asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in preparing for the drafting of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill a bargain was struck between the interested parties. [HL3299]

The Government's proposals for commonhold and leasehold reform were the subject of extensive consultation with landlords, leaseholders and other interested parties. The resulting Bill is designed to strike a fair balance between legitimate interests of these different groups.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the usual investment strategy of the Public Guardianship Office in relation to investment in equities on 27 June 2001, 3 August 2001, 21 September 2001, 29 November 2001 and 13 March 2002 respectively. [HL3325]

It has been, and remains, the practice of the Public Guardianship Office to offer its clients a range of investment strategies based on varying mixes of cash deposits and equities according to their individual needs. For those clients with longer terms interests and larger portfolios, the policy is normally to offer some element of equity investment, taking into account the clients' own preferences. This policy applied prior to 27 June 2001 and has remained in force throughout the stated period and has been applied not only to damages awards but also to the ongoing portfolios held by the Public Guardianship Office's mental health patients.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will revise downwards the personal injury damages discount rate of 2.5 per cent in the light of the exclusion of equities by the Public Guardianship Office from its usual investment strategy and the Lord Chancellor's statement on 27 June 2001 that the strategy included investment in equities. [HL3326]

The Public Guardianship Office has not excluded equities from its usual investment strategy, and thus the question does not arise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Law Commission intends to publish its thirty-sixth annual report. [HL3510]

The Law Commission has today published its thirty-sixth annual report and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the impact analysis of the discount rate change for personal injury awards from 3 per cent to 2.5 per cent. [HL3515]

I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses the analysis of the impact of the discount rate change.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What key performance targets have been set for Her Majesty's Land Registry executive agency for 2002–03. [HL3513]

The following table sets out the key performance targets that have been set for Her Majesty's Land Registry for 2002–03.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What performance targets the Lord Chancellor has set for the Public Records Office Executive Agency for 2002–03. [HL3516]

The following list sets out the key performance targets I have set for the Public Record Office for 2002–03.PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2002–03

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will seek to have Mr Robert Mugabe indicted in the international court for crimes against his countrymen. [HL3362]

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court has not yet come into force. When it does, the court will have no jurisdiction in respect of events pre-dating its existence. It may try only the offences listed in the statute. And it has limited jurisdiction in respect of offences committed in states which are not party to the statute, of which Zimbabwe is presently one.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prosecutions there have been under the provisions of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 in each year since its implementation. [HL3294]

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will announce the ministerial priorities and best value performance indicators for the police for 2002–03. [HL3522]

We are pleased to announce that the statutory instruments have now been laid before the House. The ministerial priorities, which will come into effect on 1 April 2002, are: to help create safe communities by reducing crime, anti-social behaviour and disorder through effective partnership working, including reducing the availability and use of Class A drugs; to reduce the fear of crime in all sections of the

The information requested is contained in the table.The number of cautions exceeded prosecutions in some years in England and Wales. These data are also shown.Information on cautions and court proceedings for 2001 will be available in the autumn.community and in particular to increase the trust and confidence in policing among minority ethnic communities; and to increase the number of offences for which offenders, and particularly persistent offenders, are caught and brought to justice, in partnership with other criminal justice agencies.Subject to the approval of both Houses, the best value performance indicators will also come into effect on 1 April 2002. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has honoured his undertaking to the police that he would make a significant reduction to the number of indicators to focus police effort where it is most needed. The full list will be placed in the Library in the next few days.The Home Secretary will, by the summer, introduce a performance indicator on tackling persistent offenders. Persistent offenders must be caught and dealt with to protect the public from their activities. An indicator to measure police success in driving up performance will be introduced as soon as data collection systems are in place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the plans for new office accommodation for the Home Office and Her Majesty's Prison Service staff working in central London. [HL3550]

A contract has been awarded to Annes Gate Property plc for a new development on the site of the former Department of the Environment offices at Marsham Street. The contract is for a period of 29 years and involves the construction of new office accommodation, its long-term maintenance and provision of facility management and business support services. The net present cost of the contract is around £311 million at current prices. The demolition of the existing building at Marsham Street will start as soon as possible. On current plans, completion of the new development is expected to be spring 2005. Westminster City Council has already given planning consent for the re-development of the site, which includes mixed office, residential and commercial development. The department plans to vacate five of its existing office buildings in central London after the move to Marsham Street.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to replace the application forms for foreign nationals wishing to apply for leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [HL3551]

The current application forms are valid for use only until 14 April 2002. Revised forms will be prescribed before then. They will be available shortly. From the time they are issued until 14 April 2002, applications may be made on either the new forms or the present versions. Only the new forms may be used for applications made on or after 15 April 2002. Copies will be placed in the Library when they are available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current top rate of tax on income in each of the members of the European Union, indicating in each case the threshold of total income at which this rate of tax would be applied. [HL3404]

The current top rates of personal income tax together with threshold levels of taxable income in EU member countries are shown in the following table. We are unable to provide threshold figures for total income because they vary depending on an individual's personal circumstances. For example in the UK an individual's threshold may vary accordingly to his entitlement to children's tax credit or age related allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer:What the compliance statistics for working families' tax credit were in the nine months to 31 December 2001; and what the comparable statistics were in the previous year. [HL3508]

Compliance statistics for the nine months to 31 December 2001 show an increased effectiveness in the Inland Revenue's compliance programme. Of the 16,016 inquiries completed in this period, 5,427 cases (34 per cent) were found to contain discrepancies and these produced a compliance yield of £10.4 million.I very much regret having to report that the Inland Revenue has advised me that some previous statistics relating to tax credit compliance have proved to be incorrect or incomplete. The correct equivalent figures for the year ended 31 March 2001 ate that, of the 31,211 inquiries completed in that year, 5,573 cases (18 per cent) were found to contain discrepancies producing a compliance yield of £7.7 million.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will give further details on measures for business in relation to the Pre-Budget Report in November 2001. [HL3549]

As announced in the Pre-Budget Report in November 2001 and following consultation with business, the new corporation tax regime for substantial shareholdings will apply for disposals on or after 1 April 2002; the new corporation tax regime for intangible assets will also apply with effect from 1 April 2002.In addition, the Government are also proceeding with the new tax credit to encourage research and development by large companies which will apply from 1 April 2002. The credit will follow a simple volume based approach, final details of which will be announced in the Budget.Technical details of these measures will be published today and will be available to Peers from the Printed Paper Office.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations made by His Honour John Gower QC and Sir Anthony Hammond KCB QC in their report on prosecutions conducted by the Solicitors Office of HM Customs and Excise. [HL3512]

In the Parliamentary Answer given by the then Attorney-General on 12 March 2001 (col WA 68) he announced that the Government had accepted all the recommendations in principle but had opted for a phased approach to implementation.Since that announcement, the Prosecutions Group of the Solicitors Office has forged ahead with a rapid programme of change to enable it to deliver legal services of a high quality in a responsive and flexible way. New managers and staff have been recruited, the organisation has been restructured and working practices are being reformed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will institute an inquiry into the nature, extent and impact of lobbying by the developers of the proposed wind power station at Cefn Croes, Ceredigion, of members of the Ceredigion Council Planning Committee. [HL3327]

No. If there was any suggestions of impropriety then this would properly be a matter for the Local Government Ombudsman to look into.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress is being made in their strategies to make it easier to access broadband services. [HL3449]

The UK Online annual report, published in December 2001, detailed progress towards our broadband targets. Broadband services in the UK had continued to develop over the year, and 60 to 65 per cent of the country is now covered by an affordable broadband technology.Progress is being made by industry and government. Last year we announced a £30 million fund to encourage broadband roll-out in each region of the country, last week we set out how that money would be spent in each region and earlier this month the Government welcomed BT's announcement that they were looking to reduce wholesale prices for broadband.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have plans for setting up sector skills councils; and, if so, when. [HL3320]

We announced our intention to license sector skills councils (SSCs) in October 2001. Five trailblazer SSCs were announced in December. The new Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) will shortly invite employers to bring forward expressions of interest to form SSCs for their sectors. Expressions of interest will be assessed by the SSDA against the criteria detailed in the SSC development guide published in December. Successful sectors will receive funding to develop a full proposal within six months. The SSDA will recommend licences for those sectors whose proposals meet the SSC standard. To ensure that only those sectors where there is strong employer leadership and demand for a SSC come forward, there is no time limit by when employers must submit an expression of interest.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What criteria would be used to allow pupils to take GCSEs early to pursue more advanced studies:

All pupils who take GCSEs early will need clear routes for progression in their learning. The range and type of opportunities for progression will vary according to circumstances. The Green Paper 14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards notes the significance of institutional collaboration in the use of facilities and teaching staff; highlights the potential of ICT and interactive learning and of the Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth; and recognises the implications for teacher training and development. The Green Paper confirms that further guidance and support materials will be developed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What reduction in the numbers of people undertaking training within the Individual Learning Account scheme has occurred since the withdrawal of that scheme, giving for each Learning and Skills Council Area the numbers of (a) unemployed, (b) single parents and (c) others. [HL3353]

The Individual Learning Account programme was closed down completely on 23 November 2001. The department has taken steps to ensure all bookings of eligible learning are honoured. The department has put in place validation arrangements to process payments for claims already in the system when it was closed down and for submitting claims for learning booked but unconfirmed on the system at its closure on 23 November.The department does not hold information on the number of individuals who have not undertaken learning because of the closure of the Individual Learning Account programme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to the recommendations of the 2001 Charter for Physical Education and School Sport published by the Central Council for Physical Recreation in March 2002. [HL3411]

We welcome the Central Council of Physical Recreation's (CCPR) 2001 Charter for Physical Education and School Sport and are pleased to note that the recommendations are broadly supportive of what the Government are trying to achieve. Our White Paper Schools: achieving success includes a commitment to ensure that all children have an entitlement to two hours of high quality PE and school sport a week, within and outside the curriculum

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the statement by Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 6 March (HL Deb, cols. 352–53) that "It is not the case that the Government have any view on or support my noble friend's Bill—which must take its chance in the other place, as with all private Members' legislation", whether their approach to the Disability Discrimination (Amendment) Bill [HL] is one of neutrality; and whether they will refrain from supporting any objection to the Bill's Second Reading in the House of Commons. [HL3323]

The Government do not believe that this Bill, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Ashley of Stoke, is the right vehicle at the right time for taking forward legislation to amend the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 or the Disability Rights Commission Act 1999. Therefore, the Bill must take its chances in the House of Commons, as do all such Private Members' Bills.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency will publish its annual business plan. [HL3509]

We are please to announce that the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's annual business plan has been published and copies have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the key targets for 2002–03 for the Medical Devices Agency. [HL3511]

We have agreed the agency's key targets for 2002–03 and copies have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Government of the Republic of Ireland have ever been consulted on the conferment of peerages; if so, when; about whom; why; and whether the practice will continue. [HL3102]

The procedure is that the Government of Ireland would be asked for their consent before any of their nationals was ennobled but would not be invited to comment on the merits of any individual case. It is not the practice to disclose details relating to the award of honours and dignities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the view recently expressed by Sir Stephen Wall, head of the European Secretariat at the Cabinet Office, that euro-scepticism and anti-Catholicism are linked. [HL3331]

Britain's proper role is as a leader and partner in Europe. We will continue to get the best for Britain in Europe. As Sir Stephen Wall has already made clear, the recent views expressed by him and referred to in the Question were his personal views.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 March (

The noble Lord will know that I cannot pre-empt the next (or, indeed, any other) Queen's Speech. As I said in my previous Answers, we are committed to extending the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 when parliamentary time allows.