asked Her Majesty's Government:What limits are currently placed on the amount of land, particularly agricultural land, that can be bought in the United Kingdom by those not resident here; what special rules apply to individuals and companies from other member States of the EEC; whether British citizens and companies can compete on an equal basis with individuals and companies based in fellow member States of the EEC for the acquisition of land in those countries; and what are the differences, in each member State, between conditions applied to individuals and companies domiciled there, and the conditions applied to British subjects.

There are no limits on the amount of agricultural land that can be bought in the United Kingdom by those not resident here, nor are there special rules applying to individuals and companies from other member States of the EEC. It would be incompatible with the freedom of establishment provisions of the Treaty of Rome for a member State to apply restrictions to the purchase of agricultural land by other EEC nationals or companies which did not apply equally to its own. The noble Lord will be aware, however, that this subject is currently under consideration by the Committee of Inquiry into the Acquisition and Occupancy of Agricultural Land under the chairmanship of the noble Lord, Lord Northfield, and I would ask him to await the Committee's report.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why it has been necessary yet again to restrict traffic on the Severn Bridge to a single lane in each direction; when it is expected that the work will be completed; whether it is correct as reported in the Press that the bridge may have to be closed altogether for a period, and if so for how long; for how long in aggregate traffic on the bridge has been restricted in one or both directions since it was opened, and whether there is some fundamental defect in the design of the bridge which has necessitated these repeated repairs.

Traffic has been restricted to one lane in each direction to enable maintenance work to be carried out on the bridge expansion joints; the work is programmed for completion by Christmas this year; it is not expected that the bridge will be closed altogether; lane restrictions were first introduced over the whole of the Severn crossing in June 1971 at the same time as they were introduced on all other steel box girder bridges in the country. In June 1972, all four lanes of the Severn crossing were opened to traffic, with restrictions on weight and spacing. Lane closures were again introduced during the period January 1977 to May 1978 for the replacement of the rocker bearings. Therefore, up to October this year, one lane in each direction had been closed for a total period of 29 months. There have been other closures for short periods for routine inspection and repair to road surfacing. There is no fundamental defect in the design.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make a Statement about progress in updating EEC Directive 77/489.

It is not so much a question of updating EEC Directive 77/489, which is concerned with the protection of animals during international transport, as of implementing the broad principles which it lays down. The European Commission is preparing a draft directive designed to implement Directive 77/489 and hopes to submit its proposals to the Council before the end of the year,

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the provisions of Directive 64/433 are sufficient, and whether the system of inspection is adequate.

This Directive provides for an adequate system of hygiene and inspection of meat entering intra-Community trade. The requirement for veterinary supervision reflects the long-standing practice of the original member States. The proposed Meat Export (Hygiene and Meat Inspection) Regulations are intended to replace our existing administrative arrangements for implementing the Directive and so to safeguard the valuable meat export trade which has developed with other member States.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that there is grave anxiety, particularly among people living in the lower parts of London, at the possibility of the Thames overflowing its banks this winter; whether they will do what they can to allay such anxiety and state when they expect the Thames Barrage to be completed; and meanwhile, to state what measures are being taken to strengthen the existing walls and barriers.

The Government fully understand the concern of people in flood risk areas both in London and elsewhere along the tidal reaches of the Thames. Existing flood defences in Central London were improved as an interim measure in 1971–72 and have proved adequate even in the face of the exceptional surge tide of 11th/12th January this year. The longer term solution will be the completion of the Thames Barrier and associated tidal defences. Under the present programme the Barrier is due for completion in late 1983, but the Greater London Council, which is responsible for its construction, has under consideration a proposal to advance this date to mid-1982.House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past seven o'clock.