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Government Audit

Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on appointing members to the steering group for the review of the audit and accountability arrangements for central Government. [128798]

Mr. Andrew Smith: I am pleased to announce that the following persons have so far agreed to serve on the Steering Group:

Sir John Bourn, KCB, Comptroller and Auditor General

Sir Brian Carsberg, Chairman, International Accounting Standards Committee

Right hon. David Davis MP, Chairman, Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons

Andrew Likierman, Director, Financial Management Reporting and Audit Directorate, HM Treasury

Iain Plaistowe, Chairman, Auditing Practices Board

David Rendel MP, Member, Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons

Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry

Right hon. Andrew Smith MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Rosemary Thorne, Group Finance Director, Bradford and Bingley Building Society

Professor Sir David Tweedie, Chairman, Accounting Standards Board

Right hon. Alan Williams MP, Member, Public Accounts Committee, House of Commons.

The remaining appointments to the Steering Group will be announced shortly.

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PRIME MINISTER

OSCE

Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are in the composition of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe. [128755]

The Prime Minister: The right hon. and noble Lord Jopling, currently a substitute member is to become a full representative replacing the noble Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. The noble Earl of Northesk is to become a substitute member of the delegation.

DEFENCE

Defence Evaluation and Research Agency

Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff employed at the DERA base at West Freugh, Wigtownshire are employed by (a) DERA, (b) the MOD, (c) SERCO and (d) other non-military companies and organisations. [127870]

Mr. Spellar: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Alasdair Morgan, dated 29 June 2000:

I am replying to your parliamentary question about the number of staff employed at the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) range at West Freugh since such matters relate to the operation of the range.

A total of some 200 staff are currently employed at DERA West Freugh. This comprises 26 DERA staff, 23 MOD, 131 SERCO and 16 others.

I hope the above is helpful.

Northern Ireland

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2000, Official Report, column 34W, on Northern Ireland, under what section of Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Government Information he based his reply. [128026]

Mr. Spellar: The information was withheld under Section a of Exemption 1--information whose disclosure would harm national security or defence.

Anglo-Irish Meeting

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2000, Official Report, column 36W, under which section of Exemption 14 his decision to withhold information was based. [128022]

Mr. Spellar: Details of the individual referred to in my answer of 19 June 2000, Official Report, column 36W were withheld under Exemption 14(a) (information supplied in confidence by a person who was not under any legal obligation to supply it and who has not consented to its disclosure), as well as under Exemption 4(f) (information whose disclosure could identify the source

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of information or assistance in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes) and Exemption 12 (privacy of an individual).

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply substantively to the question from the hon. Member for Dudley, South (Ref. 122262). [126599]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 19 June 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2000, Official Report, column 408W.

Battle of Britain

Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what initiatives his Department is taking this year, at which (a) stations and (b) establishments, to mark the commemoration by the Royal Air Force of the sixtieth anniversary of the Battle of Britain. [127735]

Dr. Moonie: The RAF is very conscious that the year 2000 marks the 60thAnniversary year of the Battle of Britain and the RAF is participating in many events nationwide throughout the year to commemorate the Battle.

A Battle of Britain Service and Reception at Westminster Abbey on 17 September is the main official commemoration of the campaign. The Westminster Abbey service is held annually in September each year, but is enhanced on this occasion in recognition both that it is the 60th Anniversary and that it is likely to be the last major commemorative event of the Battle that many of the participants will be able to attend. Members of the Government, High Commissioners, the Air Force Board and representatives of the aviation industry attend each year and, in view of the importance of this particular anniversary, members of the Royal Family have also been invited.

A Battle of Britain Dinner at RAF Bentley Prior is being hosted on 15 September by the Air Force Board for members of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, ground crew and plotters. It is planned that Service personnel, aviation industry representatives and others with a connection to the Battle will attend. Members of the Royal Family and Defence Ministers will also be invited.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust Day will be held on 9 July. The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust is arranging a ceremony at Capel le Ferne on the cliffs of Dover at the site of the Trust memorial to commemorate the Battle. The Lord Lieutenant of Kent will preside over the event, which will be fully supported by the RAF, with aircrew from the 13 extant Battle of Britain Squadrons, a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Bands of the RAF Regiment and Air Training Corps cadets. Members of the RauxAF will also be supporting the event. A short memorial service will be conducted by the Chaplain in Chief (RAF).

Finally, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is in high demand this year and will be representing the RAF at events throughout the UK and displaying for some of our WWII allies in Europe. The Battle of Britain Memorial

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Flight have or will be taking part in some 41 events with a Battle of Britain 60thAnniversary theme during the period April-September.

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The following table lists details of all the events the RAF is supporting which will in part commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain:

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Event	Date
60th Anniversary of Battle of Britain--Kenley, Surrey	3-4 June
Battle of Britain Memorial--Purley Way, Croydon	3-4 June
RAF Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Cocktail Party	16 June
Battle of Britain Service--St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh	17 June
RAF Cosford Air Show--includes Battle of Britain theme	18 June
RAF Waddington Air Day--includes Battle of Britain theme	24-25 June
Battle of Britain Memorial Day--Capel le Ferne, Kent	9 July
Royal International Air Tattoo--includes Battle of Britain theme	21-23 July
Doncaster's 60th Anniversary of Battle of Britain	5-6 August
60th Anniversary of Battle of Britain--Kenley, Surrey	19-20 August
RAFA Battle of Britain Concert	1-2 September
RAFA Battle of Britain Service--York	3 September
Propeller Service 60th Anniversary of Battle of Britain--Lincolnshire	3 September
60th Anniversary of Battle of Britain--Yorkshire	3 September
Battle of Britain Pilots Memorial Garden Annual Service--Sussex	3 September
DERA Fort Halstead Officer's Mess Battle of Britain Night Dinner	7 September
Battle of Britain Cocktail Party--RAF Northolt	7 September
Battle of Britain Cocktail Party--Keogh Barracks, Aldershot	7 September
Battle of Britain Annual Reception--RAF St. Athan	8 September
Battle of Britain Anniversary Event--Stapleford Aerodrome	9 September
RAF Thatcham Battle of Britain Reception and Dinner	13 September
Newark battle of Britain Commemoration Service and Parade	10 September
RAFA Skipton Battle of Britain Parade	10 September
Basilique de Sacre Coeur--Belgium	10 September
60th Anniversary of Battle of Britain--RAF Northolt (also 85th of RAF Northolt and 75th of 600 Sqn)	13 September
HQ Strike Command Battle of Britain Night	14 September
Northwood Officer's Mess Battle of Britain Dining in Night	14 September
Battle of Britain Drinks--Bracknell, Berks	14 September
RAFA Mount Batten Battle of Britain 60th Anniversary Air Salute--Plymouth	15-17 September
Battle of Britain Commemoration--Plymouth	15 September
Battle of Britain Ceremony, Paris	15 September
RAF Fylingdales Battle of Britain Fly Past--N. Yorkshire	15 September
RAF Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Dining in Night	15 September
Battle of Britain Tribute--Manston	15 September
RAF Leeming Battle of Britain Guest Night	15 September
Central Band of RAF--public concert outside Westminster Abbey with Battle of Britain theme	16 September
RAF Leuchars Battle of Britain International Airshow	16 September
Annual Wreathlaying Ceremony on Embankment preceding Abbey Service	17 September
Annual Battle of Britain Service in Westminster Abbey plus Air Force Board Reception for Veterans	17 September
Songs of Praise RAF Halton--BBC TV (TBC)	17 September
Battle of Britain 60th Anniversary Service--St. Clement Danes' (Central Church of the RAF)	17 September
Battle of Britain Commemoration--Waltham	17 September
Battle of Britain Wings Appeal--Falkirk	17 September
Battle of Britain Remembrance Day--Hadleigh Suffolk	17 September
Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Day	17 September
RAFA Sheringham Branch Battle of Britain Ceremony--Norfolk	17 September
RAF Honington Battle of Britain Dinner	22 September

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In addition, most RAF stations will hold a Battle of Britain Guest Night to celebrate success in the Battle, with invitations to veterans who live locally. Also, most RAF stations hold a Battle of Britain Cocktail Party to host local dignitaries during September.

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