asked Her Majesty's Government:What has been the result of the police inquiry into the case of Erroll Madden (promised in answer to a Question in this House) who in October 1980 was arrested in South London for stealing two model cars, signed a confession under alleged pressure during the night hours, and was then found to possess a receipt for the purchase of the articles, and subsequently discharged.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the report of the investigation into this case has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions who concluded that the evidence available was insufficient to justify criminal proceedings against any police officer. The disciplinary aspect has not yet been completed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support the request by the French Government to the OECD to investigate the plan for transferring unemployed plant and workers to "socially useful alternative production" proposed by the shop steward committee of British Lucas Aerospace.

The French Government have suggested that the OECD should examine various new ways of creating jobs. It is not clear whether the project referred to by the noble Lord would be among those considered. We have expressed interest in the French Government's suggestion. However, the proposals have not yet been put forward in sufficient detail for member states to be able to come to decisions on whether or not they might be supported.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will state the £111,696 million expenditure on defence since 1946–47 at current prices.

Detailed records of the movement in defence prices during a financial year do not exist prior to 1964, when the unified Ministry of Defence was created. Without this information it is not possible to reprice actual expenditure for years prior to 1964–65 to today's prices. Although other prices' indices such as the Retail Price Index do exist for the period, the particular nature of defence procurement means that it would not be appropriate to apply these to defence expenditure. In view of this, constant price expenditure figures can only be calculated for the years 1964–65 to 1981–82; these are shown in the table below at autumn 1980 prices.Some information on the year to year price movements for Estimates is available prior to 1964 and using this it has been possible to reprice Defence Estimates; that is, planned rather than actual expenditure between 1946–47 and 1963–64 to today's prices; these are also given in the table below at autumn 1980 prices. Because of changes in the content of the defence programme, the figures in the earlier years can only be regarded as an approximate indication of what the programme planned in those years would have cost at autumn 1980 prices.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether cruise or other missiles installed by the USA in NATO countries in accordance with NATO decision of December 1979 may be used by the USA only for the purposes agreed in and by NATO or whether such missiles (as for instance those to be installed in Sicily) might be used by the USA in a warlike exchange with Libya.

The cruise and Pershing II missiles to be deployed in Europe are designed to modernise NATO's long-range theatre nuclear forces in the face of the growing Soviet threat. They will be assigned to NATO and their use, should it ever prove necessary, would be in accordance with Alliance plans and consultation procedures.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether there has been any change in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the North Atlantic Assembly.

The noble Lord, Lord Mayhew, has replaced Mr. Stephen Ross, MP, as a member of the United Kingdom delegation.House adjourned at twenty-seven minutes before eight o'clock.