asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make a statement on the figures given during the Committee stage of the Criminal Justice Bill of the average times spent in custody by defendants awaiting trial for the last quarter of 1981 (

The figures for the last quarter of 1981 of the average time spent in custody by defendants awaiting trial are 102 days for London and about 69 days nationally—not, as I indicated during the Committee stage debate on the Bill on 2nd July, about 79 and 50 days respectively.So far as the general picture is concerned, average waiting times in 1981, taking the year as a whole, still fell compared with earlier years and, at about 100 days for London and about 65 days nationally, represent reductions in average waiting times of about one-third and one-fifth approximately. Such further information as we have confirms that the downward trend can be expected to continue. The figures show that the measures being taken to reduce waiting times are having an impact on this important problem.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What cuts the Soviet Union has made or proposed in telephone links with Britain and what explanations they have sought with what results.

The Soviet authorities have informed British Telecommunications of their intention to reduce the number of circuits between Moscow and London to 14 in each direction. This is a reduction from 46 circuits from London to Moscow and from 42 in the other direction. The reason given was that to continue to provide the larger number would present technical difficulties in the Soviet Union. I understand that the cuts have not yet been implemented.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in writing to applicants for visas living in Iran, Home Office officials will explain how they can submit their applications to a British visa issuing office abroad, bearing in mind that the British consulate in Iran is closed, and the applicant would not be able to leave Iran to lodge the application at any other post without a visa.

The Home Office would request my department to reply to such applicants through the British Interests Section, Tehran. They advised that they may submit all applications to any of our visa issuing posts. Iranians require an exit permit to leave Iran, but this is neither dependent on nor guaranteed by the applicant's holding a visa. Nevertheless over 2,000 have called at our visa issuing posts in Europe since January this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What assistance they have provided and are prepared to give to the Government of the Republic of Madagascar following this year's disastrous cyclone and flood damage, estimated at $200/250 million by President Ratsiraka,

In response to requests from the Government of Madagascar, ODA's Disaster Unit have provided medical supplies costing £30,500. In addition they are providing spares to rehabilitate 12 Landrovers needed to carry essential supplies to remote areas; the cost of this is likely to be £5,000 to £6,000.Under ODA's bilateral technical co-operation programme, a road engineer has been appointed for about four months to co-ordinate and direct local engineers in a work programme which will:—