asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the instructions issued to medical inspectors concerning medical examinations under the Immigration Act 1971, contained in an appendix to the Yellowlees Report and originally issued in 1974, are still in force; and if not, whether they will place the amended version in the Library of the House of Lords.

As my replies of 15th June (Official Report, Vol. 421, col. 525) and 2nd July (Vol. 422, cols. 401–402) explained, these instructions remain in force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What discount facilities are recommended for use in the United Kingdom public sector, when comparing prices on equipment available from both domestic and foreign sources.

No system of price discrimination against foreign goods is recommended. Such an approach would be inconsistent with our international obligations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date they first received a copy of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' Report

Government departments received the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' Report Silent Death in March of last year. The recommendations in the report involve a number of Government departments and consultations have been taking place with them and the Nature Conservancy Council. However, the intense pressure of work on the Wildlife and Countryside Bill has delayed matters. The Government intend to respond as soon as possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What were the names of the members of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment at the date of the retirement of Sir George Leitch as chairman; who replaced Sir George Leitch and what is the new chairman's relevant experience; what other members of the committee have since relinquished their positions and under what circumstances; what are the names of the members who remain in office since before Sir George's departure; what new members have been appointed; and, in each case, what is their relevant experience.

The membership was:

• Sir George Leitch, KCB, OBE;
• R. Beckham, Esq., OBE;
• Professor M. E. Beesley;
• W. H. Deakin, Esq.;
• Professor J. Durbin;
• N. G. Ellis, Esq., OBE;
• Dr. S. Glaister;
• Professor P. Hall;
• M. H. Middleton, Esq., CBE;
• Dr. J. D. C. A. Prideaux;
• Professor T. E. H. Williams, CBE.

The terms of office of all the members expired in autumn 1980. Sir George Leitch told the Secretary of State that, after four years' service on the Standing Advisory Committee and its predecessor, he did not wish to be considered for a further appointment. The Secretary of State announced in December 1980 that the committee was to remain in being, and that Professor Williams had been appointed chairman. In addition to his four years' experience on the committee and its predecessor, Professor Williams is Professor of Civil Engineering at Southampton University and has wide experience of transport and civil engineering matters.The Secretary of State announced in June 1981 the changes in membership, reflecting his acceptance of the view of the previous members that, with three important reports published and major improvements already made in the assessment of new roads, the work of the committee was likely to be more specialised than in the past. Moreover, a number of previous members had indicated that, after in many cases four years' work on highly technical issues, they did not wish to serve a further term.In addition to Professor Williams, Mr. Deakin, County Planning Officer for Kent, has been re-appointed for a further term. Those appointed for a first term are:—

W. P. Bradshaw, Esq.	Director of Strategic Development, British Railways Board (Railway operations, management, and economic appraisal).
J. D. Lockhart, Esq.	Managing Director, Transport Development Group Ltd. (Road Freight Industry).
T. J. Powell, Esq.	Director, Cooper Lybrand Associates Ltd. (Transport Economist).
H. J. Wooton, Esq.	Partner, Wootton Jefferys and Partners (Civil Engineer and Traffic Engineer).

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any further plans have been made for reducing the traffic congestion on Wardley Hill, some three miles to the west of Uppingham on the A.47 road, and if so when they will be implemented.

The Wardley Hill improvement scheme is listed in the Government's White Paper Policy for Roads: England 1980—Cmnd. 7908—as a scheme on which preparation work will be temporarily suspended at a suitable point and resume when there is a prospect of fitting it in.My right honourable friend the Secretary of State of Transport expects to announce at the end of this month the line of a new road to replace the existing length of the A.47 trunk road at Wardley Hill. The local planning authority will be asked to protect the line.Further preparation work on the scheme will be temporarily suspended at this point.I will arrange for my noble friend to receive a copy of the announcement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will advise the Governor of Hong Kong to refuse transit facilities to the South African rugby team en route for New Zealand, in view of the opposition of the latter's Government to the tour and of the refusal of the Australian Government of transit facilities through its territory.

The answer to the noble Lord's question is "no". South Africans do not need visas to transit Hong Kong and Her Majesty's Government would not advise the Government of Hong Kong to refuse transit facilities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:By what average percentage armed forces' pay has increased since May 1979 and how this compares with the rate of inflation over the same period.

Since May 1979 the average pay of the armed forces has increased by 37 per cent. This figure includes the increase of 8·3 per cent. originally due to be paid on 1st April 1980 as the second stage of the 1979 pay award, but which this Government met immediately upon taking office and backdated to 1st April 1979. We estimate that over the same period the index of retail prices has risen by about 36 per cent.House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before midnight.