current situation in Afghanistan in their action against al-Qaeda; and in this context, what are they now doing, together with their allies, to limit the power of the war lords and to increase aid and assistance for civil reconstruction. [FCO] (HL2445)
The Lord Judd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to each of the eleven recommendations in the Amnesty International report on the human rights situation in Iraq, entitled Iraq: one year on the human rights situation remains dire. [FCO] (HL2446)
The Lord Judd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking with statutory and voluntary organisations to ensure the protection of red squirrels wherever they currently exist within the United Kingdom. [DEFRA] (HL2447)
The Lord Elton--To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Lord Bach on 6th April (HL Deb, col. 1722) that “the GR 7/9 Harrier that will be on the aircraft carriers will be sufficient, as far as air cover is concerned, until the Joint Strike Fighter comes along”, how this is compatible with the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 5th April (WA 198) which stated that the principal roles of this aircraft are ground attack and reconnaissance, not air defence, and that the missiles it carried were for self-defence. [MoD] (HL2448)
The Lord Patten—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to bring forward legislation during the life of this Parliament to make provision for a written constitution for the United Kingdom. [DCA] (HL2449)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 16th January (WA 111-112), whether they have reached a settlement with Defence and Environmental Tectonics Corporation in respect of the failure of that company to deliver the Royal Air Force Centrifuge within the terms of its contract with the Ministry of Defence. [MoD] (HL2450)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Immigration Act detainees were held in H M Prison Maghaberry at the most recent date; whether any were children or juveniles; how many were awaiting deportation; and whether their regime (akin to that of prisoners on the enhanced regime) would be improved if they were treated as remand prisoners. [HO] (HL2451)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce legislation for a referendum on whether the United Kingdom should enter the eurozone. [HMT] (HL2452)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the withdrawal or withholding of nutrition and hydration delivered by artificial means from mentally incapacitated patients with persistent vegetative state and other similar conditions can only be authorised on application to the courts. [DoH] (HL2453)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on the withdrawal or withholding of nutrition and hydration delivered by artificial means from mentally incapacitated patients. [DoH] (HL2454)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, as reported by the Times on 19th April, senior detectives described the decision of the police to reopen the inquiry into a late-term abortion for cleft lip and palate as “political correctness gone mad”; if so, what action they propose to take against those detectives; and whether those same detectives will be responsible for the re-opened inquiry. [HO] (HL2455)
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they have given between January 2002 and January 2004 to organisations that give advice and emergency accommodation to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people fleeing from domestic violence. [ODPM] (HL2456)
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with Broken Rainbow LGBT Domestic Violence Service (UK) on funding to ensure that there is emergency refuge service provision for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people fleeing from domestic violence. [ODPM] (HL2457)
The Earl Russell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much the Government is paying to staff at the Department for Work and Pensions in the form of means-tested benefits; and how the sum is presented in inter-departmental accounts. [DWP] (HL2460)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what circumstances the British and French governments can refuse Eurotunnel’s creditor banks permission to take over the company in the event of default in interest or other payments due to them. [DfT] (HL2461)
The Lord Jacobs—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people are awaiting a hip replacement in the National Health Service; what is the maximum time that any are waiting; how many hip replacements were carried out in 2003; and what is the current monthly rate of demand for hip replacements. [DoH] (HL2462)
[As amended on 20th April]
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to justify the decision-making process surrounding the budget of the Language Implementation Body and including consultation with the bodies concerned. [NIO] (HL2463)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 6th April (WA 219) concerning consultants employed by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, when Donal O’Ríagaín first gave advice to the Department; on what topics; and whether any of his days’ consultations were for e-mail and telephone consultations. [NIO] (HL2464)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 6th April (WA 219) concerning consultants employed by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, how much has been paid to consultants to date for advice on the proposed Ulster Scots Academy. [NIO] (HL2465)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 6th April (WA 219) concerning consultants employed by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, how the consultants listed were selected; by whom; and on what bases. [NIO] (HL2466)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why a leaflet produced by the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety entitled The New GP Contract (reference 299/2003) is not available in the Ulster Scots language. [NIO] (HL2467)
20th April
The Baroness Noakes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Warner on 19th April (WA 10-11), whether the Independent Regulator of National Health Service Foundation Trusts has acted lawfully in setting borrowing limits for National Health Service Foundation Trusts notwithstanding that he has not issued a prudential borrowing code as he is required to do by section 12 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. [DoH] (HL2468)
The Baroness Noakes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the consequences of the failure of the Independent Regulator of National Health Service Foundation Trusts to issue a prudential borrowing code under section 12 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. [DoH] (HL2469)
The Baroness Noakes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they were consulted by the Independent Regulator of National Health Service Foundation Trusts about the fact that he did not intend to issue a prudential borrowing code under section 12 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 before he set borrowing limits for National Health Service Foundation Trusts; and, if so, what was their response. [DoH] (HL2470)
The Baroness Noakes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers they have to ensure that the Independent Regulator of National Health Service Foundation Trusts acts in accordance with his statutory obligations. [DoH] (HL2471)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the new Home Office instructions on gender issues will have the effect that women applying for asylum will always be interviewed by women. [HO] (HL2472)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what means they are using to ensure that the new criminal offence of taking a girl to another country for the purposes of genital mutilation is made known as widely as possible in this country. [HO] (HL2473)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received evidence from Darfur, Western Sudan, that rape is being used as a weapon of war; and what is their response to the comments of the United Nations Coordinator, Mukesh Kapila, that the situation is comparable to the Rwandan genocide. [FCO] (HL2474)
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is an Ombudsman procedure for disputes over the conduct of Ministers in the devolved administrations; and if so, what steps are taken to publicise the procedure. [WO] (HL2475)
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the route of appeal against political interference in civil service appointments. [CO] (HL2476)
The Lord Jopling—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in view of reported approaches to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation by the Greek government, seeking additional security protection for the 2004 Olympic Games, whether they have yet made, or are intending to make, similar approaches in the event of a successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. [DCMS] (HL2477)
The Lord Jopling—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they are having with the Greek government and the organisers of the 2004 Olympic Games with a view to sending armed police or other security protection for British competitors and officials; and how many such armed personnel they are proposing to send. [DCMS] (HL2478)
The Lord Jopling—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision they intend to make in their bid for the 2012 Olympic Games for competing nations to provide security protection for their own competitors. [DCMS] (HL2479)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish their response to Lord Haskins’ Rural Delivery Review. [DEFRA] (HL2480)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they propose to bring forward the Animal Welfare Bill. [DEFRA] (HL2481)
The Lord Patten—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they have spent on focus groups in each of the years 1997-98; 1998-99; 1999-2000; 2000-01; 2001-02; and 2002-03. [CO] (HL2482)
The Viscount Simon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to repeat their demands to the food and retail industry on salt reduction and for that industry to come forward with proposals and a timeframe for reducing fat and sugar levels in foods. [DoH] (HL2483)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to modify the decision-making process surrounding the budget and business cases for the Language Implementation Body, including consultation with the two agencies concerned. [NIO] (HL2484)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether naturalisation information and application papers are available at all times in the Belfast Passport Office. [HO] (HL2485)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why, in terms of passports, there are differences between British citizens and British subjects; what the differences are; and whether any changes are envisaged. [HO] (HL2486)
21st April
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received the appeal issued by Christian Solidarity Worldwide on 15th April on behalf of Mr Park Yong-chol (alias Jo Yung-su), arrested in China on 18th January 2003, and facing repatriation to North Korea on 1st May; and whether they will make, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a humanitarian démarche in his favour. [FCO] (HL2490)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Vietnam regarding the killing of Montagnard Christians in the central highlands of Vietnam during demonstrations over the Easter weekend. [FCO] (HL2491)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have given support to the call of King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia that the government of Cambodia should give refuge to Montagnard Christians fleeing the central highlands of Vietnam. [FCO] (HL2492)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when their consultation on Lord Haskins’s Rural Delivery Review will start; how long it will last; and when they plan to publish the results. [DEFRA] (HL2493)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding was provided for “Tidy Britain” in 2000-01; 2001-02; 2002-03; and 2003-04. [DEFRA] (HL2494)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the “Vital Villages” programme will be maintained, even though funding has been withdrawn from it. [DEFRA] (HL2495)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have issued any advice to local authorities regarding annual “Spring clean” or “Tidy up” days. [DEFRA] (HL2496)
The Lord Dixon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 20th April (WA 31), which local authorities in the north-east region contribute along with the National Health Service to the funding of alcohol treatment centres. [DoH] (HL2497)
The Lord Kilclooney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the North South Ministerial Council established under the Belfast Agreement is still operational; who represents Northern Ireland at the various Council meetings; whether the relocation of Foras na Gaeilge from Dublin to Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal has been approved by the Council; and whether this relocation was approved by a Minister from Northern Ireland at a Council meeting. [NIO] (HL2498)
The Lord Jopling—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 20th April (WA 24), why the reserve standard award for the mobilised members of the Reserve Forces has not been changed since 1997; and whether they will update it forthwith, with retrospective effect to the beginning of the 2003 Iraq conflict. [MoD] (HL2499)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the status or role of Mr Billy Bragg as a Government adviser or consultant or in any other related function. [CO] (HL2500)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Post Office has the right to censor or refuse to deliver election candidates’ freepost leaflets on the basis of their content, and specifically if they refer to or include pictures of the Post Office or any of its services. [DCA] (HL2501)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Local Authority Standards Boards and their codes of conduct have any legal standing or functions in relation to the conduct of candidates, political parties and election agents in local elections. [ODPM] (HL2502)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether local authority officers and local Standards Committees have any powers in relation to issuing guidance over matters relating to the content of local election campaigns (other than to issue to candidates factual material about election law); and, if so, whether they consider that the issuing of such guidance is appropriate. [ODPM] (HL2503)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the legal position or other rules in relation to the permissible content of local election campaigning and campaign materials are different when the candidates are elected councillors or other persons. [ODPM] (HL2504)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the present status of the NATO Air-to-Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme; to what extent the United Kingdom is participating in that programme; and how will the AGS system, when it is in operation, inter-relate with the United Kingdom’s Airborne Stand-off Radar (ASTOR) system. [MoD] (HL2505)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Airborne Stand-off Radar (ASTOR) programme is still expected to result in the acquisition of five aircraft at a cost of £83.3 million each and eight ground-stations at £15.2 million each; and how the remaining £462.1 million project costs, as estimated on 31st March 2003, are made up. [MoD] (HL2506)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for enhancing the capabilities of Watchkeeper by incremental acquisition after its initial entry into service. [MoD] (HL2507)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what constraints there are on the transmission by Bowman of streamlined video images provided by Watchkeeper. [MoD] (HL2508)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for making Watchkeeper available to warships of the Royal Navy. [MoD] (HL2509)
22nd April
The Lord Selsdon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which documents issued by Government departments are accepted as proof of identity; and for which purposes. [CO] (HL2510)
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many midwives are practising independently; and what difficulties they experience in obtaining professional indemnity cover. [DoH] (HL2511)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 11th February (WA 166) and 21st April (WA 52), why they judge it desirable to impose more burdensome regulations on the carriage of gas oil on the basis of its flammability, when there is no recent history of gas oil bowsers catching fire. [DfT] (HL2512)
The Lord Patten—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the annual loss to the economy caused by the existence of long stretches of single-railway track south-west beyond Salisbury to Yeovil and Exeter. [DfT] (HL2513)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money each Northern Ireland Department spent in the year 2003-04; whether there was an underspend in any Department; and, if so, what was the amount and why. [NIO] (HL2514)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 21st April (WA 36), whether any section of central government has plans to carry out a study of the tourism potential of the railway line between Coleraine and Londonderry. [NIO] (HL2515)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 21st April (WA 36), why the Northern Ireland Tourist Board has no plans to undertake a study of the tourism potential of the railway line between Coleraine and Londonderry. [NIO] (HL2516)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 21st April (WA 37) concerning the Republic of Ireland’s Official Languages Act, whether any discussions about the implications of the Act have taken place between officials of the two governments; if so, when and what was the result; whether legal advice was sought by the Government; and, if so, what was that advice. [NIO] (HL2517)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 17th March (WA 53), what mechanisms are in place to ensure that Primary Care Trusts provide primary dental services to homeless people; and what action will be taken if it is found that these services have been reduced due to lack of use. [DoH] (HL2518)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 9th March (WA 159), how many overseas dentists were registered last year to practise dentistry in England and Wales, identified by country of origin. [DoH] (HL2519)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 9th March (WA 160), which countries they intend to contact in order actively to recruit dentists; and whether they will provide details of any agreements. [DoH] (HL2520)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 9th March (WA 160), what discussions they have had with the British Dental Association and the General Dental Council regarding the movement of dental personnel to the United Kingdom from European Union accession countries; and what is the number of dental personnel from European Union accession countries aiming to come to work in the United Kingdom after 1st May 2004. [DoH] (HL2521)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 17th March (WA 52), whether dentists are still being encouraged to take up Personal Dentist Service (PDS) contracts in the context of the field sites as specified in the new dental contract of 2005. [DoH] (HL2522)
The Lord Colwyn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether routine National Health Service dental treatment will be equated with medical treatment and be “free at the point of delivery” when the new dental base contract is implemented in 2005. [DoH] (HL2523)
The Baroness Williams of Crosby—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Iraqi civilians were killed by coalition forces in the month of March 2004. [FCO] (HL2524)
The Baroness Williams of Crosby—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their position on the alleged policy of punitive house demolitions in Iraq; and whether they deem such policies to have had a role in provoking the recent violent upsurge in that country. [FCO] (HL2525)
The Baroness Williams of Crosby—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current situation in Afghanistan in relation to the prospects for free and fair elections, the percentage of voter registration and the proportion of women registered to vote. [FCO] (HL2526)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which member states European Council Directive 2001/45/EC (Temporary Work at height) is being applied to mountaineering, hill walking, abseiling, rock climbing, caving and sailing in respect of employed persons, self-employed people and private individuals. [DWP] (HL2527)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Health and Safety Commission believes that its draft regulations “Proposals for Work at Height Regulations” to implement European Council Directive 2001/45/EC, requiring those engaged in mountaineering and similar activities to use double ropes, prepare written risk assessments and clearly indicate danger areas, will improve overall safety. [DWP] (HL2528)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will exempt outdoor sports such as mountaineering, caving, hill walking, abseiling, rock climbing and sailing from the scope of draft regulations “Proposals for Work at Height Regulations” implementing European Council Directive 2001/45/EC. [DWP] (HL2529)
23rd April
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many farmers had not received their Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) forms from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Monday 19th April; and what were the reasons for any delay in sending out these forms. [DEFRA] (HL2530)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the costs of establishing the new Consumer Council for Water are yet known; if so, what they are, and how they will be apportioned to the water undertakers and suppliers. [DEFRA] (HL2531)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they no longer consider it necessary to maintain electrified grids at each entrance to the Channel Tunnel to deter animals from entering the tunnel. [DEFRA] (HL2532)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many criminal offences have been created in Acts and Regulations sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since its inception. [DEFRA] (HL2533)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask the Leader of the House whether sittings of Grand Committees that proceed beyond the rising of the House can be properly considered as proceedings conducted while the House is in session. [LHoL] (HL2534)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether OFCOM has sufficient powers and technological capability to enforce appropriate controls of the 5.8GHz network, particularly in respect of “dynamic frequency selection” and “transmit power control”. [DCMS] (HL2535)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that data collected by Government departments and their agencies are not subject to inappropriate and illegal access by the staff of such organisations. [CO] (HL2536)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to encourage United Kingdom websites to comply with the minimum standards for web access identified by the Disability Rights Commission in its report The Web: Access and Inclusion for Disabled People. [DWP] (HL2537)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 17th March (WA 45), what was the outcome of the discussions held with donor colleagues in advance of the Bangladesh Development Forum in May on the most appropriate way to raise concerns about continued unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. [FCO] (HL2538)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in light of the judgment on 7th April of the Court of Appeal in the case R (Luminar Leisure Ltd) v Crown Court at Norwich, a special hours certificate granted under section 77 of the Licensing Act 1964 as amended will have to be reviewed individually to see whether customers resort to the premises for music or dancing or substantial refreshment during the extra permitted time; and whether, in examining any application for conversion of an existing alcohol, public entertainment, theatre, cinema, late night refreshment house or night café licence, to which a special hours certificate is attached, into a premises licence, the licensing authority will have a duty to ensure that the conditions specified in this judgment are satisfied. [DCMS] (HL2539)
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 19th April (WA 20), what is the annual total cost of all Ministers’ and civil servants’ overseas visits; and what proportion of that total cost they estimate to be spent on European Union business. [CO] (HL2540)
26th April
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that unauthorised settlement outposts in the Occupied West Bank are removed in accordance with international law. [FCO] (HL2541)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they consider to be the best arrangements for monitoring ceasefires and delivering humanitarian supplies in Darfur, Western Sudan; and how these arrangements should be implemented. [DfID] (HL2542)
The Lord Faulkner of Worcester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the admission of Taiwan with observer status to the World Health Organisation at the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May. [FCO] (HL2543)
The Lord Faulkner of Worcester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the United States administration regarding the admission of Taiwan to the World Health Organisation with observer status. [FCO] (HL2544)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 19th April (WA 5), whether the Coalition Provisional Authority or the Coalition Forces are required by law to respect the fundamental human rights of Iraqi people, as defined in the bill of rights contained in the transitional administrative law for Iraq or otherwise; and, if not, what recourse is available to the people of Iraq for breaches of those rights by the Authority or the forces. [FCO] (HL2545)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the statute establishing the Iraqi Special Tribunal. [FCO] (HL2546)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that the Iraqi Special Tribunal has the necessary independence and impartiality and other characteristics needed to comply with international human rights law. [FCO] (HL2547)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Iraqi Special Tribunal is bound to act in a way that is compatible with international human rights law. [FCO] (HL2548)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the terms of engagement of the Coalition Forces in Iraq which are currently operative. [MoD] (HL2549)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total number of asylum cases in which applications have been made to the Legal Services Commission for an extension of legal aid beyond five hours; and how many of those applications have been successful in obtaining such an extension. [DCA] (HL2550)
The Lord Craig of Radley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many monthly flying hours are being programmed for aircrew in operational fast jet formations in this financial year; and what were the monthly flying hours achieved in these formations in the previous two financial years. [MoD] (HL2551)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether current proposals from OFCOM on setting interim targets for subtitling, signing and audio description give full effect to the proposals set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment in connection with the Communications Bill and in statements made by Ministers during the passage of the Bill. [DCMS] (HL2552)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what agreement there was between the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Belfast City Arts Centre about funding; and when any funding will be made available. [NIO] (HL2553)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government who took the decision to allow European Union passengers arriving at London Stansted airport between 23.00 hours and midnight on Friday 16th April to pass through immigration without physical inspection of their passports; and on what basis this decision was authorised. [HO] (HL2554)
The Lord Forsyth of Drumlean—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support will be provided to Scottish students attending English universities if the proposals in the Higher Education Bill are approved. [DfES] (HL2555)
The Lord Forsyth of Drumlean—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the position in respect of fees, grants and loans for English students attending Scottish universities if the proposals in the Higher Education Bill are approved. [DfES] (HL2556)
The Lord Forsyth of Drumlean—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the result of the discussions held between the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Deputy First Minister of the Scottish Executive on 19th April regarding cross border flows which will follow the enactment of the Higher Education Bill. [DfES] (HL2557)
27th April
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conclusions were reached on the future of the United Kingdom’s anti-doping agency at the meeting of the Sports Cabinet on Tuesday 20th April. (HL2558)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are involved in discussions concerning the withdrawal of Turkish armed forces, now in occupation of northern Cyprus; and what is the relationship between this and Turkey’s application for membership of the European Union. (HL2559)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the World Bank has considered and drawn conclusions from the Review by Mr Emil Salim of oil and mining projects; and what impact the Review will have on the Government’s foreign and investment policies. (HL2560)
The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Sudan (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2004 does not prohibit the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of restricted goods. (HL2561)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, of the outstanding £14 billion owed by taxpayers at 31st March 2003 as set out in the National Audit Office publication The Recovery of Debt by the Inland Revenue, what were the amounts outstanding—
(a) between one and two years;
(b) between two and three years;
(c) between three and four years;
(d) between four and five years; and
distinguishing in each case between PAYE, Self-Assessed Income Tax and Corporation Tax; and what were the comparable figures at 31st March for each of the previous five years. (HL2562)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek an increase in the contributions made by member states of the Council of Europe to ensure that the European Court of Human Rights has sufficient resources. [FCO] (HL2563)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the current arrangements for contingency legal fees and no-win-no-fee are working satisfactorily in the interests of litigants and of the due administration of justice. (HL2564)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that determinations of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission are published. (HL2565)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Community Legal Service is meeting its aim of fulfilling the need of legal services for all. (HL2566)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the outcome of the telephone conversation between the Minister for Public Health and Commissioner Byrne on 12th March in relation to the Food Supplements Directive; and whether a date has been set for a meeting between the Minister and the Commissioner to take forward further discussions. (HL2567)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the Budget announcement of additional funding of £200 million for clinical research over a four year period and the further announcement that £100 million of this sum will be routed to the Medical Research Council through the Department of Health, what steps are being taken to ensure that the remaining £100 million will be made available to the Council. (HL2568)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what terms Northern Ireland civil servants are able to obtain legal representation by the Crown for cases arising from actions taken in the course of their duties; how these terms differ between Northern Ireland Civil Service Departments; and what are the corresponding terms applicable to civil servants seconded to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. (HL2569)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14th January (WA 87-88), how many United Kingdom armed forces personnel have been tested for total uranium in their urine; how many have had a follow-up isotope test; and what were the results of the follow-up tests. (HL2570)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14th January (WA 87-88), how many personnel have been offered both the uranium and the follow-up isotope tests from the outset; and how many have taken up the offer. (HL2571)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14th January (WA 87-88), what monitoring of water is taking place within Iraq to determine whether ground water or watercourses are contaminated with depleted uranium. (HL2572)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 14th January (WA 87-88), whether the United Nations Environment Programme has begun the full environment field survey which was planned for 2004 and which will include depleted uranium; and how much they have budgeted to part fund the survey. (HL2573)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are medical liaison physicians for each surgical directorate in National Health Service hospitals, especially for patients over 65, to advise on peri-operative care. (HL2574)
The Baroness Golding—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review. (HL2575)
BILLS IN PROGRESS
[The date in square brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]
Waiting for Second Reading
Employment Relations [29th April]
Committed to an Unopposed Bill Committee
University of Wales, Cardiff [HL]
University of Manchester [HL] [28th April]
Committed to a Select Committee
Constitutional Reform [HL]
Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill [HL]
Committed to a Grand Committee
Traffic Management [29th April]
Fire and Rescue Services [6th May]
Civil Partnership [HL] [10th May]
Committed to a Committee of the Whole House
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) [4th May]
Higher Education [10th May]
Tobacco Smoking (Public Places and Workplaces) [HL]
Re-committed to a Committee of the Whole House
Statute Law (Repeals) [HL]
Waiting for Report
Wild Mammals (Protection) (Amendment) [HL]
Civil Service (No. 2) [HL] (formerly Executive Powers and Civil Service [HL])
Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) [HL]
Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery
Smoking in Public Places (Wales) [HL]
Waiting for Third Reading
Public Audit (Wales) [HL]
Health Protection Agency [HL] [29th April]
Child Trust Funds [4th May]
Sent to the Commons
Fishery Limits (United Kingdom) [HL]
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims [HL]
Air Traffic Emissions Reduction [HL]
Human Rights Act 1998 (Making of Remedial Orders) Amendment [HL]
Returned to the Commons with an Amendment and Reasons
Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Waiting for consideration of Commons Amendments
Justice (Northern Ireland) [HL] [29th April]
Waiting for Royal Assent
National Insurance Contributions and Statutory Payments
London Local Authorities [HL]
AFFIRMATIVE INSTRUMENTS IN PROGRESS
[The Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee has drawn attention
to those instruments marked * in the reports indicated]
[The date in square brackets is the date for which the instrument is set down]
Waiting for consideration by the Joint Committee
Draft Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 and Draft Guidance to Police Officers on the Operation of Closure Powers in Part 8 of the Licensing Act 2003 [*2nd Report]
Northern Ireland Act 1998 and Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2004 [*5th Report]
Draft Human Rights Act 1998 (Amendment) Order 2004
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft Army, Air Force and Naval Discipline Acts (Continuation) Order 2004 [12th May]
Draft Non-Domestic Rating (Chargeable Amounts) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2004 [28th April]
Draft Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2004 [28th April]
Draft European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2004 [28th April]
Draft Competition Act 1998 (Determination of Turnover for Penalties) (Amendment) Order 2004 [28th April]
Draft Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004 [28th April]
Draft Competition Act 1998 (Land Agreements Exclusion and Revocation) Order 2004 [28th April]
Draft Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Conditional Cautions: Code of Practice) Order 2004
Draft European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (Agreement on Enlargement of the European Economic Area) Order 2004 [29th April]
NEGATIVE INSTRUMENTS
| Praying time
expires | To be
debated |
| Instrument reported by the Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee | | |
| Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 [4th Report] | 22nd May | |
REGULATORY REFORM ORDERS IN PROGRESS
Order referred to the Regulatory Reform Committee for first-stage scrutiny
Draft Regulatory Reform (Local Commissioner for Wales) Order 2004
Reported following first-stage scrutiny by the Regulatory Reform Committee
Draft Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004 [6th Report]
Draft Regulatory Reform (Museum of London) (Location of Premises) Order 2004 [8th Report]
Draft Regulatory Reform (National Health Service Charitable Trust Accounts and Audit) Order 2004 [11th Report]
REMEDIAL ORDER IN PROGRESS
UNDER SCHEDULE 2 TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998
[The date in brackets is the date of expiry of the statutory period]
Naval Discipline Act 1957 (Remedial) Order 2004 [12th June]
COMMITTEES
[Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms
in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheets]
WEDNESDAY 28TH APRIL
| European Union (Sub-Committee D) | 10.30 am |
| University of Manchester Bill [HL] | 3.00 pm |
| (Unopposed Bill Committee) |
| European Union (Sub-Committee G) | 3.30 pm |
| Constitution (Select Committee) | 4.00 pm |
| Human Rights (Joint Committee) | 4.15 pm |
| Refreshment Committee | 4.15 pm |
| in Committee Room G |
| European Union (Select Committee) | 4.15 pm |
THURSDAY 29TH APRIL
| European Union (Sub-Committee C) | 10.30 am |
| Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] (Select Committee) | 4.00 pm |
TUESDAY 4TH MAY
| European Union (Sub-Committee A) | 10.30 am |
| Science and Technology (Sub-Committee I) | 3.30 pm |
| (Science and International Agreements) | in Millbank House |
| European Union (Sub-Committee B) | 4.00 pm |
| Economic Affairs (Select Committee) | 4.00 pm |
| Merits of Statutory Instruments | 4.00 pm |
| (Select Committee) | in Committee Room G |
| Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee) | 4.15 pm |
WEDNESDAY 5TH MAY
| Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform | 10.30 am |
| (Select Committee) |
| European Union (Sub-Committee E) | 11.30 am |
| Finance Bill (Sub-Committee) | 3.00 pm |
| in Committee Room G |
| European Union (Sub-Committee F) | 4.15 pm |
THURSDAY 6TH MAY
| Science and Technology (Select Committee) | 11.00 am |
MONDAY 10TH MAY
TUESDAY 11TH MAY
WEDNESDAY 12TH MAY
| Science and Technology (Sub-Committee II) | 3.30 pm |
| (Practicalities of Renewable Energy) |
MONDAY 17TH MAY
| Information Committee | 4.15 pm |
WEDNESDAY 19TH MAY
| Procedure of the House (Select Committee) | 4.00 pm |
| 
