To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average delay in publishing the monthly mortality figures.

There has been no delay over the last year. Estimated numbers of deaths registered in four-weekly periods for England and Wales, and counties at age under one week, under one year and at all ages are published about seven weeks after the end of the period to which they relate. Similar weekly statistics for England and Wales only are published 11 days after the end of the period to which they relate (excepting public holidays). Both sets of figures are published currently in "OPCS Monitor" series WR "Registrar General's Weekly Return for England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library.