asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will contribute to the "appeal for Polish workers" issued by British academics on behalf of imprisoned Poles and their families.

Her Majesty's Government are aware of a number of appeals launched in the West for funds to help those imprisoned in Poland. As the noble Lord will know, the Government have already made a financial contribution to the efforts of the United Kingdom voluntary agencies in providing humanitarian aid to Poland, and are playing a full part in the Community's efforts in this field.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the fact that decisions at the Geneva Committee appointed by the United Nations Special Assembly on Disarmament, 1978, to report to the renewed Assembly in June are by consensus, the position is that if no agreement is unhappily reached on these two plans for comprehensive disarmament both will be presented for decision.

The Government hope that the Committee on Disarmament will succeed in reaching agreement on a draft Comprehensive Programme of Disarmament for adoption by the Second United Nations Special Session on Disarmament. Failing agreement in the Committee on Disarmament, we expect discussion to continue in the Preparatory Committee and at the Special Session where it is also the intention that decisions he reached by consensus.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the declaration by all the eight Welsh county authorities that their areas are nuclear free zones, they will give an assurance that no nuclear weapon involvement in Wales will be contemplated without direct consultation with these authorities.

No. Responsibility for the security of the nation rests with central, not local, government, and we shall continue to take any steps which we consider necessary to maintain this, including all those activities related to the deployment of nuclear-capable forces within the United Kingdom as part of NATO's deterrent strategy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many Saturdays and Sundays between 1st May and 30th November 1981 full maintenance work was carried out on the M.1 near Robertsthorpe, Northants, during which time on that section of the motorway it is reported that there were 300 accidents involving 800 vehicles.

Motorway maintenance work was carried out on this length of M.1 on 24 Saturdays and 20 Sundays during the period 1st May 1981 to 30th November 1981. While accidents are always to be regretted, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport is constantly seeking to introduce improvements to traffic control measures to increase safety. The single greatest improvement would come if drivers kept a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many women with children under school age, who are unemployed (

I regret that this information is not available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the technical and legal difficulties that prevent the BBC World Service being broadcast throughout the United Kingdom, and why these technical and legal difficulties do not prevent the World Service being received on short, medium and long wave in various parts of the United Kingdom at various times of the day and night.

Under the BBC's Royal Charter and Licence Agreement the External Services are established for broadcasting overseas and are financed differently from the Home Services. World Service transmitters are therefore designed to secure optimum reception overseas. By the nature of radio telegraphy reception in parts of the United Kingdom is inevitable but this is fortuitous.House adjourned at twenty-eight minutes before eleven o'clock.