I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.
On 15 April 1999 the Government Chief Whip issued a press release announcing details of the Government's legislation programme. Some of the Bills referred to in the press release are at an initial stage of preparation and may not be published before the end of the year.
My Department is working on the following legislation in respect of which heads have been approved by the Government: Valuation Bill, Standards in Public Office Bill, Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, Central Bank Bill, Customs and Excise Mutual Assistance Bill, and Stamp Duty Consolidation Bill.
My Department is also working on the following legislation in respect of which the Government has not yet approved heads: Ordnance Survey Bill, ICC Bill, ACC/TSB Bank Bill, Central Treasury Bill, Appropriation Bill, National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill, and International Development Association Bill.
My Department is examining the issue of dormant accounts and preparing proposals designed to resolve the legal issues involved. I expect to be in a position shortly to submit a proposal to Government to deal with sums of money left dormant in accounts for long periods of time.