asked Her Majesty's Government:Up to this date:

Pursuant to my reply of 18 March (WA 202–203), we are now aware of one further investigation into potential fraud in relation to firearms compensation claims, making six in all. The police areas concerned are: Nottinghamshire; South Yorkshire; Devon and Cornwall; Essex; the Metropolitan Police; and Thames Valley. In the South Yorkshire case, nine police officers (eight constables and a sergeant) and one civilian employee have now been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation. The dates of suspension were 13 November, 12 December, 28 January, 18 February, 20 March (two officers) and 9, 20, 28 and 29 April. In the other cases, the investigations relate to the possibility of attempted deception by claimants, with no indication of police involvement. Two claimants have been prosecuted (resulting in one conviction and one case still pending), and in two other cases charges were withdrawn on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service.As I have said before, the number of attempted deceptions must be seen in the context of over 40,000 claims received, but these occurrences nevertheless reinforce the need for care and vigilance in the examination of claims by the Firearms Compensation Section.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish details of their proposals under the Data Protection Bill regarding arrangements for processing which is already under way and details of transitional relief provisions. [HL1809]

Schedule 8 to the Data Protection Bill provides that personal data subject to "processing already under way" immediately before 24 October this year are eligible for transitional relief at any time up to 23 October 2001. The Government believe that this expression includes, among other things:

• amendments to existing personal data;
• the addition of personal data on existing data subjects;
• the addition of personal data on new data subjects;
• essential program and software changes to enable such processing to continue.

For manual data where processing was already under way immediately before 24 October 1998, the special transitional exemptions continue after 23 October 2001 until 23 October 2007.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the statement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in her review of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 that she will not be bringing forward legislation to ban handguns in Northern Ireland, they will now repeal the 1997 Firearms (Amendment) Acts. [HL1818]

The Government have no intention of repealing either of the Firearms (Amendment) Acts 1997. For historical reasons, the controls on the lawful possession of firearms in Northern Ireland have long differed from those on the mainland. The proposals in the Northern Ireland Office's consultation document will have no bearing on the arrangements in the rest of the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they propose to publish a further draft of the Transfer of Functions (National Assembly of Wales) Order.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Wales has published a second draft of the order today. A copy is in the Library. He will be publishing a full draft in the autumn for consultation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will use their best endeavours to secure the re-opening of the offices of the Human Rights Association (IHD) of Turkey in cities where they have been closed—for example, Diyarbakir and Mardin; and whether they will make representations concerning the harassment recently suffered by Goc-Der, an organisation in Istanbul representing internally-displaced Kurdish villagers from the south-east region. [HL1706]

Her Majesty's Government remain deeply concerned at the harassment suffered by the Turkish Human Rights Association (HRA) and we will continue to raise this issue with the Turkish authorities. We understand that the HRA's Mardin office has now been reopened.We are aware of reports that the Mersin office of Goc-Der has been closed. Our Embassy in Ankara will he discussing this further with the Turkish authorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is their intention to allow United States forces in the United Kingdom or in the United Kingdom's dependencies to deploy ballistic missile defences intended to protect United States forces while not protecting the adjacent civil population or property; and, if so, what control they would exercise. [HL1720]

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty prevents the deployment by the US of systems to counter strategic ballistic missiles outside its national territory.There are no systems to counter theatre ballistic missiles deployed in the UK or our Overseas Territories. We would consider a request from the US to deploy such a system when and if it was made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the average time gap between diagnosis of cancer and hospital admission where an operation or other radical therapy is called for in cases of:

Patients with cancer are placed on a waiting list only if the clinician responsible for their care decides that the patient's condition is stable and immediate treatment is not required. We have already set the target in England that everyone with suspected cancer will be able to see a specialist within two weeks of his or her general practitioner deciding he or she needs to be seen urgently and requesting an appointment. We have guaranteed these arrangements for everyone with suspected breast cancer by April 1999 and for all other cases of suspected cancer by 2000. Our next aim is to speed up access to treatment. Information on current waiting times for cancer treatment is not available centrally but retrospective data show that around half of all United Kingdom patients with cancer are admitted within 14 days of being placed on a waiting list. We plan to improve on this. Last summer we made an extra £10 million available for breast cancer care in England, and the Budget provided a further £10 million for colorectal cancer in 1998–99. We have also established an audit of the various stages between a patient seeing his or her GP and starting treatment to determine how long patients wait and the reasons for any delays. The results will enable us to identify what needs to be done to deliver our manifesto around waiting times for cancer treatment, especially breast cancer.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether dentists were given advanced notice of the Department of Health's recent announcement on the use of amalgam fillings during pregnancy; and, if not, why not. [HL1810]

A joint letter from the Chief Dental Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer was dispatched on 29 April to dental practices listed with health authorities, and a press briefing arranged for 30 April. Unauthorised information about the letter's contents was given to Radio Scotland and appeared in the media on 29 April. To provide an accurate response to media enquiries, the department therefore brought forward the announcement by a day.Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether all general practitioners, community dentists, hospital dentists, dentists who teach in dental schools and private practitioners have now been circulated with the information contained in the Department of Health's announcement on the use of amalgam fillings during pregnancy. [HL1811]

A joint letter from the Chief Dental Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer was sent on 29 April to general medical and general dental practices registered to provide National Health Service treatment, and to the chief executives of hospital and community trusts with a request that they notify dental staff. Subsequently copies of the letter were sent to dental schools and details of the announcement put on an electronic network used by health authorities (EPINET) and the Internet. The department has responded to enquiries from private dentists by sending them a copy of the letter.Copies of the letter have also been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the average cost of fertility treatment for an infertile couple. [HL1787]

It is not possible to calculate an average cost of fertility treatment for an infertile couple, since the needs of couples vary greatly. Treatment for infertility ranges from counselling in primary care settings to drug treatments and complex procedures such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Costs per couple will vary accordingly. We have however estimated the National Health Service costs of some of the procedures. These are set out as follows:

Procedure	Cost
Tests/initial investigations	£250-£800 per couple
Drug treatments	£250-£600 per cycle
In-vitro fertilization/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection	£2,000-£3,000 per cycle
Donor insemination	£600-£1,000 per cycle
Surgery for ovulation factors or tubal damage	£1,000-£1,500 per person

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority uphold the sanctity of human life. [HL1789]

Members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are selected on the basis of their experience and personal qualities, in accordance with guidance issued by the Commission for Public Appointments following the first Report of the Committee of Standards in Public Life (Nolan Committee, Cm 2850–1, May 1995).The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 governs membership of the authority, including the proportions of lay and professional members and that both men and women must be appointed. The chairman and members of the authority are responsible collectively for discharging the functions of the authority as set out in the 1990 Act. As such, when being considered for appointment, members are asked to state whether they subscribe to the aims of the authority.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many human embryos:

The most recent figures verified by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are for 1 August 1991 to 31 March 1996.Four hundred and sixty-two thousand, two hundred and thirty-five embryos were created through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments.Thirty-six thousand, nine hundred and thirty embryos were donated to research and 138,450 embryos were discarded during the course of IVF treatment cycles. This latter figure includes embryos considered non-viable for implantation. Figures are not collected routinely of the number of embryos allowed to perish because the statutory storage period has ended or a patient has requested it.The number of IVF treatment cycles which resulted in one or more babies was 15,563: 40,589 embryos were used in these cycles.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are taken to obtain the consent of donors for their fertilised eggs to be destroyed or used in human fertilisation and embryology experiments; and what breakthroughs in fertility treatment have arisen from such experiments. [HL1788]

Effective consent under the terms of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 is required for the storage and use of human embryos. Embryos must be removed from storage if either of the donors withdraw their consent to storage or when the embryos reach the end of the storage period allowed under the Act.The 1990 Act also sets out the criteria for research involving human embryos. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will only license research which meets these criteria and is important for the development of further understanding of issues relating to infertility. Such research has included biopsy work which has enhanced understanding of severe genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chromosome disorders and mitochondrial studies. A full list of current projects is included in the authority's annual report, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many:

Three hundred and seventy-five babies under one year of age were adopted in the United Kingdom during the 12 months period 1 January-31 December 1995.Information on the number of people who wish to adopt babies in the United Kingdom is not held centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the War Pensions Agency has referred some Gulf War veterans for whom medical reports are required to doctors who are also acting as expert witnesses for the Treasury Solicitor; and, if so, whether this breaches the principle of independent assessment; and [HL1746]Whether the War Pensions Agency has refused to accept the diagnosis of such experts as Group Captain Coker and Colonel Bhatt when they have declared Gulf War Syndrome to be present in an applicant for a war pension; and what measures they are taking to increase the number of independent experts. [HL1747]

One of the key aims is that delivery of service should be simpler and more efficient. Queries on operational matters concerning the War Pensions Agency are for its Acting Chief Executive, Mr. Steve Johnson. I have asked him to write to the noble Baroness.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the amount budgeted for sales of land by Rail Property Ltd for the financial years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99; and what amount was, or is expected to be, achieved for each of those years. [HL1832]

Details of Rail Property Ltd's budgets are a matter for the British Railways Board. However, the board's annual report and accounts 1996–97 show that the BR Property Board achieved property sales of £46.3 million that year. We understand from the British Railways Board that Rail Property Ltd achieved property sales of £72.7 million in 1997–98 and their present expectation is to achieve property sales of £57.3 million in 1998–99.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many valid votes were cast:

A total of 1,709,128 valid votes were cast in the London referendum, representing 34.1 per cent. of those eligible to vote.Information on the number of votes cast in elections in the London boroughs is not collated centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many ballot papers were spoiled:

A total of 26,188 votes were rejected as void in the London referendum, representing 0.53 per cent. of those eligible to vote.Information on rejected votes in London borough elections is not collated centrally.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Coalfields Task Force has consulted the Clean Rivers Trust and the Anglers Conservation Association with a view to examining and making recommendations about tackling the problem of abandoned minewater from closed coal mines polluting rivers and streams. [HL1838]

The Coalfields Task Force will shortly be publishing its report. I understand that it has taken evidence from the Environment Agency and other relevant organisations with a view to making recommendations on the issue of minewater pollution. I am not aware that the Clean Rivers Trust and the Anglers Conservation Association have submitted evidence, and I will suggest to the Task Force that they might be consulted.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Environment Agency has been liaising with the Clean Rivers Trust and the Anglers Conservation Association to examine the problems of environmental damage to lakes, rivers and streams caused by polluted minewater from closed coal mines; and what financial steps the agency intends to take to assist in keeping the pumps working. [HL1839]

The Environment Agency has discussed this issue with many organisations, including the Clean Rivers Trust and the Anglers Conservation Association.Under the "polluter pays" principle, the issue of whether or not pumps should be kept working to avoid a potential pollution incident when a mine is abandoned is a matter for the operator or former operator of a mine to consider alongside other options to prevent or treat any resulting water pollution. The Environment Agency is able to help operators to decide if this is the most appropriate environmental outcome for a particular mine, but would not expect to assist financially in keeping the pumps working. New regulations come into force on 1 July requiring mine operators to give the Environment Agency six months' notice of their intention to abandon a mine, to allow steps to be taken to prevent minewater pollution.The Government are taking steps to clean up contaminated minewaters from long-abandoned mines on a priority basis. The Coal Authority has undertaken 21 detailed feasibility studies on the most environmentally significant overflows from abandoned coal mines, and works commenced on four of these priority sites in 1997–98. In addition, the Coal Authority has, in collaboration with the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, identified further priority sites for study. The Coal Authority spent £3 million in 1997–98 in tackling water pollution from abandoned coal mines, and this is anticipated to rise to £3.9 million in 1998–99.In addition, the Environment Agency also carries out measures to reduce water pollution from abandoned mines. To reduce pollution from the Wheal Jane tin mine alone, the agency has spent £9.5 million since 1990 on pumping, research and treatment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many representations have been made to government agencies in the last 12 months by trades unions about the deaths of workers on building sites in the Greater London area; and how many representations have been made by other organisations and individuals during the same period. [HL1778]

Ministers in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have had several meetings with pressure groups and unions about the construction industry over the last 12 months. Although the high level of accidents in the construction industry has been discussed at many of these, the specific issue of deaths on building sites in Greater London has not been raised. The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) Field Operations Directorate, London and South East Region is responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation on building sites in Greater London. No formal representations on this specific issue have been received by HSE's London and South East Region. In the course of carrying out their duties, HSE Inspectors may well have had discussions with union representatives and others on this topic, but records of such discussions are not recorded.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many deaths of construction workers have occurred on building sites in the Greater London area in the last 12 months. [HL1780]

We are advised by the Health and Safety Executive that seven fatal accidents to construction workers on construction sites were reported to HSE's construction teams in the Greater London area between 6 April 1997 and 4 April 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the construction work at the junction of Park Lane and Upper Brook Street will be completed and what importance they attach to restoring the Park Lane bus lane and normal traffic flow through Brook Gate. [HL1812]

These works are a matter for the highway authority, the City of Westminster. The closure of part of the southbound bus lane in Park Lane was to facilitate the demolition and redevelopment of Brook House. We understand that the outstanding works should be completed by the end of May. Westminster City Council then intend to reinstate the southbound bus lane in Park Lane and the carriageway in Brook Gate and Upper Brook Street.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to respond to the interim report of the Advisory Group on Independent/State School Partnerships. [HL1913]

My honourable friend the Minister for School Standards is writing today to the chairman welcoming the interim report of the advisory group. The full report, including the Minister's response, will be published tomorrow. Copies will be placed in the Library.My honourable friend is also laying before Parliament tomorrow the Education (Partnership Grant) Regulations 1998 and announcing the allocation of grant for 1998–99.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they anticipate publication of the proposed Standing Orders for the new Scottish Parliament. [HL1770]

I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer which I gave him on 19 November 1997 (WA 82).