asked the Secretary of State for Energy, for the last year for which figures are available, of the total gas available from the United Kingdom continental shelf how much was (a) flared, (b) reinjected, (c) used by the producers and (d) available for internal consumption by the British Gas Corporation.

AVERAGE DAILY GAS FLARING RATES, 1975–79
Period		1975	1976	1977	1978	1979 Year
Million cubic metres	…	0·2	2	9	12·5	18
Million cubic feet	…	7	73	326	440	639
As percentage equivalent of United Kingdom oil production	…	4	5	8	7	7
Period		1979 January-June	1979 July-September	1979 October	1979 November	1979 December
Million cubic metres	…	19·5	18·5	16	15·5	14
Million cubic feet	…	685	656	565	546	487
As percentage equivalent of United Kingdom oil production	…	8	7	6·5	6·5	6

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans for establishing a national electricity board for Wales which will be responsible for generation and distribution.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the

United Kingdom continental shelf gas utilisation during 1979 was as follows:

	Total	Average daily rate
	(million cubic metres)	(million cubic metres)	(million cubic metres)
Flared	6,600	18	639
Reinjected	1,030	3	100
Used by producers	900	2·5	87
Disposals to BGC	38,200	105	3,690

These figures do not include deliveries to the petroleum industry either for its own energy uses or for marketing as petroleum products—a daily average of about 3 million cubic metres; they do include the United Kingdom share of Frigg. The volume of gas flared in 1979 was equal to about 14 per cent. of the volume of gas supplied by BGC—including Norwegian share of Frigg and other imports. The following table gives United Kingdom continental shelf gas flaring rates since oil production began in 1975. It can be seen that in recent months the flaring rate has decreased in absolute terms and relative to United Kingdom continental shelf oil production. Although month by month flaring figures are subject to substantial fluctuations, I hope that this improvement will be maintained as more operating companies bring gas conservation systems into reliable operation.hon. Member for Skipton (Mr. Watson) on 11 February.—[Vol 978,

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many natural gas explosions have occurred in the gas distribution system and in associated houses and buildings in each of the past five years.

In the table below, the incidents recorded are those resulting from explositions which caused death, or damage of value greater than £100 at 1976 prices, and whose origin was in the gas distribution system up to the customer control point (that is, the meter):

	Number of explosions
1974–75	28
1975–76	32
1976–77	33
1977–78	35
1978–79	29

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many objections, and from whom, he has received to his proposals to introduce a system of energy labelling on electrical goods.

I have so far received comments and constructive criticism from one association of manufacturers. A consultative document on energy labelling to be issued soon will outline the Government's proposals and reflect the informal discussions already held with consumers, manufacturers and standards bodies. All interested parties will be invited to comment on the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, since 1970 how many civil servants at his Department have taken up employment with oil companies within two years of leaving his Department.

I am unable to answer for the period before 1974 when the Department of Energy was set up.As far as we are aware, 12 staff have left the Department since 1974 to join oil companies. In addition, 14 staff went to BNOC.Senior staff leaving the Department of Energy are reminded of the need to obtain Government assent before accepting within two years of leaving the Department certain types of employment which might lend themselves to misunderstanding.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will enter into consultations with other nations which have nuclear power stations, with a view to a pooling of efforts and experience in the storage and disposal of waste.

I have been asked to reply.It has been the policy of successive Governments to engage in international discussions, co-operation projects and research with a view to improving the state of knowledge about matters relating to the storage and disposal of radioactive waste.As a member of the EEC the United Kingdom takes part in the Community's programmes on radioactive waste management and storage research. The results of these programmes are available to all member States alike. The United Kingdom also contributes to the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's Nuclear Energy Agency whose members include the major producers of nuclear power.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the cost of the two days spent by the House of Commons chef in preparing the Thatcher Valentine steak, kidney, mushroom and oyster dish; and why special facilities were provided for this purpose.

I have been asked to reply.No special facilities were provided for the preparation of the dish, which appeared on the table d'hote menus of 14 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which organisations in the London borough of Wandsworth, other than the borough council, he is seeking the views of regarding the possible transfer of the education services in the borough from the Inner London Education Authority.

I have not sought views from any organisations on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to report on his discussions with the London borough of Wandsworth regarding its application to seek the transfer of the education services in the borough from the Inner London Education Authority.

I have had no such discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, following his proposals for changes in the methods of financing student unions, he is making recommendations to university polytechnic and college authorities on the future legal status of unions, the procedures for allocation of funds to unions and the preferred means of negotiation of the distribution of funds.

I have no proposals in mind concerning the legal status of student unions. As I indicated in my answer to my hon. Friend the member for Wokingham (Mr. van Straubenzee) on 5 February, the amount of money to be made available for each union will be a matter for settlement at institutional and, where appropriate, local authority level.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the students in the various colleges of the University of Wales come from Wales.

In the academic year 1977–78, the latest year for which information is available, 32 per cent. of full-time and sandwich students at the University of Wales gave a usual permanent home address in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of Cambridgeshire youths who have received mandatory grants in respect of education at universities and polytechnics in each of the last five years.

Inforamtion in this detail is not available in my Department. I suggest that the hon. Member approaches the Cambridgeshire local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the percentage of pupils who left school illiterate during each of the last 20 years for which records are available.

No records are available on the number of pupils who left school illiterate in the last 20 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the grant allocated by his Department in the current year, for the training of shop stewards, will be monitored to ensure that it is properly spent.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) on 31 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils there were in comprehensive schools in England and Wales at the latest date for which figures are available; and what proportion of the relevant age groups this figure represents.

In January 1979 there were 3,328,000 pupils in comprehensive schools—(including middle schools deemed secondary)—in England; this represented 86 per cent. of pupils in all maintained secondary schools, and 72 per cent. of pupils aged over 11 in all schools —maintained, direct grant and independent. Educational provision in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the policy of his Department concerning encouraging local education authorities to employ blind or partially sighted persons.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the per capita grant for the arts in Wales and England, respectively, for the last financial year.

Public expenditure on the arts, museums and libraries from central and local government is estimated to have been about £7·30 per head in England and £7·60 per head in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 13 February to reply to a letter dated 13 January from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West concerning hare coursing and what was contained in the reply which could not have been sent within days, and whether he will take action to expedite replies to the communications he receives from hon. Members and others.

The hon. Member's letter also referred to other matters which required consideration before reply. All communications are dealt with as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list in the Official Report the Acts of Parliament, and amendments, orders and regulations under which the police have powers to investigate complaints made by members of the public of sus- pected cruelty to animals on either private or public property; and in which cases the police have powers to enter private property without a warrant to investigate allegations of cruelty to animals.

A comprehensive reply would require undue expenditure of official resources but the main provisions are as follows.The police may investigate complaints under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 and the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 to 1964—that is, the 1911 Act; the Protection of Animals Act (1911) Amendment Act 1912; the Protection of Animals Act (1911) Amendment Act 1921; the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925; the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1927; the Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act 1933; the Protection of Animals Act 1934; the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954; the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954; the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960; the Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962; the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1964. The police and local government officers have powers of entry without a warrant: under section 3 of the 1925 Act to premises accommodating performing animals; the police also have powers of entry to knackers' yards under section 5 of the 1911 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British citizenship are waiting to be processed by his Department at present.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 15 February.—[Vol. 978, c. 849.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pirate cabs he estimates operate in the London area; and what proposals he intends to introduce to bring them under licence according to the law.

I have no reason to believe that more than a small minority of the estimated 30,000 private hire cars in London are acting illegally by plying for hire. We have no present plans to licence private hire cars in London; the object of hire car licensing elsewhere is to set minimum standards for both drivers and vehicles and not to permit hire cars to act as taxi-cabs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated capacity of fall-out shelters in Great Britain (a) in square metres and (b) in numbers of human beings.

As any solid building will give a measure of protection against fall-out, it is not possible to answer the question in the terms sought by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to instruct local authorities to distribute leaflets advising procedure to be adopted in case of nuclear attack.

Some local authorities have done this in response to requests in their area for guidance on what a householder might usefully do should nuclear war threaten. The whole question of information to the public in this field forms part of my present review of home defence arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why police officers on duty in the Palace of Westminster may not be considered for service in the Rhodesian elections.

I understand from the Commissioner that there were more than 2,700 volunteers from the force and that in selecting 95 officers he took account of a variety of factors, including whether relief would have to be provided in their absence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a full statement as to the circumstances surrounding the death of Peter Cahill at Brixton police station on 13 February and if he will institute an inquiry to discover in particular why, when he had been found collapsed outside King's College hospital from which he had just been discharged, he was taken into police custody rather than returned into hospital care.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Cahill will be the subject of a public inquest to be held by the Southwark coroner, before a jury, on 2 April. It would not therefore be appropriate at present for me to make any statement or institute an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to increasing the limits on candidates' election expenses in the forthcoming district council elections to take account of rising costs since the previous elections.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, will shortly lay an order under section 2(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1978 to increase the limits on expenses for candidates at local government elections, including those to the Scottish district councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in conjunction with his consideration of road equivalent tariffs to the Scottish Islands, he will consider increasing the level of grant assistance available to reconstruct single track and badly aligned principal roads in the Scottish Highlands.

Financial support to the Islands' councils is given through the rate support grant. Exceptional circumstances of the Islands' areas relative to other areas are taken into account in the distribution of that grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the final allocations to local housing authorities for capital expenditure in 1980–81.

I have today informed local authorities that their allocations are as shown below.These figures do not include the amounts of loans that authorities give for the purchase of council houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list in the Official Report the Acts of Parliament, and amendments, orders and regulations under which Government officers, the police and local government employees have powers to investigate complaints from members of the public of suspected cruelty to animals on either private or public property; and under which Acts there are powers to enter private property without a warrant to investigate allegations of cruelty to animals.

Statutory provision for the welfare of animals is made in a miscellany of Acts and subordinate legislation; and the preparation of an exhaustive list would be impracticable since many of these statutory measures, though helpful in this field, do not have the prevention of cruelty as their main or explicit purpose.So far as farm animals are concerned, the principal statutes are the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1928—as amended—the Diseases of Animals Act 1950, the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 and the Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) (Scotland) Regulations 1955. Under these, authorised veterinary or other Department of Agriculture staff have powers under certain circumstances to enter private property without a warrant.For domestic and captive wild animals the main legislation is found in the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912, but the Act does not confer a power of entry without warrant except in relation to a knacker's yard. However, the police have a general responsibility for investigating any complaint alleging that a crime or offence has been committed and various common law powers to enable them to discharge that function. That responsibility and these powers would be relevant to complaints about cruelty to animals under the 1912 Act.There are also powers of entry and inspection by Government officials under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 which deals with animal experiments; and under various other statutes dealing with the licensing of establishments such as pet shops, riding stables, dog kennels, etc., there are powers whereby local authority officers may enter and inspect premises at any reasonable time without warrant to ensure that the licensing requirements are being met.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed his consideration of the ways in which Government policy in respect of the sale of public housing to sitting tenants is to be applied to public bodies, such as the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, which have a need for tied housing; and if he will make a statement.

Consideration of the application of Government policy on the sale of publicly-owned housing to those public bodies which are not housing authorities, in which we are participating, has not yet been concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration the Manpower Services Commission has given to the provision of jobcentre facilities in the Possilpark area, in the light of Glasgow district council's local plan.

The network of jobcentres and employment offices is reviewed regularly by the Manpower Services Commission in the light of all relevant considerations and adjusted where necessary to meet changing local labour market needs. The commission considers that the Springburn employment office is within easy reach of Possilpark and has no proposals to establish a jobcentre there at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the table on public sector house sales contained in his answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central on 27 November 1979, updated to include the third quarter of 1979.

The following table shows the latest available information which has been updated since the earlier reply on 27 November 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give favourable consideration to applications for grant and loan assistance for improvement of croft houses when the crofter purchases a house site for his own continuing occupation and assigns the croft to a member of his family in anticipation of a bequest or where a crofter is unable to work his croft because of age or infirmity and consequently assigns it to another person again retaining the house for his own occupation.

Yes. Where a crofter acquires the site of a dwelling-house on or pertaining to his croft, grant and loan assistance for the improvement of that house can be made available under section 22(2) of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1955 for a period of seven years from the date of acquisition.Where such a crofter remains in occupation of that house and assigns the rest of the croft to a member of his family in anticipation of bequest or to an individual where the crofter is aged or infirm and unable to work the croft, sympathetic consideration is given to any application for housing grant and loan assistance submitted by the new crofter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of children in each region who suffer from damage to the central nervous system have been awarded the maximum compensation available; and if he will break down the totals by the vaccination or immunisation thought to be responsible for the damage.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him today.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on her correspondence and discussions with representatives of the British Olympic Association regarding an alternative venue for the 1980 Olympic Games.

I wrote to the chairman of the British Olympic Association—BOA—on 22 January asking him to approach the International Olympic Committee—IOC—urgently proposing that the summer Games be moved from the Soviet Union. He replied that he would put the Government's suggestion to the IOC but that his association could not support it. On 12 February at Lake Placid the IOC decided that the Games should go ahead in Moscow. I wrote to Sir Denis Follows again on 19 February, asking that the British Olympic Association should accept the advice of the Government that British athletes should not go to the Moscow Games. The full text of that letter is:Dear Sir Denis,

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official enagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 Feb-February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 21 February.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith).

asked the Prime Minister what measures she intends to take to help families with children.

I refer the hon. Member to my answers to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 7 February and to the reply I gave him on 19 February.

asked the Prime Minister what policy she will pursue to expand the range of job opportunities for women.

We shall do all we can to bring this about. The various employment and training schemes include activities and initiatives designed specifically to widen job opportunities for women.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Southampton.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Aberystwyth.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when she plans next to visit Wales.

I hope to visit Wales later this year.

asked the Prime Minister whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to regard increases in child benefit as a reduction in taxation.

The Government's view is that as child benefit is a cash transfer from the public to the private sector it is appropriate to treat it as public expenditure in the national accounts. Any increase in child benefit adds directly to the public sector borrowing requirement, irrespective of the method of accounting.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied that the existing departmental structure is sufficiently flexible and responsive to assess the overall effect of policies pursued by the Government on rural areas and those living in the countryside; and if she will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has special regard to the need to monitor the total effect of Government policies on rural areas as part of his responsibilities for regional policy.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit the fishing port of Peterhead.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what plans she has to deal with the so-called "why work?" syndrome.

The Government recognise my hon. Friend's concern about the gap between incomes in work and benefits for those out of work. Taken together, our policies are designed to restore incentives and to encourage self-reliance.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for West Lothian, Official Report, 7 February, columns 276–7, whether, in the light of the sale of centrifuges to Libya, she will hold discussions in the Nuclear Supplies Group.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany have confirmed to us that they have no knowledge of the alleged cooperation with Libya on centrifuges referred to in recent articles in the press. The question of discussions in the Nuclear Suppliers Group does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Prime Minister if she will discuss with President Carter the nature of British participation in the United States sponsored international package of military assistance to Pakistan, in the light of the Afghanistan invasion.

In discussions with us and others the Americans have expressed the hope that other countries will also contribute to assisting Pakistan. We are increasing our economic aid. I am not aware of any "international package of military assistance to Pakistan".

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to meet the President of France.

I expect to meet President Giscard d'Estaing at the next meeting of the European Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the proportion of the European Economic Community market for man-made fibres held by imports from the United States of America; and if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the products exported by the European Economic Community to the United States of America which enjoy a larger proportion of the United States market.

This information, even if available, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what effect the man-made fibres cartel has had on the level of prices in the United Kingdom; and what steps he proposes to take to lower prices in the event of restrictions being imposed on imports of competitive fibres from the United States of America.

I have no evidence that the price of man-made fibres has been affected by any cartel arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of total United Kingdom consumption of (a) non-textured yarn of continuous polyester fibres, (b) textured yarn of continuous polyester fibres and (c) tufted carpets and so on of man-made textile fibres is accounted for by imports from the United States of America in each case.

It is estimated that 17 per cent. by weight of total United Kingdom consumption of yarn of continuous polyester fibres—excluding high tenacity yarn—was accounted for by imports from the United States of America in 1979. Separate figures for textured and non-textured yarn are not available.It is estimated that 4 per cent. by area of total United Kingdom consumption of tufted carpets, carpeting and carpet type rugs of man-made textile fibres was accounted for by imports from the United States of America during the first nine months of 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the difference between the price which United Kingdom exporters charge for manufactures exported to the European Economic Community compared with the rest of the world is as great as it is in the case of the Federal Republic of Germany: and to what extent the German advantage, as shown in their published statistics, is taken into account in assessing the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufactures.

Information on the price of United Kingdom exports of manufactures by market is not available in the United Kingdom statistics; therefore, comparisons of the kind requested are not possible.The prices meaning of the phrase "the German advantage" is not clear. If the hon. Member would care to write to me and explain, I will of course reply in full.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in what ways his Department gives recognition to the Welsh language; and if he will list the statutory forms used by his Department which are either bilingual or have Welsh versions.

In accordance with the provisions and spirit of the Welsh language Act 1967, my Department makes such arrangements as are practicable to conduct its varied business in Welsh with those who so wish.The Companies Act 1976 permitted limited companies to use "cyfyngedig" as the last word of their name instead of the word "limited". Such companies may also complete in the Welsh language the statutory forms required by the Companies Acts, provided they are accompanied by a certified translation into English.None of my Department's statutory forms is prescribed in the Welsh language or in bilingual form, but I am willing to consider any case in which the demand for such forms is sufficient to justify the cost of meeting it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether it is the practice of his Department not to consult representatives of British retailing prior to the introduction of import restrictions; and, if so, whether he will give assurances that he will provide for consultations in the future with a view to effective import substitution.

There is no fixed procedure, but we do in considering proposals for import restraints take very careful account of the need to avoid disruption to the retail markets, and to minimise any inconvenience to the consumer. Any representations by the importing, retailing or consumer interests are given full consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish the statistics of accidents caused by fireworks in October and November 1979.

I hope to be in a position to publish these statistics shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in view of its effects on the voluntary restraint agreements entered into by other Far Eastern producer countries and upon the manufacture of monochrome television sets in the United Kingdom, he will take action to prevent the import by two British companies of up to 200,000 monochrome television sets from Thailand.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 February 1980, c. 140]: Following my meeting on 20 February with my hon. Friend and the hon. Member for Edmonton (Mr. Graham), I am investigating the matter.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how far the feasibility for British exporters to export to an overseas developing country, as measured in terms of Export Credits Guarantee Department cover, is taken into account when deciding on the amount of development aid given by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Not to any material extent, although general regard has always been given to industrial and commercial considerations. We intend to give such considerations greater weight in future.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the Government's present policy in respect of restoring relations with the Government of Albania.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mr. Dobson on 7 November.—[Vol. 973, c. 209.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations he received from the Government of the United States of America about the decision of Her Majesty's Government to resume the exchange of ambassadors with the Republic of Chile.

None.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he consulted with Italy and Belgium regarding his decision to exchange ambassadors with Chile.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he anticipates that the exchange of ambassadors with the Republic of Chile will take place.

The respective ambassadors have now taken up their appointments.

asked the Lord Privy Seal why Selous Scouts, for whom the Governor is responsible, carried out the bomb attacks on churches and chapels in Salisbury; whether the Governor had authorised these attacks, and if not what action he has taken against those officers of the security forces who were involved.

The police are pursuing their investigations into four incidents in Salisbury on the night of 14 February. Bombs exploded at two sites; an unexploded bomb was found at a third; and two members of the Rhodesian security forces were killed in a further incident. The police have not yet established responsibility for any of these incidents, and it is therefore not possible to say whether and, if so, how the four incidents were linked. The Governor is following the progress of the police investigations closely.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Nine in political cooperation on 19 February.