asked Her Majesty's Government whether sufficient capital is available to implement fully the proposed Oceanspan and Eurospan projects.

The Oceanspan and Eurospan Reports mention a number of possible projects the feasibility of which warrant further investigation in the context of the growth of container ships, the location of port associated industry in Europe generally, deep water associated with flat land on the Clyde, the industrial corridor of Central Scotland, North Sea oil potential, our prospective entry to Europe, and many other considerations.

The Reports provide a range of conceptual possibilities rather than a programme of specific proposals. As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland explained in another place on December 22, the Scottish Office and the Scottish Council are co-operating in considering what practical possibilities can be developed on the basis of the concepts embodied in the Oceanspan 2 Report. I understand the Council also propose discussions with other private and public interests.

The provision of capital for individual undertakings mentioned in the Reports would be a matter for the developers concerned who would no doubt take into account such Government assistance as was available in the particular circumstances, for example under the Local Employment Acts.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What information they have about the alleged employment of a former detective sergeant in the Metropolitan Police as a private inquiry agent.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed my right honourable friend the Home Secretary that the detective sergeant to whom I think the noble Lord refers resigned from the police force before taking up other employment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will conduct an investigation into the statement made by the chairman-designate of the Commercial Union Insurance Company that the police were unable to give much attention to the problem of fraudulent insurance claims because of the existing great pressures on them.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has assured my right honourable friend the Home Secretary that allegations of fraudulent insurance claims are thoroughly investigated. If they do not result in court proceedings, this may be for lack of evidence; it is not for want of attention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether arrangements can be made for Welsh ministers of religion to conduct Welsh religious services for the benefit of Welshmen and Welshwomen detained in English prisons.

Arrangements exist or are being made in the English prisons and remand centres most likely to receive Welsh-speaking prisoners to call upon the help of Welsh-speaking ministers of religion in the area. If the noble Lord is aware of any instance in which difficulty is being experienced, perhaps he will let me have details of it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether time spent in custody as a remand prisoner counts towards:

Under Section 67(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 the time which a prisoner spends in custody in England and Wales on remand before sentence counts towards his sentence.

Under the Prison Rules time spent in custody after conviction but before sentence attracts remission. Time spent in custody before conviction does not.

The period spent on remand does not count towards a prisoner's elegibility for parole. Section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, provides that a prisoner may be released on licence after he has served not less than one third of his sentence or twelve months whichever expires the later, and that the period of one-third of sentence is to be calculated from the date of conviction.

My right honourable friend, the Home Secretary, is reviewing the provisions about remission.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will seek to amend the law of conspiracy so that it is not unlawful for a group of people to plan actions which are lawful in themselves.

The law of conspiracy is among the subjects at present under review by the Law Commission.

asked Her Majesty's Government whether they will conduct an investigation into the spying by officials of the Department of Health and Social Security on the Southwark Council's homeless families.

I assume that the noble Lord refers to observation kept by officers of my Department at Chaucer House, Tabard Street, Southwark, on persons suspected of fraud against the Department. No investigation into the officers' activities is necessary since the facts are known. I understand that Chaucer House is due to be closed completely, but in the meantime parts of it are used as half-way accommodation. Between November 3–5, 1971, officers of my Department kept observation from a disused flat on five people suspected of fraud in the receipt of benefit. Over the three days observation was kept for a total of 10 hours. I can assure the noble Lord that any suggestion that the Department's officers keep a general watch on Southwark Council tenants is groundless.House adjourned at sixteen minutes past seven o'clock.