asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will summarise the reasons why they continue to favour proportional representation based on the single transferable vote for the proposed Northern Ireland Assembly, apart from the fact that this method has been used before.

Given the nature of Northern Ireland society, there is a particularly strong case for a system of proportional representation for elections to Northern Ireland's local political institutions. Of the various systems of proportional representation available, the use of the single transferable vote in multi-member constituencies has the advantages of ensuring a high degree of proportionality while maintaining stronger links between elected representatives and their constituencies, because most, if not all, constituencies will have elected representatives from all the main parties. It allows adequate representation of minority parties while excluding those with minimal support.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will recommend to chief constables that police constables who have not had a medical examination for 10 years to show that they are fit for duty should be examined by a doctor forthwith and that regular check-ups at five-yearly intervals or less be adopted as normal practice for all ranks.

Two working parties set up by the Association of Chief Police Officers are currently examining the problems of physical and mental stress in the police service. The question whether police authorities and chief police officers should be advised to make arrangements for the medical examination of police officers at regular intervals will be considered when the working parties have reported.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any members of the European Economic Community have still to ratify the agreement on the accession of Zimbabwe to the Second Lome Convention and, if so, which; and when it is expected that Zimbabwe will be a full member of the Convention.

The necessary procedures for ratification of the accession of Zimbabwe to the Second Lome Convention by all member states and the Community were completed in January 1982 and came into force on the 1st March 1982. Zimbabwe can now therefore benefit fully from all the provisions of the Lomé Convention.House adjourned at nine minutes past eleven o'clock.