asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the Harrier air crash at Wisbech on 21 September; and whether he will undertake in future to publish the reports of such inquiries.

The investigation into the accident involving two RAF Harrier aircraft on 21 September 1979 has been completed. The inquest into the cause of death of the three people who tragically lost their lives when one of the aircraft crashed on houses in Wisbech was concluded yesterday. The jury returned verdicts of accidental death.The two aircraft in question came from No. 1 Squadron at RAF Wittering; one was piloted by the squadron commander a very experienced pilot, and the other by a flight lieutenant from the squadron, who was fully trained and experienced for the planned sortie. They were flying a medium level air combat training sortie which had been properly authorised to take place in the airspace west and south of Wisbech. The first simulated engagement passed without event and in good weather conditions. During the second engagement, which was initiated about 8 miles south of Wisbech, both pilots were employing thrust vectoring in forward flight (VIFF).As is well known, the Harrier is unique in having the facility to rotate the engine exhaust nozzles. It is this that gives it its ability to take off and land vertically by deflecting the exhaust thrust from the full aft position to the vertical, while the element of reverse thrust that can be obtained by rotating the nozzles beyond the vertical is normally used to assist braking after a conventional landing. However, rotation of these nozzles to various degrees can also markedly increase aircraft manoeuvrability in flight; and, in particular, selection of the braking position can so rapidly decelerate the aircraft as to force a pursuing fighter to overtake. This gains a tactical advantage and also allows the Harrier's own guns to be brought to bear. Because in war Harriers would be likely to be opposed by enemy fighters, their pilots must be trained in all aspects of evasion and, if evasion fails, they must be capable of manoeuvring to turn the tables on the enemy. Thrust vectoring for these purposes is, therefore, a standard part of a Harrier pilot's squadron training.In what became the final part of their second engagement on 21 September, the leading aircraft, flown by the squadron commander, climbed to about 8,000 ft from a dive and employed thrust vectoring to reduce his speed. At this point his aircraft apparently yawed left and then right. The pilot of the second aircraft, who had followed the first aircraft in the preceding dive assumed that this aircraft was turning to the left and so continued on his original course. The first aircraft then yawed to the right and a collision occurred. At this point both aircraft were some 2 miles south of the centre of Wisbech. Both were severely damaged. The squadron commander saw his complete starboard wingtip and outrigger torn off and was obliged to eject almost immediately: his aircraft fell almost vertifically, crashing on open land about 2 miles south of Wisbech. The other aircraft suffered severe damage to the port wing; its pilot managed to retain control for a few seconds, but then it went into an uncontrollable dive and he too had to eject. By this time his aircraft had arrived over Wisbech and it crashed into the town destroyed three houses and, tragically, killing three civilians. Neither pilot was however seriously hurt.After careful and thorough investigation including examination of the wreckage and consideration of all available evidence, with statements by both pilots and civilian witnesses, the accident investigation has concluded that there was no mechanical defect in either aircraft prior to the collison and that a likely cause of the accident may have been an error by the pilot of the second aircraft in misjudging the speed at which he was closing with the first. The air officer who would be responsible for convening any court martial in respect of this incident has taken legal advice and has decided that the admissible evidence does not support any charge against any person.I should like to assure the House that this type of training is not intrinsically more dangerous than any other form of RAF training; this was the first accident in such circumstances in the United Kingdom for 10 years. It is conducted over the less densely inhabited areas but it is not permitted below 5,000 ft, nor over towns or heavily populated areas. As an interim precaution following this accident new rules have been introduced requiring Harrier pilots to be above 8,000 ft when engaging in this training, specifying a minimum speed of 150 knots when using VIFF and increasing minimum separation distances between aircraft. I have considered whether regulations should be introduced to require air combat training to be undertaken further away from towns, but from altitudes of 5,000 stand above out of control aircraft can travel a considerable distance before crashing; my professional advisers have concluded that placing a restriction of say 5, or even 10, miles around every built up area would be impractical and of no value and there is no uninhabited area in the United Kingdom large enough to guarantee that when an aircraft most regrettably does crash, it will always do so on open land. Nevertheless in the majority of cases it will and the risks to the public from this cause are really very small. The Wisbech accident was a tragic exception and I should like to record my own personal sympathy, and that of the Chief of Air Staff, to those who suffered loss as a consequence. I should also like to pay tribute to the excellent work of the emergency services on that day: the fire service, the police, and all the hospital services.Although I was very impressed at the speed with which the families concerned received immediate help with interim cash payments and offers were made to the local authority of RAF accommodation for those made homeless, I must confess to being concerned by complaints that the MOD was being slow to pay compensation. In fact every possible step was taken on the very day of the tragedy to inform likely claimants of their rights, and the procedures that should be followed. Advance payments were made in cases of immediate need. However, I accept that the process of negotiating settlements of the formal claims once they were submitted took longer than I would have liked and I have taken steps that should ensure that in any future such situation there will be no grounds for any complaint of undue delay. In future, potential claimants will be made fully aware of their rights and will be treated swiftly with sympathetic consideration.I, like my predecessor, am very conscious of the interest being taken by the House and the general public in the causes of military flying accidents. On the occasion of a major accident it has usually been judged necessary to make a full statement in this House. The question has frequently arisen as to the desirability of publishing the proceedings of boards of inquiry. Boards of inquiry are not courts of law. Witnesses are encouraged to be full and frank in their evidence and the board includes experts well able to evaluate both expert and inexpert oral and written evidence including technical findings. Boards of inquiry cannot themselves initiate any disciplinary action and publication of their proceedings could both inhibit witnesses in their evidence and prejudice subsequent disciplinary action, if appropriate. The scope for more routine releases of information on accidents has, however, been under consideration for some time now and I have decided that in future we will publish a full summary of the circumstances and causes of each military aircraft accident involving loss of, or serious damage to, the aircraft. This summary will contain as much information as possible, broadly to the same detail as this statement, and will apply equally to accidents to Royal Navy and Army aircraft.This is an entirely new procedure which is a considerable step forward in the general release of information by Government and will come into force today. I should emphasise, however, that for the reasons I have just described, the actual proceedings of Service boards of inquiry are, and must remain, privileged.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 January

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 15 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for Tuesday 15 January.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn).

asked the Prime Minister when next she will be meeting the Heads of Government of European Economic Community member States.

A meeting of the European Council has been arranged for 31 March and 1 April. The question of an additional meeting before then is for the Italian Presidency, and discussions with our partners are continuing.

asked the Prime Minister what further initiatives she intends to take to expedite progress towards more open government.

I have already asked my ministerial colleagues to make as much information as possible available. I am keeping the position under review.

asked the Prime Miniser if she plans to make a ministerial broadcast.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to meet the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Unless a meeting of the European Council takes place beforehand, I expect to meet Chancellor Schmidt at the next Anglo-German consultations, at present planned to be held in London on 28 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will consider seeking to move the May Monday holiday to St. George's day, or the first Monday following.

The Government have no plans for any change in public holidays.

asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with the progress in implementing the Government's programme.

I am never satisfied with the rate of progress.

asked the Prime Minister if she will visit Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.

I have no plans to visit Rhodesia at present.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Auchinleck.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what formal response has been made by Her Majesty's Government to Mr. Brezhnev concerning the withdrawal of units of the USSR's armed forces from East Europe.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun).

asked the Prime Minister when next she intends to meet the leaders of the Trades Union Congress.

No dates have been arranged.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to meet the Confederation of British Industry.

No dates have been arranged.

asked the Prime Minister when next she expects to meet President Carter.

I have invited President Carter to visit this country and he has accepted. No dates have yet been fixed.

asked the Attorney-General how many police officers were deployed full-time on the "further detailed inquiries" into sanctions breaking outlined in the Bingham report and referred to in his statement, Official Report, 19 December 1979, column 27.

I have been asked to reply.I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that five officers were engaged upon inquiries into matters raised by the Bingham report.

asked the Attorney-General whether he has received the communication dated 6 January from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West enclosing a letter from his constituent Mrs. G. J. N., a juror at the recent anarchist conspiracy trial, making a series of complaints; whether he will publish this letter in the Official Reporttogether with his reply; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received the communication to which the hon. Member refers and have already replied. It would not be appropriate to publish the correspondence. I intend to make a statement concerning jury vetting when I have completed my consultations.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many places there are in the public galleries of the House; if he will list each person or body that allocates these places; to whom each person or body may allocate these places; and for how many places each such person or body is responsible.

There are 157 seats in the Strangers' Gallery. Two admission orders for this Gallery are allocated by the Admission Order Office, by rot a, to each Member every nine sitting days, except Fridays. An additional six orders are available in the Admission Order Office for Members, and 11 orders go to staff of the House. Any seats not taken up half an hour after the House meets are filled first by visitors with cards of introduction issued by embassies and high commissions, and then from the public queue.Applications for admission orders for the meeting of the House on Fridays should be made to the Admission Order Office. These are limited to two per Member and are issued in order of application.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give the total amounts of public funds paid out to each of the political parties since the inception of the scheme; and whether he will arrange for this to be published on an annual basis.

Since the inception of the scheme in 1975 the total financial assistance provided from the House of Commons Vote to the parliamentary political parties is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and in secondary schools at the latest available date for each of the metropolitan boroughs of Greater Manchester.

The latest information available, for January 1979, is contained in "Statistical Bulletin" 17/79, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will male a statement on the possible reduction and rationalisation of the present diversity of syllabuses and examinations for O and A-level subjects; what discussions he is holding and with whom; and when he expects to be able to make an announcement of his conclusions.

The Schools Council has recently submitted to my right hon. and learned Friend its views on possible developments in the field of sixth form examinations, compatible with the retention of A-levels. These views are being examined in the context of the sixth form examination structure as a whole alongside the proposals in the Keohane report. The scope for rationalisation at O-level forms part of the current review of the present system of examining at 16-plus. My right hon. and learned Friend has consulted the examination boards and other interests, but is not yet in a position to announce the Government's conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the income of the London School of Economics derives from fees paid for overseas students by his Department; and by how much the figure will be reduced by his change of policy.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to his questions about other schools of London university on 14 January 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will state to what extent over the past few stated number of years the average national wage has increased, on a cumulative or annual basis; to what extent on this basis Members of Parliament's salaries have increased alongside such national average improvements; and if he will give similar details for those in public services.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skillcentre places are there in South Yorkshire; and how many will be closed in 1980 and 1981.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies are being made by the energy technology support unit at Harwell into the use of microprocessors for energy conservation.

The Department of Energy's energy technology support unit at Harwell (ETSU) is currently studying four proposals including microprocessors under the Department's energy conservation demonstration project scheme (ECDPS). Two other projects have previously been approved. The development and more effective use of controls, including microprocessors to improve the energy efficiency of heating and industrial process installations has been recognised as an important area for research development and demonstration (RD and D) and was the subject of an ETSU review paper for the Department's advisory committee on energy conservation RD and D (ENCORD). Work on the use of microprocessors for energy conservation is also being carried out by other Government Departments notably under the Department of Industry's microprocessor application project.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the Council of the European Communities will act on the Commission's proposal to raise the ceiling of the Euratom loans scheme.

At its meeting on 20 December 1979, the Council agreed to raise the ceiling from 500 meua to 1,000 meua. The Select Committee on European Legislation had recommended that the proposal be considered by the House in the context of a general debate on EEC energy matters. I will be consulting my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with a view to arranging the debate as soon as possible. Her Majesty's Government allowed the decision to be adopted in advance of a debate in order to avoid delaying the granting of loans to United Kingdom and other applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether Sir John Nightingale has completed the independent review of security arrangements at Wind-scale and during transport of plutonium from the site, recommended by Mr. Justice Parker in his report of the Wind-scale inquiry.

Sir John Nightingale has completed his review and I have received his report.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to convert Didcot power station into a nuclear power station.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Prince Abdul Reza, the son of the former Shah of Iran, has been allowed to settle in Great Britain and to purchase property and have armed guards supplied by the United Kingdom; what guards are supplied and at what cost to the British taxpayer; and whether he will make a statement.

The hon. Member has written to me on this matter and I shall shortly be replying to his letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to allow not guilty pleas to be made by post for summary trials of motoring and other minor offences.

We have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the total number of staff employed in his Department on 1 May 1979 and the total staff costs with details for 1 January, and what action he proposes to take to reduce the costs of administration of his Department during the current year.

The total number of staff in post in the Home Office on 1 May 1979 and 1 January 1980 was 33,452 and 33,680 respectively. The increase reflects the priority that continues to be given to the prison, immigration and police support services. The monthly cost of pay expenditure in the immediately preceding month was respectively£16·8 million and £20·1 million. Measures to reduce staff costs are being pursued in accordance with the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department on 6 December last.—[Vol. 975, c.627–28.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, at the latest and most convenient stated date, the amount of fines imposed which had not been paid; to what extent these are in arrears for periods of one, two, three and more years; and what action he has taken, or intends taking, to recover these debts.

The total amount of fines outstanding in England and Wales, excluding inner London, on 30 September 1979 was £25,684,662. This figure includes fines imposed but not yet due for payment. Information on the time that unpaid fines have been outstanding is not available. The enforcement of fines is a matter for the courts. They have several methods open to them, including the threat of imprisonment and distress upon goods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the penalties imposed each year since 1970 on police officers convicted of assault following prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions, giving the number of police officers subject to each penalty within the range of penalties imposed.

asked chief officers of police to send me such information as may be available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown by police area of the 2,230 complaints made against the police alleging assault, as stated in the 1978 annual report of the Police Complaints Board.

It would be for the Police Complaints Board, which is an independent body established under the Police Act 1976, to provide such additional information as it has available on the figures published in its report for 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give the total number of staff employed in his Department on 1 May 1979 and the total staff costs, with similar details for 1 January; and what action he proposes to take to reduce the costs of administration of his Department during the current year.

On 1 May 1979 there were 9,500 staff in post and payments of salaries, overtime and employers' national insurance contributions for May totalled £4·431 million. On 1 January 1980 there were 9,187 staff in post; the most recent month for which payment details are available is November 1979, when the total was £5·025 million. In May no payment had yet been made in respect of the 1979–80 pay settlement; the November payments included a pay increase of 14 per cent. agreed by the previous Administration and also took account of increased London weighting.Efforts will continue to be made to reduce the cost of administration. In particular, the number of staff will be reduced following the review of the size and cost of the Civil Service, the results of which were announced on 6 December 1979 by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department. More generally, Sir Derek Rayner has been invited to assist in projects to help improve efficiency in selected areas of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received from the chief executive of the Greater Manchester council and the secretary of the Greater Manchester association of metropolitan authorities with regard to the need for retention of assisted area status and access to European development fund moneys; what reply he has sent; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 January 1980]: A reply has been sent to the representations of the chief executive of the Greater Manchester council and the secretary of the Greater Manchester association of metropolitan authorities about the assisted area status of Greater Manchester and the European regional development fund. The reply explained why parts of Greater Manchester are to become non-assisted areas on 1 August 1982, and that in accordance with the Government's policies to direct assistance towards the areas of greatest need, Wigan had been made a development area. Intermediate areas due to become non-assisted areas on 1 August 1982 will continue to be eligible for aid from the European regional development fund until then.

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many countries benefited from British aid in 1979.

127 countries.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the use to be made of the money and food aid promised by the Government for humanitarian relief to the people of Kampuchea will take into account both the continuing difficulties of arranging distribution of overseas aid to the needy people in that country, and the recent growth in the number of Kampuchean refugees in Thailand.

Yes. I returned, from my recent visit to Bangkok and the refugee camps on the Thai-Cambodian border most concerned about these problems as well as being greatly impressed by the good work of the various aid agencies concerned.I have accepted a request from the Disasters Emergency Committee that its constituent societies may use our grant of about £480,000 for relief operations along the Thai border as well as in Cambodia itself.5,000 tonnes of rice has now been bought on our behalf by the world food programme (WFP). That is double the quantity announced earlier. Of this WFP has already sent 2,300 tonnes to Kompong Som or Phnom Penh and will now send the other 2,700 tonnes, at my request, for distribution to refugees in the Thai-Cambodian border areas.On our contribution of nearly £2 million in response to the joint UNICEF-ICRC appeal, I am telling the organisers that, while they naturally remain free to use the United Kingdom contribution at their discretion, as part of their total resources from all quarters, for relief both inside and outside Cambodia, the Government are particularly pleasedthat they now intend to give increasing attention to the needs of the refugees in Thailand.The £17 million worth of aid from the European Community agreed by the Council of Ministers in October, to which the United Kingdom contributes about 20 per cent. of the cost, will be split about 50–50 between refugees in Thailand and on the Thai-Cambodian border on the one hand and the rest of Cambodia on the other. The European Commission is in regular contact with the relief organisations to ensure that the Community's aid is sent to those areas where the need is greatest and where it can be distributed with greatest confidence. The United Kingdom has played a leading role in ensuring that a suitable proportion is used for refugees in Thailand.All this action is additional to the aid being given to the refugees in Thailand through our normal contributions to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to the money, now about £90,000, which we are paying in this financial year to the British voluntary organisations towards the cost of their work in the refugee camps in Thailand.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list new hospitals constructed in Wales during the last five years; whether he has any plans to build new hospitals during the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Major new hospitals or extensions have been completed at Gurnos, Withybush and Newport—Royal Gwent hospital—and are proceeding at Bangor, Rhyl and Newport—St. Woolos hospital. As previously announced, major new building is planned to start in the next five years at Bridgend, Morriston, Wrexham and Llanelli. Decisions on other developments during the period—which, as in the past, will include a number of smaller extensions, renovations and replacements—will be made in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the total cost is to date of the working group on honey identification; what progress it has made; and what is its future.

The working group on honey identification was set up in 1977 by the previous Government to investigate the possibility of developing analytical methods to confirm the type or geographical origin of honey on sale in the United Kingdom; this did not prove possible. I have reviewed the work and have decided no further work should be carried out. The total cost of the study was £15,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the membership of the committee of inquiry into local government in Scotland.

The membership of the committee, under the chairmanship of the right hon. Anthony Stodart, is as follows:—R. D. M. Bell Esq CB; formerly Under Secretary, Scottish Development Department; and currently Chairman of the Scottish Council of Social Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the importing of Canadian herring was having no adverse effect on the price of herring landed from the Clyde fishery when it was open.

There is no evidence to indicate that imports of Canadian herring had an adverse effect on prices paid for herring during the 1979 Clyde fishery. The average price for herring from the fishery was 10 per cent. higher than the corresponding price for the 1978 fishery.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on a microelectronic programme in Scottish secondary schools.

Additional funds of about £300,000 are being made available to the Scottish Council for Educational Technology in the current year for the provision of microelectronic equipment on loan to selected schools and colleges. The major emphasis will be on studies in the application of microelectronics in secondary schools. Further proposals for a development programme in microelectronics related to the education system in Scotland are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the volume (I imports of (a) high speed steels, (b) tool steels and stainless steel bars in 1979; and how this compares with the figures for 1978 and 1977.

The available information is as follows:I Bars and rods (including wire rod) of high-speed steel

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will give the total number of staff employed in his Department on 1 May 1979 and the total staff costs, with similar details for 1 January; and what action he proposes to take to reduce the costs of administration of his Department during the current year.

On 1 May 1979 there were 7,604 staff in post and payments of salaries, overtime and employers' national insurance contributions for May totalled £3·441 million. On 1 January 1980 there were 7,238 staff in post; the most recent month for which payment details are available is November 1979 when the total was £3·950 million. In May no payment had yet been made in respect of the 1979–80 pay settlement; the November payments included a pay increase of14 per cent. agreed by the previous Administration and also took account of increased London weighting.Efforts will continue to be made to reduce the cost of administration by the elimination of waste and by improved efficiency. As part of that effort Sir Derek Rayner has been invited to assist in projects to improve the efficiency of particular areas of my Department. The number of staff will also be reduced following the review of the size and cost of the Civil Service, the results of which were announced on 6 December 1979 by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in carrying out the undertakings to monitor the effect of transferring the responsibility for adaptations of council owned housing from county to district authorities as set out in the Department of the Environment circular 39/78; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering, with Ministers in the Department of Health and Social Security and the Welsh Office, how best to monitor the effectiveness of the revised working arrangements set out in DOE Circular 59/78, which have now been in operation for just under a year. The local authority associations will be consulted shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied with the law governing third party insurance on Continental lorries generally; whether he has had, or proposes to have, discussions with his EEC counterparts with a view to harmonising regulations to ensure that British citizens who may suffer loss of life or damage caused by negligent driving by Continental drivers will be adequately compensated; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his answer, 14 January 1980]: Continental lorries are subject to British law when operating in this country and are therefore required to be insured against liability for personal injury I have no reason to suppose that Continental lorries are not so insured but in any event payment of due compensation is guaranteed under an agreement with the Motor Insurers' Bureau. The result is that a claimant for compensation for death or personal injury is in no worse position under the law whatever the nationality of the lorry or its driver.My right hon. Friend is currently looking into the question of recovery of compensation for property damage, liability for which is not compulsorily insurable at the moment whether the lorry is British or Continental. I shall write to my hon. Friend when this review is complete.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list in the Official Report the totals for each county council in England and the Greater London Council of local transport expenditure which he has accepted for the purposes of transport supplementary grant 1980–81, broken down by the main categories of expenditure, including revenue support to the British Railways Board, buses, and so on; if he will list the totals of transport supplementary grant, and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 20 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate).—[Vol. 976, c. 399.] The table referred to in that reply is repeated below for the convenience of Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why there are eight suites for officers of flag rank in the recently built through-deck cruiser which cost £215 million.

The ship will normally carry a flag officer to exercise command of a NATO task group: in consequence one admiral's suite has been provided. The latest estimated cost of HMS "Invincible" is £175 million, including £19 million for first-of-class costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he last visited the sovereign base areas of Cyprus.

My right hon. Friend has not visited the sovereign base areas, but my noble Friend the Minister of State did so in October 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present cost of one multi-role combat aircraft to Her Majesty's Government.

The unit production costs of the GR1 aircraft is estimated to be £10·1 million and of the F2 (air defence variant) £12·4 million both at September 1979 economic conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the launching of the cruise missiles will be subject to control solely of the United States Government or if there will be a two-key control.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 20 December 1979.—[Vol. 976, c. 321–22.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the proposed siting of cruise missiles in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have received some 720 letters and a few petitions on this from Membersof this House and from members of the Public. I also received a delegation on 16 November of members of Labour Action for peace.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when next he intends to meet his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation colleagues.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Scunthorpe (Mr. Brown).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will report on the conclusions reached at the recent meeting of the Ministers of NATO which he attended.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross).

asked the Secretaryof State for Defence what is the most recent estimate of the cost of a replacement for Polaris.

As I indicated earlier in answer to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun), the Government have not yet made a decision on a successor to Polaris. Obviously the cost of a possible successor varies between the options and is a factor in choosing between them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to announce a decision on the replacing of Great Britain's Polaris submarines.

Within the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the dispersal and location of nuclear missiles throughout the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's European theatre.

The nuclear missiles and other nuclear delivery systems based in Europe form one part of NATO's nuclear deterrent forces. Their dispersal and location are kept under review, but subject to such modernisation as is necessary I am satisfied that they form a credible and effective deterrent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what agreement has so far been achieved by the European Ministers within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council for the appropriate refreshment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear deterrent on the mainland of Europe.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House on 13 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now able to announce any decision on the provision of a new class of offshore fishery patrol vessel.

I have nothing yet to add to the very comprehensive information which I provided on 8 November.—[Vol. 973 c 756–66.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy in the negotiation of contracts with civilian third parties in relation to the imposition of the closed shop and use of non-union labour.

The Ministry of Defence imposes no conditions in any of its contracts regarding the closed shop or use of non-union labour. All contracts do, however, contain a fair wages condition which, inter alia, requires that a contractor shall recognise the freedom of his work people to be members of trade unions

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give the total number of staff employed in his Department on 1 May 1979 and the total staff costs, with similar details for 1 January; and what action he proposes to take to reduce the costs of administration of his Department during the current year.

The numbers of civilian staff employed on 1 May 1979 and 1January 1980 were 285,000 and 279,000 respectively. These figures include some 37,000 locally engaged civilians overseas and about 22,000 staff of the Royal Ordnance factories which operate a separate trading fund.The cost to Defence Votes of civilian pay and related expenditure was £101 million in April 1979 and £125 million in December 1979.A number of reviews of both administrative and productive aspects of the Department's organisation are being carried out, including catering and cleaning, quality assurance, bill paying, supply management, R & D establishments and the Royal dockyards and I shall be considering their outcome during the coming months. In addition, later in the year, I shall be reviewing all aspects of general administration costs in the Department, although these only account for a small proportion of total staff effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made in the method of making payments to Territorial Army soldiers since the recent bounty revision.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to build a special plant at Capenhurst in order to produce highly enriched uranium suitable for use in nuclear weapons, thus restarting production for the first time since 1963.

It is proposed to build a special plant at the Capenhurst works of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. to provide for the Royal Navy's long-term needs for fuel to be consumed in its nuclear propelled submarines. The development of gas centrifuge technology provides the opportunity to resume indigenous production of highly enriched uranium, obtained from the now outdated Capenhurst diffusion plant until 1963 and currently from the United States. Planning clearance is being sought from the relevant local authorities to provide modern facilities at Capenhurst. Subject to this, the Ministry of Defence will place a contract with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. with the aim of starting construction in 1980 and bringing the plant into service in the mid-1980s. The Ministry of Defence will pay for the project, which is separate from the collaborative programme with the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany for the production of low enriched uranium for civil purposes.As with all nuclear plants at Capenhurst, the safety and environmental aspects of the new facility will be assessed and approved, as appropriate, by the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive and the relevant authorising Government Departments. Design, construction and operating procedures will be to the same high standards as have hitherto been applied to all nuclear sites to ensure that there will be no significant hazard to either the work force or the local community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the Clegg report on nurses' pay and comparability.

The report by Standing Commission on pay comparability on the pay of nurses and midwives was published on 4 January (Cmnd. 7795). The report recommended various increases, ranging up to 25 per cent. for ward sisters and averaging 19·6 per cent. The Government have confirmed that the recommended increases, which are in addition to the 9 per cent. paid in April 1979, will be implemented by two equal stages, from 1 August 1979 and 1 April 1980. Additional funds are being provided to NHS authorities for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the 95p heating addition for claimants with children under 5 years will be paid in addition to the increase in the scale rate for the youngest children proposed in the Social Security Bill.

My right hon. Friend announced the Government's plans for helping poor fuel consumers on 22 October—[Vol. 972. c. 35–36.]—making it clear that the proposals for the automatic award of heating additions to supplementary benefit claimants with children under 5 were for one year but that the help given to poor fuel consumers in 1980–81 and future years is being reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to conclude his consideration of the possibility of a non-contributory maternity grant; and if he is considering applying any of the funds saved from removing the entitlement to welfare milk and vitamins from certain expectant mothers for this purpose.

Consideration of the implications of making the maternity grant non-contributory is still in progress and I cannot yet say when a decision will be reached.The funds saved by the limited changes in the welfare food scheme are being applied in accordance with the intentions announced in paragraph 37 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1980–81" (Cmnd. 7746).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 29 November 1979, when he expects to announce his conclusions on the study being undertaken by Sir Derek Rayner into the arrangements for paying social security benefits.

As soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the numbers of doctors and of laymen on each of the medical service committees of family practitioner committees in the West Midlands.

Regulations provide for each medical service committee in England and Wales to consist of three medical members and three lay members under a lay chairman and for the quorum for any meeting to consist of the chairman, one medical member and one lay member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of prosecutions instituted by his Department against persons for actual or attempted defrauding of the social services in any way; to what extent these were successful or unsuccessful; what were the amounts of money involved in these frauds; to what extent these cases were of persons convicted who have had their fines paid for out of public funds; how much money

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide figures for the estimated expenditure and numbers eligible in the year 1978–79 for non-contributory invalidity pension, housewives'non-contributory pension, invalid care allowance, attendance allowance, mobility allowance, invalidity pension, invalidity benefit and all other cash benefits and supplements payable to long-term sick and disabled people; and if he will list adjacently the actual expenditure and numbers claiming these benefits during the same period.

I shall let the right hon. Gentleman have the information as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which staff vacancies have been filled or approved for filling and which staff vacancies have been frozen and for how long in the Camden and Islington area health authority and in the North Camden, South Camden and Islington districts.

The information requested is not held centrally. The hon. is involved in the latter case; and whether he will make a statement.