asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they regret the disappearance of price competition between petrol stations in London and a large area to the west and south-west of London; and whether, if so, they contemplate action to restore such competition; andWhether they are able to identify any geographical areas where price competition between petrol stations still survives.

The evidence available to the Government does not suggest that any breakdown in price competition has occurred within the petrol retailing sector. As has been the case over the last two years, many representations have been received in recent months from retailers about the effect upon them of keen competition. Since the petrol market is essentially a series of local markets, competitive pressures, and thus prices, do inevitably vary somewhat from place to place; they also tend to vary seasonally. Recently variations in prices between areas have been reduced as a result of changes in the levels and forms of price support that oil companies grant petrol retailers. These are not factors over which the Government have any control. Despite recent increases, the net price of petrol in the United Kingdom remains virtually the lowest in the European Community. The Government are satisfied that overall there is effective competition.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have yet completed their consultations upon the recommendations as to a Crown prosecutor service contained in Part II of the report of the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure, with what bodies they have consulted, with what bodies, if any, they are still in the process of consulting, with what bodies, if any, they are still hoping to begin consultations, when, if not already completed, they anticipate that such consultations will be completed and how many, if any, bodies so far consulted have indicated any opposition in principle to the recommendations.

The following organisations have expressed views to the Home Office on the proposal to establish a Crown prosecutor service:

• The Association of Chief Police Officers
• The Association of County Councils
• The Association of Metropolitan Authorities
• The British Legal Association
• The British Multiple Retailers' Association
• The Campaign for Homosexual Equality
• The Central Council of Probation and After-Care Committees
• The Commission for Racial Equality
• The Criminal Bar Association
• The Dover Harbour Board
• The Fabian Society
• The Greater London Council
• The Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers "Justice"
• The Justices' Clerks' Society
• The Law Society
• The Legal Action Group
• The Metropolitan Police
• The National Association of Probation Officers
• The National Association of Prosecuting Solicitors' Staffs
• The National Council for Civil Liberties
• The Police Federation
• The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales
• The Port of Liverpool Police
• The Prosecuting Solicitors' Society of England and Wales
• The Senate of the Inns of Court and the Bar
• The Society of Labour Lawyers.

These include all the bodies whose views we have invited, as well as some who have commented on their own initiative.Of the bodies named above, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of County Councils, the Metropolitan Police, the Police Federation and the Port of London Police have expressed opposition in principle to the establishment of a Crown prosecutor service, while others have expressed reservations on specific aspects of the scheme which the Royal Commission recommended.

asked Her Majesty's Government:On what grounds they opposed, at the meeting of EEC employment Ministers, the proposal for a Community scheme to give workers in multinational and large companies the right to consultation and employment protection; what was the attitude of other Governments; and which, if any, other Governments supported the United Kingdom.

The approach of the Government to this draft directive was set out in full by my noble friend the Lord Advocate in a debate on the 37th Report of the Select Committee on European Communities on 21st October last year. Informal meetings of Ministers are not intended to reach formally agreed or published conclusions. It would therefore be inappropriate to indicate the positions adopted by other member states.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the number and total value of the projects approved under the Traditional Urban Programme Circular 22.

Eight hundred and ninety projects worth £24.6 million have been approved. A list giving details of all the approved projects by local authority has been placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether HMS "Speedy" has yet been sold and, if so, to whom; and if not, whether she is still for sale.

HMS "Speedy" has not yet been sold, and the Defence Sales Organisation are continuing their efforts to find a suitable purchaser.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether micro-computers are to be provided for special schools as well as primary and secondary schools.

The Government's Micros in Schools scheme, which provides 50 per cent. funding towards the purchase of one micro-computer package, is at present open to all secondary schools. Special schools catering for pupils up to age 16 are therefore eligible for the scheme.