then something is up with your database as select * from user_procedures should work

Code:
SQL> create user dave identified by dave;

User created.

SQL> grant create session to dave;

Grant succeeded.

SQL> exit
Disconnected from Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Beta

C:\Documents and Settings\david.sharples>sqlplus dave/dave

SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Beta on Fri Jan 13 19:17:34 2006

Copyright (c) 1982, 2005, Oracle.  All rights reserved.


Connected to:
Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Beta

SQL> select * from user_procedures;

no rows selected

SQL> connect hr/hr
Connected.
SQL> select count(*) from user_procedures;

  COUNT(*)
----------
         3

SQL>