Monday 9th April 2001

Subject: Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Witnesses: Sir Richard Mottram KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Mr Robert Holden, Chief Executive, London and Continental Railways; and Mr Steve Marshall, Chief Executive, Railtrack

Monday 23rd April 2001

Subject: Foot and Mouth Disease

Witnesses: The Rt. Hon. Nicholas Brown MP, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and Mr Jim Scudamore, Chief Veterinary Officer, State Veterinary Service

Subject: Tackling Obesity in England

Witnesses: Mr Nigel Crisp, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Chief Executive of the NHS, Sir Michael Bichard, KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education and Employment, Sir Richard Mottram, KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Mr Robin Young, Permanent Secretary, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and Mr Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive, Food Standards Agency

Tuesday 24th April 2001

Subject: Adoption and Children Bill

Witnesses: To be confirmed

Subject: FCO Annual Report 2001

Witnesses: Four Expert Witnesses

Subject: FCO Annual Report 2001

Witness: Professor Simon Reich, Director of Research, Royal Institute of International Affairs

Subject: FCO Annual Report 2001

Witnesses: Sir John Kerr, KCMG, Private Under-Secretary of State, and officials, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Wednesday 25th April 2001

Subject: Early Years: Follow-up

Witnesses: National Childminding Association; Peers Early Education Partnership, Oxford

Subject: The Export Controls and Non-Proliferation Bill, Cm 5091

Witnesses: UK Working Group on Arms; Representatives of the Defence industries

Subject: Walking in Towns and Cities

Witnesses: Urban Design Alliance; Social Exclusion Unit Local Government Association

Subject: Social Security Appeals

Witnesses: Judge Michael Harris, President and Mr Neil Ward, Chief Executive, The Appeals Service; Benefits Agency officials, Department of Social Security

Subject: The Export Controls and Non-Proliferation Bill, Cm 5091

Witnesses: Universities UK; Rt. Hon. The Lord Scott of Foscote and Presily Baxendale QC; Rt. Hon. Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

Subject: Legal Aid in Northern Ireland

Witnesses: Northern Ireland Court Service

Subject: Inland Revenue Accounts 1999-2000

Witnesses: Mr Nick Montagu, CB, Chairman, Board of Inland Revenue, Mr Alan Stevens, Managing Director, Government Accounts, Electronic Data Systems Ltd, and Ms Elizabeth Astall, Partner, Accenture

Subject: Freedom of Information

Witnesses: Mr Michael Buckley, Parliamentary Ombudsman and Mrs Elizabeth France, Information Commissioner

Thursday 26th April 2001

Subject: Tourism Information and Promotion: The Current Situation

Witnesses: British Tourist Authority; Wales Tourist Board, Scottish Tourist Board and Northern Ireland Tourist Board; Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Tourist Board, Devon County Council and South West Tourism English Tourism Council;

Janet Anderson MP, Minister for Tourism, Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Monday 30th April 2001

Subject: MoD: The Risk of Fraud & Property Management

Witnesses: Mr Kevin Tebbit CMG, Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence and Mr Ian Andrews, Chief Executive, Defence Estates

4.30p.m.

16

Tuesday 1st May 2001

Subject: Adoption and Children Bill

Witnesses: British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF); Association of Directors of Social Services; and the Local Government Association (LGA)

10.30a.m.

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Subject: Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee: Confirmation Hearing

Witness: Ms Kate Barker

10.45a.m.

8

Subject: The Work of the Strategic Rail Authority

Witnesses: Sir Alastair Morton, Chairman, and Mr Mike Grant, Chief Executive, Strategic Rail Authority

4.00p.m.

15

Subject: Departmental Report 2001

Witnesses: Sir Michael Bichard, KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education and Employment, and officials

4.15p.m.

18

Wednesday 2nd May 2001

Subject: Early Years: Follow-up

Witness: Margaret Hodge, MBE, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Employment

9.45a.m.

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Subject: (i) Meat and Livestock Commission

(ii) Centre for Alternative Technology

Witnesses: (i) Mr Peter Barr, Chairman, Meat and Livestock Commission

(ii) Centre for Alternative Technology (at 12 noon)

10.30a.m.

15

Subject: Major Procurement Projects

Witnesses: Sir Robert Walmsley KCB, Chief of Defence Procurement and Vice-Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham KCB, Director-General of Equipment Capabilities, Ministry of Defence

10.30a.m.

16

Subject: Work/Life Balance

Witnesses: Ms Kay Carberry, Head of the Equal Rights Department and Ms Lucy Anderson, Senior Policy Officer, Equal Rights Department, TUC, and Ms Diana Holland, National Officer for Equalities, TGWU; Ms Susan Anderson, Director of Human Resources Policy and Ms Katja Klasson, Head of Employees Resources Group, Mr Simon Bartley, Vice Chair, SME Council and Managing Director of CJ Bartley & Son, all of the Confederation of British Industry (at approximately 4.40p.m.)

4.00p.m.

18

Subject: Enterprise in the Regions

Witnesses: Mr David Irwin, Chief Executive, Mr Peter Waller, Deputy Chief Executive and Ms Hàf Merrifield, Director of Local Network Development, Small Business Service

4.00p.m.

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House

Subject: The Work of the Chief Scientific Adviser

Witness: Professor David King, FRS, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government

4.15p.m.

The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Subject: The Council of Economic and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN)

Witnesses: Dawn Primarolo, MP, Paymaster General, and Miss Melanie Johnson, MP, Economic Secretary, HM Treasury

4.15p.m.

8

Subject: Regulating Housing Associations' Management of Financial Risk

Witnesses: Dr Norman Perry, Chief Executive and Mrs Clare Miller, Director, Regulation Policy, Housing Corporation

4.30 pm

16

Subject: The Annual Report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman

Witnesses: Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Home Office; The Benefits Agency

4.30p.m.

The Grimond Room, Portcullis House

Subject: Job Losses in the Steel Industry in Wales

Witness: Sir Brian Moffat, Chairman and Chief Executive, Corus Group plc

4.30p.m.

15

[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

Recorded information

Recorded information about forthcoming select and standing committee meetings is available on (020) 7219 2033.

Recorded information

Recorded information about forthcoming select and standing committee meetings over the next two sitting days is available on 020) 7219 2033.

Please note: The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded, and the place altered without notice and Committees which sit at short notice may not be included in this list. The list is correct as at press (12 noon Friday); For confirmation see Select Committee home pages on the Internet (www.parliament.uk) or telephone the Committee Office general enquiry lines: 020 7219 3267/4300.