asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in their view the Soviet Union is entitled in international law to a territorial sea of 12 miles and whether they, in fact and in law, recognise this claim.

We recognise a breadth of 12 nautical miles as the maximum limit of the territorial sea, and consider this applies equally to the Soviet Union as to other countries.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many officials of the Lord Chancellor's Department, other than the Private Office, occupied offices in the Palace of Westminster on 1st January 1986, 1987 and 1988 respectively.

On 1st Janury 1986 and 1st January 1987 my noble and learned friend the then Lord Chancellor was assisted in the House of Lords by 53 staff in addition to those in his Private Office. On 19th January 1987 the number was reduced to 35 and remained at that level on 1st January 1988.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What advice and guidance they have given to the administrators of the International Fund for Ireland concerning economic and social policies and priorities (

Article 3 of the agreement to establish the International Fund for Ireland provides that,

"… disbursements shall be consistent with the economic and social policies and priorities of the respective Governments …".

To this end, the independent board which administers the fund is advised by an advisory committee comprised of senior civil servants of the two governments, which meets regularly. The committee has advised on many aspects of the fund's operations and on the numerous projects submitted for assistance within the fund's area of operation, which includes the whole of Northern Ireland.Control of the programmes through which the fund's moneys are disbursed lies with the board of the fund, in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What payments in corporation tax they have received from British Telecom for the financial year 1986–87.

I regret that I am unable to provide the information requested, as details of the tax affairs of companies and individuals are confidential.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prisoners who had to use wheelchairs were accommodated in penal establishments during January 1988.

The information requested is not statistically recorded.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will consider incorporating some suitable accommodation for disabled prisoners in the new prison building programme.

Full consideration is given to the provision of appropriate facilities for the disabled in new prisons.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether dispensing doctors will be required under EC regulations for product liability for drugs and appliances to record the batch number of each ingredient used in mixing an ointment or medicine; andWhen they intend to issue guidance to all general medical practitioners on the records they will need to maintain in order to comply with the EC regulations for product liability for drugs and appliances.

Neither the directive nor the Consumer Protection Act requires records to be maintained.