asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the assessment of the present humanitarian need in Kashmir (Azad and Indian occupied); and what steps they are taking to address the situation. [HL2308]

The security situation in Kashmir remains tense. We do not have first-hand information about the humanitarian situation there, although a number of international agencies issue situation reports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assistance they have provided through the Department for International Development for the drought in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. [HL2467]

The Department for International Development has contributed over £2.7 million for drought relief activities in South Asia. This support has been channelled through the World Food Programme for its operations in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan; to Oxfam for India and £100,000 for Save the Children Fund in Pakistan. We have also seconded a five-person team of specialists to the United Nations Development Programme in Pakistan. They will help complete assessments and develop a medium-term drought response strategy.We have also deployed our own humanitarian assessment team to India. Information gathered from this and other ongoing regional assessments will be used to inform our strategy and to determine what, if any, further support may be required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the anti-epileptic drug acid Epilim was first licensed for use in children in the United Kingdom; how many adverse drug reactions relating to hepatic and psychoneurological effects following use of this drug in children have been reported; how many deaths in children have been reported; and what measures are in force to ensure adequate surveillance. [HL2567]

Epilim, the anticonvulsant sodium valproate, was first licensed for use in children in 1976.As with all medicines, the safety of Epilim is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) through the Yellow Card Scheme for spontaneous reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs).Forty-three suspected liver-related and 71 suspected neuropsychiatric reactions associated with the drug Epilim have been reported to the MCA/CSM on 88 children (aged less than 13 years) in the UK, to date. Fatal reactions were reported in 18 children. Reporting of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that the medicine caused the reaction.As well as spontaneous reports, the MCA reviews a number of other data sources in order to identify or confirm drug safety issues, including published articles in scientific journals, periodic safety update reports, epidemiological studies, other databases and information received from other regulatory authorities around the world. The Committee on Safety of Medicines has considered the safety of Epilim on a number of occasions with subsequent publication of advice to prescribers in the bulletin

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many amendments they tabled to the Financial Services and Markets Bill (a) in Committee in the House of Commons; (b) at Report stage in the House of Commons; (c) in Committee in the House of Lords; (d) at Report stage in the House of Lords; and (e) in total. [HL2422]

The number of amendments tabled by the Government is as follows: (a) 437; (b) 327; (c) 252; (d) 280; (e) 1,468.The tabling of a large number of amendments is to be expected with a Bill of this size and complexity (over 430 clauses and 22 schedules). A further 1,297 non-Government amendments have been tabled by others during the passage of the Bill.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the proportion of: (a) public sector pension schemes: and (b) private sector pension schemes, which make provision for widows continuing to receive their partner's pension after remarriage; and [HL2473]What is the proportion of: (a) public sector pension schemes; and (b) private sector pension schemes, which provide pensions to cohabiting partners after the death of their partner; and [HL2474]What is the proportion of: (a) public sector pension schemes; and (b) private sector pension schemes, which provide pensions to same sex partners after the death of their partner; and [HL2475]What is their estimate of the cost to: (a) public sector pension schemes; and (b) private sector pension schemes, of extending provision of pensions to widows after remarriage; and [HL2476]What is their estimate of the cost to: (a) public sector pension schemes; and (b) private sector pension schemes, of extending provision of pensions to cohabiting partners after the death of their partner; and [HL2477]What is their estimate of the cost to: (a) public sector pensions and (b) private sector pensions; of extending provision of pensions to same sex partners after the death of their partner. [HL2478]

The Government do not collect comprehensive information on the pension benefits provided by private sector schemes or public corporations. However, research by the Government Actuary's Department suggests that the majority of private sector pension schemes provide for widows continuing to receive a pension after remarriage although in most cases the amount of the spouse's pension is reduced if there is a significant age difference. Most large occupational pension schemes in the private sector allow for payment of survivor's benefits to the unmarried partners of the opposite sex of scheme members, but in an overwhelming majority of cases this is at the discretion of the trustees. Survivors' benefits are provided to same-sex surviving partners in a minority of schemes, usually at the trustees' discretion.The public service pension schemes at present provide survivors' pensions only for the legal spouse of a deceased member. This pension is suspended on the remarriage or cohabitation of the widow or widower. The Local Government Pension Scheme has taken the opportunity to amend its scheme rules and allow lifetime pensions for widows in the context of introducing a new scheme. Other public service schemes are considering the extension of lifetime pensions to widows.There is currently no provision to pay survivor benefits to opposite-sex and same-sex partners in the public service schemes. The Government have indicated that if the general membership of a public service scheme wanted to extend these benefits and were prepared to pay the additional costs, they would be prepared to consider how practicable arrangements could be devised for achieving this in the context of a statutory scheme.The Table shows the extra costs that would be incurred by public service occupational pension schemes, based on estimates provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the first statutory review of the British Potato Council. [HL2607]

The first statutory review of the British Potato Council (BPC) has been carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Industrial Organisation and Development Act 1947. I have considered the report of the review and the outcome of the BPC poll, together with the Minister for Rural Affairs at the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development. We agreed that the council carries out a necessary function that could not he so efficiently carried out by other means. We have therefore decided that the BPC should continue for a further term while taking forward the recommendations of the report, in particular about ways of improving the council's service to levy payers.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What subjects will be on the agenda for the European Union/Russia summit in Moscow on 17 May; and whether they will raise European Union help to the Russian Prison Service, particularly in relation to tuberculosis and prisoners' diets. [HL2462]

The EU/Russia Summit will take place in Moscow on 29 May. The agenda will focus on: developments and policy priorities in Russia and in the EU; implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; and current international issues. There are no plans to discuss EU help to the Russian Prison Service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to ratify the International Conventions for (a) The Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (Cmd 4662) and (b) The Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (Cmd 4663); whether they consider that the passing into law of the current Terrorism Bill will make ratification possible; or whether further legislation will be needed. [HL2524]

We expect to ratify both conventions in early 2001, once the Terrorism Bill has become law. The Bill contains the necessary further provisions which will enable the UK to ratify the conventions. No further legislation is necessary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they are taking to support British firms trading internationally. [HL2606]

I am pleased to announce, also on behalf of my right honourable friend Richard Caborn, Minister for Trade, that the Government's support for international trade will in future be delivered under a single brand name.Trade Partners UK will be the new name for the Government's network of support for British companies trading in world markets. Trade Partners UK will replace the various promotional brands that have been used in the past and will make services clearer, more effective and easier to access. The aim is to encourage more firms—particularly Small and Medium Enterprises—to develop an international dimension to their business. We shall continue to provide support for those that are already successful outside the UK and we shall seek out and help UK firms with the potential to develop new opportunities in overseas markets.The new brand will make the full range and reach of services much clearer to customers through the launch on 31 May 2000 of a new internet-based gateway—

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the British Board of Film Classification's Annual Report for 1999 will be published. [HL2633]

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today placed in the Library copies of the Annual Report of the British Board of Film Classification for 1999, which gives details of the board's financial accounts and activities for the year ended 31 December 1999.On 16 May, the High Court announced that the Board had lost judicial review proceedings brought by it in respect of appeals against its decision not to classify seven sexually explicit videos in the R18 category—which are available only in licensed sex shops. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary and I are very disappointed with the outcome. We believe that the situation is unsatisfactory and will be considering carefully whether there are any additional effective steps that can be taken to protect children from exposure to sexually explicit material. Any such changes may require legislation and we intend to issue a consultation paper on the matter shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether legislation has been enacted to give effect in the laws of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL2484]

The Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000, which incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into Jersey law, received the Royal Assent on 17 May. In Guernsey, a motion proposing the introduction of similar legislation was approved by the States of Deliberation on 5 April and this legislation is expected to be introduced shortly. The Isle of Man's Human Rights Bill received its Second Reading in the House of Keys on 9 May. The Guernsey and Isle of Man legislation is expected to receive the Royal Assent before the end of this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to strengthen legislation to tackle abuse of the United Kingdom's immigration control. [HL2634]

The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that those who seek to migrate to the United Kingdom but have no grounds for doing so under the Immigration Rules are prevented from coming here.From 00:01 hours on Thursday 25 May, we will require nationals of Colombia and Ecuador to obtain a Direct Airside Transit Visa even when they intend to remain airside while in transit through the United Kingdom. We have taken this action following evidence of abuse of the Transit Without Visa concession by such nationals.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What the terms of reference are for the Law Commission's review of the law governing prosecution appeals in criminal proceedings. [HL2635]

The Law Commission published a consultation document on the law of double jeopardy on 12 October 1999 following my request to it of 2 July 1999 as part of the Government's response to the Stephen Lawrence report. The consultation period ended on 31 January and the commission is considering the responses received before making its final recommendations to the Government. As the terms of reference intended, the consultation document did refer to prosecution rights of appeal but not in any detail as to how these might be achieved.My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has, therefore, today formally asked the Law Commission to undertake a review of the law governing prosecution appeals against judge directed acquittals in criminal proceedings and other adverse rulings by a judge which may lead to the premature ending of the trial. The terms of reference for this review are:"To consider

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many extra offenders they anticipate would be imprisoned each year if Clause 46 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill is implemented with the presumption of imprisonment for offenders who breach their community penalty. [HL2486]

I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave to Lord Dholakia on 22 May (Official Report, WA 56).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have abandoned the proposed bond scheme for overseas visitors to the United Kingdom. [HL2485]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to Baroness Howells of St Davids on May 23, (Official Report, WA 76–77).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have found a suitable source to replace the Royal Ordnance factory Bishopton as a source for "desertised" ammunition capable of operating in Middle Eastern conditions. [HL2375]

A contract has been placed by the Ministry of Defence with Royal Ordnance in respect of "desertised" ammunition. It is a matter for the supplier as to how its contractual obligations are met and services delivered. RO Defence has assured the department that the contract will be met and that the programme is on schedule.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What special measures can be taken to avoid significant increases in noise pollution over Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty which will be caused by planned increased flights by gliders at RAF Little Rissington. [HL2402]

The RAF is considering a proposal to move both the Joint Services Adventurous Training (Gliding) centre and the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association, both currently based at Bicester, to RAF Little Rissington. Designation of an area as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty does not preclude aircraft activity within the airspace above it. The RAF is, however, very conscious of the impact of its activities on its neighbours. In considering the proposal relating to RAF Little Rissington, account will be taken of the full Environmental Impact Study that has been undertaken by an independent contractor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether research is under way into the decline in the population of starlings and house sparrows; and, in view of this decline, whether they will provide protection for these species and cease to classify them as pests. [HL2550]

The Government are planning to let a research contract to investigate the causes of the population declines of the starling and house sparrow in Great Britain. This contract will be put out to tender in the near future. Control of these species is not thought to be the reason for this decline, so it would be inappropriate to change their status prior to the completion of this research.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether bee-keepers will be compensated for costs incurred in moving hives away from sites of genetically modified crop trials. [HL2521]

The Government will not be compensating bee-keepers for costs incurred in moving hives away from GM crop trial sites. All of the GM crops released into the environment have been confirmed as safe to human health, animal health, and the environment. Any decision by individual companies not to purchase honey from hives close to GM crops is therefore a commercial decision and has no basis in safety.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the timetable of the Lead Shot Working Group will make it possible for any recommendations the group may make for changes in the regulations to be brought into effect by 1 September 2000. [HL2503]

The Lead Shot Legislation (England) Review Group is aiming to make its recommendations in time for any legislative changes to be brought into force by 1 September 2000.However, there is a substantial programme of work and it is not yet clear if all elements will be completed in time to meet this deadline. In particular, if changes are proposed to the list of sites included in Schedule 1 to Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 2170, then relevant landowners and occupiers would need to be consulted, thereby increasing the time needed to bring changes into effect.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On how many occasions they have chartered United States registered aircraft in each of the last three years; and to what total contract value. [HL2203]

Information on the country of registration of charter aircraft used by government is not held centrally. I apologise to the noble Lord for the delay in issuing this reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 11 April (

No decision has been made on whether to proceed with this scheme. Government is not in a position to indicate what funding will be available under the EU Structural Funds Programme 2000–2006 for transport projects. If it is decided that such a scheme should proceed, availability of both European and private funding would clearly be helpful.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of the postponement of the Expressway-style rapid transit system from North Down to Belfast, what arrangements they are making to compensate those property owners who have been affected by planning blight. [HL2352]

This project, known as EWAY, is intended to utilise part of the former route of the old Comber railway line. No decision has been made on whether to proceed with the EWAY project. Consequently, compensation to property owners is not an issue at this time. However, within the Belfast Urban Area Plan 2001, which is the statutory plan for Greater Belfast, it is proposed that the old Comber railway line will be utilised for road schemes. Land to build these schemes has therefore been afforded protection. The owners of properties affected by planning blight because of these schemes may seek compensation by means of the Planning Blight (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1961.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 8 March (

No decision has been made on whether to proceed with this scheme. Consequently no announcement has been made about deferring it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 2 May (

Preliminary feasibility work on the proposal has now been completed and a project board has just been established to consider whether and how the proposal can usefully be taken forward.A detailed costed scheme would need to be available before consideration could be given to seeking funding from the European Union.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why they carried out a public consultation exercise concerning an Expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to the centre of Belfast if they had no intention of proceeding with the project. [HL2454]

Government have not carried out a public consultation exercise concerning an Expressway-style rapid transit system from the northern part of County Down to the centre of Belfast, Government have not come to any decision on whether this scheme should proceed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they expect the same standards of safety for public transport in Northern Ireland as the rest of the United Kingdom; and why Northern Ireland Railways is not subject to the same rail safety arrangements as the rest of the United Kingdom through the Railway Inspectorate. [HL2275]

Government recognise the need for similar standards of rail safety to apply in Northern Ireland as those in the rest of the United Kingdom. They are taking steps to bring Northern Ireland into line, where appropriate, with Great Britain in relation to rail safety legislation and the Department for Regional Development is currently in discussion with the GB Health and Safety Executive with a view to developing a closer working relationship with Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the comments of the Deputy Prime Minister, following the recent Paddington crash, that slam door carriages must have electric locks fitted by 2004, apply to Northern Ireland Railways. [HL2276]

The Deputy Prime Minister's comments do not apply to Northern Ireland Railways. However, the Government acknowledge the need for Northern Ireland Railways' slam door carriages either to be replaced or to have electric locks fitted as soon as possible. The timescale cannot be determined until the outcome of this year's Spending Review is known.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in consideration of the future of the rail connection between Belfast and Londonderry and its importance to Donegal, the Government of the Republic of Ireland will be consulted. [HL2390]

The Railway Task Force is undertaking a consultation exercise, inviting all interested parties or individuals to make their views known. Should the Government of the Republic of Ireland wish to present its views, these will be fully considered by the Task Force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 2 May (

Figures available from Translink show that the cross-border rail patronage for 1995–96 was 810,600 and that the cross-border rail patronage for 1998–99 was 846,997. This gives the advised percentage increase of 4.5.The year-on-year details during the period 1995–99 are set out below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 2nd May (

Translink has advised that the recent trials involving the transportation of timber from the Republic of Ireland to Londonderry were part of a pilot study to assess the feasibility of transporting timber from Irish Forestry Commission areas in North West Donegal to Londonderry and from there to Belfast, Limerick and Waterford via the rail network. Negotiations on this matter remain ongoing and no proposals have been made.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 4 May (

It would be a matter for the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company to apply for European funding for the relaying of the railway line from Belfast to Larne. The company has not submitted any such application, largely because it has accorded other parts of the network greater priority for the limited amount of European funding available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In view of the importance of good track work to the safety and comfort of rail passengers in Northern Ireland, whether they will list the track renewed under Northern Ireland Railways annual replacement scheme over each of the last 10 years and the yearly cost. [HL2452]

Translink has provided the following details, which relate to all track renewed, with approximate costs, for each of the last 10 years. Translink has advised, however, that around 1992 the annual track replacement scheme was amalgamated with capital projects relating to track renewal. Therefore the information post-1992 relates to both.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 2 May (

Translink have advised that, with the continuing lack of progress on the provision of the access road to the proposed new railway station site by the private sector developer, they are currently investigating other options.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that, in any report from the Railway Task Force in Northern Ireland, social and environmental issues as well as financial issues are fully addressed. [HL2470]

Yes. As part of its deliberations, the task force has been considering the methodology to be used in evaluating the options it will consider. It has been agreed that the method to be adopted will take social and environmental aspects fully into account.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ensure that, in any planning proposals over the next 10 years, the possibility of reinstating the rail links from Portadown to Armagh and from Templepatrick to Ballyclare using, where possible, the existing track beds is fully taken into account. [HL2554]

Responsibility for this subject has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive Mr H S McKay, and I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What European Union grants are available for public transport in Northern Ireland, what applications are currently lodged and what is the channel for such applications. [HL2471]

European funding has been available for public transport in Northern Ireland through the Transportation Sub-Programme of the Northern Ireland Single Programme 1994–1999 and the joint INTERREG Programme for Northern Ireland and Ireland 1994–1999.Applications lodged and approved under both programmes are as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the current structure of the Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development is adequate to reflect the competing priorities of public and private transport in such a way as to create public confidence; and whether they will underline the Department's commitment to public transport, including railways. [HL2353]

I am satisfied that the current structure of the Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development is adequate to address the significant transport issues, involving both public and private transport, including railways, as evidenced in Moving Forward, the Northern Ireland Transport Policy Statement published in November 1998.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 4 May (

Transport policy in Northern Ireland is a transferred matter under the Northern Ireland Acts 1973 and 1998, so decisions in this area are a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive or Northern Ireland Office Ministers in their absence.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 30 March (

The investigations or reports are all those commissioned by the then Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland from 1995. "Disproportionate cost" meant that preparation of a full Answer would have entailed the disruption of normal duties for a number of staff for many hours and would have cost well in excess of £500 in staff time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 3 May (

Following the 1996 Comprehensive Spending Review, Northern Ireland Office Ministers decided that, in allocating the resources available within the Northern Ireland Block, top priority should be given to health, education and law and order services. Nevertheless, over £20 million of additional funding was made available for Northern Ireland Railways over the three year period 1999/2000 to 2001/2002, including provision to fully fund the operating deficit that NIR were then predicting.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will outline their proposed spending in Northern Ireland on (a) public bus transport, (b) the railway system and (c) the road system for the years 2000,2001 and 2002. [HL2351]

Gross programme expenditure on the Roads Service, Railway Services and Road Passenger Services (public bus transport) for the years 1999/00—2001/02 is set out in the following table. The figures provided for 2001/02 are subject to revision under the 2000 Spending Review, which will set out plans for the years 2001/02—2003/04. The figures for railway services are also subject to change pending the report of the railway task force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development's Transportation Unit is in charge of public transport; whether it is wholly funded, managed and directed by the Roads Service Agency; and, if so, whether this is in the best interests of public transport. [HL2487]

The Department for Regional Development's Transportation Unit is not in charge of public transport. It is part of and wholly funded by the Roads Service Agency. In fulfilling its role of contributing to the development, and promoting implementation, of overall transportation policy in Northern Ireland, it also takes direction from the Deputy Secretary responsible for transport strategy and public transport in the department.The department has recently set up a Regional Transportation Strategy Division outside Roads Service and located in the core of the department. The division has responsibility for developing a 10-year transportation strategy for Northern Ireland.I am satisfied that the current structure serves best the interests of overall transport policy implementation in Northern Ireland at the present time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In the light of the allocation of £10 million of additional National Health Service funding for Northern Ireland to community care, what additional resources are to be allocated to health care in Northern Ireland to ensure that it receives the same percentage allocation of resources to health care as in the rest of the United Kingdom. [HL2304]

Northern Ireland received its share, £53 million, of the extra National Health Service Funding announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in March. Mr Howarth, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health in Northern Ireland, consulted a broad cross-section of health and personal social services interests in deciding how the additional funding would be allocated.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why some of the additional resources allocated to the National Health Service have been used to write off health trust overspending in England and Wales and not in Northern Ireland. [HL2305]

Having consulted a broad cross-section of health and personal social services interests, Mr Howarth, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health in Northern Ireland, decided to direct the additional £53 million for health this year towards improving the provision of specific services, such as community care, hospital and cancer services, children's services etc. £38 million of this money is to be allocated to health and social services boards, and it will be a matter for boards to decide how the additional resources will actually be used, based on local priorities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What urgent steps they propose to take to fill the shortage of qualified nurses in Northern Ireland. [HL2306]

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is currently reviewing the number of places it commissions on the three year Diploma Course at Queen's University Belfast.Up-to-date information from both the public and private sectors on recruitment and retention difficulties and the level of unfilled vacancies for qualified staff is presently being assessed with a view to increasing the planned number of student places.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the £6,000 grant to trainee teachers by the Teacher Training Agency does not apply to Northern Ireland. [HL2416]

This incentive scheme is being introduced in England from September 2000 to boost recruitment to teaching by attracting more applications from graduates for initial teacher training. Northern Ireland has not experienced the same shortage of graduates applying to become teachers and there are therefore no plans at present to introduce similar incentive arrangements

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of consultations, and what decisions have been made, about the future employment at Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast and in related shipbuilding industries in Northern Irleand. [HL2441]

Harland and Wolff, following announcement on 10 May 2000 of a conditional order for up to six Roll-on/Roll-off passenger vessels, are currently reviewing levels of employment in the shipbuilding division which will apply during the interim period until major work can commence on that project early next year. The extent of redundancy to be introduced after the consultation expires on 7 June is a commercial matter for the company and will be dependent upon the amount of in-fill work which the company can secure in the interim and in the light of the projected forward workload at that time. Ministers and departments in Northern Ireland remain in close contact with the company in relation to these matters.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have any plans to celebrate the bicentenary of the United Kingdom in 2001; and, if so, whether they will list the events to be undertaken. [HL2330]

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 9 May 2000 to the noble Lord, Lord Laird (Official Report, col. 1364–1365). We have no plans formally to commemorate the 1801 Act of Union. We will consider any proposals put to us to mark the bicentennary, including whether it is appropriate to support them in any way.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On whose authority the Strategic Communications Unit issued a memorandum recommending that Ministers should not participate in the Channel 4 programme "Tony's New Boy Network"; and [HL2376]Whether the memorandum issued by the Strategic Communications Unit recommending that Ministers should not participate in the Channel 4 programme "Tony's New Boy Network" is consistent with their policy on freedom of information; and [HL2377]Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 28 March (

It is a matter for Ministers to decide, taking account of advice from officials, whether or not to accept a particular invitation from the media to give an interview. It is also the case that successive Governments have co-ordinated their response to media bids made to several departments or Ministers. The e-mail referred to was issued on this basis and nothing in it has any bearing on the Government's policy towards freedom of information or my own stated view that such opportunities are welcome—even if from time to time I or my colleagues choose to turn them down.

asked Her Majesty's Government:To what extent, if at all, (a) the Strategic Communications Unit and (b) the Prime Minister's official spokesman are involved in preparing briefing for Prime Minister's Question Time; and upon whose (a) initiative and (b) authority a memorandum seeking to improve such a briefing was issued. [HL2535]

The preparation for Prime Minister's Question Time is the responsibility of the Prime Minister's Private Secretary (Parliamentary Affairs). As under previous administrations the routine memorandum was issued on the authority and the initiative of the Private Secretary.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in the light of the recent memorandum seeking to improve the quality of briefing for Prime Minister's Question Time, the performance of the Strategic Communications Unit in co-ordinating the message of Government is satisfactory. [HL2536]

Yes.

asked the Leader of the House:Whether she has yet agreed to the placing in the Library of the House the document referred to by Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank at col. 926 of the

I have not seen the document referred to. I am not therefore in a position either to place it, or to decide whether it should be placed, in the Library of the House.