WHITE PAPERS AND GREEN PAPERS

RECEIVED SINCE LAST BULLETIN

White Papers are issued by the Government as statements of policy, and often set out proposals for legislative changes, which may be debated before a Bill is introduced. Government responses to Select Committee reports, which are occasionally regarded as White Papers, are often omitted from this section but may be found within the Select Committee Publications section. Some White Papers may invite comments. Green Papers set out for discussion, proposals which are still at a formative stage. All CONSULTATIVE and DISCUSSION documents which reach the Public Information Office are included in this section. Inclusion in the Bulletin is for record purposes.

Not all discussion papers are published and put on general release: some are sent only to a predetermined list of consultees. This is a matter solely for the Department concerned.

Papers to which an ISBN and price are appended are normally available through the Stationery Office. For others, application should be made to the department concerned.

White Papers

None

Green Papers

17.1 ARBITRATION - Legislation for Domestic Arbitration in Scotland. Copies from Scottish Courts Administration, Hayweights House, 23 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh EH3 9DQ.

30.1 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION - Making Connections: Reports by UK Round Table on Sustainable Development Subgroup. Copies from Room P1/021, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3EB (until 28 February) or Portland House, Floor 23, Stag Place, London SW1E 5DF (from 3 March)

28.1 HOUSING INVESTMENT PROGRAMME - Changes to the Housing Investment Programme. Copies from Department of the Environment, Floor 2/J4, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU (Comments by 11 March)

22.1 LORRIES - Proposed Vehicle Excise Duty Incentives for Lorries Meeting Low Emissions Standards. Copies from Licensing and Roadworthiness Policy Division, Department of Transport, Room 2/09, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR. (Comments by 22 April)

16.1 XENOTRANSPLANTATION - Report of the Advisory Group on Ethics of Xenotransplantation ("Animal Tissue into Humans"). Consultation on Governmetn Response. Report from The Stationery Office, Publications Centre, PO Box 276, London SW8 5DT (ISBN 0113218664), £25.00. Summary from Department of Health, PO Box 410, Wetherby LS23 7LN (Ref no 6511). (Comments by 17 April)

COMPLIANCE COST ASSESSMENTS

Compliance Cost Assessments (CCAs) are prepared and published by the Government for all primary legislation introduced into and secondary legislation laid before Parliament. In the case of most Government Bills, a CCA forms part of the Explanatory Memoranda to the Bill: in other cases, a separate document is issued. CCAs are an assessment for the business sector of the costs involved in complying with the legislation. All CCAs received in the Library of the House of Commons are noted, along with an address where copies may be obtained. The Department of Trade and Industry issues a six monthly list of CCAs as a Command Paper. The publication of this paper will be noted in the White Papers section of the Bulletin.

24.1 Companies Act 1985 (Directors' Report) (Statement of Payment Practice) Regulations 1997. Copies from Department of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.

27.1 Police and Firemen's Pensions Bill. Copies from Police Pensions Section, Police Personnel and Training Unit, Room 525, Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT.

29.1 Social Security Administration (Fraud) Bill 1996. Copies from DSS Policy Group, HBP4, Room 5/05A, The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2 6HT.