asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the British barque "Marques" was permitted to leave United Kingdom waters with a load-line certificate of exemption but without having had an examination by surveyors from the Department of Transport, and whether they will give an assurance that such a thing will not be allowed to happen again.

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport has ordered a formal investigation into the loss of the "Marques". The matters raised in the Question will fall to be considered in the course of the investigation, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Sail Training Association's rules and conditions for the race were broken during the Tall Ships Race in 1984.

Compliance with the Sail Training Association's rules and conditions during the Tall Ships Race in 1984 was not a matter for Government except in so far as they incorporate statutory regulations. So far as is known, no such statutory requirements were broken.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Why the sail training ship "Inca" is being allowed to continue as a sail training ship in Canadian waters, and whether she was given a proper examination by surveyors from the Department of Transport.

The sailing ship "Cuidad de Inca" is not, to our knowledge, operating as a sail training ship. Contact is being maintained with the Canadian authorities, who are aware of the survey and certification status of the ship.A declaration of survey was provided by the owner's consultant following his out-of-water examination, and before leaving the United Kingdom the ship was examined by surveyors of the Department of Transport.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the average cost of a place on an intermediate treatment scheme funded under the recent Department of Health and Social Security initiative.

The average cost is not known. However, the average departmental grant per 90-day place per young person is £1,906. Contributions to costs by some local authorities may marginally increase this average to just above £2,000 per place.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list the scientific papers and other research work that they or others have undertaken which justifies their statement that their decision to grant planning permission for the extraction of peat at Duich Moss, Islay "if undertaken with appropriate care… would not have any

I am not aware of the existence of any research specifically directed to establishing the effects of peat extraction on the nature conservation interest of Duich Moss. As I have previously informed the noble Lord, the decision of my right honourable friend the Secretary, of State for Scotland to grant planning permission for the project in question, subject to extensive conditions designed to ensure due care in extraction, was taken on the basis of the written submissions before him, none of which offered any evidence based on a specific survey of Duich Moss to support the proposition that works on the scale proposed would result in significant damage to the nature conservation interest of the Moss.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What representations they have received from Danish conservation organisations about their decision to allow peat to be taken from Duich Moss, Islay.

Representations were received in May 1985 from the Danish section of the International Council for Bird Preservation and from the World Wildlife Fund, Denmark. Both organisations expressed concern about the effect of the extraction of peat from Duich Moss on the Greenland white-fronted geese, which roost during the winter on the Moss.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make representations to the Israeli Government requesting them to grant visas to the four Palestinian women delegates enabling them to attend the United Nations Conference for women in Nairobi as well as follow-up UN conferences for women.

We have raised this matter with the Israeli authorities. We regret the placing of unjustifiable restrictions on the Palestinian inhabitants of the Occupied Territories.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their attitude towards the CSCE Cultural Forum which will take place in Budapest from 15th October to 25 November 1985.

We intend to play a full and positive role in this important part of the whole CSCE process. My right honourable friend the Member for Chelmsford (Norman St. John-Stevas) has kindly accepted our invitation to lead our delegation.