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Northern Ireland

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 947W, on Northern Ireland, if he will provide (a) the information requested up to the end of 2001 and (b) the information on injuries and fatalities to include incidents of Army use of firearms outside Army property. [42539]

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Mr. Ingram: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Engineers

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Army were (a) royal engineers and (b) royal electrical and mechanical engineers in (i) 1997, (ii) 1992, (iii) 1987 and (iv) 1982. [43590]

Mr. Ingram: The figures are the percentage of Royal Engineers and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as a proportion of UK trained Army personnel.

Percentage

Date	Royal Engineers	Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
April 1997(5)	9.0	10.3
April 1992(5)	9.7	10.0
April 1987(5)	9.4	9.7
April 1982(6)	9.2	9.7

⁽⁵⁾ The figures are taken from a DASA-held database of officers' and soldiers' records of service.

⁽⁶⁾ Computerised figures are not held before 1986 so these data are taken from manual records.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support is given to engineers in the armed services seeking to attain chartered status. [43588]

Mr. Ingram: Engineers play a vital role within the armed forces. Training is accredited where appropriate with the relevant national awarding bodies. The successful Royal Navy engineering sponsorship scheme at Southampton university is shortly to be expanded to other universities and, to maintain the high quality of our technical officer intake across Defence as a whole, will include Army and RAF officers as well. A proportion of engineering graduates are selected each year to undertake a MSc; the number depends on the operational requirement. The holders of such higher degrees can apply for chartered status. Registration costs and the first year's membership fee are granted on a case by case basis to those whose posts require such status. However, the Engineering Technology Board, which recently superseded the Engineering Council, has revised the guidance for registration. As a result, for the majority of engineering posts in the armed forces, incorporated engineer status is more appropriate than chartered engineer.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many female chartered engineers, excluding reservists, there are in (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army, (c) the Royal Air Force and (d) the Royal Fleet Auxiliary; and what the corresponding numbers were for years (i) 1997, (ii) 1992, (iii) 1987 and (iv) 1982. [43587]

Mr. Ingram: The number of female chartered engineers is set out in the table.

	Naval Service	Army	RAF
1 February 2002	2	2	7
1 April 1997	2	1	3
1 April 1992	0	0	2

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There are currently no female chartered engineers in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and there have been none in the previous years.

There were no female chartered engineers in the armed forces in 1987 and 1982.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence fellowships have been awarded to officers for the study of engineering matters since 1997. [43589]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's Defence Fellowship scheme provided an opportunity for one or two Ministry of Defence personnel a year (regular officers and MOD civilians) to pursue a chosen subject of study or research of benefit to the Department, for one year at an advanced level in a British university of their choice. The scheme has now finished. In the period since 1997 none of the fellowships concerned engineering matters.

We provide a wide range of engineering training opportunities and I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

NORTHERN IRELAND

MOX Nuclear Reprocessing Plant (Terrorism)

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the need for stronger civil defence precautions in Northern Ireland to safeguard against the effects of a terrorist attack on the new MOX nuclear reprocessing plant in Sellafield. [35340]

Dr. John Reid: Since the attacks of 11 September on the United States, the British Government have been reviewing their contingency planning arrangements. Much work has been done, and continues to be done, to strengthen our national resilience. This includes an examination of all key sites, of which Sellafield is one.

This work deals both with the counter-terrorism aspect, improving intelligence against the enemy we face and strengthening our defences, and the civil contingencies aspect, ensuring that the necessary resources are in place to minimise the consequences of a successful attack.

It is not possible, for security reasons, to divulge the details of the measures being put in place. However, the Government will do whatever is necessary, at Sellafield and throughout the UK, to maximise our resilience to any threat.

TREASURY

Government Audit and Accountability

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the bodies which will be consulted about his proposed extension of audit and accountability in central Government. [44312]

Mr. Andrew Smith: Consultation will involve bodies and individuals affected by the proposed extension of audit and access powers for the Comptroller and Auditor General.

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Consulted bodies will include those non-departmental public bodies whose auditors are currently appointed by the Government, the auditors of those bodies and bodies, or their representative organisations, that will be covered by the statutory access orders to be made under the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. These include bodies in receipt of grant from central Government, train operating companies, registered social landlords, Government contractors and their sub-contractors.

The Government will also be consulting the Comptroller and Auditor General about the powers, as required by the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the consultation on proposed improvements to audit and accountability in central Government will begin; and how long it will last. [44319]

Mr. Andrew Smith: Following publication of the Government's response to Lord Sharman's report "Holding to Account", consultation papers will now be prepared and issued as soon as possible. The normal consultation period is three months.

Correspondence

Mr. Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes dated 28 November 2001 concerning Mr. Mike Atkinson of Denbury, Devon and civil service pay. [43141]

Mr. Andrew Smith: I replied to the hon. Gentleman on 11 December 2001, and am sending him a copy of my letter.

Equitable Life

Mr. Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the inquiry by Lord Penrose into Equitable Life will be completed in 2002. [44654]

Ruth Kelly: No firm date has been specified for the completion of the Penrose Inquiry. Lord Penrose is keen to ensure that the inquiry proceeds as quickly as possible consistent with producing the thorough and authoritative account required.

Roberts Report

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the Roberts report into the supply of scientists and engineers; and if he will make a statement. [43574]

Mr. Boateng: Sir Gareth Roberts is in the process of completing his final report, and arrangements are being made for it to be published after Easter. The Government look forward to receiving Sir Gareth's final report.

Data Series

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new data series broken down by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by his Department since August 1997. [42916]

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Ruth Kelly [holding answer 14 march 2002]: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the subject of each gender impact assessment drawn up by his Department since June 1997, indicating in each case whether the outcome has been (a) put out to consultation and (b) published. [42919]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 14 March 2002]: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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