asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date they received the Countryside Commission's proposals for the designation of the Peddars Way and North Norfolk Coast Long Distance Path; on what date they asked for further information and clarification from the Commission on some aspects of their proposals; whether this information and clarification has now been received and if so on what date; and on what date the commission first started work on designating this long distance path.

The commission's proposals were received on 28th August 1981. Further information was requested on 21st December 1981 and 10th February 1982 and was received on 14th July and 2nd August 1982. The commission started working on the proposals about nine years ago. Their proposals were approved on 8th October 1982.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether any reply has been received to their appeal to the Malaysian Government not to hang Mr. Tan Chay Wa and others.

We have made no appeal to the Malaysian Government on behalf of Tan Chay Wa or others. Following an earlier request for clemency in the case of Tan Chay Wa, the Governments of the ten Member States of the European Community made a further appeal for clemency on 1st October to the Malaysian Government on behalf of those sentenced to death under the Malaysian Internal Security Act.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they' have taken, with what success, to reduce the delays of three months and more for Poles in Poland wanting visa applications forwarded to the Home Office, and if they will make a statement.

A requirement that all Polish visa applicants should be interviewed was introduced soon after the introduction of martial law. This requirement, together with a subsequent relaxation of travel restrictions by the Polish authorities, has led to a backlog of applications. To reduce this backlog, five extra staff have been posted to Warsaw and it has been agreed that certain applicants need no longer be interviewed. It is hoped this will result in considerable improvement in the time taken to process visa applications.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have ratified the International Convention on the Use of Broadcasting in the Interests of Peace prohibiting broadcasting detrimental to international accord; and which nations have so far ratified it.

The United Kingdom ratified the International Convention Concerning the Use of Broadcasting in the Cause of Peace on 18th August 1937. Instruments of ratification or definitive accession were deposited with the League of Nations Secretariat by Australia (1937), Brazil (1938), Chile (1940), Denmark (1937), Egypt (1938), Estonia (1938), Finland (1938), France (1938), Guatemala (1938), India (1937), Ireland (1938), Latvia (1939), Luxembourg (1938), The Netherlands (1939), New Zealand (1938), Norway (1938), Salvador (1938), South Africa (1938), Sweden (1938), and Switzerland (1938); instruments of ratification or accession or notification of succession were deposited with the United Nations Secretariat by Bulgaria (1972), Cameroon (1967), Holy See (1967), Laos (1966), Malta (1966), and Mauritius (1969). According to a TASS report of 21st September 1982, the Praesidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR has approved the ratification of the Convention.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What will be the position of the Pitcairners under the 1981 British Nationality Act.

Under the 1981 British Nationality Act those Pitcairners who are not patrial will become British Dependent Territories citizens and their right of abode on Pitcairn will be confirmed. As at present they will not have an automatic right of abode in the United Kingdom. However, our reponsibility for their welfare and protection will be unchanged.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements exist for implementing an attachment of earnings order made on a serviceman; how arrangements differ between the three armed services and why; and whether they will review these arrangements with a view to achieving greater uniformity and ensuring that the optimum arrangements are made to enable courts to make such orders on servicemen whenever they think it appropriate to do so.

Section 24 (2) (b) of the Attachment of Earning Act 1971 provides that pay and allowances payable to the debtor as a member of Her Majesty's Forces are not to be treated as earnings for the purposes of the Act. It is, however, also the case that Sections 150, 151A and 146 respectively of the Army Act 1955 and the Air Force Act 1955 (and similar provisions relating to the Royal Navy) facilitate the making of deductions from pay in discharge of payments ordered by a civil court in repect of the maintenance of a wife or child or the satisfaction of judgment debts or fines, et cetera. In cases where the services meet the payment of any such amount ordered by the civil court to be paid by the servicemen that amount may be deducted from the serviceman's pay. This system works satisfactorily provided a serviceman's commanding officer is supplied with a copy of the court's judgment and a request for payment so that the appropriate action can be taken under the relevant Service Discipline Act and regulations. In practice, fines are very often paid in this way, particulary if there has otherwise been difficulty in collection by the court.There are no substantial differences in the arrangements between the services, although the system does allow discretion to commanding officers in detailed application. I do not consider a review with the object of achieving greater uniformity or of making any other change to be required.House adjourned at six minutes before eleven o'clock.