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Written Answers

Volume 390: debated on Thursday 27 April 1978

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Written Answers

Russian Embassy Site Negotiations

Whether in view of the fact that the proposed sites in Kensington are Crown property they will suspend negotiations about a new Russian Embassy until such time as the Soviet authorities cease to persecute both the Helsinki Agreement monitoring committees and religious minorities in Russia.

As I told the noble Lord on 17th April, the Government have ensured that the Soviet aithorities are fully aware of concern in Britain about human rights. But I do not think it would help to link this question with the negotiations about the Soviet Embassy in London.

V10 Licence Form: Welsh Version

:Why an application for a vehicle licence form V10 is not published in the Welsh language.

It is. The Welsh version VIO(W) is normally available in Wales from main post offices and local vehicle licensing offices.

Forms Di, Diw And Fisi: Welsh Versions

:What percentage of: (1) applications for a driving licence form DI and DIW; and (2) family income supplement from FISI were

(a) issued, and (b) completed and returned in the Welsh (as opposed to the English language) in the years 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975.

Forms DI and DI(W) are equally available in Wales: the automatically-issued renewal reminder form DII(W) is in both languages and goes to all Welsh addresses; we estimate that in 1975 about I per cent. (90,000) of driving licence applications were made in Welsh. FISI were first issued in 1971 when the family income supplement scheme started; in 1975, 1,000 were printed in Welsh and made available for issue on request in DHSS local offices in Wales. I regret that the other information requested is not available.

Broadcasting: Total Expenditure

:What was the estimated total expenditure on radio and television broadcasting in the United Kingdom in 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The total expenditure on radio and television broadcasting in the United Kingdom in 1975, 1976 and 1977 was approximately £300 million, £370 million and £430 million respectively.

Broadcasting: Import Costs And Export Receipts

:What were the estimated costs of importing radio and television programmes, and the estimated receipts from exporting them, in 1975, 1976 and 1977.

The Department of Trade's annual inquiry into overseas transactions by film and television companies last published in Trade and Industry for 26th August 1977 shows that the estimated costs of importing radio and television programmes and the estimated receipts from exporting them for the latest three years for which figures are available were as follows:

£ million
197419751976
Expenditure9.110.817.6
Receipts10.412.618.4

Eire: Green Pound And Cheddar Cheese

:Whether they will publish a table showing—

  • (i) the steps by which the Irish Government have devalued their green pound;
  • (ii) the dates on which this has occurred; and
  • (iii) the effect that these devaluations have had on the price of Cheddar cheese exported from Ireland to the United Kingdom.
  • The dates on which the Irish Government have devalued their green pound, and the extent of these devaluations, are shown below.

    Devaluation
    7th October 197410 per cent.
    3rd March 19754.5 per cent.
    4th August 19755 per cent.
    27th October 19752.2 per cent.
    15th March 19761.9 per cent.
    11th October7.6 per cent.
    17th January 19778 per cent.
    1st April 19776.3 per cent.
    It is not possible to specify what effects, if any, these devaluations have had on the price of cheddar cheese exported from Ireland to the United Kingdom, but changes in Irish representative rates are intended to be offset by adjustments to the monetary compensatory amounts applicable to Anglo-Irish trade.House adjourned at nine minutes past seven o'clock.