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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Millennium Dome

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason no fee is being charged to the Ministry of Sound for the hire of secondary venues at the Dome on 31 December. [135735]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 31 October 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 November 2000, Official Report, column 620W.

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Open University Broadcasts

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make representations to the BBC to continue Open University broadcasts. [138162]

Janet Anderson: The question of making such representations does not arise, since I understand that the BBC has said it remains fully committed to its partnership with the Open University.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

New Deal (Young People)

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people his Department employs under the New Deal for Young People. [137957]

Mr. Lock: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office on 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 551W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Lord-lieutenants

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 646W, regarding Lord-Lieutenants, what expenditure was incurred by his Department in support of each Lord-Lieutenant for the financial year 1999-2000. [134858]

Mr. Mandelson: The information requested is contained in the table.

	Expenditure
Antrim	741.37
Armagh	506.82
Belfast	987.09
Down	822.54
Fermanagh	507.85
Londonderry	2,899.49
Tyrone	635.68
Grand total	7,100.84

The Lord-Lieutenancy of County Londonderry is higher than that for other counties because that amount comprises two Lord-Lieutenants--Londonderry City, and Londonderry County.

Pursuant to this, it may be helpful if I provide some further information to put the figures in their proper context.

Lord-Lieutenants are appointed under current legislation by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, following consultations locally and, where appropriate, with the First Minister. Lord-Lieutenants are much appreciated in their counties and areas, particularly as a link with the royal family and for their support of a wide range of local voluntary and community work. Lord-Lieutenants are unpaid. They may however claim

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expenses from central Government for certain items such as travel and other reasonable non-entertainment expenses incurred in carrying out their official duties. Amounts claimed will clearly vary according to, for example, levels of activity in each county, size and dispersal of populations, and the personal circumstances of each Lord-Lieutenant. Some choose not to claim any expenses.

In addition most counties provide varying levels of administrative support, as do some Government Departments in respect of functions carried out by Lord-Lieutenants on their behalf.

New Deal (Young People)

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact of the New Deal for Young People in Northern Ireland. [136475]

Mr. Mandelson: Responsibility for this subject has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and is therefore no longer a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those Bills to which the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has given a declaration of compatibility with human rights and also list those which have received an adverse declaration in regard to Bills presented to (a) Parliament and (b) the Northern Ireland Assembly. [136611]

Mr. George Howarth: There is no requirement for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to give a statement of compatibility before Parliament or the Assembly can consider a Bill; this is required from the Minister in charge. In the Assembly, this is part of the Minister's statement that the Bill is within the legislative competence of the Assembly.

Under its statutory functions, the Commission is required to advise the Assembly on whether a Bill is compatible with human rights--including the Convention rights--only when it is asked to do so and on such other occasion as the Commission thinks appropriate.

Decommissioning

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the total costs to date of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. [138099]

Mr. Ingram: The total cost to date of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning is IR £4,131,215. The costs are split on a 50/50 basis shared by the British and Irish Governments.

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the total costs to date of the activities of the international arms inspectors. [138100]

Mr. Ingram: The amount paid to the international arms inspectors to date is IR £37,160, which includes some travel costs. This is split on a 50/50 basis shared by the British and Irish Governments.

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Service Delivery Agreement

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the Northern Ireland Office's Service Delivery Agreement 2001-02 to 2003-04; and if he make copies available to hon. Members in the Vote Office. [138190]

Mr. Mandelson: Copies of the Agreement have been placed in the Library and also made available to the Vote Office.

DEFENCE

Animal Experiments

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the purpose of the chemical burns experiments conducted on pigs at Porton Down; what measures have been taken to ensure their welfare is protected; and what involvement Salisbury District Hospital has had with these experiments. [136607]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 10 November 2000]: The primary role of DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down is to provide safe and effective protective measures for the UK and its armed forces.

Sulphur mustard (mustard gas) remains a significant chemical threat both on the battlefield and from terrorists. The burns that result from contact with mustard heal extremely slowly and are prone to potentially life- threatening infection. The studies undertaken at CBD with pigs have conclusively shown that the technique of dermabrasion can significantly accelerate the healing of such burns and reduce the risk of infection. Staff at Porton Down are now confident that dermabrasion will help save lives and reduce the suffering in any future casualties.

To pursue these studies DERA employed the skills and experience of two plastic surgeons who had trained at the Burns Unit at Salisbury District Hospital. These surgeons were not working for the Salisbury Health Care Trust at the same time as they were undertaking this research and the trust was not itself involved in this particular research.

All animal research is conducted under licence authorised by the Home Office. In addition to statutory controls, an independent body, the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC), reviews the arrangements for animal care and welfare at CBD, monitors the research programmes to ensure the highest possible standards and advises on best practice.

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the cost/benefit analysis applied to the chemical burns experiments conducted on pigs at Porton Down. [136608]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 10 November 2000]: No formal cost/benefit analysis has been applied to the chemical burns experiments conducted at DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence Sector at Porton Down.

However, the work has investigated and developed techniques that improve the rate of healing by three or fourfold. These techniques will be of significant benefit to service personnel and, more generally, to civilians, by

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reducing the time currently spent in hospital recovering from the effects of burns form acids, alkalis and other corrosive chemicals suffered at home or in the work place.

European Security and Defence Identity

Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the functions and treaty base of (a) the European Military Committee, (b) the European Military Staff and (c) the Political and Security Committee; and if he will make a statement on their relationship to NATO. [138216]

Mr. Hoon: At the Helsinki European Council in December 1999, EU member states agreed to the establishment of a Political and Security Committee (PSC), a Military Committee and a Military Staff within the European Council.

The function of the Political Security Committee is to deal with all aspects of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including the Common European Security and Defence Policy, in accordance with the provisions of the EU Treaty. In the case of an EU-led crisis management operation, the PSC will exercise, under the authority of the Council, the political control and strategic direction of the operation. The PSC will also forward guidelines to the Military Committee.

The function of the Military Committee is to give military advice and make recommendations to the PSC and provide military direction to the Military Staff. The Chairman of the Military Committee will attend meetings of the Council when decisions with defence implications are to be taken.

The function of the Military Staff is to provide military expertise and support to the Common European Security and Defence Policy, including the conduct of EU-led operations. The Military Staff will perform early warning, situation assessment and strategic planning for Petersberg tasks.

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Permanent arrangements covering the relationship between the EU and NATO on crisis management will be based upon the principle of effective mutual consultation, co-operation and transparency between the two organisations.

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