asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the British representative on the Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund supported its decision to renew its population control programme in China. [HL1164]

The purpose of the United Nations Population Fund's new programme of assistance to China is to make quality, client-orientated reproductive health services available to Chinese men and women in 32 countries on a voluntary basis, in accordance with the standards of reproductive health care upheld at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. The UK supports this programme strongly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking under the Presidency of the European Union to reconsider the European Union's policy towards the problems in Kosovo in order to allow discussion of the option of Kosovo independence. [HL1039]

In addition to the action taken by the Presidency on Kosovo listed in the Answer I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Hylton, on 17 March (Official Report, col. WA189–90), the European Union agreed on 19 March a series of measures to put pressure on Belgrade to engage in genuine dialogue on Kosovo's status. These comprised an arms embargo, a refusal to supply equipment that might be used for internal repression or terrorism, a moratorium on export credit and a ban on visas for Serbian officials identified as having clear security responsibilities in Kosovo.The European Union favours granting a large degree of autonomy to Kosovo within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia but will support any settlement on Kosovo's status reached by mutual agreement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What targets Remploy has been set in its 1998–99 Annual Performance Agreement. [HL1295]

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities has, on behalf of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State, written to the Chairman of Remploy approving the 1998–99 Annual Performance Agreement between the department and the Company. This agreement covers the year from 1 April 1998. It has been negotiated by the Chief Executive of the Employment Service on behalf of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State. The targets are:the average number of disabled people employed by Remploy Ltd. will be at least 10,050;the average number of disabled people employed under the Interwork scheme will be at least 3,350;at least 250 disabled employees will move from Remploy factories to Interwork, having been employed there for at least one year, or from Interwork or factories to open employment;Remploy Ltd. will keep within a total unit cost target (operating deficit per disabled worker) of £9,700;the unit cost of Interwork should be no more than £4,300;Remploy limited will keep within an operating deficit of £99 million (including reorganisation costs).I have arranged for the text of the Annual Performance Agreement to be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for the development of the University for Industry. [HL1296]

I have placed in the Library and Printed Paper Office copies of the University for Industry Pathfinder Prospectus, which is published today.The University for Industry is at the heart of the Government's vision for lifelong learning as set out in our Green Paper,

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether failure to agree to limits being placed on its fees will mean that a private or voluntary provider of pre-school education will be excluded from local authority early years development plans; and, if so, what effect they envisage such a failure will have on the school's registration for the care and education of 3 and 4 year-olds. [HL1184]

All private and voluntary sector providers which meet the quality criteria and agree with their Partnership to offer a number of free core education places can be part of their local early years development plan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the distinctions between maintained and private and voluntary (non-maintained) nursery schools that justify a minimum teacher:pupil ratio in maintained school reception classes for 4 year-olds that is 2.5 times lower in non-maintained schools. [HL1185]

Her Majesty's Government recognise that early years provision in maintained schools, independent schools and the private and voluntary sectors is regulated in different ways, even though the service provided for children may be similar. The Government believe a more uniform system of regulation would be appropriate, while preserving the necessary safeguards for young children, and issued a consultation paper on 27 March to seek views.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 16 March

In 1997–98 £141,000 was made available to the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland by the Scottish Office Home Department in respect of staff salaries and administrative costs.This included the contributions made by each police authority and joint police board as follows:

Authority	Contribution
	£
Central Scotland Joint Police Board	3,262
Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary	1,985
Fife Constabulary	4,009
Grampian Joint Police Board	5,889
Lothian and Borders Joint Police Board	12,816
Northern Constabulary	3,518
Strathclyde Joint Police Board	33,588
Tayside Joint Police Board	5,433
Total	70,500

The membership subscription for the Association is £125 per annum.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they are taking to promote greater racial equality in the Armed Forces following the decision of the Commission for Racial Equality to abandon legal action against the Household Cavalry. [HL1318]

The decision by the Commission for Racial Equality on 25 March 1998 to abandon altogether the question of legal action against the Household Cavalry was most welcome. It reflects, quite rightly, the considerable efforts which have been made over the last two years, across all three Armed Services and including the Household Cavalry, following general criticisms of the implementation of our racial equality policies. The achievement of this progress has required considerable determination, which Sir Herman Ouseley, the CRE's Chairman, has described as a "model of leadership in action". We are delighted with the excellent progress which has now enabled the Commission to recognise the Armed Forces' willingness to make real, permanent progress; I congratulate the Services upon what has been achieved.It is essential that the commitment to change is maintained. For this reason we have agreed a five-year "partnership agreement" with the Commission and I am placing a copy in the Library of the House. The agreement is comprehensive and reflects the considerable challenges which lie ahead for the Armed Forces as they seek to put in place and develop, through the strong leadership now being demonstrated, robust racial equality policies. The agreement, which includes meeting challenging ethnic minority recruitment targets, and developing monitoring and evaluation of personnel policies, will require rigorous application. We will be looking to build upon the constructive co-operation we have with the CRE. We know that the Services are determined to address the partnership agreement with vigour and we shall be fully supportive of their efforts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the pattern of military low flying activity in the United Kingdom during 1997. [HL1317]

Military low flying training continues to be a necessary contribution to our defence capabilities. The amount carried out in 1997 was about 5 per cent. lower than in 1996, measured in terms of hours booked, reflecting current requirements and commitments. The distribution across the country has not changed significantly. We try to spread the activity as widely as possible, but a variety of operational, geographic and climatic constraints inevitably mean that some areas continue to see a greater intensity than others.I have today placed in the Library of the House a paper giving a detailed account of the pattern of activity. Further copies can be obtained from the following address:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have considered arrangements for the payment of Working Family Tax Credit in the event of relationship breakdown, and in particular whether they have considered its availability to women with children who leave home as a result of domestic violence. [HL1101]

From April 2000 the Working Families Tax Credit will generally be paid through the wage packet. Couples will be able to choose which partner should receive the credit. The details of the new scheme, including the rules for dealing with particular situations, such as disagreements between partners, will be developed by the Inland Revenue over the coming months. Although the resolution of particular disagreements would, of course, depend on the specific facts of the case, the present presumption is that, where the couple disagree about which of them is to receive the credit, it would normally be paid to the partner who mainly cared for the children.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a citizen of the Irish Republic who is not also a British citizen is eligible for consideration for a life peerage. [H11086]

As set out in the House of Lords Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to Proceedings of the House of Lords, citizens of the Republic of Ireland may sit in this House. In practice, it is unlikely that the Prime Minister would recommend that Her Majesty confer a life peerage on an Irish citizen unless that person would bring to the proceedings of the House relevant experience of UK life. The Oath of Allegiance (or Affirmation) must be taken (or made) before any Peer can sit or vote in the House of Lords.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will be publishing the grant scheme for out of school clubs. [HL1190]

The New Opportunities Fund, which will use Lottery funds to support out of school hours activities, will be formally established if and when the National Lottery Bill receives Royal Assent later this year. It will publish grant criteria and begin to invite applications for out of school hours activities and its other initiatives as soon as possible after this. In the meantime, the Government will shortly be publishing draft directions to the New Opportunities Fund setting the framework for its initiatives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which prisoners will be released on Home Detention Curfew. [HL1319]

Most prisoners serving sentences of between three months and four years will be eligible for consideration for release on home detention curfew. To be released, they must first pass a risk assessment and have a suitable release address.The detail of the risk assessment is still being worked out and will need to balance properly any potential risk posed by the prisoner's release on home detention curfew against the risks involved in retaining prisoners in custody until their automatic release date, when the curfew is not available.Prisoners will he assessed on the basis of their potential threat to the public and the probability of their reoffending or failing to comply with their conditions of curfew. Prisoners who have demonstrated a successful record of temporary release would normally be expected to be suitable for release on home detention curfew. The risk assessment will also make clear, however, that prisoners convicted of offences to which Part I of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 applies will not be released upon home detention curfew, save where there are exceptional circumstances, as this group of prisoners present a particular type of risk. We will, of course, keep this policy under review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make available the Police Research Group's latest report

Yes. I am placing a copy of the report in the Library today.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are their proposals for modernising the Police and Fire Service pension schemes. [HL1321]

Consultation documents on the two pension schemes have been published today. We have placed copies in the Library. Copies are also being sent to police forces and fire services, police and fire authorities, the police staff associations and the fire service unions in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They have been invited to comment by 31 July 1998.The current police and fire service pension schemes were established to reflect the special nature of police and firefighting work. Of course, we continue to take this fully into account. But these schemes are very expensive, both for police officers, firefighters and the relevant authorities, and are not necessarily in tune with current circumstances.Authorities, in particular, are faced with large annual increases to pension costs, consuming an increasingly large proportion of their total budget and thus eating into the resources available to run the services themselves.The consultation documents have two main objectives:to stimulate debate for modernised pension schemes for future police officers and firefighters which bring pensions more in line with other public service pensions and make them more affordable;to reform aspects of the current arrangements for retirement on medical grounds.In considering options for a new pension scheme, the unique nature of police and firefighting work will be recognised. There is no intention of reducing the pension benefits which serving or retired police officers or firefighters are entitled to as members of their pension schemes. Any changes to such benefits would apply only to new entrants to the police or fire service.The level of early retirements on medical grounds in the police and fire service is unacceptably high and in many cases cannot be justified. Wide variations across the country between forces and brigades support this argument. Good management of ill-health retirement is crucial. The consultation documents suggest options for change which depend on better practice and, in the case of the police, on amending current legislation. We have separately announced changes in regulations and practice to deal with those situations where officers seek to retire early before the disciplinary process is complete.The Government firmly believe that modernisation of the two schemes is essential, particularly as any changes to the pension benefits of new entrants will take many years to come into effect.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who has responsibility for funding Boards of Visitors and the Boards of Visitors' Secretariat. [HL1322]

Responsibility for funding Boards of Visitors and the Secretariat will be transferred from the Home Office to the Prison Service with effect from 1 April. There are in practice no tangible business links between the work of boards and the core Home Office and the transfer will enable Boards to be funded appropriately. This change will in no way affect the independence of boards. Prior to reaching a decision, the Government consulted the National Advisory Council for Boards of Visitors.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will replace the current application forms for foreign nationals wishing to apply for leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [HL1323]

The current application forms expire on 14 April 1998. Revised versions of the seven existing forms have been prescribed. These will be valid until 14 October 1998. From today until 14 April 1998, applications may be made on either the newly prescribed forms or the existing versions. Only the newly prescribed versions may be used for applications made on or after 15 April 1998. The new forms will be available shortly from the Application Forms Unit on 0181 760 2233 and copies have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will appoint new members to the Animal Procedures Committee. [HL1324]

We are pleased to announce the appointment of four new members with effect from 1 April:Dr. David Clark, head of Unilever's Environmental Safety Laboratory;Dr. Maggy Jennings, head of the Research Animals Department at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals;Dr. Gill Langley, scientific adviser to the Dr. Hadwen Trust for Humane Research; andProfessor John Martin, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at University College London.We expect to make further appointments later in the year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the arrangements for responding to Parliamentary Questions and correspondence from this House relating to the work of the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad following their establishment on 1 April. [HL1325]

The National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), which is currently part of the Home Office, will be placed on an independent statutory footing on 1 April in accordance with Part I of the Police Act 1997. NCIS will continue to have a United Kingdom-wide remit. The National Crime Squad will be created on 1 April in accordance with Part II of the Police Act 1997 and will replace the six existing Regional Crime Squads in England and Wales. The accountability arrangements for both services are similar to those for police forces. Each will be maintained by a service authority performing the same role as a police authority for a police force.NCIS and the National Crime Squad will both be under the direction and control of a director general holding the rank of chief constable. In recognition of their operational independence, noble Lords may wish to write to the directors general if they have any questions or concerns about the operations or day to day management of NCIS or the National Crime Squad. The Director General of NCIS is Mr. John Abbott QPM, NCIS, PO Box 8000, London SE11 5EN. The Director General of the National Crime Squad is Mr. Roy Penrose OBE QPM, National Crime Squad, PO Box 2500, London SW1V 2WF.The service authorities will be responsible for securing that NCIS and the National Crime Squad are efficient and effective. They will provide strategic direction and oversight, leaving the day to day management of NCIS and the National Crime Squad to the directors general. Any questions about the role of the service authorities should be addressed to their Chairman, the right honourable Sir John Wheeler JP DL, PO Box 2600, London SW1V 2WG.I will answer Parliamentary Questions and ministerial correspondence about NCIS and the National Crime Squad on the same basis as for police forces. I will, of course, deal with any questions about the exercise of the Secretary of State's powers or responsibilities in relation to the two services or wider policy issues. If such questions relate solely to the activities of NCIS in Scotland or Northern Ireland, it may be appropriate for Lord Sewel or Lord Dubs to respond. Where other general information is sought, I shall provide it if available. I shall usually reply that questions about how the service authorities or the directors general exercise their specific responsibilities are for those bodies or individuals to answer.I will write to the noble Lords, Lords Richard, Cranborne, Rodgers and Weatherill to set out these arrangements. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library, together with copies of the first service plans for NCIS and the National Crime Squad.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the arrangements for responding to Parliamentary Questions and correspondence from this House relating to the work of the Police Information Technology Organisation following its change of status on 1 April 1998. [HL1326]

With the implementation, on 1 April 1998, of the remaining provisions of Part IV of the Police Act 1997, the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), hitherto part of the Home Office, will become an executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). As an NDPB, PITO will henceforth be independent of the Home Office, although as the responsible Minister, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary will be accountable to Parliament for the overall efficiency and effectiveness with which the organisation carries out its statutory functions.In recognition of PITO's new independent status, noble Lords are invited to write direct to the Organisation's Chairman, Sir Trefor Morris, if they have any questions or concerns about the information technology or procurement activities undertaken by PITO on behalf of the police service or other customers, or about its administration. Sir Trefor's address is: Police Information Technology Organisation, Room 504, Horseferry House, Dean Ryle Street, London SW1P 2AW.I will continue to be responsible for answering parliamentary Questions in your Lordships' House, unless they relate solely to PITO's activities in Scotland, in which case my noble friend Lord Sewel would be responsible. Advice on the administration and/or activities of PITO may be sought from the organisation in order to answer parliamentary Questions. Where a noble Lord asks a parliamentary Question on matters concerning the day-to-day operation of the organisation, I will usually reply to the effect that the Chairman will write direct to the noble Lord concerned.Turning to ministerial correspondence, if either the Home Secretary or I, or our Scottish Office counterparts, receive correspondence from noble Lords about matters which fall within PITO's area of responsibilities, we will normally reply to the effect that the correspondence has been forwarded to the Chairman with a request that he replies personally to the noble Lord concerned. Noble Lords will continue to receive a full ministerial reply where the correspondence involves wider policy considerations.I will write to my noble friend Lord Richard and the noble Lords, Lords Cranborne, Rodgers and Weatherill setting out these arrangements. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current status of the proposed directive "relating to special provisions for vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat". (Commission Document COM(97) 276 final). [HL1100]

As we anticipated in the explanatory memorandum that I submitted on 30 September 1997 (9734/97), there are a number of key issues that have emerged from the proposals for the directive. There are fears that the proposals are design restrictive and could lead to the eventual removal from the market of certain types of vehicle widely used in the UK. There are also concerns that the technical provisions for safety and accessibility are not acceptable.Discussions and negotiations on the draft are currently taking place in Council Working Group. The UK, during its Presidency, is giving the proposal high priority and is making every effort to make progress towards agreement on an acceptable text. Adoption of a common position may be possible by the end of the year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list those European Union member status in which aircraft flying from the United Kingdom in accordance with the provisions of a British permit to fly may do so without prior written permission. [HL1142]

Under Council Regulation 2408/92, airlines holding an operating licence from the Civil Aviation Authority are entitled under most circumstances to operate freely within the EU. However, member states may still require airlines to apply for permission to operate, although the circumstances in which permission can be refused are limited. I understand that Austria, Portugal, Greece, Spain and Germany issue specific approval to airlines. The remainder require airlines to notify them of proposed flights or series of flights.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets have been set for the Ordnance Survey Department and Executive Agency in the year 1998–99. [HL1294]

The following performance targets have been set for Ordnance Survey in 1998–99:

1. To recover at least 90 per cent. of the costs incurred by the agency.

2. To ensure that by 31 March 1999, 98 per cent. of existing major detail is surveyed and available to customers in the National Topographic Database at any one time. The target will increase to 99 per cent. by the year 2002.

3. In order to provide a quality service to customers, to despatch products in response to orders as follows:

• 95 per cent. of all Land-Line digital map units within five working days; and
• 92 per cent. of small scale products within five working days.

4. To increase by 5 per cent. the annual revenue earned per member of staff employed.

These targets, some of which are being incrementally increased, are closely associated with the Corporate Aims of Ordnance Survey and demonstrate the Agency's continuing commitment to customers and to improve value for money for all its stakeholders.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the financial management and policy review of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive. [HL1293]

As part of the Government's programme of regular five-yearly financial management and policy reviews of non-departmental public bodies, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) has conducted a thorough review of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive. The resulting report is published today, and a copy has been placed in the Library of each House. In accordance with the guidance on such reviews, we have assessed the extent to which the commission and executive's functions are necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies, and whether there is scope for privatising, contracting out or transferring all or part of its functions to another body.In carrying out the study, we have consulted widely with relevant organisations with an interest in the commission and executive's work, and held a public consultation. We are grateful for their contribution. The review found that government needs to take responsibility for setting health and safety standards and enforcing compliance with these standards. The public consultation endorsed the importance of the work of the commission and executive and the professionalism with which they carry it out. We considered HSC/E's approach to contracting out, looking in particular at their inspection and permissioning regimes, and concluded that it was not appropriate to ask them to change their current policy.The review found scope for further work in spreading best practice in consistency of enforcement by local authorities, and for considering extension of the range of work for which the executive charges to the assessment of safety cases and the costs of inspection of those sites and installations which submit safety cases. It also made a number of minor recommendations. Work on these is being taken forward.This Government attach great importance to maintaining and improving health and safety standards at the workplace. We fully support the vital work carried out by the Health and Safety Commission and Executive in setting and enforcing those standards and in underpinning employers' responsibilities to prevent accidents and ill-health at work. Because good standards of health and safety at the workplace are a higher priority for this Government, we have approved an extra £4.5 million for HSE's work in 1998–99. Funding for HSC/E's work in the longer term is being considered within the Comprehensive Spending Review for all the department's activities. The creation of DETR has brought together a range of responsibilities for safety, particularly in the transport field, which will provide new opportunities to consider how best practice should be shared between the different modes. We are determined not to become complacent about health and safety, and will continue to work with the Commission to ensure that we are prepared for the health and safety challenges which will face us into the new millennium.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What evidence they have that increasing the cost of petrol dissuades motorists from using their vehicles and whether they will place in the Library of the House any reports or studies which confirm this. [HL1088]

The Government are aware of a substantial number of studies based on evidence from both trends over time and from different countries, which demonstrate that higher fuel costs dissuade motorists from using their vehicles. The majority of these studies are available publicly, and are too numerous to be placed in the Library. A recent review of these studies was compiled by Professor P. Goodwin and was published in the Journal of Transport Economics and Policy (May 1992).In addition, the DETR published the National Road Traffic Forecasts Great Britain (1997) last October, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House. The forecasting methodology takes account of the effect of motoring costs on vehicle use through a relationship based on data going back to 1950.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether increases in fuel duty have a greater impact on those on low incomes and those without access to alternative modes of transport than on other groups. [HL1158]

The impact of an increase in fuel duty on a particular household group will depend on a great many factors, the most important of which are car ownership and income. Recent research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies¹ suggests that population density, which is linked to the availability of alternatives, is also important, but less so than income and car ownership.(1)

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in the past 12 months with the provision of quiet road surfaces using materials like "whisper concrete" and porous asphalt: and what plans they have for putting down more such road surfaces in the future. [HL1195]

Over the last 12 months, quieter road surfaces have been used on a number of sites within the trunk road network. Porous asphalt has been used on a limited number of sites, including a length adjacent to Junction 10 of the M.25 and a section of the M.40. In addition a quieter thin asphalt road surface has been laid widely within the network, including sections of the M.4, M.5 and M.40. These types of surface are an alternative development which offers a more cost effective option. No new sections of whisper concrete have been provided.Future plans for this year include the use of porous asphalt on the A.34 Newbury Bypass, quieter thin asphalt surfacings which will continue to be used widely on the trunk road network, and a whisper concrete development trial which will be carried out on the A.13 at Wennington to Mar Dyke, Essex.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to change the way in which statutory joint waste disposal authorities are funded currently. [HL1327]

We are concerned about current funding arrangements for statutory Joint Waste Disposal Authorities (JWDAs). At the moment, the constituent authorities share the costs according to their shares of the council tax base. This system does not reflect the service each authority draws from the JWDA and provides little encouragement for waste minimisation or other sustainable methods of waste management. The JWDAs have also expressed similar concerns to us.Under a tonnage-based system, authorities' contributions would be apportioned on the basis of the amount of waste they had delivered for disposal in a preceding period. The more successful they are in minimising waste and diverting it to other forms of sustainable waste management such as recycling and composting, the less they would deliver for disposal and the less they would pay. This will form one more element in our policy to encourage waste management options higher up the waste hierarchy.We have therefore requested officials in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to work out methods for a tonnage based system and to discuss them with the local authority associations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to publish its annual report for 1996–97. [HL1328]

The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority has today published its ninth Annual Report, covering the period from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the key performance targets for Her Majesty's Land Registry, the Public Record Office, the Public Trust Office and the Court Service executive agencies for 1998–99. [HL1297]

The following tables set out the key performance targets that I have set for Her Majesty's Land Registry, the Public Record Office, the Public Trust Office and the Court Service for 1998–99.

HM Land Registry Key Performance Indicators and Targets 1998–99
Indicator	Target
Financial
Return on average capital employed	3%
External Financing Limit	£0
Efficiency1
Cost per unit in real terms	£25.87
Cost per unit in cash terms	£30.21
Charter Standards
Speed
Percentage of office copy and official search applications handled within two working days and	98%
Percentage of office copies and official searches processed in 3 working days	100%
Percentage of all registrations processed in 25 working days	80%
Accuracy
Percentage of registrations handled free from any error	98.50%
Percentage of customers responding to the Annual Survey who perceive the accuracy of registrations to be excellent or good	Better than 90%
Development of Land Registration
Implementation of concessionary fees under the Land Registration Act 1997	1 April 1999
Percentage of computerised titles in the Land Register	94%
Percentage of computerised titles plans in the Land Register	29%
Number of scanned pages of filed documents (millions)	4.30 million
Number of Direct Access service account holders at the end of the year	1,500
Implementation and evaluation of the National Land Information Service Bristol Conveyancing Pilot	by 31 March 1999
Note:
Fuller details of the agency's targets are given in its Business Plan, which is available from Her Majesty's Land Registry.
1 Land Registry measures in efficiency through reductions in cost per unit in real terms against a unit cost baseline of 1992–93 when it was first set up as a trading fund. The inflation factor for the cost per unit in cash terms is derived from the GDP indices announced by HM Treasury in March 1998.

Public Record Office
Key Performance Indicators and Targets 1998–99
Indicator	Target
1. Efficiency
Unit costs of key activities:
(a) selecting and preserving the public records.	Reduce to £101.53 per metre.
(b) giving access to records.	Reduce to £7.83 per information transaction.
Backlog of records in departments reported as being over 30 years old and awaiting review.	Reduce from 2,070 metres (assessed in January 1998) to 1,340 metres.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have received any representation from the Haemophilia Society concerning people with haemophilia infected with hepatitis C through their NHS treatment; and, if so, what reply they have given; and [HL1168]What action they are considering to help people infected with hepatitis C as a result of NHS treatment, or, in the cases of those who have died as a result, their dependants. [HL1169]

The Haemophilia Society has made representations concerning the establishment of a special payment scheme for those haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C through National Health Service treatment and their dependants. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health also met representatives of the Society on 10 September last year to hear their accounts of the effects on the lives of those with haemophilia, and their families, of contracting hepatitis C. We have received similar written representations in respect of other patients who contracted hepatitis C through NHS treatment.We have given a commitment to give full and careful consideration to this whole issue and that is what we are currently doing.

asked Her Majesty's Government:1Whether they will indicate in broad terms what epidemiological significance should be attached to a relative risk factor:

Relative risk provides a measure of the strength of association between a factor and an illness. It is an important way of measuring increases or decreases of risk over time or between different groups by comparing the incidence of an illness or hazard within a population to some baseline (for example if drinkers are twice as likely to suffer from a particular disease as compared with the general population, a factor of 2 may be cited). A stronger association—of greater than 2—is more likely to reflect causation than is a weaker association—of less than gas this is more likely to result from methodological biases or to reflect indirect associations which are not causal. The significance of any such number does though need to be considered in context and from a number of viewpoints.First, there is a

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cases of human tuberculosis were diagnosed in each of the following years:

The total annual corrected notifications of tuberculosis in the United Kingdom for the years requested are as follows:

• 1940: 55,049
• 1950: 61,192
• 1960: 28,381
• 1970: 14,183
• 1980: 10,488
• 1990: 5,899.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Access Committee for England is about to be closed; and, if so, what support they can offer to prevent its loss. [HL1189]

We understand that in a letter dated 16 March the Chairman of the Access Committee for England (ACE) informed the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers of ACE's closure on 31 March 1998. A recent inter-departmental review concluded that the Government should not continue funding ACE's central administrative costs from 1998–99. This is in accordance with a policy of time-limiting core grants, of which voluntary organisations have been made aware.