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 14TH JULY
At half-past two o’clock
The Lord Dykes
and
The Lord Haworth
*The Lord Quirk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what implications for their higher education policy are presented by the Bologna process to create a European Higher Education Area.
*The Lord Bishop of Worcester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they referred to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights the Judgment of that Court in Hirst v. United Kingdom concerning a violation of Article 3, Protocol 1 of the European Convention in the matter of the denial to all sentenced prisoners of the right to vote.
*The Lord Renton of Mount Harry—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will implement the recommendations in the Haskins report.
*The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any evidence that city academy status will help regenerate failing inner city schools.
*The Lord Newby—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contingency plans they have for the continued provision of public services by a major Private Finance Initiative contractor in the event that such contractor becomes insolvent.
†Mental Health—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That it is expedient that a Joint Committee of Lords and Commons be appointed to consider and report on any draft Mental Health Bill presented to both Houses by a Minister of the Crown, and that the Committee should report on the draft Bill by 31st March 2005.
†Housing Bill—The Lord Rooker to move, That it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House to which the Housing Bill has been committed that they consider the bill in the following order:
Clauses 1 to 17
Schedule 1
Clauses 18 to 26
Schedule 2
Clauses 27 to 30
Schedule 3
Clauses 31 to 54
Clause 217
Schedule 11
Clauses 218 to 222
Clauses 55 to 66
Schedule 4
Clauses 67 to 70
Schedule 5
Clauses 71 to 115
Schedule 6
Clauses 116 to 148
Schedule 7 |
Clauses 149 to 155
Clauses 157 to 167
Clauses 172 to 182
Clause 156
Clauses 168 to 171
Clauses 183 to 188
Schedule 8
Clauses 189 to 193
Schedule 9
Clause 194
Schedule 10
Clauses 195 to 216
Clauses 223 to 226
Schedule 12
Clause 227
Schedule 13
Clauses 228 to 231. |
†Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill—Consideration of Commons Amendments [The Baroness Scotland of Asthal]
Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Bill [HL]—Third Reading [The Lord Sainsbury of Turville]
†Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]—House to be again in Committee (on recommitment) [The Lord Falconer of Thoroton] [10th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
THURSDAY 15TH JULY
[At eleven o’clock]
[Prayers will have been read]
*The Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes—To ask the Chairman of Committees which body was responsible for approving the erection and design of the ticket booth on College Green.
*The Lord Mitchell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their plans to encourage Russia and the United States to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
*The Baroness Cumberlege—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they are making in reducing hospital-acquired infections.
*The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consult Parliament and the public before reaching a decision on whether to accept the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (enabling complaints to be made to the United Nations Human Rights Committee of breaches of the Covenant by United Kingdom public authorities).
Children Bill [HL]—Third Reading [The Baroness Ashton of Upholland]
Student Fees (Amounts) (England) Regulations 2004—The Lord Triesman to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 2nd July be approved. [24th Report from the Joint Committee]
In Committee Room 3A and 4B
At 11 am
†Pensions Bill—Further consideration in Grand Committee [The Baroness Hollis of Heigham] [21st and 23rd Reports from the Delegated Powers Committee]
FRIDAY 16TH JULY
[At eleven o’clock]
†Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform—The Chairman of Committees to move, That the Baroness Scott of Needham Market be appointed a member of the Select Committee in the place of the Lord Wigoder.
House Committee—The Chairman of Committees to move, That the First Report from the Select Committee, on Visitor Facilities (HL Paper 113) be agreed to.
Contracting Out (Functions Relating to Broadcast Advertising) and Specification of Relevant Functions Order 2004—The Lord McIntosh of Haringey to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 10th June be approved. [22nd Report from the Joint Committee]
Community Radio Order 2004—The Lord McIntosh of Haringey to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 15th June be approved. [23rd Report from the Joint Committee]
Highways (Obstruction by Body Corporate) Bill—Second Reading [The Lord Desai]
In the event of the bill being read a second time, the Lord Desai to move, That the bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
Christmas Day (Trading) Bill—Second Reading [The Lord Davies of Coity]
In the event of the bill being read a second time, the Lord Davies of Coity to move, That the bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill—Committee [The Lord Dholakia]
Extradition Act 2003 (Repeals) Order 2004—The Baroness Scotland of Asthal to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 17th June be approved. [23rd Report from the Joint Committee]
Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations) Order 2004—The Baroness Scotland of Asthal to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 17th June be approved. [23rd Report from the Joint Committee]
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).
MONDAY 19TH JULY
The Lord Gould of Brookwood
and
The Lord Broers
*The Lord Peyton of Yeovil—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they anticipated the effects on Pension Funds of the changes to the rules for Advance Corporation Tax.
*The Lord Howell of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what studies they have made of the report on Zimbabwe from the African Union’s Commission on Human and People’s Rights.
*The Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to renew trade ties with Syria.
Carers (Equal Opportunities) Bill—Third Reading [The Lord Ashley of Stoke]
Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Bill—Report [The Lord McIntosh of Haringey]
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Pensions Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in the Committee Room 3A and 4B]
TUESDAY 20TH JULY
The Baroness Young of Hornsey
and
The Lord Rowlands
*The Baroness Boothroyd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidelines are being given to general practitioners to check the eligibility of overseas visitors to receive medical care.
*The Lord Bishop of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the Department for International Development’s strategy of engaging with the newly-elected government in Andhra Pradesh in India following the vote of no confidence in Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
*The Lord Bishop of Oxford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to consider the proposals of the Lord Steel of Aikwood to reduce the stage at which abortion is legal except in the most exceptional circumstances.
*The Lord Waddington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the qualifications for membership of the Electoral Commission.
Medway Council Bill—Second Reading
Fire and Rescue Services Bill—Third Reading [The Lord Rooker]
Housing Bill—Committee [The Lord Rooker]
†Finance Bill—Second Reading (and remaining stages) [The Lord McIntosh of Haringey]
The Lord Peston—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on Economic Affairs on the Finance Bill 2004 (First Report, HL Paper 109).
In the Moses Room
Northern Ireland Orders Grand Committee
At 3.30 pm
Budget (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—Consideration [The Lord President (Baroness Amos)]
Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—Consideration [The Lord President (Baroness Amos)]
Criminal Justice (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—Consideration [The Lord President (Baroness Amos)]
Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—Consideration [The Lord President (Baroness Amos)]
Vehicle Testing (Temporary Exemptions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—Consideration [The Lord President (Baroness Amos)]
WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY
The Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury
and
The Lord Griffiths of Burry Port
*The Baroness Whitaker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their strategy to combat HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
*The Lord Cobbold—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the main developments following the first six months of cannabis reclassification.
*The Lord Faulkner of Worcester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they can identify road safety benefits which would follow the introduction of Single/Double British Summertime.
‡Solicitors (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 24th June be approved.
‡Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Designation of Public Authorities) Order 2004—The Lord President (Baroness Amos) to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 10th June be approved. [21st Report from the Joint Committee]
ROYAL ASSENT
[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Housing Bill will continue]
THURSDAY 22ND JULY
[At eleven o’clock]
*The Lord Livsey of Talgarth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to convert the present cattle identification system into a fully electronic record of all cattle movements in the United Kingdom.
*The Baroness Gardner of Parkes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the entrance qualifications currently required for nurse education.
*The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will further help the people of Nepal to find a peaceful solution to their political difficulties and internal conflict.
*The Lord Carter—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that imports of pork and processed pork conform to United Kingdom legal minimum standards with respect to pig welfare.
Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums Order 2004—The Lord Rooker to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 24th June be approved. [24th Report from the Joint Committee and 14th Report from the Merits Committee]
Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Expenses Limits for Permitted Participants) Order 2004—The Lord Rooker to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 24th June be approved. [24th Report from the Joint Committee]
Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Counting Officers’ Charges) Order 2004—The Lord Rooker to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 24th June be approved. [24th Report from the Joint Committee]
†Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (North East Region) Order 2004—The Lord Rooker to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 8th July be approved. [25th Report from the Joint Committee and 15th Report from the Merits Committee]
†Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (North West Region) Order 2004—The Lord Rooker to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 8th July be approved. [25th Report from the Joint Committee and 15th Report from the Merits Committee]
†Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (Yorkshire and the Humber Region) Order 2004—The Lord Rooker to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 8th July be approved. [25th Report from the Joint Committee and 15th Report from the Merits Committee]
Human Tissue Bill—Second Reading [The Lord Warner]
TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Pensions Bill will continue at 3.30 pm in the Moses Room]
WEDNESDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER
Employment Relations Bill—Third Reading [The Lord Sainsbury of Turville]
THURSDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Housing Bill will continue]
[It is expected that the Grand Committee on the Pensions Bill will continue at 3.15 pm in the Moses Room]
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to speed up payment of compensation for mineworkers and former mineworkers who suffer from bronchitis and emphysema; and to control the legal fees associated with such claims.
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.
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.
The Lord Selsdon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what ways their policy for encouraging a just and lasting peace throughout the Middle East differs from that of the United States.
The Baroness Rawlings—To call attention to the Departmental Report 2004 for the Department for International Development; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Greengross—To call attention to the physical, mental and financial abuse of older people; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To call attention to the state of the marine environment and to the progress made in establishing a marine landscape classification; and to move for papers.
The Lord Dholakia—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek to ensure that their plans for the establishment of the National Offenders Management Service receive adequate Parliamentary scrutiny.
The Lord Clement-Jones—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the progress and performance of Patients’ Forums.
The Viscount Waverley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their relations with Colombia.
The Lord Bishop of Rochester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the international situation, what they are doing to support enlightened religious attitudes in this country and overseas.
The Lord Clarke of Hampstead—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy in relation to violations of human rights in Iran.
The Baroness Northover—To call attention to the case for further aid to assist the reconstruction and security of Afghanistan; and to move for papers.
The Lord Newby—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to safeguard the interests of Caribbean banana growers.
The Lord Turnberg—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take to redress the drop in clinical academic staffing levels in medical and dental schools.
The Lord Selsdon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they are giving to the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the development of worldwide British interests and trade.
The Lord Williams of Elvel—To call attention to the report of the Richard Commission on the powers and electoral arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what specific steps they are taking to ensure the satisfactory delivery of post by the Royal Mail; and what progress has been made to this end.
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how current policy initiatives in the National Health Service reflect the need for specialised services and associated commissioning.
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to delineate NATO and European Union defence responsibilities in Bosnia-Herzegovina after December 2004.
The Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the public are being correctly advised on using adequate protection against skin cancer.
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve security for aid, reconstruction and the supervision of elections in Afghanistan.
The Baroness Scott of Needham Market—To call attention to the role of the private sector in providing rail infrastructure; and to move for papers.
PART II
SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS
[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]
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 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 Bowness—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on EU Development Aid in Transition (12th Report, HL Paper 75). [29th April]
The Baroness Harris of Richmond—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the report from the Select Committee on the European Union, Handling EU asylum claims: new approaches examined (11th Report, HL Paper 74), what progress they have made in developing their proposals for regional protection areas and what view they take of the proposals of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the determination of asylum claims on an European Union basis, including the establishment of European Union reception centres. [30th April]
The Lord Norton of Louth—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Select Committee on the Constitution on the Regulatory State: Ensuring its Accountability (6th Report, HL Paper 68). [6th May]
The Lord Radice—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on The World Trade Organization: the role of the EU post-Cancœn (16th Report, HL Paper 104). [16th June]
The Lord Woolmer of Leeds—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on Gas: Liberalised Markets and Security of Supply (17th Report, HL Paper 105). [24th June]
The Lord Mitchell—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Science and Treaties (3rd Report, HL Paper 110). [30th June]
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
[Tabled on 13th July, or unanswered after 21 days]
[The Government department responsible for
answering each Question is shown in brackets]
24th May
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why funding for the 11th July bonfire celebrations was removed from the Ulster-Scots Agency’s draft budget for 2004, given the importance of safety and family enjoyment to these celebrations. [NIO] (HL3035)
26th May
The Lord Glentoran—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which victims’ organisations in Northern Ireland have received public funding since 10th April 1998; and how much has been allocated to each organisation. [NIO] (HL3078)
27th May
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 26th May (WA 133) concerning the Ulster-Scots Agency, how much has been paid by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to consultants for advice on the proposed academy in each year since 2000. [NIO] (HL3088)
7th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the term “reflective of the community in Northern Ireland” (as used in the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004) means; whether the term is the same as representative of the community in Northern Ireland; and how and in what way the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was representative of the community in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL3134)
9th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7th June (WA 1) concerning a reception at 10 Downing Street on 11th May, whether there were any representatives of Ulster Scots culture present; and, if so, how they were selected. [NIO] (HL3169)
14th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many equality officers are employed in the Northern Ireland Office; when each post was created; and what are the duties of these officers. [NIO] (HL3240)
15th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many commissioners they have appointed to the Equality Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission since March 1999; how many staff each body has employed since that date; and whether, for each body, they will state the gender, age, ethnic origins and community background of these staff and the part of Northern Ireland (if any) with which they regard themselves as being most closely associated. [NIO] (HL3267)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which victims groups in Northern Ireland have been audited each year since 1990; and on what basis the audits were carried out. [NIO] (HL3269)
16th June
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland requiring councils to add candidates for interview for District Police Partnerships, after the shortlisting process has been completed; and whether such a practice could properly be applied in all public appointment processes in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL3289)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland imposing a late applicant for interview, after the shortlisting process had been completed, for the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council’s District Police Partnership. [NIO] (HL3290)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there was effective liaison between Northern Ireland’s Chief Electoral Officer and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland during the recent European Parliament election; at what locations public order problems occurred; and whether any alleged rioters are to be charged with public order offences. [NIO] (HL3293)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff were employed by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland in voting centres and at the count during the recent European Parliament election; how many were employed in 1999; what was the total number of electors on each occasion; and what was the total cost of each election. [NIO] (HL3294)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 10th June (WA 42) concerning the Republic of Ireland’s Official Languages Act 2003, what is meant by “occur in the Republic of Ireland”. [NIO] (HL3302)
17th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take action under paragraph 2(4) of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 against Ms Patricia Kelly who has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [NIO] (HL3316)
21st June
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will publish its policy on potential conflicts of interest for public appointments and advisers contracted to the Department. [DCMS] (HL3351)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Eire government prior to the Eire government amending the Belfast Agreement of 1998 in the area of citizenship. [NIO] (HL3366)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Eire government regarding the rights of British citizens, resident in Eire, to vote in the Irish referenda. [NIO] (HL3367)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Ulster Scots Agency is adequately and positively represented to the media by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. [NIO] (HL3368)
22nd June
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the Departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated agencies for each year since 2001-02. [DEFRA] (HL3382)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the Departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation activities by the Home Office and its associated agencies for each year since 2001-02. [HO] (HL3385)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many badger and deer carcasses are collected from the roadside and tested by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’s Wildlife Unit. [DEFRA] (HL3393)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the event that additional resources are made available to North South Ministerial Bodies during this financial year, whether the Ulster Scots Agency will be given priority, as its initial requirements were not met. [NIO] (HL3404)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17th June (WA 80), which political parties will be officially consulted about the appointment of a new chairman to the Ulster Scots Agency. [NIO] (HL3406)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17th June (WA 79), what impact the decision to remove £600,000 from the Ulster Scots Agency’s budget will have on the Agency’s ability to support community events during the marching season; and what effect this will have on the ability of community leaders to achieve as peaceful a marching season in 2004 as that achieved in 2003. [NIO] (HL3408)
13th July
The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28th June (WA 6), and in light of the finding of the systematic review of water fluoridation in 2000 by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York that few safety studies of even moderate quality could be found (Level B, Appendix D), on what basis “further reassurance of the safety of fluoridated water” can be provided by a study which did not address itself to safety. (HL3799)
The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28th June (WA 6), whether, in claiming “no evidence of any differences” in the bioavailability study on fluoride recently conducted at the Newcastle School of Dental Studies, they have taken note of the authors’ warning in section 6 of their report that “some caution is necessary when interpreting the results” because of “the small number of subjects”, and of their comments in section 7 on the benefits of further research on this topic. (HL3802)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the judgement in the case of R (on the application of B) v. London Borough of Merton [2003], they will revise the Immigration and Nationality Department’s Operational Enforcement Manual to make it clear that where an applicant claims to be a minor, the decision maker cannot determine age solely on the basis of the applicant’s appearance, but must seek to elicit the general background of the applicant, including family circumstances, educational background and activities during the previous few years. (HL3803)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they have received, and from what authorities, on the scientific basis of age determination of teenagers; and what are the margins of error of the methods used by the Immigration and Nationality Department. (HL3804)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the methodology used by Cambridgeshire Social Services in providing age estimates of persons detained at Oakington; what is the average length of time taken to provide these estimates; and why the Immigration and Nationality Department refuse to accept medical evidence provided by a consultant paediatrician. (HL3805)
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when work will commence on the improvements to the A27 at Beddingham. (HL3806)
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to bring forward proposals for a bypass to Selmeston on the A27. (HL3807)
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to bring forward proposals for a bypass to Lancing and Worthing on the A27. (HL3808)
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to bring forward proposals for a bypass at Arundel on the A27. (HL3809)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress there has been in countering the spread of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus-related conditions among patients in National Health Service hospitals; and what consideration has been given to compensating patients who have been infected and dependants of those who have died. (HL3810)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current estimate of the number of British troops who could have been exposed to fall-out from the destruction by United States forces of the stockpile of Iraqi chemical weapons at Khamisyah in Southern Iraq in March 1991; and how this compares with previous estimates given to Parliament. (HL3811)
The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) (Fees) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1300), what checks will be made of the accuracy of the estimate made by the Secretary of State of the time required for equipment testing. (HL3812)
The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the provisions contained in paragraph 19(11) and (12) of the Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm Order (S.I. 2004/933) will also apply to the Lynn (S.I. 2003/2829), Norfolk (S.I. 2003/2830) and Inner Dowsing (S.I. 2003/2831) Wind Farm Orders. (HL3813)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to send blood samples from National Health Service patients to India for testing; and, if so, which blood tests will be carried out there. (HL3814)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are sufficient facilities and resources within the United Kingdom to carry out blood tests for all National Health Service patients. (HL3815)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what tasks HMS Endurance has undertaken on recent deployments; what is her current status; when her next deployment will begin; and what this will involve. (HL3816)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th July (WA 118) concerning the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, why the only Loyal Order parade listed in the annual events listing brochure for 2004, issued by the Board, was the Maiden City Festival. (HL3817)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th July (WA 118) concerning the North South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh, whether meetings were held with the Ulster Political Research Group, which included both Joint Secretaries; if so, when these meetings were held; where they were held; and for what purpose. (HL3818)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th July (WA 116) concerning school funding in Northern Ireland, how many primary and secondary schools seeking funding have been turned down since 1990 because they did not meet the relevant intake criteria; how many were granted funding without meeting the relevant intake criteria; and, in each case, which schools were involved. (HL3819)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22nd June (WA 113), whether there was agreement between the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Ulster Scots Agency on the 2004 budget. (HL3820)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th July (WA 118-119) concerning the North South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh, what are the “other wider functions” of the staff; when they have undertaken those functions; and under what instructions. (HL3821)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 24th June (WA 151), what was the sum paid in compensation by the Ministry of Defence to Environmental Tectonics Corporation. (HL3822)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any usable part of the Royal Air Force centrifuge was delivered by Environmental Tectonics Corporation before the termination of its contract; and, if so, what is its value to the Royal Air Force. (HL3823)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much, by way of stage payments in respect of work in progress, was paid by the Ministry of Defence in respect of the Royal Air Force centrifuge to Environmental Tectonics Corporation. (HL3824)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they are intending to provide to the public about the cost of the options for the six counties in the North of England where it is proposed to introduce new local government structures as part of the referendum process. (HL3825)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide information about (a) the ongoing costs, and (b) the transitional costs, including service costs, for each of the options for the local government structures proposed by the Boundary Commission in its report of May 2004. (HL3826)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from professional bodies about the size of local authority necessary to sustain efficient and effective local government as a result of the structural review carried out by the Boundary Commission; and to what extent the size depends on effective joint working between local authorities. (HL3827)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to fulfil the Labour Party 2001 manifesto commitment to provide “a sports entitlement for all children, giving them access to at least two hours a week of sport in or after school” given that the latest Public Service Agreement target is for only 85 per cent of children by 2008. (HL3828)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will define “priority groups”, “active sports” and “moderate intensity level sport” as targeted by the 2005-08 Public Service Agreement for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (HL3829)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of adults and young people aged 16 and above from priority groups currently participate in active sports at least twelve times a year as targeted by the 2005-08 Public Service Agreement for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (HL3830)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of adults and young people aged 16 and above from priority groups currently engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity level sport at least three times a week as targeted by the 2005-08 Public Service Agreement for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (HL3831)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current year-on-year rise in obesity among children under 11 projected by the 2005-08 Public Service Agreement for the Department of Health. (HL3832)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement by UK Sport on 13th July that it is investing £800,000 in British Olympic Association pre-Games Preparation Camps, how much money is being invested in pre-Games Preparation Camps for the British Paralympic Association. (HL3833)
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER AWAITING ANSWER
13th JULY 2004
[Tabled on the dates shown]
[The Government department responsible for answering each Question is shown in brackets]
24th May
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why funding for the 11th July bonfire celebrations was removed from the Ulster-Scots Agency’s draft budget for 2004, given the importance of safety and family enjoyment to these celebrations. [NIO] (HL3035)
26th May
The Lord Glentoran—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which victims’ organisations in Northern Ireland have received public funding since 10th April 1998; and how much has been allocated to each organisation. [NIO] (HL3078)
27th May
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 26th May (WA 133) concerning the Ulster-Scots Agency, how much has been paid by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to consultants for advice on the proposed academy in each year since 2000. [NIO] (HL3088)
7th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the term “reflective of the community in Northern Ireland” (as used in the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004) means; whether the term is the same as representative of the community in Northern Ireland; and how and in what way the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was representative of the community in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL3134)
9th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7th June (WA 1) concerning a reception at 10 Downing Street on 11th May, whether there were any representatives of Ulster Scots culture present; and, if so, how they were selected. [NIO] (HL3169)
14th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many equality officers are employed in the Northern Ireland Office; when each post was created; and what are the duties of these officers. [NIO] (HL3240)
15th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many commissioners they have appointed to the Equality Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission since March 1999; how many staff each body has employed since that date; and whether, for each body, they will state the gender, age, ethnic origins and community background of these staff and the part of Northern Ireland (if any) with which they regard themselves as being most closely associated. [NIO] (HL3267)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which victims groups in Northern Ireland have been audited each year since 1990; and on what basis the audits were carried out. [NIO] (HL3269)
16th June
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland requiring councils to add candidates for interview for District Police Partnerships, after the shortlisting process has been completed; and whether such a practice could properly be applied in all public appointment processes in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL3289)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland imposing a late applicant for interview, after the shortlisting process had been completed, for the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council’s District Police Partnership. [NIO] (HL3290)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there was effective liaison between Northern Ireland’s Chief Electoral Officer and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland during the recent European Parliament election; at what locations public order problems occurred; and whether any alleged rioters are to be charged with public order offences. [NIO] (HL3293)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff were employed by the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland in voting centres and at the count during the recent European Parliament election; how many were employed in 1999; what was the total number of electors on each occasion; and what was the total cost of each election. [NIO] (HL3294)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 10th June (WA 42) concerning the Republic of Ireland’s Official Languages Act 2003, what is meant by “occur in the Republic of Ireland”. [NIO] (HL3302)
17th June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take action under paragraph 2(4) of Schedule 7 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 against Ms Patricia Kelly who has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. [NIO] (HL3316)
21st June
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will publish its policy on potential conflicts of interest for public appointments and advisers contracted to the Department. [DCMS] (HL3351)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Eire government prior to the Eire government amending the Belfast Agreement of 1998 in the area of citizenship. [NIO] (HL3366)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Eire government regarding the rights of British citizens, resident in Eire, to vote in the Irish referenda. [NIO] (HL3367)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Ulster Scots Agency is adequately and positively represented to the media by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. [NIO] (HL3368)
22nd June
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the Departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated agencies for each year since 2001-02. [DEFRA] (HL3382)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the Departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation activities by the Home Office and its associated agencies for each year since 2001-02. [HO] (HL3385)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many badger and deer carcasses are collected from the roadside and tested by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’s Wildlife Unit. [DEFRA] (HL3393)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the event that additional resources are made available to North South Ministerial Bodies during this financial year, whether the Ulster Scots Agency will be given priority, as its initial requirements were not met. [NIO] (HL3404)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17th June (WA 80), which political parties will be officially consulted about the appointment of a new chairman to the Ulster Scots Agency. [NIO] (HL3406)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17th June (WA 79), what impact the decision to remove £600,000 from the Ulster Scots Agency’s budget will have on the Agency’s ability to support community events during the marching season; and what effect this will have on the ability of community leaders to achieve as peaceful a marching season in 2004 as that achieved in 2003. [NIO] (HL3408)
23rd June
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in accordance with the principles for relocation set out at paragraph 10.3 of the Lyons Report, which Government departments or sponsored bodies have received approval from H M Treasury since 9th September 2003 to enter into or renew a significant property commitment in London, showing in each case the amount of space and its purpose. [HMT] (HL3428)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions Government agencies and departments have had with representatives of United Kingdom airlines and the aircraft manufacturing, serving and dismantling industries to ensure all participants are aware of the issues surrounding depleted uranium use within the industry and the applicable United Kingdom law. [DTI] (HL3432)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what accounting procedures are in place for depleted uranium within the aircraft industry which satisfy the requirements of RSA93 registrations and the Ionising Radiations Regulations. [DTI] (HL3433)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether premises that maintain or dismantle aircraft containing depleted uranium have to be registered; and whether any such list is available to the public. [DTI] (HL3434)
24th June
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the total number of Northern Ireland Office Ministerial and Northern Ireland civil service flights, during each of the past three years, between Belfast and London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City airports. [NIO] (HL3452)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which airlines now provide a regular daily service of flights between Belfast and either London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London City airports; whether there is fair and adequate competition among these airlines; and by what amounts over each of the past three years Northern Ireland Office departments have fostered that competition by supporting each airline in respect of Ministerial and civil service usage. [NIO] (HL3453)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they organise Northern Ireland Ministerial and civil service air travel between Belfast and either London Heathrow, London Gatwick or London City airports; whether they have fixed price contracts; and which airlines are invited to tender directly to Government to provide this service. [NIO] (HL3454)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22nd June (WA 114), whether they approved of the Ulster Scots Agency’s work in the United States. [NIO] (HL3458)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated cost per kilometre of providing a dual carriageway between the Toome bypass and the City of Londonderry. [NIO] (HL3460)
25th June
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many corrections were received in the financial year 2003-04 from landowners or tenants seeking to amend the Integrated Administration and Control System digital maps. [DEFRA] (HL3472)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17th June (WA 82-83) concerning the Language Implementation Body, on what date, with whom and in what form the sponsor departments agreed the annual budget for 2004 for the Ulster Scots Agency. [NIO] (HL3479)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23rd June (WA 123), why bodies representing Ulster Scots culture do not receive the same level of resources as bodies representing Irish cultures. [NIO] (HL3482)
28th June
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 29th March (WA 139), which sports bodies have contractual links with the National Health Service to ensure strategic planning and activity levels. [DoH] (HL3487)
The Baroness Gale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between the millennium development target to reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds and similar targets for halving the proportion of people without safe water or basic sanitation. [DfID] (HL3490)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will add to the list of Zimbabwean nationals who are refused entry to the European Union a United Kingdom list of close supporters and collaborators of the régime including Mr Gideon Gono (Governor, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe), Mr Stalin Mau Mau (former Zanu-PF Parliamentary candidate), Mr Osias Bvute (Zanu PF representative on the Board of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union) and Mr Peter Chingoka (Chairman of the Board). [FCO] (HL3494)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are reviewing grants of asylum to citizens of Zimbabwe obtained with the aid of documentation supplied by “Zimbabwe Community UK”; and what investigations they have conducted into the affairs of that organisation, including the manner in which it obtained a £5,000 lottery grant. [HO] (HL3495)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure plans to provide funding and resources to—
(a) association football;
(d) Gaelic Athletic Association games;
if so, whether in each case there is a cross community requirement; if so, what that requirement is; and how it will be monitored. [NIO] (HL3498)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much funding the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure provided each year since 1999 to—
(a) association football;
(d) Gaelic Athletic Association games;
whether there was a cross community requirement in any such funding; what that requirement was; and how it was monitored. [NIO] (HL3500)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether foreign nationals from countries which are not considered “designated countries” by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency who have resided in the United Kingdom for more than one year (discounting periods overseas) are permitted to drive in the United Kingdom without passing a United Kingdom driving test. [DfT] (HL3505)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will increase the number of telephone lines available at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [DfT] (HL3506)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce the waiting time for members of the public telephoning the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [DfT] (HL3507)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average waiting time for members of the public telephoning the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [DfT] (HL3508)
29th June
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many recruits to the infantry they anticipate will join in the next six months. [MoD] (HL3513)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 28th June (WA 5), how many individuals who have successfully passed through the recruit selection process for the infantry have been given a date to commence Phase One (Basic) training after a delay of more than two months; and how many individuals are expected to pass through the selection process but will not commence their Phase One (Basic) training for over two months in 2004. [MoD] (HL3514)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 24th June (WA 151) concerning representations about the Skipton Fund sent to the Department of Health on behalf of the Haemophilia Society in Scotland, when they expect the Department’s response to be placed in the Library of the House; and whether it will also be copied to Members involved with the correspondence. [DoH] (HL3517)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the opportunities and provisions for re-training individuals aged 25 to 40 who wish to change from desk-bound employment to a trade where there are shortages, for example plumbing and carpentry. [DfES] (HL3518)
The Lord Glentoran—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been spent on consultations since June 2001 by each Government department in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL3519)
The Lord Glentoran—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been spent on consultants since June 2001 by each Government department in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL3520)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will detail the amounts of public money paid to the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders for the purchase of buildings; and what is the present status of the property purchased. [NIO] (HL3538)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24th February (WA 41), whether it is their practice to advise those recruiting teachers for state schools that the equal opportunity employment policies in relation to religion and political opinion of the Northern Ireland Education and Library Boards are inapplicable due to the exemption of teachers from fair employment law. [NIO] (HL3539)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will remove the security barriers at the Royal Courts of Justice in Chichester Street, Belfast and make the street passable to ordinary vehicular traffic, including buses. [NIO] (HL3540)
The Lord Mason of Barnsley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what fisheries action plans have been established between the United Kingdom and neighbouring European Union countries to contain the numbers of cormorants; with what results; and how the United Kingdom action to control the growth in numbers compares with other European Union countries. [DEFRA] (HL3542)
30th June
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will appeal the findings of the European Court of Human Rights of 15th June in relation to the cases of Thompson v the United Kingdom, GW v the United Kingdom and Le Petit v the United Kingdom. [MoD] (HL3556)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance is given to Commanding Officers in relation to administering summary justice in accordance with the Army Act 1955. [MoD] (HL3557)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the findings by the European Court of Human Rights of 15th June will have on the rules governing the conduct of military discipline. [MoD] (HL3559)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cases the Ministry of Defence has lost in the European Court of Human Rights in the last 12 months; and how many cases remain pending. [MoD] (HL3560)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will allow for pre-legislative scrutiny of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill due to be introduced in November. [DEFRA] (HL3567)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what mechanisms are in place to monitor and ensure proper compliance with the Guidelines for UK Government websites, with particular reference to the web accessibility needs of disabled people. [DWP] (HL3580)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to ensure that United Kingdom Government websites comply with the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Accessibility Initiative and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines; and, if so, when they envisage that such compliance could be achieved. [CO] (HL3582)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the annual report of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner, whether they intend to review or amend the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources) Order 2003. [HO] (HL3583)
The Earl of Northesk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made towards implementation of Part III of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [HO] (HL3584)
1st July
The Lord Hoyle—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many pensioners have had free dental treatment in each of the last two years; and what was the cost. [DoH] (HL3587)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any of the Cross Border Implementation Bodies have indicated an intention to apply for extra funding during 2004; if so, which Bodies have applied; how much have they applied for; and for what purpose. [NIO] (HL3591)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding Tourism Ireland has sought each year since 2000; how much was agreed each year; whether indicative budgets were set; if so, for how much; and when. [NIO] (HL3592)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29th June (WA 13) concerning Irish culture, whether they have plans to provide funding for Irish culture and language; if so, when they will do so; how much they plan to provide; through which body such funds will be provided; and whether business cases will be required. [NIO] (HL3593)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will encourage British academic institutions and British companies to provide technical assistance to the Turkish Cypriot administration for the conservation of the natural and archaeological environment of Northern Cyprus; and whether they will make funds available for that purpose. [FCO] (HL3597)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made with European Union partners towards the early implementation of their objective of allowing direct flights to Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus and towards allowing Turkish Cypriot exports directly from Northern Cyprus ports. [FCO] (HL3598)
The Lord Alderdice—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the outcome of the recent United Nations mission to the Ivory Coast led by the British Ambassador to the United Nations. [FCO] (HL3599)
5th July
The Lord Chadlington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how often segregation has been used in prison for both teenage boys and girls, for each month since January 2004. [HO] (HL3602)
The Lord Elton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government from how many sources the British Transport Police derive their income. [DfT] (HL3604)
The Lord Elton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the most recent financial year for which figures are available, what percentage of the income due to the British Transport Police was received respectively—
(a) more than three months;
(b) more than six months; and
after the due date. [DfT] (HL3605)The Lord Elton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the most recent financial year for which figures are available, what was the cost to British Transport Police occasioned by (a) the late payment of income due to them; and (b) the steps necessary to be taken by them to secure its eventual receipt. [DfT] (HL3606)
The Lord Jopling—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average total extra charge to be made to London households in the event of London being the host to the 2012 Olympic Games; and over how many years it will be spread. [DCMS] (HL3607)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employed civil servant there were in 1997; and how many are currently employed. [CO] (HL3608)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many retired pensionable civil servants there were in 1997; and what was then the total annual cost of their pensions. [HMT] (HL3609)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many retired pensionable civil servants there are; and what is the total current annual cost of their pensions. [HMT] (HL3610)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated total annual cost, at current prices of civil service pensions in 2024, based on the same civil service establishment as currently exists. [HMT] (HL3611)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government who is responsible for paying civil service pensions. [HMT] (HL3612)
The Lord Williams of Elvel—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what work is being undertaken by Government-sponsored science laboratories to monitor the increasing resistance of rats to anticoagulant rodenticides; how that work, if any, is funded; and what bearing the resistance has on the possibility of an outbreak of plague. [DEFRA] (HL3613)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which Private Finance Initiative and Public Private Partnership projects in London Jarvis plc or any of its subsidiaries is—
(a) the main contractor; and
(b) a member of a contracting consortium (showing in each case the percentage share of Jarvis plc or its subsidiaries); and
for each project, what is the contract period and total value. [HMT] (HL3614)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which Private Finance Initiative and Public Private Partnership projects in education Jarvis plc or any of its subsidiaries is—
(a) the main contractor; and
(b) a member of a contracting consortium (showing in each case the percentage share of Jarvis plc or its subsidiaries); and
for each project, what is the contract period and total value. [DfES] (HL3615)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which Private Finance Initiative and Public Private Partnership projects for the National Health Service Jarvis plc or any of its subsidiaries is—
(a) the main contractor; and
(b) a member of a contracting consortium (showing in each case the percentage share of Jarvis plc or its subsidiaries); and
for each project, what is the contract period and total value. [DoH] (HL3616)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the finances of Jarvis plc are sufficiently robust to ensure that its subsidiary Prismo will meet its obligations for preparatory works for Liverpool City of Culture 2008. [DCMS] (HL3617)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 16th June (WA 76), whether the statement by the Prime Minister on 25th May in response to the International Olympic Committee Report on London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, that “we are committed to Crossrail and other major London projects” is compatible with the answer which Lord Davies of Oldham gave on 26th May (WA 148) that “The 2012 Olympic bid does not and never has assumed Crossrail”. [DfT] (HL3618)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what level of funding UK Sport will allocate to the British Olympic Association for programmes related to elite performance. [DCMS] (HL3620)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the funding allocated to the British Olympic Association by UK Sport will be subject to the same level of scrutiny with regard to corporate governance and financial accountability as that body applies to sports national governing bodies. [DCMS] (HL3621)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any intention to reduce the number of elite athletes in receipt of UK Sport world class performance funding over the next four-year Olympic cycle; and what level of financial support for Olympic performance comes directly from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s budget for sport. [DCMS] (HL3622)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which budgets at UK Sport are being targeted to deliver funds to world class performance funding; what total funding has been diverted to-date; and what plans they have to divert funds over the next four-year Olympic cycle. [DCMS] (HL3623)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by the Lord Whitty on 23rd June (HL Deb, col. 1238) that “In certain circumstances, wind farms actually enhance the landscape”, whether they will set out the circumstances in which such enhancement occurs. [DEFRA] (HL3624)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what respects, other than its availability to persons of the same sex, a civil partnership as envisaged in the Civil Partnership Bill differs from a civil marriage. [DTI] (HL3625)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether primary schools in Northern Ireland are funded by a similar formula to those in England; if not, what is the difference; and why such difference exists. [NIO] (HL3626)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord President on 26th May (WA 133) and 29th June (WA 13) concerning the non-disclosure of details about discussions of the Ulster Scots Agency’s budget for 2004, why it is not possible to prove that discussions took place and the nature of such discussions. [NIO] (HL3627)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29th June (WA 12) concerning Waterways Ireland, what is the project at Ringsend Basin Moorings, Dublin; how much it will cost; how the contracts were awarded; and whether any company from Northern Ireland was allowed to bid. [NIO] (HL3628)
6th July
The Lord Trefgarne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House the text of the latest version of the proposed European Union Constitution. [FCO] (HL3634)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost of strategic area reviews in 2003-04; and what will be the cost in 2004-05. [DfES] (HL3636)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of young people who received education maintenance allowances in each pilot area were studying in further education colleges. [DfES] (HL3637)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much of the funding allocation for the 2003-06 spending review was allocated to the national roll-out of education maintenance allowances in: (a) school sixth-forms; (b) sixth-form colleges; and (c) further education colleges. [DfES] (HL3638)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of basic skills qualifications achieved in (a) 2002-03; and (b) 2003-04 were completed by young people as part of their (i) GCSEs; and (ii) key skills. [DfES] (HL3639)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much funding was provided by each Local Learning and Skills Council to school sixth-forms in (a) 2002-03; and (b) 2003-04; and how many students each of these school sixth-forms have on their rolls. [DfES] (HL3640)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their most recent estimates of the impact of vehicle emissions on the environment and of the damage which it causes to property. [DEFRA] (HL3642)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have undertaken any studies of the impact on the upper atmosphere and the ozone layer of aircraft exhaust emissions; and, if so, what the latest results reveal. [DfT] (HL3643)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the bill to ratify the Treaty to establish a Constitution for Europe will contain all Articles of the Constitution; whether it will be amendable by both Houses of Parliament; and, if not, why not. [FCO] (HL3644)
The Lord Brightman—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 30th June (WA 27), what is meant by the statement that “the Prison Service has no input into the parole decision process”. [HO] (HL3645)
The Lord Brightman—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 30th June (WA 27) that “the Prison Service has no input into the parole decision process”, whether the governor of a prison is entitled to pass information to those processing a case for parole. [HO] (HL3646)
The Lord Fearn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Blue Flag scheme for clean English beaches is to continue. [DEFRA] (HL3647)
The Lord Fearn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many areas in England are designated as heathland; and how many heathlands have been lost in the last 10 years. [DEFRA] (HL3648)
The Lord Fearn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many piers in England are designated as listed buildings or structures; and what grades have been given to these piers. [DCMS] (HL3649)
The Lord Fearn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many lifeboat stations are situated around the British Isles; and how many offshore lifeboat stations are situated around Britain’s coastline. [DfT] (HL3650)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the composition of the British elements in the Provisional Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan; and what will be their rules of engagement. [MoD] (HL3651)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what efforts they have made to encourage other NATO members to provide troops for the Provisional Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan. [MoD] (HL3652)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their medal target on a sport-by-sport basis for Great Britain Olympic athletes in Athens 2004; and what was the target and actual Great Britain Olympic medal tally on a sport-by-sport basis in Sydney 2000. [DCMS] (HL3653)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport had any evidence to support her statement that London scored badly on the International Olympic Committee’s criteria for Government support “because of the uncertainty created by the forthcoming mayoral elections” (HC Deb, 28th June, col. 15). [DCMS] (HL3654)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there has been any change in their policy towards the London 2012 Olympic Bid since the statement by the Prime Minister on 25th May in response to the International Olympic Committee Report on London’s bid that “we are committed to Crossrail and other major London projects” and the announcement on 5th July by the Minister for Transport that “those who are mentioning Crossrail are seeking to wreck the Olympic Bid”. [DCMS] (HL3655)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide details of the contractual arrangements in place, including the value of any contracts, between the Youth Sports Trust and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its associated agencies for each financial year since 1999-2000. [DCMS] (HL3656)
The Lord Greaves—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the future signing of an agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 can be made a condition of the granting and issue of a planning permission. [ODPM] (HL3657)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the closing date for applications to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is 9th July as indicated in the advertisement to the public, or 16th July, as indicated in the information pack and in the application form; and why the dates are different. [NIO] (HL3659)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in seeking applications for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, what is meant by bodies nominating individuals; what bodies are envisaged; and whether the nominees will be treated as representatives of such bodies. [NIO] (HL3660)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in seeking applications for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, how they propose to deal with (a) individual applications; and (b) nominations from bodies. [NIO] (HL3661)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be made on the basis of merit alone; whether this approach will be qualified in accordance with section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and how the statutory requirement of representativeness will affect selection on the basis of merit alone. [NIO] (HL3662)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government who will be the independent assessor on the appointment panel for the appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and how the independence of that assessor will be determined. [NIO] (HL3663)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the new livestock identification and tracing programme will be in place. [DEFRA] (HL3664)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the costs of running the cattle tracing system and the animal movement licensing system for each of the years 2000 to 2003 and for 2004 to date. [DEFRA] (HL3665)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to improve transparency in the dairy supply chain; and, if so, how they will seek to do so. [DEFRA] (HL3667)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact the cattle tracing system will have on the employment levels of the British Cattle Movement Service; whether a target employment level has been set; and, if so, what that target is. [DEFRA] (HL3668)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there have been anomalies in the reporting of livestock movements; and, if so, whether they propose to make markets responsible for reporting all relevant movements. [DEFRA] (HL3669)
7th July
The Lord Redesdale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Army Board ordered the Adjutant General, Lieutenant-General Sir Alistair Irwin, to reduce the number of army personnel; and, if so, to what level. [MoD] (HL3670)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their proposed legislation to create an offence of incitement to religious hatred will include provision to abolish the offence of blasphemy. [HO] (HL3671)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will announce the name of the successful bidder for the support vehicle contract before the summer recess; and how many times a decision on the tender has been delayed. [MoD] (HL3672)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many recovery vehicle variants were required in the original Invitation To Tender (ITT) for the Ministry of Defence’s support vehicle project; and how many are in the current ITT. [MoD] (HL3673)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what would be the effect on whole life costs and logistics of not ordering the recovery variants of the Ministry of Defence’s support vehicle at the same time as general service cargo variants. [MoD] (HL3674)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ statement of January 2004 on “Return of rejected asylum seekers to Eritrea”, they have agreed to consider fresh applications for asylum from Eritreans who had previously exhausted their rights of appeal against a refusal of leave to remain as refugees; if so, how many new applications of this kind they have received; and how many of any such new applicants are in receipt of full National Asylum Support Service support. [HO] (HL3675)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to speed up the issue of letters acknowledging fresh applications for asylum from Eritreans who had previously exhausted their rights of appeal. [HO] (HL3676)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cattle were slaughtered under the tuberculosis testing and surveillance scheme in each of the most recent 12 three-month periods; and how much compensation was paid by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to farmers in each period in respect of cattle slaughtered under the scheme. [DEFRA] (HL3677)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they use to determine whether new bypasses on A roads should be single carriageway or dual carriageway; whether annual average daily traffic flow is one such criteria; and, if so, what threshold determines whether a bypass will be a single or dual carriageway. [DfT] (HL3678)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in respect of each of the 25 member states of the European Union, what is—
(a) the top rate of inheritance tax between unconnected persons;
(b) the top rate of capital gains tax on (i) shares and (ii) other assets; and
(c) the top level of annual wealth tax;
and, for each member state, what is the threshold (expressed in both sterling and euros) at which the top rate applies. [HMT] (HL3679)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in respect of each of the 25 member states of the European Union, what is the standard rate of VAT and the minimum level of turnover (expressed in both sterling and euros) at which traders are required to register for VAT. [HMT] (HL3680)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in respect of each of the 25 member states of the European Union, what is the standard rate of corporation tax. [HMT] (HL3681)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the £50 note was first issued after World War II; what value a note with similar purchasing power would now have; and whether they will now issue a £100 note. [HMT] (HL3682)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ministry of Defence’s definition of “recruitment” relates to the enlistment and acceptance of a recruit at a Recruitment Office, or to the commencement of basic training. [MoD] (HL3687)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, upon enlisting and being accepted at a Recruitment Office, a new recruit can start his or her basic training forthwith. [MoD] (HL3688)
The Lord Monson—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of Cyprus about the ability of Turkish Cypriots to vote in European Parliamentary elections and be represented in that Parliament so that the situation can be improved in time for the next elections to that Parliament. [FCO] (HL3690)
The Lord Northbourne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that parents are involved in policy decisions and programme delivery in Children’s Centres. [DfES] (HL3691)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), why there have been no prosecutions in 2003 in respect of seizures of imports under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Regulations 2003. [DEFRA] (HL3692)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), what prosecutions occurred in the European Union in 2003 in respect of imports under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Regulations. [DEFRA] (HL3693)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), what action was taken with the 99 live animals and birds that were seized under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Regulations in 2003. [DEFRA] (HL3694)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), what were the species of the live animals and birds seized under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Regulations in 2003. [DEFRA] (HL3695)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), what was the estimated value of the live animals and birds seized under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Regulations in 2003. [DEFRA] (HL3696)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), what was the estimated value of the ivory seized under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Regulations in 2003. [DEFRA] (HL3697)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to implement the recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive’s document Driving at Work published in September 2003, in respect of Guidance to Employers. [DWP] (HL3698)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what resources have been allocated within the relevant Government departments to enforce the Guidance to Employers in the Health and Safety Executive’s document Driving to Work; and what action they are taking to ensure that the Guidance is acted upon. [DWP] (HL3699)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in the negotiations on the issue whether the Irish government should pay the full cost of maintaining lighthouses and other navigational aids in Irish territorial waters. [DfT] (HL3700)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom and European Union hauliers have been convicted in the last year of using two-axle tractor units to haul 44 tonne loads; how many fines in respect of such convictions have not been paid; and how many companies have had their operating licences withdrawn because of such convictions. [DfT] (HL3701)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom and European Union hauliers have been fined on the spot or had their vehicles impounded for exceeding the 41 tonne limit on gross vehicle weight using two-axle tractor units. [DfT] (HL3702)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 5th July (WA 57) concerning the Eire government’s Official Languages Act 2003, whether they became aware of the existence of the Act on 29th May 2003; why they did not consult the Ulster Scots Agency; and why they only took action concerning the Act on 19th March. [NIO] (HL3703)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any of the Cross Border Implementation Bodies will be ceasing policies and areas of activity due to a lack of funding as a result of the 2004 budgets; and, if so, which bodies. [NIO] (HL3704)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funds those Cross Border Implementation Bodies, which have ceased areas of activity due to lack of funding in 2004, sought for 2004; and what funds they were granted. [NIO] (HL3705)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether an audit has been undertaken on the number of accredited recreational facilities on the River Thames and the funding committed to their maintenance and upkeep in each year since 2000. [DCMS] (HL3706)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what level of funding is required to bring leisure facilities on the River Thames up to the standard required to meet health and safety regulations. [DCMS] (HL3707)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their best estimate of the net financial contribution to the economy of leisure activity on the River Thames. [DCMS] (HL3708)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the United Kingdom’s waterways are currently classified as being in a “poor” condition; how much money is required to bring them up to modern standards; and what steps they are taking in this regard. [DCMS] (HL3709)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase participation in sport and recreation on the rivers and waterways of the United Kingdom. [DCMS] (HL3710)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the initial budget for the mapping required to implement the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and what is the latest estimate of the costs of such mapping. [DEFRA] (HL3711)
The Lord Jopling—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 6th July (WA 71), how many Questions for Written Answer have so far been allocated to the Northern Ireland Office this session to date; how many have not been answered within two weeks; and what percentage that constitutes. [LHoL] (HL3712)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), how many of the seized imports—
(a) were declared for export in the country of origin;
(b) were brought in through ports;
(c) were brought in through airports;
(d) were seized in consignment loads;
(e) were seized individually; and
(f) were seized from persons known to have imported endangered species previously. [DEFRA] (HL3713)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), what estimate they make of the proportion of the 411 seizures of imports of endangered species which were (a) destined for individual collections; and (b) to be sold on through pet shop outlets. [DEFRA] (HL3714)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), of the 15 seizures made of plant imports, how many were brought in for personal use; and how many for commercial purposes. [DEFRA] (HL3715)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 5th July (WA 68), whether the 2,044 plant items seized were tested for disease; and how they were disposed of. [DEFRA] (HL3716)
8th July
The Lord Kilclooney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the draft Ards and Down Area Plan was published; when a decision was made to hold a public inquiry; when the public inquiry will commence; and when it is expected to report. [NIO] (HL3717)
The Lord Kilclooney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to control developments which would be in conflict with the draft Ards and Down Area Plan. [NIO] (HL3718)
The Lord Kilclooney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many planning applications in Armagh City were determined in each of the past six months; and whether resources are available in the Planning Service to process these applications. [NIO] (HL3719)
The Lord Jopling—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 30th March (WA 147), how many doctors, nurses, ambulance staff, scientists and others have been vaccinated for smallpox so as to enable them to deal with a terrorist attack; and how many of them have suffered side effects from their vaccination. [DoH] (HL3720)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many visitors to public libraries and how many book loans there were in the year 2003-04; and whether these figures represent an increase on the figures for 2002-03. [DCMS] (HL3721)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the speed and efficiency of the collection and publication of statistics on the number of visitors to public libraries and the number of book loans. [DCMS] (HL3722)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost to a public library per visit for each of the past seven years, given their best value indicator. [DCMS] (HL3723)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which councils’ budgetary provisions for public library services have been equal to or below retail price index inflation, itemising percentage changes for the last two years; and whether library services provided by these councils represent value for money. [DCMS] (HL3724)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the levels of spending on new bookstock in public libraries in each of the following areas—
(c) Newcastle-Upon-Tyne; and
and whether they are satisfied with these spending levels. [DCMS] (HL3725)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the introduction of computer terminals has increased the number of visitors to public libraries and the numbers of books borrowed. [DCMS] (HL3726)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they are giving to British nationals regarding the purchase and consumption of alcohol according to current interpretation of Islamic law in (a) Afghanistan; (b) Iraq; and (c) Saudi Arabia. [FCO] (HL3727)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made with the disarmament of local or provisional militia in Afghanistan; and to what extent they are being absorbed into the National Army to make up for slow recruitment and defections. [MoD] (HL3728)
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the powers of the European Parliament under (a) the co-decision procedure; (b) other European Union procedures; and (c) in respect of the other European Union institutions. [FCO] (HL3729)
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which areas are subject to the co-decision procedure under (a) the Treaty of Nice; and (b) the proposed European Union Constitution. [FCO] (HL3730)
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the arrangements for qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers under (a) the Treaty of Nice; and (b) the proposed European Union Constitution; and when the arrangements under the Treaty of Nice will come into force. [FCO] (HL3731)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7th July (WA 79), on what dates discussions took place between officials of the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Ulster Scots Agency concerning the Agency’s budget; who attended those discussions; and whether minutes were taken. [NIO] (HL3732)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7th July (WA 80), whether the North South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat staff are permitted to comment on grants issued by the Ulster Scots Agency. [NIO] (HL3733)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each department of the Northern Ireland civil service, what was the average number of days lost through illness per civil servant in each year from 2000. [NIO] (HL3734)
The Lord Blaker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures have been taken against Zimbabwe under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in connection with corruption, the rule of law and human rights. [FCO] (HL3735)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many digital hearing aids have been distributed nationwide from National Health Service hearing aids services since the digital scheme was announced in February 2003. [DoH] (HL3736)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current cost to the National Health Service of each type of digital hearing aid purchased by National Health Service hearing aids services digital scheme. [DoH] (HL3737)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated number of National Health Service patients with hearing loss who would benefit from a switch from analogue to digital hearing aids; and what percentage of these have been supplied and fitted so far. [DoH] (HL3738)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remark by the Lord Ashley of Stoke on 13th February 2003 (HL Deb, col. 813), whether every National Health Service patient with hearing loss who would benefit from a switch to a digital hearing aids will be given the opportunity to switch to a digital instrument within the two year roll-out of the digital scheme. [DoH] (HL3739)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent private sector technicians have been involved in the digital hearing aid scheme so far; and what National Health Service evaluation has been made for the continuance of such a partnership with the private sector, once the roll-out period is completed. [DoH] (HL3740)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the money ring-fenced for the digital hearing aid scheme roll-out will continue to be available for the supplying and fitting of digital hearing aids to National Health Service patients once the roll-out period is complete. [DoH] (HL3741)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether breaches of the ceasefire in the Shilluk area of the Upper Nile, by parties including the government of Sudan, have now ceased; and whether access to this area has been restored for humanitarian agencies and supplies. [FCO] (HL3742)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent there has been compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution of 11th June about the Sudan; and in particular whether the African Union Ceasefire and Disengagement Monitors are in position and equipped with adequate transport and communications. [FCO] (HL3743)
The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to encourage the public to give practical support to the United Nations International Decade for the Culture of Peace and the United Nations International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World, bearing in mind that both have been endorsed by the United Kingdom. [FCO] (HL3744)
The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider establishing a Ministry for Peace in order to give effect to the United Nations International Decade for a Culture of Peace. [CO] (HL3745)
The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ministry of Defence has embarked on a 30-year analysis of security for this country focusing on the seven dimensions of the security environment: physical, socio-cultural, political, scientific and technical, economic, military, legal and moral and ethical. [MoD] (HL3746)
The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider widening the scope of the Department for International Development to include the work of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool. [DfID] (HL3747)
The Lord Ahmed—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom would benefit from a ministry in government to deal with conflict resolution. [CO] (HL3748)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to measure the effects of the campaign on alcohol crime hotspots announced by the Home Office on 8th July; and whether they will publish statistics showing the number of offences of violence against the person, ambulance callouts and attendances at accident and emergency departments arising from incidents occurring on or in the vicinity of licensed premises in the 77 areas concerned, during the 8-week period chosen for the campaign, and for the same period in 2003. [HO] (HL3749)
The Lord Simon of Glaisdale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government who are the present occupants of the “new” (1856) wing of Somerset House, which is one of the proposed sites for a Supreme Court. [DCA] (HL3750)
The Lord Simon of Glaisdale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government where it is proposed that the current occupants of the “new” (1856) wing of Somerset House will move to if it becomes the location of a new Supreme Court; and what will be the cost of such a move. [DCA] (HL3751)
The Lord Simon of Glaisdale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what would be the cost of adapting the “new” (1856) wing of Somerset House for the purposes of a Supreme Court. [DCA] (HL3752)
The Lord Simon of Glaisdale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what catering facilities will be included for—
in a Supreme Court if it is located in Somerset House. [DCA] (HL3753)
The Lord Simon of Glaisdale—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what library facilities would be provided in a Supreme Court if it is located in Somerset House; and at what cost. [DCA] (HL3754)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish in the Official Report their response to the European Court of Justice on the case against the Food Supplements Directive and the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 brought by the Health Food Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Health Stores; and whether that response will indicate the possible effects on the specialist health food manufacturing and retailing sector, and its consumers. [DoH] (HL3755)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their aims in responding to the European Court of Justice in the case against the Food Supplements Directive and the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 brought by the Health Food Manufacturers Association and the National Association of Health Stores. [DoH] (HL3756)
12th July
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept the recommendation by the Statistics Commission in its Annual Report 2003-04 (Cm 6250) that legislation is needed to strengthen the public trust in official statistics. [HMT] (HL3757)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept the findings by the Statistics Commission contained in its Annual Report 2003-04 (Cm 6250) of breaches by Government departments of the Code of Practice; and, if not, which findings they do not accept and for what reasons. [HMT] (HL3758)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that there is (a) public consultation about, and (b) pre-legislative scrutiny of, their proposal to introduce legislation banning incitement to religious hatred. [HO] (HL3759)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend the proposed legislation banning incitement to religious hatred to include only traditional religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam. [HO] (HL3760)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend the proposed legislation banning incitement to religious hatred to extend to secular commentators or satirists who express disdain for all religious worship using language that causes offence to believers in religious worship. [HO] (HL3761)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proposed legislation banning incitement to religious hatred will permit a novelist to be prosecuted in circumstances similar to those which arose in Mr Salman Rushdie’s case for writing The Satanic Verses. [HO] (HL3762)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what meetings the Joint Secretaries of the North South Ministerial Council or their representatives have had together with non-civil service or implementation body groups since 1st January 2003; with which groups; on what date; and for what purpose. [NIO] (HL3763)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the exact role of the Joint Secretaries of the North South Ministerial Council. [NIO] (HL3764)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether city academies which take over inner city secondary schools are subject to transfer of undertakings protection of employment rules in relation to staff employment. [DfES] (HL3765)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which city academies’ establishments have been agreed to date; and what is the respective contributions to their cost, including land values, from (a) sponsors; and (b) the public sector. [DfES] (HL3766)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether “ownership” of a city academy by a sponsor implies ownership of the land, buildings and other assets; and, if so, whether sponsors will retain ownership and development rights on the assets in the event of the subsequent failure of the academy. [DfES] (HL3767)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what qualifications are sought from sponsors of city academies to ensure that they are qualified to set the terms and conditions for the employment of teachers. [DfES] (HL3768)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that the sponsors of city academies serve the best interests of the pupils, bearing in mind the role and influence of sponsors in these academies. [DfES] (HL3769)
The Baroness Noakes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 1st July (WS 17-20) in relation to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, what form the financial objectives for the realisations account of the proposed trading fund will take. [DTI] (HL3770)
The Baroness Noakes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 1st July (WS 17-20) in relation to the Export Credits Guarantee Department, in what sense the target rate of return for the new business account will be “affordable”. [DTI] (HL3771)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Government departments will adopt the Home Office policy that alcohol should not be provided from public funds for staff at official events held during normal working hours, but without the exception for senior management celebrating success and achievement. [CO] (HL3772)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the cost to date of contesting diagnoses and entitlement claims of Gulf War veterans by the Ministry of Defence; and in how many cases the Ministry was successful. [MoD] (HL3773)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the cost to date of contesting diagnoses and entitlement claims of Gulf War veterans by the War Pensions Agency; and in how many cases the Agency was successful. [MoD] (HL3774)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the cost to date to the Ministry of Defence of making representations to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal when Gulf War veterans’ claims have been contested; and in how many cases the Ministry was successful. [MoD] (HL3775)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated cost to the taxpayer of the 50 Gulf War veterans’ cases waiting consideration by the War Pensions Agency and the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. [MoD] (HL3776)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an estimate of the cost of additional support for sick Gulf War veterans and their families since the first reports of ill health were received; and, if so, whether the amount exceeds that incurred by the Ministry of Defence and the War Pensions Agency in defending claims of ill health at Tribunals and in the Courts. [MoD] (HL3777)
The Lord Chadlington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have received medical treatment abroad following a referral from their local primary care trust. [DoH] (HL3778)
The Lord Chadlington—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to promote cricket as a sport for girls. [DfES] (HL3779)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how and where they dispose of hazardous waste resulting from their own operations, in particular waste originating from Ministry of Defence operations. [DTI] (HL3780)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether disposal of hazardous waste resulting from their own operations, particularly Ministry of Defence operations, will change from 16th July . [MoD] (HL3781)
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have examined the possibility of disposing of hazardous waste from public bodies by using their own land to create one or more hazardous waste sites. [DEFRA] (HL3782)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 30th June (WA 22), why cameras have not been installed at the site of the A23 fatal accident in May 2004 where eight people were killed. [DfT] (HL3783)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether increases in land values, such as the estimated £2.8 billion rise at Canada Wharf and Southwark tube stations resulting from the construction of the Jubilee Line, should be captured to help fund new lines such as the East London Line and Crossrail. [DfT] (HL3784)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the estimated cost and length of new dual carriageway required for the two options for improving the A303 between Ilminster and Exeter that are being considered by the Department for Transport. [DfT] (HL3785)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 5th July (WA 66), whether they have instructed the Audit Commission to identify accumulated surpluses within local government building control departments; what any overspend identified will be used for; and how they will ensure compliance by local authorities in the future. [ODPM] (HL3786)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many planning applications affecting playing fields have been referred to Sport England under its statutory consultee status for each year since 1997. [DCMS] (HL3787)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many planning applications affecting playing fields have been referred to the Deputy Prime Minister under the Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998, detailing the Deputy Prime Minister’s decision in each case. [ODPM] (HL3788)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications in each year since 1998 have been made by schools for permission to change the use of school playing fields and team game playing fields, detailing the decision in each case. [DfES] (HL3789)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications for an easement in the minimum requirement for playing fields have been made by schools for each year since 1998, detailing the decision in each case. [DfES] (HL3790)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote the collaboration of school sport associations and national governing bodies of sport for the best interest of sport. [DCMS] (HL3791)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what level of financial support towards the costs of bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012 has been raised from the private sector, either in cash or value-in-kind. [DCMS] (HL3792)
The Lord Taylor of Warwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to increase paid parental leave. [DWP] (HL3793)
The Lord Taylor of Warwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of families are given their first choice of primary school for their children. [DfES] (HL3794)
The Lord Taylor of Warwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to convert all measurements into the metric system. [HMT] (HL3795)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there has been a decline in Japanese studies in United Kingdom universities; if so, what steps they are taking to reverse the decline; and what funding is being made available for that purpose. [DfES] (HL3796)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the number of applications for Japanese and Chinese studies has declined or risen in each of the past three years. [DfES] (HL3797)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they collect statistics on the offer levels and grades required for entry to Japanese and Chinese studies courses at United Kingdom universities; and, if so, what was the average entry requirement in 2003. [DfES] (HL3798)
The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28th June (WA 6), and in light of the finding of the systematic review of water fluoridation in 2000 by the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York that few safety studies of even moderate quality could be found (Level B, Appendix D), on what basis “further reassurance of the safety of fluoridated water” can be provided by a study which did not address itself to safety. [DoH] (HL3799)
[As amended on 13th July]
The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28th June (WA 6), what are the population studies on which they base the statement that “No health effects, other than enhanced resistance to tooth decay, have been detected in residents in this naturally fluoridated area”. [DoH] (HL3800)
The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28th June (WA 6), how they reconcile the finding of the School of Dental Sciences of the University of Newcastle with their statement that “no evidence” has been found for any differences between the absorption of artificially and naturally fluoridated water. [DoH] (HL3801)
13th July
The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 28th June (WA 6), whether, in claiming “no evidence of any differences” in the bioavailability study on fluoride recently conducted at the Newcastle School of Dental Studies, they have taken note of the authors’ warning in section 6 of their report that “some caution is necessary when interpreting the results” because of “the small number of subjects”, and of their comments in section 7 on the benefits of further research on this topic. (HL3802)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the judgement in the case of R (on the application of B) v. London Borough of Merton [2003], they will revise the Immigration and Nationality Department’s Operational Enforcement Manual to make it clear that where an applicant claims to be a minor, the decision maker cannot determine age solely on the basis of the applicant’s appearance, but must seek to elicit the general background of the applicant, including family circumstances, educational background and activities during the previous few years. (HL3803)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they have received, and from what authorities, on the scientific basis of age determination of teenagers; and what are the margins of error of the methods used by the Immigration and Nationality Department. (HL3804)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the methodology used by Cambridgeshire Social Services in providing age estimates of persons detained at Oakington; what is the average length of time taken to provide these estimates; and why the Immigration and Nationality Department refuse to accept medical evidence provided by a consultant paediatrician. (HL3805)
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when work will commence on the improvements to the A27 at Beddingham. (HL3806)
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to bring forward proposals for a bypass to Selmeston on the A27. (HL3807)
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to bring forward proposals for a bypass to Lancing and Worthing on the A27. (HL3808)
The Lord Baker of Dorking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to bring forward proposals for a bypass at Arundel on the A27. (HL3809)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress there has been in countering the spread of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus-related conditions among patients in National Health Service hospitals; and what consideration has been given to compensating patients who have been infected and dependants of those who have died. (HL3810)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current estimate of the number of British troops who could have been exposed to fall-out from the destruction by United States forces of the stockpile of Iraqi chemical weapons at Khamisyah in Southern Iraq in March 1991; and how this compares with previous estimates given to Parliament. (HL3811)
The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the Measuring Instruments (EEC Requirements) (Fees) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1300), what checks will be made of the accuracy of the estimate made by the Secretary of State of the time required for equipment testing. (HL3812)
The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the provisions contained in paragraph 19(11) and (12) of the Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm Order (S.I. 2004/933) will also apply to the Lynn (S.I. 2003/2829), Norfolk (S.I. 2003/2830) and Inner Dowsing (S.I. 2003/2831) Wind Farm Orders. (HL3813)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to send blood samples from National Health Service patients to India for testing; and, if so, which blood tests will be carried out there. (HL3814)
The Baroness Masham of Ilton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are sufficient facilities and resources within the United Kingdom to carry out blood tests for all National Health Service patients. (HL3815)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what tasks HMS Endurance has undertaken on recent deployments; what is her current status; when her next deployment will begin; and what this will involve. (HL3816)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th July (WA 118) concerning the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, why the only Loyal Order parade listed in the annual events listing brochure for 2004, issued by the Board, was the Maiden City Festival. (HL3817)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th July (WA 118) concerning the North South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh, whether meetings were held with the Ulster Political Research Group, which included both Joint Secretaries; if so, when these meetings were held; where they were held; and for what purpose. (HL3818)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th July (WA 116) concerning school funding in Northern Ireland, how many primary and secondary schools seeking funding have been turned down since 1990 because they did not meet the relevant intake criteria; how many were granted funding without meeting the relevant intake criteria; and, in each case, which schools were involved. (HL3819)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 22nd June (WA 113), whether there was agreement between the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Ulster Scots Agency on the 2004 budget. (HL3820)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 12th July (WA 118-119) concerning the North South Ministerial Council Secretariat in Armagh, what are the “other wider functions” of the staff; when they have undertaken those functions; and under what instructions. (HL3821)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 24th June (WA 151), what was the sum paid in compensation by the Ministry of Defence to Environmental Tectonics Corporation. (HL3822)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any usable part of the Royal Air Force centrifuge was delivered by Environmental Tectonics Corporation before the termination of its contract; and, if so, what is its value to the Royal Air Force. (HL3823)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much, by way of stage payments in respect of work in progress, was paid by the Ministry of Defence in respect of the Royal Air Force centrifuge to Environmental Tectonics Corporation. (HL3824)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they are intending to provide to the public about the cost of the options for the six counties in the North of England where it is proposed to introduce new local government structures as part of the referendum process. (HL3825)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide information about (a) the ongoing costs, and (b) the transitional costs, including service costs, for each of the options for the local government structures proposed by the Boundary Commission in its report of May 2004. (HL3826)
The Lord Bradshaw—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from professional bodies about the size of local authority necessary to sustain efficient and effective local government as a result of the structural review carried out by the Boundary Commission; and to what extent the size depends on effective joint working between local authorities. (HL3827)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to fulfil the Labour Party 2001 manifesto commitment to provide “a sports entitlement for all children, giving them access to at least two hours a week of sport in or after school” given that the latest Public Service Agreement target is for only 85 per cent of children by 2008. (HL3828)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will define “priority groups”, “active sports” and “moderate intensity level sport” as targeted by the 2005-08 Public Service Agreement for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (HL3829)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of adults and young people aged 16 and above from priority groups currently participate in active sports at least twelve times a year as targeted by the 2005-08 Public Service Agreement for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (HL3830)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of adults and young people aged 16 and above from priority groups currently engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity level sport at least three times a week as targeted by the 2005-08 Public Service Agreement for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (HL3831)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current year-on-year rise in obesity among children under 11 projected by the 2005-08 Public Service Agreement for the Department of Health. (HL3832)
The Lord Moynihan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement by UK Sport on 13th July that it is investing £800,000 in British Olympic Association pre-Games Preparation Camps, how much money is being invested in pre-Games Preparation Camps for the British Paralympic Association. (HL3833)
BILLS IN PROGRESS
[The date in square brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]
Waiting for Second Reading
Highways (Obstruction by Body Corporate) [16th July]
Life Peerages (Residency for Taxation Purposes) [HL]
Christmas Day (Trading) [16th July]
Constitution for Europe (Referendum) [HL]
Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 (Amendment) [HL]
Medway Council [20th July]
Waiting for Commitment
Committed to a Select Committee
Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill [HL]
Committed to a Grand Committee
Committed to a Committee of the Whole House
Tobacco Smoking (Public Places and Workplaces) [HL]
Sustainable and Secure Buildings [16th July]
Recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House
Constitutional Reform [HL] [14th July]
Waiting for Report
Wild Mammals (Protection) (Amendment) [HL]
Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery [19th July]
Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation)
Waiting for Third Reading
Children [HL] [15th July]
Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) [HL]
Employment Relations [8th September]
Carers (Equal Opportunities) [19th July]
Fire and Rescue Services [20th July]
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]
Health Protection Agency [HL]
Smoking in Public Places (Wales) [HL]
Public Audit (Wales) [HL]
Civil Service (No. 2) [HL] (formerly Executive Powers and Civil Service [HL])
University of Wales, Cardiff [HL]
Returned to the Commons with amendments
Waiting for consideration of Commons amendments
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.)
Waiting for Royal Assent
Scottish Parliament (Constituencies)
Statute Law (Repeals) [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 Student Fees (Approved Plans) (England) Regulations 2004
Draft Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (Maximum Penalty) Order 2004
Referred to the Northern Ireland Orders Grand Committee
Draft Budget (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 [20th July]
Draft Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 [20th July]
Draft Criminal Justice (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 [20th July]
Draft Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 [20th July]
Draft Vehicle Testing (Temporary Exemptions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 [20th July]
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Designation of Public Authorities) Order 2004 [21st July]
Draft Contracting Out (Functions Relating to Broadcast Advertising) and Specification of Relevant Functions Order 2004 [16th July]
Draft Solicitors (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 [21st July]
Draft Community Radio Order 2004 [16th July]
Draft Extradition Act 2003 (Repeals) Order 2004 [16th July]
Draft Extradition Act 2003 (Amendment to Designations) Order 2004 [16th July]
Draft Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums Order 2004 [*14th Report] [22nd July]
Draft Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Expenses Limits for Permitted Participants) Order 2004 [22nd July]
Draft Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Counting Officers’ Charges) Order 2004 [22nd July]
Draft Student Fees (Amounts) (England) Regulations 2004 [15th July]
Draft Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) (No. 2) Order 2004
Draft Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2004
Draft Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (North East Region) Order 2004 [*15th Report] [22nd July]
Draft Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (North West Region) Order 2004 [*15th Report] [22nd July]
Draft Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Date of Referendums, Referendum Question and Explanatory Material) (Yorkshire and the Humber Region) Order 2004 [*15th Report] [22nd July]
HYBRID INSTRUMENTS IN PROGRESS
Waiting for consideration by the Hybrid Instruments Committee
West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (Area and Constitution) Order 2004
REGULATORY REFORM ORDERS IN PROGRESS
Proposals referred to the Regulatory Reform Committee for first-stage scrutiny
Draft Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2004
Draft Regulatory Reform (Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971) (Directory Entries and Demands for Payment) Order 2004
Reported following first-stage scrutiny by the Regulatory Reform Committee
Draft Regulatory Reform (National Health Service Charitable Trust Accounts and Audit) Order 2004 [11th Report]
Draft Regulatory Reform (Trading Stamps) Order 2004 [24th Report]
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft Regulatory Reform (Local Commissioner for Wales) Order 2004 [24th Report]
COMMITTEES
[Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms
in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheets]
WEDNESDAY 14TH JULY
| Draft Charities Bill (Joint Committee) | 9.00 am |
| Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform | 10.30 am |
| (Select Committee) |
| European Union (Sub-Committee D) | 10.30 am |
| Hybrid Instruments (Select Committee) | 10.30 am |
| in Committee Room G |
| European Union (Sub-Committee G) | 3.30 pm |
| Constitution Committee | 4.00 pm |
| European Union (Sub-Committee E) | 4.15 pm |
| Human Rights (Joint Committee) | 4.15 pm |
| Refreshment Committee | 4.15 pm |
THURSDAY 15TH JULY
| Draft Gambling Bill (Joint Committee) | 9.30 am |
MONDAY 19TH JULY
| European Union (Sub-Committee B) | 4.00 pm |
TUESDAY 20TH JULY
| European Union (Sub-Committee A) | 10.30 am |
| Merits of Statutory Instruments | 4.00 pm |
| (Select Committee) | |
| European Union (Select Committee) | 4.15 pm |
| Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee) | 4.15 pm |
| House Committee | 4.15 pm |
WEDNESDAY 21ST JULY
| European Union (Sub-Committee F) | 10.30 am |
| Science and Technology (Sub-Committee II) | 3.00 pm |
| (Energy Efficiency) | in Room 134, Millbank House |
THURSDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
| European Union (Sub-Committee C) | 10.30 am |
| Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Bill [HL] | 10.30 am |
| (Select Committee) |
TUESDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
| Economic Affairs (Select Committee) | 4.00 pm |
FRIDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER
| Science and Technology (Select Committee) | in Ipswich |
| 
