asked Her Majesty's Government:How many members of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords, respectively, excluding those on leave of absence, are (a) aged between 60 and 65, and (b) over the age of 65; and whether it is their intention in a reconstituted legislature to introduce a retirement age for working members of both Houses. [HL1758]

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 21 April (WA 200), what are the public health risks associated with the widespread rough sleeping around Westminster Cathedral. [HL 1835]

The public health risks associated with rough sleeping around Westminster Cathedral are very similar to those associated with homelessness in any area of London or any other large city. These include a greater risk to homeless people of premature death and higher rates of illness, including respiratory and gastrointestinal infection, poorer perinatal outcomes and mental health problems which may be linked to stress, alcohol and drug misuse. Access to health services, particularly health promotion and primary care, is also often more difficult for homeless people.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to establish an NHS Executive Regional Office for London. [HL1961]

In the statement of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health on 3 February at col. 843, he accepted the recommendations in Sir Leslie Turnberg's report on London's Health Services including the proposal that a single National Health Service Executive Regional Office for London should be a longer-term aim in order to ensure effective planning across London. We have now decided that it would be right to move more quickly on this front and we intend to establish such an office from 1 April 1999. In the meantime, we expect the existing North and South Thames Regional Offices to continue to work closely with each other to ensure coherent strategic planning across London.The decision to establish a single regional office for London necessarily affects the boundaries of other existing NHS Executive Regional Offices in the South of England and we intend to reorganise their boundaries to match more closely the boundaries of the Government Offices for the Regions. The following arrangements will be established from 1 April 1999.A London Regional Office which will be coterminous with the proposed Greater London Authority.A South East Regional Office which would cover health authorities in Kent, Surrey, Sussex (which are currently covered by South Thames Regional Office), Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (which are currently covered by the South and West Regional Office) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire (which are currently covered by the Anglia and Oxford Regional Office).An Eastern Regional Office covering health authorities in Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire (which are currently covered by the Anglia and Oxford Regional Office) and Essex and Hertfordshire (which are currently covered by North Thames Regional Office).A South West Regional Office which will exclude Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.In addition, we intend to restructure the departments' Social Care Regional Offices so that from 1 April 1999 they are coterminous with the boundaries of the NHS Executive Regional Offices as follows:The Northern Social Care Region will match the North West and Northern and Yorkshire NHS Executive Regional Offices.The Central Social Care Region will match the West Midlands, Trent and Eastern NHS Executive Regional Offices.The Southern Social Care Region will match the South West and South East NHS Executive Regional Offices.The London Social Care Region will match the London NHS Executive Regional Office.A map showing the new NHS Executive Regional Office structure has been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the cost of running the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in the past 12 months; and by whom it is funded. [HL1790]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's total budget for 1997–98 was £1,483,900. This was funded by the United Kingdom Health Departments, of which 70 per cent. is raised by licence fees. The authority's accounts for each financial year are reproduced in their annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their most recent assessment of the progress made by NHS trusts, health authorities and GP surgeries in making their computer equipment and other systems with embedded chip technology millennium-compliant; and whether, in the light of the report published recently by Prove It 2000 Ltd., they are satisfied that sufficient resources are being directed towards appropriate remedial action within the NHS. [HL1771]

Every health authority and National Health Service trust completed detailed Year 2000 project plans, proposals for drawing up contingency plans, and detailed inventory and budget estimates, by the deadline of 31 March 1998. Health authorities also provided an assessment of the state of readiness of general practitioner practices within their area. These returns are being subjected to detailed analysis over the next few weeks, to give a very detailed picture of the state of readiness of the NHS.The summary information provided indicates that although, overall, good progress is being made across the NHS, a minority of NHS organisations have further work to do. Further rigorous guidance is therefore now being issued on 15 May which allows for further checks on progress. The guidance stresses that resolving the Year 2000 problem is the highest non-clinical priority for the NHS and that chief executive will be held personally accountable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the EC Health Council meeting on 30 April. [HL1937]

My honourable friend the Minister for Public Health chaired the meeting of the European Community Health Council on 30 April in Luxembourg, on behalf of the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union.In an open debate on the future framework for action in the field of public health, the Council explored three strands for future action; improving information for the development of public health; reacting rapidly to threats to health; and tackling the determinants of health through health promotion and disease prevention. The Council also discussed the limitations of the present disparate funding programmes, and the importance of improved efforts to ensure that health protection requirements form a constituent part of other Community policies. The Council agreed common positions on the proposed programmes of Community action on rare diseases and on pollution-related diseases. Agreement was also reached on a Council Recommendation on the suitability of blood and plasma donors and the screening of donated blood. The Council agreed conclusions on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, and on the integration of health protection requirements in Community policies. Progress was noted on the Community's role in combating tobacco consumption, on the Commission's proposal for a programme of action on injury prevention, and on the European Union-United States Task Force on Communicable Diseases.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total NHS expenditure on patient dental care and the related financial contributions received from patients in each of the last five fiscal years; and how many dental examinations of patients were carried out in each of those years. [HL1777]

General Dental Service expenditure and the number of dental examinations for adults is given in the tables for the four years 1993–94 to 1996–97. Data for 1997–98 is not yet available. The number of child examinations is not available because routine examinations are covered by capitation arrangements.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many (a) target pistols and (b) target revolvers belonging to members of licensed gun clubs have been used in terrorist incidents in each of the past 30 years in Northern Ireland. [HL1645]

The information sought is not available and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost. I would, however, refer to my previous reply which I gave on 27 March 1998 (Official Report, col. 262).

asked Her Majesty's Government:In what respects the existing powers to allow early release of criminals before the completion of their sentences are inadequate for the implementation of the Northern Ireland Agreement. [HL1644]

Under the Belfast Agreement, the Government undertook to put in place mechanisms to provide for an accelerated programme for the release of prisoners, including transferred prisoners, convicted of scheduled offences in Northern Ireland or, in the case of those sentenced outside Northern Ireland, similar offences. Existing powers of release are inadequate to give effect to what is proposed to be done. Determinate sentence prisoners are normally released as a consequence of remission. The maximum remission permitted under the Prison Rules is one half of sentence, whereas prisoners covered by the agreement are to be released when they have served one-third of their sentence. It would not be possible to amend the rules to increase the rate of remission partly because remission under the rules can only be based on a prisoner's good conduct in prison, a factor which will not be relevant to whether he is a qualifying prisoner for purposes of the agreement. Nor can rules on remission be made which make provision for qualifying prisoners which is different from that for other prisoners. It is also intended to apply licence conditions to determinate sentence prisoners released as a consequence of the agreement and, for their recall, arrangements which will satisfy the ECHR, and this would not at present be possible if the prisoners were released on remission, at which point their sentences expire. These arrangements will be applied to life sentence prisoners. For prisoners who are transferred from England and Wales or Scotland as restricted prisoners, the new provisions will mean that they can be released earlier than would otherwise be the case. Release of prisoners who satisfy the qualifying criteria would not be possible in exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy to pardon or remit sentence because no licence or condition could be imposed and no recall would be possible, even if it would otherwise be proper to use this Prerogative power for any or all of these categories of prisoners.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In what manner Parliament was consulted on the terms of the recent Northern Ireland Agreement before it was signed on behalf of the Government. [HL1642]

The all party negotiations, in which Her Majesty's Government was a participant, were conducted on a confidential basis until an outcome which gained sufficient consensus was reached on 10 April. Under paragraph 26 of the Ground Rules for Substantive All Party Negotiations published on 16 April 1996, both Governments respectively reaffirmed their intention that any agreed outcome from the negotiations would be submitted for public approval by referendums in Ireland—North and South—before being submitted to their respective Parliaments for ratification and the earliest possible implementation. On 22 April both Houses of Parliament approved the Northern Ireland Negotiations (Referendum) Order 1998 to permit such a referendum to take place on 22 May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to review approvals of pesticides. [HL 1879]

As part of the national arrangements for the running review of past approvals of pesticides, my honourable friend the Minister of State (Mr. Rooker) has agreed with colleagues in the other regulatory departments that there should be a review of those organophosphate pesticides approved for agricultural use under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. The review will not extend to sheep dips and other veterinary medicines which are authorised and subject to scrutiny under separate legislation. On the advice of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) the review will also cover carbamate pesticides, as these have similar modes of action.We welcome the ACP's intention that the review should be informed by all relevant sources of information.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they plan to implement measures to ensure that an economic link exists between United Kingdom flagged vessels and the fishing communities in the United Kingdom. [HL1912]

There has been extensive consultation with the various interests affected and we have also been having detailed discussions with the European Commission on the basis of the guidance contained in the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the President of the Commission which took place at the Amsterdam meeting of the European Council last year.Specific proposals by the UK are currently under consideration by the Commission and we expect to receive their advice on them shortly so that we can make early progress with implementationA copy of the UK proposals under current consideration by the Commission has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions they have reached as a result of their consultation on control of unscrupulous immigration advisers; whether they are intending to introduce legislation; and, if so, when. [HL1837]

We are considering the comments received in response to the consultation document on the control of unscrupulous immigration advisers. We will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 6 May (

The average female prison population exceeded 3,086 in the years 1901–1905 inclusive. The female prison population has never exceeded the projected figure for 2005 of 5,200.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date and why the Chief Constable of Gwent was suspended from duty, giving the reasons; what allegations have been made against the chief constable; what stage has been reached in the investigation; when the investigation will be concluded; when the police authority is expected to make a statement; how long the police authority is to remain without an operational chief constable; and whether these investigations involve allegations against other chief officers of the Gwent Constabulary. [HL1813]

The Chief Constable of Gwent was suspended from duty on 24 October 1997 as a result of allegations made against him. The police authority appointed Dr. Butler, Chief Constable of Gloucestershire, to investigate the allegations, none of which involved other chief officers of the Gwent Constabulary. He has completed his investigations, under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority, and he reported his findings and recommendations to the police authority on 13 May. Having considered the investigating officer's report, the police authority expects to decide within a few days what action to take. I understand it is likely that the police authority will make a statement shortly.In accordance with the provisions of Section 12 of the Police Act 1996, the designated assistant chief constable is exercising all the powers and duties of the chief constable. The designated chief constable acts as chief constable with the agreement of the police authority and the consent of the Home Secretary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish on the same date, in both Welsh and English languages, the various firearms and shotgun application forms and certificates that are currently under revision. [HL1819]

The Government's priority in revising the Firearms Rules is to implement the changes to firearms licensing provided for in the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 and as recommended by Lord Cullen in his report on the Dunblane tragedy. Because of the pressing need to introduce the new rules, the prescribed firearms licensing forms will be published in English only. It is our intention to publish Welsh language versions of the forms as soon as practicable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 5 May (

The Firearms Consultative Committee has not yet reported to the Secretary of State on its activities during 1997–98. Its annual report, which will contain information about the attendance of all members, will be published in July and will be laid before Parliament in the usual way. Information about attendances in previous years is already in the public domain, as I have explained in earlier Written Answers. As I have also explained, members attend on an individual basis; the question of representatives attending on behalf of a member does not therefore arise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will propose to the United Nations Human Rights Commission that documents submitted to the Commission be given the date on which they are first published, and not the date on which they were submitted. [HL1761]

No. We do not consider such a change would make any difference to the prompt circulation of documents. We have made clear to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights our concerns over the late publication of reports, and will continue to work for improvements in this area.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimate of the present strength of Muslim armed forces in Bosnia. [HL1798]

According to the Federation authorities, the current strength of the regular forces in the Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 33,000 personnel, of whom 23,000 are Bosniacs (Bosnian Muslims). This figure does not include reserve forces, for which there are no published figures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prosecutions of construction companies under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 have been initiated in the Greater London area in the last 12 months; and how many were initiated in the previous 12 months. [HL1779]

We are advised by the Health and Safety Executive that 19 prosecutions of contractors and other duty holders were initiated by HSE's construction teams in the Greater London area between 6 April 1997 and 4 April 1998. In the previous year, 33 prosecutions were initiated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 5 May [

Under Section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925, the Secretary of State's consent is required before an authority can dispose of statutory allotment land. The Secretary of State has the discretion to take the proposed new land use into account when considering applications for disposal, and will do so if this is relevant to the issue of whether the land should cease to be allocated as allotment land. Proposed development of former allotment land would constitute a "change of use" in planning terms, which would require planning permission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What decision they have made on the conclusions of the Army Engineer Logistics Review. [HL1962]

The consultation process on the conclusions of the Engineer Logistics Review has now ended. The review recommended that the Engineer Resources functions carried out at Long Marston should be disaggregated to new service providers and not transfer to Chilwell, as previously announced. A number of representations were received from the trades unions, local councils, individual employees and honourable Members. Having considered these representations very carefully, we are satisfied that no issues have arisen which would call into question the study's recommendations. We intend, therefore, to proceed to implement disaggregation with the objective of ceasing operations at the Long Marston Depot by December 1999.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will extend the time of the scheme enabling the widows of British servicemen killed in action in war to visit their husbands' graves abroad, on the basis of assisting them to make at least one visit during their lifetime. [HL1766]

Since 1985, The Royal British Legion has, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, operated the War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme, which provides financial assistance to any Service widow whose husband died and was buried overseas between 1914 and 1967, to make one visit to the grave. Although the scheme has been extended several times since its inception, current funding was due to end on 31 March 1999.As announced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence in the House of Commons on Tuesday 5 May, following a recent approach by The Royal British Legion, the Government have agreed to an extension of the War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme for a further two years, until 31 March 2001. The Government greatly appreciate the work of The Royal British Legion, who administer the scheme on our behalf. To date, this subsidised scheme has enabled over 3,000 widows to visit their husband's grave overseas. It is hoped that the continuation of the scheme will enable other eligible widows to do so.The Government intend to conduct an automatic review every two years; as long as there are war widows eligible to visit their husband's grave, this Government will continue to renew the scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the South-West of England (LFA2) is more heavily used for military low flying training than the North of Scotland (LFA14), although it is much smaller and more densely populated; and whether they will establish a different balance of operations. [HL1781]

The intensity of low flying activity varies from area to area because of a number of operational, geographical and climatic factors. These include: where aircraft are based and the location of military training areas; the prevailing weather conditions; the incidence of danger areas and restricted airspace around airfields and industrial hazards, within which military aircraft are not generally permitted to fly, and built-up areas, which they avoid; and the size of the area concerned. Helicopter activity makes up around two-thirds of low flying within LFA2. Helicopters are relatively short range aircraft and, because of this, a concentration of activity close to helicopter bases and military training areas is inevitable. The Royal Navy helicopter bases at Culdrose, Portland and Yeovilton, the Royal Marines barracks at Chivenor and Lympstone and the Army training area on Dartmoor are all in, or close to, LFA2. Nevertheless, Her Majesty's Government will continue to do all they can to ensure that low flying is distributed as equitably as practicable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:To what extent Northern Ireland (LFA19) is currently used for military low flying training; and why no figures for this area were published in

The scope for low flying training in Northern Ireland, LFA19, is limited because of the operational, mainly helicopter, activity which necessarily goes on there. Details are not included in the Ministry of Defence paper because low flying within Northern Ireland, most of which is carried out in support of operational tasks, is not comparable with low flying training in the rest of the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many units or organisations receive Defence Council Instructions. [HL1800]

Defence Council Instructions, DCIs, are disseminated widely throughout the Ministry of Defence/Services. The number of recipients is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many units or organisations receive: (a) Army General Administrative Instructions; (b) Material Regulations For The Army. [HL 1801]

Army General Administrative Instructions, AGAI, and Material Regulations For The Army, MAT REGS, are distributed to all Army Units and associated organisations. The actual number of documents distributed varies in accordance with the needs of each unit/organisation. Details of quantities distributed per publication/volume/pamphlet are as follows: