asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government or a Minister of State of the Government received communication or communications from the General Rapporteur of the Committee on Culture and Education of the Council of Europe concerning Wood Quay; if so, if he will state the nature of the communications and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I understand that the General Rapporteur for the Architectural Heritage of the Committee on Culture and Education of the Council of Europe wrote to the Minister of State at the Department of Finance in September 1978 and that the communication referred to the archaeological potential of the Wood Quay site.

That was a very short answer to a detailed question. Is the Minister aware that a request was put to the Minister of State to allow time for the proper excavation and preservation of the Wood Quay site? In the circumstances, is the Minister satisfied that that request was acceded to and is he satisfied that the time allowed is sufficient to recover valuable national treasure in view of the finding of a priceless sword in this corporation dump?

As I stated, a communication was sent to the Minister of State in September 1978. No communication has been sent from that or any other source since the Supreme Court decision.

Is the Minister satisfied that the request of the General Rapporteur, Lord Duncan Sandys, was valid and that the Government are considering acceding to the request? Is the Minister also satisfied that the time allowed by the Government is sufficient to ensure the recovery of a number of national treasures?

Lord Duncan Sandys made his view known before the Supreme Court decision and has not made it known since the Supreme Court decision.