NOTICES AND ORDERS OF THE DAY
Items marked † are new or have been altered.Items expected to be taken during an adjournment are marked # (lunch) or ‡ (dinner).
FRIDAY 14TH JULY
At eleven o’clock
The Lord Wakeham—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Economic Affairs Committee on the Economics of Climate Change (2nd Report, HL Paper 12).
Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill [HL]—Second Reading [The Lord Ashley of Stoke]
Scotland (Petitions for a Referendum on Independence) Bill [HL]—Second Reading [The Earl of Mar and Kellie]
MONDAY 17TH JULY
*The Baroness Whitaker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the recent White Paper on international development addresses the main problems of developing countries.
*The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the implications for Her Majesty’s armed forces deployed in Basra of the recent declaration of a state of emergency in that province by the government of Iraq.
*The Lord Taylor of Holbeach—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ease pressures on public services and to assist local authorities in areas where migrant workers are concentrated.
*The Lord Jenkin of Roding—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the future of British Nuclear Fuels Limited and its subsidiary companies.
[The Lord Drayson intends to move the following two motions en bloc: but if any Lord objects the motions must be moved separately]
Pensions Appeal Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) (Rights of Appeal) Amendment Regulations 2006—The Lord Drayson to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 5th June be approved. [29th Report from the Joint Committee] [Considered in Grand Committee on 4th July]
Pensions Appeal Tribunals (Additional Rights of Appeal) (Amendment) Regulations 2006—The Lord Drayson to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 5th June be approved. [29th Report from the Joint Committee] [Considered in Grand Committee on 4th July]
Procedure of the House—The Chairman of the Committees to move, That the 5th Report from the Select Committee be agreed to.
International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Bill—Committee [The Baroness Whitaker]
Piped Music and Showing of Television Programmes Bill [HL]—Third Reading [The Lord Beaumont of Whitley]
Commons Bill [HL]—Consideration of Commons Amendments [The Lord Rooker]
Consolidated Fund (Appropriation) (No. 3) Bill—Second Reading (and remaining stages) [The Lord McKenzie of Luton]
Finance (No. 2) Bill—Second Reading (and remaining stages) [The Lord McKenzie of Luton]
The Lord Wakeham—To move, That this House takes note of the Report of the Economic Affairs Committee on the Finance Bill 2006 (6th Report, HL Paper 204).
[It is expected that the Second Reading of the Finance (No. 2) Bill and the motion in the name of the Lord Wakeham will be debated together]
Constitutional Reform (Prerogative Powers and Civil Service etc.) Bill [HL]—Report [The Lord Lester of Herne Hill]
The Baroness Blood—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to develop more integrated schools in Northern Ireland and to encourage the transformation of existing schools to integrated schools.
TUESDAY 18TH JULY
The Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
and
The Lord Bradley
*The Baroness Gardner of Parkes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce legislation to protect privacy in response to the growth of pervasive computing.
*The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the advantages and disadvantages of harmonising the rates of road fuel tax and duty between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
*The Lord Lee of Trafford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made towards the appointment of a new Chairman for Visit Britain.
National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2006—The Lord Sainsbury of Turville to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 5th June be approved. [30th Report from the Joint Committee] [Considered in Grand Committee on 4th July]
Housing Corporation (Delegation) etc. Bill—Third Reading [The Baroness Andrews]
Education and Inspections Bill—House to be again in Committee [The Lord Adonis] [23rd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
‡The Lord Campbell of Alloway—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements have been made to enable the refuelling at military airfields of civilian aircraft with passengers destined for extraordinary rendition.
In the Moses Room
At 3.30 pm
Criminal Defence Service (Representation Orders and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Baroness Ashton of Upholland] [31st Report from the Joint Committee and 40th Report from the Merits Committee]
Criminal Defence Service (Financial Eligibility) Regulations 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Baroness Ashton of Upholland] [31st Report from the Joint Committee and 40th Report from the Merits Committee]
Criminal Defence Service (Representation Orders: Appeals etc.) Regulations 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Baroness Ashton of Upholland] [31st Report from the Joint Committee and 40th Report from the Merits Committee]
Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Baroness Ashton of Upholland] [30th Report from the Joint Committee and 39th Report from the Merits Committee]
Regulatory Reform (Registered Designs) Order 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Sainsbury of Turville] [23rd Report from the Regulatory Reform Committee]
Adoption and Children Act 2002 (Consequential Amendment to Statutory Adoption Pay) Order 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Sainsbury of Turville] [32nd Report from the Joint Committee]
Maternity and Parental Leave etc. and the Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Sainsbury of Turville] [32nd Report from the Joint Committee]
Television Licensable Content Services Order 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Davies of Oldham] [31st Report from the Joint Committee]
Radio Multiplex Services (Required Percentage of Digital Capacity) Order 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Davies of Oldham] [31st Report from the Joint Committee]
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord McKenzie of Luton] [32nd Report from the Joint Committee]
WEDNESDAY 19TH JULY
[At three o’clock]
[Prayers will have been read]
*The Lord Judd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking at the Council of Europe and elsewhere to ensure that all rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on human rights abuses in Chechnya are fully implemented by the government of the Russian Federation.
*The Baroness Northover—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Attorney General has responded to the St Pancras Coroner’s request to consider whether cases might be brought in the United Kingdom regarding the deaths of Tom Hurndall and James Miller.
*The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will issue guidance to courts sentencing parents with direct responsibility for the care of children, so as to delay the commencement of custodial sentences until proper arrangements have been made for continuity of care.
†Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill—Third Reading [The Lord Rooker]
Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill—House to be again in Committee [The Lord Bassam of Brighton] [20th Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
THURSDAY 20TH JULY
[At eleven o’clock]
The Lord James of Blackheath
and
The Lord Rowe-Beddoe
*The Baroness Cox—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of Azerbaijan about the reported destruction of ancient Armenian monuments of cultural importance by Azeri troops in Nakhitchevan.
*The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to develop and increase funding for the Dance and Drama Awards scheme.
†*The Lord Trefgarne—To ask the Leader of the House whether Members of the House may table Questions to the Lord Speaker on those matters which lie within the Lord Speaker’s responsibilities.
#The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to provide support for the families of children with autism.
[It is expected that the Committee stage of the Education and Inspections Bill will conclude]
MONDAY 24TH JULY
The Lord Browne of Belmont
and
The Lord Bilimoria
*The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect on the United Kingdom economy if the price of oil remains at its current level.
*The Lord Campbell of Alloway—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the estimated cost and date for completion of the new supreme court.
*The Lord Blaker—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current state of discussions with the government of Iran about its nuclear intentions.
*The Lord Sheldon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase funding for the acquisition of works of art by both the public and private sectors.
Parliamentary Costs Bill [HL]—Committee (on re-commitment) [The Lord Falconer of Thoroton] (Consolidation)
[It is expected that the following three bills will be taken together]
National Health Service Bill [HL]—Committee (on re-commitment) [The Lord Falconer of Thoroton] (Consolidation)
National Health Service (Wales) Bill [HL]—Committee (on re-commitment) [The Lord Falconer of Thoroton] (Consolidation)
National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Bill [HL]—Committee (on re-commitment) [The Lord Falconer of Thoroton]
Armed Forces Bill—Committee [The Lord Drayson] [23rd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]
‡The Lord Dykes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of current developments in the euro-zone economy.
TUESDAY 25TH JULY
[At eleven o’clock]
The Baroness Butler-Sloss
and
The Lord Harries of Pentregarth
*The Lord Ashley of Stoke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average waiting time for audiology services in National Health Service hospitals.
*The Baroness Rendell of Babergh—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the impact of the reduction in staff at the African Clinic at the Central Middlesex Hospital, responsible for gynaecological and antenatal treatment of patients with female genital mutilation.
*The Lord Clark of Windermere—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what responses they have received to the Department for Transport’s consultation on the new Cross Country rail franchise.
NO DAY NAMED
PART I
The Baroness Northover—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what further aid they are providing to assist the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
The Lord Northbourne—To call attention to the causes of family dysfunction and breakdown and to their cost to the nation; and to move for papers.
The Lord Northbourne—To call attention to the role and responsibilities of fathers; and to move for papers.
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, (Session 2003-04, HL Paper 69) 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 Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their proposals for increasing charges for general aviation.
The Lord Willoughby de Broke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider continuing United Kingdom membership of the European Union to be in the national interest.
The Baroness Hooper—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what developments they envisage in policies on education and cultural heritage for the Overseas Territories.
The Baroness Cox—To call attention to the security, humanitarian and human rights situation in North Korea; and to move for papers.
The Lord Norton of Louth—To call attention to the case for establishing a fixed date for Easter; and to move for papers.
The Lord Hoyle—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to persuade the owners of sports stadiums to make those stadiums non-smoking areas.
The Baroness Noakes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the administration and management of H M Revenue and Customs are satisfactory.
The Baroness Noakes—To call attention to the use of mixed sex wards in the National Health Service; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Shephard of Northwold—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the production of bio-fuels in the United Kingdom.
The Lord Luke—To call attention to the role of speed cameras and the number of traffic police; and to move for papers.
The Viscount Bridgeman—To call attention to the problem of hospital acquired infection; and to move for papers.
The Lord Blaker—To call attention to the situation in Zimbabwe; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Hooper—To call attention to the situation in Paraguay; and to move for papers.
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to honour their commitment that family carers of people with lifelong severe intellectual impairment should be at the heart of decision-making about their relatives’ accommodation, health care and support.
The Lord Dholakia—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will bring forward legislation to reform the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of Botswana about its treatment of the bushmen of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
The Baroness Northover—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to combat AIDS across the world and its effect on children.
The Lord Dubs—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will now introduce legislation to grant pardons to the troops in the British Armed Forces who were shot for alleged cowardice and desertion during the First World War.
Renewable Energy Zone (Designation of Area) (Scottish Ministers) Order 2005—The Duke of Montrose to move to resolve, That this House calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to revoke the Order laid before the House on 14th November 2005 (S.I. 2005/3153).
The Lord Hanningfield—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the environmental impacts of a second runway at Stansted airport.
The Lord Northbourne—To call attention to the report of the Commission on Families and the wellbeing of children entitled, Families and the State—Two way support and responsibilities; and to move for papers.
The Lord Lea of Crondall—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they are making towards introducing a national scheme of road pricing.
The Baroness Cox—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the situation in Sudan, with particular reference to Darfur and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme on small pharmaceutical companies.
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the justification for requiring civil justice costs to be recovered in their entirety from those who become suitors before the court.
The Lord Chidgey—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making in response to the situation in the Democratic Republic of Guinea, Conakry, having regard in particular to the impact on emerging democratic institutions in Sierra Leone.
The Baroness Scott of Needham Market—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they are making on housing market renewal pathfinder programmes.
The Lord Taverne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to contribute to the stabilisation of population growth in Africa.
The Baroness Williams of Crosby—To call attention to the reconstruction of Iraq; and to move for papers.
The Lord Giddens—To call attention to the future of the European social model; and to move for papers.
The Lord Dubs—To call attention to the case for affordable housing to accommodate families and those living in overcrowded conditions; and to move for papers.
The Lord Sheldon—To call attention to the case for a Civil Service Act; and to move for papers.
The Lord Lucas—To call attention to the consequences of decriminalised parking regimes; and to move for papers.
The Lord Beaumont of Whitley—To call attention to the disposal of allotment land in England in 2004 and 2005; and to move for papers.
The Lord Foulkes of Cumnock—To call attention to the progress of devolution in Scotland in light of issues raised in the Arbuthnot Report; and to move for papers.
The Lord Smith of Leigh—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to devolve more power to local authorities; and, if so, when they intend to do so.
The Baroness Morris of Yardley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to enhance the role of modern universities.
The Lord Campbell of Alloway—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider amending the Ministerial Code of Guidance to provide for an independent body to advise on non-financial ethical conduct.
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the level of funding and support for the United Kingdom Film and Television Archives.
The Viscount Waverley—To call attention to initiatives for the resolution of global terrorism; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Cumberlege—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy towards midwife-led maternity units.
The Lord Judd—To call attention to the reform of the United Nations; and to move for papers.
The Lord Ramsbotham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce speech and language therapy into young offender institutions and secure training centres.
The Lord Truscott—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made on implementing the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Industrial Strategy.
The Lord Rea—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of possible alternatives to the increasing use of the private sector by the National Health Service.
The Baroness Morgan of Drefelin—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of current cancer genetics services.
The Baroness Hanham—To move, That this House calls on Her Majesty’s Government to withdraw the Home Information Pack Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1503) and to lay before Parliament revised Regulations that will not come into force for any purpose before 1st June 2008 so as to allow for further consultation on the practicality and the likely effects of the proposals.
The Lord Howarth of Newport—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve support for public museums and galleries to enable them to make new acquisitions for their collections.
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have applied the changes proposed in their Statement of Changes in the Immigration Rules retrospectively to those migrant workers who are already in employment in the United Kingdom.
The Lord Trefgarne—To move to resolve, That this House regrets the diminishing capacity of the House of Lords to hold Ministers to account.
The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the outcome of the recent Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Edinburgh.
The Baroness Rendell of Babergh—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether patients whose lifestyle choices endanger their health should be charged for National Health Service treatment.
The Lord Norton of Louth—To call attention to the case for establishing a Royal Commission on the constitution; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Northover—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they are putting forward to promote the peace process in Israel and Palestine.
The Lord Glenarthur—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of their diplomatic and deployment representation in and among the South Pacific island states and of the international bodies which work to support the region.
The Lord Northbrook—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the operation of the tax credits system is satisfactory.
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
[Tabled on 13th July, or unanswered after 14 days]
[The Government department responsible for answering each Question is shown in brackets]
23rd May
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many foreign nationals who have completed their prison sentences are currently being held in immigration detention facilities. [HO] (HL5953)
24th May
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office has responsibilities and powers throughout the United Kingdom; and what arrangements, if any, exist for liaison, consultation or joint decision making with the devolved authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively. [HO] (HL6000)
5th June
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18th May (WA 65), where the information is held indicating on how many occasions since 1997 the Home Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and how members of the public may have access to that information. [HO] (HL6054)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18th May (WA 65), whether the Home Office will in future hold information about the department’s compliance with the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s recommendations in a way which permits public access to that information. [HO] (HL6055)
12th June
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the European Union’s policy of grubbing out vineyards and destroying or reconstituting nearly one billion bottles of wine will have on the growing British winemaking industry. [DEFRA] (HL6275)
15th June
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by the Lord Triesman on 6th June (HL Deb, col. 1131) “that there has been a certain ebb and flow between decisions taken in the legal fora of Europe and those taken here”, which decisions now taken in the legal fora of the United Kingdom were formerly taken in the legal fora of the European Union. [FCO] (HL6395)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what mechanisms they have put in place to ensure that asylum seekers persuaded to leave the United Kingdom by payments of £3,000 do not subsequently return under other identities to claim a further payment. [HO] (HL6396)
16th June
The Lord Jones of Cheltenham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to detain those found guilty of serious violent offences who become eligible for early release, but show no sign of remorse for their previous actions. [HO] (HL6424)
The Baroness Stern—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether medically trained personnel are involved when oxygen is used in the course of restraint of children in secure training centres; and, if so, what level of medical training those personnel have. [DfES] (HL6432)
20th June
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are providing intelligence and cooperating in other ways with the police services in Germany and other European Union and Council of Europe states to prevent the trafficking of people for sexual exploitation during the period of the current World Cup. [HO] (HL6493)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the company Novatech has received any public sector support; if so, what support; when; and whether they will place in the Library of the House documents about such support. [NIO] (HL6511)
21st June
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a United Kingdom ban on imports of wild-caught birds would be compatible with (a) World Trade Organisation law; (b) European Union law; and (c) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [DEFRA] (HL6523)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to commemorate the military personnel and police who died in (a) the 1916 Easter rebellion in Ireland; (b) the 1919-21 war of independence in Ireland; and (c) the 1921-22 civil disturbances in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL6541)
22nd June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the current Police Service of Northern Ireland advice is that the security barriers at lower Chichester Street in Belfast continue to be required; and whether they are required by the Northern Ireland Office as a permanent installation to provide a secure area around the courts complex. [NIO] (HL6551)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they propose to apply Part 3 of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages in respect of Ulster Scots. [NIO] (HL6553)
The Lord Hanningfield—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much water in total and per occupant in cubic metres was consumed in the headquarters of the Department for Communities and Local Government since its creation; and previously in the headquarters of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in each year since its creation. [DCLG] (HL6569)
26th June
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have received from the government of Bangladesh about the type of grenades used in the attempted assassination of the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh on 21st May 2004; and what conclusions they have reached about the source of those weapons and about how terrorists acquired them. [FCO] (HL6594)
27th June
The Lord Fearn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many road bridges in North West England have been rebuilt or renewed in each of the years 2003-05. [DfT] (HL6632)
The Lord Fearn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which coastal resorts in England and Wales have received heritage lottery grants in each of the years 2003-05. [DCMS] (HL6634)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have increased or intend to increase the period required before legal migrants into the United Kingdom may settle permanently; if so, what their reasons are for making such a change; and whether any change will have retrospective effect. [HO] (HL6637)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26th June (WA 132), how many prisoners currently serving their sentences have been recommended for deportation by the relevant court. [HO] (HL6638)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many fatalities and serious injuries there have been on the A1 in Northern Ireland between Sprucefield and the border with the Republic of Ireland in the periods (a) 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006; (b) 1st April 2004 to 31st March 2005; and (c) 1996 to 2001. [NIO] (HL6642)
28th June
The Lord Harris of Haringey—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representation there is from the free software movement on the Steering Committee of the Cyber Security Knowledge Transfer Network which is sponsored by the Department for Trade and Industry. [DTI] (HL6648)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Patten recommendations 132, 133, 143, 144, 146, 148 and 149 relating to training, education and development of the Police Service of Northern Ireland have been implemented in full; and, if not, whether this is having any negative impact on policing in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL6658)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland were on duty in the South Armagh area on each day in the week commencing 19th June. [NIO] (HL6660)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been spent on (a) upgrading, and (b) maintaining St Joseph’s High School in Plumbridge, County Tyrone. [NIO] (HL6661)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will enforce the provisions of clause 2(2) of the Health Bill, if enacted, in domestic premises used by two or more sex workers as both their home and their place of work; and which members of the public might attend for the purpose of seeking services. [DoH] (HL6663)
The Lord Ouseley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26th June (WA 131-2), whether any update to the House on the organisational failings of the Home Office will include an answer to the question of what action has been taken against those who have failed to effect lawful deportations of convicted foreign nationals. [HO] (HL6664)
29th June
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they and other member states have increased their contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees since 1st January; and, if so, by how much. [DfID] (HL6680)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the action plan to reduce waiting times for audiology services referred to in Tackling hospital waiting: the 18 week patient pathway. [DoH] (HL6682)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will monitor the possible re-routing of direct access audiology referrals to ear, nose and throat consultants by general practitioners anxious to expedite their patients’ treatment. [DoH] (HL6683)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, given that referrals are subject to waiting time targets for assessments but not for the fitting of digital hearing aids, how they will ensure that audiology services do not prioritise appointments for assessment over appointments for fitting aids. [DoH] (HL6684)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Andrews on 28th June (WA 158) concerning ethnicity, whether they recognise the Ulster Scots community as “a segment of the population distinguished from others by a combination of shared customs, beliefs, traditions and characteristics, derived from a common or presumed common past, sufficient to give them an historically determined social identity in their own eyes and in the eyes of others”. [NIO] (HL6688)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by the Minister of Communities and Local Government, Mr David Milliband, on 22nd June (HC Deb, col. 1452) stating that £12 million is being allocated to organisations such as the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and the Scout Association, how much each organisation is receiving; and over what period of time the money will be allocated. [DEFRA] (HL6692)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what number and percentage of men and women would qualify for the full basic state pension if the number of qualifying years were reduced to (a) 25 years and (b) 20 years in (i) 2010; (ii) 2020; and (iii) 2030; and what would be the gross and net cost of each proposal. [DWP] (HL6694)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many additional men and women would qualify for a national insurance credit by (a) 2010; (b) 2020; and (c) 2030 as carers of more than 20 hours per week for people on—
(ii) lower rates of disability living allowance;
(iii) income support disability premiums;
(iv) any other disability benefit; and
(v) all disability benefits;
and how many additional years of national insurance credit would be gained as a result by carers, by median quintiles; and at what additional gross and net cost. [DWP] (HL6695)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, if carers of more than 20 hours per week were eligible for up to five years’ worth of backdated credits for caring responsibilities incurred before 2010 for a person on (a) middle and higher rate disability living allowance, and (b) on any other disability benefit, what additional number and percentage of men and women would gain; how many would be eligible for a full basic state pension in (i) 2010; (ii) 2020; and (iii) 2030; and what would be the gross and net costs. [DWP] (HL6696)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women who have a part time job earn less than the lower earnings limit; and how many adults caring for a disabled person on any disability benefit for more than 20 hours per week have a part time job and earn less than the lower earnings limit. [DWP] (HL6697)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women currently receive home responsibility protection (HRP) for a youngest child over the age of 12 years; and how many women currently eligible for, or in receipt of, HRP are in jobs which pay them (a) less than the lower earnings limit (LEL); and (b) more than the LEL. [DWP] (HL6698)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women currently in receipt of home responsibility protection for children over 12 years are in jobs which pay them (a) less than the lower earnings limit (LEL); and (b) more than the LEL. [DWP] (HL6699)
The Viscount Astor—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Audit Office’s remit over the BBC World Service affects the Service’s editorial independence. [FCO] (HL6702)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom soldiers and personnel are now deployed or employed in the Helmand province of Afghanistan; and how many of these are directly engaged in reconstruction and development, as distinct from security and defence. [MoD] (HL6705)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the Department for International Development’s advisory role with the United Kingdom military in Helmand province, referred to in the Department for International Development Interim Strategy for Afghanistan 2005-06; and how this role has developed in recent weeks. [DfID] (HL6707)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy in respect of the availability of condoms in prisons. [HO] (HL6709)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any plans to introduce a needle exchange system for drug users in prisons, such as operates in Switzerland and Spain. [HO] (HL6710)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether all women’s prisons offer cervical cancer screening and contraceptive advice to women prisoners. [HO] (HL6711)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what resources are being made available to ensure primary care trusts are providing an adequate sexual health service to prisoners. [DoH] (HL6712)
13th July
The Lord Northbourne—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will instigate research into the reported statistical link between children who grow up in stable, two-parent families and favourable outcomes at school and in later life. (HL6967)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10th July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for Education and Skills; and what is the nature of their services. (HL6968)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10th July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and what is the nature of their services. (HL6969)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10th July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Cabinet Office; and what is the nature of their services. (HL6970)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 10th July (WA 89), how many assistants currently support special advisers to Ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and what is the nature of their services. (HL6971)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 12th July (WA 123), whether the requirement that “warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause” in the United States Bill of Rights is also a requirement under the British constitution and laws of the United Kingdom. (HL6972)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 12th July (WA 123), in what respects there is a relevant lack of reciprocity between the legal systems of the United States and the United Kingdom as regards rules or evidence and case law in relation to extradition. (HL6973)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ briefing note on animal sanctuaries, whether the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ investigations into complaints in 2004 about animal sanctuaries were found to be justified; how many of those complaints merited prosecution; and how many of those complaints were found to be due to ignorance and how many to cruelty. (HL6974)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Housing and Planning, Yvette Cooper, (HC Deb, 1743W), how many dwellings were built in England on previously developed land; and how many were built on previously residential land in each of the years from 1994 to 2004 inclusive. (HL6975)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the duties of local authorities with regard to food cover airports and airfields within their jurisdiction; and, if so, why ports have separate health authorities as indicated in the Contaminants in Food (England) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1464). (HL6976)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Sea Fishing (Marking and Identification of Passive Fishing Gear and Beam Trawls) (England) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1549), whether under article 5 all such beams shall be the property of the vessel using them while under articles 6, 7 and 8 the passive gear used by any vessel may be the property of some other vessel. (HL6977)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why it has taken from December 2004 to May 2006 to respond to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution’s Twenty-Fifth Report; and why they have not responded to recommendations 66 to 70, 72 and 73. (HL6978)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the responsibilities of a competent harbour authority whose port is adjacent to Marine Enhanced High Risk Areas and whose access channel runs between such areas or through Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas in respect to changes to the navigational safety regime of that Authority; and whether the Department for Transport would expect to be consulted on any proposed changes to this regime. (HL6979)
The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 18th April (WA 167) concerning the exclusion of surface workers from the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, whether the Department for Trade and Industry has now undertaken the proposed review concerning the progress of such claims at common law and the generic issues arising; if so, whether they are in a position to report their findings; whether the unions have refused to fund such claims; and whether, in the event of such a refusal, the Government will waive their entitlement to enforce costs against those unsuccessful claimants who are left to pursue and fund their own claims at common law. (HL6980)
The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 11th May (WA 151) concerning the average cost of £3,790 of handling each claim under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and under the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, whether the Comptroller and Auditor General and the National Audit Office have now conducted a full investigation as to value for money; and, if so, what was the result. (HL6981)
The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many claimants under both the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and the British Coal vibration white finger litigation have not received final awards of compensation; and how many years those claimants have been awaiting final settlement of their claims, broken down between those who first lodged claims (a) over eight years ago; (b) between seven and eight years ago; (c) between six and seven years ago; (d) between five and six years ago; (e) between four and five years ago; (f) between three and four years ago; and (g) less than three years ago. (HL6982)
The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made by the Skillbuilder Programme of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust to secure new jobs for the miners formally employed at the Prince of Wales colliery, Pontefract; and what funding is proposed to facilitate the regeneration of that former coalfield site. (HL6983)
The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in light of the estimates about United Kingdom coal reserves contained in the Energy Challenge: Energy Review Report 2006, what plans they have for investment in new coal-fired generation technology for carbon capture and storage. (HL6984)
The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have now instructed Capita, their claims handlers in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, to ensure that all compensation cheques are drawn solely in favour of the claimants, and not their solicitors or other third parties, to avoid additional fees being deducted from such compensation. (HL6985)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consecrated buildings or land are used by the Church of England in prisons or detention centres. (HL6986)
The Lord Livsey of Talgarth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether consideration has been given to measures to encourage the recruitment of black and minority ethnic executive directors to acute National Health Service Trusts in Birmingham, in view of the fact that none of the 50 listed in the most recent annual reports is from such a background. (HL6987)
The Lord Livsey of Talgarth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what oversight role the Chairman of the NHS Appointments Commission has when the suitability of a National Health Service Chairman to continue in post is assessed when a Chairman’s circumstances have substantially changed since his appointment. (HL6988)
The Lord Livsey of Talgarth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they determine whether a relationship between a National Health Service Chair and Chief Executive Officer has become too close or “cosy” as described in the NHS Appointments Commissioner’s publication, Governing the NHS—a Guide for NHS Boards; and what remedies are available to address the situation. (HL6989)
The Lord Livsey of Talgarth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have given guidance to National Health Service (NHS) Trusts about the balance between central NHS targets and local priorities such as equality of opportunity in contracts and employment. (HL6990)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the damage caused to the marine environment in Lyme Bay as a result of scallop dredging. (HL6991)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the monetary value of scallops taken from Lyme Bay in (a) 2004-05, and (b) 2005-06. (HL6992)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether English Nature has advised what area of the seabed in Lyme Bay should be protected immediately; and whether the Government will publish the advice they have received from English Nature about the damage caused to marine reefs in Lyme Bay as a result of scallop dredging. (HL6993)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what factors they will take into account in deciding whether to introduce a Stop Order to control scallop dredging in Lyme Bay; and whether they will introduce a Stop Order under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to stop damage to the marine reefs in Lyme Bay. (HL6994)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will investigate the causes of the suspension and dismissal of a senior member of staff at the Sickle Cell Anaemia unit of St Thomas’s Hospital; and why these causes have not been communicated to him after several months. (HL6995)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking against those persons who stopped a lawful Orange parade in Maghera on 12th July 2006. (HL6996)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how grants from the transitional fund, which were used to fund an extra £100,000 to the West Belfast Nationalist Festival this year, are being equality tested. (HL6997)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, since the festivals were first funded, how much has been granted up to and including this year to (a) the West Belfast Irish Festival; (b) the Ardoyne Irish Festival; (c) the New Lodge Irish Festival; and (d) the Twelfth Orange Celebrations in Belfast. (HL6998)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations have been refused the full amount of funding requested from the first allocation of festival funding operated by the Northern Ireland Events Company. (HL6999)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 12th July (WA 126) concerning funding for community festivals, what is meant by “this funding will be processed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure”; who will pay the funding; from what source the funding will be paid; and how much is available from that source. (HL7000)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose to amend the law on powers of arrest in Northern Ireland, in line with section 110 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 in England and Wales; and, if so, when. (HL7001)
The Baroness Morgan of Drefelin—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received about the position of self-employed Justices of the Peace and the difficulties they may face in respect of both their own professional obligations and their Magistrates’ Court attendance duties if summoned for jury service. (HL7002)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they provide information to overweight and obese National Health Service patients on the use of proven effective commercial diets. (HL7003)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether meal replacements for weight control, as regulated in the Foods Intended for Use in Energy Restricted Diets for Weight Reduction Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2182), will be included in the Obesity Guidance currently under review by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (HL7004)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have examined the comparative costs of effective weight-management systems including commercial diets; and, if so, whether the results have been taken into account in developing guidelines for healthcare professionals. (HL7005)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the forthcoming G8 meeting will discuss the current situation in the Middle East, with particular regard to Israel, Palestine and their immediate neighbours and the need for negotiated solutions. (HL7006)
The Lord Sanderson of Bowden—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make a financial commitment to the non commissioned officers and commissioned officers from the Lowland Regiments of the newly formed Royal Regiment of Scotland for the provision of mess kit. (HL7007)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether full open market valuations were applied to properties owned by the Defence Evaluation Research Agency when they were transferred to Qinetiq in 2001; and, if so, which valuer conducted the evaluations. (HL7008)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the rent payable on the South Arm explosion testing facility at Rosyth when it was transferred from the Defence Evaluation Research Agency to Qinetiq in 2001. (HL7009)
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER AWAITING ANSWER
13th JULY 2006
[Tabled on the dates shown]
[The Government department responsible for answering each Question is shown in brackets]
23rd May
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many foreign nationals who have completed their prison sentences are currently being held in immigration detention facilities. [HO] (HL5953)
24th May
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office has responsibilities and powers throughout the United Kingdom; and what arrangements, if any, exist for liaison, consultation or joint decision making with the devolved authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively. [HO] (HL6000)
5th June
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18th May (WA 65), where the information is held indicating on how many occasions since 1997 the Home Office has refused or omitted to give effect to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and how members of the public may have access to that information. [HO] (HL6054)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 18th May (WA 65), whether the Home Office will in future hold information about the department’s compliance with the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s recommendations in a way which permits public access to that information. [HO] (HL6055)
12th June
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the European Union’s policy of grubbing out vineyards and destroying or reconstituting nearly one billion bottles of wine will have on the growing British winemaking industry. [DEFRA] (HL6275)
15th June
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by the Lord Triesman on 6th June (HL Deb, col. 1131) “that there has been a certain ebb and flow between decisions taken in the legal fora of Europe and those taken here”, which decisions now taken in the legal fora of the United Kingdom were formerly taken in the legal fora of the European Union. [FCO] (HL6395)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what mechanisms they have put in place to ensure that asylum seekers persuaded to leave the United Kingdom by payments of £3,000 do not subsequently return under other identities to claim a further payment. [HO] (HL6396)
16th June
The Lord Jones of Cheltenham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to detain those found guilty of serious violent offences who become eligible for early release, but show no sign of remorse for their previous actions. [HO] (HL6424)
The Baroness Stern—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether medically trained personnel are involved when oxygen is used in the course of restraint of children in secure training centres; and, if so, what level of medical training those personnel have. [HO] (HL6432)
20th June
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are providing intelligence and cooperating in other ways with the police services in Germany and other European Union and Council of Europe states to prevent the trafficking of people for sexual exploitation during the period of the current World Cup. [HO] (HL6493)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the company Novatech has received any public sector support; if so, what support; when; and whether they will place in the Library of the House documents about such support. [NIO] (HL6511)
21st June
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a United Kingdom ban on imports of wild-caught birds would be compatible with (a) World Trade Organisation law; (b) European Union law; and (c) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [DEFRA] (HL6523)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to commemorate the military personnel and police who died in (a) the 1916 Easter rebellion in Ireland; (b) the 1919-21 war of independence in Ireland; and (c) the 1921-22 civil disturbances in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL6541)
22nd June
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the current Police Service of Northern Ireland advice is that the security barriers at lower Chichester Street in Belfast continue to be required; and whether they are required by the Northern Ireland Office as a permanent installation to provide a secure area around the courts complex. [NIO] (HL6551)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they propose to apply Part 3 of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages in respect of Ulster Scots. [NIO] (HL6553)
The Lord Hanningfield—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much water in total and per occupant in cubic metres was consumed in the headquarters of the Department for Communities and Local Government since its creation; and previously in the headquarters of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in each year since its creation. [DCLG] (HL6569)
26th June
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have received from the government of Bangladesh about the type of grenades used in the attempted assassination of the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh on 21st May 2004; and what conclusions they have reached about the source of those weapons and about how terrorists acquired them. [FCO] (HL6594)
27th June
The Lord Fearn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many road bridges in North West England have been rebuilt or renewed in each of the years 2003-05. [DfT] (HL6632)
The Lord Fearn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which coastal resorts in England and Wales have received heritage lottery grants in each of the years 2003-05. [DCMS] (HL6634)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have increased or intend to increase the period required before legal migrants into the United Kingdom may settle permanently; if so, what their reasons are for making such a change; and whether any change will have retrospective effect. [HO] (HL6637)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26th June (WA 132), how many prisoners currently serving their sentences have been recommended for deportation by the relevant court. [HO] (HL6638)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many fatalities and serious injuries there have been on the A1 in Northern Ireland between Sprucefield and the border with the Republic of Ireland in the periods (a) 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006; (b) 1st April 2004 to 31st March 2005; and (c) 1996 to 2001. [NIO] (HL6642)
28th June
The Lord Harris of Haringey—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representation there is from the free software movement on the Steering Committee of the Cyber Security Knowledge Transfer Network which is sponsored by the Department for Trade and Industry. [DTI] (HL6648)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Patten recommendations 132, 133, 143, 144, 146, 148 and 149 relating to training, education and development of the Police Service of Northern Ireland have been implemented in full; and, if not, whether this is having any negative impact on policing in Northern Ireland. [NIO] (HL6658)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland were on duty in the South Armagh area on each day in the week commencing 19th June. [NIO] (HL6660)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been spent on (a) upgrading, and (b) maintaining St Joseph’s High School in Plumbridge, County Tyrone. [NIO] (HL6661)
The Lord Tebbit—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will enforce the provisions of clause 2(2) of the Health Bill, if enacted, in domestic premises used by two or more sex workers as both their home and their place of work; and which members of the public might attend for the purpose of seeking services. [DoH] (HL6663)
The Lord Ouseley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 26th June (WA 131-2), whether any update to the House on the organisational failings of the Home Office will include an answer to the question of what action has been taken against those who have failed to effect lawful deportations of convicted foreign nationals. [HO] (HL6664)
29th June
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they and other member states have increased their contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees since 1st January; and, if so, by how much. [DfID] (HL6680)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the action plan to reduce waiting times for audiology services referred to in Tackling hospital waiting: the 18 week patient pathway. [DoH] (HL6682)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will monitor the possible re-routing of direct access audiology referrals to ear, nose and throat consultants by general practitioners anxious to expedite their patients’ treatment. [DoH] (HL6683)
The Baroness Howe of Idlicote—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, given that referrals are subject to waiting time targets for assessments but not for the fitting of digital hearing aids, how they will ensure that audiology services do not prioritise appointments for assessment over appointments for fitting aids. [DoH] (HL6684)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Andrews on 28th June (WA 158) concerning ethnicity, whether they recognise the Ulster Scots community as “a segment of the population distinguished from others by a combination of shared customs, beliefs, traditions and characteristics, derived from a common or presumed common past, sufficient to give them an historically determined social identity in their own eyes and in the eyes of others”. [NIO] (HL6688)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by the Minister of Communities and Local Government, Mr David Milliband, on 22nd June (HC Deb, col. 1452) stating that £12 million is being allocated to organisations such as the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and the Scout Association, how much each organisation is receiving; and over what period of time the money will be allocated. [DEFRA] (HL6692)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what number and percentage of men and women would qualify for the full basic state pension if the number of qualifying years were reduced to (a) 25 years and (b) 20 years in (i) 2010; (ii) 2020; and (iii) 2030; and what would be the gross and net cost of each proposal. [DWP] (HL6694)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many additional men and women would qualify for a national insurance credit by (a) 2010; (b) 2020; and (c) 2030 as carers of more than 20 hours per week for people on—
(ii) lower rates of disability living allowance;
(iii) income support disability premiums;
(iv) any other disability benefit; and
(vi) all disability benefits;
and how many additional years of national insurance credit would be gained as a result by carers, by median quintiles; and at what additional gross and net cost. [DWP] (HL6695)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, if carers of more than 20 hours per week were eligible for up to five years’ worth of backdated credits for caring responsibilities incurred before 2010 for a person on (a) middle and higher rate disability living allowance, and (b) on any other disability benefit, what additional number and percentage of men and women would gain; how many would be eligible for a full basic state pension in (i) 2010; (ii) 2020; and (iii) 2030; and what would be the gross and net costs. [DWP] (HL6696)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women who have a part time job earn less than the lower earnings limit; and how many adults caring for a disabled person on any disability benefit for more than 20 hours per week have a part time job and earn less than the lower earnings limit. [DWP] (HL6697)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women currently receive home responsibility protection (HRP) for a youngest child over the age of 12 years; and how many women currently eligible for, or in receipt of, HRP are in jobs which pay them (a) less than the lower earnings limit (LEL); and (b) more than the LEL. [DWP] (HL6698)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women currently in receipt of home responsibility protection for children over 12 years are in jobs which pay them (a) less than the lower earnings limit (LEL); and (b) more than the LEL. [DWP] (HL6699)
The Viscount Astor—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Audit Office’s remit over the BBC World Service affects the Service’s editorial independence. [FCO] (HL6702)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom soldiers and personnel are now deployed or employed in the Helmand province of Afghanistan; and how many of these are directly engaged in reconstruction and development, as distinct from security and defence. [MoD] (HL6705)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the Department for International Development’s advisory role with the United Kingdom military in Helmand province, referred to in the Department for International Development Interim Strategy for Afghanistan 2005-06; and how this role has developed in recent weeks. [DfID] (HL6707)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy in respect of the availability of condoms in prisons. [HO] (HL6709)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any plans to introduce a needle exchange system for drug users in prisons, such as operates in Switzerland and Spain. [HO] (HL6710)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether all women’s prisons offer cervical cancer screening and contraceptive advice to women prisoners. [HO] (HL6711)
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what resources are being made available to ensure primary care trusts are providing an adequate sexual health service to prisoners. [DoH] (HL6712)
3rd July
The Lord Rana—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking within the European Union to create an open market for energy supplies, and, in particular, gas. [DTI] (HL6716)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the replies by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 28th June (HL Deb, cols. 1188-89), which provisions of the European Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings give rise to difficulties which are hindering the signing and ratification of the Convention on behalf of the United Kingdom. [HO] (HL6728)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women have two or more jobs which each pay less than the lower earnings limit (LEL), but which added together pay more than the LEL; and, of these, how many (a) have a youngest child under 12; (b) have a youngest child between 12 and 16 years; and (c) do not have a dependent child. [DWP] (HL6729)
The Baroness Hollis of Heigham—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional savings, both gross and net, would come from abolishing autocredits by 2010, if men and women were to continue to be eligible for the five years before state pension age. [DWP] (HL6730)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have agreed to change the basis for reporting individual journeys funded by the Royal Travel grant-in-aid in the annual report of Royal Public Finances 2005-06 from £2,500 to £10,000; and whether this change complies with their commitment to open government. [DfT] (HL6733)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which members of the Royal Family are in receipt of Royal Travel grant-in-aid. [DfT] (HL6734)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which individual journeys undertaken by those in receipt of Royal Travel grant-in-aid cost between £2,500 and £10,000 during the year 2005-06. [DfT] (HL6735)
The Lord Berkeley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the Memorandum of Understanding between the Keeper of the Privy Purse and the Secretary of State for Transport on Royal Travel grant-in-aid; and whether the need for greater use of sustainable transport will be included. [DfT] (HL6736)
The Baroness Anelay of St Johns—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the powers to be conferred upon police constables by clause 12 of the Police and Justice Bill will improve their ability to detect and prosecute theft of passengers’ baggage and theft from items of passengers’ baggage by those employed at airports; and what is their estimate of the extra number of offences each year that will be prosecuted as a result. [HO] (HL6739)
The Baroness Stern—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the length of time between each death in custody and the completion of all inquest proceedings for that death in the last five years. [HO] (HL6740)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Mr Tom Watson, has received from Falklands veteran Graham John Cordwell of the Parachute Regiment about the production and sale for private profit of medals and medal ribbons; and whether they intend to take any action. [MoD] (HL6743)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the posts identified in the Northern Ireland Civil Service workforce reduction plan for the period April 2004 to March 2008 were (a) filled by temporary, seconded or casual staff when identified, or were time or policy bound posts; and (b) how many of the total posts were due to disappear in the years ending March 2005 and March 2006; and how many of these posts were abolished in each of those two years respectively. [NIO] (HL6744)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the number of shopping trolleys and similar items of retail equipment in the stretch of the Connswater river that runs through the Connswater shopping centre in Belfast, and in the other designated parts of that river maintained by the Rivers Agency, downstream from the confluence loop at Beersbridge Road to the bridge at the Sydenham bypass; and whether they have any plans to remove the items. [NIO] (HL6745)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cases at the European Court of Human Rights have been judged against the United Kingdom since the appeals procedure was introduced; and how many of these judgments were appealed successfully. [FCO] (HL6747)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, over the last twelve months, which judgments by the European Court of Human Rights were made against the United Kingdom; which of these cases were not appealed; and what were the reasons for not appealing in each case. [FCO] (HL6748)
The Lord Kilclooney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what way the isolation of Northern Cyprus has been reduced since Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the Annan Plan for a settlement in Cyprus; and what steps the European Union has taken to reduce this isolation. [FCO] (HL6752)
The Baroness Sharples—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 29th June (HL Deb, cols. 1318-20), why it is considered discourteous to provide information, that is to be given as evidence to a select committee in the House of Commons, in response to a question for oral answer tabled in the House of Lords. [HO] (HL6754)
4th July
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions Ministers or officials have met each of the potential applicants for regional casino licences since 1st January 2003. [DCMS] (HL6757)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the contribution which a regional casino licence could make to regeneration of the Millennium Dome area. [DCMS] (HL6758)
The Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which officials stayed with the Deputy Prime Minister at Mr Philip Anschutz’s ranch in 2005; and what were their official responsibilities at that time. [DCLG] (HL6759)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 3rd July (HL Deb, col. 10), what is the justification for splitting responsibility for English civil and criminal law between the Home Office and the Department for Constitutional Affairs. [HO] (HL6760)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 17th May (WA 37), whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of any further clarifications received from the government of Nepal. [HO] (HL6764)
The Earl of Onslow—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 4th July, what are their reasons for stating that the case of the three Natwest Bank employees, awaiting extradition, is still sub judice. [HO] (HL6769)
The Lord Roberts of Conwy—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 28th June (WA 162), why, given that Ministers were briefed on the letter from the President of the Pension Appeal Tribunals in preparation for the oral question on 8th June, why the Lord Drayson made no reference to that letter in his answer. [MoD] (HL6770)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 26th June (WA 127) on military casualties in Iraq, whether they will publish the figures referred to in the Official Report. [MoD] (HL6771)
The Baroness Tonge—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase the number of specialists in sexual and reproductive health working in the National Health Service. [DoH] (HL6774)
The Baroness Tonge—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the kidnapping of a civilian doctor and his brother from a house in Gaza, the day before the Palestinian attack on a Israeli army position when Gilad Shalit was abducted. [FCO] (HL6775)
The Baroness Tonge—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had and what advice they have given to United Kingdom charities working in Palestine regarding the disbursement of aid to organisations and individuals in that country following the United States Treasury’s Terrorism Sanction Regulations. [DfID] (HL6776)
The Lord Vinson—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 22nd June (WA 115), what criteria are applied by local authorities in deciding whether or not to prosecute individuals under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and what guidance they have issued to local authorities in this regard. [DEFRA] (HL6778)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which authority is responsible for the walkways along the river Lagan upstream from Governor’s Bridge; why and when the vegetation on either side of the walkways was recently cut back; how many fires have since been set amongst the resulting stubble; and what is the frequency and purpose of cutting back vegetation when the walkways are hard surfaced. [NIO] (HL6779)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the powers of the Food Standards Agency to check imported meats for individual purchase are equally applicable to meat for the catering trade and meat for processed food products. [DoH] (HL6782)
5th July
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total number of eggs obtained from patients since the enactment of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; how many have been used for research; and how many have been used for fertility treatments. [DoH] (HL6785)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what data are collected about hyperstimulation syndrome, and other adverse clinical effects, when eggs are collected at fertility centres for research purposes. [DoH] (HL6786)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to raise with the governments of China, Chad, Libya and Eritrea the findings of the recent United Nations report, The Supply of Small Arms, about the continuing sale of arms to the Darfur region of Sudan. [FCO] (HL6787)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of North Korea about its decision to test the Taepodong 2, and other missiles, on 4th July. [FCO] (HL6788)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights about the conditions in the Rohingya refugee camps on the border between Burma and Bangladesh. [FCO] (HL6789)
The Lord Alton of Liverpool—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last made representations to the government of Burma and the United Nations about the Rohingya people in Burma; and whether they will make joint representations with governments of Islamic countries to raise the problems faced by the Rohingya to the appropriate United Nations bodies. [FCO] (HL6790)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask the Leader of the House, further to her answer on 28th June (HL Deb, col. 1191), whether she will make an assessment of the extent to which the Written Answer given by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 14th June (WA 29) falls within the guidance which she gave on the need for Government departments to answer questions fully. [LHoL] (HL6791)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have reduced the budget of the Equal Opportunities Commission. [DCLG] (HL6792)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will update the British citizenship application form B(OS) and paragraph 12 of the guidance notes to state clearly who should sign an application made by or on behalf of a minor. [HO] (HL6793)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of any British Nationals (Overseas) or British Overseas citizens of Chinese ethnic origin, who do not possess Chinese citizenship because the person or their parents were born in countries whereby they lost their Chinese citizenship due to a national treaty between China and the relevant countries; whether any such persons have been granted British citizenship under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997; and, based on the current Home Office understanding, which are the countries in question. [HO] (HL6794)
The Lord Avebury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House any documents, dated between 5th July 2002 and 9th October 2002, which set out the reasoning for making provision for certain British nationals without other citizenship to register as British citizens under Section 4B of the British Nationality Act 1981. [HO] (HL6795)
The Lord Howell of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many sections or units of the proposed new merged organisation to cover all military procurement and supplies will be sited in areas of high unemployment or in the North of England. [MoD] (HL6796)
The Lord Howell of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many acres of the guarded compound containing the Defence Logistics Organisation Headquarters at Andover, Hampshire, are occupied by abandoned and boarded up buildings; how long these buildings have been unused and unoccupied; what plans for the development of these areas have been made; and when they will be implemented. [MoD] (HL6797)
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current status of, and what outcome they anticipate on, European Union legislative proposals which concern—
(b) herbal medicines; and
(c) any other area of alternative medicine. [DoH] (HL6798)
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of United Kingdom expenditure since 1972 on the implementation of—
(a) the Bathing Water Directive;
(b) the Drinking Water Directive; and
(c) the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. [DEFRA] (HL6799)
The Lord Pearson of Rannoch—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money has been spent since 1972 on water infrastructure and supply in the United Kingdom. [DEFRA] (HL6800)
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Lord Rooker on 9th March (WA 168) and 17th May (WA 49), whether they are aware of any sexual assault on young girls by members of Community Restorative Justice; and whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland have any knowledge of such an incident. [NIO] (HL6801)
The Baroness Noakes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what amount was raised from the United Kingdom financial services sector for each of the financial years 1996-97 to 2004-05 from (a) corporation tax; (b) income tax; (c) national insurance; (d) stamp duty; and (e) any other taxes. [HMT] (HL6802)
The Lord Garden—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which targeted allowances for the armed forces are expected to generate savings with the introduction of the Joint Personnel Administration system so that the changes are broadly cost neutral. [MoD] (HL6804)
The Lord Garden—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the new harmonised armed forces allowances are broadly cost neutral for each individual service. [MoD] (HL6805)
The Lord Garden—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what process of consultation with members of the armed forces was undertaken before the introduction of the new harmonised allowances; and what surveys are planned to test the success of the new schemes and the new Joint Personnel Administration system. [MoD] (HL6806)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what views they have expressed in international bodies on the proposed ivory stockpile sales from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa; and whether they will resist all future calls to re-open the trade in ivory. [DEFRA] (HL6807)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made and what steps they are taking to combat the continuing decline in the number of African elephants, particularly in respect of—
(a) the illegal ivory trade conducted through London;
(b) habitat degradation; and
(c) the bushmeat trade. [DEFRA] (HL6808)
The Lord Harrison—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to moves to de-list the grade II listed Commonwealth Institute. [DCMS] (HL6809)
The Baroness Byford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they did not support a claim for compensation from United Kingdom poultry producers in relation to avian influenza while supporting claims from poultry producers from 14 other European Union member states; and, if so, why they did not support it. [DEFRA] (HL6810)
The Lord Dykes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect their action and the action by United Nations partners to promote a just peace in the Middle East will have on radicalisation of members of ethnic minority communities. [FCO] (HL6811)
The Lord Dykes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the likely impact of the recent kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and Israel’s retaliatory measures on the prospects for early recognition of Israel by the Hamas government; and what steps they are taking to revive these prospects through the European Union’s representation in the Quartet. [FCO] (HL6812)
The Lord Dykes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are holding discussions with the government of the United States to establish a date for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. [FCO] (HL6813)
The Lord Dykes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek an urgent meeting with the government of Israel to discuss the recent attacks on civilians in Gaza. [FCO] (HL6814)
The Lord Dykes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the likelihood of the retail sector promoting increases in the purchase by consumers of 11 watt compact fluorescent lamp light bulbs, which are needed for new energy savings, without Government intervention. [DEFRA] (HL6815)
The Lord Dykes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of Israel about the destruction of civic facilities such as power stations and university buildings in the Gaza strip. [FCO] (HL6816)
The Lord Kilclooney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Indonesia about the reported sentence of twelve years imprisonment given to Filip Karma and Yusak Pakage as a result of their hoisting of the flag of West Papua in Papua. [FCO] (HL6817)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the operational effectiveness of the personal load carrying equipment issued to British soldiers; and what plans they have to replace, or upgrade it. [MoD] (HL6818)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have agreed the terms of reference for the post of Chief Scientist at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; if so, whether they will publish them; and, if not, what are the reasons for the delay and when they expect the terms of reference to be agreed. [DCMS] (HL6819)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend that the Chief Scientist at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport should have expertise principally in the physical and natural sciences or in the social sciences. [DCMS] (HL6820)
The Baroness Sharp of Guildford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to advertise the post of Chief Scientist at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. [DCMS] (HL6821)
The Lord Monson—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of the United States regarding the possible use of shackling or leg irons by the United States authorities on British nationals extradited to the United States who have not been convicted of any crime. [FCO] (HL6823)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications for review made under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, including those made out of time and orders made for reconsideration, there have been for (a) immigrant appellants; (b) appeals from the Home Office; and (c) appeals from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. [DCA] (HL6824)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the first indicatory budgets given to the Ulster Scots Agency by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in each year since 2000. [NIO] (HL6825)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been paid in grants to Rally Ireland for 2005 and 2006; from what source; after what process; and whether they will place all the documentation in the Library of the House. [NIO] (HL6826)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what grant applications are still outstanding from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for which the application was made more than one year ago; what is the value of each grant; what is the cause of each delay; and what steps they are taking to speed up the process. [NIO] (HL6827)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding has already been agreed for nationalist festivals in (a) West Belfast; (b) Ardoyne; and (c) New Lodge; from what sources the funding was made available; after what process; and whether further funding will be made available. [NIO] (HL6829)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the report from Age Concern on Promoting mental health and well-being in later life; and whether they will take any action as a result of its conclusions and recommendations. [DoH] (HL6830)
The Lord Marlesford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will explain the difference between Home Office figures for homicide by shooting for the year ending 2005 as provided in the Written Answer by the Under-Secretary of State for Police and Security (HC Deb, 660W) and that provided by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 4th July (HL Deb, col. 209). [HO] (HL6831)
The Lord Stoddart of Swindon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the recent comments made by the Bavarian Environment Minister, Werner Schnappauf, about a fivefold increase in regulation in the German regions since the 1990s, they will make an assessment of whether there has been a similar increase in European Union regulations affecting the United Kingdom. [FCO] (HL6832)
6th July
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many unsuccessful asylum applicants left the United Kingdom (a) voluntarily, and (b) under compulsion in each year from 2002 to 2005. [HO] (HL6833)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many unsuccessful asylum applicants who cannot return to their home country are currently receiving hard case support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. [HO] (HL6834)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what happened to the 37 per cent of those asylum seekers who were refused the support they applied for under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. [HO] (HL6835)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether in 2005 or subsequently any children had to be looked after by local authorities because their parents had been refused support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. [HO] (HL6836)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many school places in Northern Ireland were unfilled on the most recent date for which figures are available; whether they will provide a breakdown of the total showing primary, secondary and other schools separately; and how many of the unfilled places were at (a) Roman Catholic schools; (b) Protestant schools; (c) integrated schools; and (d) other schools. [NIO] (HL6837)
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect the numbers of unfilled school places in Northern Ireland to change significantly at the beginning of the autumn term 2006. [NIO] (HL6838)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will issue commissioning guidance to ensure that existing levels of investment in adult audiology services are maintained whilst primary care trusts await the separate action plan promised by the Department of Health. [DoH] (HL6839)
The Earl Howe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether manufacturers of products registered under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive will be able to indicate on the label whether the products comply with organic standards of production; and, if not, what steps they will take to ensure that consumers of products registered under the Directive are able to identify whether they comply with organic standards of production. [DoH] (HL6840)
The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the proposed disposal route for Magnox fuel can splitter fins presently stored in vaults at the Magnox sites; and what transport methods are proposed. [DTI] (HL6841)
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe about the reported persecution of journalists in Azerbaijan, including (a) the recent arrest of the journalist Sakit Zahidov and his detention after having published poems critical of the government and senior public officials of Azerbaijan; (b) the kidnapping and alleged acts of violence against Baheddin Haziyev, chief editor of the Bizim Yol newspaper; and (c) the murder of Elmar Huseynov, an Azeri journalist. [FCO] (HL6842)
The Lord Tyler—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what legal remedy is available to counter re-interpretation and tampering by public officials in handling decisions of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal such as that in the case of Gulf War veteran Mark McGreevy, as documented in the Tribunal President’s letter to the Ministry of Defence of 5th April. [MoD] (HL6843)
The Baroness Thomas of Winchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take to help prevent the trapping and trading of song birds across the European Union. [DEFRA] (HL6846)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, since May 2005, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has met with Ronan Morgan, promoter of Rally Ireland; if so, when; and where they met. [NIO] (HL6847)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which firms tendered for the public relations activity surrounding Rally Ireland in 2005 and 2006 which was sponsored by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure; which firm was successful; and how much it was paid. [NIO] (HL6848)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 4th July (WA 40) concerning Rally Ireland, what issues will be considered about the decision to release the reports on the Rally Ireland event. [NIO] (HL6849)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced the sponsorship of Rally Ireland; and, if so, when and where the announcement was made. [NIO] (HL6850)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the role of the political adviser to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Philip Taylor, in the sponsorship arrangement for Rally Ireland. [NIO] (HL6851)
The Lord Laird—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether legal action is being taken against the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure or its agencies concerning sponsorship of Rally Ireland. [NIO] (HL6852)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any direct communication between the United Kingdom forces deployed in Helmand Province Afghanistan and the commanders of Pakistani forces deployed in the immediately adjacent Pakistani province of Baluchistan. [MoD] (HL6853)
The Lord Astor of Hever—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the planning assumptions as to the numbers of trained members of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police in Helmand Province able to cooperate with United Kingdom forces deployed there; and how the actual numbers compare with these assumptions. [MoD] (HL6854)
The Lord Monson—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the present condition of the citizens of Turkish Cyprus is compatible with the provisions of the 1960 treaty concerning the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus (Cmnd. 1252), the 1960 Cyprus: Treaty of Guarantee (Cmnd. 1253) and the Basic Articles of the Constitution of Cyprus guaranteed therein. [FCO] (HL6855)
The Lord Monson—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they will make to the government of Cyprus on the case for concessions to Tu | 
