To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he took, following his oral statement of 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 564–76, to ensure that contrary opinions to the official view of the HMS Glorious affair were fully taken into account in the latest revision of the official account; and if he will make a statement. [104751]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: The circumstances surrounding the sinking of HMS Glorious have been most thoroughly researched within the MOD, during which opinions and interpretations from a wide variety of sources have been considered. In the course of these exhaustive investigations some new information has come to light which has enabled the MOD to make further minor revisions to the account already provided. This new information incudes the fact that it was the Commander in Chief Home Fleet who insisted that the Glorious should be diverted to Scapa Flow to conduct a court-martial, and not the captain of the carrier himself. In addition, since January 1999, the Naval Historical Branch has been able to track down the daily intelligence summaries which show that the late Sir Harry Hinsley's recollections, broadcast in the Channel 4 programme, were in error. These records, which in the original, are signed off by Sir Harry show that Bletchley Park did indeed report increased wireless signal traffic in the Western Baltic and the Kattegat during the relevant period, but that the assessment of experts at the time was that it was associated with U-boat activity, and not that of heavy German surface ships.This extra information does not bring into question the conclusions arrived at in the MOD paper reviewed by my predecessor after the adjournment debate in this House in January last year. I shall arrange for a copy of the revised paper, incorporating these slight amendments to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of each of the battalions of the Parachute Regiment. [106564]

[holding answer 24 January 2000]: The current UK trained strength for each of the three Regular parachute battalions and the Territorial Army battalion, as at 1 December 1999, is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the armed forces were (a) registered disabled, (b) women, (c) from ethnic minorities and (d) from (i) independent, (ii) grammar and (iii) other schools in (1) 1970, (2) 1979, (3) 1989 and (4) 1999. [106760]

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy regarding equal opportunities for women, disabled people, ethnic minorities and those from social classes HIM, IV and V in the armed forces. [106573]

The Armed Forces Equal Opportunities goal, published in March 1999, is to achieve universal acceptance and application of a working environment free from harassment, intimidation and unlawful discrimination, in which all have equal opportunity, consistent with our legal obligations, to realise their full potential in contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of operational effectiveness. The armed forces respect and value every individual's unique contribution, irrespective of their race, ethnic origin, religion or gender and without reference to social background or sexual orientation.Members of the armed forces are exempt from the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Disability or a history of disability is not compatible with the need for a combat effective fighting force, able to undertake a full range of military operations anywhere in the world. Service personnel disabled on duty are, depending on circumstances, allowed to continue to serve as long as such service will not undermine overall combat effectiveness. This approach reflects the Services' duty of care to the individual and allows them to benefit from the individual's experience and ensures a return on their training investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information British forces in Kosovo have given to the Kosovar population about measures to reduce exposure to the insoluble radioactive alpha-particles given off by depleted uranium dust. [106925]

The health risks from DU have been assessed as low. It is unlikely that anyone other than those in an armoured vehicle penetrated by a DU projectile, or those spending prolonged periods within a few tens of metres of the point at which a DU penetrator had impacted with a hard target, would be exposed to large enough quantities of particulate material for them to receive a radiation dose greater than 20–30 millisieverts. For comparison purposes, the UK statutory annual dose limit for employees aged 18 years and over is 50 millisieverts. Consequently, I understand that no specific advice has been promulgated by UNMIK for civilians in Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information Her Majesty's Government have issued to the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia about the radioactive and chemical toxicity of depleted uranium weapons. [106926]

None. We are not aware of anyone in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia who might have been exposed to possible contamination from depleted uranium munitions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the US Department of Defense has informed his Department of the location of areas in (a) Serbia and (b) Kosovo which are contaminated with depleted uranium as a result of NATO bombing; [106930](2) if he will list the areas believed to be contaminated by depleted uranium munitions dropped during the NATO bombing of Kosovo and Serbia. [106929]

The UN Secretary General has requested that NATO make available more detailed information concerning the use of Depleted Uranium (DU) rounds in Kosovo, including locations of use. NATO staff are currently preparing this detailed information for release to the United Nations. I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to decontaminate those areas in the former Yugoslavia affected by depleted uranium munitions. [106927]

Reconstruction and remediation is primarily a matter for civil agencies within the international community rather than specifically for NATO or the MOD. However, British forces have played their part—particularly in the clearance of unexploded ordnance.The UN report on the consequences for the environment of the Kosovo conflict was published on 5 October 1999. Preliminary radiation measures were taken from destroyed military vehicles and from around the heavily damaged Police Station and Post Office in Pristina. No indications of DU contamination were found, although the report acknowledges that this does not exclude the possibility of DU-contaminated areas elsewhere in Kosovo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British personnel are posted to operate Pristina airfield in Kosovo, broken down where appropriate (a) by military service and rank, (b) by Civil Service grade and (c) in the case of contractors, by company. [107088]

As at 25 January, there were 196 UK service personnel directly involved in the operation of the airfield at Pristina. Of these, 18 were RAF officers, 34 were RAF senior non-commissioned officers, 143 were RAF other ranks and one was an Army other rank. There are no UK based civil servants or contractor employees directly involved in the operation of the airfield.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons there were underspends in subsections (a) A2 and (b) B2, C2, D2, E2, F2, G2, H2 and J2 of the latest systems procurement and research account; [107086](2) for what reasons there were underspends in subsections

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on naval patrols in the Falkland Islands. [107247]

Naval patrols in the Falkland Islands are undertaken by the Falkland Islands Guard Ship (currently HMS Somerset) and a Castle class Offshore Patrol Vessel (currently HMS Dumbarton Castle) supported by a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel (currently RFA Grey Rover). The Guardship maintains a presence in the Falkland Islands area for most of the year, but can, on occasions, be held at longer notice to allow the ship to carry out other activities elsewhere. Other Naval assets also deploy to the area from time to time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to withdraw HMS Dumbarton Castle from the Falklands; and if he will make a statement. [107248]

We have no plans to withdraw HMS Dumbarton Castle from the Falkland Islands.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his recent letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, on medical services in the Forces, whether it was with his authority that a senior Admiralty officer made a statement on the condition of medical services in the Navy; and if he will make a statement. [107028]

I have not authorised any senior naval officer to make a statement on medical services in the Royal Navy, nor have I been asked to do so. This Government have long recognised the problems we inherited in the Defence Medical Services (DMS), the most significant of which is the shortage of manpower. We are committed to ensuring that our Armed Forces have the medical support they require and, following the Strategic Defence Review, we have made an additional £140 million available for the DMS over the four years to 2001–02 for medical equipment and personnel. In December 1998, we announced a new strategy for the DMS, covering a range of measures, a key element of which is the creation of a Centre for Defence Medicine (CDM). The University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust has been selected as the host Trust for the Centre which we plan to open in April 2001. As well as being the professional focus for the DMS, and providing clinical services, the CDM will be an important centre for military training and research and we believe it will encourage recruitment and retention of DMS personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his policy on the carrying of weapons for personal protection by members of the Territorial Army in Northern Ireland; [107138](2) how many members of the Territorial Army and Reserve forces have been

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving RAF pilots are available and trained in date to fly the Nimrod aircraft. [107046]

As at 25 January, there are 73 Nimrod pilots who are qualified and current. This figure is made up of 65 Nimrod MR2 pilots and eight Nimrod R1 pilots.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the earliest postmarked date of unopened mail in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on (a) 1 November 1999, (b) 1 December 1999 and (c) 1 January 2000; and how many items of mail remained unopened on each date. [105674]

Significant and continuing improvements have been made in the handling of mail in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.Directly addressed applications for variation of leave are opened when they are initially processed, which now takes place within three days of receipt. The earliest postmarked dates and numbers of unopened items of this category of mail were as follows on the dates specified:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each of the last five years, how many applications for naturalisation were (a) made, (b) decided on and (c) outstanding at the year end; and what was the average time taken to process an application in each year. [106046]

The information requested for naturalization applications is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the fees his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies collect; how much has been raised or it is anticipated will be raised from each of these fees from 1989–90 to 2004–05; and which of these fees count as negative expenditure. [105999]

The fees received in years for which the information is readily available and for which reasonable future estimates can be made are given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on Council Decision 1999/C 322/04 (C322 of 10 November 1999), with reference to the (a) manner of legislative implementation in the United Kingdom and (b) consequences for extradition arrangements; [106403](2) what assessment he has made of the impact on UK law of the German initiative on increasing penal sanctions against counterfeiting the euro, set out in document 11302/99 of 5 October 1999; what court of law would try UK cases; and what supreme court would take final appeals. [106429]

An amended version of Germany's initiative on increasing penal sanctions against counterfeiting the Euro was "agreed in substance" at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in December. The text agreed was similar to that deposited for scrutiny with the House in November (reference: 12585/99). The text did not receive final approval at the Council because a number of member states, including the United Kingdom, held parliamentary scrutiny reservations, and because the European Parliament had not yet given its opinion. The Council hopes to adopt the Framework Decision in March.The draft Framework Decision, as provisionally agreed in December, contains three main legislative implications for the United Kingdom. First, the United Kingdom would be required to ensure that pre-circulation Euro notes and coins are covered by United Kingdom legislation. This requirement would be met by Part I of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 in relation to pre-circulation Euro notes, and Part II of the 1981 Act in relation to pre-circulation Euro coins. The Forgery and Counterfeiting (Protected Coins) Order (1999) designates Euro coins as protected coins within the meaning of Section 27(1) of the 1981 Act. Second, the United Kingdom would be required to take jurisdiction over counterfeiting offences committed in whole or in part within the United Kingdom's jurisdiction. The Government intend to meet this requirement through an amendment to Part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1993. Finally, should the United Kingdom adopt the Euro, the United Kingdom would be required to take universal jurisdiction for cases of counterfeiting of the Euro (i.e. to empower United Kingdom courts to try offences of counterfeiting of the Euro which had been committed anywhere in the world).Cases of counterfeiting of the Euro within the United Kingdom's jurisdiction, like all other criminal offences, would be tried by United Kingdom courts, and the normal avenues of appeal would apply. I do not expect the draft Framework Decision to have any consequences for the United Kingdom's extradition arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which delegation has stated its objection to the UK partial participation in the Schengen Information System; and if he will make a statement. [106423]

It is not our practice to disclose the negotiating positions of member states. Following discussion at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 3 December of the United Kingdom's application to participate in parts of the Schengen acquis, no objections remain to the United Kingdom's partial participation in the Schengen Information System.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria govern decisions by the Prison Service to make out-of-court settlements; and what changes there have been to these criteria in the last 10 years. [106141]

In deciding to settle out-of-court, the Prison Service will take professional advice as to the likelihood and financial implications of the claim succeeding, and will normally agree to settle out-of-court those cases where it considers the claim is likely to succeed and the proposed settlement figure is at or below the level a court is likely to award. Savings in costs are also taken into account, as are any wider operational or public policy implications of the case.This approach has not changed over the last 10 years, but in handling claims the Prison Service has of course taken into account developments in the law and the civil justice system. The Woolf reforms to civil justice encourage out of court settlements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often the Prison Service has made out-of-court settlements; and how much was paid, in each case, in each year since 1990. [106142]

This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost per inmate of imprisonment in each category of prison for each year since 1990. [106112]

The average weekly cost per prisoner in each category of prison is listed in the tables in cash terms and at 1992–1993 prices, when the Prison Service became an Executive Agency. Data have been obtained from the Prison Service Annual Reports and Accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many new prisons are planned to open in the next five years; what each will cost; how many places will be provided; and who will manage them; [106117](2) how many new prisons have been

The information requested is set out in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of self-harm were recorded by people held in (a) court cells and (b) on prison escort, in each of the last five years. [106113]

Information systems used by the Prison Service do not allow a differentiation between incidents of self-harm committed by people in court cells and on prison escort. The information available on self-harm incidents of people while on prison escort undertaken by private sector companies acting under contract to the Prison Service is the total number reported to the incident management support unit (IMSU) in Prison Service headquarters. These figures are given in the table.Care should be taken when interpreting the data because, although the majority of incidents of self-harm occur while in court, some incidents do take place in cellular vehicles. In addition, it should be noted that responsibility for the escorting of prisoners to and from court was progressively contracted out in England and Wales between April 1993 and August 1997. Consequently, the figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 are low because incidents involving prisoners under escort by prison staff would have been recorded against the establishment involved, while those relating to prisoners in police custody would have been collected locally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the weekly cost of accommodating an inmate in each of the mother and baby units in the United Kingdom. [106143]

At present no separate budget is allocated to the mother and baby units. The cost of running the unit is met from the individual establishment's central budget. Mother and baby units (MBUs), do not have a standard cost as the physical accommodation offered is different in each one. Additionally, the regimes offered differ from prison to prison depending on its security category and its function within the female estate. The information requested is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides of prisoners have occurred (a) in prisons and (b) while on escort from prisons; and if he will indicate the company responsible for the escort at the time in each of the last five years. [106114]

The information requested is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places have been made available in each new prison opened since 1990. [106139]

Since 1990, 20 new prisons have opened. These are listed in the table along with the calendar year of opening and the number of prisoner places available on 17 December 1999, the latest date for which official figures are available. The figure for Forest Bank, which opened last week, is provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on Article 18 of the Draft Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, between the member states of the European Union, with special reference to the legal status of UK amendments and declarations. [106395]

On 2 December 1999 the Justice and Home Affairs Council agreed a legally-binding Declaration on the scope of Article 18 of the draft Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the member states of the European Union. This makes clear that, in the United Kingdom, Article 18 will apply to interception warrants issued by the Secretary of State to the Police Service and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise for the purpose of the detection of serious crime. The Declaration also applies Article 18 to interception warrants issued to the Security Service for this purpose (in accordance with its remit under the Security Service Act 1996).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number of intercepts his Department estimates will be requested annually, by member states, under the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters; and if he will break down that estimate by category of criminal activity. [106397]

It is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the number or category of requests since this will be determined by the requirements of other member states once the draft Convention is agreed and ratified. However, any request for mutual legal assistance to intercept the communications of a person in the United Kingdom will need to meet the criteria for issuing a warrant for the purpose of the prevention or detection of serious crime under the United Kingdom's legislation on interception of communications.Serious crime is defined in the Interception of Communications Act 1985 as conduct which, if it took place in the United Kingdom, would constitute one or more offences if, and only if:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will deposit the Commission paper on Article 17 of the Draft Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, which was examined by the Article 36 Committee on 9 and 10 November 1999, in the Library; and if he will make a statement on the (a) role and (b) composition of the Committee. [106396]

I am depositing the paper produced by representatives of the European Commission in the Library.The Article 36 Committee was established under Article 36 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) as a co-ordinating body. The committee's terms of reference are limited to police (including customs) and judicial co-operation in criminal matters. It gives opinions for the attention of the Justice and Home Affairs Council and (with COREPER) contributes to preparation of Council discussions. The committee is composed of senior officials of the member states and the European Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date Mr. Winser ACC Cambridge Constabulary chaired the first meeting of the working group into the National Firearms Database set up under the Association of Chief Officers Sub-committee (group) on the administration of firearms licensing; [106416](2) if he will place in the Library copies held by his Department of all documents, letters, agendas and minutes provided by the Association of Chief Officers Sub-committee (group) on the administration of firearms licensing since 1996; [106412]

The arrangements made for appointing members and for managing and publishing the work of the Sub-committee on the Administration of Firearms and Explosives Licensing and any associated working groups are matters for the Association of Chief Police Officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place copies in the Library of the reports compiled by the PNC directorate into the resource and financing implications of the National Firearms Database computerisation. [106417]

A realistic estimate of the resource and finance implications for this database can be compiled only when a detailed impact assessment has been completed. The Police Information Technology Organisation plans to begin work on this assessment in February and to complete it in April. It will be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to the implementation of section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 (a) who is responsible for the problem, (b) who are the stakeholders and (c) what are the success criteria; and if he will make a statement. [106419]

As indicated in the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman on 18 January 2000, Official Report, column 370W, the Act does not specify the person or organisation which is to provide the central register referred to in section 39. When completed, the register will form part of the PHOENIX database and the principal stakeholders will be the police service and the Police National Computer Directorate. The success criteria will be the establishment of a computer system accessible on-line to all police forces and containing details of all persons who have applied for a firearm or shotgun certificate or to whom a firearm or shotgun certificate has been granted or whose certificate has been renewed. It is not possible at this stage to give a firm date but it is hoped that the system will be up and running by the summer of 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy in the Library of the user requirement of the Central National Firearms Database, indicating the date when it was drafted. [106415]

A copy of the user requirement was placed in the Library in March 1999 shortly after it was finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates of all meetings attended by Mr. Paul Pugh of the Home Office OPPU and his deputies since January 1997 concerning the proposed implementation of the computerisation of the National Firearms Database requirement contained in section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and if he will place copies of all such documents produced and discussed in the Library. [106414]

Apart from a presentation which was given by the Police National Computer Directorate at Hendon on 11 February 1997, no staff of the Operational Policing Policy Unit (OPPU) have attended specific meetings to discuss the proposed implementation of the database. The initial work to establish the database was undertaken by a working group set up under the auspices of the Association of Chief Police Officers Sub-Committee on the Administration of Firearms and Explosives Licensing, on which OPPU is not represented. We have no plans to place ephemeral papers considered by the group in the Library, but copies of final documents such as the user requirement and detailed impact assessment have been or will be made available in this way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving firearms were committed in each of the past 10 years. [106313]

The information requested was published in an Annexe to the statistical bulletin "Firearm Certificate Statistics, England and Wales 1998" on 26 November 1999. A copy is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) software and (b) hardware systems used by the (a) City of London, (b) Cumbria, (c) Dorset, (d) Humberside, (e) Norfolk and (f) West Mercia police forces to hold the register of privately held firearms and persons holding firearms certificates; and if he will place a copy of the functional specification and user guide of each system in the Library. [106768]

As indicated in my reply of 18 January 2000, Official Report, column 370W, the functional specifications and user guides of systems used by the police to record details of firearm certificate holders are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 January 2000, Official Report, column 370W, on firearms what steps he (a) has taken and (b) is taking to ensure full compliance with section 39 of the Firearms Amendment Act 1997; for what reasons the system is not in full operation; and if it has been piloted. [106772]

Development of the national firearms database currently features in the Police Information Technology Organisation's business plan for 2000–01. Development could not have begun earlier because the resources available were required for projects of even higher priority. It has not been piloted and the next step is to carry out a detailed impact assessment which should be completed in April. It is not possible to give a firm implementation date at this stage but it is hoped that the system will be in place by the summer of 2001. I propose to monitor the situation carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors he took into account in deciding to permit Mr. Mike Tyson to enter the United Kingdom on compassionate grounds. [106457]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the compassionate grounds for exempting Mr. Mike Tyson from refusal of entry to the UK. [106651]

[holding answer 25 January 2000]: There were no compassionate grounds in relation to Mr. Tyson which affected my decision to admit him. In reaching my decision one of the factors to which I gave particular weight was the lack of consistency in the effect of the Immigration Rules. I also considered the likely effect of cancellation of the fight on those who had already purchased tickets and smaller enterprises and individuals who were probably least able to bear any losses.I weighted these factors against the nature and seriousness of Mr. Tyson's convictions and I decided on balance that the exceptional circumstances of this case were such that Mr. Tyson should be granted entry solely for the purpose of participating in the scheduled sporting event. This decision was made in accordance with the Immigration Act 1971 and the Immigration Rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 18 January 2000, Official Report, columns 368–69W, on Mr. Mike Tyson, if he will list the companies and individuals with a direct or indirect interest in the promotion, whose comments formed part of the representations from Mr. Frank Warren. [106975]

In addition to his own letter, Mr. Warren's representations to the Immigration Service of 12 January consisted of 25 pages of copies of requests for media accreditation for the boxing match and 32 other letters from companies and individuals, either associated with the sports and leisure industry or the sport of boxing, including boxers due to fight in Manchester on 29 January.As a matter of practice, representations made to the Immigration and Nationality Department about individual cases are treated in confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 18 January 2000, Official Report, column 417W, what representations he received from BSkyB (a) directly and (b) indirectly in respect of Mr. Mike Tyson's application to enter the country. [106977]

Representations were submitted to the Immigration Service by Mr. Frank Warren, the promoter of the event. He referred in these representations to the investment in the promotion by television networks including Showtime in the United States of America and BSkyB in this country. I considered these factors but I did not regard them as relevant to the decision I took.In reaching my decision to admit Mr. Tyson one of the factors to which I gave most particular weight was the lack of consistency in the effect of the relevant Immigration Rule, as well as the likely effect of cancellation of the fight on those who had already purchased tickets and smaller enterprises and individuals who were probably least able to bear any losses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state (a) the number of officers involved in policing the visit of Mr. Mike Tyson to Brixton, (b) the cost of policing Mr. Tyson's visit and (c) how much he has asked Mr. Tyson and his promoters to contribute towards that cost. [107081]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that a total of 82 police officers were involved in policing the visit of Mike Tyson to Brixton on 21 January. The net additional manpower costs of these officers was approximately £9,700. I understand that the Lambeth borough Commander did not regard the policing of this event as a "special service" and therefore did not seek a contribution from Mr. Tyson or his promoters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were on duty in Brixton at 3 p.m. on (a) 14 January, (b) 21 January and (c) 15 January; and if he will make a statement. [107080]

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the number of uniformed officers available for routine patrol duties in Brixton at 3pm on these dates were as follows: (a) 14 January, 56; (b) 21 January, 25 with another 82 officers specifically deployed for the policing of the visit of Mike Tyson; (c) 15 January, 42.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations his Department has held with the Scottish Executive on the (a) dispersal of asylum seekers and (b) designation of reception zones. [107074]

Officials in my Department have kept in regular contact with officials in the Scottish Executive to discuss a range of issues concerning the dispersal programme for asylum seekers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who appointed the members of the Committee of Inquiry into the Impact of Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales. [106770]

The members of the Committee of Inquiry were appointed by my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, following consultation with the noble Lord Bums, the chairman of the inquiry team.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he plans to allocate police grant in 2000–01; and what the final funding allocations for police authorities will be for that year. [107555]

I have today, laid before the House, the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2000–01 (HC 169). The Report sets out my determination for 2000–01 of the aggregate amount of grants that I propose to pay under section 46(2) of the Police Act 1996, and the amount to be paid to each police authority including the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District.Funding allocations for each police authority in England for 2000–01 are set out in the table. The table also shows allocations approved by Parliament for 1999–2000. Final funding allocations for police authorities in Wales will be announced shortly when the National Assembly for Wales publishes Standard Spending Assessment determinations for Welsh authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will respond to the Home Affairs Committee's Third report of Session 1998–99 on the Accountability of the Security Service; and if he will make a statement. [107649]

The Government will respond tomorrow by way of a Command Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the full economic unit cost performance of the UK Passport Agency's passport unit in (a) actual and (b) real terms for (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [107078]

The latest estimate of the Passport Agency's actual full economic unit cost, as indicated in Annexe B of the Passport Agency's Corporate and Business Plan 1999–2002 which was published on 6 December 1990, is shown in the table. The real terms figures are at 1999–2000 prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his objective that passport applications should in future be available at the Passport Agency's public counters; and what is his timetable for attaining that objective. [107073]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the figures for the analysis of the work of the Integrated Casework Directorate which he placed in the Library in graph form as part of his answer of 13 December 2000, Official Report, column 1W, on the Integrated Casework

Passport applications can already be made at the public counters of individual passport offices. All the Passport Agency's public counter areas also have a stock of application forms, available to customers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a tiered service for passport applicants of the kind outlined by the Chief Executive of the Passport Agency on pages 2 and 3 of "A Blueprint for the Future". [107071]

Subject to the results of market research the Passport Agency plans to introduce, by early 2001, a fast track service for people applying through the Passport Agency's partners and at counters, and a premium service, for counter service callers only, to meet urgent travel requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the level of productivity of the Passport Agency's PASS system will match that of the PIMIS system. [107075]

Passport Application Support System (PASS) productivity should match that of the Passport Issuing and Management Information System (PIMIS) by this summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a version of the table showing the Passport Agency's income and expenditure printed in page 19, paragraph 5.3 of the Agency's current corporate and business plan which takes account of the income and expenditure relating to the proposed new Passport Office in Durham. [107076]

The table showing the Passport Agency's income and expenditure which is printed in page 19, paragraph 5.3 of the Agency's Corporate and Business plans 1999–02 already takes account of the income and expenditure relating to the proposed new passport office in Durham.Directive; and if he will update those figures to the present date. [107091]

I have placed in the Library a table giving a breakdown of the weekly output of the Integrated Casework Directorate (ICD) in the four categories against which the recovery of the LCD's business would be measured in the first instance, from 1 January 1999 to the week ending 14 January 2000.