To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decisions he has taken on the findings of the review into the efficiency of the Office for National Statistics. [73284]

Having considered the findings of the efficiency review of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and met with the trade unions to discuss their reactions, I have decided to accept the recommendations made by the efficiency review Steering Group.The findings of the review indicate that there is scope within ONS to achieve efficiency savings rising to around £20 million per year. The achievement of such savings, which will be reinvested within ONS, will enable the Office to focus resources and management attention on improving the range and quality of the statistical information it produces. I have asked Dr. Tim Holt, the Director of ONS, to prepare and implement a programme of action designed to deliver these savings, in consultation with ONS staff and trade unions.I am today publishing a copy of the full report which was commissioned from the consultants KPMG by the review Steering Group. The recommendations made by the Steering Group draw on many of the KPMG proposals, but they do not include them all. In particular, the potential savings identified as a result of the outsourcing of data collection and processing are not part of the package of efficiency savings which the Steering Group recommended.I have also today accepted proposals from Dr. Holt to strengthen the senior management structure of ONS. This will involve the establishment of a restructured ONS Management Board comprising the Director of ONS and four other members: a Director of Economic Statistics, a Director of Social Statistics, a Director of Quality Assurance and Methodology, and Director of Finance and Corporate Services. This final post will be advertised externally, with business and commercial experience a key requirement.These changes to the management structure of ONS reflect the importance which the Government attach to implementing this programme of work. Ensuring the quality of ONS outputs is a key part of the Government's commitment to enhance the integrity of official statistics.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the engineering profession since May 1998 on investment in the UK's engineering base. [70704]

The Chancellor has had frequent discussions with representatives from business since May 1998, many of whom have been members of the engineering profession. The Chancellor has focused particularly on the UK's productivity record and how business and Government can work together to improve it. Investment by business, including the engineering sector, has featured as one of the key areas for improvement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Registrar General's options paper on access to registration records to be published. [72597]

I have now considered the Registrar General's options paper on access to civil registration records. It is proposed that a limited amount of prior consultation with stakeholders should be undertaken over the next few months. The outcome of this consultation will be taken into account when the proposals for reform arising from the Civil Registration review are published in the summer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy to issue an explanatory leaflet following his budget in March for delivery to each household in the United Kingdom. [72621]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 4 February 1999, Official Report, column 724.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what powers the EU is seeking to require Her Majesty's Government to double the current air passenger duty for return domestic flights within the United Kingdom; what powers Her Majesty's Government have to resist the demand; and if he will make a statement. [68210]

[holding answer 1 February 1999]: The UK Government have an obligation to ensure that taxes are compatible with EU treaty obligations but how compatibility is achieved is entirely a matter for the Government.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses were affected by the amusement machine licence duty announced in the 1998 Budget; and if he will estimate the average cost per business. [70672]

[holding answer 15 February 1999]: No figures are available for the number of businesses involved in the amusement machine industry.

To ask the President of the Council if she will list the average number of hours the House sat daily in (a) January 1979, (b) January 1989 and (c) January 1999. [72701]

The House sat for a daily average of: 9 hours and 11 minutes in January 1979; 9 hours and 9 minutes in January 1989; and 8 hours and 59 minutes in January 1999. Not including sitting Fridays, the House sat for a daily average of 9 hours and 51 minutes in January 1979; 9 hours and 59 minutes in January 1989; and 8 hours and 59 minutes in January 1999.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards the European Investment Bank Third World loan packages, with particular reference to environmental impact assessments. [72288]

The Government scrutinise proposals coming to the European Investment Bank Board of Directors to assess their developmental soundness. This includes consideration of environmental issues. The European Investment Bank itself reviews all projects for environmental impact as an integral part of its appraisal process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the additional costs to local authorities of having Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty within their boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [72598]

No central assessment of additional costs has been made. However, a study undertaken last year for the Countryside Commission, the Government's statutory advisors on landscape protection, suggested that some £4.8m may be spent annually by local authorities in England on the core costs of the management and protection of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). The same study suggested that a further £9.5m may be spent annually on local authority countryside management services within AONBs.The Countryside Commission has provided advice to the Government on various aspects of the care of protected landscapes. We are considering the recommendations very carefully, together with all the other information available, before taking any final decisions. There are some complex issues involved but we hope to be able to announce some conclusions soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the problems experienced in obtaining planning permission for the Jubilee Line extension; and what assessment he has made of practice in this respect in Hong Kong. [71116]

In only one case, namely the development of the Canada Water bus station, was London Underground obliged to take steps to appeal against the refusal by the local planning authority to approve certain reserved planning matters relating to the development.I am not in a position to comment on practice in this respect in Hong Kong.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of women in each age group hold driving licences; and what assessment he has made of the consequences of differences between the percentage in each age group for the rate of growth in road traffic. [71117]

The table shows the percentage of women in each age group who held driving licences in Great Britain, over the period 1995–97.

Age	Percentage
17–20	36
21–29	67
30–39	74
40–49	74
50–59	61
60–69	46
70 or over	22
All ages	57

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to evaluate networks of transport on a regional basis; and what proposals he has had from the Professor of European Economics in the University of Kent on this topic. [71111]

Under the new arrangements published on Monday 15 February, in draft Planning Policy Guidance Note 11 (PPG 11) on "Regional Planning", major transport network improvements are to be planned as part of the overall regional transport infrastructure, taking all modes into account. Regional planning bodies will be in the lead in this, working with the Government Offices and transport operators, providers and users.I am unaware of any representations on this topic from the Professor of European Economics in the University of Kent.

Study	Report
The potential benefits of road transport telematics	TRL Report 220 1996
Institutional and financial aspects of traveller information systems	WS Atkins 1997
Review of technologies for moving people in cities	UCL Centre for Transport Studies 1997
Review of telematics relevant to public transport	TRL Report 342 1998
Transport Interchange—Best Practice	Colin Buchanan and Partners 1998

Work is going on in a number of different projects to help local authorities and others make use of these results. For example, the Department is supporting work to assist local authorities identify and plan for the deployment of new transport technologies. We are also part funding research to enable electronic journey planning systems to communicate with each other automatically so facilitating `seamless' journeys.The Department has not undertaken any recent work purely to evaluate studies on this subject by other organisations. Account was however taken of such studies as appropriate in the commissions referred to.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he takes of the predicted growth of road traffic in determining the road building programme. [71114]

Our recent Roads Review was conducted against the high levels of predicted traffic growth forecast. Forecasts of the effects of schemes were an important part of the Review, but we did not follow a "predict and provide" approach. We have moved away from exclusive reliance on road building by looking at other, more sustainable ways of tackling traffic problems, finding ways of making better use of the existing trunk road network along with a smaller, targeted programme of improvement schemes where these have been proved to be necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what data his Department has collated on the average amount of space occupied per family in the United Kingdom in 1999; and if he will make a statement on past trends in this respect. [71115]

Floor space data for dwellings in England are collected through the English House Condition Survey, which is carried out every 5 years. The most recent survey was carried out in 1996. This shows

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated of how advanced technology and better information could help to make possible more seamless journeys using different modes of transport. [71113]

The following reports contain the results of studies commissioned by my Department which address aspects of the contribution of advanced technology and/or better information to improving travel by different transport modes.that households had 84 sqm on average in England. This is little different from 1991 when the average was about 81 sqm.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when the new Countryside Agency is scheduled to begin work; [72674](2) if he will list the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and board members of the new Countryside Agency. [72676]

The Countryside Agency will come into existence on 1 April 1999. Work to establish the Agency successfully has been going on for some time, led by a Merger Steering Group comprising the Chairmen, board members and Chief Executives of the two existing Commissions.We will make an announcement about the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and board members of the Agency shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of British Airways; what was discussed; what help his Department is receiving from British Airways, and if British Airways is financially sponsoring initiatives run by his Department or its agencies. [72809]

I and my officials are in regular contact with representatives of all those with an interest in aviation. It is not normal practice of Governments to give details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.Other than advice relating to official correspondence in relation to passenger services, this Department receives no help from British Airways. Neither am I aware of any initiative of this Department which receives financial support from British Airways.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious accidents on the roads which are due to snow or icy road conditions. [72706]

Information on the cause of road accidents is not available. However, the numbers of reported accidents occurring on icy or snowy road surfaces are contained in the following table:

Number of casualties
	Year of accident
Severity	1995	1996	1997
Casualties on snowy or icy road surface
Fatal	77	87	43
Serious	1,206	1,363	612
Slight	7,323	9,654	4,414
Total	8,606	11,104	5,069

Fatal and serious casualties by month: Great Britain 1993–97
Casualties
Severity	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
1993
Fatal	312	252	286	289	341	270	326	290	331	351	384	382
Serious	3,515	3,087	3,417	3,546	3,978	3,837	3,955	3,745	3,868	3,962	3,890	4,209
1994
Fatal	341	267	270	245	255	293	304	295	331	321	365	363
Serious	3,863	3,273	3,616	3,552	3,619	3,820	4,121	3,914	3,885	4,319	4,171	4,378
1995
Fatal	290	267	271	250	259	306	325	354	288	321	345	345
Serious	3,484	3,164	3,673	3,541	3,624	3,822	3,950	4,106	4,121	4,068	4,141	3,829
1996
Fatal	282	249	259	287	256	281	294	342	325	327	316	380
Serious	3,418	3,270	3,279	3,413	3,604	3,635	3,710	4,054	3,881	4,248	4,175	3,786
1997
Fatal	251	290	264	313	292	289	304	320	291	321	354	310
Serious	3,137	3,196	3,556	3,367	3,595	3,633	3,867	3,785	3,362	3,924	3,848	3,697

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information he has collated on pollution in London caused by (a) buses and (b) cars. [72673]

The London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory, prepared by the London Research Centre, indicates that in 1995, emissions from buses and cars in London were as described in the following table. All figures are given in terms of tonnes of pollutant per annum.

	Buses	Cars
Nitrogen oxides	5,464	64,091
Fine particulate matter (PM10)	558	1,497
Carbon monoxide	2,703	473,895
Non-methane volatile organic compounds	419	64,381

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 9 February 1999, Official Report, column 156,

Number of casualties
	Year of accident
Severity	1995	1996	1997
Accidents on snowy or icy road surface
Fatal	69	81	41
Serious	993	1,136	526
Slight	5,188	6,949	3,115
Total	6,250	8,166	3,682

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries on roads for each month of the last five years. [72709]

The information requested is shown in the following table:on the standard spending assessment, what plans he has to review the weather stations whose records are used in the calculation of local authorities' standard spending assessment. [71589]

We have no plans for such a review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the safety of concrete flues in dwellings. [73567]

I have been made aware of concerns about the safety of certain flue liners, which are intended for use in chimneys serving appliances burning solid fuel. They are made of concrete, although those solely comprising kiln-burnt aggregate, pumice and cement (other than products used to facilitate manufacture) are not known to give rise to any problems.Despite these concerns, the two principal housing warranty providers have reported no change in the frequency of claims relating to defective chimneys and my Department is unaware of any marked change in the frequency of soot fires requiring chimney reconstruction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions have taken place between his Department and the DTI regarding oil extraction in the UK's world heritage sites; and if he will make a statement. [70753]

I have been asked to reply.None. The Scottish Office is, however, considering its response to UNESCO's request for information about the impact of oil exploration near St. Kilda and has discussed this matter with the DTI.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the Gulf Veterans Medical Assessment Programme; and if he will make a statement. [67462]

The Gulf veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (MAP) was established in 1993 to provide as full a diagnosis as possible to UK veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict who are concerned about their health. So far, just under 3,000 Gulf veterans have been referred to the MAP, which continues to offer patients an appointment within six weeks of their referral. Fewer than 40 patients are currently waiting to be seen by the MAP for the first time.A paper describing the clinical findings from the first 1,000 patients examined at the MAP was published in the

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter dated 29 September 1997, from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire, written on behalf of his constituent, Mrs. Watt. [67969]

I wrote to the hon. Member earlier this week.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Spanish citizens ordinarily domiciled in Spain and previously employed in HM Dockyard Gibraltar are in receipt of British pensions; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [71694]

There are currently no Spanish citizens, ordinarily domiciled in Spain and previously employed in HM Dockyard Gibraltar, in receipt of pensions paid by the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency published its report for 1998–99; and what was the cost of production of the report. [71906]

The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency has not yet published its Annual Report and Accounts for 1998–99. DERA's Annual Report and Accounts for 1997–98, which the Agency also uses as a marketing brochure, was published on 30 June 1998 at a cost of £135,000 excluding VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel were deployed on the jungle training exercises in Belize carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [71897]

The number of personnel who were deployed on jungle training exercises in Belize carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998 was 1,003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the value of the air defence exercise in central Europe carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [71895]

Several air defence exercises are conducted in central Europe each year. The major annual air defence exercise held in the region is the NATO exercise Central Enterprise. In 1997 Exercise Central Enterprise took place from 9–20 June. RAF participants comprised Tornado GR1, Harrier GR7 and VC10 aircraft, and flew a total of 18 sorties per day. The exercise offered a number of valuable training opportunities, particularly in the area of operations involving other NATO Nations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the six armoured battlegroup exercises in Canada carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [71893]

Due to the deployment to Bosnia of a unit scheduled to take part in the armoured battlegroup exercises in Canada, only five armoured battlegroup exercises were carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. The cost of these five exercises was £73.46 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what costs have been incurred in each of the last five years on (a) damages paid out and (b) solicitors' costs relating to members of his Department's civilian staff who have been dismissed following disciplinary proceedings, despite a recommendation following appeal that they should be reinstated and who have then won industrial tribunal cases for unfair dismissal. [72319]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 1999, Official Report, column 21, for what reasons the average number of flying hours for Canberra aircraft was lower in 1998 than in 1997. [71978]

The Canberra fleet is relatively small and flew fewer hours in 1998 than in 1997 because the fleet was undergoing modification.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 1998, Official Report, column 358, on the sale of HMS 'Vernon' in Portsmouth, on the basis of what advice he decided to withhold the information on the sale; and on how many occasions since 1 November 1997 his Department has withheld information under that exemption. [72203]

It is currently the MOD policy to withhold such commercial information relating to property sales. Since 1 November 1997, such information has been withheld on two occasions under Exemption 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sites have been disposed of by his Department in each of the last three years; and in relation to which of the sites he has withheld information concerning the value of the receipts in an answer to a parliamentary question. [71977]

Details of the sites disposed of in 1996–97 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The number for the Financial Year 1997–98 was approximately 200 and to date in the current Financial Year, 120 properties have been sold. The hon. Member would wish to note that individual married quarters are not counted separately but rather, a Married Quarters estate is counted as one property.There have been five occasions since 1997 when information has been withheld concerning the value of receipts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 11 January 1999, Official Report, column 18, if he will place in the Library a list of the 130 reports in the two series of papers produced by the Mathematical Physics Division of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, indicating the title of each paper and the date on which each paper was produced. [71960]

Yes. I have asked for a list to be compiled. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will explain the abbreviations and acronyms (a) QA 175, (b) PZT software, (c) MOD QAR, (d) 1700 Series, (e) DSD, (f) DTech, (g) QA 303s, (h) COSHH, (i) SED, (j) DPR, (k) DSAC, (l) NAMAS, (m) NAFEMS, (n) NSC and (o) MMS, referred to in unclassified AWE Company Security, Quality, Environment, Safety and Health Systems Analysis reports, indicating in each case the function of the item to which they relate. [72599]

The information requested is as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which targets the Defence Estate Organisation did not meet in 1997–98; and what monitoring he has undertaken for those targets in 1998–99. [72794]

The following Key Targets set for 1997–98 were either part achieved, or were not achieved in full:

• a. Key Target 1.
• b. Key Target 2.
• c. Key Target 5.
• d. Key Target 7.
• e. Key Target 8.

Subsequently, a set of interim targets for 198–99 was published. These targets began the process of setting output driven targets which are measurable, within the Chief Executive's control, and incentivise performance to meet the needs of the department. This set of interim targets has allowed the Chief Executive to establish a baseline against which to measure progress in 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which targets the Defence Postal and Courier Service Agency did not meet in 1997–98; and what monitoring he has undertaken for those targets in 1998–99. [72792]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Army Personnel Centre; and what was the figure at its inception. [71899]

The number of personnel, civilian and military, employed by the Army Personnel Centre (APC) at 31 December 1998, the most recent date for which full staffing figures are available, was 1,277. The number of personnel involved in Army personnel functions at the time of the launch of the APC as a Defence Agency on 2 December 1996 was some 1,655 civilian and military personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the Army Base Repair Organisation published its report for 1998–99; and what was the cost of production of the report. [71902]

The Army Base Repair Organisation report for 1998–99 will be published following the end of the financial year, probably in July 1999. The report for 1997–98 was published in September 1998. It was produced under contract by The Stationery Office; the cost of the contract is commercially confidential information, but was less than £2.50 per copy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by the Army Base Repair Organisation; and what the figure was at its inception. [72807]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Army Base Repair Organisation. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the sale of and development plans for the REME depot at Stirling. [72753]

Agreement for the phased purchase of part of the former REME Depot at Forthside in Stirling was signed by MOD and Stirling Council on 23 September 1998. The land is to be used as part of Stirling Council's Town Centre Redevelopment. The MOD retained site at Forthside is currently used by the Army Base Repair Organisation, the Army Base Services Distribution Agency and other small MOD units.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the awards and commendations which his Department has received over the past five years for good environmental management of its estates and wildlife, indicating the sites so commended. [72736]

The following is the information.

Shell Best of Better Britain (1994)—Salisbury Plain Training Area-East-Barn Owl Project.

Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Brecknock Branch—Rural Wales Award (1994) in recognition of the groups' contribution to conservation on the ranges at Mynydd Epynt, Sennybridge Training Area.

Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames—Environmental Pride Awards (1994) Category Environmental Management by Industrial Concern. First place awarded to MOD at Chessington.

British Gas Grassroots Action Award (1994)—Foxglove Covert, Catterick Garrison.

Hampshire County Council—Countryside Award (1995) Commended for restoration and management of Eelmoor Marsh by grazing with Prezewalski's horses, (in conjunction with Marwell Zoo).

Taunton Deane Borough Council—Conservation Commendation (1995) for conversion of stables at Norton Manor (Royal Marines).

The Forestry Authority—1996. Centre of Excellence—to Longmoor Army Training Area. Awarded in four Categories, for improving the quality of the landscape, creating benefits for wildlife, providing access for people, and growing timber in environmentally sound ways.

Shell Best of Better Britain Commendation (1996)—Foxglove Covert, Catterick Garrison.

Britain in Bloom (1998)—Aldershot Garrison won Southern England in Bloom.

BTO Commendation (1998) for Constant Effort Site Ringing Station—Foxglove Covert, Catterick Garrison.

Forestry Authority Commendation (1996) (Parkwood (Catterick)) for sound management of a renewable resource.

English Nature—Site of Special Scientific Interest Manager's Award (1998) to Liz Peace, Chairman of the Farnborough Conservation Group.

Sanctuary Award—Judged annually with English Nature, for best conservation project on MOD land.

1998 winner—Bovington Training Area for Longterm heathland and wetland management.

1997 winner—Sennybridge—Disgwlfa Visitor Centre.

1996 winner—Porton Down—management of Chalk Grassland habitat for the benefit of the Stone Curlew population.

1995 winner—DERA Farnborough for use of Prezewalski's Horse to graze the lowland heath.

1994 winner—Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton—conservation management of Langport Rifle Range, Breech Wood and Merryfield Airfield.

Ford—Environmental Management—Energy Plan (1994) Commendation—Boscombe Down.

Northumberland County Council—Trees and Hedgerow Cup Competition (1996). Commendation in the broadleaved woodland category for Grasslees Oakwood and Yardhop Wood—Otterburn AFTC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the outcome of his review of the possible employment of women in submarines and in mine clearance diving. [73578]

We are committed to equality of opportunity in the Armed Forces. In the course of the Strategic Defence Review we examined the opportunities for maximising opportunity for women in each of the Services provided that this would not damage combat effectiveness. The results of this work were set out in the report on the Strategic Defence Review (Cmd 2999), in which we also announced our intention to review the exclusion of women from service in submarines and Royal Navy mine clearance.We have now completed our review of these matters and concluded that we should maintain our policy of excluding women from service in submarines and mine clearance diving for medical reasons.In reaching this conclusion I considered all the evidence very carefully and looked hard for options which might enable us to open service in submarines to women despite the medical risks involved. I was not able, however, to put to one side the MOD's statutory duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.All RN submarines currently in service may remain submerged for up to 90 days for operational reasons. In the course of such deployments, contaminants build up in the internal atmosphere. Although there is careful control of the materials allowed aboard and atmospheric filtration, the build up of contaminants such as carbon dioxide in this closed environment cannot be prevented. Such an atmosphere is not harmful to adults, but medical studies by the Institute of Naval Medicine show that for some contaminants the levels exceed those considered safe to the foetus of a pregnant woman, and therefore also place the woman's health at risk. In other cases there is insufficient data available to recommend with confidence maximum exposure limits which would prevent harm to the foetus and the woman.A woman, in at least the first days after conception, may not be aware that she is pregnant. If she were serving in a submarine there is, therefore, the small possibility that she might unknowingly expose here unborn child to levels on contamination above those considered safe. Even if some women were prepared to accept the risks and volunteer to serve in submarines the MOD could not compromise its duty of care by allowing them to do so.In the specialised area of mine clearance diving, (where there are far fewer posts involved), there are also substantial medical risks to an unborn child and, therefore, the mother, caused in this case by the very high pressures to which these divers are subjected. As far as women who are not pregnant are concerned, the medical risks are less well understood, but there may be a risk to a woman during menstruation. I have accepted the medical advice that women should, therefore, be excluded from working as Mine Clearance Divers at least until more definitive medical advice is available.The Government and the Armed Forces are determined that the widest possible employment opportunities should be available to women in the Armed Forces. The position on service in submarines and mine diving clearance will, therefore, be kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the programmes earmarked under the Ministry of Defence alternative assumptions budget; and what is the estimated cost of each programme; [72196](2) if he will list the programmes earmarked in the Ministry of Defence alternative assumptions budget in the years

The Ministry of Defence does not have an alternative assumptions budget. Alternative assumptions are part of the department's Long Term Costing (LTC) process and provide the mechanism by which possible changes to the core Defence programme can be costed and assessed.The LTC represents projections which inform internal advice to Ministers on the affordability of the defence programme. It has been the policy of successive Administrations that such advice should not be disclosed, consistent with Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the (a) 1,000 pound and (b) 540-pound free-fall bombs will receive an upgrade package; how much his Department expects to spend in 1999–2000 on the upgrading of the stock of free-fall conventional bombs; and if he will make a statement on the Staff Target Air/Sea 1248 programme; [72198](2) what is his assessment of the accuracy of the Air Force and Navy's 540-pound and 1,000-pound bombs

The UK's current 5401b and 10001b bombs are ballistic weapons deliverable either guided or unguided. The accuracy with which they can be delivered depends on many variables including the aiming system used by the delivery aircraft, the speed, dive angle, height and range from the target at release from the aircraft and type of attack profile. The weather conditions may also be a significant factor.The possibility of an upgrade programme is currently being examined. No decisions have, however, yet been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the major cooking and catering awards won by the (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) Air Force over the past five years. [72740]

Awards have been won by individual Service participants and teams as shown in the following table.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what (a) reviews, (b) task

Reviews, task forces and advisory groups
Review/task force	Report(s) published	External costs
Review of Civil Justice and Legal Aid	Reported published October 1997	—
Review of Welfare Services to the Courts1	—	—
Review of Procedures consequent on the Decision to Transfer or Commit Fraud Trials	—	—
Study and Evaluation of the Current Tax Appeals System	—	—
Review of the Lord Chancellor's Department Funding for Marriage Support and Research Services	—	External Reviewer (retired Permanent Secretary) paid £450 per day
Review of Enforcement of Civil Court Judgments	—	£2,000 (members travel expenses)
Representative Actions Working Group	—	£100 (members travel expenses)
National Interdisciplinary Forum (NIDF)— Information Meetings Pilots	—	—
Research Advisory Group—Information Meetings Pilots	—	—
Ministerial Task Group on the Home Buying Process2	Report to Ministers—October 1998 Public consultation due to close end of March 1999	—
Community Legal Service Quality Task Force	—	—
1 Joint review with Home Office and DOH
2 Joint LCD, DETR and DTI Group

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the numbers of mortgage repossession cases (a) commenced and (b) executed since 1997 and of the likely trend in such numbers in 1999–2000. [72317]

The number of cases issued and executed since 1997 is as follows.

[holding answer 16 February 1999]: The information requested is in the table. Departmental costs (including the cost of around £75,000 for the review of civil justice and legal aid included in Lord McIntosh of Haringey's answer of 7 July 1997, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 51–55), are being met from existing Departmental budgets. External costs, where applicable, are shown in the table.

	Mortgage possession actions entered	Possession warrants executed
January 1997-December 1997	67,073	46,865
January 1998-December 1998	178,865	59,701
1 Figures for local authority mortgages have been estimated since the third quarter of 1998 at 3 per cent. of the total figure; historically since 1996 local authority mortgages have represented between 1 per cent. and 5 per cent. of the total.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received on funding for mediation services in Cumbria. [72667]

None. I have received two letters, one from the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border and one from my hon. Friend the Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) about funding Mediation UK, a national umbrella organisation for community mediation.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the operation of the Land Registry. [72720]

The Land Registry maintains and develops authoritative and effective land information systems for England and Wales. It was established as a separate government department in 1862, became an Executive Agency in 1990 and a Government Trading Fund in 1993. It is required by statute to cover all expenditure from its fee income and makes no call on moneys voted by Parliament. The Land Registry has joined with private sector and other government organisations to develop a National Land Information Service. This has led to an innovative conveyancing pilot, based in Bristol, which is effectively a one-stop conveyancing shop, reducing overall transaction times when buying a house. In November 1998 the pilot won a British Computer Society award which recognises excellence in computing.The Land Registry has also recently won an award from the Society for Computers and the Law for its on-line Direct Access Service. In January, the Land Registry became one of only 18 organisations in the United Kingdom to be awarded a third Charter Mark.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what systems he has in place to ensure that policies being developed by his Department are subject to a crime impact (a) assessment and (b) audit and are not likely to lead to enhanced criminal opportunities. [72691]

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply the Under-Secretary for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Minister for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) has given to this question today, Official Report, column 311–12.

To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the issues for discussion before the Justice and Internal Affairs Council on 12 March, indicating the position he proposes to take on each issue. [72737]

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is (a) the average and (b) the longest time taken to determine applications for European Economic Area residents' permits in each year from 1995 to date. [70761]

I regret I am unable to provide the statistical information requested as it is not readily available in the form requested. Collation of the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for European Economic Area residents' permits were (a) granted and (b) refused for each month in the years from 1995 to 1998; and how many such applications are currently outstanding. [70719]

Monthly figures for grants and refusals of residence permits from January 1996 to August 1998 are listed in the table. A total figure for 1995 has been included as the monthly figures for that year are not readily available. The number of applications outstanding (as at October 1998) was 5,500.

Grants/refusals of EEA residence permits 1995–98
	Granted	Refused
1995	3,614	68
1996
January	204	9
February	311	5
March	238	1
April	240	1
May	238	1
June	257	1
July	237	1
August	205	1
September	254	2
October	244	3
November	243	2
December	158	1
1997
January	177	1
February	122	5
March	192	1
April	231	2
May	167	2
June	272	1
July	250	0
August	141	1
September	95	3
October	55	2
November	78	1
December	26	5

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female foreign nationals are serving sentences for drug related offences. [72360]

The latest available provisional information is for 31 January 1999. On that date, there were 274 female foreign nationals serving sentences for drug-related offences in prisons in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners released subject to home detention curfew have been returned to custody; and how many so returned to custody had been subject to supervision. [72361]

As of 22 February, 1,289 offenders have been placed on Home Detention Curfew. 23 curfewees have had their licenses revoked by the Secretary of State, and 21 have been returned to custody. 15 of those returned to custody were subject to supervision whilst in the community.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the issues for discussion

Population of sentenced females in prisons in England and Wales on 31 January 1999 by offence and sentence length1
Offence	Less than 3 months	3 months	Over 3 months to less than 6 months	6 months to less than 12 months	12 months and over	Total
Theft and handling	31	25	48	100	134	338
Fraud and forgery	6	3	10	46	75	140
Other offences	36	25	37	156	1,659	1,913
Total	73	53	95	302	1,868	2,391
1 Provisional figures

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners convicted of offences involving possession, supply or trafficking of controlled drugs were serving sentences of (a) less than three months imprisonment, (b) three to six months imprisonment, (c) six to 12 months imprisonment and (d) more than 12 months imprisonment. [72359]

The available information is given in the table.before the Justice and Internal Affairs Council on 12 March, indicating the position he proposes to take on each issue. [72727]

Agendas for Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Councils, which are determined by the Presidency of the day, are nearly always finalised only very shortly before Council meetings themselves. The agenda for the JHA Council on 12 March is still in draft form, and is very likely to undergo substantial further revision. Current indications are that major items are likely to be Europol, questions relating to the transition from the Maastricht to the Amsterdam Treaty with regard to Conventions, and preparation of a meeting with central and eastern European countries and Cyprus, which will take place in the afternoon.An annotated agenda will be sent to the Select Committee on European Scrutiny in the normal way, as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners are serving sentences for (a) theft and handling, (b) fraud and forgery and (c) other offences; and if he will give a breakdown of these categories into sentences of (i) three months, (ii) three months to six months, (iii) six months to 12 months and (iv) more than 12 months. [72368]

The available information is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if hon. Members and their staff who give immigration advice or perform immigration services are exempt persons under the meaning of Clause 63(4)(a) or (b) of the Immigration and Asylum Bill 1999. [72148]

Hon. Members and their staff may provide immigration advice in the course of their Parliamentary work without needing to meet any of the requirements of Clause 63 of the Immigration and Asylum Bill because under Clause 61(2)(b), such advice is not provided in the course of a business.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the 1999–2000 income of the Metropolitan Police will come from the areas that will be transferred out of the Metropolitan Police District on 1 April 2000; and what percentage of (a) the total income and (b) the total amount paid by council tax payers this represents. [71931]

The Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District tells me that precept income in 1999–2000 from the areas that, subject to enactment of the Greater London Authority Bill, will cease to be part of the Metropolitan Police District on 1 April 2000 will be £16.7 million. This represents 0.9 per cent. of the total income of the Metropolitan Police for the year 1999–2000 from police and revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates and precepts on local authorities. It is 7.4 per cent. of total police precept income.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the 1999–2000 income of the Metropolitan Police will come from the Borough of Spelthorne; and what percentage of (i) the total Metropolitan Police income and (ii) the total amount paid by local authorities this represents. [71940]

The Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District tells me that precept income for 1999–2000 of £2,971,605.12 will come from the Borough of Spelthorne. This is 0.14 per cent. of the total income of the Metropolitan Police for the year 1999–2000 from police and revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates and the precept on local authorities and is 1.31 per cent. of total police precept income.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the deportation of families where there are children who have spent a long time in the United Kingdom. [73568]

For a number of years, it has been the practice of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate not to pursue enforcement action against people who have children under 18 living with them who have spent 10 years or more in this country, save in very exceptional circumstances.We have concluded that 10 years is too long a period. Children who have been in this country for several years will be reasonably settled here and may, therefore, find it difficult to adjust to life abroad. In future, the enforced removal or deportation will not normally be appropriate where there are minor dependent children in the family who have been living in the United Kingdom continuously for 7 or more years. In most cases, the ties established by children over this period will outweigh other considerations and it is right and fair that the family should be allowed to stay here. However, each case will continue to be considered on its individual merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra resources will be allocated to Essex Police in order that they can fulfil their duties, after reorganisation, in the areas of Essex presently covered by the Metropolitan Police. [72803]

Police funding allocations are determined by a needs-based formula. The formula to be applied in 2000–2001 will take into account the changes to the boundaries of the Essex Police. The allocation of resources thereafter within the force area is a matter for the Chief Constable.The Government have recognised that the Essex Police Authority will incur transitional costs in the year preceding the boundary changes. In order to achieve a smooth implementation of the changes we have, in addition to Essex Police Authority's normal funding for 1999–2000, allocated an extra £2 million to the Police Authority for special transitional costs associated with boundary changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the way Mr. Justice Macpherson conducted the Lawrence Inquiry. [72675]

During the proceedings of the Inquiry I received representations from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and from the parents of the five suspects in the case expressing concerns about some aspects of the Inquiry.The conduct of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry was a matter for the Chairman, Sir William Macpherson and I believe that he conducted the Inquiry with complete fairness.I have placed on the record my deep gratitude to Sir William Macpherson and his Inquiry team in my statement to the House today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to measure the efficiency of police forces in order to determine if they have reached his target of a two per cent. efficiency gain. [R] [72719]

Monitoring and review of police efficiency plans from April 1999 will be undertaken jointly by the Home Office, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and the Audit Commission. Forces will be expected to demonstrate that they have achieved the two per cent. efficiency gains demanded, and that the resources released have been reinvested to improve delivery of national and local frontline policing priorities. At the end of 1999–2000, efficiency plans will be audited and certified against actual outturn. Ministers will receive regular reports on forces' progress towards achieving the two per cent. target.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Kurdish population in north London; how many came to Britain as asylum seekers; how many are still waiting to have their asylum status determined; and how many are estimated to be involved in serious crime. [72717]

I regret that information on the number and immigration status of persons of Kurdish origin currently resident in north London is not available.The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that information about victims and offenders in the Metropolitan Police District is not aggregated under the definition of "the Kurdish Community".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the level of crime in London emanating from the Kurdish community. [72712]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that information about victims and offenders in the Metropolitan Police District is not aggregated under the definition of "the Kurdish Community".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) initiatives taken and (b) advice received from the Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator over the last 12 months. [72699]

The United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and his Deputy report to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Drug Misuse, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office. The role of the Co-ordinator is to provide day-to-day leadership and focus on implementing and developing the Government's drugs strategy, published in April 1998, for which £217 million of new money has been provided for the next three years. The Co-ordinator will produce his first annual report and a national plan in the spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what systems he has in place to ensure that policies being developed by his Department are subject to a crime impact (a) assessment and (b) audit and are not likely to lead to enhanced criminal opportunities. [72669]

Development of Government policy takes place with close co-operation between the Departments concerned. This can be through formal arrangements, such as those established between the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and the Law Officers' Department, or via Ministerial or Official Groups or Working Parties. Less formally, they can be through close consultation with experts in the relevant areas and with those affected by the proposed measures, normally against a background of regular in-house or specially commissioned research. The Home Office works closely with the Cabinet Office or other Government Departments on the crime implications of policy developments.Our determination is that the implications for crime and disorder of any new measures are properly taken into account. This commitment is reflected in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Section 17(1) requires local and police authorities to exercise their functions with due regard to the likely effect on preventing crime and disorder.Greater emphasis is now being given to building up our knowledge of policies that work in tackling crime. The Crime Reduction Programme, supported by £250 million from the Comprehensive Spending Review, is based on systematic evidence of what is effective in reducing crime and tackling its causes, not just dealing with its effects. All the parts of the Crime Reduction Programme will be independently evaluated to assess their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in reducing crime and improving the operation of the criminal justice system. Those parts which are successful will form the basis of future mainstream programmes and those which are not will be dropped.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when research by his Department on the sparsity factor for policing was initiated. [72732]

External research to examine whether there are any additional costs associated with the policing of sparsely populated rural areas was commissioned in March 1998. The results will be available shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 1999, Official Report, column 764, how many active drug dogs are on active service at (i) Princeton Prison, Dartmoor, and (ii) Channings Wood Prison, Denbury; and if he will introduce a passive drug dog in Pritchton Prison, Dartmoor. [71880]

There are four active drug dogs at Dartmoor prison, and two active drug dogs at Channings Wood prison. Funds have been approved to provide Dartmoor prison with one passive drug dog and one handler.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses were affected by the change in the gas levy announced in the 1997 budget; and what is the average reduction in the levy per business. [70671]

[holding answer 15 February 1999]: The Chancellor announced in his July 1997 Budget that the Government proposed to cut the gas levy to zero, with full effect from April 1998. As he announced in the March 1998 Budget, the Government decided to implement this by abolishing the levy with effect from 1 April 1998, with a backdated reduction from four pence per therm to three pence per therm applying to 1997–98. Levy was paid by nine producers or purchasers of gas during 1997–98 and each of them has benefited from repayment of one quarter of the levy paid by them in respect of that year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of applications for export licences were processed by the Export Control Organisation in accordance with their targets as to time in the four-week periods in (a) July 1998, (b) September 1998 and (c) January 1999. [71842]

The Export Control Organisation (ECO) of DTI measures its performance against two aims:

to provide a substantive response to an application within 20 working days of receipt for applications that need to be circulated to other Government Departments according to their policy requirements as determined by them ('circulated' cases):

to provide such a response within 10 working days of receipt for applications that are dealt with by DTI itself ('non-circulated' cases).

In each case, full documentation in support of the application must be provided by the applicant at the outset for these targets to apply.ECO management data on the processing of licence applications are complied on the basis of four-week periods. The period closest to July 1998 is 27 June 1998 to 24 July 1998; for the period closest to September 1998 it is 22 August 1998 to 18 September and for the period closest to January 1999 it is 9 January 1999 to 5 February 1999.To the nearest point, the percentage of licence applications completed within the published targets were as follows:

	Circulated (20 day target)	Non-circulated (10 day target)
27 June 1998 to 24 July 1998	43	83
22 August 1998 to 18 September 1998	38	82
9 January 1999 to 5 February 1999	62	82

This information was taken from the Export Control Organisation's management data, which are compiled in order to monitor performance at processing applications for Standard Individual Export Licences. The performance measures do not apply to applications for Open Individual Export Licences (due to the very wide variations between goods and country coverage of such licences), or for licences covering Iran or Iraq, or exports subject to control solely because of United Nations Sanctions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licence applications were refused by the Export Control Organisation during each of the four-week periods used by his Department since March 1998. [71841]

The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the number of applications for individual export licences refused in full for each period are as follows:

Period	Standard Individual Export Licence applications	Open Individual Export Licence applications
7 March 1998 to 3 April 1998	4	1
4 April 1998 to 1 May 1998	8	0
2 May 1998 to 29 May 1998	8	0
30 May 1998 to 26 June 1998	9	0
27 June 1998 to 27 July 1998	4	0
25 July 1998 to 21 August 1998	10	0
22 August 1998 to 18 September 1998	10	0
19 September 1998 to 16 October 1998	10	0
17 October 1998 to 13 November 1998	9	0
14 November 1998 to 11 December 1998	11	0
12 December 1998 to 8 January 1999	6	0
9 January 1999 to 5 February	32	0

This information should be considered in the light of the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997,