asked Her Majesty's Government:

What reports of independent experts have been commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office during the current session of Parliament; and, in each case, on what date the draft report was (a) received; (b) approved for grammar, spelling and syntax; (c) first submitted for Ministerial approval; and (d) published.[HL7269]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) commissioned Aisha Gill of Roehampton University to produce an analysis of responses to forced marriage consultation, following a single tender process in November/December 2005. The draft report was received on 24 February and approved for grammar, spelling and syntax on 18 May. The report was first submitted for ministerial approval on1 March and published by the Central Office of Information on 7 June 2006.

The FCO also commissioned David Mansfield to produce Exploring the Shades of Grey: Understanding the Process of Change in Factors that Influence Households in their Decision to Cultivate Opium Poppy in the 2005/06 Growing Season. The draft report was received at the beginning of February and approved for grammar, spelling and syntax in mid-February. It was first submitted for ministerial approval in late February and published on the FCO website on 2 March 2006.

No other reports of independent experts have been published in this period.