asked Her Majesty's Government:How many convicted murderers are occupying cells in Her Majesty's prisons.

On 31st January 1983 about 2,200 persons were serving sentences for murder in prison department establishments in England and Wales, prison service establishments in Scotland and Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland. Of this total about 60 had been previously released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many extra letters to Members of either House of Parliament were allowed by the governor under Statutory Order 5D6 at Dartmoor, Holloway, Wormwood Scrubs, Gartree, Hull, Wakefield and Wandsworth prisons respectively during any recent period for which figures are available, and how many requests for such extra letters were refused by each of those governors during that period.

The number of extra letters allowed is not recorded separately and could be ascertained only at disproportionate cost. Standing Order 5D6 is liberally interpreted and a prisoner in any of the establishments listed would not normally be refused an extra letter if he needed one in order to write to a Member of either House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many pit closures took place in each of the decades 1950–59, 1960–69, 1970–79 and in each of the year's 1980, 1981, and 1982; and what were the associated tonnages of coal withdrawn from production during each of the same periods.

I am informed by the National Coal Board that detailed information as to tonnage capacity of pits closed in earlier decades is not readily available. However, the information in the following table gives some impression of what occurred.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many existing SSSIs have been renotified by the Nature Conservancy Council using the new procedures contained in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and when they expect the renotification process to be completed.

I am advised that to date the Nature Conservancy Council have renotified 215 SSSIs under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The programme of renotification will be substantially complete by early 1985.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Mr. Davidoff's contract to remove scrap iron from South Georgia, which was renewed in March 1982 by Messrs. Salveseon acting as agents for the British Government, is still valid, and if not when and by whom it was terminated.

The contract is between Christian Salvesen Limited and Mr. Constantino Davidoff. The Government have no standing in relation to it. We have been told by Salvesens that the contract remains valid but expires on 31st March 1983.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals or arrangements they have made, or envisage making, for changes in the scheme for state studentships in arts, humanities or social science subjects in the academic session 1984–85; which bodies or organisations would undertake new responsibilities or functions under such changes; and in what manner any such body or organisation would be publicly accountable for the exercise of its functions or responsibilities and for the selection of its membership;What proposals have taken place in respect of any proposed changes in the scheme for state studentships for the session 1984–85 in respect of (

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science hopes to make an announcement shortly.

Government:Whether they will confirm that, during continued discussions on the protection of parts of the Somerset Levels which are of high nature conservation interest, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) will encourage farmers to seek prior approval for proposed work in areas of nature conservation interest, whether or not the land concerned has been notified by the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) as an SSSI, and whether MAFF will continue to consult the NCC over grant-aidable schemes likely to damage such areas.

Section 11 of the Countryside Act 1968 requires the Minister, in exercising his functions relating to land, to have regard to the natural beauty and amenity of the countryside. Accordingly, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food continue, where appropriate, to encourage farmers to consult the Nature Conservancy Council about proposed agricultural works, whether or not they intend to claim grant.Before making a decision on any grant cases which are referred to the Minister, he will, as usual, consult the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When the report of the Farm Animal Welfare Council on conditions in slaughterhouses in this country is likely to be published.

The Farm Animal Welfare Council's report on the welfare of poultry at the time of slaughter was published in January 1982. The council then moved on to consider the slaughter of redmeat animals and has, I understand, now completed the major part of its programme of visits to slaughterhouses both in this country and abroad. Preparation of the report is now in hand and the council hopes to submit it later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action has been taken on the Report of the Select Committee of the Commons on the welfare of poultry at the time of slaughter (Session 1980–81, HC 406).

I assume that the report to which the noble Lord refers is that which was published by the Farm Animal Welfare Council in January 1982. The Government issued its response to this report in January this year and has invited comments on its proposals from interested bodies. Copies of the Government's reponse were placed in the Library of this House.