I have set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) the following Performance Targets for 2005–06.

Science

1. Fulfil commitments on time, within budget and to agreed standard of quality.

2. Delivery of R&D milestone to exceed 90 per cent. score.

3. Enhance scientific capability and reputation.

4. Achieve high standard of excellence based on indicators of scientific and technical quality with an overall score to exceed 75 per cent.

Customer

1. Provide a high standard of services to the satisfaction of customers.

2. Customer Satisfaction Survey overall score to exceed 82 per cent.

Organisational efficiency

1. Recover the full cost of our services and invest for the future.

2. 100 per cent. cost recovery.

3. Operate with simple, reliable and effective processes.

4. Achieve agreed Gershon Efficiency Plan savings.

People

1. Respect and help the agency's people to develop.

2. Annual Staff Survey satisfaction score to exceed 63 per cent.

Further details are given in the CEFAS Business Plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.

I have set the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) the following performance targets for 2005–06:

1. To recover the full economic cost of operation on a resource accounting basis, recognising the normal cost of operation.

2. To deliver the efficiency targets set out in the Business Plan, including the Gershon efficiency targets.

3. To make satisfactory progress with the Action Plan for enhancing science quality resulting from the 2001–02 Science Audit (including increase in SciSearch publications by 5 per cent.)

4. To assist DEFRA in developing and implementing the Laboratory Strategy.

5. To manage the Agency in an effective manner, including delivery of e-Government and commercial exploitation or research outputs.

6. To achieve a minimum of 90 per cent. of project milestones in commissioned projects which supports DEFRA's objectives.

7. To achieve a mean score of 4.4 on a scale of 0 to 5 for the assessment of customer satisfaction using the revised methodology.

Further details are given in the CSL business plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.

I have set the Pesticides Safety Directorate the following Performance Targets for 2005–06.

1. To evaluate pesticide approval applications and contribute to the EU Review programme.

2. To develop policy initiatives to reduce the negative impact of pesticides and to encourage alternative control measures.

3. To ensure UK objectives are reflected in EU legislation and regulation.

4. To monitor actively pesticide use and limit illegal use by taking appropriate enforcement action.

5. To increase public awareness and understanding of safe use and regulation of pesticides.

6. To recover the full cost of operations from the industry and Defra, and achieve efficiency savings.

Further details are given in the PSD Business Plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.

I have set the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) the following performance targets for 2005–06:

Financial

1. Achieve full cost recovery.

Efficiency

1. Deliver 2.5 per cent. efficiency savings.

Service Delivery

1. Meet 85 per cent. ROAME milestones.

2. Meet the baseline (set in 2004–05) for deliverables for surveillance contracts.

3. Achieve a score of at least 75 per cent. satisfaction in the VLA customer satisfaction survey.

Quality

1. Implement VLA's quality strategy. This includes:

Maintaining current third party certifications.

Achieve ISO9001 accreditation across the whole agency.

Safety

1. Implement VLA safety plan to timescales indicated.

Further details are given in the VLA business plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.

I have set the Veterinary Medicines Directorate the following Performance Targets for 2005–06.

1. To authorise veterinary medicines efficiently, using good science, thus ensuring their safety, quality and efficacy, and in accordance with legislative requirements.

2. To ensure the field use of veterinary medicines is safe and effective by monitoring use by using best practice in pharmacovigilance.

3. To ensure the safe use of veterinary medicines authorised in the UK through surveillance of residues and follow-up action where misuse is detected.

4. To develop policy to ensure that veterinary medicines can be used effectively and safely and protect human health, animal health and welfare and the environment.

5. To seek to encourage the proper use of veterinary medicines and actively discourage improper use.

6. To develop the VMD to ensure it is fit for purpose and its vision and objectives are contributing to Defra's PSA Objective VI, as well as its overall vision and objectives.

Further details are given in the VMD Business Plan for 2005–06, a copy of which has been provided to the Library of the House.

The Immigration (Procedure for Formation of Civil Partnerships) Regulations 2005 and the statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules [HC 582] will be laid today and copies will be placed in the Library.

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force on 5 December. At the same time as the Act comes into force, the immigration rules will be amended to ensure that civil partners and proposed civil partners are afforded the same treatment as spouses and fiancés.

Those subject to immigration control wishing to register a civil partnership will be required to demonstrate that they have:

an entry clearance granted for the purpose of registering a civil partnership; or

a certificate of approval from the Home Office; or

settled status in the UK.

In order to qualify for a certificate of approval applicants will normally need to have been granted over six months leave in the United Kingdom and have at least three months of that leave remaining.

To assist those wishing to give notice on 5 December the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will accept applications for certificates of approval and entry clearance for civil partnership from 14 November. Application forms will be made available on the IND website before this date. Applicants should not use the COA marriage application form as this will lead to their application being returned and may mean that we are unable to process the application on the correct form in time for them to give notice.

We will aim to process and return applications received between 14 and 21 November ready for applicants to give notice at the earliest opportunity. However, we will provide this service only where the applicant qualifies for a certificate of approval.

As each day passes, the true scale of the disaster is becoming clearer. Due to the mountainous nature of the terrain, many areas could not be accessed immediately, and some have still not been reached. The Government of Pakistan now report that 51,400 people have died with 74,500 injured. The number of homeless people is estimated to be between 2.7 and 3.2 million. The homeless are in urgent need of shelter, blankets, and warmth.

On 20 October I visited Muzaffarabad and Balakot and saw the scale of the devastation. We are now in a race against time to save lives as winter sets in and temperatures drop below zero. On the same day, I allocated an additional £20 million to the relief and recovery effort. This brings DFID's total pledge to date to £33 million. £9 million of this new allocation is already earmarked for the relief operation including an extra £1 million for medical support and services, an extra £1 million in support of water and sanitation, and an extra £1 million towards shelter.

The Government of Pakistan and the international community face massive challenges in reaching the population affected in remote areas. DFID has committed a sizeable part of the new allocation to supporting the coordination and logistical effort. UK support includes £3 million for helicopters including three British military heavy lift CH-47 Chinook helicopters, as well as four helicopters already being funded by DFID through the UN and Red Cross. DFID has also earmarked a further £1 million for logistics, transport and coordination, and £2 million for the Red Cross movement which includes helicopters as well as the provision of immediate relief supplies such as blankets, tents and water. The remaining funds, around £12 million, will be allocated as needed.

Of the £13 million previously announced DFID has allocated: £5 million for the UN Flash Appeal; £3 million to pay for in-kind donations and airlifts for the Disasters Emergency Committee; £1.5 million for the Red Cross; £300,000 for Save the Children UK for the provision of tents, blankets, clothing, primary health care and services to help reunify families; £300,000 for Christian Aid for tents, food packages, shelter kits, first aid and medical assistance; and £300,000 for Action Aid for the provision of relief, food packages, shelter, health centres, tents, medical supplies and support. £1,660,000 has been provided by the UK as part of the EU's aid contribution through the European Commission Humanitarian Organisation (ECHO).

The UK Search and Rescue teams returned on 14 and 15 October, having been involved in the rescue of 14 people. The Government, through DFID's emergency response team, have also: undertaken 13 relief flights carrying a total of 900 tonnes of emergency supplies; organised and funded 23 Disasters Emergency Committee flights with another three planned over the next few days; paid for half of the World Health Organisation's appeal to provide enough health and trauma kits to support 40,000 people for three months; and provided logistical support to the United Nations including vehicles, airport handling equipment and an Humanitarian Information Centre.

Further information on the emergency response can be found at www.dfid.gov.uk. Staff at the High Commission in Islamabad continue to offer consular assistance to British nationals in Pakistan and who are travelling to the affected area to search for relatives. Sadly, there has been one confirmed British fatality, a twelve-year-old boy from Luton. We have helped his injured parents obtain expert medical attention, accommodation and provided them with emergency passports. A few missing persons remain unaccounted for and High Commission staff are continuing to try to locate them.

In recognition of the fact that many people here in the UK will be grieving for and concerned about relatives caught up in the tragedy, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who has responsibility for the aftercare of disaster victims, has arranged for the 7 July Assistance Centre to extend its helpline to those affected by the South Asia Earthquake. The Centre is offering advice and support services on which people can draw. The helpline number is: 08457054 7444.

In my Written Statement of 19 October, I said that I had decided to restore Sinn Féin's Assembly allowances with effect from 1 November.

As I am required to do by section 95A(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I have today laid in Parliament the Direction I have made which gives effect to that decision. Accordingly, Sinn Féin's entitlement to the financial assistance payable to the parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly will be restored from 1 November.