asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the advertisements now making their appearance on the outside of the doors of London taxi-cabs require or have been given the approval of the licensing authority, and whether they will give urgent consideration to this new development.

Exterior advertisements require, and have been given, the approval of the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, who is the licensing authority.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether hunting live animals with hounds is permitted by the Crown Estates Commissioners on land in their possession, and on land owned by other Government departments; and, if so, whether early steps will be taken to bring it to an end.

This is a matter for the Crown Estate Commissioners or, as appropriate, particular Government departments. I understand that all Crown Estate farmland is let, that under the terms of the leases, hunting rights are reserved to the Crown and that the Commissioners do not permit hunting with hounds on these lands. Comprehensive information in regard to land held by Government departments is not available centrally. The Government have no plans to ban field sports.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, following the Home Secretary's decision that the use of X-ray examinations to assess the age of immigrants should cease, they will withdraw explanatory statements by entry certificate officers referring to any such examinations already conducted, and if they will refer to the tribunal any cases already decided by adjudicators where such examinations were used in evidence.

No. As a result of our recent decision, entry clearance officers and Home Office presenting officers have been instructed not to adduce evidence of age based on bone X-rays. Since the advice previously given to them was to adduce such evidence only when there was other evidence of age based on a clinical examination of the physical characteristics of the individual, we see no need for further steps of the kind proposed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Which sections of the Prison Standing Orders are currently in the process of being revised, and when it is expected that each of them will be published.

Standing Order 5 has already been revised and published; all the remaining orders are being revised and will be published as the revision is completed. The complexity of the task of revision is, however, such that its completion will take some considerable time.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What regulating bodies are currently in existence and responsible for the following categories of substances, including medical products: chemicals in food; consumer products (including cosmetics) and environment chemicals; pesticides; industrial chemicals (including toxic substances); and whether up-to-date information regarding the composition of such bodies, their terms of reference and their addresses will be made available in the Library.

Powers to control these substances are vested in Ministers, who may receive advice from committees of independent experts. The terms of reference and membership of advisory committees are usually included in their published reports, and I have asked the departments concerned to ensure that they are available in the Library. I hope to write to the noble Lord with further information in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What help they gave Mr. Alan Patient the producer of the "Forty Minutes" programme "Mutiny" on BBC2 on Thursday, 25th February and author of "Mutiny at Salerno" in the

Following newspaper and radio items in Scotland in 1979 and 1980, the producer of the "Forty Minutes" programme approached the Ministry of Defence during his research for a proposed programme about the mutiny at Salerno in 1943. The Ministry of Defence offered considerable assistance to the producer and arranged for participation in filming at Salerno and Sandhurst. This film, in the event, was subsequently not used by the producer. Other help was offered which was not accepted.In view of the allegations made in these programmes and the public interest, the Ministry of Defence has researched the records still existing. The facts which are available at this time are as follows. In the course of the battle for Italy, the Allies gained a precarious foothold on the Salerno beachhead in the face of strong enemy resistance. The campaign was at a very critical stage, and reinforcements were desperately needed. One thousand five hundred British soldiers were brought from North Africa to join those already fighting and were landed in Italy on 16th September 1943. No evidence can be found to confirm that they were misled in any way as to their destination. This, for security reasons, should not have been declared before embarkation, although there may have been false rumours or an expectation held by some about a return to their own units or divisions. Over 1,200 of these soldiers went quickly into action with the 46th and 56th Divisions: initially, about 300 refused to go. Although the circumstances were explained by senior officers and they were given every opportunity to consider their refusal and its consequences, about 191 remained adamant. They were tried by a Field General Court Martial, when the facts were not disputed, and they were subsequently found guilty of mutiny. The findings against two of the soldiers were not confirmed, but the others were sentenced to various lengths of imprisonment, which were, in all cases, suspended after a short time. Subsequently in some cases, for later misconduct, these sentences were reactivated. The disciplinary proceedings were reviewed by the Solicitor-General in 1947, who found that they had been properly conducted, that the requirements of justice had been fulfilled, and that the proceedings were legally in order. This review was well after the rush of war was over, and I do not believe that there are any grounds for reopening the case now.No evidence was brought forward when the disciplinary proceedings were taken or reviewed that any of those convicted were unfit to fight. A check of available records confirms that the reinforcements came from a transit camp containing men who were awaiting and ready for active service: those who had been wounded earlier had already completed a period of convalescence. As fresh and rested infantrymen, they would have been used to the maximum extent to relieve battle-worn troops, but the Ministry of Defence has no grounds for supposing that "extra" frontline duties were imposed on those who had had their sentences suspended. Their pay and allowance records have long since been destroyed, but a conviction for mutiny at that time should not of itself have attracted any special financial penalties on their families, although under the regulations, separate acts of absence or desertion could have brought about a loss of allowances.Those found guilty of mutiny would have forfeited their entitlement to any war and campaign medals which they might have earned up to the time of their conviction. A gallantry award was later withdrawn from one individual, not solely because of his action at Salerno but also because of subsequent misconduct. There are clear and strict rules governing the circumstances when forfeited medals may be restored: normally, at least three years' further exemplary or meritorious service is required.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they expect to interview priority applicants for special quota vouchers in India who originally applied between October and December 1976.

These applicants were invited in February this year for interview in May.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will ask for the question of aid to Somalia to be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of EEC heads of state, with a view to increasing the priority given by Europe to the alleviation of suffering and hardship in Somalia.

There is no formal agenda for these meetings. Somalia already receives substantial European Community aid, and her needs are kept under review in the appropriate Community bodies. Under the Second Lomé Convention, Somalia has an allocation for development projects of about £45 million and is also entitled to receive regional and emergency aid. In addition, Somalia is a major recipient of European Community food aid.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What contribution they will make towards the refugee programme in Somalia in the year 1982–83, and what will be the amount of the bilateral aid programme for Somalia in that year.

No decision has yet been taken about any United Kingdom contribution towards the international or British voluntary agencies refugee relief effort in Somalia in 1982–83. The cost of our bilateral aid programme in 1981–82 is expected to be about £1·5 million; that for 1982–83 will be of the same order.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What additional life insurance provision will be made for the two official observers being sent to El Salvador for the elections there.

The observers will be covered by the provisions of the Principal Civil Service Pensions Scheme like any other person employed on Government service. They are content with this arrangement.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the danger of hostilities between Libya and the USA arising from the dispute regarding Libya's territorial waters, they will initiate a proposal in the United Nations Security Council that an appropriate international body of impartial composition should adjudicate on the issue.

No. Difficulties between Libya and the USA are primarily for those two Governments. It would be for them to initiate action within the Security Council if they thought it appropriate.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support in the United Nations Security Council the recommendation by the United Nations Human Rights Commission that the Secretary General should initiate an investigation into the human rights situation in Poland.

The United Nations Human Rights Commission adopted on 10th March, with British support, a resolution inter alia requesting the Secretary-General to undertake a study of the human rights situation in Poland and to present a report to the Human Rights Commission next year. No action is required by the Security Council.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What decision was reached at the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Commission at Geneva on 9th March on a resolution calling for the postponement of the election in El Salvador; how the British representative voted; and how the representatives of each of the NATO countries voted.

The resolution tabled following the presentation of the report of the special representative on human rights in El Salvador was adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva on 11th March by 25 votes to five with 13 abstentions. The United Kingdom delegate abstained on the grounds that we were not prepared to prejudge the report of the United Kingdom observers being sent to monitor the elections in El Salvador, but made it clear that we supported the proposal to extend the mandate of the special representative for a further year.Of the NATO countries, the United States voted against; the Federal Republic of Germany and Canada abstained; and Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece and France supported the resolution. Belgium, Norway, Turkey, Portugal and Iceland have observer status only on the commission and cannot vote.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that the European Parliament's recent decision to designate 21st March as Afghanistan Day was welcomed by President Reagan in his recent State of the Union message and whether they have themselves made plans to commemorate this occasion.

Her Majesty's Government welcome the European Parliament's decision to designate 21st March as Afghanistan Day and the support that has been given to it by President Reagan. It is right that on the first day of the Afghan New Year we should remember the continued suffering of the Afghan people under Soviet occupation. We should also remember the millions of refugees who have fled to neighbouring countries. The recent grant of food aid worth £750,000 will bring the total of British aid to the refugees to £8.7 million since the Soviet invasion. On the occasion of this first Afghanistan Day, the Government have arranged for four representatives of Afghan organisations to come to Britain.The Prime Minister is to receive a delegation from the Afghan Support Committee to whom she has sent a special message. The Government renew their call for the withdrawal of Soviet troops and for the negotiation of a political settlement in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have studied the Housing Brief jointly published in November 1981 by the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Institute of Housing (and reinforced by the

My honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Construction recently met representatives of the two institutes to discuss the Brief. My honourable friend took the opportunity to explain the further measures which the Government have taken in this year's Budget to assist the housing programme in 1982–83, a year in which the gross capital provision for housing in England will be 3 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1981–82. For local authorities alone in England, the additional £83 million announced in the Budget means that provision is now 6 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1981–82. When taking account of likely outturn for 1981–82, local authorities will need to raise their capital expenditure on housing by one-third in order to utilise 1982–83 provision fully.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they now have the assurance of the Dutch Government that they will cease subsidising gas prices for glasshouse horticultural production, by the date proposed by the Commission.

While the Dutch Government have not given the assurance which has been sought by the European Commission in their formal decision of 15th December 1981, they have confirmed their readiness to seek a solution which is acceptable to all. The Agricultural Commissioner reported to the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 17th March that the Commission would be considering further action at their meeting this week.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will now arrange suitable programmes in colleges and other teacher training institutions to prepare teachers to deal adequately with the growing number of pupils with special educational needs expected to enter county schools as a result of the Education Act 1981.

The content of initial professional training courses for teachers is a matter for institutions and their validating bodies. A number of initial courses now include some treatment of special educational needs and some have optional elements dealing with the education of pupils with particular disabilities and the department and Her Majesty's Inspectorate will continue to encourage such provision. In addition, a range of in-service teacher education courses is available, including long full-time and part-time courses in teacher training institutions, dealing with special educational needs of various kinds.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What guidance has been given to local education authorities towards meeting the exceptionally acute special educational needs of children who suffer serious mental handicap combined with multiple handicaps.

Guidance concerned specifically with this group of children has been given in two circulars: Staffing of Special Schools and Classes (DES 4/73, Welsh Office 47/73) and the Education of Mentally Handicapped Children and Young People in Hospital (DES 5/74, DHSS HSC (IS) 37, Welsh Office 150/74). In addition, the DES has published guidance on the design of schools—Designing for the Severely Handicapped (Design Note No. 10, 1972)—and two booklets about the education of mentally handicapped children—Educating Mentally Handicapped Children (Education Pamphlet No. 60, 1975) and the Education of Children in Hospitals for the Mentally Handicapped (HMI Series: Matters for Discussion 7, 1978). Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the number of British postgraduate students is decreasing because of the smaller number of awards made available by the Engineering and Science Council and other bodies and whether they will encourage industry to sponsor such students by giving tax allowances on money spent in this way.

The total number of home postgraduate students in universities in Great Britain has remained approximately level over the last few years, while the number of such students in institutions such as polytechnics in England and Wales has increased over the same period. Thus the slight fall, since 1980, in the number of students in receipt of an award from the Science and Engineering Research Council is having little effect on the total numbers. Furthermore, within the Science and Engineering Research Council's figures there has been an increase in the number of studentships with direct industrial involvement. We have no plans to introduce relief for industry beyond that already available, and the trends I have mentioned do not suggest any need for that.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will reconsider the adoption of Trident II and take some action calculated to halt the arms race.

The Government are determined to maintain the British independent deterrent in the most cost-effective form. Our Trident missiles will still only represent 3 to 4 per cent. of the Soviet strategic nuclear arsenal. The United Kingdom, the United States and all other NATO countries are taking every opportunity to make progress in arms control talks towards a balance of armaments at a lower level. We think that there are sound reasons to believe that multilateral and verifiable diarmament steps are now possible.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the fact that the Trident programme will cost only 4p per person per day, they will raise the charge per person by 1p and build five submarines instead of four.

As was indicated in the Statement I. made to the House on 11th March (Official Report, cols. 320–322), given the increase in operational availability which the Trident submarines will have because of the new reactor and propulsion system, the adoption of a five-boat force would not be a sensible use of scarce resources. We believe that a four-boat force will be sufficient to meet our deterrent needs.House adjourned at six minutes before nine o'clock.