asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress is being made with plans to mark the Australian Bicentenary in 1988.

The Britain-Australia Bicentennial Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Peter Gadsden, is co-ordinating Britain's participation in this event. It is the Government's intention to invite Parliament to vote some £1,000,000 to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for use on the bicentenary. It is envisaged that £850,000 of this should be used in 1987–88 to provide a specially commissioned sail training ship as Britain's official gift to Australia and the balance to cover other bicentenary events and administrative expenses. Appropriate estimates will be laid before Parliament in due course.

asked Her Majesty's Government:If they will make a statement on the role the British Council will play in respect of the expenditure released by the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The British Council will be involved, in either an advisory or administrative capacity or both, in the following schemes mentioned in the reply given by my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Overseas Development to the honourable Member for Wolverhampton SW (Mr. Budgen) in another place on 19th December.The ODA Technical Co-operation Training Programme;

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether financial support will be provided for the International Council of Scientific Unions from the savings of the British contribution to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Yes. Money will be allotted to the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and some of its constituent scientific unions.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have reached a decision on the land they intend to transfer with Kenwood House to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission under the Local Government Act 1985.

The Government have now decided on the area appropriate as a setting for Kenwood House and which it is proper for the proprietors of the house to manage. It comprises the land specified in the Iveagh Bequest Act together with the walled garden, and the remainder of the area enclosed by the existing fence erected by the London County Council. This consists, for the most part, of Southwood and the wooded area, including the lakes, which is the centrepiece for the summer concerts. This land will be precisely delineated in a map shortly to be published with the main Property Transfer Order.It is important that Kenwood House and its surrounding area is managed and presented effectively. I know that English Heritage are committed to working closely with the London Residuary Body which will assume responsibility temporarily for Hampstead Heath and, in the longer term, with the ultimate authority for the Heath.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What progress has been made towards adoption of the EC directive on doorstep selling.

The directive on doorstep selling (the directive to protect the consumer in respect of contracts negotiated away from business premises) was adopted by the EC Council of Ministers on 20th December 1985. Member states have two years in which to implement the directive's provisions.The directive will give consumers a statutory right to a seven-day period of reflection when they sign agreements at their home or work place, during an unsolicited visit by a trader, to buy, by cash or credit, goods costing more than 60 ECU (about £35). Many reputable direct selling companies already provide a cooling-off period for sales made in the home. This directive will ensure that the industry as a whole adopts a similar standard of service. It will give the consumer the opportunity to consider—in private and without pressure—whether he really wants the product or service which seemed so attractive when it was offered.

asked Her Majesty's Government:How many cases of fencing or other development on common land in Wales, which have not been authorised by the Secretary of State for Wales under Section 194 of the Law of Property Act 1925. have been drawn to the attention of:

The Secretary of State has been made aware of 28 cases, of which 9 were also drawn to the attention of the Countryside Commission.