asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for a Prior Options review of the Government Hospitality Fund and Lancaster House.

In accordance with our Competing for Quality initiative, we are undertaking a review of the Government Hospitality Fund (GHF) and Lancaster House. The review will consider:

(i) the functions and key outputs of, and the resources currently employed by, the GHF and Lancaster House;

(ii) whether these functions are necessary;

(iii) whether it would be appropriate and feasible to abolish, privatise or contract-out (with or without an in-house bid) some or all of these functions;

(iv) ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of GHF within the current or restructured arrangements;

(v) arrangements for departmental supervision; and will make recommendations to Ministers.

In order to help ensure that all options are considered fully, an interdepartmental advisory group will he established. Interested parties wishing to comment on government hospitality are invited to write by 17 March to:Mr. D BroadFCORoom 4.2.51 Palace StreetLondon SW1E 5HE

asked the Chairman of Committees:Further to his answer of 6 February 1997

A Tender Evaluation Board sat on 2 November 1995 and agreed to the scheme for the review as submitted by Deloitte and Touche Consulting Group. The board consisted of representatives of both Houses of Parliament and was assisted by CCTA Contracts Division.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Whether he will list the responsibilities of the House of Lords Information Office.

The Information Office is part of the Journal Office and has the following specific responsibilities, with the objective of increasing public understanding of the House of Lords as part of Parliament:it provides an information service to peers, the public and the press, including replies to telephone enquiries and the supply of written material;it collaborates with the House of Commons Public Information Office to provide an Education Unit which delivers an educational service on behalf of both Houses of Parliament;it supplies information for the House of Lords site on the Internet;it is developing a teletext system for the provision of information on the annunciators and television monitors within the House of Lords.Following a review of information services, there has been since October 1996 a new post of Senior Information Officer. In addition to assisting with the overall aim of increasing public understanding of the House, the duties of this post include advising on the presentation and co-ordination of information about the House as a whole and about select committees, advising on applications to film and broadcast in the House, and liaising with the media.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to submit proposals for a United Kingdom Certified Herds Scheme to the European Commission.

My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has today submitted to the Commission papers which explain how the UK has fulfilled the pre-conditions laid down under the Florence Agreement, our proposals for a UK Export Certified Herds Scheme and the scientific basis for that scheme. A copy of these papers has been placed in the Library of the House. He has urged the Commission to ensure that the consultation procedure laid down in the Florence Agreement is initiated immediately so that we can resume exports of meat from animals in export certified herds as quickly as possible. He has also written to his counterparts in other member states to explain how we have implemented the BSE eradication programme in the UK and to seek a constructive contribution to the discussion of our proposals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many staff are employed on typing work by the Immigration and Nationality Department, and whether they will investigate the possibility of making savings in time and money by requiring officials to do their own typing.

There are 78 typists and 35 personal secretaries (who spend a proportion of their time on typing duties) within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), which includes all Immigration Service ports.Most administrative staff in IND have access to personal computers with word processing and/or customised stock letter facilities. Work need only be sent to a trained typist where that is more cost effective.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of the scale of vehicle crime, they propose to include reference to such crime in future National Key Policing Objectives; andIn the light of the fact that vehicle crime has hitherto not featured in national key policing objectives, which of the constabularies in England and Wales have determined to include such crime in their own objectives.

Although there is no specific reference to vehicle crime in the present key objectives for policing and those for 1997–98 announced by my right honourable friend on 27 November 1996. Key Objective 3 requires forces to target and prevent crimes which are a particular local problem. Key objectives for 1998–99 and beyond are under review. All aspects of police work will be looked at in this exercise to determine what should be covered by national key objectives in future.

asked Her Majesty's Government:If they will place in the Library a copy of the response from the Association of Chief Police Officers on the question of public disclosure of information on sex offenders.

My right honourable friend has today placed a copy of the response in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to introduce legislation to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Justice on the 48-hour week.

We are consulting industry on measures to implement the EC Working Time Directive. We will then take stock in light of the responses received. In any event, we shall take advantage of the provision which allows those who wish to work for more than 48 hours a week to continue to do so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list payments by way of launch aid for civil aerospace projects and sums repaid to the Treasury in respect of each of these projects for each year since 1979.

Launch aid was allocated during the financial years 1979–80 to 1995–96 towards the design and development of the following civil aerospace projects: Airbus 320; Airbus A330/340; Rolls-Royce RB211–524 and -535 and the company's contribution to the International Aero Engines V2500.GKN Westland Helicopters W-30 and EH Industries EH101; and the Lear 45 executive jet. Details of allocations (A) and repayments (R) are listed below. Repayments are not yet due from the Airbus A330/340 and Learjet 45 agreements, and have not been made in the cases of the W-30 and EH101. All figures shown are in £ millions.