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PRIME MINISTER

House of Lords

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many applicants for a people's peerage since April 2002 were acquainted with a Commissioner of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. [138661]

The Prime Minister: Between 1 April 2002 and 31 August 2003, House of Lords Appointments Commission members were acquainted with 13 out of the 94 people from whom the Commission received nominations.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of those peers created since 1997, with particular reference to people's peers. [139431]

The Prime Minister: None. It is not for the Prime Minister to make an assessment of the effectiveness of members of the House of Lords.

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Mr. Drew: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the timetable for creating further people's peers. [139433]

The Prime Minister: I have invited the House of Lords Appointments Commission to recommend a small number of non-party-political peers. I understand that the Commission is currently considering nominations and will make an announcement in due course.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many of those aspiring people's peers who were invited to interview but who were unsuccessful have indicated that they no longer wish their application to be reconsidered. [139746]

The Prime Minister: One.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many aspiring people's peers who were invited to interview but were not subsequently recommended for elevation to the peerage requested feedback from the Commission as to why they were unsuccessful. [139747]

The Prime Minister: None. The House of Lords Appointments Commission made clear in its information pack at the start of the process that it would not provide feedback on unsuccessful nominations.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many applications for a people's peerage have been received since April 2001 from hereditary peers who no longer have the right to sit in the House of Lords. [139748]

The Prime Minister: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost and in breach of the House of Lords Appointments Commission's undertakings to treat all personal information in individual applications in strict confidence.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answers of 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 429–30W, on the House of Lords, what initiatives the House of Lords Appointments Commission is planning to increase the number of applications from aspiring people's peers. [139794]

The Prime Minister: The House of Lords Appointments Commission keeps its plans for attracting new nominations under review.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answers of 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 429–30W, on the House of Lords, whether any of the applications received since April 2001 were from (a) knights or dames, (b) professors and (c) persons holding the OBE or CBE; and if he will list the employment categories of applicants in work. [139795]

The Prime Minister: Yes. The Commission does not record figures because it is not pertinent to the Commission's consideration of nominations. The Commission does not ask applicants for information about their occupation or employment status as it does not wish to discourage people with outstanding achievements in areas unconnected with how they might earn their living.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answers of 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 429–30W, on the House of Lords, if he

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will ask the House of Lords Appointments Commission to hold a meeting in Pendle to encourage people there to think about putting themselves forward as a people's peer. [139796]

The Prime Minister: No. The House of Lords Appointments Commission is independent and it is for them to decide on their programme of meetings.

Microsoft (Licensing Fees)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister how much was paid to Microsoft in licensing fees by the Prime Minister's Office in each of the last three years; and how much has been budgeted for (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [130675]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) gave to him today.

President Bush (State Visit)

Richard Burden: To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issue of Israel's construction of the Security Wall with President Bush during his visit; and if he will report to the House the outcome of those discussions. [138943]

The Prime Minister: I expect to cover a range of issues of common interest with President Bush. I have regular discussions with him on a wide range of international issues including the Middle East Peace Process.

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether he intends to discuss with President Bush the subject of the United States ratifying the Kyoto Treaty during the President's forthcoming visit. [139395]

The Prime Minister: I expect to cover a range of issues of common interest with President Bush. My regular discussions with him include energy policy and climate change. The government welcomes the US's recognition that climate change is a serious problem and the fact that it is taking domestic action.

The UK is fully committed to the Kyoto Protocol, with its binding targets and timetables, which is designed to deliver absolute global emissions reductions.

The UK will work with other governments to develop the technologies needed to reduce global emissions further in the longer term.

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what the estimated total cost to public funds is of the forthcoming state visit of President Bush. [139413]

The Prime Minister: The estimates have not yet been completed as the final details of the programme are still being agreed. We expect the costs falling to Grant-in-Aid to be in line with previous state visits. The policing costs are met by the Metropolitan Police.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Lettings (SE1)

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how many dwellings in Mitre Road, Ufford Street and

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Webber Street, London SE1 have been let at open market rents since the Church Commissioners changed their lettings policy for this estate. [139238]

Mr. Bell: Since the change in the letting policy, the Commissioners have let 7 of these properties on the open market. A further 2 properties are at various stages of the letting process.

Over the same period, there have also been 17 lettings on non-market tenancies on the same part of the estate either because of transfers or change of tenancy on succession.

VAT Group

Miss McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Brussels with the Church of England VAT Group to meet (a) UK Permanent Representation officials and (b) Commissioner Bolkestein. [138837]

Mr. Bell: The Church VAT Group was grateful for the chance to reiterate the case for a reduced rate of VAT for repairs and maintenance to listed places of worship during the recent visit to Brussels. The UK permanent representative office was very clear about the support of the UK Government for our case and their commitment to argue for it at every level up to the Council of Ministers.

Commissioner Bolkestein received our presentation with much interest. Clearly, with negotiations still ongoing, involving discussion of the many different EU Member States' aspirations, he was not prepared to anticipate what the final outcome would be during his meeting with us.

NORTHERN IRELAND

All Ireland Sports Development Conference

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Irish Sports Council is contributing to the costs of the All Ireland Sports Development Conference on 20 and 21 November; and what the total cost to the Sports Council of Northern Ireland of the Conference is. [138463]

Angela Smith: The hosting of All Island Sports Development Conference is rotated every two years between the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and the Irish Sports Council. This year the Sports Council for Northern Ireland is hosting the event. The host council meets the direct costs of the event and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland will meet the direct running costs for the 2003 All-Island Sports Development Conference. These costs have been budgeted at £116,000.

Attacks on Medical Staff

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to provide greater funding to increase the personal security of medical staff. [138973]

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Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 November 2003, Official Report, column 375W.

The Department is concerned about violent attacks against all staff working in the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) and regards such incidents as totally unacceptable. The Department has encouraged employers to review their risk assessments with a view to identifying and reducing the potential for violence against HPSS staff.

In addition, the Department intends to mount a publicity campaign in the near future to make it abundantly clear that aggressive and violent behaviour against any HPSS personnel will not be tolerated. It is intended that this campaign will cover both staff who are employed directly by HSS Boards and Trusts and General Medical and Dental Practitioners, who are independent contractors working within the Health and Personal Social Services.

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