asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they intend to pursue in the light of the reported abandonment of the DBS joint venture project.

In bringing forward the provisions in the Cable and Broadcasting Bill last year for direct broadcasting by satellite, we explained that the Government's role was to provide the necessary legislative framework and an opportunity; but that, since no public money would be involved, it would be for the potential participants to decide whether or not to proceed.The shadow Satellite Broadcasting Board, under Lord Thomson's chairmanship, has now reported to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary the outcome of the various feasibility studies undertaken by and on behalf of the proposed joint venture consortium. The consortium believes, in the light of these studies, that direct broadcasting by satellite would not provide a viable business for them at present and it has accordingly decided not to pursue the matter further.We are grateful to Lord Thomson and his colleagues for their work on the shadow board but since there is now no early prospect of bringing into force Section 42 of the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984, and related provisions, we are asking them to bring that work to an end.It is, in our view, right that no public money should be put into the launch of DBS, and we remain convinced that DBS should proceed only if it is judged commercially viable without public subsidy. However, the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 contains the necessary statutory provisions not only for joint venture DBS, under Section 42, but also for DBS to be mounted by a contractor appointed by the IBA. The Government believe it right that other enterprises should now be given an opportunity to consider mounting DBS. Accordingly we have asked the IBA to carry out a review of the prospects for launching a viable DBS project under those provisions and of the degree of current commercial interest in providing such a service. In the light of that review, and of our consideration of other ways by which satellite broadcasting might be developed, we shall decide whether to bring the relevant provisions into force.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in any reorganisation of the financial structure of British broadcasting as a result of the Peacock inquiry into financing the BBC and the Treasury's current re-examination of the ITV Exchequer Levy, they will insist on maintaining the distinctive regional character of independent television.

Under the Broadcasting Act 1981, it is for the Independent Broadcasting Authority to determine the number and extent of television contract areas. I believe that the resulting regional structure has generally been regarded as valuable. It is too early to say what, if any, changes in broadcasting arrangements might follow reports by the Committee on financing the BBC and the working group of officials which recently reviewed the structure of the levy.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they intend to take in respect of the primary recommendation of the Second Report of the Conveyancing Committee.

The Government accepts the recommendation of the Committee chaired by Professor Farrand that a Conveyancing Standing Committee should be established by the Law Commission to examine suggestions for the reform of conveyancing practice and law.I have invited the Law Commission to appoint such a Committee in the immediate future to consider matters relating to conveyancing practice and procedure, to advise the Law Commission on reform of conveyancing law, and to promote changes in practice and procedure necessary to create and maintain a cheap, simple and effective conveyancing system from the point of view of buyers and sellers of land. The Committee's first objective will be to bring about within two years improvements which will be apparent to ordinary housebuyers and sellers.

asked Her Majestys' Government:Whether they will place in the Library a copy of the report on the Financial Guidelines for Management Agreements under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, commissioned from the constultants Laurence Gould.

we have not yet received the constultants' final report, but I shall consider whether it would be appropriate to place a copy in the Library of the House when I have had an opportunity to study it.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What means are available to protect the habitats of wild bird species listed in Schedule l to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, where these species occur at a low density over a wide area; and whether they will state whether a site comprising upland moorland and grassland with water bodies has been accorded by the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) a threshold breeding bird community index which if exceeded requires the NCC to notify such land as a site of special scientific interest.

Bird habitats generally may be protected either under the arrangements set out in Section 3 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, or through notification or renotification as sites of special scientific interest under the provisions of Section 28 of the Act. My answer of 15th January (Official Report, col. 959) summarised the criteria adopted for notification under Section 28.No specific index has been adopted for sites comprising upland moorland and grassland with water bodies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What lessons have been learnt from the experimental renovation of a sewer in Rochdale in 1982 and the Counters Creek sewer in Acton in 1984 by the "Ruswroe" process; and what opportunities are being provided for further study of this new method of relining old sewers.

Appraisal of the "Ruswroe" and other sewer renovation systems is co-ordinated by the Water Research Centre. Details are not held centrally. I understand that, following an initial trial in Rochdale in 1982, a successful demonstration of the "Ruswroe" system was completed last year on the Counters Creek sewer. The WRC now consider that the "Ruswroe" system should be subjected to a monitored trial on a selected site and this is expected to commence later this year.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether in their view the confiscation by the Soviet authorities of a copy of

As explained to my noble frend in my reply to him of 1 st July, the Soviet Union notification to the Universal Postal Union of prohibited articles is so widely drawn as to allow the Soviet authorities, in theory, to refuse entry or to confiscate items that we should consider quite innocuous. In our view, the Soviet Union's interpretation of the UPU Convention in this respect is unsatisfactory and we will continue to take every suitable opportunity to press the Soviet authorities to adopt a more reasonable attitude.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether a decision has yet been taken by St. Helena with regard to the extension to that territory of the Copyright Amendment Acts of 1982 and 1983 and whether a single Statutory Instrument is now being prepared to extend these enactments to the other territories which have requested it, namely Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar and Montserrat; what is the position regarding the Isle of Man now that the Copyright Computer Software (Amendment) Bill awaits Royal Assent; and whether further information is available about similar copyright legislation in the Channel Islands and the Cayman Islands.

St Helena and the Cayman Islands have indicated that they do not wish the Copyright Act 1956 (Amendment) Act 1982 or the Copyright (Amendment) Act 1983 to be extended to them. Separate Orders in Council will be made shortly extending these enactments to Bermuda and Gibraltar. Orders in respect of the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat will follow as soon as certain outstanding points in regard to the drafting have been settled with those territories. All these territories are being consulted about the extension to them of the Copyright (Computer Software) Amendment Act, 1985, which received Royal Assent on 16th July.The Isle of Man Government has been invited to confirm its wish for the extension to it of the 1985 Act together with those of 1982 and 1983. A decision is still awaited from the Channel Islands Governments regarding the Acts of 1982 and 1983, and a further indication of their wishes has been sought in regard to these and the Act of 1985.

asked Her Majesty's Government:With reference to the recent two-stage increase in salaries of certain members of the Civil Service, the armed forces and the judiciary, what is their estimate of the total capitalised value of the consequential addition, covering both stages, to the pension rights of all those affected, assuming the continuance of current rates of interest and inflation.

Anestimate of the total capitalised value of the additional superannuation rights would depend upon the future pattern of retirements over many years and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. It is estimated that for retirements in the period 1st July 1985 to 28th February 1987 (by when both staged increases would have fully worked through to superannuation benefits) the additional cost in a full year for the Civil Service, the armed forces, and the judiciary would be £330,000 for pensions and £930,000 for associated lump sums.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What preparations they have made for the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference and what documents they have circulated.

We are working constructively for a positive outcome to the review conference. Our preparations have included full and active participation in the three sessions of the preparatory committee, and close and continuing consultation with the Governments of other depositary states, the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. We are also actively lobbying non-parties to the Treaty in search of increased membership to strengthen it further. In the last year nine states have adhered.As regards documents, we have circulated a report on our implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. We also intend to circulate a paper suggesting ways in which the transfer of technology to developing countries for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy could be further improved, in accordance with Article IV. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House once the text has been finalised.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What arrangements they are making to recover 41 tonnes of depleted uranium exported from the United Kingdom to Luxembourg and from there to Israel and whether they will be providing the Review Conference on the Non-Proliferation Treaty to be held in September with guarantees against future breaches of the Treaty.

The export to Luxembourg from the United Kingdon was made in full compliance with all our international commitments, The Israeli authorities have told the International Atomic Energy Agency that they imported the material for non-nuclear, non-explosive purposes and that part has already been consumed. They have permitted the Agency to carry out an inspection. The safeguards system was successful in detecting the re-export. We shall not, therefore, raise the matter at the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, nor have any arrangements been made to recover the material.Discussions are proceeding in EURATOM to ensure a common interpretation of the safeguards regulations with regard to material transferred for non-nuclear use. We are playing an active part.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have taken into account the possibility that States without nuclear weapons will have no faith in the Non-Proliferation Treaty and will resign from it if the number of nuclear weapons continues to grow.

Since the last Review Conference in 1980, 16 Non-Nuclear Weapon States have become parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), bringing the total membership to 129.All the parties are aware of the important role which the Treaty plays in their security by deterring the proliferation of nuclear weapons. We have not heard that any party is contemplating withdrawal from the Treaty.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware of the view that the American strategic initiative contains within it collaborative projects which are in breach of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, and whether they agree with it.

The United States Administration has repeatedly stressed that strategic defence initiative research will be conducted in full conformity with treaty obligations. Our firm support for this research is fully consistent with our own obligations, including those under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

asked Her Majesty's Government, further to his question on 25th July (col. 1458):What are their reasons for not asking the Government of the United States of America to disown the attempt by their Chief of Staff at SHAPE to influence the policies of the future British Government by threat of economic sanctions against the United Kingdom.

These remarks are purported to have been made during a visit by the Parliamentary Labour Party Defence Committee. They do not constitute an appropriate basis for representations by Her Majesty's Government.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What obstacles still remain in the way of a reciprocal agreement with the Government of Canada, concerning the indexation of retirement pensions to United Kingdom citizens now resident in Canada.

Officials of the Department and their Canadian counterparts have work in hand on the text of a social security convention to include up-rating of United Kingdom pensions payable to pensioners in Canada. At present the finance necessary for completion of such a convention is not available.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have given further consideration to the indexation of retirement pensions payable to United Kindom citizens now resident in Canada and what is their latest estimate of the cost of such indexation.

Payment of United Kingdom pensions at full United Kingdom rates to pensioners in Canada must await the availability of the necessary financial resourses. The latest estimate is that the full annual cost of such a measure would be about £35 million. The department will be revising this estimate to take account of the higher rates of benefit to come into force in November.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prosecutions have been initiated since the coming into force of the relevant part of the Health and Social Security Act 1984, by trading standards officers against actions in contravention of subsection (3B) of Section 21 of the Opticians Act 1958; what view they take of contraventions of the above-mentioned subsections; and what action is intended to stop such contraventions.

The Office of Fair Trading inform us that they are unable to identify details of any prosecutions initiated by trading standards officers for optical appliances being provided without a written prescription since the relevant part of the Health and Social Security Act 1984 came into operation. It is open to anyone to lay information before a magistrate where he believes such an offence has been committed and it can incur a maximum fine of £1,000 on summary conviction. We see no case for further or special enforcement measures for this breach of the law and we have no evidence to suggest that breaches of this provision are widespread.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether health authorities will be entitled to retain all receipts from sales of houses or flats and to use them at their discretion to finance capital programmes.

Our general policy on the retention of the proceeds from the sale of surplus property will apply to our recently announced exercise on houses and flats. This is based on the principle that the District Health Authority disposing of the property should retain the proceeds. There are exceptions to this, e.g., where a sale takes place only as a result of a replacement provided from Regional Health Authority funds, in which case that authority receives the sale proceeds, but in all cases proceeds are retained for use within the National Health Service. As some of the existing stock of residential accommodation is in a poor state of repair and decoration, we have asked health authorities to regard bringing the retained stock of accommodation up to a reasonable standard as a priority charge on the proceeds of sales of residential accommodation.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What form of investigation they propose to institute into the conduct of the social services department of the London Borough of Lambeth following the death of Tyra Henry, aged 21 months; andWhether, following the request by the Department of Health and Social Security to the London Borough of Lambeth for a report on their handling of the case of Tyra Henry, they will place a copy of that report in the Library of the House; and whether they will also ensure that the report of the forthcoming public inquiry to be convened by the council is also placed in the Library.

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health has asked the London Borough of Lambeth for an immediate report of the circumstances surrounding the death of Tyra Henry and the conduct of child care generally in the borough, and a further statement will be made when the report has been considered.The council has also been asked to describe its plans for the conduct of an independent inquiry into the case; we will arrange for any published report of that inquiry to be placed in the Library.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the total saving to public funds of the proposals set out in the Statutory Instruments on Social Security approved by the House on 26th July 1985.

The overall effect of these instruments, together with associated proposals announced by the Government, is not a saving to public funds but an additional expenditure of some £2,000 million, thus increasing the total Social Security budget to some £42,000 million. The figure of £2,000 million is a net figure, after allowing for the effect of certain changes which increase the cost of the up-rating to about £25 million more than it would otherwise have been (the improvements in family income supplement, the extension of lower rate heating additions to sick and diabled householders on the long-term rate of supplementary benefit, and the real-terms increase in the child's need allowance for housing benefit), and certain other changes or proposals which reduce the cost of the up-rating to about £270 million less than it would otherwise have been (the up-rating of child benefit by less than inflation, the abolition of new awards of supplementary benefit central heating additions, the increase in the housing benefit rates taper).