asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will indicate (at the latest available date):

The information requested, at the 3rd November 1981, is as follows:

asked Her Majesty's Government:What has happened to the "major revision of cell cards" which, according to the Lord Belstead, was "at an advanced stage of preparation" on 29th January, and what are the reasons for the delay in finalising this revision.

Work on the revision of information cards referred to in my letter of 29th January has continued and, as I said in my letter of 4th November, it is hoped that the new cards will be available in the spring of next year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in view of the continued doubt about the validity of identification parades, they will reconsider the rejection of Lord Devlin's recommendations for changes in practice by police and courts or, alternatively, appoint a commission to survey present practices and make recommendations.

Changes in the practice regarding the holding of identification parades by the police and the assessment of identification evidence by the courts were set out in Home Office Circular 109/1978 to chief officers of police and in guidelines laid down in 1976 by the Court of Appeal in R v Turnbull. These changes are to a large extent based on the Devlin Committee's recommendations. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has received no evidence that current procedures are unsatisfactory and he has no plans at present for any further review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their response to each of the 12 proposals to mend race relations made by David Lane, the chairman of the Commission for Race Equality, in the

The Government have repeatedly confirmed their commitment to a multiracial society in which there is full equality of opportunity and responsibility irrespective of colour, race or religion.The article by the chairman of the commission discusses issues of major importance to race relations. The Government will be setting out its views on a number of these issues in its responses to the reports of the Select Committee on Home Affairs on racial disadvantage and the law on public order and the committee's forthcoming report on the operation and effectiveness of the Commission for Racial Equality, and to the report of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Scarman, on the disturbances in Brixton. In addition, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has published today the report of the study of racial attacks indicating his views on how it should be followed up.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Home Secretary is now able to publish the findings of his study of racial attacks.

This study has now been completed by officials and a copy of their report has been placed in the Library of the House. The Home Secretary considers that the report is a significant document and is grateful to all those bodies and individuals who contributed to the work of the study team. He has indicated in a foreword to the report the lines of action which he intends to pursue.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware of reports of rape and torture of Namibians by the military police of the South African army published as a Fact Paper on Southern Africa by the International Defence and Aid Fund.

Her Majesty's Government are aware of the allegations to which the noble Lord, Lord Jenkins, refers, but are not able to assess their accuracy. We deplore all acts of violence against detainees, whoever commits them.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have made to the report of the International Labour Office which warns Governments of the permanent and irreparable damage to the teaching profession which will follow education cuts, and what is their comment on each of the series of options presented in the report to absorb surplus teachers in countries with falling birth-rates, including Britain.

This report was prepared by the International Labour Organisation as a discussion document for a joint meeting on the conditions of work of teachers which was held in Geneva between 27th October and 4th November this year. Her Majesty's Government were represented at this meeting. Its conclusions will be submitted in due course to the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation.Her Majesty's Government look to local education authorities in co-operation with their teachers to manage the contraction of the teacher force so as to minimise its impact on curricular opportunities, taking full advantages of natural wastage, early retirement and redeployment; they also recognise that the achievement of the planned reductions in teacher numbers may lead to some redundancies. The Government noted from the report that some other countries have adopted similar policies, in the light of falling pupil numbers and the need to restrain public expenditure.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What response they have made to the TUC proposals to safeguard the conditions of patients during an industrial dispute in the health services.

The Secretary of State for Social Services met TUC representatives on 8th October 1981, when the TUC's detailed and wide-ranging report containing these proposals was discussed. He expects to discuss it with them more fully after consultations with the NHS.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their attitude to the proposal of the US Government that trilateral talks should be held with the EEC and Japan at ministerial level on trade cooperation, particularly in high technology products.

Her Majesty's Government welcome the proposal for informal discussion of trade issues between the United States of America, Japan and the European Community.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Who authorised the income tax appeal in the Chancery court in the case of

This was an appeal to the High Court authorised by the Board of Inland Revenue against a decision by the General Commissioners in a case concerning the tax treatment of travelling expenses. Although only a small amount of tax was involved in the assessments before the Court, the point at issue was considered to have wide implications by both the Inland Revenue and the National Union of Teachers, who had selected this appeal as a test case. The Inland Revenue is now studying the decision, and it is not yet possible to estimate the charge on public expenditure from these proceedings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will state the total number of specimens that have been detained under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 in each year since 1976, the latest figures available for 1981, and the number of seizures of detained specimens in each year.

No records are kept centrally of detentions and I regret that this information cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. Details of seizures arising from the operation of these Acts are as follows:—

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will state how many applications for agricultural grant aid for land drainage schemes in West Sedgemoor are currently awaiting determination by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many applications have been granted during 1981, how many applications have been refused during 1981, and what is the total area of land involved in each case.

We are currently considering, in consultation with the Nature Conservancy Council, two applications under the capital grant schemes for grant on the cost of drainage a total of 19.4 hectares in West Sedgemoor. During 1981, we have so far grant-aided two applications to drain a total of 8.62 hectares, and rejected none. One of these cases was agreed with the Nature Conservancy Council, the other was decided after consultation with the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether recent EEC legislation prohibiting hormone drugs used for fattening cattle also prevents the sale of pills containing similar drugs for cats and dogs suffering urinary problems.

Article 3 of Council Directive 81/602/EEC of 31st July (OJ L222/32) states that member states shall prohibit the placing on the market of stilbenes, stilbene derivatives, their salts and esters, and thyrostatic substances for administering to animals of all species. Article 2 of the directive further provides for a prohibition on the administration of stilbenes to farm animals. Veterinary surgeons will wish to consult their professional associations as to the implications in practice.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made towards harmonisation of postal rates between member states of the European Communities in accordance with the recommendation of the Commission in 1979.

My Lords, no further progress has been made by any Community country on the question of applying inland postal rates to certain mail between member states since the reply given by my noble friend Lord Gowrie on 25th June 1981.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will press the Portuguese Government to publish the report of an inquiry ordered by President Eanes into events in Timor in 1974–75, in view of the allegation that Portugal, Britain, the United States, Australia and New Zealand concurred in the invasion of Timor by Indonesia; and whether they can give an assurance that Britain did not do so.

No. Publication of such material is a matter for the Portuguese Government. The United Kingdom did not concur in the occupation of East Timor by Indonesia in 1975.House adjourned at five minutes past nine o'clock.