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INSURANCE COSTS
Friday 11 July 1980
Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson asked the Attorney-General how much in total his Department and the Lord Chancellor's Department will pay in insurance during the current financial year; and if he will publish a functional breakdown of the total amount.
The Attorney-General: No insurance Costs are incurred by the Attorney- General's Department and those by the Lord Chancellor's Department are negli- gible, save for some £15,000 for insuring premises used by the Law Society in the operation of the legal aid scheme. This is included in the grant to the legal aid fund.
BRITISH BROADCASTING
CORPORATION
Mr. Stanbrook asked the Attorney- General if he will now prosecute the BBC under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in respect of its actions in interview- ing the killer of Mr. Airey Neave, and co-operation with the IRA in setting up and filming a roadblock in Carrickmore.
The Attorney-General : I have con- sidered the police reports on these two incidents and have consulted leading counsel, and I have decided against in- stituting any criminal proceedings against
any members of the staff of the BBC in respect of either incident. I have, how-l ever, written to the chairman of the BBC to express my views about the conduct of those involved and to give my understanding of the effect of section 11 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Tem- porary Provisions) Act 1976. It is this section which places on the citizen a legal, as opposed to a moral, duty to re- port to the police information relating
to terrorists and acts of terrorism.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Sir Robert Cooke Mr. Harold Walker asked the Chan- cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what facilities in the House of Commons Sir Robert Cooke has been given access, and by whose authority.
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As Mr. St. John-Stevas : Member of the House of Commons, Sir Robert Cooke may go to the Members Lobby.
As a holder of a Palace of Westminster photo-identity pass, which is issued to certain civil servants who attend the House of Commons regularly on duty, Sir Robert may use the Strangers' Cafeleria. This pass was issued on the authority of the Serjeant at Armis,
Diego Garcia
Mr. Newens asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the talks she has had with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, and what references were made to the future of Diego Garcia dur- ing the course of these.
The Prime Minister: I had a useful ex- change of views on 7 July with the Prime Minister of Mauritius on political, econo- mic and cultural matters. Diego Garcia was one of the subjects discussed. When the Mauritius Council of Ministers agreed in 1965 to the detachment of the Chagos Islands to form part of British Indian Ocean territory, it was announced that these would be available for the con- struction of defence facilities and that, in the event of the islands no longer being required for defence purposes, they should revert to Mauritius. This remains the
policy of Her Majesty's Government.
EMPLOYMENT
Earnings Statistics
Mr. Austin Mitchell asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each of the years 1973 and 1977 to 1979 the percentage increase in average wages and salaris on the previous year and cumulatively since 1970 and 1973, re- spectively, together with the increase in wages and salaries per unit of output for: (u) manufacturing industry, (b) the whole economy less production industries and (c) ga- electricity and water.
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Mr. Jim Lester: The following table the available information in respect of each of the years 1973 and 1977 to 1979.
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