asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to repeal the Treason Felony Act 1848. [HL173]

The Treason Felony Act 1848, like several other laws, has been on the statute book for a considerable time. We keep the need to reform this and other criminal legislation under review. We have no plans at present to repeal this Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will change the arrangements for the entry to the United Kingdom for overseas domestic workers who accompany their employers. [HL840]

There is a longstanding concession, outside the Immigration Rules, enabling overseas employers coming to the United Kingdom to bring their domestic workers with them, if they need to do so.Changes to the conditions under which overseas domestic workers could be admitted to the United Kingdom were laid before the House on 23 July 1998. The primary objective of those changes was to deal with concerns about reports of abuse suffered by such workers. Responding to those concerns while minimising scope for immigration abuse presented a difficult balance. We therefore undertook at the time to review the changes in the light of operational experience.Following this review, a number of changes are being made with effect from today which we shall include in the Immigration Rules at a suitable opportunity.In response to concerns raised by the employers of domestic workers, the level of duties needing to be performed by the worker will no longer have to exceed those set down in the International Labour Organisation's International Standard Classfication of Occupations.We remain concerned at reports of abuse of domestic workers accompanying their employers to the United Kingdom and have discussed with Kalayaan, the organisation that represents overseas domestic workers, how this can be prevented. We have decided to continue allowing domestic workers to change employer but will be asking any that do so to inform the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in writing, outlining their reasons for doing so, at the earliest opportunity. This will enable officials to monitor any possible abuse of the concession by either individuals or employers and, if detected, liaise with other departments to ascertain whether any action could be taken.We are also clarifying what is meant in the concession by the meaning of "household". Some United Kingdom-based employers have long argued that, although they reside here, they maintain a household abroad and therefore domestic workers currently working in their overseas residence should qualify under this concession. We will make clear that a domestic worker wishing to come to the United Kingdom is expected to have been carrying out domestic duties under the same roof as their employer for 12 months before applying for entry clearance, or in a household that the employer uses for himself on a regular basis and where there is clear evidence of a connection between employer and employee. The domestic worker will also be expected to travel to the United Kingdom with their employer, their employer's spouse or minor child.This definition should make it clear that the concession is not intended to allow employers who are resident here to recruit domestic workers from overseas. It will also benefit those employers who regularly divide their time between two houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have made to the United States Government about the refusal of the United States to endorse the draft protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention; and what action they will now take to strengthen the effectiveness of the convention. [HL712]

The UK joined its EU partners in expressing regret at the US decision to withdraw support from the draft protocol in a statement on 26 July 2001. We welcome the fact that the United States has made clear that it continues to support the strengthening of the Biological and 'Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and would be coming forward with specific proposals in advance of the BTWC Review Conference due to take place in Geneva (19 November to 7 December). Unfortunately, these consultations have been delayed by the tragic events in the United States of 11 September.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 30 April (

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chair-in-Office, Mircea Geoana, issued a statement welcoming the 5 May release of Ilie Ilascu. Mr Geoana also called for the release of the other prisoners, Tudor Petrov-Popa, Andrei Ivantoc and Alexandru Lesco. Her Majesty's Government supported this statement, and will continue to support the work of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in pressing for the release of the three men.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the aftermath of the G8 Summit held in Genoa on 20 July, consular officials from other EU countries were able to gain access to their detained nationals earlier than British consular officials. [HL808]

We understand that no other EU state was granted access to their detained nationals ahead of British consular officials. However, detainees were held in several widespread locations, so it is impossible to confirm definitively which nationals were seen first on Wednesday, 25 July, when access was finally granted. Our consul visited one detainee in hospital as early as Sunday, 22 July. British consular officials had visited all of our detainees ahead of most other EU states. American officials were the first to gain access to their nationals in the detention centres.Throughout the night of Wednesday, 25 July, when the detainees were awaiting deportation at the airport, British consular officials provided support to British nationals and to many foreigners, including those from other EU countries, in the absence of their own consular representatives.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there have been any recent applications for an export licence for the supply of refuelling tankers to Sudan. [HL810]Baroness Amos: We recently approved an application for a licence to export one Bedford refuelling tanker for Blue Bird Aviation Ltd (Sudan). Although the tanker is on the Military List, it will be used to refuel light civilian aircraft at Khartoum airport, including those operated by UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the ICRC, all of which are working to alleviate the suffering in Sudan. This decision does not affect our continued support for the EU common position on arms exports to Sudan.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made with the quinquennial review of the medical agencies of the Ministry of Defence. [HL841]

We are pleased to say that the review team have completed the first phase of their studies. As indicated in the Written Answer by my honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State, Dr Lewis Moonie, on 15 December (Official Report, Commons, col. 275W) to the honourable Member for Gedling (Mr Coaker), the team has covered medical arrangements for personnel in Germany and Northern Ireland; and the interrelationships between primary and secondary care, as well as the functions and organisation of the Ministry of Defence's four medical agencies—the Defence Secondary Care Agency, the Defence Dental Agency, the Defence Medical Training Organisation and the Medical Supplies Agency.We have endorsed the broad lines of the review team's report on the first phase of its studies and have agreed a package of further work to underpin and confirm its provisional conclusions. A paper, summarising the main features of the team's initial report and the Phase 2 work, which will take place between now and the end of the year, is being placed in the Library of the House. As the paper indicates, this further work will result in a detailed report which will form the basis of full consultation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the composition is of the Intelligence and Security Committee. [HL839]

Following appropriate consultation and in accordance with section 10 of the Intelligence and Security Act (1994), the Prime Minister has appointed the following members to the Intelligence and Security Committee:

• The Right Honourable Ann Taylor MP (Chair)
• Kevin Barron MP
• The Right Honourable Alan Howarth MP CBE
• The Right Honourable Gavin Strang MP
• The Right Honourable Joyce Quin MP
• The Right Honourable Lord Archer of Sandwell QC
• The Right Honourable James Arbuthnot MP
• Michael Mates MP
• The Right Honourable Alan Beith MP

asked Her Majesty's Government:What targets they have set for the Rural Payments Agency 2001–02. [HL813]

We have set the Rural Payments Agency the following performance targets for 2001–02.

asked Her Majesty's Government;Whether they have undertaken any research into the reasons for the small number of women elected to the House of Commons during the last 25 years; and, if so, what conclusions they have drawn. [HL726]

There has been extensive research into the reasons for women's under-representation in politics and the Government are currently considering whether they need to commission further work. The most recent study was published by the Equal Opportunities Commission in August 2001, entitled Women in Parliament: a comparative analysis. This concluded that the use of positive measures was the decisive factor in determining levels of women's representation. The Fawcett Society has also been working on a project studying the experiences of women in parliamentary selections. Interim findings note that experience in the UK and elsewhere in Europe indicates that it is only through the use of positive action mechanisms that women's representation can be significantly increased. Copies of the EOC document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have identified good practice within political parties in other member states of the European Union which have resulted in a significant increase in the number of women elected to their national parliaments; and, if so, whether such practice could be applied in the United Kingdom. [HL727]

The Government are aware of a variety of methods used by other member states to increase the representation of women in parliament. Both the Constitution Unit at University College London and the Equal Opportunities Commission have produced work that highlights methods. The Minister for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has today introduced legislation so that the principle of reducing inequality in the numbers of men and women elected within political parties may be applied in the UK just as it is in many other member states. Many parties in countries such as Sweden, Germany and France use some form of positive action. Due to different electoral systems, examples of good practice cannot always be applied directly, and it will be for the political parties to choose what practices, if any, they wish to use.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What conclusions can be drawn from the number of women elected to the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and the European Parliament; and how these conclusions might be applied to elections to the House of Commons. [HL728]

The Government are aware that women's representation in both the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament is significantly higher than in the House of Commons because of positive measures used in these elections by certain political parties. The Government have introduced legislation today in the other place to enable parties to use positive measures to seek to reduce inequality between numbers of men and women elected to all legislatures and councils in the UK and to the European Parliament.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What legislative changes they propose to ensure that the proportion of women elected to the House of Commons reflects the proportion of women in the population; and what targets would be appropriate to measure progress. [HL729]

The Minister for Transport, Local Government and the Regions announced legislation to reduce the inequality in the numbers of women and men elected in the other place today. The Bill proposes to exclude from the operation of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 positive measures political parties may take to reduce inequality in the numbers of men and women elected when selecting candidates. Equivalent amendments will be made to the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, which covers Northern Ireland. The elections covered will be those to Westminster, to devolved bodies, to local government in the UK and to the European Parliament. The legislation will be permissive and enable parties to use positive measures to reduce inequality in the representation of women and men within that party in an elected body; political parties are therefore free to determine their own targets and monitor progress.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 16 July (H.L. Deb., col. 1261), whether the Technical Regulations and Standards Directive are relevant to the transmission and use of personal medical data for research purposes; and, if so, in what ways. [HL419]

The Technical Standards and Regulations Directive might apply to any technical regulations governing the transmission and use of personal medical data for research purposes if they fall within the information society service provisions of Directive 98/48/EC. At present no such technical regulations exist.