asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the most recent information on the number of non-resident United Kingdom passport holders who have the right of entry into the United Kingdom.

It is estimated that, excluding Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America, for which no figures are available, there are at least 500,000 United Kingdom passport holders—UKPH—resident abroad who have the right of entry into this country. Precise figures are not available as there is no requirement for United Kingdom passport holders to register with our missions overseas.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the preliminary talks with the Barbuda Council concerning the independence of Antigua and referred to in his answer of 31 October to the hon. Member for Inverness were those held on Friday 2 November at the instigation of members of the Barbuda Council; and when he expects those talks to resume.

Several meetings with representatives of Barbuda have been held. The most recent took place on Friday 2 November. It is too soon to suggest when they will resume.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will reduce the level of United Kingdom representation in the Soviet Union to that of chargé d'affaires.

No.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government now propose to appoint an ambassador to Chile.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 9 November.—[Vol. 973, c. 358.]

asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if the criteria Her Majesty's Government apply in considering whether or not to appoint an ambassador to a foreign country includes the recognition by the Government of that country of the observance of human rights;(2) what are the criteria Her Majesty's Government apply to foreign countries in considering whether or not it is appropriate for the United Kingdom to be represented at the level of ambassador.

There are no set criteria for the appointment of an ambassador, but the question does not of course arise until a Government have met our usual criteria for recognition.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list those countries whose Governments Her Majesty's Government recognise, but where the United Kingdom is not represented at ambassadorial level.

Her Majesty's Government recognise the Governments of Argentina, Bhutan, Chile, Guatemala and Kampuchea but are not represented at ambassadorial level, either resident or non-resident.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing the number of cars produced and exported in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, United States of America and Japan in 1952, 1960, 1967, 1972, 1978 and 1979 to date.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the spending by Her Majesty's Government on research and development in industry for 1974, 1979 and the estimated spending for 1983.

Expenditure by the Department of Industry under the Science and Technology Act 1965 totalled £17 million in 1974–75. Expenditure is expected to rise in cash terms to about £53 million in 1979–80, and to slightly over £100 million in 1983–84. The increases reflect the introduction of such measures as the microprocessor application project and the microelectronics industry support programme, as well as the higher costs of projects generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many small businesses feature on the approved list of suppliers maintained by his Department for purchase contracts by means of selective tender.

My Department does not maintain an approved list of suppliers for purchase contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will place in the Library of the House a copy of the contract between the National Enterprise Board and Inmos, excluding those parts that are commercially confidential.

The actual contract between the NEB and Inmos is a document confidential to the two parties. It would therefore be inappropriate to make public such a document by placing a copy in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many and which companies in which the National Enterprise Board, during its existence, has acquired a holding have since gone into liquidation; and what sums are still flowing to the National Enterprise Board from these companies.

Three companies in which the Board has had a holding have gone into liquidation: Hivent Ltd., Power Dynamics Ltd. and Anglo Venezuelan Railway Corporation Ltd. Any further receipts which may accrue to the Board are a matter for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is being done to encourage car manufacturers in the United Kingdom to adopt the latest microprocessor-controlled electro-optic inspection system now widely used in the United States of America, which increases car reliability and lowers fuel consumption.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much each Opposition party has received, so far in the current year, from the fund for Opposition parties.

Payments to date in respect of the current calendar year in accordance with the resolutions of the House on 20 March 1975 and 13 February 1978 are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why the cost of replying to a question asking him to give for any stated date a list of his engagements is £24; whether he will give a breakdown as to how this figure is arrived at; and what action he has taken or intends taking to reduce the figure of £24 in answering such a parliamentary question.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Poole (Mr. Ward) on 2 November 1979. The figures referred to are estimated average costs.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how the cost of answering a parliamentary question is evaluated.

The cost figures which I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Poole (Mr. Ward) on 2 November 1979 were based on updating the results of a sample survey of the staff costs in Departments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why the names of the chairman and senior officers of the Manpower Services Commission and Health and Safety Commission, together with their office addresses, are omitted from the edition of the "Civil Service Year Book" available to hon. Members.

The full edition of the "Civil Service Year Book" gives information on Government Departments and on non-Exchequer bodies. The names of the chairman and senior officers of the Manpower Services Commission and Health and Safety Commission, together with their office addresses, are given in columns 757 and 748 respectively of the "Civil Service Year Book" 1979. There is in addition an abridged mid-year edition which, in the interests of economy, is confined to Exchequer bodies.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the cost to the taxpayer of inflation-proofing Civil Service pensions in each of the last five financial years; and what is the expected cost in the current financial year and in the year to April 1981.

It is estimated that the additional cost over the first full year—it declines progressively thereafter—of implementing increases in Civil Service pensions under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971—as amended—was as follows:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the amount of the weighting allowance paid to civil servants in London.

The current London weighting allowances are as follows:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many small businesses feature on the approved list of suppliers maintained by his Department for purchase contracts by means of selective tender.

It is estimated that about 58 per cent. of the 814 firms on the trade list index held by my Department for computer supplies and services are small businesses each employing fewer than 200 persons.Her Majesty's Stationery Office, for which I am also responsible, estimates that 85 per cent. of the 3,500 firms on its approved lists of suppliers are businesses employing fewer than 200 persons.A more definitive answer could not be given without incurring disproportionate cost.

asked the Paymaster General if, in view of the tendency to refer to the retail price index in wage negotiations, he will launch a major publicity campaign to establish the taxes and prices index as the true measure of price inflation.

The TPI and the RPI measure different things. The RPI is the established measure of price changes. The TPI measures changes in the total costs facing taxpayers, and accordingly reflects movements both in prices—as measured by the RPI—and in taxes. Pay settlements must, of course, necessarily reflect what individual organisations can afford; but within that constraint the TPI is clearly a more appropriate indicator and the Government will continue to make this clear.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed in Scotland by national Governments local government and quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations

I cannot answer for other nationals or for Government Departments which are the responsibility of other Ministers. For Departments for which I am responsible, the staff-in-post figures—full-time equivalents—at 1 October 1979 were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the operation of the Scottish Tourist Board in Perthshire, in the light of the poor season which was experienced by the tourist industry.

The level of tourism in Scotland this season has been affected by a number of factors, including the price and availability of petrol and the strength of sterling. The Scottish Tourist Board is now considering the implications of this year's experience for its future policies, and I am in close touch with the Board in this regard.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the damage done by rabbits in the hill and upland areas of Scotland; and if he will take measures to bring this problem under control.

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate.The control of rabbits is the responsibility of occupiers, but my officials are always ready to discuss with land use organisations any proposal put forward for improvements in arrangements for rabbit control not involving additional Government resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps will be taken to enable new fishing vessels built in Scotland to qualify for European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund grants.

There is at present no Community scheme in operation under which application can be made for EAGGF aid towards new fishing vessels. I cannot say at this stage whether such a scheme will operate for 1980 or what its conditions might be. Should a scheme be introduced, my Department would as usual give applicants all possible help by liaising with the EEC Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he is having with Greater Glasgow health board about the shortage of beds for psychogeriatric patients.

150 designated pshchogeriatric beds are being provided in 30-bed, system-built, units at Gartnavel Royal, Woodilee and Gartloch hospitals and a further 360 beds are planned for Woodilee, Gartloch and Rutherglen. I have no plans to meet the board at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to meet the joint working party on bridge tolls.

I shall be arranging to meet representatives of the working party in the near future to explain the Government's policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on whether he expects the Scottish Development Agency to reach the average minimum rate of return on its industrial investments in 1980–81; and whether it is his intention to allow the Scottish Development Agency to continue to make further industrial investment in private sector companies.

The whole question of the target rate of return for the Agency which was set by the previous Government is to be reviewed, following the current revision of the Agency's industrial investment guidelines. My right hon. Friend is therefore unable to make a statement at this stage. The Agency will continue to be able to make suitable investments which support its major functions and for which appropriate private sector finance is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek powers to widen the categories under which horses and ponies are recognised as agricultural animals.

No. Under present legislation horses and ponies used in the farming of land are recognised as agricultural animals.

asked the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he considers that any devaluation of the green pound would not be effective in the middle of the marketing year.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there are any sections of the food distribution industry which work on fixed cash margins rather than on a percentage uplift; and if so, whether he will provide relevant information in the Official Report.

I regret that the information sought is not obtainable. However, such evidence as we have suggests that in this competitive industry margins are more frequently related to the costs of distribution rather than to the prices at which distributors buy goods.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing for the principal foodstuffs subject to the common agricultural policy, the cost of imports from other EEC countries as a percentage of the price in 1970 and the corresponding increase in price in the principal importing or producing countries outside the EEC.

Information in the precise form requested is not readily available. However, the following table shows the percentage increase, between 1970 and 1978, in the average value per tonne of imports into the United Kingdom from the countries which now form the EEC and from other countries respectively:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total value of the Government's holding in the British Sugar Corporation.

The Government hold 14½ million shares in the British Sugar Corporation. The current price of these shares is about 150p, making the holding worth about £21,750,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will sell off the Government's holding in the British Sugar Corporation.

No decision has yet been taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Department has made of the profitability of the apple industry in South Africa, Argentina and the United States of America, particularly as regards the production of apple juice as an end product; and if he will raise with the EEC Agriculture Council the possibility of encouraging this development.

This Department endeavours to keep constantly abreast of developments abroad, but has not had occasion to make specific studies of the apple industries of South Africa, Argentina and the United States of America. The marketing advisers are currently looking at the apple industry here, including the possibilities for investment in juice and concentrate manufacture, but at present my right hon. Friend has no plans for raising the matter at the EEC Agriculture Council. Proposals have recently been submitted to the Commission for an aid programme under EEC regulation 355/77 which, if approved, would include provision for aid to fruit-processing projects in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the size, by value, gallonage or tonnage of the British apple juice industry at the most recent date; and what was its growth in the previous 10 years.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnage of English apples he estimates will be taken off the market by EEC intervention during the 1979–80 season.

It is still too early to estimate because of the many complex factors affecting the apple market. Details of withdrawals so far notified this season were given in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate) on 7 November.—[Vol. 973, c. 186.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to limit the sums spent by the EEC on intervention in the apple industry which in the last two seasons has had the effect of giving assistance to French growers to the detriment of the British market.

Withdrawal arrangements for apples apply uniformly throughout the Community, though they will of course tend to be more beneficial to those with higher-yielding crops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the light of the Government's decision to reconsider the safety of the herbicide 2, 4, 5-T, following a recent incident in Taunton, he will ban this product forthwith until the further review has been carried out; and whether he will make a statement.

The safety of 2,4,5-T products was a subject of specific inquiry by the authoritative independent body, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides. In its report published earlier this year, which all the evidence was considered in detail, it concluded that these products can safely be used provided, as with all chemicals, they are used as recommended.The Government accept the conclusions set out in this report, copies of which are in the Library of the House and can be obtained from my Ministry. In accordance with the normal procedures, however, the advisory committee will be considering any new or further information on the subject that becomes available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which wholesale markets he has visited since June 1979; and if he is contemplating assistance towards streamlining and modernising them.

I visited Billingsgate fish market on 6 November and Covent Garden market on 7 November. The Government are contributing £3·6 million from urban aid funds towards the relocation of Billingsgate, and Covent Garden market was relocated at Nine Elms in 1974 with the aid of Government grants and loans. I have no plans at present to provide further financial assistance to either market.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an announcement about further local radio stations.

Following my announcement on 25 July that I was making the second report of the Home Office local radio working party available for public comment, a large number of organisations and individuals have written to me setting out their views on the working party's proposals on locations for further local radio stations.I have decided in the light of these comments to give my approval in principle to independent local radio stations at 14 of the 15 locations recommended by the working party. These are Ayr, Barnsley, Bristol, Bury St. Edmunds, Guildford, Leeds, Leicester, Londonderry, Luton/Bedford, Newport, Preston/Blackpool, Swindon, Worcester/Hereford and Wrexham/Deeside. I intend to give further consideration to the proposal for an independent local radio station to serve Canterbury/Dover. I accept in principle the need for an ILR station in the East Kent area but wish to consider its location and coverage further.I have also given my approval in principle to a BBC local radio station at Plymouth and to medium frequency assignments for the BBC services at Aberdeen and Londonderry.For the future, the working party will continue to prepare proposals for my consideration, for the further development of local radio, by stages, over the United Kingdom as a whole and will publish reports from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards altering the law to enable people to vote at parliamentary and local elections while on holiday.

Consultations about the practical implications of this proposal are in progress between my Department and representatives of the local authority associations, the electoral registration officers and others concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of which local government district for which he has made an order determining new electoral arrangements since 4 May 1979 the shortest time was between receipt of the report of the Local Government Boundary Commission and the making of the order; and what was that period of time.

East Lindsey, for which an order was made 46 days after receipt of the report of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prison population of England and Wales; what percentage of those is on remand awaiting trial; and what percentage of those prisoners is sharing cells.

On 15 October 1979 the total inmate population in prison department establishments in England and Wales was 42,310 of whom some 10 per cent. were untried and 38 per cent. were sleeping more than one to a cell.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees.

I have not so far met the High Commissioner but my hon. Friend the Minister of State had discussions with him last month in Geneva. I expect to meet the Deputy High Commissioner on Monday 19 November, and I met the High Commissioner's London representative on 1 November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, notwithstanding the Government's policy of public expenditure cuts in respect of local government, he will make funds available to local authorities specifically to maintain fire services at least at the level they were on 3 May.

No. As with other local government services to which the Government contribute by way of rate support grant, it is for individual local authorities to decide on the proportion of their expenditure to devote to the provision of fire services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to stop the practice of jury vetting; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to her question on 22 October.—[Vol. 972, c. 4–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a condition of the operation of the second ITV channel that coverage of sport on the fourth channel should be limited, in the interests of a balanced provision of programmes.

It will be for the IBA to achieve a balance of programmes over the two television channels for which it will be responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the Independent Broadcasting Authority's decision to give priority to constructing new transmitters for the fourth channel in Wales, he will reconsider his decision not to allocate the fourth television channel in Wales for Welsh language programmes; and if he will consider a separate control structure for this channel in Wales to answer the language requirements of Wales.

The considerations which led the Government to conclude that all Welsh language programmes should not be concentrated on the fourth television channel in Wales were explained in my message to the Welsh national broadcasting conference—a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. They are not affected by the decision of the IBA, which I welcome, to give priority to Wales in its plans for engineering the fourth channel. I intend to establish consultative machinery to achieve complementary scheduling of Welsh language programmes on the IBA and BBC channels, but I believe that it is essential to ensure that the responsibility for programme content of their respective programme services continues to rest with the broadcasting authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the fourth television channel.

I have received a number of suggestions as to the organisation of the fourth channel generally. I have also had representations on the following specific aspects: the sale of advertising; daytime programming; educational programmes; the quota of foreign programmes; access for independent producers; regional programmes; Welsh language broadcasting; and programmes from and about women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding his policy on ex-gratia payments to persons who have wrongly served prison sentences.

The policy of my right hon. Friend and of successive Home Secretaries has been to give sympathetic consideration to an application for an exgratia payment from public funds to a person who has been granted a free pardon or whose conviction has been quashed after his case has been referred to the Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968. Exceptionally, payments have been authorised in other cases where the circumstances were compelling and there has been some misconduct or negligence on the part of some public authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning an alternative site for a police training centre for the area covered by the North-East district police authority committee; and if he will make a statement.

Following representations from the police authority and Chief Constables' Committee for the area about the adverse effects of aircraft noise on the work of the present centre at Dish-forth, the possibility of moving the regional training centre to an alternative site at Middleton St. George, Teesside, will be considered by the Police Training Council at its next meeting on 23 November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take on the recommendations of the May committee on the prison service regarding the reorganisation of headquarters.

As I announced in my statement to the House on 31 October, I welcome the emphasis placed by the May committee on the standing and sense of identity of the prison service and I am considering its recommendations for a reorganisation of the prison department with that in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response, if any, he has had from organisations representing people employed in the prison service to the May report on the prison service.

A number of such organisations have made known to me some preliminary views on the report of the May committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about proposed changes in the immigration rules and the law of citizenship.

On the proposed changes in the immigration rules, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to questions by the hon. Members for Blackburn (Mr. Straw), Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) and Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick). I am not yet ready to make a statement on nationality.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the new regulations for the non-admission of fiancés of certain categories of British women, the following will be exempted (a) women born to British personnel on private contracts abroad, (b) women born to workers in voluntary organisations temporarily working abroad, and (c) women born abroad and adopted by British families resident in the United Kingdom.

As I said in my statement about immigration yesterday, I have not overlooked the fact that some girls will have been born abroad because their parents happened to be out of the country at the time of their birth. I would certainly intend to consider cases under (a) or (b) sympathetically for favourable treatment outside the rules where their parents were born in the United Kingdom and the marriage was not contracted for immigration purposes. My attitude to citizens by adoption will depend on the facts of each individual case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he plans to publish a White Paper on immigration.

The White Paper which was published yesterday is not on immigration generally but contains the Government's proposals for changes in the immigration rules. I have published these to enable them to be considered and debated by Parliament before final changes are made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the wives or fiancées of the 9,331 men admitted for settlement in 1978 was born in the United Kingdom.

Information on the place of birth of wives and fiancées of men accepted for settlement is not collated centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's policy on the allocation of an independent local radio station to those towns given to the BBC local radio but for which there is no evidence of BBC presence or interest.

It is the Government's policy that local radio should be brought to as much of the United Kingdom as possible, as soon as possible. Within this general policy the Government intend that areas which do not have a local radio service should, in general, be given priority over areas which have a service, or for which a station has been approved.Once approval in principle has been given to a station its subsequent implementation is a matter for the appropriate broadcasting authority. So far as the nine stations for which the BBC was given approval in principle last year are concerned, the BBC has indicated that it hopes to open two of these in 1980 but it cannot give a precise timetable for the other seven stations until it has concluded its discussions with the Government about finance.I shall, however, keep the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners needed medical treatment and how many were dispersed to other prisons after the events at Wormwood Scrubs on the night of 31 August; and what action he proposes to take in the light of the events.

Prison medical records show that 24 inmates needed treatment as a result of injuries incurred during the act of concerted indiscipline in D wing of Wormwood Scrubs prison on 31 August. A total of 33 inmates have been transferred from the wing to other prisons as a result of the incident. I have asked the regional director of the South-East region of the prison department to produce for me a comprehensive report on the events leading up to the incident. When I have received and considered the report, I shall report to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if official visits to D wing at Wormwood Scrubs are still prohibited; and, if so, why.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the fact that the regional director for the South-East region of the prison department, Mr. Keith Gibson, congratulated the minimum use of force tactical intervention squad on its handling of the disturbance at Wormwood Scrubs, he will appoint someone else to lead the internal inquiry into the disturbance.

No. Mr. Gibson has offered no personal congratulations of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners convicted of offences in England and Wales connected with the Provisional IRA have become eligible to apply for parole, and how many have been released on parole, since 1976.

Of the 26 prisoners convicted of offences believed to have been connected with Irish republican organisations and who have become eligible since 1976, none has been released on parole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the present level of police recruitment.

At 30 September 1979, the strength of the police service in England and Wales was 112,941, an increase of 3,416 so far this year. As a result of increased recruitment and reduced wastage, many forces are close to establishment and this is a cause for satisfaction; but there are still substantial deficiencies in some areas, especially London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement regarding the estimated cost, the staffing arrangements and other matters concerning the proposed new detention centres for young offenders.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to questions by the hon. Members for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) and Melton (Mr. Latham).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with present legislation governing the distribution, sale and licensing of counter-espionage, bugging, and other devices, especially those involving the use of telephones and radio equipment.

There is at present no such general legislation and I have no plans for any. Radio used illicitly for bugging is, however, prohibited under the terms of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949; and I exercise my licensing powers under that Act so as to support this prohibition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to commence the implementation of the recommendations of the May report on the prison service.

In my statement to the House on 31 October. I announced that the Government for their part accepted and were prepared to implement all the May committee's recommendations on pay and allowances. I am considering the committee's wide-ranging recommendations in other areas and hopes to reach decisions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the report of the May committee, he can indicate what additional funds will now be made available to improve and modernise those prisons whose needs are highlighted in the report.

As part of the present building programme, work is planned to improve and modernise existing prisons but I am reviewing this programme in the light of the May committee recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to increase expenditure on the prison building programme.

At a time of scarce public resources, the prison building programme already provides for 5,000 new places in refurbished establishments and in new prisons by the late 1980s. I am reviewing this programme in the light of the May committee recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for his inspectors to visit the laboratories at the University of Sussex which use live animals for experiments.

The school of biological sciences, University of Sussex, was visited on 8 October. Further visits will be made in accordance with normal inspection arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of the action taken by the police and football club managements to combat football hooliganism.

I am naturally concerned about continuing outbreaks of violence associated with football matches, and although much is already being done by the police and the clubs I am considering with my colleagues what further action can be taken to combat the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why magistrates serve on police authorities.