asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement regarding the steps he has taken to secure payment to the contractors for the construction of the new United States Embassy in London.

As the contractors are already pursuing their remedies in the United States courts, it would not be appropriate at this stage for Her Majesty's Government to intervene formally. However, we have expressed informally to the United States Government our concern that so serious a dispute should have arisen between them and the contractors and that we should welcome any steps they may be able to take to bring about an early settlement.