asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will set out (a) the number of employees, (b) the machinery and equipment and (c) other benefits in kind provided to the Official Opposition from public funds in addition to the assistance to opposition parties, indicating the estimated annual value in each case.

In addition to assistance provided to Opposition parties as Short money, assistance from public funds for the Official Opposition is provided in the sum of £66,559 for four office staff; £1,747 for office machinery; and £53,970 for other benefits in kind which include postal services, telecommunications and travel.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will indicate the average time taken by his Office to provide a substantive answer to letters from right hon. and hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will list those offices of opposition parties in the House in which photocopying equipment is provided at public expense other than through the funds allocated by the House to opposition parties.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 9 July at column 424 to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Minister with responsibility for sport will discuss the safety of sports grounds and how future measures might be financed with members of the British Greyhound Racing Board.

My working group considering the financing of safety improvements at sports grounds is concerned only with new and existing designations by the Home Secretary under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act. I will consider the need for specific discussions with the British Greyhound Racing Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many complaints there have been to the local government ombudsman in each year since the post was established; how many of them referred to cases arising in the city of Liverpool; and whether the complaints can be categorised as to their nature.

The hon. Member should seek this information from the Commission for Local Administration in England

ed the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the proposals in the Green Paper, "Reform of Social Security." on (a) central Government payments to local authorities for housing benefit and (b) cuts in the payment for free school meals will be taken into account when setting the rate support grant.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a full text of the European Economic Community requirements on vehicle exhaust emissions.

The most recent full text of the Commission's proposals was published on 19 June (COM(85)288 Final). This is subject to further discussion on a number of points. The standards for vehicle emissions on which an agreement was reached at the Environment Council of 27–28 June are set out in my answer of 3 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde (Mrs. McCurley) at column 395.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech at Peterborough on the opening of the new headquarters of the Nature Conservancy Council on Friday 5 July.

I have arranged for copies of my right hon. Friend's speech to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if a Minister in his Department will receive a deputation of tenants on Thursday 18 July from the Rosehill estate, Willenhall, Walsall, accompanied by the hon. Member for Walsall, North, to discuss funding for the modernisation by the local authority of its pre-war dwellings.

Because of prior engagements neither I nor my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing arid Construction will be available to receive a deputation of tenants from the Rosehill estate on that day.As has been explained previously, the responsibility for deciding whether priority should be given to modernising these properties rests with the local authority. It is not a matter in which Ministers can intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the protection of sites of special scientific interest; and under what circumstances or conditions the Government will authorise the development of sites of special scientific interest which meet the criteria for listing or protection under the Ramsar convention, Berne convention or directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds.

The Government considers that sites of special scientific interest constitute an important part of the national heritage and wish to ensure that as far as possible such sites are protected from damage or destruction and their scientific features conserved.United Kingdom obligations in relation to sites which meet the criteria for listing or protection under the Ramsar convention, the Berne convention and the EC Birds Directive are met by the site protection measures contained in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. In considering proposals for development, the Government ensure that the conservation and wild life interests of the sites are fully explored and are given every consideration alongside other national interests such as economic, social or defence needs. Where after the fullest consideration it is concluded that there are overriding reasons why that development should be permitted, every endeavour is made to ensure that it proceeds in such a way as to minimise the effects on the nature conservation interest of the site concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department to provide a substantive answer to letters from right hon. and hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

Information in the form requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, samples taken from records of correspondence dealt with during the period July 1984 to June 1985 indicate that the average time taken to reply to hon. Members' correspondence is approximately 3½ weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage reduction in real terms on public expenditure on housing since 1979.

Figures for net public expenditure on housing are given in table 2·6 of the White Paper on the Government's expenditure plans (Cmnd. 9428). But these take no account of the extent to which capital receipts have been available to increase investment. Gross capital expenditure by local authorities, new towns and the Housing Corporation fell by 19 per cent. in real terms between 1979–80 and 1984–85, compared with a reduction of 46 per cent. in the period from 1974–75 to 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has made funds available to local authorities to pay compensation following the making of discontinuance orders in relation to development (a) in national parks, (b) in areas of outstanding natural beauty and (c) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

There is no statutory power for the Secretary of State to contribute specifically to the compensation payable by a local planning authority following the making of a discontinuance order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to apply planning control to intensive livestock and horticultural buildings in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

The erection of farm buildings is within the limits specified in class VI of the General Development Order "permitted development" under that class. I have published proposals to remove class VI rights from new livestock buildings near housing, so that planning applications would be required; and proposals to qualify class VI rights in respect of farm and forestry roads and buildings in the national parks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those water supplies which do not meet any of the requirements of the EEC directive on water quality, effective from 15 July showing in each case how many people are affected and for what reason—that is, nitrates, aluminium or lead.

I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is able to announce the detailed arrangements for the local inquiry into the order designating the North Pennines as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Yes. The local inquiry will open at 10.30 am on Tuesday 8 October in the council chamber, county hall, Durham. The inspector appointed to hold the inquiry is Sir Stephen Berthon, KCB, and he will be assisted by Mr. G. A. Goulty, who will act as assessor on questions of landscape merit. We will ensure that the arrangements are fully publicised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to allow local authorities to tender for contracts offered by Government Departments for such items as highway maintenance and buildings; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 July 1985]: No. The Government have no intention of introducing legislation which will reduce the opportunities available to the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much Government money has been committed to the Alvey project aimed at developing technologies for fifth generation computers; how much has been spent; what progress has been made with the project; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many research applications have been approved by the Alvey directorate; and what is their total cost;(3) how many of the research applications approved by the Alvey directorate have been waiting for more than

The Government are providing £200 million towards the Alvey programme of which £133 million has been allocated towards 192 projects technically approved by the Alvey directorate. In total £10 million had been spent by the end of June on these projects.The work necessary to fulfil the objectives of the programme has been defined, and projects have been identified covering the greater part of that work. In general, progress has been satisfactory but there have been problems over the ability of the Science and Engineering Research Council to finance the academic component of some projects.The number of research projects technically approved by the Alvey directorate but which have been waiting to receive a full offer of the financial support agreed at the time of the approval are:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants are available to engineering companies located in Rhyl, north Wales.

Firms in Rhyl, including those in the engineering sector, are eligible to apply for grants under the regional and national schemes of assistance operated by the Department of Trade and Industry, and described in the guide "Support for Business". A copy of the guide is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that the European Economic Community requirements on vehicle exhaust emissions have now reached a satisfactory resolution on a number of outstanding technical points as mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield on 3 July, Official Report, column 318; if he will list those technical points; and how each of them has been resolved.

There have, since my right hon. Friend's answer, been a number of discussions in Brussels or, these points and negotiations are proceeding, but there is still much work to be done before they are satisfactorily resolved. It would not facilitate these negotiations to detail the points under discussion; however the United Kingdom has made clear that they must be resolved before the directive can be adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received from the British motor industry on the subject of the European Economic Community's requirements on vehicle exhaust emissions.

Vehicle emissions proposals have been the subject of extensive Ministerial and official correspondence and discussion with interested trade associations and companies over many months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated cost to the consumer of full implementation of the European Economic Community requirement on car exhaust emission of (i) a 1·6 litre car and (ii) a 2·5 litre car, including purchase price and running cost.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his estimate of the cost to the British motor industry in implementing the European Economic Community's requirements on vehicle exhaust emissions;(2) what assessment he has made of the effect on the viability of the British car industry of the latest proposed European Economic Community rules on exhaust emissions; and if he will make a statement.

The technology required has been developed or is being actively developed by British vehicle and component manufacturers. The costs will depend, amongst other factors, on decisions still to be made by governments of some Member States about whether and when to implement the tighter standards to be permitted; on the commercial responses of the companies affected; and to some extent on outstanding points still under negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has available regarding the number of per capita start ups for new businesses in both the last five and 10 years, respectively, from member countries in the European Economic Community; and if he will express the comparison in tabular form.

The information requested is not readily available in respect of other members of the European Community. For the United Kingdom the figures available, which are based upon VAT returns, show that between 1980 and 1984 approximately 820,000 new businesses started up.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the final date on which he will accept offers to buy the Hall Russell shipyard, Aberdeen; and if he will make a statement.

No date has been set. British Shipbuilders was asked to dispose of all its warshipbuilding yards by 31 March 1986. It remains the Government's intention to privatise Hall Russell.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department to provide a substantive answer to letters from hon. or right hon. Members during the 12 month period to the latest available date.

The full information which the hon. Gentleman requests is not available other than at disproportionate cost.For the latest month for which full figures are available, however, letters addressed to the Secretary of State by hon. and right hon. Members, to which the Secretary of State replied personally, were replied to on average two weeks and two days from the date of the original letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the advantages which would accrue to the United Kingdom if the proposals for completing the internal market submitted by Lord Cockfield were adopted; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have broadly welcomed the Commission's White Paper on completing the internal market and will work for quick adoption of those measures identified as priorities by the Milan European Council. This is a massive task but a genuine single market in goods and services is of vital importance in safeguarding our long term prosperity and in providing the basis of greater competitiveness with the USA and Japan.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he or any of his officials have had a meeting with the management of the INMOS plant at Newport about future employment prospects there.

No. Employment prospects at Newport are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. However, officials from this Department's electronics applications division have always maintained regular contact with the company, and continue to do so.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied with progress on the establishment and costing of the proposed duty solicitor scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government are considering urgently proposals from the Law Society, which is responsible for setting up the 24-hour duty solicitor scheme.

asked the Attorney-General whether the proposed duty solicitor scheme will include a nationwide telephone scheme to enable people held in police custody to contact friends or relatives to secure the services of a solicitor.

Decisions on this will be taken shortly.

asked the Attorney-General if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department and the Lord Chancellor's Department, respectively, to provide a substantive answer to letters from hon. or right hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

Neither my Department nor the Lord Chancellor's Department is able to provide the information requested save at disproportionate cost. However, the tables following show the average time taken to send a substantive reply to letters received from hon. and right hon. Members during February and March 1985.

Number of letters received		Average time to reply
Lord Chancellor's Department	296	17 working days
Law Officers' Department	91	11 working days

asked the Prime Minister what knowledge is available to Her Majesty's Government about the presence of a Soviet submarine in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands maritime exclusion zone on or about 1 May 1982.

It is not our practice to comment on submarine operations.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report, the letter of 2 July from the Falkland Islands Foundation on Ecology in the South Atlantic and her reply.

It is not my practice to publish private correspondence that has been sent to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of (a) 16 to 18-year-olds and (b) 16 to 26-year-olds in Wales (i) are currently unemployed and (ii) have been jobless for one year or more.

The available information relates to 16 to 18-year-olds and 16 to 24-year-olds and is based on 1984 population estimates. As at April 1985 it is estimated that 14 per cent. of 16 to 18-year-olds and 17·1 per cent. of 16 to 24-year-olds were unemployed in Wales. At the same date the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds unemployed for over one year was estimated at 2·1 per cent. and that of 16 to 24-year-olds 5·3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales have been unemployed for a) one year or more, (b) two years or more and (c) three years or more.

The duration analysis of unemployed claimants is available on the House of Commons computer. In April 1985, 75,573 claimants had been unemployed for over one year, 45,288 for over two years and 28,431 for over three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the number of jobless (a) 16 to 17-year-olds. (b) 18-year-olds and under, (c) 21-year-olds and under and (d) 26-year-olds and under in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available.

The age analysis of unemployed claimants does not provide data entirely on the basis requested. The available information for April 1985 is as follows:

Cumulative total of claimants unemployed
Age group	Numbers
16 and 17-year-olds	8,446
18-year-olds and under	18,969
19-year-olds and under	30,040
24-year-olds and under	70,312

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department to provide a substantive answer to letters from right hon. and hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

Letters received from right hon. and hon. Members between 1 June 1984 and 31 May 1985, the latest date for which figures are available, received substantive replies within an average time of 17 days.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state, for each day between 25 December 1984 and 10 January 1985, the number of applications for work permits under the special provisions for a limited number of places for unskilled and semi-skilled workers from the United Kingdom's dependent territories.

The number of applications between 1 and 10 January 1985 which fell for consideration under these special provisions is listed below. Because we considered only applications made in 1985, no record was kept of applications made between 25 and 31 December 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the date of application for each work permit granted under the provisions for a limited number of places for unskilled and semi-skilled workers from the United Kingdom's dependent territories.

The date of application for each work permit issued in 1985 under these provisions is as follows:

Number of permits issued
Date	Number
1 January 1985	73
2 January 1985	42
3 January 1985	16
4 January 1985	4
5 January 1985	1
6 January 1985	0
7 January 1985	5
8 January 1985	6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why managing agents for the youth training scheme are paid a fee for contracted places which are not filled; and what was the cost of fees paid in these circumstances in 1984.

The Manpower Services Commission pays managing agents a fee for each contracted place on the youth training scheme as a contribution towards their administrative costs in setting up and running a training programme. This fee is paid in advance to assist managing agents to prepare schemes, but they may be required to refund the fee if they fail to offer the number of places specified in the contract. Where, however, places remain unfilled through no fault of the managimg agent, the Manpower Services Commission does not normally require payment.Information on the cost of fees paid in 1984 for places which remain unfilled is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have registered as willing to work, giving details of their skill and experience, at jobcentres covering Sudbury and Haverhill at the most recent convenient date; and how many people were registered as unemployed for the purpose of benefit in the equivalent area at the same date.

On 7 June 1985, 421 jobseekers were registered at the Sudbury jobcentre and 385 jobseekers registered at the Haverhill jobcentre. These figures include some employed people seeking a change of employment and some unemployed people not claiming benefit. The numbers of unemployed persons claiming unemployment benefit, supplementary allowances or national insurance credits in the Sudbury and Haverhill jobcentre area on 13 June 1985 were 1,286 and 1,316 respectively. It is a condition of receipt of these benefits or credits that a person be unemployed and capable and available for work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a breakdown of the latest national unemployment figures according to standard under 18, 18 to 24, 24 to 44 and 45 years plus age groupings, by the standard under 26, 26 to 52, 52 to 104, 104 to 156, 156 to 208, 208 to 260 and 260 plus weeks duration of unemployment groupings as a total, and by sex.

The information relating to 11 April 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age and duration is available, is published in table 2·6 of the Department's Employment Gazette for June. This is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to Liverpool.

During my visit to Liverpool on 12 July, I carried out a series of engagements including meeting trainees on a Royal Insurance youth training scheme and visiting the Liverpool unemployment benefit offices, J. Bibby, Edible Oils' new plant at Brocklebank Dock, Bootle, the Albert Dock development, International Management Consultants Ltd., who are providing two courses under the training for enterprise programme, and also a variety of businesses set up under the enterprise allowance scheme at the new enterprise workshops, Brunswick Dock.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received alleging threats by union officials against members in connection with their voting intentions in relation to the political levy; and if he will make a statement.

We have not received such representations. Under the Trade Union Act 1984, a trade union's political fund ballot rules must provide for every voter to be allowed to vote without interference from, or constraint imposed by, the union or any of its members, officials or employees. My advice to trade union members who experience any such interference or constraint would to raise this at a senior level within their union at the earliest opportunity. Any member in this position has a right of complaint to the courts. Should a court find that the ballot had not been taken in accordance with the rules, the union could be required to stop spending on electoral and party political matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department to provide a substantive answer to letters from right hon. and hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. However, a sample survey taken for all replies despatched in the month of June shows that the average time taken to reply was 15 working days. If the hon. Member is concerned about a delay on a particular case I would be very willing to look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply by the Under-Secretary of State on 9 July, what are the main reasons for the reduction in the number of persons employed in the Common Market over the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jobs were lost in the Community mainly because of a decline in competitiveness, due partly to excessive increases in labour costs and labour market rigidities. Completion of the internal market, moderation in wage rises and the achievement of greater labour market flexibility would lead to growth in the number of jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many additional jobs were created in special employment schemes and in (a) community programme and (b) youth training in 1983 and 1984.

The numbers covered by the employment and training schemes and the estimated direct effect on unemployment at 31 March in 1983 and 1984 is set out in the following table:

	31 March 1983	31 March 1984
(a) Covered by Community Programme and Community Enterprise Programme	39,000	113,000
(b) Covered by Youth Training Scheme and Youth Opportunities Programme	240,000	285,000
(c) Covered by Other Schemes	378,000	247,000
(d) Total covered	657,000	645,000
(e) Estimated direct effect on unemployment	365,000	455,000

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the additional numbers employed in special employment schemes are included in his estimate for the additional jobs created in 1983 and 1984.

Participants in the community programme, young worker's scheme job splitting scheme, temporary short-time working compensation scheme, job release scheme, and training for skills, together with those on the youth training scheme who have contracts of employment are included in the estimates of the numbers of employees in employment. Those supported by the enterprise allowance scheme are included in the estimates of self employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many additional jobs have been created for (a) employees and (b) the self-employed in 1985 to date; and what proportion are part-time.

Estimates of the change in the numbers in employment in the first quarter of 1985 will first be available on Wednesday 17 July 1985. In 1984, the number of employees in employment in Great Britain is estimated to have increased by 142,000 and the numbers of self employed by 199,000. There was an increase of 184,000 female employees in part-time jobs in 1984; corresponding figures for part-time males are not available. The latest available figures subdividing self employment between full and part-time work show that nearly 80,000 of the 273,000 increase in self employment between June 1983 and June 1984 was among part-timers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his answer of 10 July, how many additional jobs created for employees in 1983 and 1984 he estimates to be second jobs.

The second jobs included in the employees in employment estimates are not separately identified. Estimates from labour force surveys suggest an increase of 60,000 between spring 1983 and spring 1984 in the number of people with a second job as an employee; however, such estimates from sample surveys are subject to appreciable uncertainty.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many out of the total number of those still trading six months after completing the enterprise allowance scheme had been unemployed for more than a year at the same time of their entry on to the scheme.

A survey of those completing the enterprise allowance scheme in the pilot areas found that 18 per cent. of those still trading six months after leaving the scheme had been unemployed for more than a year prior to joining the scheme. The results of a later survey of people three to five months after completing a year on the national scheme found that 27 per cent. of the respondents who were still trading had been unemployed for more than a year at the time of their entry to the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which non-statutory training organisations have board or equivalent level membership for relevant trade union or education representatives; and which are governed solely by employer representatives.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1985, c. 418]: The composition of non-statutory training organisations is a matter for the particular industrial sector. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the majority of non-statutory training organisations have consultative arrangements with trade unions and that during the last year there has been an increase in the number of trade unions accepting invitations to be members of these organisations' committees and boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will detail which industry training boards and non-statutory training organisations currently operate more than three offices and training centres nationally; and if he will state how many they operate, and the number of industry training board offices and training centres which have closed since 1981, for each industry training board.

	Offices now	Offices in 1981	Training centres now	Training centres in 1981
Clothing and allied products ITB	1	1	—	—
Construction ITB	64	68	6	6
Engineering ITB	12	15	6	6
Hotel and catering ITB	7	8	18	—
Offshore petroleum ITB	2	1	2	1
Plastics processing ITB	5	5	1	1
Road transport ITB	9	12	4	4

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his assessment of the outcome of his Department's air weapon safety campaign launched in December 1983.

An assessment of the campaign cannot be made until the comparative statistics on air weapons offences committed during 1984 become available in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to how many instances of cats and dogs being injured by air gun pellets were notified to the police during the last year for which figures are available.

No. The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration the Government have given to the recommendation of the 1973 Green Paper on firearms control to raise the age at which persons may be in possession of air weapons.

We have continued to keep the matter under close review and have decided not to introduce legislation to raise the age restrictions at present. We shall consider what, if any, further measures are necessary when the effects of the national publicity campaign conducted in 1983 have been fully assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present number of applications at his Department from people seeking British citizenship.

About 35,000.

[pursuant to his reply, 9 July 1985, c. 418]: This information is available only for the statutory industrial training boards which were retained in 1982. Training in those sectors of industry covered by non-statutory training arrangements is the responsibility of employers in those sectors and information is not held by the Manpower Services Commission.The numbers of offices and training centres for 1981 and the present, for the industrial training boards which currently operate, are given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further proposals he has for the funding of local victim support schemes.

We have at present nothing to add on this point to the Government's reply (Cmnd. 9457) to the report of the Home Affairs Committee on Compensation and Support for Victims of Crime (HC 43).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of full and part-time chaplains employed in the prison service in England in 1974, 1979, 1983, 1984 and 1985 at the latest available date.

The number of full and part-time chaplains employed in the prison service in England and Wales on 1 July in each of the following years was:

	1974	1979	1983	1984	1985
Full-time	61	69	84	85	86
Part-time	73	44	49	45	48

In addition each establishment has a Methodist chaplain on a sessional basis, and where the pastoral care of an inmate cannot be provided by the full or part-time clergy, or when an inmate asks to see a minister of another faith, the establishment will seek to provide the services of an appropriate visiting minister.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he is making to the request by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for the establishment of a fresh quota for settlement in the United Kingdom of Vietnamese refugees currently in Hong Kong.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Sir Patrick Wall) on 17 May at column 239.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the length of training for police officers to familiarise themselves about the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act; what is the estimated cost of such training; and what extra funds have been made available for these training purposes.

The Government set 1 January 1986 as the target date for the implementation of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act to allow sufficient time for forces to familiarise their officers with its provisions. Six months was identified by the service as the minimum period that would be needed to put all officers through the necessary training programmes, though in many forces preparatory work will have been going on for substantially longer. The length of time which each officer will spend under instruction varies from force to force but is in the region of three to five days.Training material for use in provincial forces has been produced by the Home Office central planning unit at a cost to central funds estimated as likely to be in the order of £100,000. It is the practice to accommodate training for new legislation into the general cycle of training rather than to make separate financial provision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the cost, reliability and availability of equipment designed to carry out rapid testing of compounds for possible content of heroin or cocaine; and what is his policy in regard to the provision of such equipment to assist the Metropolitan police.

I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 March, Official Report, columns 28–485, what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the Independent Broadcasting Authority's revised proposals for independent local radio in Derby and Nottingham received his approval in time to allow all intending bidders to reformulate their proposals and seek the necessary additional finance before the closing date for bids.

Under section 19(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1981, the Independent Broadcasting Authority is required to publish a notice stating its intention to enter into a contract for the provision of local sound broadcasts in an area and the date from which the contract will take effect, and inviting applications for the contract. In each case, the authority aims to provide applicants with approximately three months in which to submit their applications, and I understand that this procedure was followed for the proposed Derby and Nottingham franchise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department to provide a substantive answer to letters from right hon. and hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

The information for the past 12 months could not be provided without disproportionate cost. A computer system has, however, been introduced recently which records the arrival of all correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members and monitors progress up to the dispatch of the substantive reply. Statistics for average handling times should therefore be available in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his assessment of the change in the numbers entering the United Kingdom as a result of the amendments to the immigration rules which he is introducing to comply with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights.

It is not possible to make an accurate assessment. It is estimated that the change by which husbands and fiances are to be allowed to join women who are permanently resident here but are not British citizens would, taken alone, lead to about 600 more men from the Indian sub-continent being admitted a year for residence and about a further 1,500 from other parts of the world.The other changes are likely to lead to a reduction in the numbers admitted but I cannot say by how much.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state (a) the number of occasions on which he has exercised his powers under section 30 of the Police Act 1964 to require a chief constable or the Commissioner of Police of the city of London to submit a report to him, (b) the number of occasions on which he has exercised his powers under section 12 of the Police Act 1964 to require the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to submit a report to him, (c) the matters that he specified should be covered in such reports, and the police forces concerned and (d) whether any such reports have been published in each of the last five years.

Section 30 of the Police Act 1964 is the general power under which the Department obtains information from the police forces on any aspect of police work. Information may be obtained in many ways, format and informal, and no central record is kept of requests to forces. It is not the practice to publish written reports provided by chief constables in response to such requests. Section 12 of the Police Act does not apply to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.My right hon. and learned Friend requires reports from the commissioner under general powers in section 1 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829. Under this power he receives and presents to Parliament the commissioner's annual report. In January this year the commissioner published his report to me on his future strategy for the Metropolitan police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will apply to the courts for a new inquest into the death of Philip Rapier in March at Swansea prison, in the light of new evidence submitted to his Department by the right hon. Member for Swansea, West.

I am grateful for the right hon. Member's concern but see no reason to pre-empt the inquiries at present being made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any information on legislation extant in other European Economic Community countries on the banning of opinion polls for periods prior to public elections; if he has any plans to introduce such legislation in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The only information we have is for France, where in 1977 legislation was introduced banning the publication of opinion polls from the week before the first round of any elections. There are no plans to introduce similar controls in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 July, if he will take steps (a) to secure the removal from Strangeways prison of the 13 prisoners whom are mentally disordered within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the three inmates who the medical officer considers to be physically handicapped and (b) to arrange for places to be provided for them in other more appropriate accommodation.

My noble Friend will write to the right hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the number of persons (a) against whom extradition proceedings have been taken or are planned in relation to drug-related offences and (b) are sought by police forces to assist them with inquiries into drug-related matters, who have sought asylum in foreign countries between 1980 and 1985.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1985, c. 16]: The available information relates only to persons who have been the subject of formal applications for extradition in respect of drug offences.

	Applications made to the United Kingdom by overseas Governments	Applications made to overseas Governments by the United Kingdom
1980	10	3
1981	9	3
1982	8	5
1983	9	4
1984	8	5
1985 (to date)	10	2

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland when a fatal accident inquiry into the death of Jim McAlpine, following cosmetic surgery at the Ross Hall hospital, is to be held.

A fatal accident inquiry into the circumstances of the death of James McAlpine, aged seven years, on 24 February 1985, commmenced in Glasgow sheriff court on 17 June 1985. Following four days of evidence, the inquiry was adjourned until 21 October 1985.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department to provide a substantive answer to letters from hon. or right hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

Between 1 July 1984 and 30 June 1985 the average time taken to answer 227 letters was 18⅓ days. A further five letters still await reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the application for a replacement vessel for RMS St. Helena was first made; when a decision will be taken; and if he will make a statement.

No application for a replacement for the RMS St. Helena has been made, although we have been aware for some time that the ship is nearing the end of her operational life. Consultants were engaged last year to advise on the options for the future of the shipping service. In the light of their report, I have agreed that detailed proposals should be prepared for a replacement vessel of roughly similar size to the existing ship.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his most recent assessment of the priority objectives for food aid and its distribution in the drought-affected countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Priority in the use of food aid should be given to direct famine relief. We are concentrating our bilateral food aid on those countries in Africa most seriously affected by famine, and have urged the European Community to do the same. It is also vital to get food from the ports to the people who need it and we are playing our part together with other aid donors in providing urgent assistance for this operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will provide aid through the Commonwealth Development Corporation and Overseas Development Administration for projects in tropical forest regions which will encourage sustainable forestry.

In their different ways the Overseas Development Administration and the Commonwealth Development Corporation support projects for this purpose in more than 20 countries. Both are always ready to consider new proposals to encourage sustainable forestry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the extent to which the executive board meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation on 21 June made progress towards the objectives set out in his letter of 4 December 1984 to the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The executive board reached a series of complicated decisions which we are now analysing as part of our preparation for the general conference. It is clear that there was some progress, particularly towards administrative improvement and towards a more efficient and less politicised programme; but we shall need to keep up the pressure for reform.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received the report commissioned by him from the Highlands and Islands Development Board on involving the private sector in the development of the West Indies; and whether he will make a statement.

The consultants' report has just been received and its proposals are now being studied. In my statement at the meeting of the Caribbean Group for Co-operation in Economic Development in Washington on 17-June, I said that we would be ready to consider with individual Governments whether some of our bilateral aid might be used to do more in the private sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he

		County
1982–83
Woodlands on Howend Farm	Longtown, near Carlisle	Cumbria
Woodlands at Southwaite Lodge	Carlisle	Cumbria
Woodlands on Rainworth Estate	Rainworth, near Mansfield	Notts
Woodlands at The Firs	Farlow	Shropshire
Woodlands on Baldwins Gate Farm	Near Newcastle	Staffs
1983–84
Woodlands on Waterloo Farm	Cockermouth	Cumbria
Piggin Wood, Locko Park Estate	Ockbrook, near Derby	Derbyshire
Woodlands on Ley Hill Farm	Cardington, Church Stretton	Shropshire
Woodlands at Harnage Grange	Cressage	Shropshire
Woodlands at Yarlet	Near Stafford	Staffordshire
Woodlands on Manor Farm	Asterley Abbotts	Shropshire
Bolas Wood, Heather View	Ercall Heath Chilcote,Near Ashby-de-la-	Shropshire
Woodlands on Chilcote and Stretton Estate	Zouch	Leicestershire
1984–85
Woodlands at Brook Vessons	Pontesbury	Shropshire

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial support was provided from public funds to the Potato Marketing Board to enable it to take surplus potato stocks off the market in the year ended 31

I was approached by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts/Nevis, on behalf of the Organisation of East Caribbean States, to seek a meeting at ministerial level to discuss general policy issues arising from our bilateral aid to the OECS states. I have since offered to meet OECS Ministers for this purpose in the Caribbean. I hope that a meeting can take place soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any progress has been made in identifying a site on St. Helena for use as an emergency landing strip.

A possible site, on Prosperous Bay plain at the eastern tip of the island, was the subject of an airborne reconnaissance survey by the RAF earlier this year. Civil engineering and cost factors, however, are still expected to present formidable problems. Arrangements are being made for these aspects to be examined on the island.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name the broadleaved woods in the Forestry Commission's North West England Conservancy which received felling licence approval for conversion to agriculture between 1982–83 and 1984–85.

The information is as follows:May; how much he expects to be provided for the same purpose in the year ending 31 May 1986; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have so far advanced £13·24 million to the Potato Marketing Board towards the cost of its 1984 crop support buying operations and £0·359 million as a final payment in respect of 1982 crop support. A final cost-sharing settlement for the 1984–85 season will be made when information is available about the United Kingdom cumulative average ex-farm price for the whole season, the total cost of support and the level of the board's financial resources. It is not possible to provide an estimate of the cost of market support for the year ending 31 May 1986. This will depend on the size of any surplus to be removed. Joint support arrangements for 1985–86 will be limited to 500,000 tonnes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the volume of new potatoes imported from France in the period May-June 1984; what was the volume of new potatoes imported from France in the period May-June 1985; and if he will make a statement.

New potato imports from France during May and June 1984 totalled 1,144 tonnes and 14,751 tonnes respectively. Imports in May amounted to 2,590 tonnes. Official statistics from HM Customs and Excise are not yet available for June 1985. However, it seems likely that total imports from France this season will be below traditional levels. It is estimated that new potato imports from all sources will be around 75,000 tonnes less this season than last. Although the market is depressed throughout Europe, it appears that it is a high level of domestic liftings rather than imports that is having the main effect on our market at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the additional weekly cost to the food purchases of the average British family in consequence of Britain's involvement in the common agricultural policy; and what would be the effect on the retail prices of beef, butter, bread, sugar and flour if the import levies required by the common agricultural policy were abolished.

Estimates of the kind requested could only be attempted by making hypothetical assumptions about the policy which would have been pursued had we not been a member of the European Economic Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the cost of each of the five new grain stores agreed with the Intervention Board; and what discussions he has had with the Home-Grown Cereals Authority about the use of unutilised capacity in Clyde port authority's granary.

The cost of storage is commercially confidential and depends on contractual terms negotiated with individual storekeepers. Storage at the Clyde port authority's granary was offered to the Intervention Board but along with other storage in that area was not accepted because it is not close to grain-growing areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if Her Majesty's Government will support any moves at the international whaling conference next week to postpone from 1990 to 1999 the zero catch limits on killing for commercial purposes.

Under paragraph 10(e) of the Schedule to the international convention for the regulation of whaling 1947 the zero catch limits for commercial whaling are of indefinite duration. This provision is to be kept under review and by 1990 at the latest the International Whaling Commission is to undertake a comprehensive assessment of its effect on whale stocks and consider modification of this provision and the establishment of other catch limits. We shall carefully consider any proposals in the light of developments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to abolish the Potato Marketing Board.

The power to abolish the board is vested in producers because it is a producer organisation constituted under the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958. Producers can decide at any time to call for a poll to revoke the potato marketing scheme. Provisions for the protection of the public interest arising from any act or omission by a marketing board are contained in the 1958 Act. My hon. Friend will recall that proposals for amending the potato marketing scheme and for introducing revised potato support arrangements were considered at length and approved by both Houses in February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria are used by the Potato Marketing Board to determine (a) the amount of potatoes to be withdrawn from the market in order to support prices and (b) the means by which they should subsequently be disposed of.

The board can intervene in the market in two ways up to a limit of 500,000 tonnes in any season. Between November and May, the board operates a system of pre-season contracts with producers, this season limited to 420,000 tonnes of potatoes. If the average ex-farm price is at or below the contract price for the month in question the board takes delivery of the potatoes under contract that month and removes them from the human consumption market. If the price is £2 or more above the contract price then producers are released from their contractual obligations and can sell the potatoes for human consumption. In any event producers can opt to be released from their contracts if they have a market at a higher price than the board contract.In addition to these contract arrangements, the board may intervene directly on the market at any time during the season to buy up local surpluses to a limit of the balance between its contracts and 500,000 tonnes. Intervention is triggered if for three consecutive trading days ex-farm prices in a board district are below the trigger price for the period in question. The trigger prices are set well below the level of pre-season contract prices except in the first two weeks of July when special market circumstances apply. In disposing of any potatoes bought under market support arrangements the board is obliged by the Government to seek the highest value disposal outlets available. Over the course of a season most of the potatoes bought would be re-sold for stockfeed.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will indicate the average time taken by the Management and Personnel Office to provide a substantive answer to letters from hon. or right hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

This information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the MPO aims to reply to letters from right hon. and hon. Members within 10 working days of receipt and this target is normally achieved.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts if he will indicate the average time taken by the Office of Arts and Libraries to provide a substantive answer to letters from hon. or right hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

This information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. But the Office of Arts and Libraries aims to despatch a substantive answer to letters from right hon. and hon. Members within 10 working days of receipt; this target is achieved in most cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what repair and renovation works of the road surfaces and supporting structures are currently planned to be carried out, when and at what cost, to junction 6 of the M6.

A contract for the installation of gutters beneath deck joints on a length of M6 including junction 6 is currently in progress; the total cost is estimated at £350,000. This contract will be followed by one to

Operator	Number of tests	Initial passes	Per cent.	Additional passes after rectification of minor defects	Per cent.	Fails	Per cent.
1982–83
Private	28,353	14,938	53	4,108	14	9,307	33
NBC	14,843	7,740	52	4,640	31	2,463	17
1983–84
Private	28,634	16,040	56	3,828	13	8,766	31
NBC	14,173	8,509	60	3,973	28	1,691	12

The initial pass/fail rates for private operators' vehicles are similar to those for the NBC. An operator is permitted to carry out on the spot repairs on a vehicle which has failed for minor reasons. The vehicle is then given a "pass after rectification". The "pass after rectification" facility favours the larger operators, many of whose vehicles are tested on their own premises. Operators whose vehicles are not tested at their own premises—notably private

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date the latest report on structural damage or defects on junction 6 of the M6 was submitted to his Department; what works are contemplated when and at what cost as a result of any such report; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what recent indications of damage to seams or joints, or other suspected structural defects, have been found on junction 6 of the M6; and whether he will make a statement.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the promised interim report on the Midlands links viaducts which I shall shortly be placing in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason traffic on junction 6 of the M6 was at a standstill at about noon on Monday 8 July; and whether he will make a statement.

A major accident involving three articulated tanker vehicles occurred near Bescott at 11.20 a.m. on that day. The northbound carriageway was completely blocked and the southbound carriageway had to be closed until danger of an explosion had passed. The queue of northbound traffic extended back to junction 6. Diversions were introduced as soon as possible and the carriageways were reopened southbound at 12.15 p.m. and northbound at 5.15 p.m. I commend the police and emergency services for their prompt action and efficiency in these difficult circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of private buses failed their annual inspection in 1983 and 1984; and what were the comparable figures for National Bus Company buses.

The information is as follows:operators—are usually unable to take advantage of the facility and this fact is clearly reflected in a higher fail rate for their vehicles as shown in the table.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in constructing a link to enable southward traffic passing down the M5 to turn left into the A30.

The case for proceeding with such a link road is being examined by consulting engineers as part of their overall review of possible improvements to the A30 between Honiton and Exeter. The results of a recent traffic survey are being analysed at present and will guide the consulting engineers in the review of possible improvements.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 the evaluations were available for the Christmas drink-and-drive campaign in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively.

Evaluations of the Christmas drink-drive campaigns are formally published in "Road Accidents Great Britain" (RAGB). The dates of publication were as follows:

• RAGB 1980–30 November 1981
• RAGB 1981–17 December 1982
• RAGB 1982–15 November 1983
• RAGB 1983–29 November 1984

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out in the Official Report the number of convoys escorted through the Dartford tunnel on average per week; for how long the tunnel is closed on average to facilitate their passage; what is the impact on M25 traffic flows as a result; and if he will make a statement.

The Dartford tunnel is the responsibility of the Dartford Tunnel Joint Committee. I understand however that in two surveys carried out last year there were about 700 escorted journeys per working week in each direction. Entry to the southbound tunnel is closed by signals for about 40 seconds while a convoy gets underway. There is hardly any delay for northbound traffic. These escorted convoys marginally reduce the capacity in the tunnel and slightly delay traffic on the A282 approach roads but the effects do not extend as far as the M25.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department acquired No. 86 Church Manorway, London S.E.2, in connection with the proposed east London river crossing; how long it has been empty; and when it is expected to be occupied.

This property was acquired by the Department on 26 April 1985 with vacant possession. It was let on a short term lease to Greenwich borough council as from 17 June 1985. The question of occupancy is therefore a matter for it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will delay the public inquiry into the proposed east London river crossing to enable it to consider the report of the engineering study on an additional river crossing at Dartford.

No. The east London river crossing is urgently needed irrespective of the river crossing capacity at Dartford.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the most recent assessment of the volumes of traffic likely to use the east London river crossing (a) with the existing Dartford tunnel capacity and (b)with an additional river crossing in use at Dartford.

The most recent assessment indicates that, in the year 2001, two-way morning peak flows across the east London river crossing Thames bridge would be between 5,600 and 6,600 vehicles per hour with the existing Dartford tunnel capacity and toll arrangements, and between 5,200 and 6,200 vehicles per hour if an additional tunnel were provided at Dartford and no tolls were charged.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest estimate of the total cost of the proposed east London river crossing including individual figures for (a) property acquisition, (b) bridge building and (c) road construction.

A breakdown of the total cost of £168 million in 1984 prices was given in the statement of reasons published on 9 July which was sent to the hon. Member. Taking account of updating and estimates for preparation and supervision, the figures are as follows:

£ million
The bridge across the Thames	56
Other structures	38·5
Road construction	40·5
Land and property acquisition	19·6
Preparation and supervision	13·4

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department to provide a substantive answer to letters from right hon. and hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.