asked Her Majesty's Government:On what dates applications for special quota vouchers had been made by those applicants in India who received them in September 1981 and by those notified that they will receive them in December 1981 and January 1982.

Applicants in India who received special vouchers in September 1981 had applied for them in early January 1976. No applicants have been called for interview in December 1981 because the full quota for the year was called in time to allow procedures to be completed before the year's end. Non-priority applicants called for interview in January 1982 applied in late January 1976 and priority applicants between January and March 1976.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of delays in concluding the UNCLOS III Convention, they still consider (as their predecessor did when adopting 200 nautical mile fishery limits) that the texts as agreed so far can be considered customary law.

Various provisions of the draft convention reflect customary law but the draft as such does not establish it. State practice, as in the matter of 200 mile fishery zones, is also important.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, having regard to the continuing executions of political opponents and the persecution of the people of the Baha'i faith, they will withdraw recognition of the Ayatollah's regime in Iran.

Her Majesty's Government's policy on recognition was made clear in my Written Answer of 28th April 1980. Her Majesty's Government neither recognise, nor withdraw recognition of, régimes.We naturally hope that events in Iran will settle down without outside interference. Her Majesty's Government have been following the plight of the Bahai' community in Iran with increasing concern. We deplore the fact that the authorities in Iran have made no provision in their new constitution recognising the rights of this community, and condemn the persecution of the Baha'i community which this discrimination encourages. We are taking action at the United Nations to emphasise our deep concern.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, as they now recognise the military dictatorship in Chile, they will ask their representative what information they have about the British subject William Beausire.

We have made regular representations to the Chilean Government about this case, most recently on 2nd June and on 5th October, but have been unable to obtain from them any information on what has happened to Mr. Beausire. Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the present Chilean Government have never been interrupted. The question of recognition does not arise.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many statutory instruments are now in force, how many pages do they fill as printed by The Queen's printer, and what were the corresponding figures in 1961 and 1971.

There were 12,897 general statutory instruments in force on 31st August 1981. At the end of 1961, there were 8,627 and, at the end of 1971, 9,904. The number of pages filled by subsisting instruments on those three dates cannot be calculated except at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many public general Acts are now in force wholly or in part or eligible to become so, and what were the corresponding figures in 1961 and 1971.

On 31st August 1981, there were 3,109 public general Acts in force wholly or in part or eligible to become so. This information is not readily available in relation to 1961 but the equivalent figures for 1964 and 1971 are 3,680 and 3,525 respectively.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many pages containing public general Acts of Parliament were added to the statute book in each of the years from 1971 to 1980.

The gross totals of the pages containing public general Acts added to the statute book in the years from 1971 to 1980 were:—

asked Her Majesty's Government:What decisions they have taken on the recommendations of the Review Body on the Chancery Division of the High Court.

The Review Body made important recommendations for improvement in the structure and organisation of the Chancery Division. I have now been able to consider representations made and have been much encouraged by the favourable reception given to the report. I am, therefore, making arrangements to put into effect almost all of these though with minor variations by 1st January 1983.A few of the recommendations require further consultation and consideration before I shall be able to reach a final decision. In particular, it will be right to wait for the report of the Cork Committee on Insolvency before making any changes which would affect companies' and bankruptcy business. In addition it is useful to view within the context of the High Court as a whole those recommendations affecting the long vacation, the concept of court control and the hearing of ex parte applications for interlocutory relief.The effects of the acceptance of these recommendations should be to reduce the waiting time for the hearing of long witness cases, and to enable the Vice-Chancellor to use the time of judges to better purpose by the abolition of groups and the withdrawal of a standby judge for motions. Further help will also be afforded by the decision to extend Chancery jurisdiction to Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff.The procedure for processing and drafting orders will be swifter and more economical. This will be brought about by the introduction of a court file for each case, abolition of the concept of bespeaking all orders and abolition of consultation on the form of orders, save in the most complex cases.The statutory posts of registrar and assistant registrar will be abolished. The necessary order will be laid before 31st December 1982. It will be for the Supreme Court Rule Committee to make the necessary rules as to the procedure for drafting orders which will operate from 1st January 1983. The registrars will have an important role to play in the complicated arrangements which must be made during the period leading up to 1st January 1983. In particular, their advice and assistance in drafting common forms of order will be invaluable.The time spent in waiting for the order of the court to be produced is the most common cause of complaint against the organisation of the Chancery Division and I know that practitioners wish to see that delay eliminated. More generally, the Chancery Division as a whole will be more suitably organised to deal with the needs of litigants and the profession while continuing to provide the judges with the necessary support. The procedural improvements which are recommended and which will be considered by the Supreme Court Rule Committee in the New Year, will be of enormous help in this respect.My immediate task is to ensure that those staff who are in the Chancery Division and will remain there are made aware of what is expected of them and are properly trained to carry it out. I will seek to ensure that the service of appropriately expert quality continues to be available to the judges of the Division and that sufficient legally qualified staff are available to deal with the more complex work that needs to be done.House adjourned at twelve minutes before eleven o'clock.