FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER
[At eleven o’clock]
Civil Procedure (Modification of Enactments) Order 1998—The Lord Falconer of Thoroton to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 5th November be approved.
Legal Advice and Assistance (Scope) (Amendment) Regulations 1998—The Lord Falconer of Thoroton to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 19th October be approved. [45th Report from the Joint Committee]
Education (Grammar School Ballots) Regulations 1998—The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 21st October be approved. [46th Report from the Joint Committee]
Social Security (New Deal Pilot) Regulations 1998—The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 29th October be approved. [46th Report from the Joint Committee]
Jobseeker’s Allowance Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1998—The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to move, That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 4th November be approved. [47th Report from the Joint Committee]
Contracting Out (Functions in Relation to Insurance) Order 1998—The Lord McIntosh of Haringey to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 22nd October be approved. [45th Report from the Joint Committee]
Meat and Livestock Commission Levy (Variation) Scheme (Confirmation) Order 1998—The Lord Hoyle to move, That the draft Order laid before the House on 21st July be approved. [43rd Report from the Joint Committee]
The Baroness Crawley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the implications for social security of the changing role of women in society.
MONDAY 16TH NOVEMBER
*The Lord Luke—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contingency plans are in place for transport to and from the Millennium Dome in the event of the Jubilee Line extension not opening on schedule.
*The Lord Hardy of Wath—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are in place to monitor the standards of health and nutrition of children at school; and whether any deterioration in such standards has been noted since changes were made in the arrangements for school meals in the 1980s.
*The Lord Judd—To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions the full inter-departmental working group on overseas development cooperation has met at ministerial level since May 1997 and what consideration it has given to security sector reform.
*The Lord Clement-Jones—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they are making in setting up the Foods Standards Agency.
Procedure of the House—The Chairman of Committees to move, That the 4th Report from the Select Committee (HL Paper 144) be agreed to.
The Earl Ferrers—To move, as an amendment to the Chairman of Committees’ motion, at end insert (“except the recommendation relating to the Lord Chancellor’s Dress”).
The Earl Ferrers—To move, as an amendment to the Chairman of Committees’ motion, at end insert (“except the recommendation that the Lord Chancellor should be able to speak from the Government Front Bench when the House is sitting as a House”).
The Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee, Resistance to Antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents (7th Report, HL Paper 81).
The Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made to deal with claims for compensation by mineworkers who are suffering from respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema.
TUESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER
*The Lord Cadman—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that the prices paid by British consumers for foodstuffs and other commodities, which are reported to be higher than those in other European Union Member States, are consistent with the existence of a single market within the European Union.
*The Lord Phillips of Sudbury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will require the forthcoming Royal Commission on reform of the House of Lords to undertake a campaign of information and consultation with the general public.
*The Lord McCarthy—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees who now earn less than the National Insurance lower earnings limit of £64 a week will be lifted above this limit by the introduction of the National Minimum Wage; and what would be the annual cost of providing those that remain with the right to full contributory benefits.
*The Lord Wallace of Saltaire—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their plans for constitutional reform include modernisation of the relationship between the Channel Islands and the United Kingdom.
†Northern Ireland Bill—Third Reading [The Lord Dubs]
The Baroness O’Cathain—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage marketing and its contribution to business success.
WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER
*The Lord Peyton of Yeovil—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have abandoned their proposal to establish a Foods Standards Agency.
*The Lord Taylor of Blackburn—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Ordnance Survey are no longer depicting county boundaries on their maps and whether they will revert to the original method of including both county and administrative data.
*The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it remains their policy that dietary supplements are sold under the law relating to food provided they are safe and make no medicinal claims.
*The Lord Shore of Stepney—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to assist the government and people of Bangladesh to deal with the recent flood disaster; and what assessment has been made of their continuing needs and priorities.
House of Lords’ Offices—The Chairman of Committees to move, That the 7th Report from the Select Committee (HL Paper 153) be agreed to.
The Lord Palmer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the present state of agriculture in the United Kingdom with particular reference to the upland regions and Scotland.
THURSDAY 19TH NOVEMBER
*The Lord Jacobs—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the operation of the new regulations which limit the sale of aspirin and other similar products to 32 tablets at one time without the express agreement of a pharmacist.
*The Lord Quirk—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that Primary Care Group Boards are so structured as to make proper use of the skills and knowledge of pharmacists.
*The Lord Campbell of Croy—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what encouragement or assistance they are giving to the development of offshore wind generation of electricity.
NO DAY NAMED
PART I
The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein—To call attention to the opportunities for trade with and investment in Latin America; and to move for papers.
The Lord Ashley of Stoke—To call attention to the need for full, enforceable civil rights for chronically sick and disabled people; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Perry of Southwark—To call attention to the importance of higher education policy for the social, economic and intellectual welfare of the United Kingdom; and to move for papers.
The Lord Barnett—To call attention to the prospects for the United Kingdom joining EMU in the foreseeable future; and to move for papers.
The Lord Armstrong of Ilminster—To move, That a Select Committee be appointed to undertake an inquiry, and within three calendar months to make recommendations, as to how a procedure might be implemented whereby the House would nominate approximately one hundred peers by succession to be voting peers and whereby the remaining peers by succession would renounce their rights to vote but would retain their rights to speak in the House or Committees of the House.
The Lord Moynihan—To call attention to the current situation in Algeria; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Northesk—To call attention to political and economic developments in the South Atlantic; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Carlisle—To call attention to the number of people from ethnic minorities in senior positions in public life; and to move for papers.
The Lord Sandberg—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the financial crisis in the Far East is likely to have on the British economy.
The Lord Hooson—To call attention to plans to restructure the United Nations for the next century; and to move for papers.
Succession to the Crown—The Lord Alderdice to move, That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to allow that Her undoubted Prerogative and interest may not stand in the way of the consideration of Parliament during the present session of any measure to remove the bar on a person who is not, or who is married to a person who is not, a protestant to succeed to the Crown.
The Earl of Carlisle—To call attention to the long-term future of Central and Eastern Europe, with particular reference to the three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Onslow—To call attention to the science of genetically-modified organisms, and its implications for the breeding of plants and animals; and to move for papers.
The Viscount Hanworth—To call attention to the need to encourage teachers in primary and secondary education, and to the role of OFSTED; and to move for papers.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford—To call attention to the commitment in the Labour Party manifesto to a “fairer, faster and firmer” asylum procedure; and to move for papers.
The Lord Ackner—To call attention to the case for effectively monitoring the operation of conditional fee agreements; and to move for papers.
The Lord Dholakia—To call attention to the need for a national strategy for dealing with paedophiles; and to move for papers.
The Lord Birdwood—To call attention to changes in the duties of back-bench members of both Houses of Parliament in the last thirty years; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Linklater of Butterstone—To call attention to the implications for rural communities of the closure of their local school; and to move for papers.
The Lord Hardy of Wath—To call attention to the apparent increase in cruelty to animals; and to move for papers.
The Earl of Clanwilliam—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support the industrialisation of farming practices in the United Kingdom.
The Lord Hylton—To move to resolve, That this House deplores the attempted murder of Mr Akin Birdal, President of the Turkish Human Rights Association, on 12th May; the refusal by the Turkish Government to admit United Nations Rapporteurs on Human Rights, or representatives of the OSCE or ICRC; the imprisonment and exile of members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; and the banning and dissolution in Turkey of numerous bona fide political parties.
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what further consideration they are giving to improving Service Pensions and War and War Widows’ Pensions; and when they expect to announce any improvements.
The Viscount Chelmsford—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that the link between the United Kingdom’s Balance of Payments and the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) by the nation’s leaders and managers is sufficiently understood.
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their view of the economic and business opportunities presented by the information age, which was the subject of a Government paper published in April by the Central Office of Information.
The Lord Vinson—To call attention to the case for using nuclear energy to meet the United Kingdom’s Kyoto Conference obligations for the reduction of CO2 emissions; and to move for papers.
The Lord Hayhoe—To call attention to the case for establishing an Independent Statutory Commission responsible for the conduct of referendums, their organisation and administration along the lines proposed by the Commission on the Conduct of Referendums chaired by Sir Patrick Nairne which reported in November 1996; and to move for papers.
The Lord Ironside—To call attention to the strengths of the Armed Forces and the investments needed to sustain their capabilities for deployment and intervention in defence of the United Kingdom’s sovereign interests; and to move for papers.
The Lord Ackner—To call attention to the Government’s consultation paper Rights of Audience and Rights to Conduct Litigation in England and Wales: The Way Ahead (June 1998); and to move for papers.
The Lord Sefton of Garston—To call attention to the case for a review of income tax (especially at the top levels) in order to ensure a fairer distribution of resources; and to move for papers.
The Baroness Gould of Potternewton—To call attention to the discrepancies in the provision of abortion under the National Health Service; and to move for papers.
The Earl Russell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the responsibilities and the objectives of the Minister for Women.
The Lord Lloyd-Webber—To call attention to the workings of the licensing system governing the export of art and cultural goods; and to move for papers.
The Viscount Waverley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on the use of sanctions.
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many servicemen and women who served in the Gulf War have illnesses still awaiting diagnosis; and what progress is being made in their investigations in relation to these illnesses.
The Baroness Cox—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy towards recent developments in Sudan.
The Lord Mackie of Benshie—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking or intend to take to deal with the serious crisis facing British farmers.
The Lord Mayhew of Twysden—To ask HMG what representations they have received about their proposals for a “modern system” for corporation tax payments following the abolition of advance corporation tax in April 1999.
The Lord Hylton—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the indefinite unilateral ceasefire from 1st September by the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), and the presence of Turkish troops in Iraq and recent military threats against Syria.
The Lord Campbell of Croy—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will give advice to police authorities on the circumstances in which police vehicles may exceed speed limits, ignore traffic lights and in other ways dispense with the regulations governing traffic on public roads.
The Lord Freyberg—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have in mind a change in the way in which the arts in this country are governed and managed.
The Lord Clement-Jones—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department of Health plans to issue new guidance on MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccines in the light of new medical evidence and litigation recently instituted against pharmaceutical companies manufacturing the vaccines.
The Lord Lester of Herne Hill—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that further measures are needed to protect and maintain the separation of powers and the independence and impartiality of the Judiciary in determining devolution issues, human rights issues and other issues involving the misuse of power by public authorities.
The Lord Rotherwick—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they intend to take to address the difficulties facing the agricultural industry.
The Lord Rowallan—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their view of the disparity between farm-gate and supermarket prices for food products; and what steps they intend to take to redress this imbalance.
The Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what future defence role they see for the Western European Union.
The Lord McNally—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes in procedure and liaison between the Home Office and the Press Complaints Commission have taken place following their respective inquiries into the circumstances surrounding press serialisation of Cries Unheard concerning the case of Mary Bell.
The Earl of Iveagh—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide additional financial support for conductive education.
The Baroness Knight of Collingtree—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider the case for changes in the procedure to deal with alleged disciplinary misdemeanours by hospital doctors or consultants, particularly to speed up the process.
The Lord Ahmed—To call attention to the case for fresh international initiatives to solve the problem of Kashmir; and to move for papers.
The Lord Paul—To call attention to the role of privately owned businesses in the British economy; and to move for papers.
The Lord Morris of Castle Morris—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take to alleviate the funding difficulties faced by the British Library.
The Lord Berkeley—To call attention to the Government White Paper A New Deal for Transport: better for everyone (Cm 3950); and to move for papers.
The Viscount Waverley—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether heads of government and foreign or trade ministers from countries outside the European Union enjoy sufficient access to United Kingdom ministers; how many requests for meetings at heads of government or ministerial level have been made since 1st May 1997; what such meetings have taken place; and what such further meetings have been arranged.
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Psychiatrists on organophosphate sheep dips.
The Lord Brabazon of Tara—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what further measures they propose to deal with crimes of violence on board aircraft; and how they intend to ensure that those found guilty of such crimes receive appropriate punishments.
The Lord Phillips of Sudbury—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to implement the recommendations of the final report of the Crick Advisory Group on Education for Citizenship and the Teaching of Democracy in Schools.
†The Lord Tope—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied with the level of safety in private rented accommodation occupied by university undergraduates.
†The Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider lowering the age of eligibility for candidates in local elections to 18.
PART II
SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS
[The date in brackets is that on which the Report was published]
The Lord Kingsland—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Enhancing Parliamentary Scrutiny of the Third Pillar (6th Report, HL Paper 25). [12th September]
The Lord Slynn of Hadley—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the Select Committee on the Public Service (HL Paper 55). [19th January]
The Lord Hoffmann—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on Acquired Rights Revisited (22nd Report, HL Paper 98). [18th May]
The Lord Barnett—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the European Communities Committee on the Reform of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund (30th Report, HL Paper 138). [3rd August]
†The Lord Perry of Walton—To move, That this House take note of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Cannabis: the scientific and medical evidence (9th Report, HL Paper 151). [11th November]
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
[Tabled or amended on 11th November]
The Lord Monkswell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the charges levied by the Sea Fish Industry Authority between 1981 and 1995 when processing applications for grant aid. (HL3828)
The Lord Monkswell—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce new controls over fish landings into the United Kingdom following the publication of consultative proposals issued on 3rd March. (HL3829)
The Baroness Gardner of Parkes—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what permissions are required for the use of an existing flat roof as a new helicopter landing pad in central London; and what is the division of responsibility between the local authority, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. (HL3830)
The Lord Dixon—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide additional compensation to homeowners whose properties are close to the planned new Tyne tunnel to take account of its effect on property prices in that area. (HL3831)
The Lord Onslow of Woking—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent representations they have received about the operation of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973; and what steps are being taken to ensure that this legislation continues to be effectively enforced. (HL3832)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each year from 1993 to 1997, how many patients on hospital waiting lists had been waiting for longer than (a) 12 months, and (b) 18 months; and what are the corresponding figures for 1998. (HL3833)
The Lord McColl of Dulwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the quarterly unemployment figures since the beginning of 1992. (HL3834)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether The Observer newspaper of 1st November is correct in reporting that the destruction of the munitions dumps at Khamisiyah occurred after British troops in the area had removed and packed both their chemical alarms and their NBC suits. (HL3835)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the evidence from the United States Government that their chemical alarms were both credible and reliable, they will confirm their previous statements that British CAM and NIAID alarms were not triggered by chemical war agents during Operation Granby. (HL3836)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government at what level of detection British CAM and NIAID alarms were set compared with the level of the lethal doses of the agents they were designed to detect. (HL3837)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many members of the British, United States and other Coalition forces were given smallpox vaccinations; and, given that smallpox had been eradicated, what the perceived threat was and why these vaccinations were given. (HL3838)
The Countess of Mar—To ask Her Majesty’s Government who authorised the use of smallpox vaccine on British troops; who manufactured and supplied it; and whether a genetically modified, recombinant or wild strain of the virus was used. (HL3839)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how long the pedestrian underpass leading from Westminster Bridge to Waterloo station has been closed to the public; and what steps will be taken to reopen it. (HL3840)
The Earl of Sandwich—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any new plans to improve the environment and amenities for pedestrians between Vauxhall station and the river, in view of renewed public interest in the old Vauxhall Gardens. (HL3841)
The Lord Freyberg—To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in view of the comments in paragraph 24 of the Fifth Report (HC Paper 742) of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, what is the relationship between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the National Lottery and the distribution of lottery funds; and whether they have plans to review this relationship. (HL3842)
The Viscount Exmouth—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is—
(a) the total amount owed to the United Kingdom by the countries of Latin America;
(b) the amount owed by each country in the region; and
(c) the annual repayments, including interest, paid by each country in the region. (HL3843)
The Lord Morris of Manchester—To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have now had their disability benefits reviewed under the Department of Social Security’s Benefit Integrity Project; in how many cases there have been referrals for prosecution for fraud; how many convictions for fraud there have been; and what estimate they have made of the total sum involved in cases of alleged fraud. (HL3844)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Department of Trade and Industry press release of 4th November entitled “Successful Electronic Commerce is My Goal” (P/98/854) did not quote the Department’s e-mail address. (HL3845)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government which sections of the motorway system have a weight restriction of 38 tonnes or less. (HL3846)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is necessary for goods vehicle operators, when working within Construction and Use Regulations at 44 tonnes gross weight, to notify the highways and bridge authorities when using bridges limited to 38 tonnes. (HL3847)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the broad definition of the HB45 bridge standard; and whether it is intended that the entire motorway system should be designed, built, maintained and operated to this standard. (HL3848)
The Earl Attlee—To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the maximum width of abnormal load that they would expect to be transported on motorways and primary routes without the need for temporary removal of street furniture. (HL3849)
The Lord Brabazon of Tara—To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the bond issue proposed by London and Continental Railways which the Government are to guarantee unconditionally and irrevocably will be counted as public sector debt; and, if not, why not. (HL3850)
The Lord Swinfen—To ask Her Majesty’s Government—
(a) how many meetings there have been of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Abuse of Trust;
(b) how many organisations the Group has consulted;
(c) how many organisations the Group has met; and
(d) when they expect the final recommendations of the Group to be published. (HL3851)
BILLS IN PROGRESS
[The date in brackets is the date for which the bill is set down]
Waiting for Second Reading
Prime Minister (Ecclesiastical Functions) [HL]
Energy Efficiency (No. 2) [HL]
Hereditary Peerage (Election) [HL]
Recommitted to an Unopposed Bill Committee
London Local Authorities [HL] [12th November]
Committed to a Committee of the Whole House
Pharmacists [HL]
Criminal Appeal (Amendment) [HL]
Waiting for Report
Lord Chancellor (Tenure of Office) (Amendment) [HL]
Registration of Political Parties [12th November]
Waiting for Third Reading
Waste Minimisation [12th November]
Northern Ireland [17th November]
Sent to the Commons
Coordinated Universal Time [HL]
Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Amendment) [HL]
Geneva Conventions (Amendment) [HL]
British Nationality (St. Helena) [HL]
Local Government (Experimental Arrangements) [HL]
Business Improvement Districts [HL]
Electricity Generation [HL]
Mental Health (Amendment) (No. 2) [HL]
Building Regulations (Energy Rating Information) (Amendment) [HL]
Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) (Amendment) [HL]
Sexual Orientation Discrimination [HL]
Pensions (Amendment) [HL]
Alliance & Leicester plc (Group Reorganisation) [HL]
City of Westminster [HL]
Returned to the Commons amended
Fireworks
Scotland
Regional Development Agencies
Waiting for consideration of Commons amendment
European Parliamentary Elections [12th November]
Waiting for Royal Assent
Statute Law (Repeals) [HL]
MEASURE IN PROGRESS
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
AFFIRMATIVE INSTRUMENTS IN PROGRESS
Waiting for consideration by the Joint Committee
Draft Functions of Traffic Wardens (Scotland) Order 1998
Draft Broadcasting (Restrictions on the Holding of Licences) (Amendment) Order 1998
Waiting for Affirmative Resolution
Draft Security for Private Road Works (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1998
Draft Meat and Livestock Commission Levy (Variation) Scheme (Confirmation) Order 1998
Draft Legal Advice and Assistance (Scope) (Amendment) Regulations 1998
Draft Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 1998
Draft Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 1998
Draft Channel 4 (Application of Excess Revenues) Order 1998
Draft Contracting Out (Functions in Relation to Insurance) Order 1998
Draft Education (Grammar School Ballots) Regulations 1998
Draft Social Security (New Deal Pilot) Regulations 1998
Draft Civil Procedure (Modification of Enactments) Order 1998
Draft Parliamentary Constituencies (England) (Miscellaneous Changes) Order 1998
Draft Jobseeker’s Allowance Amendment (New Deal) Regulations 1998
DEREGULATION PROPOSAL IN PROGRESS
Proposal reported from the Deregulation Committee
Draft Deregulation (Pipe-lines) Order 1998
COMMITTEES
[Unless otherwise indicated, Committees meet in the Lords’ rooms
in the Committee Corridor as indicated in the daily broadsheets]
THURSDAY 12TH NOVEMBER
