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Baroness Masham of Ilton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they believe that widespread use of the morning after pill in Northern Ireland will reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancy; and what has led them to that conclusion.[HL3307]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: There are many ways to reduce unplanned pregnancy including information, education and contraception. The morning after pill is

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just one of a range of contraceptive methods and it is not possible to quantify its impact on reducing unplanned pregnancy.

Pakistan: Travel Advice

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recently changed its travel advice for Pakistan.[HL3853]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has changed its travel advice for Pakistan with effect from 7 July 2003.

We previously advised British nationals other than those of Pakistani origin: against all but essential travel to Pakistan for which there is a compelling reason and where they have confidence in the security arrangements for the entire visit; against holiday travel to Pakistan; and to leave Pakistan unless they have a compelling reason to stay and unless they also have confidence in their security arrangements.

We are now advising British nationals: against holiday travel unless they have family contacts there; if they are travelling to Pakistan for professional or holiday reasons, they should be very careful about, and confident of, their personal security arrangements throughout their visit.

Our previous advice was drafted against the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in 2002, a number of terrorist attacks against western targets (including Pakistani Christian institutions) in 2002 and unrest in Pakistan following coalition action in Afghanistan and, more recently, in Iraq.

We reviewed this advice taking into account the recent improvement in India/Pakistan relations, post-conflict stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the action taken by the Pakistani authorities against Al'Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Pakistan and the relative decrease in the number of terrorist attacks against western targets thus far this year.

We believe that our advice needs to reflect these improvements, but without underplaying the risks to the British public. Our advice continues to underline that Pakistan remains a hostile environment for Western interests. It also underlines the serious risk of terrorism throughout Pakistan and the risk of indiscriminate attacks against western targets.

Visibly Western targets and individuals are more vulnerable to attack than British citizens of Pakistani origin and our advice makes this clear. We are therefore advising British nationals against holiday travel unless they have family contacts in Pakistan. Our advice also highlights the need for all visitors travelling to Pakistan (for business, holiday, visiting family or other purposes) to be very careful about, and confident of, their personal security arrangements throughout their visit.

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Timber

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, as reported, imported timber from Indonesia has been ordered for the new Home Office building, in preference to homegrown hardwoods; and, if so, why Indonesian timber was ordered when oriental rain forests are at risk.[HL3231]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): No timber has yet been purchased for the new building. An investigation is under way into whether the certificates obtained by the contractors covering the purchase of plywood for their own purposes complied with the requirements of government policy on the purchase of timber.

Channel Crossings: Juxtaposed Controls

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

What statistics they will publish on the operation of juxtaposed controls on Eurostar and at French ports. [HL3675]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Separate statistics regarding the juxtaposed control operations are currently not available. Although the recent expansion of the casework information database to ports will facilitate the collection of data from juxtaposed controls, we will need to take time to assess the quality of the data before deciding on a method of publication.

Local records show, however, that during the financial year 2002–03, 2,442 people were refused entry to the United Kingdom at the juxtaposed controls from Paris and Lille on the basis that they held inadequate documentation. The number of people refused entry at Coquelles, the juxtaposed control situated at the French end of the Channel Tunnel, for the same reason and during the same period was 2,232 and for Calais Frethun was 56.

Iraq: Initial Report on Combat Operations

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to publish the MoD's initial findings on the recent military campaign in Iraq. [HL3856]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): The Ministry of Defence is publishing today Operations in Iraq 2003: First Reflections, an initial report on the recent combat operations in Iraq. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office.

This initial report provides an authoritative account of the campaign and the contribution which has been made by the UK's Armed Forces. It also reflects on the early conclusions which we can draw from the combat

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operations and their implications for future defence policy.

Within the Ministry of Defence, a thorough examination is under way into all elements of the operations in Iraq, and gathering evidence from those involved at all levels. Detailed analysis—to inform a definitive assessment of the effectiveness of our equipment, military strategy and planning processes—will take some months to complete. The reflections in this report are therefore inevitably broad and of a provisional nature. We hope to publish a full report before the end of the year.

Our Armed Forces are continuing to perform a vital and difficult job in Iraq, helping the Iraqi people to establish a functioning infrastructure and creating the conditions for a stable new government. We pay tribute to their magnificent work, which is demonstrating once again the exceptional quality and dedication of our servicemen and women.

Nuclear Industry

Lord Jenkin of Roding asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will now enable the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to start the research work that will be needed to enable them, if invited, to embark without delay on the approval procedures for the fourth generation of nuclear reactor designs. [HL3407]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 2 July, Official Report, cols. WA 110–111.

Education Act 2002

Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to consult on draft regulations under Section 21 of the Education Act 2002 on the respective roles and responsibilities of the local education authority, the governing body and the head teacher and whether they have reached any conclusions about the relationship between the prospective regulations and the code of practice on local education authority-school relations. [HL3658]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): We intend to consult on draft regulations under Section 21 of the Education Act 2002 during the autumn term. The regulations will replace the existing Education (School Government) (Terms of Reference) (England) Regulations 2000 which prescribe the respective roles and responsibilities of governing bodies and head teachers. The new regulations will be extended to cover the LEA's role in the conduct of schools, both in normal circumstances and where there is cause for concern.

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The regulations will reflect the code of practice on local education authority-school relations, which will remain in force.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to introduce regulations on the control of school premises under Section 31 of the Education Act 2002. [HL3660]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Government intend to introduce regulations on the control of school premises under Section 31 of the Education Act 2002 in September 2004. Until that time, Section 40 and Schedule 13 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 remain in force.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to consult on draft regulations on the staffing of maintained schools under Sections 35 and 36 of the Education Act 2002.[HL3661]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Consultation on staffing regulations and guidance under Sections 35 and 36 of the 2002 Act is currently in progress. We are consulting the national representatives of staff, employers, governors and the Churches.

Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they intend to commence the arrangements for reducing communications with schools as provided under Section 38 of the Education Act 2002. [HL3662]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The provisions (1), (2), (4) and (7) of Section 38 of the Education Act 2002 shall come into force in England on 1 October 2003.

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