asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress there has been on the report of the Near Earth Objects Task Force, which was appointed in January by the Minister for Science. [HL3903]

The report was published on 18 September. It is a valuable contribution to the debate on this important issue. I am considering its recommendations carefully before coming to a view on what action to take. I will inform the House when I have done so.Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Following the debate on the 6th Report of the Offices Committee on 27 July (HL Paper 97), whether a steering group of peers has now been established to oversee the review of the management structure and structure for decisions on services within the House. [HL3905]

In response to the debate in the Chamber on 27 July, a steering group has now been established to oversee the appointment of a consultant and the subsequent review.The members of the steering group are:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit. [HL3906]

The Prime Minister has asked the Performance and Innovation Unit to undertake a further project looking at privacy and data-sharing issues in the delivery of government services.Privacy and the protection of personal information has increased in importance with developments in IT. Data-sharing is a key to modernising government, to facilitating seamless electronic delivery of government services, to reducing fraud against government and to encouraging e-commerce. This project will analyse a broad range of issues involved in privacy and data-sharing, including current government, private sector and international practices; structural and technological issues; public concerns; and the current legal parameters. The Performance and Innovation Unit aims to complete a report by early next year.My noble and learned friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton is the sponsor Minister.