HC Deb 07 December 1989 vol 163 c336W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will state how many petitions were presented in Session 1988–89 and what was the number of occasions when the responsible Department of State declined to make any observations.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

Two hundred and twenty seven petitions were presented in Session 1988–89. The responsible Department declined to raise observations on 188 of these.