asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have regarding guidance to help local authorities to improve the quality of local services. [HL2128]

The Government have today published a circular on best value and performance improvement, containing guidance for principal local authorities about how to achieve best value and secure continuous improvement in delivering local services. It consolidates and replaces existing guidance.The services provided by local authorities directly impact on everyone's quality of life. It is therefore vital that these services are delivered to a high standard and in ways that are responsive to the needs of their users.The circular emphasises the important role that best value can play in helping to drive up the quality of local services. It explains how authorities can make arrangements under best value to secure a well-trained and motivated workforce, to review performance effectively and to use the annual performance plans to record their priorities for improvement and achievements.It includes a code of practice on workforce matters in local government service contracts. The code will ensure that the provision of local services is not undermined by poor employment practices in respect of new joiners to contracted-out services. Partnerships with the private and voluntary sectors should be selected where these will drive up service performance standards, not in order to drive down staff terms and conditions.Authorities should use the guidance to continue to challenge how services are delivered and to look for new and innovative ways to deliver quality services.Today I am also laying an order requiring all best value authorities to consult recognised unions and employees' associations, and staff, when conducting best value reviews. This will ensure that better decisions are made, increase understanding of the reasons for those decisions and help authorities achieve continuous improvement in service delivery.Copies of the circular have been placed in the House Libraries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many of the 467 operational local authority websites had achieved fully transactional status allowing two-way interaction on 28 February 2003; what improvement this represents on the figure of a year ago; and what are the implications of this for their policy of having government services online by 2005. [HL2011]

The results of the latest 2003 survey carried out by the Society of Information Technology Management (SOCITM) Better Connected 2003: a snapshot of local authority websites, show that 10 UK councils now have websites that are rated as "transactional". This compares with four UK council "transactional" websites in 2002. The SOCITM 2003 survey results also show an increase in transactions across UK council websites of over 50 per cent compared with 2002.The most accurate measure of progress towards the 100 per cent target for local government services online by 31 December 2005 target is the Audit Commission's Best Value Performance Indicator 157 relating to electronic service delivery. The definition of online services for this indicator includes delivery by telephone if the transaction carried out is electronically enabled, i.e. the officer receiving the call can access electronic information and/or update records on-line. The Audit Commission reports that by 31 March 2003 35.4 per cent of local authority services in England were online. BVPI 157 projections compiled by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister from this year's Implementing Electronic Government returns show that local authorities in England expect to be 49.4 per cent online by 31 March 2003, 71.0 per cent online by 31 March 2004, 89.3 per cent online by 31 March 2005 and 99.8 per cent online by 31 March 2006.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the provisions intended to limit the total value of individual pension funds apply in the same manner to all categories of persons. [HL1921]

On 17 December 2002 the Government issued a consultation paper, Simplifying the taxation of pensions: increasing choice and flexibility, which puts forward a proposed framework of benefit rules that would apply to all tax-approved pension schemes. The consultation allows people to put forward their views before final decisions are taken.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current rate of unemployment in Hull; and how this compares with the national average. [HL2019]

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Hassan Said, Marwan al-Banna and Nowaf al-Rosan, who were convicted of the attempted murder of the then Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Shlomo Argov, remain in custody. [HL2009]

It is not normal practice to comment on individual cases. However, I can confirm that, of the three individuals named, two are currently detained under the provisions of the Mental Health Act and the other remains in prison custody.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the cost of the formal investigation into the Prison Service by the Commission for Racial Equality; and when the report is likely to be published. [HL1864]

I am advised by the commission that it intends to publish a report on the formal investigation into the Prison Service as soon as practicable.It is estimated that the costs thus far incurred by the commission are in the region of £630,000.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made on the survey of court orders in 12 courts in order to consider (a) the rates of enforcement, (b) whether the courts are using options such as supervised or indirect contact of parents with children following break-up of marriage as a result of domestic violence, and (c) what are the rates of domestic violence. [HL1903]

The first survey, carried out in 2001, provided baseline information on the levels and nature of enforcement proceedings and incidences of domestic violence in residence and contact applications. As part of our ongoing programme to increase safe contact, a more comprehensive survey will be carried out in the spring. This will address the points raised in the Question, gather further statistical data and gauge how courts are dealing with these issues.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements are in place for nuclear, biological and chemical protection of United Kingdom base areas in the Gulf; and what theatre missile defence will be available. [HL1678]

United Kingdom Armed Forces deployed on operations are afforded a range of defences against NBC attack. These include detection capabilities, warning and reporting systems, decontamination equipment and procedures, physical protection, including respirators and protective suits, and medical countermeasures.Our strategy to manage the threat from ballistic missiles is a comprehensive one whch incorporates counter-proliferation, diplomatic measures, deterrence and threat reduction capabilities, including the NBC detection and protection mentioned previously. Significant protection is available through appropriate tactics, training and procedures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the problems encountered with local suppliers providing British troops in the Gulf region have now been solved. [HL1942]

The current level of support provided to British troops by local suppliers is commendable considering the speed and size of build up in the Gulf. It is inevitable with a deployment of this scale that there will be occasional isolated difficulties. Where these have occurred, swift action has been taken to rectify the problem.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps are being taken to encourage all service personnel deployed to the Gulf to accept anthrax vaccinations. [HL1943]

We have assembled a comprehensive package of information and education materials for personnel included in the programme which, along with clear briefings from medical staff and commanding officers, we hope will encourage personnel to take advantage of the protection that immunisation against anthrax provides. Furthermore, we are expanding the programme so as to make immunisation against anthrax routine for all United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel. We hope that this will encourage personnel to regard immunisation against anthrax as a normal part of their readiness and preparedness. The information and education materials will be reviewed and improved as the programme expands.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 16 December 2002 (

Copies of my reply to Lord Campbell-Savours were placed in the Library of the House on 7 March.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 16 December 2002 (

I wrote to my noble friend on 28 February and a copy of my letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total strength of the Royal Irish Regiment; and how many servicemen come from (a) Northern Ireland; (b) Great Britain; and (c) the Republic of Ireland. [HL1388]

As at 3 March 2003, the total strength of servicemen and servicewomen currently serving in the general service and home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (R IRISH) is 4,107, which is split down as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are taking part in, or sponsoring in any way, British participation in the forthcoming defence fair (IDEX) to be held in Abu Dhabi; and, if so, what will be the cost to the taxpayer. [HL1924]

Events such as IDEX 2003 provide an effective facility for the United Kingdom defence industry to demonstrate the range of its products to potential overseas customers. They also enable companies responsible for equipping our Armed Forces to see the capabilities and products of other nation's defence industries.The Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) has primary responsibility for co-ordinating government support for the promotion of legitimate defence exports. DESO plans to take an active part in the exhibition, providing a stand, office and demonstration team at an estimated cost of about £280,000. Travel and associated costs will be met from existing budgets. The cost of DESO support for defence exhibitions is more than offset by savings to the defence budget generated by defence exports, including savings in equipping our own Armed Forces through economies of scale.Trade Partners UK will provide an element of funding via its support for exhibitions and seminars abroad scheme.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the latest assessment by them and the United States administration of the long-term health and genetic implications for (a) service personnel and their families, arid (b) civilian populations, of the use of weapons and munitions of which depleted uranium is a part; and how this assessment will affect future military policy and activities. [HL2008]

Thus far, there is no reliable scientific or medical evidence to link depleted uranium (DU) with ill health. Many independent reports have been produced that consider the battlefield effects of using DU munitions, but none has found widespread DU contamination sufficient to impact the health of the general population or deployed personnel. The Royal Society reports on The Health Hazards of Depleted Uranium Munitions (2001, 2002) support the Ministry of Defence's view that risks to the health of soldiers on the battlefield are minimal except for a small number of extreme cases. No British troops have been exposed in extreme circumstances.However, the United States Government have carefully monitored the health of some of their soldiers who were exposed in extreme circumstances when DU rounds accidentally hit their vehicles during the Gulf conflict. Some 17 of them have had DU shrapnel embedded in their bodies for the past 12 years but do not show signs of health problems attributable to DU. The offspring of the highly-exposed United States veterans, amounting to some 60 children, are all healthy.With regard to a link between exposure to DU and birth defects, no studies have looked specifically at this relationship. There is no scientific or medical evidence from US studies of an excess of birth defects in Gulf veterans compared with appropriately selected control groups. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defence believes that it is an important issue and therefore placed a contract in 1997, through the Medical Research Council, for an independent study of the reproductive health of United Kingdom Gulf veterans compared with a matched control group. This study has been completed at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and will report soon.The Ministry of Defence's assessment is that DU particulate remains highly localised to the points of impact where DU munitions have struck hard targets: only in these small areas would DU levels be significant enough to necessitate precautions to prevent or reduce possible intakes. Increasing amounts of independent research by eminent scientists within groups such as the Royal Society DU Working Group and the United Nations Environment Programme support this view.We are prepared to use DU tank munitions in future conflicts if necessary because they are the most effective anti-armour weapons. We have a duty to provide our troops with the best available equipment with which to protect themselves and to succeed in conflict. Therefore, British forces currently being deployed to the Gulf will have DU munitions available as part of their armoury.Appropriate safety instructions have been issued to those who have been deployed. These safety instructions make clear that the risks from DU are far lower than those from other hazards arising from military operations and that combat and life-saving activities should never be delayed on account of concern over DU. They describe the potential risks and include pragmatic advice on procedures for minimising any potential intake of DU dust. The emphasis is on avoiding situations where DU dust may be encountered and on wearing appropriate respiratory protective equipment and protective clothing when it is necessary to enter potentially contaminated areas. They also include procedures for transporting and handling DU ammunition. Radiation dosemeters have been issued to those who will spend time in tanks loaded with DU munitions, and biological monitoring will be available

for all members of the Armed Forces if DU is used. This will provide verification of the adequacy of the safety precautions. The biological monitoring policy is published on MoD's Internet site at

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a prime contractor has been selected for the assessment phase of the future integrated soldier technology (FIST) programme. [HL2142]

The FIST programme will bring the benefits of improved technology to the soldier by providing an integrated suite of personal equipment to enhance dismounted close combat capability. This will include the latest surveillance, target acquisition, navigation, communications and miniaturisation technologies, all integrated into robust, flexible and reliable military equipment, capable of operation anywhere in the world. It will further increase the tempo of our battlefield operations, ensuring British forces engaged on the battlefields of the future will be among the best equipped in the world.Four companies were invited to compete for the role of FIST assessment phase prime contractor, Bae Systems Ltd, Marconi Mobile Ltd, Raytheon Systems Ltd and Thales Optronics Ltd, a division of Thales UK. All submitted strong bids. Following detailed consideration of the proposals, the four tenderers were reduced to two during August 2002. The final phase of the competition focused on the remaining companies' plans for the management of the assessment phase. After a further period of evaluation, the Ministry of Defence has today selected Thales Optronics Ltd as the prime contractor for the assessment phase.The contract with Thales UK has a value of £20 million. The FIST assessment phase will sustain and create around 70 jobs at Thales plants in the UK. In time, the demonstration and manufacture phase, for which we retain the option to compete the requirement, will sustain and create many more.The assessment phase will last until 2006. An in-service date for FIST will not be set until the main investment decision, but current estimates are around the end of the decade.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a preferred bidder has been selected for the Armada private finance initiative project at HM Naval Base Devonport. [HL2143]

The Government gave a commitment under SDR to improve single living accommodation for service personnel. We are therefore pleased to announce that, following competition, Falcon, a consortium led by Interserve fm and Compass, has been selected as the preferred bidder for the Armada private finance initiative (PFI) project. Subject to the successful completion of negotiations, it is planned to award the contract in late July of this year.The Armada project encompasses the provision of services in the fleet accommodation centre at HM Naval Base Devonport over a 25-year period. This includes property maintenance, infrastructure maintenance, catering, cleaning and responsibility for environmental aspects and ground maintenance, as well as the design, build, finance and operation of the fleet accommodation centre single living accommodation.En-suite accommodation is planned for 55 senior officers, 195 junior officers, 600 warrant officers and senior ratings and 700 junior ratings, with 100 beds (non-en suite) retained for transient personnel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What further plans they have for contingency planning for possible military action against Iraq. [HL2144]

In a Statement on 20 January (Official Report, cols 34–35) in another place, the Defence Secretary informed the House of the Government's decision to deploy a land force package led by Headquarters 1 (UK) Armoured Division to provide military capabilities for potential military action against Iraq. This deployment has made good progress.We told the House that operational planning continued to evolve. In order to provide Headquarters 1 (UK) Armoured Division with further flexibility to respond to a range of possible tasks and circumstances, we now plan to deploy two additional units. Members of the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment will deploy to provide additional infantry capability; 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer) will deploy to provide additional medical capability. We had originally envisaged that 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer) would replace 33 Field Hospital, which is already deployed. We now plan that 33 Field Hospital will remain in theatre, along with 34 Field Hospital and 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer), for the time being.These changes involve some 850 personnel; the total size of the deployment remains about 45,000 personnel.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether an equality impact assessment was carried out prior to proposals for the introduction of university fees for students; and, if so, what was the outcome. [HL1846]

The Government are committed to ensuring that our proposals do not disadvantage students on equal opportunity grounds. An impact assessment on ethnic minorities of the policies proposed in the Higher Education White Paper is currently being undertaken. We intend to publish our findings later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What measures they plan to take to prevent loss of key staff from the Public Health Laboratory Service media services given the uncertainty about its future. (HL1990]

The service will continue to be managed by the Public Health Laboratory Service, to minimise risk and to allow time to put suitable alternative long-term arrangements in place. Staff will be consulted about such proposals. To address the possible loss of key staff, media production staff benefit from the same arrangements under the agreed Change Management Protocol as other PHLS staff, under which they have a guarantee of employment until 31 March 2004.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress they have made on the introduction of managed pathology networks. [HL1992]

The Department of Health document Pathology—The Essential Service, Draft Guidance on Modernising Pathology Services supported the development of pathology networks as an effective means of delivering improved pathology services. There is general support in principle among those who responded to the consultation for developing appropriate networks in pathology (www.doh.gov.uk/pathologymodernisation). Further guidance will be published shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How they propose to secure clinical pathology accreditation for all National Health Service laboratories. [HL1993]

Following consultation on Pathology—The Essential Service, Draft Guidance on Modernising Pathology Services, the Department of Health is currently developing final guidance which will cover a range of issues, including laboratory accreditation. The new guidance will be published shortly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will commission research into any dangers arising from genetically modified cotton crops, in particular from unlabelled cottonseed oil and cotton husks entering the human food chain.[HL2004]

Cottonseed oil from two genetically modified varieties of cotton received approval for food use in the European Union in July 2002. Before approval the oil underwent a thorough safety assessment by the independent Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. The committee concluded that the oil was as safe as oil produced from unmodified cotton. The Food Standards Agency does not therefore have any plans to commission such research.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the organisations which responded to the recent consultation exercise undertaken by the Medicines Control Agency on the ban of Kava-kava in medicinal products; and whether they will indicate in the case of each respondent whether they (a) supported, or (b) opposed the ban; and [HL2027]What importance the Medicines Control Agency attaches to the level of experience of herbal remedies and alternative and complementary therapies of those who responded to its recent consultation exercise on the ban of Kava-kava products.[HL2028]

Fifty organisations responded to the Medicines Control Agency's consultation (MLX 286) on the proposal to prohibit Kava-kava in unlicensed medicines. Of these, 17 made no comment, 19 supported the proposal and 14 opposed the proposal or expressed reservations about specific aspects. Where permission for disclosure has been given, information about the responses of individual organisations is shown in the table.All responses to the consultation were considered carefully, along with available evidence on the safety of Kava-kava, before the decision was taken to proceed with the proposal in the interests of public health. As with any such consultation, we recognise that varying views of respondents will have been informed by their experience and background. For example, some may bring to bear primarily general knowledge and experience while others may have specific expertise for example on public health, on the safety of medicines or the operation of the complementary medicine sector.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Food Standards Agency based its recent decision to ban Kava-kava in food products upon the evidence produced by the Medicines Control Agency of adverse reactions to medical products or whether they commissioned their own analysis of the risk of its use in food products. [HL2029]

In July 2002, Food Standards Agency scientists reviewed the data available to the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) and assessed the risks relating to food uses of Kava-kava. The agency sought advice from the Chairman of the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) in the first instance, and then presented the risk assessment to the full committee. COT agreed with the CSM that consumption of Kava-kava is associated with liver toxicity and took the view that the evidence did not justify treating Kava-kava in foods differently from Kava-kava in medicines.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How frequently abortion clinics are subject to inspection by the National Care Standards Commission; and [HL2030]What mechanisms are in place to ensure that abortion clinics act upon recommendations contained in inspection reports from the National Care Standards Commission. [HL2031]

All independent sector places approved by the Secretary of State for Health to perform termination of pregnancy under Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, are registered with the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) as independent hospitals under the Care Standards Act 2000. These places are inspected a minimum of once a year by the NCSC, on behalf of the Secretary of State.Each abortion clinic is inspected against the Private and Voluntary Health Care Regulations and the relevant national minimum standards. If any requirements or recommendations are identified, the clinic is required to implement an action plan. Monitoring and compliance visits will be undertaken by the NCSC to ensure those requirements are met.Failure to comply with or maintain the standards required by the Secretary of State may result in enforcement action by the NCSC and withdrawal of approval to perform termination of pregnancy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will estimate the number of deafblind children in England, giving the sources for the estimate and the number identified by their local authorities. [HL2037]

The Department of Health does not collect this information centrally. However, Sense estimates that there are between 2.500 and 4,000 deafblind children in the United Kingdom.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the current availability of people specifically trained to assist deafblind people in the United Kingdom; how this compares with the number available in 1997; and what steps they have taken to increase training places. [HL 2039]

Information on the numbers of people trained to assist deafblind people is not held centrally.With support from the Department of Health and other funders, the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) created an infrastructure of trainers, assessors and materials for the delivery of training and assessments leading to the Level 2 award in deafblind support work. This award is accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and awarded by CACDP, while the training is offered by the key national organisations (Sense, Deafblind UK, Deafblind Scotland and The Royal National institute for the Blind). Accreditation began part way through 2001.In 2002 (the first full year) there were 287 candidates for accreditation (pass rate 86 per cent), with 22 trainers of trainers currently registered to deliver the training.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether their jurisdiction for the link between the Lord Chancellor's salary and pension benefits and the salary and pension benefits of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales depends upon the fact that the Lord Chancellor is the most senior judge and is entitled to sit in a judicial capacity; and, if not, what is the justification for maintaining the link in current circumstances. [HL1596]

The 1983 Review of Parliamentary Pay and Allowances (Cmnd. 8881–1) by the Top Salaries Review Body recommended that, in recognition of his pre-eminent position in the judiciary and his responsibilities as a whole, the Lord Chancellor's salary should be higher than that of the Lord Chief Justice. The Lord Chancellor's functions as head of the judiciary include, among other things, being President of the Supreme Court and having overall responsibility for the conduct of the judges and the lay magistracy. The recommendation was accepted by the Government and incorporated into the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. This set the difference between the Lord Chancellor's salary and the Lord Chief Justice's at £2,000. The Ministerial and Other Salaries Order 1996 subsequently increased this to £2,500. The SSRB has been asked to review the remuneration of the office of Lord Chancellor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For how long holders of each of the following offices have to serve to receive their maximum pension entitlement:

All of these offices have their pension arrangements set by legislation. The pension position of both the Lord Chief Justice and a High Court judge will depend on the date when they were appointed to the judiciary. Appointees prior to 31 March 1995 can reach maximum benefits after 15 years, while appointees on or after 31 March 1995 must serve for 20 years to reach maximum benefits.The Cabinet Secretary, as a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, would be eligible for maximum benefits after 40 years service.The Prime Minister and Speaker of the House of Commons both receive a full pension on leaving office as set out by statute.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which individuals whose pensions are paid from public funds become entitled to their maximum pension entitlement as soon as they are appointed.[HL1602]

The Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons as set down by statute.

asked Her Majesty's Government:For how long Lord Chancellors have been entitled to their full pension as soon as they are appointed. [HL 1603]

Since 1832.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Lord Chancellor is entitled to a full pension as soon as he is appointed, in contrast to the Lord Chief Justice and the Cabinet Secretary, to whose salaries his salary is linked. [HL1605]

The pensions associated with the different offices are determined variously. Lord Chancellors have to retire from legal practice in order to take up office and do so on the contractual and statutory basis set out below. By convention they may not, on ceasing to be Lord Chancellor, resume legal practice regardless of how long they may have occupied the office and the pension therefore compensates for loss of future livelihood.The Lord Chancellor's salary is linked to the salary of the Lord Chief Justice and not the Cabinet Secretary under Section 3 (1) of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, as amended by Article 4 of the Ministerial and other Salaries Order 1996. Provision for the Lord Chancellor's pension and lump sum is made in the Lord Chancellor's Pension Act 1832, the Parliamentary and Other Pensions Act 1972, as amended by the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 and the Judicial Pensions Act 1981. The SSRB has been asked to look at the remuneration of the office of Lord Chancellor.The Lord Chief Justice receives a pension under the terms of either the Judicial Pensions Act 1981 or the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993, depending on the date of appointment to the judiciary.The Cabinet Secretary, as a serving civil servant, is eligible for membership of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme, the rules of which are made under the provisions of the Superannuation Act 1972.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 28 January 2003 (

The Lord Chancellor's pension entitlement is met out of the Consolidated Fund and is not provided for via a pension fund. The notional cost of securing a pension on the open market would, all else being equal, increase in proportion to the level of pension to be secured. Therefore, the notional fund of £2 million quoted previously (WA 142), and by reference to a salary of £180,045, would increase to approximately (a) £2.05 million when based on a salary of £184,096 and (b) £2.25 million when based on a salary of £202,736. The SSRB has been asked to review the remuneration of the office of Lord Chancellor.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the salaries of (a) the Lord Chancellor, (b) the Prime Minister and (c) the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1990, 1980, 1970, 1960, 1950, 1925 and 1900. [HL1628]

The salaries of the Lord Chancellor, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 1 April in 1990, 1980, 1970, 1960, 1950, 1925 and 1900 were as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government :When work was started by the Strategy Unit into the study on ethnic minorities in the labour market; whether and when they intend to publish the report thereon; and what is the cost of this project.[HL1847]

The project began in September 2001. The unit published an interim report on 20 February 2002 and will publish its final report shortly.Strategy Unit staff work across a number of projects. The unit's total budget for 2002–03 is £6.5 million, which funds a range of projects and other work.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 26 February (

All drivers are required by law to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if at any time they develop an ongoing medical condition affecting their fitness to drive, including defective eyesight. This requirement is prominently displayed on driving licences. Failure to notify DVLA of a medical condition which could affect driving safety is a criminal offence and could lead to prosecution, carrying a maximum fine of £1,000.Drivers' visual acuity is checked at the driving test by the reading of a number plate from a prescribed distance. Drivers can repeat this simple check themselves periodically throughout their driving career and are asked to notify DVLA if their eyesight falls below standard. Because of the potential for more serious consequences of accidents involving large vehicles, such as lorries and buses, drivers of these vehicles are required to undergo a medical examination, including an eyesight test, at age 45 and at five-yearly intervals thereafter until 65, from which time the examination is carried out annually.