asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will now arrange for a start to be made on the cleaning and restoring of the Palace of Westminster; how much the cost of cleaning the exterior of the Palace of Westminster was estimated to be when the survey was carried out in 1973; and by how much it has risen in each year until reaching the current price of £5·3 million.

In view of the present cutbacks in public expenditure, it is unlikely that this costly, though desirable, work can start in the foreseeable future. The estimated cost of cleaning the exterior of the Palace of Westminster in 1973 was £2·1 million. The estimated increases in each subsequent year are: 1974, £0·2 million; 1975, £0·5 million; 1976, £0·4 million; 1977, £0·3 million; 1978, £0·4 million; 1979, £0·8 million. I regret that the figure of £5·3 million for the current cost given in my answer to the hon. and learned Member on 26 November was based on an incorrect revaluation of the survey estimate. The present estimate is £4·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the cost of

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is his intention to renew the special scheme for low-interest loans from the European Investment Bank for small and medium-sized firms; if it is intended that his Department and the Welsh and Scottish Offices will continue as agents of the European Investment Bank for such loans; and if he will make a statement.

The scheme providing exchange risk cover on loans from the European Investment Bank and the European Coal and Steel Community will continue for a further two years to 31

That is a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will bring up to date the information published in the Official Report on 10 January 1977, volume 923, c. 423 concerning trade in capital goods.

The information available is given in the table below. Technical difficulties have precluded the precise updating requested and care should be taken in using the two sets of data together.December 1981 subject to a ceiling on new borrowing of £200 million. Loans already in the pipeline but not yet advanced will not be counted against this ceiling. Of the £200 million, £60 million will be set aside for loans to smaller firms through the existing agency arrangements. The scheme is now being extended to cover all manufacturing projects in the assisted areas which meet the criteria for regional selective assistance. Premium rates will be 1 per cent. per annum in special development areas and 2 per cent. in development and intermediate areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the upgrading of Corby to a development area and Shotton to a special development area will come into effect.

I am laying before Parliament an order making the Corby employment office area a development area and the Shotton travel-to-work area, consisting of the employment office areas of Flint, Holywell, Mold and Shotton, a special development area. The order will take effect from 12 December 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much public money has been paid to Meccano of Liverpool over the past five years; and how this has been used.

[pursuant to his reply, 10 December 1979]: Details of Government assistance are normally confidential and published only with the company's agreement. However, following a recommendation of the Expenditure Committee, it has been our practice since 1974 to publish in "Trade and Industry" details of assistance offered to companies under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972.In the period 31 November 1974 to 31 November 1979, Meccano Ltd. has been offered two section 7 grants. A grant of £37,000 was offered to the company in June 1975 in respect of an expansion project, of which £19,000 was paid. No further payments were made from this offer due to difficulties with the project. A further grant of £787,500 was offered to the company in March 1978 for a modernisation and job preservation project, of which £210,000 was paid. With the company's agreement, I can also disclose that payments of regional development grant amounting to £708,000 were made to Meccano Ltd. in the period since 1 October 1974 to 1 October 1979. In addition, I understand the company has received temporary employment subsidy amounting to £966,890 in the period 5 March 1977 to 5 August 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the 36 per cent. increase in the price of colour television licences, he will reconsider the decision not to offer concessions on television licences to all pensioners not living with non-pensioners.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making in introducing a residential care order; what organisations have indicated their opposition to the pro-proposal; and what are the reasons for introducing it.

The purpose of a residential care order will be to strengthen the powers of the courts in relation to juveniles. The details of the legislation which will be necessary for this purpose are still being considered and, until they become the subject of consultation, any views expressed cannot be directly related to our specific proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to make a statement concerning the proposals that have been put to him by the licensed trade to use part of the compensation funds to set up a foundation for education and research into alcohol abuse.

Consultations about these proposals are continuing. I cannot say at this stage when it will be possible for a statement to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions were brought in respect of the offence of being a suspected person loitering with intent in each of the past three years; and what was the breakdown between police force areas;(2) what proportion of prosecutions brought for the offence of being a suspected person and loitering with intent to commit an arrestable offence has resulted in conviction in any periods for which figures are available.

The total numbers of persons proceeded against and found guilty in England and Wales of offences of being a suspected person frequenting a public place with intent to commit an arrestable offence are published annually in the "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—offence classification 186 in table 1(a) of the volume for 1978, Cmnd. 7670. The additional information requested is given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed a review of open prisons; and if he will publish it.

The report of the working party on open prisons has been completed and is under consideration. No decision has yet been taken about publication.

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish the criteria governing the selection of magistrates.

The Lord Chancellor is responsible for the selection of persons for appointment as magistrates. Candidates must be personally suitable in character, integrity and understanding, and be able to think and act in a judicial manner. Selections are made of men and women from all sections of the local community, so that as far as possible they are broadly representative of its various elements in terms of age, sex and social and occupational background. A brochure setting out at greater length the criteria and procedure for the appointment of magistrates, published by the Lord Chancellor's Office, has been sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish the membership of the selection committees for magistrates.

To avoid possible lobbying and harassment, it has been the practice of successive Lord Chancellors not to disclose the names of the members of his advisory committees on justices of the peace. The names and addresses of the secretaries of these committees are available and published.

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish instructions issued to the selection committees for magistrates.

There is no single set of instructions to which reference can be made. If the hon. Member would write to him on any particular points he has in mind, the Lord Chancellor would be happy to consider them. In the meantime, the hon. Member is being supplied with a copy of the brochure already published by the Lord Chancellor's Office which explains the general guidelines within which advisory committees work.

asked the Attorney-General if he will set out in detail (a) who can apply to be magistrates, (b) any restrictions on appointments such as age limits and (c) the selection procedures.

Any person or organisation may recommend a candidate for appointment as a justice of the peace by sending the name and particulars of the candidate to the local advisory committee on a form which can be obtained from the secretary. The Lord Chancellor is arranging for the hon. Member to be sent a copy of a booklet which amplifies this and covers the other matters he raises.

asked the Attorney-General what conclusion he has reached about the appointment of stipendiary magistrates.

It is not apparent from the question to what aspect of the appointment of stipendiary magistrates the hon. Member is referring. The Lord Chancellor will be very ready to consider any relevant matters if the hon. Member will draw them to his attention.

asked the Attorney-General how many magistrates have been appointed in the North-West in each of the last 10 years; and how these figures compare with other regions taking density of population into account.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department expects to complete the study it is making into the possibility of offering male nurses the opportunity of direct commissions in the Armed Forces in the same way that these are now available to women.

At present only female SRNs are eligible for a direct commission in any of the three Services. Studies are well in hand to introduce direct commissions for male SRNs in all three Services. Care, however, has to be taken to ensure that the introduction of direct commissions does not prejudice the career prospects of the SRNs already serving. Depending on the outcome of these studies, direct commissioning of male SRNs could be introduced during 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy If he will make a statement on further confirmations of sixth round licences.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 November 1979, c. 626]: I am today confirming the award of further licences of blocks conditionally allocated under the sixth round of offshore licensing, as follows:Block 73/7BNOC Phillips Petroleum Exploration UK Ltd, Hispanoil (UK) Ltd, Century Power and Light LtdBlock 73/1BNOC, Swedish Petroleum LtdBlock 20/2BNOC, Burmah Oil Exploration Ltd, Charter-house Petroleum Development Ltd, Petroswede (UK) Ltd, Canadian Industrial Gas (UK) Ltd, DSM Hydrocarbons (UK) Ltd, Norsk Hydro Oil and Gas LtdBlocks 206/2 and 209/7BNOC, Shell UK Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ensure that the severely physically handicapped in the 16 to 65-year age group are covered within his Department's code of practice for fuel debts.

The code of practice on payment of domestic electricity and gas bills is the industries' code. The contents and operation of the code are currently the subject of an independent review sponsored by the industries and their consumer councils. It would be premature to prejudge the outcome of the review. However, I understand that the industries already take account of all the circumstances of a particular customer before making use of their powers to disconnect supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his policy regarding the sale of oil from the British sector of the North Sea to other European Economic Community countries at preferential prices.

Her Majesty's Government do not determine the selling price of United Kingdom North Sea oil: United Kingdom oil prices follow the market. There is no preferential price for the United Kingdom market and there can be no question of such a price for EEC countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list by countries the production of the several members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in barrels per day last year and the cuts each has agreed to make in production either in 1979 or 1980 to maintain or enhance world crude oil prices.

Production levels for 1978 were mainly established before the world supply pattern was disrupted by events in Iran. The following table gives the production for each member of OPEC for 1978 and the first nine months of 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the extraction rate of the num- ber of barrels of oil which is sufficient to run the United Kingdom economy.

In 1979 it is expected that the United Kingdom will consume about 1·9 million barrels of crude oil per day and produce around 1·5 to 1·6 million barrels per day. However, United Kingdom refineries require a mix of crude oils including types not produced on the United Kingdom continental shelf and there will always be a requirement to import a certain amount of crude oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms in Dundee have been granted permission not to employ the 3 per cent. quota of disabled workers; what percentage of employers subject to quotas in Dundee this represents; and what were the reasons given.

No employers in Dundee have been granted permission not to employ the 3 per cent. quota. On 1 June 1979, the latest date for which information is available, 102 locally based employers in the Dundee employment office area had been issued with permits during the preceding 12 months enabling them to engage persons who were not registered as disabled. This represents 61 per cent. of employers subject to quota in Dundee. Permits are issued only when Manpower Services Commission's disablement resettlement officers are satisfied that no suitable registered disabled people are available to fill the employer's vacancies.

asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley), as representing the House of Commons Commission, who is responsible for the internal audit of the Commission's expenditure as distinct from the external audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The responsibility rests with the Accounting Officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are being assisted by the youth opportunities programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that at 31 October 1979, 105,000 young people were engaged in the youth opportunities programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he

Because of differences in the definitions, coverage and statistical methods used in the various countries, comparisons of this kind should be regarded with caution. The available figures for the United Kingdom are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people had been unemployed for (a) between one and two years and (b) over two years, in October of each year since 1950.

At 11 October 1979 the quarterly analysis indicated that 337,000 unemployed people in Great Britain had been registered for more than 52 weeks. Of these, 165,200 had been registered for between 52 weeks and 104 weeks and 171,800 for more than 104 weeks. Corresponding information is not available for earlier years because until 1979 there was no further analysis of those registered for more than 52 weeks.The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed for more than 52 weeks in September of each year from 1950 to 1961, and in October of each year from 1962 to 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is considering proposals to reduce the number of centres for training workers in new skills; which skillcentres would face closure if such proposals were implemented and what training capacity would be lost as a result; what skills would be affected and which of these are suffering from manpower shortages; if he will ensure that no areas of high unemployment will face any closures of skillcentres; and if he will make a statement.

:The Manpower Services Commission informs me that, as part of the exercise being conducted by Ministers with the help of Sir Derek Rayner to promote efficiency in Government administration, an examination has been made of the role of the Commission's skillcentre network in providing training facilities. A number of options are being considered by the chairman of the Commission and Sir Derek Rayner aimed at rationalising the existing and planned provision of skillcentres and improving performance. Proposals based on these options will in due course be considered by the Commission which will then make recommendations to the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of working days lost due to strike action per 1,000 people employed during the period January to June in each of the member countries of the EEC.

In January to June 1979 there were 333 working days lost from industrial disputes per thousand persons employed in all industries and services in the United Kingdom. Similar estimates for other members of the EEC are available only annually from the Statistical Office of the European Communities. The figures for 1978 will be published in the Department of Employment Gazette early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average duration of unemployment for each person unemployed in each year since 1950.

Figures are not available for the average length of time spent on the unemployment register for a person who has completed a period of unemployment. Data are compiled for the median lengths of time spent on the unemployment register by persons still unemployed on the date of the count. The table below gives these medians for Great Britain on one quarterly count date each year since 1950.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the grants obtained by voluntary organisations in Wales from the social fund since the United Kingdom joined the EEC; and if he will make a statement.

Since the United Kingdom joined the EEC four voluntary organisations in Wales concerned with the training for employment of handicapped young people have received allocations from the social fund. These amounted to £461,671.Applications to the fund by voluntary bodies in respect of eligible schemes are welcomed. However, few voluntary bodies appear to operate schemes which come within the scope of the social fund, since their work is mainly concerned with welfare rather than with training for employment. To be eligible for support from the fund a scheme run by a private body must in most instances also be in receipt of a grant from a public authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the grants obtained by voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom from the social fund since the United Kingdom joined the EEC.

Since the United Kingdom joined the EEC, 20 voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom have received allocations totalling £3,233,414 from the social fund. This sum includes £1,830,825 allocated to seven organisations for schemes for the training and employment of young people; £1,212,633 to nine organisations concerned with the reintegration of the physically and mentally handicapped into open employment; and £159,582 to three organisations for schemes to assist the integration into working life of migrant workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what criteria are laid down for entitlement to compensation under the provisions of the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978;and whether he will consider widening this to take account of industries not already included;(2) how many people are likely to benefit from a lump sum payment consequent upon the widening of the criteria of eligibility for entitlement under the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978.

The entitlement conditions for a lump sum payment under the provisions of the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 are set out in section 2 of the Act. The diseases to which the Act applies are pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and diffuse mesothelioma. All types of pneumoconiosis, including silicosis, asbestosis and kaolinosis, are covered. Entitlement is not related to particular industries and the question of widening the criteria to take account of additional industries does not, therefore, arise. There is no power to vary either the entitlement conditions or the diseases covered by statutory instrument.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to lay the regulations made under the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978 before the House.

Draft regulations prescribing the amounts of payments to be made under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 were laid before Parliament on Wednesday 5 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what additional steps he proposes to take to enable disabled people to play a part in the economic recovery of Great Britain by reducing unemployment among the disabled from the present level of twice the national average.

Practical experience shows that, given rehabilitation and training where necessary, and placing in the right job, most disabled people can compete on equal terms with the able-bodied in the world of work. We therefore attach great importance to assisting disabled people to obtain suitable employment. Our continuing support for the Manpower Services Commission's (MSC) "Fit for Work" campaign, the awards scheme and MSC's resettlement schemes for disabled people reflects the value we place on the contribution disabled people can make to the economic well-being of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward proposals to give discretionary powers to local authorities to pay more than the £4 disregard to disabled workers without it affecting social security payments.

I have been asked to reply.The powers of local authorities do not limit the amounts they can pay to disabled workers. Those receiving supplementary benefit will have only up to £4 disregarded. Any increase in that amount will be a matter of priorities for consideration as resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many workers are in section 2 employment; how many are on the waiting list; and what is the number of vacancies;(2) if he will list the names and addresses of all the sheltered workshops, known to his Department, in the United Kingdom;(3) how many new places in sheltered employment are planned for the next five years; and whether any programme expansion has been stopped or delayed because of the Government's policy of cutting public expenditure;(4) what is the per capita cost per annum for persons in sheltered employment.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make arrangements for an appropriate charge to be levied on private schools using careers officers employed by local education authorities in England and Wales.

No. I am advised that the Employment and Training Act 1973 does not preclude local education authorities from charging for the provision of a careers service, but I am not aware that any authorities do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in the light of the fact that many potential magistrates refuse to forward their names because they feel the loss of time at work will make them potential candidates for redundancy, what safeguards he plans to make the administration of law above such pressures, and to make the Bench representative of society as a whole.

I have no evidence that the holding of the office of magistrate places employees at a disadvantage in their employment. I therefore have no plans to amend the legislation in the way suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish full details of those Government contracts which have been secured by sheltered workshops through the revised priority suppliers' arrangements put into practice last April; how many tenders from sheltered workshops were rejected in that period; if he will give the number of Government contracts and total expenditure involved for the preceding six months; and what steps have been taken to draw the attention of sheltered workshops to these revised arrangements through the sheltered employment procurement and consultancy services or other means.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 November 1979, c. 732]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the priority suppliers' arrangements, that the information requested on contracts awarded under the revised arrangements is not available.Information on the value of contracts awarded by Government Departments to priority suppliers, including both sheltered workshops and prison industries, is collected annually: the last available figure is in respect of the financial year 1977–78 when such contracts totalled £10·3 million.Steps taken to advise sheltered workshops of the revised arrangements include circulation of the terms, the issue of information sheets and visits by the director of the sheltered employment procurement and consultancy services and his staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the reduction in the number of places on the youth opportunities programme and the special temporary employment programme as a result of the reduction in the Manpower Services Commission budget.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 December 1979, c. 24–25]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that following the reduction in its budget for the present financial year there will be no reduction in the youth opportunities programmes. The original objective of 210,000 entrants has been preserved. Savings are being made through a shift towards the less expensive forms of provision and other operating economies.The special temporary employment programme is being concentrated in areas of greatest need and on the long-term unemployed. It will aim to provide 12,000 to 14,000 filled places in those areas compared with the previous intention of providing30,000 to 35,000 filled places in Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what research is currently being undertaken by his Department into technology for cleaning up oil spills; how much was spent on this research work in the year 1978–79;how much has been allocated for this financial year; and what plans he has to increase the amount of research work.

Research into oil spill clearance technology sponsored by my Department, with the advice of the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board, and carried out largely by the Warren Spring laboratory of the Department of Industry, is aimed at improving the national capability for dealing with oil spills at sea.Current research includes the following fields:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the total cost to central Government of subsidies paid towards the cost of civil aviation in Scotland.

Questions about subsidy for air services in Scotland should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland; but the grant-in-aid to the Civil Aviation Authority is in part attributable to the losses sustained on its aerodromes in Scotland. In 1978–79 the operating loss was £1,964,000 and the interest payable was £1,123,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his reply of 3 December to the hon. Member for Rugby, what steps he intends to take to improve the present balance of trade with (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Netherlands, (d) Italy and (e) the EEC as a whole.

The Government are fully conscious of the need to ensure that our industry is competitive so that our international trading position can be improved in relation to all markets. Our policies are directed to creating the right conditions to achieve this objective.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has sought the views of interested parties before formulating his own policy on the revised draft directive of the EEC Commission on product liability; and when he expects such discussions to be concluded.

I believe that discussion of the draft directive will afford an opportunity to provide proper protection for the consumer without imposing undue burdens on industry. I have therefore sought the views of interested parties on the detailed provisions of the draft by 21 December and I shall decide my attitude to individual provisions as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total number of cars and taxis and so on, and their estimated money value, imported into the United Kingdom for the years 1970 to 1979.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what views on a new multi-fibre arrangement were expressed to him by the Trades Union Congress textile representatives at the meeting on or about 29 October; if he intends to meet them or to discuss this in the near future; and, if so, when.

At its meeting with my right hon. Friend on 29 October the TUC Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industries Committee expressed the view that consultations about the terms of a renewed multi-fibre arrangement should be started. My right hon. Friend suggested to the committee that it would be premature to do this immediately but offered to meet it again in a few months' time to discuss the question. No date has yet been set for this meeting.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will bring forward proposals for the sale of British Rail loss-making and profit-making branch lines to private companies.

No, but I am interested in the possibilities of involving private capital in the board's subsidiaries.

asked the Minister of Transport, when, and for what purpose he last met the chairman of British Railways.

I last met the chairman of British Railways on 5 December, when we discussed several topics of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Railways regarding the sale of British Railways' hotel division, its catering division or Sealink ferries; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 3 December.—[Vol. 975, c. 48.]

asked the Minister of Transport when he will publish the report of the inspector and the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the North Devon link road proposals.

My right hon. Friends the Minister of Transport and the Secretary of State for the Environment are considering the inspector's report and will announce their decision and publish the report as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central on transport costs; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from the hon. Member about increases in bus fares in Greater Manchester. The level of fares is not a matter on which I can—or would wish to—intervene except in the context of a properly constituted appeal against a decision of the traffic commissioners.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average waiting time for driving tests in Stoke-on-Trent; how this compares with that in cities of similar size and with the national average; what proportion passed their first test; and how that compares with the national average.

The average waiting time for an L-test in Stoke-on-Trent is 24 weeks. The average wait in the West Midland traffic area is 30 weeks, and nationally 28 weeks. Waiting periods grouped by size of city are not readily available. The information requested about first-time passes is also not available. But for all L-tests, the average pass rate in the West Midlands traffic area is about 50 per cent., compared with the national average of 47·3 per cent.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will enter into negotiations with the Government of the Irish Republic with a view to securing for British citizens living in the Irish Republic all the rights and privileges accorded to Irish citizens living in the United Kingdom.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will accord full official recognition to the Palestine Liberation Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Official recognition is extended only to Governments. We have not accepted the Palestine Liberation Organisation's claim to be the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians, but we are aware of the importance of its views in determining Palestinian attitudes.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will defer the grant of diplomatic status to the Apostolic Delegate until he is accredited in respect of Northern Ireland to the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Ireland and not, as at present, to that hierarchy in England, in Wales and in Scotland only.

No. As a matter of courtesy the Government have already, with effect from 1 November 1979, granted diplomatic status to the Apostolic Delegate, who is thus a diplomatic agent within the meaning of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964. However, as before, he continues not to be accredited to the Court of St. James's as a head of mission.The links between the Apostolic Delegate and the Roman Catholic hierarchy are entirely a matter for the Vatican.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent studies have been made of the economic prospects of the South-East Atlantic dependencies of St. St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, either jointly or separately; and what recommendations have been made.

No specific economic studies have been undertaken recently. However, an official Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Overseas Development Administration team visited St. Helena in August 1979 to monitor the present aid programme and to discuss future development plans. The team concluded that, although prospects were limited, development aid should continue at roughly the present level. Ascension Island has no native population and was not included in the study. Tristan da Cunha maintains a fair standard of living from its fishing industry.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what specific help is being given to St. Helena currently either by Her Majesty's Government or by other agencies to develop and expand its fishery exports.

British aid funds, so far totalling about £300,000, have been made available to provide a research vessel, a tunny boat, two cold stores and a blast freezer; and for a long-term consultancy on the development and export potential of the fishing industry.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the reasons for the current proposals for reducing the number of calls at St. Helena to and from the United Kingdom by the RMS "St. Helena"; and what calculations have been made of the effect of any reductions in the currency and way of life of St. Helena.