asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nursery schools have been closed since May 1979.

Records are available only from May 1980, when the closure of nursery schools became subject to section 12(1)(e) of the Education Act 1980. 28 statutory proposals have been approved since that date. In the case of 25, alternative provision was made by creating nursery classes in primary schools; in two others the displaced pupils could be accommodated in other nursery schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many assisted places were allocated at 11-plus in 1981 in the area of each of the local education authorities in England and Wales; and what was the average level of grant paid.

The take up of assisted places at 11 to 13 in 1981 at schools in the areas of English local education authorities was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what estimate he has made of the number of overseas students at universities, polytechnics and colleges of higher and further education, respectively, who have changed their status from "overseas" to "home" students as a result of the recent House of Lords decision on the issue;(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to universities and local authorities of the recent House of Lords decision on overseas student status; and what arrangement he now intends to make to enable them to recoup that cost.

We are studying urgently the implications of the judgment for both eligibility for mandatory awards and status for fees purposes. We do not at present have the information the hon. Member requests.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the purchase grants for museums and galleries allocated in respect of the financial year 1983–84.

Following is the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to remove local education authorities' power to veto children from maintained schools taking advantage of sixth form places; and if he will make a statement.

The veto requirement was included in the regulations because of worries expressed by local authorities, when the scheme was being planned, that wholesale transfers by assisted sixth form places could seriously weaken the sixth forms of some maintained schools. However, a survey of local education authorities' decisions about transfers to assisted sixth form places in 1982 showed that there were nationally fewer than 80 applications for such transfers. It is clear that local authorities' original worries have proved to be unfounded. I have therefore concluded that the veto power is unnecessary and a proposal to remove it is included in draft amendments to the Education (Assisted Places) Regulations 1980, which I am laying before the House today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in secondary schools in Wales at the most recently available date are recognised by the relevant local education authority as handicapped; and, of these, how many (a) attend designated special classes or units on (i) a full-time basis and (ii) a part-time basis and (b) do not attend designated special classes.

The latest available information refers to January 1982 and is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many handicapped pupils registered in January 1982 with local education authorities in Wales as having a need for special education, have that need satisfied at special schools outside Wales.

One hundred and three.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Wales, on the most recent dates for which information is available, assessed as needing special education were awaiting (a) day places and (b) boarding places at special schools.

In January 1982, the latest date for which information is available, the number of children assessed as needing special education who were awaiting day places at special schools was 417, while the number awaiting boarding places was 44.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many classes there are in Wales according to the most recent primary school statistical return for (a) nursery and infant and (b) juniors in which Welsh is the sole or main medium of instruction; and what proportion these constitute of the total number of classes in each category.

The latest available information refers to September 1981, and is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of workers in Wales on the temporary short-time working compensation scheme, at the end of each quarter since 1 April 1980; and if he will estimate the total number of workers that have benefited from this scheme in Wales since its inception.

The information specifically relates to each quarter and based on the numbers of workers for whom payments are made is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons were undertaking recognised apprenticeships in Wales at the latest date for which the information is available; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous five years.

Comprehensive information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been decided about the future of the civilian work force at RAF Kemble; and if he will make a statement.

Agreement in principle has now been reached for the United States air force to make use of the facilities at RAF Kemble for aircraft and equipment maintenence work. This agreement will result in continued employment at RAF Kemble, with about 300 civilian posts being retained from April 1983. In the longer term, employment opportunities could reach about 450 to 500 posts. The details of the agreement are still subject to finalisation. The trade union side will be consulted in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has now finally determined what will happen to the Argentine dead in the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

The bodies of Argentine dead buried in the Falkland Islands are now being exhumed from their temporary graves. Wherever possible the bodies are being identified. They are to be reburied in a single cemetery on the Falklands at Darwin. Should the Argentine Government wish the bodies to be repatriated this will be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many relations of personnel killed in the Falkland Islands have elected to visit the islands; when such visits will take place; what conditions will apply; what modes of transport will be used; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces told the hon. Member on 14 December 1982—[Vol. 31, c. 60]—the next of kin of those who were lost at sea or who are buried on the Falklands are being given an opportunity to visit the islands. The next of kin have now been approached, but it is too early to say what the numbers wishing to make the trip will be. The visit will take place in April, and each of the next of kin will be entitled to be accompanied by two companions. The journey will be made partly by air and partly by chartered ship, and will take about 10 days in all, including time spent on and around the islands. The costs of the trip will be met in full by the Ministry of Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will institute an independent survey into the health of the 12,000 British service men who took part in nuclear bomb tests in the Pacific in the 1950s.

The Ministry of Defence announced on 12 January 1983 that it would commision a health survey covering those British personnel who participated in the British atmospheric nuclear test programme in the 1950s. Independent radiological protection authorities will be invited to participate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of men aged 18 to 24 years who were involved during or after the British nuclear test explosions in the 1950s died from blood cancer; and how that compares with the proportion of men of similar age in the rest of the British population.

These data are not directly available. The health survey announced by the Ministry of Defence on 12 January 1983 is specifically designed to produce them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an official visit to the dependent territory of Gibraltar to study at first hand the proposals for the commercialisation of the Gibraltar dockyard; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has, at present, no plans to visit Gibraltar. Officials of the Ministry of Defence, together with those of other Government Departments, are involved in discussions on the possible future commercialisation of the Gibraltar dockyard.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if plans are being made for how the media should be involved in the event, or likely or possible event, of the outbreak of hostilities in another war theatre; and what are the broad outlines of any such plans.

Yes. As explained by my officials in evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee in October, all operational contingency plans are being reviewed to establish clear guidelines for the handling of the media in times of tension and war. The details of accreditation, transport and communications will vary in the light of differing operational circumstances. Guidelines will be discussed with editors as the review of contingency plans progresses over the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many appeals to Scottish industrial tribunals there have been in each year since 1980; and how many appeals by employees against dismissal have been successful.

Information on the number of unfair dismissal cases dealt with in 1982 is not yet available. The information for 1980 and 1981 in relation to Scotland is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultation the Manpower Services Commission carried out, and with which bodies, in regard to its "Report of the Planned Review of Employment Service Division Head Office Branches (ESG, ESM and ESS)", and if he will make a statement on the views expressed to the commission.

The review was part of a regular programme of staffing reviews examining the need for the work and the proper staffing and grading levels required. Such reviews are an internal management matter for the Commission and outside bodies are not consulted: neither would I expect them to be so.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many civil servants, and of what grades, the Manpower Services Commission expects will be employed in Manpower Services Commission branches specifically concerned with the employment and rehabilitation of disabled people by 1 May 1983; and how the figures compare by branch, number and grade with staff levels at 1 May 1981.

The number of civil servants by grade employed in the Manpower Services Commission's branches concerned with the employment and rehabilitation of disabled people on 1 April 1981, the nearest convenient quarter date, was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will reconsider the Manpower Services Commission's decision to drop the local market emphasis of Sheltered Employment Procurement and Consultancy Services; and if he has discussed his priorities in this regard with the National League of the Blind and Disabled.

The Manpower Services Commission has not made any decision about the local market emphasis of sheltered employment procurement and consultancy services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to whom the Manpower Services Commission's "Report of the Planned Review of Employment Service Division Head Office Branches (ESG, ESM and ESS)" has been sent; and what criteria were followed in deciding the distribution.

There is a code of practice within the Civil Service on the distribution of staff inspection reports and in accordance with this code the report has been sent to employment service division management and to the trade union side of the division's Whitley council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people entered into apprenticeships in 1982–83; and how many entered in each of the preceding five years.

It is estimated that about 45,000 young people entered apprenticeships in 1982–83. Estimated figures for the preceding five years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive has further examined the possible human carcinogenicity of chrysoidine dye; whether it has had consultations with Imperial Chemical Industries on its use and conditions of sale; and if he will make a statement.

The DHSS committee on carcinogenicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment has been consulted. It has indicated that it considers the epidemiological studies currently available are not helpful in assessing the carcinogenic potential of chrysoidine in humans, but that manufacturers of the dye should be advised to take necessary protective measures to prevent accidental ingestion of chrysoidine by their employees.The Health and Safety Executive has now decided to seek the advice of the Health and Safety Commission's advisory committee on toxic substances. The HSE has not consulted Imperial Chemical Industries. Questions relating to the sale of the dye to consumers are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount of allocations made to the United Kingdom from the European social fund in 1982; and if he will make a statement.

The Commission of the European Communities recently announced the fifth and final batch of allocations from the European Social Fund for 1982. For the year as a whole, the United Kingdom has been allocated a total of some £257·6 million, compared with £141·1 million in 1981.Of this year's allocations to the United Kingdom, some £151 million is for training and employment schemes for young people, £65 million for training and employment schemes for adults in the Assisted Areas and £23 million for schemes to train handicapped people for open employment. Schemes operated by Government Departments, the Manpower Services Commission, the Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development, nationalised industries, local authorities, private firms and voluntary organisations have all received allocations.Since our accession to the Community more than £960 million has been allocated to the United Kingdom in grants from the European Social Fund. This represents a substantial, and very welcome, contribution from the European Community to training and employment schemes in this country, especially for young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the first payments will be made to employers under the job splitting scheme.

The scheme is a new employment measure announced by the Chancelor on 27 July 1982 to commence this month. Initial claims are now being received and provision has been made in the 1982–83 Winter Supplementary Estimates under Class IV Vote 14 Subhead A6. Pending Parliamentary approval of the Estimates expenditure will be met by repayable advances from the contingencies fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department has collected information on, or is aware of, the effects of long-term exposure to the use of low-hydrogen rods in welding upon human bone structure.

The Health and Safety Executive is aware of the toxicity of the constituents of the fluxes employed in welding and in particular is aware of the potential hazard of the effects of the fluoride content.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current earnings profile (a) of those under 18 years and (b) of those under 21 years.

The latest available information is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 20 January.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings, including one with Afghans who are resisting the Soviet occupation. Later today I shall be leaving for an official visit to Yorkshire.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to establish an inquiry under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the "General Belgrano" and into related events from 30 April to 4 May.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if, once the Committee of Privy Councillors chaired by Lord Franks has reported, she will review the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to answer further parliamentary questions on the sinking of the "General Belgrano".

I have nothing to add to the replies I have already given to the hon. Member on the sinking of the "General Belgrano". The sinking was not examined by the Falkland Islands review since this covered events leading up to the invasion of the Falkland Islands.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Royal Navy ships taking part in exercise Springtrain carried full operational stocks of weapons and supplies.

Normal peacetime outfits were carried.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to deal with representatives of all sections of trade union opinion when official meetings on industrial policy are held.

This is already done where appropriate.

asked the Prime Minister if she will consider expanding the export credit guarantee scheme so as to be able to assist British exporters who have secured substantial orders from state Governments in Commonwealth countries; and if she will make a statement.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department is already able to support such export business wherever the risks of non-payment are acceptable.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will issue general guidance to all local authorities with coastal resorts within their boundaries to help ensure that adequate life-saving equipment and facilities are always available within such areas and that regular checks are made to see that such equipment and facilities, especially life belts, are in proper working order.

Technical advice on the provision of lifebuoys and approved types of associated equipment is available from the marine offices of the Department of Trade. Local authorities have a discretionary power under section 234 of the Public Health Act 1936 to provide lifesaving appliances.

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on 22 December, concerning transfers between the diplomatic service and home Departments, Official Report, c. 550, if she will break down the figures to indicate which home Departments civil servants were transferred to or from.

The breakdown of figures for loans of personnel between the home Civil Service and the diplomatic service since May 1979 is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will now consider updating the £10,000 interim payment under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 to take account of rises in the cost of living.

We have no present intention to do so. We believe that the way forward is to provide improvements for the disabled generally when resources become available.

asked the Prime Minister what has been the number of claims, both total and successful, brought under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

The information available is as follows:

asked the Prime Minister in how many instances a successful applicant for damages under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 has been refused supplementary benefit.

Information about the number of claimants refused supplementary benefit because of a vaccine damage payment could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost, but some 150 supplementary benefit claims have been made by persons who have received such a payment.

asked the Prime Minister whether she intends to hold talks on the deployment of cruise missiles in Europe with the President of the United States of America and other leaders of European countries.

NATO'S double decision on force modernisation and arms control negotiations was on the agenda of the NATO summit in Bonn, which I attended last June. I have discussed the subject further with individual allied leaders whom I have met since. It will remain on the agenda of my talks with Western leaders, including Vice-President Bush who comes to London in February.

asked the Prime Minister how many cruise missiles are intended to be based in the United Kingdom by December 1984; and how many warheads targeted on the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics this will represent.

In the absence of concrete results in the arms control negotiations in Geneva, 160 cruise missiles each with a single warhead will be based in the United Kingdom beginning in December 1983. The deployment programme will be spread over several years, but it is too early to say how many will be in place by December 1984. Deployment can, of course, be halted or reversed at any stage depending upon the outcome of the Geneva negotiations. It is not our practice to discuss targeting policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the £6·1 million promised to Dunlop Ltd. in her speech of 29 July 1980, Official Report, Volume 989, c. 1311, has been claimed by the company.

The scope of the package of projects has been changed. Claims against some of the individual projects have been received.

asked the Prime Minister in how many cases the Department of Health and Social Security has granted war widows' pensions to widows of British service men involved during or after British nuclear test explosions in the 1950s; and in how many of those cases the Ministry of Defence has refused to allow extra families payments normally granted to war widows of British service men similarly involved.

I regret that this information could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Once a claim for a war widow's pension has been decided the Department of Health and Social Security has no reason to retain a record of individual circumstances or causes of death. To attempt to obtain the necessary information would mean examining each individual war widow's pension award since the time of the nuclear tests.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make a statement on the case of Lance-Corporal Aldridge.

On 18 January Lance-Corporal Aldridge pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act 1920, and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The charge was that on various days between 18 August and 14 September 1982 in the United Kingdom he did certain acts preparatory to communicating to another person, for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, documents calculated to be useful to an enemy.In accordance with the procedure outlined to the House by my predecessor on 10 May 1965, after consulting the chairman of the Security Commission and the right hon. Gentleman, the Leader of the Opposition, I referred this case to the Security Commission on 23 December. The terms of reference were as follows:

asked the Lord President of the Council what were the total takings in the refreshment department's souvenir kiosk in the six week period before (a) the Christmas Recess and (b) the Summer Recess in 1982; and whether the levels of wages paid reflected the increased work load.

I have been asked to reply.The total takings in the Refreshment Department's souvenir kiosk in the six-week periods before

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he is taking to establish standards for the transmission of vision signals over fibre optics cables; to what extent the adoption of digital standards over long distances will be possible; and how he will resolve this with MAC standards for reception by the receiver in the home.

As my hon. Friend knows the work of the technical working group for standards for wideband cable systems will include, where necessary, the preparation of draft British Standards for all the services that they can anticipate being provided on future cable systems whether in digital or analogue format. Where appropriate they will also produce draft standards to cover the relaying to cable subscribers of the signals transmitted by the United Kingdom direct broadcast satellite which will use the MAC transmission standard.I understand that the technical working group's sub-group looking at optical fibre is confident that the standards issue will not inhibit the fullest possible use of optical fibre in wideband cable systems.The trunk interconnection of individual cable networks will be the exclusive province of BT and Mercury. My understanding is that the technical and economic advantages of optical fibre cables for most interconnections are such that both are likely to want to use fibres and probably digital techniques.It would not be consistent with our approach towards technical matters to impose a specific transmission technique on any of the companies concerned so long as the systems concerned possess the appropriate service capabilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if his Department investigates the transfer pricing policy of multinational companies before deciding whether a request for assistance under the Industry Act 1972 is to be granted.

It depends on the individual case. Assistance is given through a number of schemes whose criteria differ to some extent. The coverage and depth of appraisal depend on the form of the scheme in question and the size and significance of each case. In some cases it is necessary to consider a company's transfer pricing policy in order to decide whether or not the criteria are met, and in such cases appraisal covers this aspect.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will review the areas whose assisted area status was downgraded by his predecessor with particular reference to the towns and villages in the Grampian region, in view of the escalation of redundancies in these areas.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, in his statement to the House on 28 June 1982 about assisted areas—[Vol. 26, c. 616]—referred to the Government's recognition of the need to maintain reasonable stability in regional policy if industry is to take account of it in making investment decisions. For this reason we do not envisage making any further changes in the assisted areas during the lifetime of this Parliament, other than in the most exceptional circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will take steps to control imports of rear cycle lamps which do not conform to British standards;(2) if he will take steps to protect and maintain the jobs of workers producing rear cycle lamps, a product under threat from imported lamps which do not conform to British standards.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how the nature of Government assistance and intervention in companies' research and development, manufacturing and production policies in the United Kingdom compares with those in other European Economic Community countries.

It is not possible to effect a meaningful comparison between the activities of member States in the manner proposed in the question. However, the following table, which has been extracted from "Industrial Aids in the European Community", a report on a study carried out by the centre for the study of public policy, University of Strathclyde, and largely funded by the Department of Industry, gives an indication of the types of assistance afforded by the member States of the Community.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effects the decisions of Rumania and Brazil, respectively, to stop making principal payments to their commercial bank creditors are having on the free world banking system; and whether he intends to propose any changes in policy to the various international financial institutions of which the United Kingdom is a member.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of schedule D tax collectable in the year then current had actually been received on 14 January in each of the four years 1980 to 1983 inclusive for each of the 15 management regions of the Inland Revenue in the United Kingdom.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what surveys the Inland Revenue has carried out since 1977 which have measured or assessed the number of visits made to collection offices by the public; and what conclusions or assessments have been made of the total of such visits to all collection offices in the United Kingdom;(2) how many calls were made by the public to the Inland Revenue collection office in

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what were the main reasons for the number of Inland Revenue staff actually employed falling below the authorised staff numbers in 1982;(2) what was the average monthly shortfall between the Inland Revenue authorised staff numbers and the number actually in post over the period 1 May 1982 to 31 December 1982; and what was the average monthly saving on the salaries bill as a result of any shortfall.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid (a) in income tax and (b) in national insurance contributions by (i) those under 18 years and (ii) those under 21 years in each of the last five fiscal years.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of the Inland Revenue in applying the provisions of the amendments to the Industrial Buildings Allowance Act made by the Finance Act 1982.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to report the results of his working party on free ports.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Kensington, Official Report, 21 December 1982, c. 499, what level of tax allowance could be financed on a revenue neutral basis in 1982–83 assuming (a) that all tax reliefs and allowances were limited to the standard rate of tax, (b) abolition of the age allowance and (c) replacement of married man's and wife's earned income allowances by non-gender based fixed amount tax allowances which would be partially transferable—to the extent of two-thirds—between husband and wife, assuming (i) independent taxation and (ii) joint taxation of investment incomes for married couples.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 January 1983, c. 21]: It is estimated that, at 1982–83 income levels, the approximate levels of allowance required would be:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported in each year from 1979 to 1982 in the London borough of Newham on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis; how many arrests and prosecutions commenced and concluded there were; what were the results; and if he will publish a summary of the sentences and penalties imposed upon those found guilty.

I refer the hon. member to the reply given to his question on 18 November 1982. We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the metropolis that the corresponding information for the third quarter of 1982 is as given in table 1. Tables 2 and 3 give information on defendants charged with indictable offences where court proceedings were completed during 1981 at magistrates courts and the Crown court respectively and the initial proceedings occurred at a magistrates' court in the Newham petty sessional division. Data on court proceedings are not yet available for 1982. The other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.