asked Her Majesty's Government:What replies have been sent to the Health Visitors' Association regarding the apprehensions they expressed concerning certain aspects of the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill.

A full reply to the General Secretary of the Health Visitors' Association was sent on 8th March on behalf of my honourable and learned friend the Minister of State. I have arranged for a copy of that reply to be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When Volume Two of the report on the pilot ethnic survey of certain non-industrial civil servants in Leeds (covering applicants for Civil Service posts in the area) will be published, and what action the Government intend to take next.

I am pleased to tell my noble friend that Volume Two of Ethnic Monitoring in the Civil Service: A Survey in Leeds is published today. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library. This volume covers the survey of applicants for Civil Service posts in Leeds for the period 1st May to 30th September 1982. Of those issued with the questionnaire 89·1 per cent completed the ethnic origin question, 5·3 per cent. of whom classified themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority.The Government have decided to gain broader experience of ethnic monitoring by arranging to hold surveys of the ethnic origin of non-industrial civil servants in the North West Economic Planning Region and in the County of Avon during the autumn. Some recruitment schemes in both areas will also be monitored.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to implement the proposals for a national information technology programme as recommended by the Alvey Committee.

The Government are still considering the recommendations of the Alvey Committee.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In which countries, under European Community arrangements or under bilateral agreements on social security, British pensioners who retire abroad are entitled to receive upratings subsequent to their leaving the United Kingdom.

Under EC regulations or under bilateral agreements on social security, British pensioners who retire abroad are entitled to receive uprating increases, subsequent to their leaving the United Kingdom, in the following countries:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will distinguish between the functions and qualifications of ophthalmic and those of dispensing opticians and by which section of the Opticians Act 1958 dispensing opticians are entitled to protection and allowed to make profits.

Ophthalmic opticians are qualified to carry out tests of sight and to fit and supply optical appliances; dispensing opticians are qualified to fit and supply optical appliances but not to test sight. The General Optical Council set up under the Opticians Act 1958 has the power to approve as the basis for registration as an ophthalmic or dispensing optician any qualifications which appear to the council to be granted to candidates who reach such a standard of proficiency at a qualifying examination as to secure to them adequate knowledge and skill for the practice of their respective professions.Section 21 of the Opticians Act 1958 restricts the sale and supply of optical appliances to opticians registered with the General Opticial Council and medical practitioners registered with the General Medical Council. The purpose of this legislation is to protect the public, not opticians. The Government are currently considering the conclusions of the report by the Office of Fair Trading

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether spectacles can be fabricated with or without prescription and sold direct to the public under the exclusive and intended terms stated in Section 21(3) of the Opticians Act 1958.

By Section 21(1) of the Opticians Act 1958 a person shall not sell any optical appliance unless the sale is effected under the supervision of a registered optician or a registered medical practitioner. By Section 21(3) of that Act certain exceptions are made to this rule but they do not include sale to the general public.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support the offer of the Head of State of Egypt to act as an intermediary to end the conflict between Iran and Iraq.

We are ready to support any effort which has a realistic hope of bringing an early and negotiated settlement to this conflict. We have supported attempts by the United Nations Secretary-General and others. We understand that for their part the Iranian Government do not accept President Mubarak's initiative.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in respect of the shooting of a barnacle goose on Islay on 25th October 1982, the procurator fiscal decided that no offence had been committed, as with an incident that occurred on 27th January 1983.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to a Question by the noble Lord on 16th March 1983.—[Official Report, vol 440, col. 718.]