asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend to publish a response to the consultation on the review of sexual offences,

My right honourable friend the Home Secretary intends to publish a response to the consultation and the recommendations in Setting the Boundaries setting out proposals for legislation in the autumn. At the same time he will publish proposals for reform of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 following the review of its provisions and subsequent consultation. He will introduce modernised and strengthened legislation on sex offences and sex offenders as soon as parliamentary time allows.

asked her Majesty's Government:What progress they are making with the Watchkeeper project; what benefits they anticipate from this; and on what timetable they are planning to proceed. [HL4628]

Good progess is being made with the Watchkeeper project. Proposals from potential contractors for detailed assessment phase work were received in May and are being assessed. The Watchkeeper system, comprising unmanned aerial vehicles, their sensor packages and associated exploitation facilities on the ground is a new capability. It will meet a significant proportion of the intelligence and information requirements, principally of land commanders, by providing accurate, timely and high quality imagery and intelligence information in all weathers, day and night. It will be complemented by other programmes and existing capabilities. The in-service date for Watchkeeper will be finalised as part of the current assessment work but the working assumption is for an initial operating capability in 2007. The project is on schedule to achieve this.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How the United Kingdom will be represented at the Youth Convention on the Future of Europe. [HL4755]

The youth convention is an initiative proposed by Giscard d'Estaing, President of the European Convention, to involve young people in the Future of Europe debate. Representatives nominated by member states and accession countries and the European Parliament will hold a plenary session on 9–10 July before reporting to the convention on 11/12 July.The UK's delegation has six members. Three were selected by a national essay competition, for which there were over 80 entries, organised jointly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have given any financial assistance to RBG Resources or any other company in which Viren Rastogi is involved; if so, how much, for what purpose and pursuant to what Act or scheme; and what was the actual or perceived benefit to the United Kingdom for the giving of such assistance. [HL4204]

A serach has been made of the DTI's records and these show that no such financial assitance has been given to RBG Resources or any other company which Companies House files for UK registered companies show as being associated with Mr Rastogi.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish the results of the 2000–01 survey of violent incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence in National Health Service trusts and health authorities in England. [HL4822]

The results of the Department of Health's survey of reported violent or abusive incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence in National Health Service trusts and health authorities in England in 2000–01 have been placed in the Library.The survey found that there were 84,273 reported violent or abusive incidents against staff in 2000–01. Details of the number of reported violent or abusive incidents, accidents involving staff and sickness absence by type of NHS trust are shown in the following tables. There were 108,743 reported accidents involving staff during the same period. The sickness absence rate, measured during calendar year 2000, was 4.68 per cent.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the forthcoming Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' sustainable development strategy. [HL4754]

We have today published DEFRA's sustainable development strategy—Foundations fir our Future.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Given that the Burns Report quotes evidence that there are 198 packs of foxhounds, harriers and fellhounds, totalling around 16,000 hounds, what measures they propose to find homes for these hounds if a ban on hunting is introduced; and [HL4678]Whether, in the event that a ban on hunting is introduced, they are content that a significant number of redundant hounds may be killed; and [HL4679]What evidence there is, should attempts be made to replace hunting with drag hunting, that hounds accustomed to following fox scent will not deviate from the drag if a fox is smelled; and [HL4680]Whether they will conduct research to discover what hunts will do with redundant hounds if a ban on hunting is introduced; and [HL4681]What measures they will propose, if a ban on hunting is introduced, to ensure the future welfare of the 16,000 hounds currently in packs: and whether they will pledge financial support towards providing such welfare; and [HL4682]Whether they have asked the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals whether it has the resources to find homes for up to 16,000 hounds. [HL4683]

My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael) made a Statement to the House of Commons on 21 March on how he intends to proceed on hunting with dogs. He has invited evidence and representations on all relevant considerations and will be taking responses into account in drawing up draft legislation for Parliament to consider.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the estimated cost of administration of payments to farmers for (a) "agricultural" grants and subsidies; and (b) "environmental" grants and subsidies. [HL4426]

The estimated cost of administration for agricultural grants and subsidies in England by the Rural Payments Agency is £108 million in the 2002–03 financial year. The estimated running costs for the Rural Development Service to operate the England Rural Development Programme, which covers schemes with environmental or wider rural economy objectives, is £39 million in the 2002–03 financial year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the review of the National Museum of Science and Industry.[HL4821]

I have today published the first stage report of the review of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The report examines the roles and functions of the NMSI and how these functions contribute to the delivery of wider DCMS and governmental objectives. It identifies a number of ways in which NMSI can make a bigger contribution to DES, DTI and Defra objectives.The publication of the report marks the end of the first stage of the review. There will be no formal stage two process. However, my department is embarking upon a major study of the collections storage of the DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries which should have implications for NMSI.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the joint review of the Museum of London, the Horniman Museum and the Geffrye Museum. [HL4820]

I have today published the first stage report of the joint quinquennial review of the Museum of London, the Horniman Museum and the Geffrye Museum. The report examines the roles and functions of the museums and how these functions contribute to the delivery of wider DCMS and governmental objectives. It confirms that the three museums are contributing strongly to the delivery of the Government's educational and social policy objectives. All three museums have potential to perform a regional or sub-regional role.The publication of the report marks the end of the first stage of the review. The second stage will take forward the recommendations of the first stage and consider how the museums' services and functions could be provided more efficiently and effectively in the future.A copy of the report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider toll roads suitable for new roads or existing roads, or both. [HL4519]

The Government have no plans to apply user charges to new or existing roads, except as already in operation or as already announced by the Government, including the road user charging scheme for lorries announced by the Chancellor in his recent Budget.

asked the Chairman of Committees:Further to his Written Answer on 7 May(

The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal was put on display on 18 June.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the maximum length of time to answer a Question for Written Answer in the House of Commons that would be acceptable to the Government within current guidelines; and how many questions for Written Answer remained unanswered in that House (on 1 May) after 21 days. [HL4152]

Ministers have an obligation to ensure that Members in the House of Commons receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day, and to endeavour, where possible, to answer an ordinary Written Question within a working week of it being tabled.Information on the number of Questions for Written Answer in that House that remain unanswered after 21 days is not held centrally.