Written Answers

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the development of proposed artillery locating equipment.

We are examining ways of improving our capability for weapon location. A number of United Kingdom firms are undertaking studies, and we are investigating the possibilities for collaboration with our allies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the United Kingdom's Army personnel are field and anti-aircraft gunners; by how much these figures have changed over the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will also give such estimates as he has as to the comparable data relating to the army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The field and air defence regiments of the Royal Artillery account for 3·9 and 1·3 per cent. respectively of the trained strength of the Regular Army. Equivalent figures for the last 10 years, and comparable data for the army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, could be provided only with disproportionate effort and expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the last five occasions since 1979 on which he. or his predecessors, used the powers in sections 16 and 17 of the Defence Act 1842 to stop up or divert any public footpaths or bridleways, stating in each case (a) the date of the stopping up or diversions, (b) the footpaths or bridleways affected by the stopping up or the diversions, and (c) the lengths of footpaths and bridleways stopped up and the length of footpath or bridleway created under the exercise of the powers.

The Defence Act 1842 has been used on one occasion since 1979 to stop up a bridleway. The details are as follows:

(a) 5 February 1985.

(b) Bridleway Molesworth No. 28.

(c) 1·17km and 2·15 km.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rights of objection the public has to a proposal to stop up or divert a public footpath or bridleway under section 16 of the Defence Act 1842.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when, and where, he next plans to use section 16 of the Defence Act 1842 to stop up or divert a public footpath or bridleway.

As and when the need arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-gratia payments were made in 1984 to members, ex-members, or dependants of former members of Her Majesty's forces; and what were the reasons for such payments.

Ex-gratia payments are made to members and ex-members of the armed forces and their dependants for a wide variety of reasons and no central record is maintained of the number of such payments and the reasons for them. However, no ex-gratia payments were made in 1984 in cases arising out of the operations of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, pursuant to his reply of 15 April, Official Report, column 66, to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North, he will list the individual clerical errors which resulted in £188,372 being returned to service pensioners as arrears of pensions previously underpaid, indicating in each case the nature of the clerical error.

Further checking has shown the estimate of £188,372 to be overstated. It should be revised to £187,091. The individual errors that gave rise to this total of arrears being returned to service pensioners are:

Category of error	Number of errors in the category	Arrears returned £
(a) Simple arithmetical error	59	37,853
(b) Oversight of further action	32	30,135
(c) Incorrect input to computer	25	21,573
(d) Incorrect interpretation of regulations	18	86,191
(e) Incorrect information passed to Paymaster General's Office	13	11,339
TOTALS	147	187,091

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, following the letter of the head of Man. S (Org) of his Department to Mr. T. G. Robson. Secretary of his Departments Council of Civil Service Unions of 2 April on the Rayner review of pensions, he will list what steps have been taken to check the state of affairs and put the matter right, where necessary, following the errors which have arisen in the course of the transfer of the original documentation on Royal Navy/Royal Marine pensions to the Paymaster-General's office.

A check of every RN ratings and RM other ranks pension will be carried out and the necessary corrections made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list all pensionable allowances in all three services apart from basic pay.

There are no allowances received by service men that are relevant to the calculation of a service pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rank categories were included in the transcription from manual records to computers of the three services for the purpose of the computerisation of service pension records.

In the computerisation of pension payment records the ranks affected were those of warrant officer class I and equivalent and below.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the computer storing Royal Air Force airmen's pension records closed down; what was the reason for the closure; and why manually recorded records are now being used to calculate airmen's pensions and to answer inquiries.

Royal Air Force airmen's pensions are maintained on either the Paymaster General's computer system at Crawley or the Director General of Defence Accounts computer system at Bath, neither of which has been closed down.Royal Air Force airmen's pensions are awarded by the Director General of Defence Accounts staff at Worcester. The calculation of these pensions has always been undertaken manually on the basis of information provided from Royal Air Force pay and personnel records. Manually recorded records have always been referred to by the accounts staff at Worcester prior to answering inquiries.

	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Below Higher Executive and equivalent	13	6	27	37	84
Higher Executive Officer and equivalent	14	17	32	44	67
Senior Executive Officer and equivalent	11	24	33	53	74
Principal and equivalent	21	28	19	44	89
Senior Principal and equivalent	6	7	9	23	32
Assistant Secretary and equivalent	5	7	8	13	22
Under Secretary	4	6	7	7	8
Deputy Secretary	—	2	2	3	4
Second Permanent/Permanent Secretary	—	1	—	—	1
TOTAL	74	98	137	224	381

Lists of the areas within the Ministry of Defence in which the individuals concerned were employed are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to establish the companies subsequently employing civil servants who have resigned from his Department in each of the years from 1980 to 1984; and if he will list each of the subsequent employers concerned.

Civil servants resigning from the Ministry of Defence to take up alternative employment are required to notify details of their prospective employer(s) where the company concerned is in a contractual or other special relationship with the Department. Certain more senior grades, of the rank of under secretary and above, are required to notify any intended employment. No comprehensive list of companies or bodies employing former civil servants is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to re-evaluate selection and

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has as to the number of civil servants who resign or retire from his Department and take up appointments in defence-related industries other than immediately after leaving the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

Civil servants resigning or retiring from the Ministry of Defence in order to take up appointments in defence-related industries are required to seek prior departmental approval before so doing. This requirement remains effective for a period of two years following an individual's date of retirement or resignation. The number of civil servants who take up such appointments within the two years is not readily available. The number who take up appointments after two years is not known to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down by grade and division within his Department the officials who have left to take jobs in industry in each of the years from 1980 to 1984.

The number of civil servants who made applications under the business appointments rules in the years in question are as follows:management organisation procedures in his Department in the light of the steady increase in the rate of departure of his civil servants for jobs in industry.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the reasons given by civil servants resigning from his Department in each of the years from 1980 to 1984.

Civil servants resigning from the Ministry of Defence to take up alternative employment are not required to provide specific reasons for so doing; but where such information is volunteered, the reasons given vary widely and include such reasons as domestic circumstances and better career prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how the recent reorganisation of his Department affected the defence research and intra-mural research committee; and what are its present functions and composition.

The defence research and intra-mural research committee (DRIRC) was replaced in the recent MOD reorganisation by a new body, the defence research committee (DRC). This committee has a similar task to its predecessor: to provide advice to the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) on policy options and priorities concerning scientific and technological research and, against the background of resource availability, to provide guidance to the Controller of R and D Establishments, Research and Nuclear (CERN) regarding the content of his research programme.Membership of the new committee includes representatives of the major R and D "customers", the defence staff, the defence scientific staff, and the office of management and budget. Other scientific advisers and representatives of other Government Departments may also be invited to attend.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the present functions and membership of the defence scientific advisory council.

The defence scientific advisory council is established to advise the Secretary of State for Defence on scientific and technological matters of concern to the Ministry of Defence. The chairman and other independent members are all distinguished scientists in the academic or industrial world, and their contributions to the MOD through the DSAC are much appreciated. Each is appointed in his personal capacity by the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which parts of his Department now handle the responsibilities formerly handled by defence secretariat 17.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are taken in his Department to account for documents and manuals containing sensitive information.

Ministry of Defence security regulations specify the measures to be taken, which vary according to the classification of the documents and manuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the classified defence documents found lying on a rubbish dump near the Thames barrier.

Investigations are in progress into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of these documents and it would be wrong to comment further until these investigations have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will re-examine the procedures for the disposal of manuals and documents containing sensitive information.

Security procedures are regularly reviewed and changes are made when necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the circumstances in which the plan of a proposed new security fence for AWRE Aldermaston were found in south-east London by two schoolboys near a rubbish tip.

Investigations are in progress into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of these documents, and it would be wrong to comment further until these investigations have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the documents relating to Tornado which were found on a rubbish dump near the Thames barrier.

Restricted documents relating to the servicing of the Tornado aircraft, reproduced on microfiche.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the documents relating to the Aldermaston research centre which were found a rubbish dump near the Thames barrier.

A plan of part of an internal security fence and of adjacent areas at AWRE Aldermaston, classified restricted.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by whom the propellor shafts of HMS Otter are being repaired; and if he will make a statement.

Replacement propellor shafts are being supplied by Devonport dockyard, where refurbishment of such items takes place. Their cost, together with the cost of other material supplied to the firm undertaking the refit, will be reflected in the final assessment of the overall cost of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by whom the hatch covers of HMS Otter are being repaired; and if he will make a statement.

Such work as is necessary is being undertaken by the firm carrying out the refit. If it emerges that new hatch covers are needed, they will be issued from Ministry of Defence stock.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what technical and manpower assistance is being provided to Humber Ship Repairers in its work on refitting HMS Otter.

There is an eight-man Ministry of Defence team at Humber Ship Repairers to provide technical guidance and oversee the refit. Additional technical advice is provided by the Ministry of Defence as necessary. The cost of providing all such assistance will be reflected in the final assessment of the cost of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many appeals have been lodged by soldiers with the Army Board in the last two years; and of those, how many have resulted in a successful outcome for the appellant.

A total of 30 appeals against the findings of courts martial under section 8(2) of the Courts Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 and 46 applications for redress of complaints under the Army Act 1955, sections 180 and 181, lodged by officers and soldiers reached the Army Board in the last two years. Their outcome is as follows:

	Upheld	Denied	Sentence mitigated/ Partially upheld
Appeals against CM	4	17	9
Redress of complaint	8	21	17

I should stress that only those redress of complaint cases that are not upheld by the intervening authorities reach the Army Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken toward pest control on the Falkland Islands; and whether any private contractors have been used for this purpose.

A military environmental health officer has been appointed to the staff of the Commander British Forces Falkland Islands. In addition to being responsible for pest control at all military establishments, he also advises the Falkland Island Government on pest control. I understand that the airport contractors at Mount Pleasant are taking normal pest control precautions and are employing a pest control officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which military personnel from other countries have visited the Falklands since 1983, stating in each case their country of origin and the purpose of the visit.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of waste from Porton Down have been sent to Re-Chem plants at Bonnybridge and Pontypool for disposal since 1975.

Available records show that since 1975 the chemical defence establishment Porton Down has sent waste to the Re-Chem plant at Pontypool for disposal under contract on one occasion, in 1983. The material comprised 30 tonnes of solid waste, in the form of salt of phosphoric acid. No waste has been sent to the Bonnybridge plant.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to invite tenders for further type 23 frigates.

Tenders will be sought in the late summer for the third and fourth type 23 frigates. All United Kingdom shipyards capable of constructing frigates will be invited to bid.As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said on 28 January, Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Limited will at the same time also be invited to tender for the second type 23 frigate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received following the award of the contract for the Royal Air Force trainer to Shorts; what is the substance of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

A number of representations have been received from British Aerospace. In particular, the company has expressed disappointment at losing the competition and said that it had believed that the final bid it submitted on 19 March for the PC-9 would have been cheaper for the Ministry than acceptance of the bid from Shorts for Tucano. This was definitely not so; the total acquisition cost would have been higher for the PC-9 than it was from the Tucano, as was also true of operating costs. British Aerospace has also asked both for the opportunity to be de-briefed on the trainer project which, following normal practice, has been granted and for a review of the ground rules governing such competitions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any contract for the supply of the Royal Air Force trainer has yet been signed with Shorts.

Yes. The contract was signed on 30 April 1985, following a letter of intent on 4 April 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether, subsequent to the receipt of Short's bid for the Royal Air Force air basic trainer on 14 March, any member of his Department requested Shorts to make a revised offer;(2) why, on 15 March, the controller of aircraft of his Department's procurement executive requested a revised bid from British Aerospace for the new basic trainer for the Royal Air Force.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 May 1985, c. 262]: On 15 March controller aircraft rang Sir Raymond Lygo, managing director of British Aerospace, to confirm that Sir Raymond understood that the bid received by the relevant MOD contracts branch before noon the previous day was indeed its final offer. Sir Raymond indicated that he was not aware that this was so and shortly thereafter submitted a revised bid. At the same time controller aircraft rang Sir Philip Foreman, chairman of Short Brothers, who confirmed that its bid submitted before 14 March deadline was its final one.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will state the ranks and posts held of the members of the procurement executive who telephoned British Aerospace on 13 March to inform it of the deadline date for tender for the new basic trainer for the Royal Air Force; to whom he spoke; and if the call was logged by his Department.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 May 1985, c. 262]: The telephone call was made by the principal director of contracts, air, to the group commercial director of British Aerospace. Telephone calls in the Ministry of Defence are not normally logged.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past the procurement executive has telephoned tenders for his Department's contracts or contracts worth more than £100 million giving the deadline date for tendering; whether this is the normal procedure within his Department; and on how many occasions such a telephone call has been confirmed by letter, telex or other written communication.

[pursuant to his reply, 3 May 1985, c. 261–2]: The original deadline for the receipt of "best and final" bids had been set by telex at 31 January. The telephone call made to British Aerospace on 13 March dealt only with the end-point for post-tender improvements to those bids and followed on previous discussions with the two firms who had submitted the most attractive bids. Written communications are the normal and preferred practice within the Ministry of Defence; the telephone is used only when this is more suitable for giving or receiving information in the time available, and such information is confirmed in writing where necessary.

Committees of Privy Councillors
Subject investigated	Chairman	Date appointed	Date reported	Cmnd. No.
(i) 1955-May 1979
Security	Marquess of Salisbury	November 1955	March 1956	9715
The Interception of Communications	Sir Norman Birkett	June 1957	September 1957	283
Security in the Public Service	Lord Radcliffe	May 1961	November 1961	1681
'D' Notice Matters	Lord Radcliffe	February 1967	May 1967	3309
Interrogation of Terrorists	Lord Parker of Waddington	November 1971	January 1972	4901
Ministerial Memoirs	Viscount Radcliffe	April 1975	January 1976	6386
Recruitment of Mercenaries	Lord Diplock	February 1975	August 1975	6569
Cabinet Document Security	Lord Houghton	July 1977	October 1977	6677
(ii) May 1979-present
Falkland Islands Review	Lord Franks	July 1982	January 1983	3787

Committees of Inquiry commissioned by the Prime Minister
Subject investigated	Chairman	Date appointed	Date reported	Cmnd. No.
(i) 1955–1968
Crown Lands	Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve	December 1954	17 May 1955	9483
The Organisation of the Atomic Energy Authority	Sir Alexander Fleck	October 1957	16 December 1957	338
Health and Safety in the Atomic Energy Authority	Sir Alexander Fleck	October 1957	19 December 1957	342
The Preservation of Downing Street	Earl of Crawford and Balcarres	July 1957	1 March 1958	457
The Windscale Piles	Sir Alexander Fleck	October 1957	17 June 1958	471
The Misuse of Official Facilities	Sir Norman Brook	5 November 1958	11 November 1958	583
Security at the National Gallery	Lord Bridges	26 September 1961	13 February 1962	1750
The Vassall Case	Sir Charles Cunningham	22 October 1962	7 November 1962	(1871)
The Security Service and Mr. Profumo	Lord Denning	21 June 1963	16 September 1963	2152
Higher Education	Professor Lord Robbins	8 February 1961	23 September 1963	2154
The Organisation of Civil Science	Sir Burke Trend	March 1962	23 September 1963	2171
Representational Services Overseas	Lord Plowden	30 July 1962	2 December 1963	2276
The Remuneration of Ministers and MPs	Sir Geoffrey Lawrence	19 December 1963	20 October 1964	2516
The Bossard and Allen Cases	Sir Henry Wilson Smith	9 August 1965	6 September 1965	2773
The Civil Service	Lord Fulton	8 February 1966	19 June 1968	3638
Defence Procurement	D. Rayner	October 1970	March 1971	4641
Dispersal of Government work from London	Sir H. Hardman	October 1970	June 1973	5322
Conduct in Local Government	Lord Redcliffe-Maud	October 1973	May 1974	5636
(ii) May 1979-present
Non-departmental Public Bodies	Sir Leo Pliatzky	1979	January 1980	7197
Value of Pensions	Sir Bernard Scott	1980	February 1981	8147

asked the Prime Minister if she will give a commitment at the Bonn economic summit to contribute at least 50 million dollars to the new replenishment of the International fund for agricultural development.

asked the Prime Minister (1) how many committees of Privy Councillors she and her predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the Privy Councillors investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported;(2) how many committees of inquiry she and her predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

The information available is contained in the following two tables. As we do not hold central records, we cannot be absolutely sure that it is complete.

The replenishment of the International fund for agricultural development (IFAD) was not discussed specifically in Bonn. IFAD is financed on the basis of equitable burden-sharing among its member countries. The Government contributed 5 per cent. of the share provided by OECD countries to the last replenishment, and we would expect to contribute a similar share of the next one if and when it is approved by the donors collectively.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy to give a commitment at the Bonn economic summit to increase the amount of aid allocated to agriculture, especially to subsistence farmers in the Third world.

I draw the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to paragraph 9 of the communiqué reporting the outcome of the Bonn economic summit, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister if, at the Bonn economic summit, she will reiterate Her Majesty's Government's commitment to maintain or increase resources for the aid programme for both emergency and long-term needs in Africa.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my statement on the Bonn economic summit, at columns 625–26, and in particular to paragraphs 7 and 9 of the communiqué issued afterwards, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister how much compensation was paid by Her Majesty's Government to the Irish Government in respect of the sinking of the Irish trawler Sharelga; and for what reason such compensation was paid.

An Irish trawler named "Sharelga" was sunk in the Irish Sea in 1982 after its nets were snagged by a British submarine. The Ministry of Defence accepted liability for the incident and agreed to pay fair and reasonable compensation. The amount of compensation is a matter for negotiation between the vessel's owner and the Ministry of Defence. No payments have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Irish Government in respect of this incident.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the Departments which were involved, directly or indirectly, in the decision to purchase the Tucano fighter trainer; and if she will make a statement.

No. The principle of collective responsibility applies to this as to all ministerial decisions.

	England			Wales			Scotland
	Rate Support Grant			Rate Support Grant			Rate Support Grant
	£ million*	per capita £	per cent. of local govt. expen.†	£ million*	per capita £	per cent. of local govt. expen.†	£ million||	per capita£	per cent. of local govt. expen.†
1975–76	5357·4	115	‡	427·5	153	‡	¶552·2	115	69·7
1976–77	5827·5	125	‡	463·6	166	‡	822·7	158	68·8
1977–78	5982·5	128	‡	483·1	173	‡	882·8	170	63·7
1978–79	6569·8	141	‡	511·8	183	‡	960·0	185	63·3
1979–80	7370·2	158	‡	589·9	210	‡	1090·1	211	62·5
1980–81	8659·2	185	‡	694–2	247	‡	1247·9	242	62–1
1981–82	9000·9	192	45·2	744·8	265	60·4	1503·1	292	61·1

asked the Prime Minister if she is now in a position to publish the European Commission's reasons for rejecting the Leeward Islands Air Transport view that the Super 748 offer from British Aerospace best fulfilled the procurement criteria of the Lomé convention; if she has had further communication with the European Commission on this matter; whether she has had any recent representations from Leeward Islands Air Transport; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development published the European Commission's explanation in an answer given to the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 26 February, at column 102. The European Commission is not involved with present arrangements to finance the purchase by the Leeward Islands Air Transport of four HS-Super 748 aircraft from British Aerospace; we have had no recent communication with it on this matter, and no representations from Leeward Islands Air Transport. Satisfactory arrangements have now been made for the package of two HS-Super 748 aircraft with finance provided by the Caribbean Development Bank, and LIAT has accepted Her Majesty's Government's offer of assistance from the aid and trade provision for a further two aircraft.

asked the Prime Minister what comparisons have been made between the relative rateable value of comparable properties, small businesses and industries in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively; and if she will publish this information in the form of a table.

[pursuant to her reply, Tuesday 7 May 1985, c. 310]: I regret that comparable information for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland is not available centrally.

asked the Prime Minister what was the level of the rate support grant, including the per capita value for each year, from central Government to Scotland, England and Wales, for each of the last 10 years; what percentage this represented of total local government expenditure for each year; and if she will publish a table.

[pursuant to her reply, Tuesday 7 May 1985, c. 310]: The information is shown in the table.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many police complaints have been recorded in the course of the miners' industrial dispute.

[pursuant to his reply, 4 April 1985, c. 719]: During the relevant period 14 of the complaints against the police received by regional procurators fiscal related to the miners' industrial dispute. Other complaints of a non-criminal nature may have been received by the individual police forces concerned.

Established	Title/Subject	Chair	Reported	Cmnd
1955	Administrative tribunals and enquiries	Lord Franks	1957	218
1957	Law Relating to Rights of Light	The Right Honourable Lord Justice Harman	1957	473
1958	Funds in Court	Lord Pearson	1959	818
1958	Business of the Criminal Courts (Commissioned by the Lord Chancellor and the Home Secretary)	Sir Geoffrey Hugh Benbow Streatfield	1961	1289
1958	Chancery chambers and the Chancery Registrar's Office	The Right Honourable Lord Justice Harman	1960	967
1959	Conflicts of jurisdiction affecting children	Lord Hodson	1959	842

asked the Attorney-General how many departmental committees of inquiry the Lord Chancellor and his predecessors have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them, and the dates they reported.

The following list, which may not be exhaustive, includes Royal Commissions dealing with areas in the Lord Chancellor's responsibility and other major inquiries most of whose reports were (or are expected to be) published by HMSO, and presented to Parliament; it excludes official committees and standing advisory committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure the preservation of the Mersey ferries during the three years following the proposed abolition of the Merseyside county council; and if he will make a statement.

The operation of the ferries after the abolition of the county council will remain the responsibility of the passenger transport executive, working within the policies determined by the new passenger transport authority.

Subject of investigation	Chairman	Date established	Date of report
Lorries, People and the Environment	Sir Arthur Armitage	24 July 1979	9 December 1980
Review of Railway Finances	Sir David Serpell	5 May 1982	20 December 1982
Pedestrian Safety at Public Road Level Crossings	Rt. Hon. Sally Oppenheim, MP	22 November 1982	20 April 1983
Review of Public Utilities Street Works Act (PUSWA)	Professor Michael Home, OBE	30 January 1984	Expected late Spring 1985
Review of Arrangements for Protecting the Clients of Air Travel Organisers	Sir Peter Lane	12 April 1984	7 June 1984
Review of Road Traffic Law	Dr. Peter North	31 January 1985

Information for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The list excludes standing advisory committees, departmental inquiries into accidents and public inquiries into road schemes. If my hon. Friend would like further information, I should be happy to write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many types of franchise exist in relation to service stations on the M1 motorway between London and Leeds; and if he will indicate the names and geographical locations of the company or companies involved and their responsibilities to retain continuation of their franchise.

I have written to the right hon. Member enclosing a list of the nine motorway service areas on the M1 between London and Leeds, with the names and addresses of the operators. Each operates under a 50-year lease from the Secretary of State. The terms of the lease are fairly standard and I am arranging for a copy to be sent to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether agreement has yet been reached between British and Soviet passenger cruise ship operators following the latest commercial talks encouraged by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

The Anglo-Soviet Joint Maritime Commission agreed at its last meeting that the British and Soviet cruise ship operators should meet to discuss the

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many departmental committees of inquiry he and his predecessors, including Ministers of Transport and Ministers of War Transport, have commissioned since 1955; and what were the subjects the committees investigated, the dates they were established, who chaired them and the dates they reported.

The following committees of inquiry have been set up since 1979.1986 cruise programmes to be offered in the British market. These commercial talks took place in early April and it was agreed that there should be further reductions in Soviet capacity offered in the British market. It was also agreed that a further meeting will take place in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend his Department's traffic study on the future of the M2 motorway to include consideration of the car and freight traffic projections to the port of Ramsgate and their implications for the A299 Thanet Way.

Our present study of the possible need for more capacity on the section of the M2 between junctions 1 and 3 will take account of future traffic expected to use the motorway to and from Ramsgate. The A299 Thanet Way is the responsibility of the Kent county council, but I have undertaken to keep under review the possible need in the future to bring this road into the trunk road network.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rail services closed within the Strathclyde regional council area since 1975, along with any future proposals to close rail services in that area.

The only line to have been closed to rail passenger services in the Strathclyde region since 1975 is between Glasgow and Kilmacolm.British Rail is considering whether to propose closure of a 500-yard stretch of line between Balloch Pier and Balloch Central. Financial support for this service was withdrawn by the Strathclyde passenger transport executive last December.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the minimum weekly gross pay receivable by registered dockworkers in the Port of London Authority;(2) what is the minimum weekly gross pay receivable by registered dock workers in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.

At the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company £125·50; at the Port of London Authority £120·85.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the output per person employed by (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company in each of the last five years.

Both the PLA and MDHC have reported significant productivity improvements in many of their operations. My Department does not, however, have detailed information, which is in any case commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many working days have been lost in each of the last five years due to industrial and other disputes in (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.

The detailed information requested is not retained by the two undertakings, but the number of working days lost in stoppages of work in the ports of London and Liverpool as a whole are set out in "Port Statistics" published annually by my Department and the British Ports Association, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been employed in each of the last five years in non-scheme ports.

According to a survey undertaken by the British Ports Association and the National Association of Port Employers, on 18 March 1983 9,514 people were employed in non-scheme ports. Figures for the other years are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) to what extent the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company currently is in receipt of assistance by way of grant loan and guarantee provided under the Ports (Financial Assistance) Act 1981;(2) to what extent the Port of London Authority currently is in receipt of assistance by way of grant, loan and guarantee provided under the Ports (Financial Assistance) Act 1981.

Loans and guarantees under this Act still outstanding are:

	Loans £ million	Guarantees £ million
MDHC	3·9	9·0
PLA	3·0	21·0

In addition, we are prepared to continue to make grants to both undertakings for the severance of surplus manpower. In the case of registered dock workers, these benefit all scheme port employers by relieving them of a cost which they would otherwise have to meet collectively through the national voluntary severance schemes. Grants for the severance of other employees are to be phased out.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much financial assistance has been given to (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company under the Ports (Financial Assistance) Act 1981 in each of the years 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984; and what is the level of assistance projected for 1985.

The information requested is as follows:

Financial Year	PLA £ million	MDHC £ million
1981–82	21·8	25·8
1982–83	39·8	70·7
1983–84	32·4	39·4
1984–85	23·2	8·5

The assistance to be given in the financial year 1985–86 will depend principally on the number of staff severed by both undertakings.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many registered dockworkers were employed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company on 1 January in each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive;(2) how many people were in the employment of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company on 1 January in each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive;(3) how many people were in the employment of the Port of London Authority on 1 January in each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive;(4) how many registered dockworkers were employed by the Port of London Authority on 1 January in each of the years 1979 to 1985, inclusive.

The information requested is as follows:

Year	MDHC		PLA
	RDWS	Total	RDWS	Total
1979	3,774	7,849	4,933	9,271
1980	3,260	6,806	4,578	8,597
1981	2,989	6,303	3,700	6,504
1982	2,215	5,125	2,851	5,269
1983	1,406	3,288	2,315	4,405
1984	1,497	3,114	1,948	3,601
1985	1,349	2,838	1,691	3,245

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have left the employment of (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company in each of the last four years; and, of these, how many were registered dockworkers.

The information requested is as follows:

PLA Year	RDWS	Non-RDWS	Total
1981	1,063	435	1,498
1982	801	386	1,187
1983	528	474	1,002
1984	348	124	472
MDHC
1981	709	478	1,198
1982	823	1,014	1,837
1983	95	287	382
1984	147	129	276

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many new recruits were employed by (a) the Port of London Authority and (b) the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company in each of the last four years; and, of these, how many were employed as registered dockworkers.

The information requested is as follows:

PLA
	RDWs		Non-RDWs
	Recruits	Re-allocation*	Recruits†
1981	Nil	214	49
1982	Nil	265	58
1983	Nil	127	20
1984	Nil	106	25
* The RDWs reallocated to the PLA are those surplus to other employers in the ports of London.
† Of the 152 recruits, 43 were apprentices or specialist staff. The remaining 109 were temporary cleaners where there was a higher turnover of staff.

MDHC
	RDWs		Non-RDWs
	Recruits	Re-Allocations*	Recruits†
1981	Nil	9	Nil
1982	Nil	Nil	3
1983	Nil	208	4
1984	Nil	Nil	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what trading profit or loss the Port of London Authority has made in each of the last six years;(2) what trading profit or loss the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company has made in each of the last six years.

The information requested is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to seek to amend section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 so as to make it an offence to drive while under the influence of solvents or gases.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the pass rate for each driving test centre in 1984; and how this compares with figures for each of the past five years;(2) what was the average waiting time in 1984 in each driving test centre prior to taking a car driving test; and how the figures compare with each of the past five years.

I shall write to my hon. Friend. Much of this information is not available and the available statistics will take a few days to assemble.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current stage of the inquiry into the loss of the Mhari L; when he expects to receive the report; whether the wreck is to be raised as part of the investigation; and if he will make appropriate arrangements for the burial of any bodies recovered.

My Department's inspector has not yet completed his inquiry. It is not intended to raise the wreck as part of the investigation, but fortunately my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made available a vessel for a limited period to examine this wreck. No bodies were found.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what view British Airways has expressed during his Department's negotiations with the Singapore Government over flying rights to Manchester; and what reaction his Department has given to such views.

I do not wish to establish the precedent of revealing the views particular airlines may express about inter-governmental air service negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why negotiations on an application by Singapore Airlines to open up flights to Manchester lasted for three days.

Since the Singapore Government first applied to negotiate a new agreement with us on 18 March 1985, I consider it extremely speedy that a conclusion was reached on 3 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why Manchester airport authority was not invited to participate in the consultations between the aeronautical authorities of Singapore and the United Kingdom over Singapore Airlines' application to open a service to Manchester.

These are discussions between Governments; airports are not represented at the discussions but are consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he now anticipates being able to announce his Department's preferred route for the Otmoor section of the M40 extension.

I am continuing the investigations announced last December into the possibility of finding an eastern route which would avoid Otmoor and the Bernwood Forest. I will make a further announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the sex and ethnic origin of the officer designated by his Department as equal opportunities officer.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1985, c. 27]: My equal opportunities officer is a citizen of the United Kingdom. I do not see the relevance of the question as to sex.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied with the equality of opportunities in his Department in so far as they concern sex and race discrimination; and what advice has lately been given to staff in his Department in respect thereof by the officer designated as equal opportunities officer with responsiblity for giving such advice.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 April 1985, c. 27]: Yes. All staff have been advised of the Department's general policy on race and sex equality of opportunity through office circulars published in November 1984 and March 1985.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what action the Bank of England took prior to the collapse of Johnson Matthey Bankers in pursuance of its duty to supervise the banking system;(2) whether the review of the arrangements for banking supervision will comment on the justification of the Bank of England's takeover of Johnson Matthey Bankers; and if he will make a statement;(3) whether the review of banking supervision will deal with the monitoring by the Bank of England's banking supervision department of Johnson Matthey prior to its collapse and the steps it took prior to the collapse to identify and seek to correct Johnson Matthey Bankers' difficulties.

[pursuant to the replies, 2 May 1985, c. 245–46 and 7 May 1985, c. 657]: As the hon. Member is aware, the answers which appear in the official record were not authorised by Ministers and the House has received an apology for and explanation of the episode.The Governor of the Bank of England will include in the bank's annual report to the Chancellor under the Banking Act 1979 an account of events concerning Johnson Matthey Bankers and the subsequent rescue operation. This report will be published and a copy laid before the House in the usual way.I have nothing further to add to the replies given in my name on 2 and 3 May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, with a view to reducing the amount of paperwork involved and the work load of Inland Revenue staff, he will take steps to simplify the processes involved in the covenant procedure; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1985, c. 95]: The repayment procedures must include checks that the claimant is in fact entitled to repayment and that tax has been deducted by the payer. In the case of covenants made by parents in favour of their adult student children, however, the Inland Revenue is intending to introduce, from the start of the academic year 1985–86, simplified procedures which meet these basic requirements. These will include forms to make it easier for parents to make out valid deeds, and a new repayment claim form introduced which is tailored to the needs of students. In addition, the Inland Revenue is preparing a package for students which will include leaflets explaining the effect of a deed of covenant on their tax, together with copies of all the necessary forms.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take in the light of the judgment of the European Court that United Kingdom powers to require value added tax on the open market value of goods in the direct selling field is of no legal effect.

A formal submission has now been made to the European Commission seeking to restore the vires for the VAT valuation provisions of paragraph 3 of schedule 4 to the Value Added Tax Act 1983, by derogation under article 27 of the sixth VAT directive. Customs and Excise are in communication with those traders who may consider that they have overpaid tax under the provisions affected by the European Court judgment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the rates of return in each nationalised industry for the years 1982, 1983 and 1984.

It is not possible to provide information for each nationalised industry on a comparable basis and no rates of return are yet available for 1984. Available information for earlier years is as follows:

Rates of Return on Capital Employed—National Accounts Basis
Industry	Rates of Return
	1982		1983
	Including Subsidy per cent	Excluding Subsidy per cent	Including Subsidy per cent	Excluding Subsidy per cent
Air Support Services (BAA; CAA)	5·0	4·9	7·4	7·2
Air Transport (BA)	–3·0	–3·0	6·9	6·;9
Other Inland Transport (NBC; STG; LRT)	–0·4	–16·4	–0·2	–18·7
Posts and Telecom (PO; BT)	5·5	5·5	3·8	3·8
Rail (British Railways Board)	–2·8	–9·6	–1·5	–8·5
Shipbuilding (British Shipbuilders)	–3·3	–5·0	–11·6	–13·0
Steel (BSC)	–10·7	–10·7	–9·2	–9·2

Figures for 1982 have been revised, following publication of the 1983 edition of "National Income and Expenditure ' and may, therefore, differ from those given in answer to my hon. Friend's question on 9 April 1984 at column 81underlying the rates of return for industries in the standard industrial classification division 1 (the energy and water supply industries), in particular asset lives assumptions, are at present under review by the CSO. 1983 rates of return, and revised rates for earlier years, are consequently not yet available for these industries.The basis for the calculation of the figures, which relate to all the public corporations in particular standard industrial classifications, was set out in the Treasury evidence to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee in 1981 (published as appendix 12 of volume III of its report "Financing of the Nationalised Industries" HC 348-III). The rates of return given are based on national accounts statistics and, therefore, differ from figures based on nationalised industries published accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted suicides there were in each penal establishment in 1984 and so far in 1985.