HC Deb 25 March 2002 vol 382 cc667-8W
Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether reports published by his Department from research conducted for his Department may be(a) materially altered and (b) edited from the original documentation supplied to the Department before publication. [45658]

Mr. Jamieson

Amendments may be made to the format and content of draft reports in so far as these relate to the presentation of the results of the research and interpretation of relevant policy. Once final draft reports are agreed, they are published, or otherwise made available, without alteration.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2002,Official Report, column 915W, on research documents, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Department's research management policies and practices and the handling of research and/or contractor information as referred to in Annex A of the DTLR(c) Reseach Overview. [45672]

Mr. Jamieso

The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House. It should be noted that this is internal guidance and subject to regular update and revision.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2002,Official Report, column 915W, on research documents, who is preparing the specification for further work to present the information in a form suitable for access through the DTLR website; what timetable has been agreed for this specification to be completed; what form this specification is likely to take; and what timetable for completion of work to enable access to be available is expected. [45674]

Mr. Jamieson

My officials are developing the specification to provide a basis for further work within the Department (to ensure consistency of information and compatability with other information available on the website) and for commissioning further software development (to facilitate access to the data). No firm timetable has yet been agreed.