---

The outturn costs have been higher than the initial estimated yearly costs, due to the increased demand for IBM services by projects in delivering Defra's strategic objectives.

Elections: Armed Forces

Lord Garden asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 15 May (WA 21), when the results of the Ministry of Defence survey of December 2006 into Armed Forces electoral registration levels and registration awareness will be available. [HL4089]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The report of the survey is currently with Ministers for consideration. I will write to the noble Lord indicating our intention to publish it in due course.

Energy: Oil and Gas Fields

Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received any indication from the Scottish Executive that they propose to legislate to take control of oil and gas fields located in Scotland; and, if so, what their response is to any such proposals; and [HL4143]

Whether they will publish any information they have produced on the consequences of Scotland having control of oil and gas fields located in Scotland. [HL4144]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Truscott): The Government have not received any indication from the Scottish Executive that they propose to legislate to take control of oil and gas fields located in Scotland. Subject to some very limited exceptions specified in the reservation, oil and gas is a reserved matter under the Scotland Act 1998. We have not carried out assessments of the consequences of Scotland having control of oil and gas fields located in Scotland.

Energy: Oil Refining

Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the recent Petroleum Industry Association suggestion of a bilateral industry and government refining task force to examine long-term development options for the United Kingdom oil refining sector. [HL4127]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Truscott): The Government set up a joint task group with the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) in November 2006. The task group commissioned a review of UK oil refining capacity. This was published on 23 May 2007 alongside the energy White Paper and can be found at: www.dti.gov.uk/files/file39390.pdf. The Government will continue to work closely with UK refiners as they address the challenges identified in the review.

Energy: White Paper

Lord Glentoran asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the reply by Lord Truscott on 23 May (Official Report, col. 669) that the Government will come back to the House in a very short space of time and set out their energy strategy for the United Kingdom, whether they will enable the House to debate the energy White Paper at an early opportunity. [HL4087]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Truscott): I have already given my commitment to return to the House to set out the Government’s energy strategy for the United Kingdom and to debate the energy White Paper at the earliest opportunity. The timing of the debate will be dependent on the parliamentary Whips’ Office.

Firearms: Game Licences

Lord Geddes asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will abolish game licences for shooters of game; and, if so, when they will abolish such licences. [HL4138]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The final draft regulatory reform order was laid before Parliament for final scrutiny on 4 June 2007. The draft order has a coming-into-force date of 1 August 2007, but this is subject to the parliamentary approval process. If successful, the need for a licence to take or kill game will be abolished.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Military Inquests

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the composition of the dedicated Ministry of Defence team that supports coroners preparing for inquests; and what is its method of proceeding. [HL4189]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): In addition to existing arrangements for all three services, principally through the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, based at RAF Innsworth, a dedicated team for Army-related inquests was established in February to provide support to coroners to help clear the backlog of inquests and to ensure that a further backlog does not occur. The inquest cell is based at Upavon, Wiltshire, and consists of:

1 x band B1;1 x serving colonel;1 x retired colonel;1 x band C 1; and1 x E grade support (yet to be recruited).

With a significant number of inquests into the deaths of military personnel being held at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court, the inquest cell has worked closely with the assistant deputy coroner, Mr Walker, and his team to ensure that he and bereaved families have all the necessary information for inquests to proceed.

The inquest cell has also worked with “home coroners” across England and Wales who have jurisdiction for inquests concerning military personnel. Whenever their support has been requested, team members have attended pre-inquest meetings and/or the inquest.

The team leader, in co-operation with other stakeholders, is also tasked to review the department’s processes for supporting coroners. A series of review meetings have been held, and Ministers are provided with regular updates.

Marine Environment: Wildlife

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

What proportion of stockists of marine animals source their stock from suppliers certified as sustainable by the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC); and whether they will consider introducing a licensing scheme for selling marine wildlife that would require MAC certification. [HL3964]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Government do not hold the information requested. There are no current plans to introduce a licensing scheme for selling marine wildlife that would require Marine Aquarium Council certification.

National Parks

Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:

How soon, in light of the clarification of national park legislation in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, they now expect to confirm the designation of the South Downs National Park. [HL4160]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Government will shortly be inviting further representations on matters that were not able to be addressed by the South Downs inquiry. In the light of responses received, Ministers will consider whether it is appropriate for the inquiry to be reopened. If it is reopened, an announcement on the decision whether to create a South Downs national park is expected no later than autumn 2008. If it is not reopened, an announcement early in 2008 will be possible.

Natural England: Communication Strategy

Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the cost to Natural England of sums paid to the Central Office of Information strategic consultancy for producing its communication strategy; and whether the recommendations in that strategy will be acted upon. [HL4190]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Since March 2007, Natural England has spent approximately £40,000 using the Central Office of Information (COI) for developing its communications strategy and for additional specific advice on its communications work. Between December 2006 and February 2007, Defra's modernising rural delivery programme agreed a procurement of approximately £69,000 for the COI’s services in working up the strategy advice to Natural England's board.

The Natural England board considered the report from the COI in February 2007 and made a number of comments which are now being considered as part of the final development of the communications strategy.

Official Visits: Prime Minister

Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportions of the total costs of the retiring Prime Minister's official visits overseas since 1 May have been a direct charge to United Kingdom taxpayers; and what sterling amounts have been so charged. [HL4174]

Lord Davies of Oldham: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list.

All Ministers’ travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code and the accompanying guidance document, Travel by Ministers. Information for 2007-08 will be published in the normal way.

Olympic Games 2012: Allotments

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

Whether the Environment Agency is satisfied with the precautions being proposed for the replacement site for Manor Gardens allotment holders with regard to the contaminated land issues. [HL4119]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Manor Gardens allotments are one of more than 200 existing activities currently within the proposed Olympic park boundary that are being relocated as part of the London 2012 Olympics. Where activities are being relocated outside the park, including these allotments, contamination and other issues are dealt with through the process of granting planning permission at the proposed new locations.

The Environment Agency (EA) is a statutory consultee with respect to certain planning matters, such as possible groundwater impacts of development proposals. I understand that it is satisfied that such matters have been adequately addressed through this process in respect of the new allotments. The EA has also been involved in developing a global remediation strategy covering land contamination throughout the park.

Olympic Games 2012: Environment Agency

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

Whether the Environment Agency has raised any formal objections to any aspects of the work to be undertaken on the Olympic site; and, if so, what were those objections. [HL4117]

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Environment Agency has formally objected to the Lee interchange site, which would involve work to the proposed railway sidings to the north of the park. The objection was based on existing flood risk issues. Revised hydrology information has since been made available, and the site is being reviewed.

The Environment Agency has been working closely with both the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) project sponsor team and the ODA planning decisions team to ensure that any proposals within the park meet their requirements prior to formally responding through the planning process. Where appropriate, the agency has shared its views with the relevant local authorities, in particular, environmental health officers, regarding contaminated land issues.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their current assessment of the security situation in Darfur and Chad. [HL4131]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The security situation in Darfur remains precarious, with increasing banditry and inter-tribal fighting. The Sudanese Government resumed bombing villages in Darfur in late April, killing and injuring a number of civilians. These attacks showed little regard for human life and violated UN Security Council Resolution 1591. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has strongly condemned them. We call upon the Sudanese Government to stop these attacks and on all parties to the conflict to stop attacks and other violations of the ceasefire immediately. All sides must commit to the resolution of the conflict or face further measures in the UN Security Council.

We remain very concerned about the humanitarian and security situation in eastern Chad. We are particularly concerned by increasing levels of internal displacement, due to inter-ethnic fighting and cross-border attacks from Darfur; protection of refugees and internally displaced people; the security environment for humanitarian agency operations and the fragility of the natural resource base to support displaced populations. We support renewed French efforts to get a peacekeeping force into Chad.

Sudan: Sanctions

Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the decision of the Government of the United States to press for new sanctions against the Government of Sudan; and what efforts they are making in the Security Council of the United Nations to press for the implementation of all existing resolutions against Sudan. [HL4130]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We welcome the extension of existing US sanctions. They are an important element in maintaining the pressure to solve the crisis in Darfur. But we, along with the US and France, remain committed to a robust UN Security Council resolution if the Government of Sudan and rebel movements do not co-operate fully. This would include further targeted sanctions against individuals engaged in violence or responsible for authorising it; expanding the arms embargo to cover the whole of Sudan; and measures to allow better monitoring of the illegal use of aircraft in Darfur.

The UN Secretariat reports regularly to the Security Council on the situation in Darfur and compliance with the council’s resolutions. We use these reports, information gathered from Sudan and our wider contacts with the international community, and our membership of the Security Council’s sanctions committee to press for improved implementation of all existing resolutions.

Train to Gain

Baroness Morris of Bolton asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the budget for Train to Gain in 2006-07 in each English region; and what proportion of this budget has been spent in each region; and [HL3911]

What estimate they have made of the proportion of training undertaken as part of Train to Gain which would not otherwise have taken place; and [HL3912]

What assessment they have made of the level of employer investment as part of the Train to Gain scheme; and what proportion of this investment would have been made without assistance from the scheme; and [HL3913]

(a) how many, and (b) what proportion of, individuals in each region undertaking training as part of the Train to Gain scheme (i) were referred to a training provider by the Train to Gain brokerage service or (ii) were provider generated. [HL3914]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): Train to Gain is an ongoing service and, as such, performance is updated regularly. Detailed operational information is not held centrally by the department but is collected by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom, the LSC chief-executive, will write directly to the noble Baroness. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Universities: Bologna Process

Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:

In what way the Council of Europe and the European Union are involved in the Bologna process for universities. [HL3873]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): The Bologna process is conducted outside the framework of the European Union, as the 46 participating countries extend well beyond the EU. The Council of Europe is a consultative member of the process.

---