Saxon London of the seventh to ninth centuries - located in an area approximate to today's West End and known as Lundenwic - was a well laid- out town, with well-maintained streets, a money economy and a probable population of around 10,000. Archaeologists have found the remains of a grid system of roads - including several minor ones running east-west and one of the town's main drain- flanked five-metre wide north-south thoroughfares, which had been resurfaced at least 10 times in 200 years.Excavations also yielded 20 Roman coins - which suggest their bronze money was being reused as a low-value currency in the seventh- to ninth- century. Helen Seaford, a former senior Treasury official, is the director of the Commission, and it will be chaired by Sir John Burgh, a former head of the British Council and president of Trinity College, Oxford. Members are drawn from the fields of health, law, policing, employment, local government, education and the media. It will be using the database of the Policy Studies Institute, and working with the grassroots l990 Trust.As well as interested pressure groups, the Commission wants evidence from individuals, who will be able to send their views through e-mail, or to a computer website. In particular, it is hoped young people will relate their views and experiences.Members will also be visiting different parts of the country seeking oral and written evidence.. The first Saxon London was much more substantial than historians had thought, according to research being carried out following excavations at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

It is hoped the exercise will lead to involving the population in the changes affecting their lives, and lead to further similar projects.The Commission has been set up by the Runnymede Trust, whose chair, Trevor Phillips, has strong links with the Labour leadership, and is tipped to run for the post of mayor of London. The Commission will also examine the law, asking why there is such a paucity of non-white judges and why only 2 per cent of the judiciary come from ethnic minorities.The Commission on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain, which has received the support of the Conservative leader, William Hague, as well as the Prime Minister, will compile and analyse views of the public and examine UK and European laws to consider what changes are "necessary to achieve social cohesion and respect for diversity".Urging people to give evidence to the Commission, the Prime Minister said: "I believe passionately that we can build a nation which respects diversity and provides social cohesion. The work of the Commission is at the heart of this task."Within Whitehall the Commission is seen as a development in the traditional role of think tanks in policy formation. One of the issues the initiative will be addressing is whether the Church of England should have guaranteed seats in the House of Lords for 26 male bishops, and whether similar rights should be extended to Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu religious leaders. The initiative is described by senior figures in Whitehall as an important step in achieving Tony Blair's vision of Britain where no one is excluded on grounds of race or religion. One of the most ambitious projects ever launched on multi-ethnicity, it will present policy ideas on how the country's social and political institutions will have to adapt to the changing nature of the population. The findings and recommendations, which will be published as discussion papers during the next two years, are expected to be controversial. One of the biggest ever projects on multi-ethnicity in Britain will be launched today.

Kim Sengupta says some of its proposals are likely to be adopted by the Government. It is not true at all."The former officer also dismissed an allegation that he had been a regular and frequent visitor to one home, both in plain clothes and in uniform, as being entirely wrong.He rejected a claim about boys being lined up as absolute rubbish - "a complete and utter fabrication", he said.He also denied a claim that he had been seen outside a shower block at the home.-- Roger Dobson. The former policeman denied being involved in any harassment.Mr Elias asked him: "You are not aware, are you, of any steps taken by any police officer or by yourself to harass [a witness]."Following his information to the police and statement naming you, you are not aware of any steps taken to harass him?"The witness replied: "That is an outrageous question to ask I have not, would not, and have no need to To suggest that is appalling. If he suddenly allowed inspection of his palaces it would be difficult to justify an attack on him. His best strategy is probably to try to exhaust his opponents by constant crises resolved at the last minute.His military options are limited. Mrs Taylor is telling a total pack of lies."The tribunal also heard that when he had been originally interviewed by police he had said that he could recall visiting a home on only one occasion to caution a boy.Mr Elias said: "In fact, you appear to have made 15 visits to the home."The witness had said that he had been distressed at the time and that what he had told police had been to the best of his recollection at that time. Gerard Elias QC, counsel for the tribunal, said: "Have you any reason to believe Alison Taylor has anything against you?"The former policeman replied: "It is totally untrue.

He also denied an allegation of abuse and being a frequent visitor to a children's home. The ex-policeman, who the tribunal ruled cannot be named, denied any harassment of a man who has given evidence to the tribunal, and said that he had not harboured any secret desire for boys.He also described one claim that he had been seen leaving a home late at night as "total rubbish".Several witnesses had told about seeing the ex-policeman with a care worker and with golf clubs either in the grounds of a home or elsewhere.One of the witnesses was Alison Taylor, a former social worker. A former policeman yesterday accused a series of witnesses of lying and fabrication when he appeared before the North Wales child abuse tribunal. But the government-appointed Good Practice Group on Neurosurgery recommends some patients should be forced to have the operation.. At present it is done on consenting patients with manic depression or obsessive compulsive disorders.