asked the Chairman of Committees:Why two car park spaces are allocated for the use of the Lord Chancellor. [HL3884]

Two car park spaces in Royal Court have been allocated for the use of the Lord Chancellor. This is to allow the Lord Chancellor, who, uniquely, is provided with a residence within the precincts of the House of Lords, to have space for one private car in addition to his official car, which needs to be able to wait in that area without blocking access for other Members or for commercial traffic.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the review of current practices and procedures relating to disclosure, associated investigation techniques and case management in HM Customs and Excise's criminal cases is expected to report. [HL3843]

The honourable Mr Justice Butterfield's report of the review of the current practices and procedures relating to disclosure, associated investigation techniques and case management in HM Customs and Excise was received by this office on 3 July for consideration. We hope to publish the findings before the House rises for the summer recess.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to publish a draft Bill on Gender Recognition. [HL3948]

The Government are today publishing, as Cm 5875, a draft Gender Recognition Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Human Rights which will be introduced to Parliament as soon as parliamentary time allows. The draft Bill follows the ministerial Statement on 13 December 2002, announcing the Government's commitment to legislate to allow transsexual people who have taken decisive steps to live fully and permanently in the acquired gender to gain legal recognition in that gender.The legislation demonstrates that this Government are committed to understanding and recognising the needs and aspirations of those members of society who are in a minority; committed to securing their rights and committed to their social and legal inclusion. I hope that transsexual people can now look forward with optimism to the enjoyment of those rights, responsibilities and protections previously unavailable to them in their acquired gender.Transsexual people, some of whom may have lived in their acquired gender for many years, are not treated as being of that gender in law. They do not have access to any of the rights or responsibilities confined to people of that gender. They are not able to change their birth certificates. They live in a state of limbo, between the gender in which they are living and the gender in which they were born; because that is how the law defines them. The Bill will mean that transsexual people will for the first time be afforded all the rights and responsibilities appropriate to that gender. It is fundamental to an inclusive society that individuals and groups be given the rights to which they are legitimately entitled and wherever possible be allowed to live their lives as they determine. The Bill will give transsexual people that right, from the date of recognition, to marry in their acquired gender and be given birth certificates that recognise the acquired gender. Transsexual people will be able to obtain benefits and state pension just like anyone else of that gender.The Gender Recognition Bill will establish a gender recognition panel with the power to decide applications from transsexual people seeking legal recognition in their acquired gender. Transsexual people who seek legal recognition will have to provide evidence supporting their applications in accordance with prescribed legal and medical criteria. Legal recognition will follow from the issue of a gender recognition certificate by the gender recognition panel. Before issuing a certificate, the panel must be satisfied that the applicant has been diagnosed as having the medical condition gender dysphoria, has lived in the acquired gender throughout the preceding two years and intends to continue to live in the acquired gender.It is fitting that it is the anniversary of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will review the funding of St George's Hospital Medical School to safeguard its future as a centre for research into and treatment of plastic anaemia, in the face of the combination of top-slicing and the concentration of research funding on grade 5 institutions. [HL3778]

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) distributes research funding to institutions dependent on volume and quality, and teaching funding on student numbers and subject. As part of the overall funding arrangements, HEFCE has changed the weightings in its research funding algorithm, and provided extra funding to meet the extra costs universities face when recruiting students with less attainment. In making these changes HEFCE has ensured that no institution, including St George's Hospital Medical School, suffered a reduction in its grant.HEFCE allocates its funding as block grant and institutions have discretion over the internal distribution including that obtained from funders other than HEFCE.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they will publish the Department of Health's annual report for 2003. [HL3959]

The Department of Health's annual report for 2003, Cm 5904, has been published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What adjustments have been made to the population projections published by the Office for National Statistics in their spring 2003 edition of

The latest set of national population projections for the United Kingdom and constituent countries are the 'interim' 2001-based projections published in November 2002. These projections, the subject of the article in the spring 2003 edition of Population Trends, were carried out following the publication in September 2002 of the first results of the 2001 Census.The next set of national population projections are scheduled to be published on 23 October 2003 and will take full account of the revised international migration estimates. These projections will be based on the estimated population at the middle of 2002. Mid-2002 population estimates at UK level are scheduled to be published on 7 August 2003.

asked Her Majesty's Government when was the most recent payment to the United States Government for either the First or Second World Wars; how much it was: when is the next payment expected; and how much is left to pay. [HL3790]

On First World War debt due to the United States Government, I refer the noble Lord to the Answers I gave to him on 17 July 2002 (col. WA 159), 30 July 2002 (col. WA 161) and 25 October 2002 (col. WA 103–4).On Second World War debt due to the United States Government, I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to him on 27 May 2002 (col.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the Albert Gate in Hyde Park is closed; what alternative routes for pedestrians and cyclists have been signposted; and what is the cost to the taxpayer of the operations involved in the closures. [HL3836]

The decision to close the Albert Gate was made by the Metropolitan Police on Tuesday 17 June when a potentially dangerous protest (a man set fire to himself) was staged outside the adjacent French Embassy. Several further incidents took place over the next few days and the gate remained closed until the Metropolitan Police decided it was safe to reopen it on Monday 7 July.Metropolitan Police officers were posted at the site throughout this period. They explained the situation to pedestrians and cyclists and directed them to alternative routes into Hyde Park. As Albert Gate does not give access to motor vehicles the closure did not cause disruption to traffic.This was a Metropolitan Police operation, undertaken as part of their normal contingency planning for events around London. The Royal Parks co-operated fully in closing the gate, but this did not involve any additional costs for the Royal Parks.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether more restrictive standards or rules have been applied to bi-directional working than was the case when the system was installed; if so, which body applied the more restrictive rules and when; and what consideration was given to possible efficiency losses in terms of train service operating conditions and maintenance productivity. [HL3771]

Network Rail advises that more restrictive standards or rules have not been applied to bi-directional working. However, Network Rail's RIMINI (risk minimisation) system attempts to ensure that Network Rail or other dutyholders have properly planned their maintenance work to limit and protect trackside workers from moving trains using a hierarchy of control measures. Under RIMINI 'green zone' working removes train movements from the track and 'red zone' working allows train movements but provides other control measures for trackside workers.