asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the recommendations of the United Nations working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances, E/CN.4/1435 of 26th January 1981, and whether they will take an initiative in the Economic and Social Council so as to make provisions for the Commission on Human Rights to carry out an intensive examination of the information received.

We expressed our support for the working group's recommendations at the recent session of the Human Rights Commission and helped to secure the adoption of a resolution extending the group's mandate, as the most effective way of continuing this important humanitarian work. We shall work for the endorsement of this decision by the Economic and Social Council.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What changes are contemplated in the status of the directorates of scientific services within each of the regional water authorities.

It is for water authorities to decide on their own management structure. I understand that in the interests of economy a number of authorities are implementing or are contemplating changes some of which involve the movement of scientific services staff into different directorates.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What results the United Nations Environment Programme has achieved in securing the agreement of West African states on a conservation project for their coastal region; what African states are participating; what plans have been made for similar projects in the Mediterranean, the Gulf, the Caribbean and Red Sea regions; and what part the United Kingdom is taking in these projects.

The action plan for West Africa has been set up by the states of the region under the auspices of the Regional Seas Programme. The Regional Seas Programme is supported by the United Kingdom but, since the action plans set up under its auspices are essentially regional, the United Kingdom is directly involved only when it has territorial responsibilities in the region concerned, as for example in the Caribbean. The United Kingdom was therefore not represented at the meeting which adopted the action plan for West Africa and has no details of what was agreed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:To set out their proposals for the restoration of the stonework of the Palace of Westminster.

The cleaning and restoration of the exterior of the Palace of Westminster were the subject of Select Committee reports in another place in 1978 and 1980. Following a fall of stone in New Palace Yard on 2nd March this year, thorough inspections of other areas of stonework, including the Clock Tower and the Victoria Tower, have been started. As was the case after the fall in Speaker's Green in 1979, further potentially dangerous stonework has been found after every new inspection. Since 2nd March numerous decorative pieces of stone have been taken down; some of these could have been dislodged by a slight movement. The pavement beneath the Victoria Tower has also been closed as a precaution while a canopy is erected to give protection from any stone that might fall from the upper half of the Tower before it can be properly inspected in a few weeks time. The inspections so far completed have increased my right honourable friend's concern about the condition of the stonework and, although any identifiably dangerous stones have been removed, he has decided that a start should be made as soon as possible on a major programme of repair, restoration and conservation. This is the only way in which danger and further deterioration can be avoided.To reveal the true condition of the stonework it is essential to remove the corrosive deposits. This will also prevent further chemical attack on the face of the stone. The first phase of the conservation programme, costing about a quarter of a million pounds, will start in the recess this summer; the rate of progress thereafter will depend on the extent to which work can proceed while Parliament is sitting and on the level of funds that can be allocated to this programme in successive years. It is my right honourable friend's aim to complete the work in as short a time as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What procedures are followed when a nuclear weapon (or warhead) reaches the end of its useful life.

At the end of its useful life, a nuclear weapon is dismantled and reusable materials (which include all special nuclear materials) are recovered and reprocessed. Non-reusable components, including conventional high explosives, are disposed of in accordance with strict safety and security regulations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they intend to publish the Report of the Wilson Committee on Modern Public Records.

The report is published today. The warmest thanks are due to Sir Duncan Wilson and the other members of the committee for a valuable and comprehensive report which I am sure will make a major contribution to the policy in this field. The committee have concluded that the system proposed in the Grigg Report of 1954, and which formed the basis of the Public Records Act 1958, amended in 1967 is still basically sound. Nevertheless, in the light of changing requirements and developing technology, the committee have made 61 recommendations for improving the present system and ensuring that work on public records receives the attention and resources it demands. No major statutory changes are proposed.The Government will naturally give the closest consideration to these recommendations, particularly in the light of other and necessarily competing, demands on manpower and resources. I would welcome comments, preferably within the next three months, which those interested in the public records would care to send. Such comments will be taken carefully into account when the Government forumulate decisions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have reached a decision on the proposals to increase the limit of county court jurisdiction contained in the consultative paper issued by the Lord Chancellor in July 1980.

I have now considered the response to the consultative paper. It is my intention, subject to Parliamentary approval, to increase the upper limit of county court jurisdiction from £2,000 to £5,000. The registrar's trial jurisdiction will be increased from £200 to £500 and the limit in equity proceedings from £15,000 to £30,000.I also propose other changes. At present if a plaintiff in the High Court recovers less than £350 he cannot recover any costs at all from the other side, and if he recovers between £350 and £1,200, he recovers only the costs which would have been recoverable in county court proceedings. I propose to increase these figures to £600 and £3,000 respectively. I propose that the increase should come into operation in the late summer, but I shall not seek to bring this about until progress has been made on changes in the county court costs rules which I hope can be made at the same time.House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before nine o'clock.